Kendo's Top 55 Jazz Tracks for 2016

It's Halloween! Time for my fourth annual list of the Top 55 Jazz Tracks; covering the last 12 months (Oct 2015 - Oct 2016). Selecting tracks was much more difficult since I became jazz director at WFCF St. Augustine, simply because I get exposed to way more music; and so many highly enjoyable

Show time - my favorite day of the week!

releases came out this year! 

Be aware it's a highly personal list, and does not reflect airplay tallies at WFCF. Music was chosen for the following: memorability, originality, interpretation/arrangement, execution or for just being plain good radio! (Links for titles go to the selection at Amazon.com, when available.) 

To hear a countdown of many of these tracks, tune in Tuesday Nov 1st to WFCF on iHeart from 3-5pm eastern, and resuming from 5:15-7pm eastern by clicking here.

Also - below the main list are my choices for Top 12 Jazz Albums of 2016. These were selected for their through and through listenability and enjoyment. So much good music came out this year! Hope you enjoy the lists and thanks so much for stopping by. - Kendo

Top 55 Jazz Tracks for 2016

1. Jackie Gage - "That Old Black Magic" - Siren Songs

2. Ashleigh Smith - "Love Is You" - Sunkissed

3. Jackie Gage - "Mine" - Siren Songs

4. Marquis Hill - "Moon Rays" - The Way We Play

5. Ed Calle - "Until the End of Never" - 360

6. Jordan Young - "Time in a Bottle" - Jazz Jukebox

7. Todd Hunter - "Snake in the Bottle" - Eat, Drink, Play

8. Reginald Cyntje - "Spiritual" - Spiritual Awakening

9. Metalwood - "Bodybeard" - Twenty

10. Jane Ira Bloom - "Song Patrol" - Early Americans

11. Brian Charette - "Falling Fourth" - Once & Future

12. Christian Tamburr, Takana Miyamoto, Keita Ogowa - "Norwegian Wood" - People Talk

13. Joe Policastro - "More Than a Woman" - Pops!

14. Ken Peplowski - "An Affair to Remember" - Enrapture

15. Keith Brown - "Human Nature" - The Journey

16. Alfredo Rodriguez - "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" - Tocororo

17. Tim Tamashiro - "I Won't Dance" - Drinky

18. Ryan Fourt - "Air-Gun (Daisy's Revenge)" - Big Slick

19. Theo Croker - "Transcend" - Escape Velocity

20. Kait Dunton - "Chrysocolla" - Kait

21. Allison Adams Tucker - "A Thousand Years" - Wanderlust

22. Dena DeRose - "I'm Glad There Is You" - United

23. Charles Lloyd & The Marvels - "Of Course, Of Course" - I Long to See You

24. Leslie Odom Jr. - "Look for the Silver Lining" - Leslie Odom Jr.

25. Karl Latham - "Tax Man" - Living Standards

26. Nancy Harms - "Lush Life" - Ellington at Night

27. Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio - "The Summer Knows" - Live in Studio

28. Joey Alexander - "Criss Cross" - Countdown

29. Jacob Collier - "Flintstones" - In My Room

30. Jordan Young - "Son of Icebag" - Jazz Jukebox

31. Oleg Kireyev & Keith Javors - "Estate" - The Meeting

32. Matt Kane - "In Case You Missed It" - Acknowledgement

33. Tom McCormick - "South Beat" - South Beat

34. Corey Christiansen - "Old Joe Clark" - Factory Girl 

35. Greg Fishman - "Dahlia" - New Journey

36. Esperanza Spalding - "Unconditional Love" - Emily's D Evolution

37. Badbadnotgood - "Speaking Gently" - IV

38. Acme Jazz Garage - "Mr. G.P."

39. Branford Marsalis & Kurt Elling - "Doxy" - Upward Spiral

40. Jake Shimabukuro - "6/8" - Nashville Sessions

41. Ron King - "Perfect Day" - Triumph

42. Alex Tosca - "3rio" - Tosca 

43. Kyle Eastwood - "Caipirinha" - Time Pieces

44. Chris Ziemba - "Manhattan Lullaby" - Manhattan Lullaby

45. Sari Kessler - "After You've Gone" - Do Right

46. Catherine Russell - "Harlem On My Mind" - Harlem On My Mind

47. Fahir Atakoglu - "Sync-op" - Live at Umbria Jazz

48. Lonnie Smith - "Straight No Chaser" - Evolution

49. Cyrille Aimee - "Lazy Afternoon" - Let's Get Lost

50. Carol Bach-y-Rita - "'Tis Autumn" - Minha Casa/My House

51. Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio - "My Ship" - Back Home

52. Addison Frei - "Good Morning Heartache" - Transit

53. Oran Etkin - "After You've Gone" - What's New

54. Jimmy O'Connell - "Gray Matter" - Arrhythmia

55. Behn Gillece - "Signals" - Dare to Be



Top 12 Albums

1. Theo Croker - "Escape Velocity" 

1. Marquis Hill - "The Way We Play"

3. Jackie Gage - "Siren Songs"

4. Ed Calle - "360"

5. Joshua Breakstone - "88"

6. Kait Dunton - "Triokait"

7. Jordan Young - "Jazz Jukebox"

8. Antonio Adolfo - "Tropical Infinito"

9. Todd Hunter - "Eat, Drink, Play"

10. Tom Tallitsch - "Gratitude"

11. Carol Bach-y-Rita - "Minha Casa/My House"

12. Ron King - "Triumph"

honorable mention: Albare - "Dreamtime"

Classic!

Best Album Cover - Tim Tamashiro "Drinky"

Worst Album Cover - there are a few but I'm going with Diane Witherspoon

Scariest Jazz Moment - Kevin Ma...... "Michael Bublé"

Most covered non-standard - "Pure Imagination" (5), "Shenandoah" (4)

Most fun musician name to announce - Ugonna Okegwo

Playlist for 10/25/2016 WFCF - Numbers Game

many excellent tracks on this one!

This week's theme is "Numbers Game"! All the titles have a number in them - excluding the number '3', which will have it's own show thanks to a myriad of tunes featuring that numeral. This week - lot's of new releases as well as classic performances from Jimmy Smith, Lee Morgan, Wes Montgomery & Sonny Rollins! Tune in Tuesday (10/25) from 3-5 and resuming 5:15-7pm eastern by clicking here. See you then! - Kendo


Hour One:

Joshua Breakstone - "Eighty-Eight" - 88 (2016)*

Ed Calle - "360' - 360 (2016)*

3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Carol Saboya - "1 X 0" - Carolina (2016)

John Scofield - "Jeep On 35" - A Go Go (1998)

a fun live recording!

Allison Adams Tucker - "A Thousand Years" - Wanderlust (2016)*

The BBB featuring Bernie Dresel - "Five Spot" - Live N' Bernin' (2016)

Wes Montgomery - "Four on Six" - Smokin' at the Half Note (1965)

Lee Morgan - "Twice Around" - Tom Cat (1964)

Donald Byrd - "6 M's" - Royale Flush (1961)

Hour Two:

Ray Obiedo - "Four Square" - There Goes That ()

Ernie Watts - "Fourth Dynasty" - Planet Love (1969)

Brian Charette - "Falling Fourth" - Once & Future (2015)*

very fine solo debut from Ernie!

Lenny Marcus - "Moving Fourth" - Moving Fourth (2016)*

Gary Burton - "Four or Less" - The New Quartet (1973)

BadBadNotGood - "IV" - IV (2016)*

J.J. Johnson - "Opus V" - Modern Jazz Trombones (1949)

Miles Davis - "Two Bass Hit" - Miles & Coltrane (1958)

Todd Hunter "Lucky Number 7" - Eat, Drink, Play (2016)*

Gil Melle - "Mark One" - Primitive Modern (1956)

Hour Three:

~ Flagler Files ~

Metalwood - "Track 9" - Twenty (2016)*- The Ride Home!

Jimmy Smith - "My One and Only Love" - Plain Talk (1960)

Great release!

Sonny Rollins - "Four" - A Night at the Village Vanguard 1 (1957)

Chico Hamilton - "The Second Time Around" - Passin' Thru (1962)

Charles Earland - "My Two Sons" - Front Burner (1988)

Tim Ray - "12 x 7" - Windows (2014)*

Steve Fidyk - "High Five" - Allied Forces (2016)*

Hour Funk:

Takuya Kuroda - "Thirteen" - Zigzagger (2015)*

Takuya Kuroda - "Think Twice" - Zigzagger (2015)*

Keith Brown - "4G" - The Journey (2015)

Tony Williams - "Hittin' On 6" - The Joy of Flying (1978)

Nathan Peck - "5 Speed Blues" - Top Dead Center (2015)

Forward thinking jazz from a fine trumpeter!

Horace Bray - "3 4 5" - Dreamstate (2016)

Andy Narell - "Dis 1 f Raf" - Dis 1 4 Raf (2015)*

Playlist for 10-18-2016 WFCF - Cinema!

Dave Stryker - photo by Tom Mills

Today's show is the first of several movie-themed excursions! New & old releases with famous and not-so famous tunes! Hours two & three feature entire sets dedicated to films like "Breakfast at Tiffany's", "Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory", "Black Orpheus" & the James Bond series! Tune in today (Tues 10/18) from 3-5pm eastern and resuming at 5:15-7pm by clicking here. See you then! - Kendo 


Hour One:

Dave Stryker - "Trouble Man" - Eight Track II (2016)* 
[Trouble Man 1972]

Maynard Ferguson - "Gonna Fly Now" - Conquistador (1976)
["Rocky" 1972]

            3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Brad Mehldau - "I Concentrate On You" - Blues and Ballads (2014)* 
["Broadway Melody of 1940"]

Gary McFarland - "Love Theme from David and Lisa" - Point of Departure (1963)

Carol Bach-y-Rita

["David and Lisa" 1962]

Freddie Hubbard - "The Godfather (Theme)" - Sky Dive (1972) CTI MOMENT 
["The Godfather" 1972]

Carol Bach-y-Rita - "While My Lady Sleeps" - Minha Casa (2016)*
["The Chocolate Soldier" 1941)

Joe Policastro - "More Than a Woman" - Pops! (2016)*
["Saturday Night Fever" 1977]

Giacomo Gates - "I Fall In Love Too Easily" - Miles Tones (2012) 
["Anchors Aweigh" 1945]

Albare - "Mission Impossible" - Dreamtime (2016)*
["Mission Impossible" - 1996]

Hour Two:

Nels Cline - "The Search for Kat" - Lovers (2013)
["Breakfast at Tifanny's" 1962]

Henry Mancini - "Something for Cat" - Breakfast at Tiffany's (1962)
["Breakfast at Tifanny's" 1962]

Sarah Vaughan - "Moon River" - Sings the Mancini Songbook (1964)
["Breakfast at Tifanny's" 1962]

Allison Adams Tucker - "Pure Imagination" - Wanderlust (2016)* 

Keith Brown

["Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" 1971]

Leslie Odom Jr. - "Cheer Up Charlie" - Leslie Odom Jr. (2016)*
["Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" 1971]

Keith Brown - "(I've Got a) Golden Ticket" - The Journey (2015) 
["Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" 1971]

George Benson - "Gentle Rain" - Beyond The Blue Horizon (1971) CTI MOMENT
["The Gentle Rain" 1966] 

Wayne Bergeron - "James Bond Medley" - Full Circle (2015)*

Bill Frisell - "You Only Live Twice" - When You Wish Upon a Star (2015)
["You Only Live Twice" 1967]

Hour Three:

~ Flagler Files ~

Dexter Gordon - "Manhã de Carnaval" - Gettin' Around (1965) - The Ride Home 
["Black Orpheus" 1959]

Carol Saboya - "A Felicidade" - Carolina (2016)*
["Black Orpheus" 1959]

Cal Tjader - "Samba de Orfeu" - Soul Bird (1965)

Marquis Hill

["Black Orpheus" 1959]

Marquis Hill - "Smile" - The Way We Play (2016)*
["Modern Times" 1939]

Gonzalo Rubalcaba - "Love Letters" - Suite 4 y 20 (1992) 
["Love Letters" 1945]

Sonny Rollins - "When You Wish Upon a Star" - & Co 1964 (1964)
["Pinocchio" 1940]

Silvanos Monasterios - "Never Let Me Go" - Partly Sunny (2014)*
["The Scarlet Hour" 1956]

Maynard Ferguson - "Love Theme From the Vilachi Papers" - MF Horns 3 (1973)
["The Vilachi Papers" 1972]

Hour Four:

Bill Frisell - "Psycho Pt I & 2" - When You Wish Upon a Star (2015)* 
["Psycho" 1960]

Bria Skonberg - "Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be) - Bria Skonberg (2016)*  
["The Man Who Knew Too Much" 1956]

Tony Foster - "Theme from the Pink Panther" - Project Paradiso (2016)*
["The Pink Panther" 1963]

Freddie Hubbard - "The Summer Knows" - Skagly (1979)

Matt Baker

 
["Summer of '42" 1971]

Matt Baker - "Theme from The Apartment" - Almost Blue (2015)*
["The Apartment" 1960]

Leslie Pintchik - "Charade" - True North (2015) 
["Charade" 1963]

Albare - "The Magnificent Seven" - Dreamtime (2015)*
["The Magnificent Seven" 1960]

Jack McDuff - "Theme from 'The Carpetbaggers'" - The Dynamic Jack McDuff (1964)
["The Carpetbaggers" 1964 ]

Bobby Hutcherson - "Theme from Blow-Up" - Oblique (1967)
["Blow-Up" 1966]

Playlist for 10-11-2016 WFCF - Thelonious!

Thelonious Monk - Gabriel Hernan Ramirez
drawing
Visit the artist's website!

This week's theme is Thelonious in celebration of what would be his 99th birthday! (10/10/17) 30+ compositions by the great pianist/composer performed by a myriad of Jazz Greats - in no particular order! Artists include Bill Frisell, Fred Katz, Joey DeFrancesco, Joe Lovano, Milt Jackson, Chick Corea, Steve Turre & Kenny Drew Jr.! Tune in Tuesday Oct. 11th and help us also celebrate the survival of the station (WFCF) from Hurricane Matthew. Click here to listen 3-5pm and resuming 5:15-7pm eastern. See you then! - Kendo


Hour One:

The Power Quintet - "We See" - High Art (2015)*

Larry Coryell - "Well You Needn't" - Tricycles (2002)

3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Melissa Aldana - "Ask Me Now" - Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio (2013)

Miles Davis - "Bemsha Swing" - Miles Davis All Stars Vol 2 (1954)

Etienne Charles - "Green Chimneys" - Creole Soul (2012)

fun & relaxed jazz from this duo!

Houston Person/Ron Carter - "Blue Monk" - Chemistry (2015)

Eric Reed - "Work" - The Adventurous Monk (2013)

Bill Frisell - "Misterioso" - Bill Frisell Ron Carter Paul Motian (2005)

Hour Two:

Bud Powell - "52nd Street Thme" - The Amazing Bud Powell Vol 1 (1949)

Jim Rotundi - "Monk's Mood" - Dark Blue (2015)

Chick Corea - "Trinkle, Tinkle" - That Old Feeling (1996)

Wynton Marsalis - "Think of One" - Think of One (1983)

Carmen McRae - "You Know Who (I Mean You) - Carmen Sings Monk (1988)

Tim Ray - "Monk's Dream" - Windows (2014)*

Eric Hargett - "Hackensack" - Steppin' Up (2011)*

Joe Lovano - "Pannonica" - Joyous Encounter (2004)

Bill Frisell - "Raise Four" - Bill Frisell Ron Carter Paul Motian (2005)

Hour Three:

~ Flagler Files~

Roy Haynes - "Bright Mississippi" - Roy Haynes Trio (1999) The Ride Home!

Thelonious Monk - "Hornin' In" - Genius of Modern Music (1952)

Thelonious Monk in NY by Don Hunstein

Joe Chambers - "Epistrophy" - Landscapes (2015)

Kenny Drew Jr. - "In Walked Bud" - Kenny Drew Jr. (1991)

Joey DeFrancesco - "Monk's Dream" - One for Rudy (2013)

Steve Turre - "Reflections" - Colors for the Masters ()*

Hour Four:

Marquis Hill - "Straight No Chaser" - The Way We Play (2016)*

Jared Gold - "Let's Call This" - Metropolitan Rhythm (2014)

Steve Fidyk - "Evidence" - Allied Forces (2016)*

Lynne Arriale - "Bye-Ya" - Solo (2011)

Fine session from a great drummer & label!

Jordan Young - "Rhythm-a-Ning" - Jazz Jukebox (2015)*

Peter Leitch - "Nutty" - Landscape (2014)

Matt Baker - "Reflections" - Almost Blue (2015)*

TJ Kirk - "Humph" - TJ Kirk (1994)

Fred Katz - "Ruby My Dear" - Fred Katz and His Music (comp)

Joey Alexander - "Criss Cross" - Countdown (2016)*

Playlist for 10-4-2016 WFCF - Beatles A-Z!

Fab Four!

Today's show is themed Beatles A-Z! Going alphabetically through 40+ Beatles songs done by Jazz Greats, including items new to the library by Bud Shank, Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan, Quincy Jones, as well as classic cuts by Wes, Grant Green, Ray Bryant, Lynne Arriale, Lena Horne & more as well as new releases! Tune in by clicking here today (Tues 10/4) from 3-5pm eastern and then resuming at around 5:15 til 7. See you there! - Kendo

Hour One:

Wes Montgomery - "A Day in the Life" - A Day in the Life (1967)

Quincy Jones - "A Hard Day's Night" - Golden Boy (1964)

3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Count Basie - "All My Loving" - Basie's Beatle Bag (1966)

Brad Mehldau - "And I Love Her" - Blues and Ballads (2012)*

Tom Tallitsch - "Because" - Gratitude (2015)

Ashleigh Smith - "Blackbird" - Sunkissed (2016)*

Ella Fitzgerald - "Can't Buy Me Love" - Hello Dolly (1964)

Jacky Terrason - "Come Together" - Take This (2014)

Karl Latham - "Day Tripper" - Living Standards (2015)

Brad Mehldau - "Dear Prudence" - Largo (2002)

Hour Two:

Bobby McFerrin - "Drive My Car" - Simple Pleasures (1988)

Collins-Shepley Galaxy - "Eight Days a Week" - Lennon McCartney Live (1971)

Wes Montgomery - "Eleanor Rigby" - A Day in the Life (1967)

Sergio Mendes - "The Fool On the Hill" - Fool On the Hill (1968)

Ken Peplowski - "For No One" - Maybe September (2012)

Sarah Vaughan - "Get Back" - Songs of the Beatles (1977)

George Benson - "Golden Slumbers - You Never Give Me Your Money" - The Other Side of Abbey Road" (1969)

Carolina Saboya - "Hello Goodbye" - Carol (2016)

Lynne Arriale - "Here Comes the Sun" - Convergence (2010)

Ben Paterson - "Here There and Everywhere" Essential Elements (2011)

Ray Bryant - "Hey Jude" - MCMLXX (1970)

Roger Kellaway - "I'll Follow the Sun" - The Roger Kellaway Trio (1965)

Hour Three:

~ Flagler Files~

Bud Shank - "I Am The Walrus" - Magical Mystery (1969)

Grant Green - "I Want to Hold Your Hand" - I Want to Hold Your Hand (1965)

Scott Morgan - "I Will" - Songs of Life (2016)*

Jordan Young - "I'm Only Sleeping" - Jazz Jukebox (2015)*

La Lucha - "I'm So Tired" - La Lucha (2012) - 4:15

Lena Horne/Gabor Szabo - "In My Life" - Lena & Gabor (1969)

Brai Skonberg - "Julia" - Into Your Own (2014)

Cal Tjader - "Lady Madonna" - Plugs In (1969)

Ray Bryant - "Let It Be" - MCMLXX (1970)

Hour Four:

Collins-Shepley Galaxy - "Magical Mystery Tour" - Lennon McCartney Live (1971)

Willie Bobo - "Michelle" - Uno Dos Tres (1966)

Gerald Stockton - "Norwegian Wood" - My Gentle Breeze (2015)

Kenia - "Nowhere Man" - On We Go (2016)*

Paul Desmond - "Ob-la-di Ob-la-da" - Summertime (1968)

George Benson - "Octopus' Garden/The End" - The Other Side of Abbey Road

George Benson - "Oh Darling" - The Other Side of Abbey Road

Collins-Shepley Galaxy - "Penny Lane" - Lennon McCartney Live (1971)

Lena Horne/Gabor Szabo - "Rocky Racoon" - Lena & Gabor (1969)

Jack Sheldon - "She's A Woman" - Live at Don Mupo's Golden Nugget (1965)

Jon Davis - "Yesterday" - Changes Over Time (2015)

Karl Latham - "Tomorrow Never Knows" - Living Standards (2015)