In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

New releases reviewed in this episode from Yamanaka, Holland, Sprague, E. Cohen and L. Benjamin. Also, we celebrate last week's election in the US with an appropriate tune from Goldings, Bernstein, Stewart. Finally selections from a great Ellington Suite.

Playlist
Artist ~ Track ~ Album
Miki Yamanaka ~ Pre School ~ Breathe
Dave Holland ~ Sextet: Step To It ~ Freedom Call: Sextet - Unity
Joshua Redman ~ A Message To Unsend ~ Words Fall Short
Peter Sprague ~ Captain Bacardi ~ Derradeira Primavera
Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein & Bill Stewart ~ FU Donald ~ Perpetual Pendulum
Emmet Cohen ~ Luck Be A Lady ~ Universal Truth
Lakecia Benjamin ~ Dream Breaker ~ We Dream
Duke Ellington ~ Such Sweet Thunder ~ Such Sweet Thunder
Duke Ellington and His Orchestra ~ The Star-Crossed Lovers ~ Such Sweet Thunder

This week's show reviews new and old releases from Greg Abate, Dave Holland, Miki Yamanaka and Steve Davis along with a classic from Chick's RTF.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Greg Abate ~ Monsters In The Night ~ Monsters In The Night
Greg Abate Quartet ~ Into Somewhere ~ In The Moment
Dave Holland ~ Prism: Choir ~ Freedom Call: Prism - Freedom
Dave Holland Quartet ~ See-Saw ~ Conference of the Birds
John Scofield & Dave Holland ~ Memories of Home ~ Memories of Home
Miki Yamanaka ~ Indigo ~ Breathe
Steve Davis ~ I Could Write a Book ~ Meets Hank Jones, Volume 2
Return To Forever ~ 500 Miles High ~ Light As A Feather

This week's episode begins with flautist Lori Bell and her ensembles from Southern California. Then we have a chugga-chugga train theme from Metheny and Moody. Finally some of my favorite new releases that may show up on my best of album list for 2026.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Lori Bell ~ Lower Manhattan ~ Brooklyn Dreaming
Lori Bell Quartet ~ Shade of Jade ~ Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson
Pat Metheny Group ~ Last Train Home ~ Still Life (Talking)
James Moody ~ Last Train From Overbrook ~ Don't Look Away Now!
George Garzone ~ Ripty Boom ~ Themes for Good Friends
Anthony Fung, Andrew Renfroe & Luca Alemanno ~ This is for Albert ~ Common Language
Sullivan Fortner ~ Aria II ~ Leave That In There
Gregory Hutchinson ~ Water Babies ~ Kind of Now - The Pulse of Miles Davis
Dave Holland ~ Quintet: Veil of Tears ~ Freedom Call: Quintet - Synergism

Today's episode is mostly new music with a modern, adventurous twist. The first half of the show in particular feature artists like Akinmusire, Fortner, Hutchinson and O'Farrill that have been exploring a more free form, expressive aspect to the jazz idiom.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Ambrose Akinmusire ~ Bloomed ~ honey from a winter stone
Sullivan Fortner ~ Sugarcane ~ Leave That In There
Gregory Hutchinson ~ Fall ~ Kind of Now - The Pulse of Miles Davis
Adam O'Farrill ~ Curves and Convolutions ~ ELEPHANT
Doug Webb ~ Watch Your Step ~ Watch Your Step
Dave Holland ~ Sextet: Modern Times ~ Freedom Call: Sextet - Unity
Danilo Perez & Bohuslän Big Band ~ Suite for the Americas ~ Lumen

This episode is inspired by the San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival (SDTJ). This festival, now in its third year, is the creation of jazz impresario Dan Atkinson and is has performances that cross the US/Mexico border. Much of the festival is free to attend, with the main event held in Escondido. We begin this program with an alto sax player Sarah Hanahan who performed at the festival with the Mingus Big Band. That is followed by new music from Emmet Cohen and David Borgo. The SDTJ festival is then highlighted by headliners Danilo Perez, Mingus Dynasty and Brian Bade Fellowship.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Sarah Hanahan ~ Welcome ~ Among Giants
Sarah Hanahan ~ NATO ~ Among Giants
Emmet Cohen ~ Budo ~ Universal Truth
Emmet Cohen ~ Gingerbread Boy ~ Universal Truth
David Borgo ~ Flow ~ Panta Rhei
Danilo Perez & Bohuslän Big Band ~ Across the Crystal Sea ~ Lumen
Mingus Dynasty ~ Goodbye Pork Pie Hat ~ Live At Village Vanguard
Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band ~ Kings Highway ~ Kings Highway

This week takes a different spin on the Miles and Trane Centennial. Instead of playing music from the masters themselves, this show features covers of tunes composed or made famous by these iconic artists that defined the jazz genre for years to come.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Roy Hargrove Quintet & Antonio Hart ~ Milestones ~ The Vibe
Kenny Garrett ~ Lonnie's Lament ~ Pursuance: The Music Of John Coltrane
Wes Montgomery & Wynton Kelly Trio ~ Impressions ~ Smokin' At The Half Note (expanded)
Christian McBride ~ Bitches Brew ~ Live At Tonic
Cassandra Wilson ~ Run the VooDoo Down ~ Traveling Miles
Chick Corea ~ Nefertitti ~ The Song of Singing
Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, Mike Stern & George Coleman ~ All Blues ~ 4 Generations of Miles
Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker & Roy Hargrove ~ So What / Impressions ~ Directions In Music: Live At Massey Hall

Lots of new releases in this week's show. Lovano and Elling are among the more well known artists. Hollenbeck, Clark and Sprague may not be as familiar. And of course, we continue with a Coltrane interpretation of a Gershwin classic for Trane's centennial celebration.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Joe Lovano ~ Amsterdam ~ Paramount Quartet
John Hollenbeck & Hot Club Jazz Orchestra ~ Feed the Fire ~ Peace and Justice
Kurt Elling ~ Pallas’ Palace (Palladium) ~ Play Weather Report: Alive in Europe
Peter Sprague ~ Guinnevere ~ Guinnevere
Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein & Bill Stewart ~ Dissipation Blues ~ Rhombus
Mike Clark ~ Lungs ~ Kuon Ganjo
Linda May Han Oh ~ Living Proof ~ Strange Heavens
John Coltrane ~ But Not for Me ~ My Favorite Things

This week marks the 100th birthdate of John Coltrane, September 23, 1926. I have played so much Trane and Miles over the past several months, that I didn't dedicate the entire show to JC's birthday, but played a set near the end that celebrates Trane's free soloing as well as lush ballads. Prior to that set we feature drummer Jeff Hamilton and Mike Clark, as well as pianists Hampton Hawes and Christian Sands. Finally, the gorgeous arrangements for large ensembles from John Hollenbeck.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Jeff Hamilton Trio ~ In Walked Bud (Live) ~ Live from San Pedro
The Jeff Hamilton Trio ~ The Magic of Mr. Wess ~ A New Chapte
Hampton Hawes Trio ~ Yesterdays ~ This Is Hampton Hawes, Vol. 2: The Trio
Mike Clark ~ Toys ~ Kuon Ganjo
Christian Sands ~ Manhã de Carnaval ~ Between Then and Now
John Coltrane Quartet ~ Impressions ~ The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings
John Coltrane ~ After The Rain ~ Impressions
John Hollenbeck & Hot Club Jazz Orchestra ~ Red Shades ~ Peace and Justice

Getting closer to John Coltrane's centenial of his birth, so we will begin with a set dedicated to the master. We will play some Miles as well, as we have been doing frequently these last few months. The show ends with a couple tracks from the late great guitarist Mick Goodrick.

Artist ~ Name ~ Album
John Coltrane ~ Equinox ~ Coltrane's Sound
John Coltrane ~ Dear Lord ~ Transition
Miles Davis Quintet ~ If I Were a Bell ~ Relaxin' With the Miles Davis Quintet
Miles Davis ~ Nature Boy ~ Blue Moods
Mauricio Morales & Adam Hersh ~ Sand From A Broken Hourglass ~ Between Dreams & Twilight
Sullivan Fortner ~ Aria II ~ Leave That In There
Mick Goodrick ~ Feebles, Fables and Ferns ~ In Pas(s)ing
Mick Goodrick & Fred Hersch ~ Soul Eyes ~ Feebles, Fables & Ferns

This episode begins with another centenial tribute to John Coltrane with an extended composition for a large brass ensemble, Africa. From there we review new releases from some of jazz's contemporary masters.

Playist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
John Coltrane Quartet ~ Africa ~ Africa/Brass Sessions
Dave Holland ~ Quintet: Easy Did It ~ Quintet: Easy Did It - EP
Mauricio Morales & Adam Hersh ~ Where The Olive Trees Wither ~ Between Dreams & Twilight
Jeremy Pelt ~ Sandman ~ Our Community Will Not Be Erased
Sullivan Fortner ~ Aerobatics Pt. 1 ~ Leave That In There
Sullivan Fortner ~ Aerobatics Pt. 2 ~ Leave That In There
Stefon Harris & Blackout ~ Echoes of the Lion ~ Legacy Dances
Stefon Harris & Blackout ~ What a Wonderful World ~ Legacy Dances

This episode was inspired by a Miles Davis Centenial Jazz Festival hosted by KSDS Radio in San Diego. The three day event had seminars, panel discussions and of course music. This show contains music by the artists that performed, and is kicked off by original music from Miles and Trane. The podcast concludes with recordings by Wayne and Herbie.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Miles Davis ~ New Rhumba ~ Miles Ahead
John Coltrane ~ Mr. P.C. ~ Giant Steps
Eric Reed ~ Flamenco Sketches ~ From My Heart
Ernie Watts ~ Joy Trane ~ Spirit Song
Doug Webb ~ A Night in Tunisia ~ Fast Friends
Mike Wofford & Holly Hofmann ~ M-Line ~ Turn Signal (feat. Terell Stafford)
Wayne Shorter ~ Lilia ~ Native Dancer
Wayne Shorter ~ Tarde ~ Native Dancer
Herbie Hancock ~ Oliloqui Valley ~ Empyrean Isles

This show begins with San Diegan pianist with Mexican roots, Irving Flores. His music is grounded in the Latin Jazz tradition. That is followed by the late great George Duke with tunes that show off his diversity of styles with R&B and Brazilian influences. Then some early Weather Report before concluding with a beautiful ballad from Coltrane as we near his centennial birthday.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Irving Flores & Danzon Jazz Trio ~ Abigail ~ American Influence
Irving Flores ~ Samba Con Sabor ~ Armando Mi Conga
George Duke ~ Capricorn ~ Faces In Reflection
George Duke ~ Maria Tres Filhos ~ Faces In Reflection
Weather Report ~ Unknown Soldiers ~ I Sing The Body Electric
Weather Report ~ Second Sunday In August ~ I Sing The Body Electric
Miroslav Vitous ~ I Will Tell Him On You ~ Infinite Search
John Coltrane Quartet ~ Dear Lord ~ Transition

We continue to feature Miles and Trane on the year of their centennial. These giants of jazz are represented with some of the classic recordings that pay homage to their greatness.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
John Coltrane ~ My Favorite Things ~ My Favorite Things
John Coltrane ~ A Love Supreme, Pt. 1: Acknowledgement ~ A Love Supreme
Miles Davis ~ Dear Old Stockholm ~ Round About Midnight
Miles Davis ~ So What ~ Four & More
Miles Davis ~ Flamenco Sketches ~ Kind of Blue
Ralph Alessi ~ Duck Face ~ A Sun That Never Sets

This episode takes us back to the psychedelic days of the early 70's to modern day fusion starting with this set from Lonnie Liston Smith. It's followed by new music from an LA Trio with excellent guitar work from Andrew Renfroe. The fusion set ends with Metheny's Side Eye III+. We take a more straight ahead direction to conclude the show with new music from Farnsworth, Hanahan and Holland.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes ~ Expansions ~ Expansions
Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes ~ Astral Traveling ~ Astral Traveling
Anthony Fung, Andrew Renfroe & Luca Alemanno ~ Creepin' ~ Common Language
Anthony Fung, Andrew Renfroe & Luca Alemanno ~ This is for Albert ~ Common Language
Pat Metheny ~ SE-O ~ Side-Eye III+
Joe Farnsworth ~ All Said and Done ~ The Big Room
Sarah Hanahan ~ NATO ~ Among Giants
Dave Holland ~ Sextet: Fast Track ~ Sextet: Fast Track - EP

This episode begins with some of this genre's greatest masters, Herbie, Henderson, Hampton and OP. Following that we have new music from up and coming jazz artists. The show concludes with another jazz master, Charles LLoyd and his latest release from the Indian/Jazz fusion project Sangam.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Herbie Hancock ~ Ostinato (Suite for Angela) ~ Mwandishi
Joe Henderson ~ Serenity ~ In 'n Out
Lionel Hampton & Oscar Peterson ~ Moonglow ~ The Complete Lionel Hampton Quartets and Quintets with Oscar Peterson on Verve
Ralph Alessi ~ A Sun That Never Sets ~ A Sun That Never Sets
Joey Alexander ~ Deep Calls To Deep ~ Celestial Keeper
Nicole Zuraitis ~ the devil i knew ~ the devil i knew
Charles Lloyd ~ Tagore ~ Sangam & Friends

Begins with young pianist Joey Alexander who was a young prodigy at age 11, now after a decade of recording and touring is a respected jazz artist for his playing and composing. That is followed by jazz masters Brecker, Jarrett and Dr. L Smith. There is a duo of SoCal artists before the set concludes with the John Coltrane Quartet.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Joey Alexander ~ Aversion ~ Celestial Keeper
Michael Brecker ~ The Cost of Living ~ Michael Brecker
Keith Jarrett ~ Long As You Know You're Living Yours ~ Belonging
Dr. Lonnie Smith ~ Too Damn Hot ~ Too Damn Hot
Monette Marino Keita ~ Djagbe Foli ~ Séwa Foli - Single
Peter Sprague ~ Anti Ai ~ Anti Ai
John Coltrane Quartet ~ Lonnie's Lament ~ Crescent

This show features a heavy dose of Coltrane related tracks from his quartet's collaborator McCoy Tyner, to his composition Naima, and concluding with Trane as a sideman with Miles. In between we have a fusion set from Airto, Flora and McLaughlin.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
McCoy Tyner ~ Passion Dance ~ The Real McCoy
McCoy Tyner ~ When Sunny Gets Blue ~ Today and Tomorrow
Curtis Taylor ~ Naima ~ Snapshot
Airto ~ Tombo In 7/4 ~ Fingers
Flora Purim ~ Nothing Will Be As It Was - Nada Sera Sera Como Antes ~ Nothing Will Be As It Was... Tomorrow
John McLaughlin ~ Nathaniel Drives to New Jersey ~ Music for Abandoned Heights
Mauricio Morales & Adam Hersh ~ Retratos De Vida Interrumpida ~ Between Dreams & Twilight
Miles Davis ~ Milestones ~ Milestones

This episode begins with the politically charged music of Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra. Other highlights are Rene Rosnes playing Brazilian compositions and a newly single from Charles Lloyd and his Sangam Trio. We end this show with another tribute to Miles and Trane on their centenial.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Charlie Haden, Carla Bley ~ Introduction To People ~ The Ballad of the Fallen
Charlie Haden, Carla Bley ~ The People United Will Never Be Defeated ~ The Ballad of the Fallen
Renee Rosnes ~ Casa Forte ~ Crossing Paths
Peter Erskine ~ Lost Page ~ Dr. Um
Charles Lloyd ~ Sam on the Ganges ~ Single
Holly Hofmann ~ Soul-Leo ~ Low Life
Kenny Burrell ~ Isabella ~ Soulero
John Coltrane ~ Spiral ~ Giant Steps
Miles Davis ~ Miles Runs the Voodoo Down ~ Bitches Brew

This week's episode features a Chick Corea set with three tunes in very different settings. First we feature two young jazz artists with debut albums and a pair of Miles & Trane tunes in honor of their centennial birthdays. We complete this show honoring David Clayton Thomas from BS&T who passed on last week.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Caelan Cardello ~ Music for the People ~ Chapter One
Matt Hall ~ Charlie's Harley ~ I Hope to My Never
John Coltrane ~ Like Sonny ~ Coltrane Jazz
Miles Davis ~ Black Comedy ~ Miles In the Sky
Chick Corea ~ Matrix ~ Now He Sings, Now He Sobs
Chick Corea ~ Armando's Rhumba ~ My Spanish Heart
Chick Corea And Gary Burton ~ No Mystery ~ Native Sense - The New Duets
Blood, Sweat & Tears ~ Spinning Wheel ~ Blood, Sweat & Tears

Another eclectic set featuring fusion, hard-bop, and protest. Beginning with piano master Hancock and up-and-coming phenom Cardello, and ending with fusion guitarists supreme McLaughlin and Stern. Then a little protest music in between.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Herbie Hancock ~ Actual Proof ~ Thrust
Caelan Cardello ~ Steppin' Up ~ Chapter One
Les McCann & Eddie Harris ~ Compared to What ~ Swiss Movement
Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein & Bill Stewart ~ FU Donald ~ Perpetual Pendulum
Pat Metheny Group ~ When We Were Free ~ Quartet
Bill Cunliffe & Holly Hofmann ~ Chucho ~ Just Duet, Vol. 2
John McLaughlin ~ Elijah in DC ~ Music for Abandoned Heights
Łukasz Pawlik & Mike Stern ~ Eastern Winds ~ Single

This episode begins with a Coltrane inspired track from Emmet Cohen's latest album. We follow that with saxophone giants Potter and Brecker. The set concludes with a great arrangement of a Coltrane classic from Hancock and then an extended piece from Trane himself.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Emmet Cohen ~ Blue Train ~ Universal Truth
Chris Potter ~ Sister Annie ~ Alive With Ghosts Today
Michael Brecker ~ Nothing Personal ~ Michael Brecker
Michael Brecker ~ African Skies ~ Tales from the Hudson
Hancock, Brecker & Hargrove ~ So What / Impressions ~ Directions In Music: Live At Massey Hall
John Coltrane Quartet ~ Transition ~ Transition

This episode begins with a Joe Henderson tribute after attending a show by flautist Lori Bell of Henderson arrangements. Other tracks of note are Emmet Cohen's latest release, a Miles' classic, and the fusion feature from RTF.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Lori Bell Quartet ~ Black Narcissus ~ Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson ~ Isotope ~ Inner Urge
Larry Young ~ Zoltan ~ Unity
Emmet Cohen ~ I. Eternal Glimpse ~ Universal Truth
Miles Davis ~ Sid's Ahead ~ Milestones
Return to Forever ~ The Romantic Warrior ~ Romantic Warrior

The last two episodes have been dedicated to Miles and Sonny, but there were a few more tracks I wanted to get into, so we review those at the top of the show. That is followed by some new music including a recent release by Emmet C and Joe F. Finally, we review some early Weather Report and late Joe Zawinul.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Sonny Rollins ~ Way Out West ~ Way Out West
Thelonious Monk ~ Bemsha Swing ~ Brilliant Corners
Miles Davis ~ Honky Tonk ~ Get Up With It
Joe Farnsworth ~ You Already Know ~ The Big Room
Emmet Cohen ~ Gingerbread Boy ~ Universal Truth
Emmet Cohen ~ III. Universal Truth ~ Universal Truth
Weather Report ~ Orange Lady ~ Weather Report
Joe Zawinul ~ Black Market ~ Brown Street

One of the greatest players in the jazz legacy, Sonny Rollins passed away last week on May 25 at 95 years of age. On this episode, we look back on his career which spanned 7 decades. Here are some of my favorite "Newk" recordings from his most creative years.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Sonny Rollins ~ Strode Rode ~ Saxophone Colossus
Sonny Rollins ~ Wonderful! Wonderful! ~ Newk's Time
Sonny Rollins ~ Alone Together ~ Sonny Rollins and the Contempory Leaders
Sonny Rollins ~ God Bless the Child ~ The Bridge
Sonny Rollins ~ Alfie's Theme ~ Alfie (Original Music From The Score)
Sonny Rollins ~ The Freedom Suite ~ Freedom Suite

For this week's episode, we celebrate Miles Davis on the Centennial of his birth, May 26 1926. Miles is one of the most influential of jazz artist, having set new directions for jazz time and time again. Here we represent music from his first and second great quintets along with his explorations in electronics and rock rhythms that led to the jazz-rock fusion of the 70's and beyond.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Miles Davis ~ Milestones ~ Milestones
Miles Davis ~ So What ~ Kind of Blue
Miles Davis ~ Joshua ~ Seven Steps To Heaven
Miles Davis ~ Footprints ~ Miles Smiles
Miles Davis ~ Spanish Key (alternate take) ~ Bitches Brew (Legacy Edition)
Gregory Hutchinson ~ Water Babies ~ Kind of Now - The Pulse of Miles Davis
Peter Sprague ~ Flamenco Sketches ~ Blue Kind of Miles