Playlist for 2-23-2021 WFCF - 1949 and Three-Sided Dreams!

 

Seriously odd artwork but fun music!

For the first hour of this show we heard fun jazz from the year 1949, some of it obscure, some of it renowned. During the third hour we listened to the first two sides of Rahsaan Roland Kirks "The Case of the Three Sided Dream in Audio Color". Other featured albums included Freddie Hubbard's "Keep Your Soul Together" and Nestor Torres' "Jazz Flute Traditions. Plenty of new jazz to boot! Thanks to all who joined me! - Kendo

Hour One: (1949)

Kai Winding - "A Night On Bop Mountain" - Trombone By Three (1949)

Kai Winding - "Waterworks" - Trombone By Three (1949)

            3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Ella Fitzgerald - "Black Coffee" - 75th Birthday Celebration (1949)

Bud Powell - "You Go To My Head" - The Amazing Bud Powell Vol 1 (1949)

Lee Konitz - "Tautology" - Subconscious-Lee (1949)

Miles Davis Nonet - "Budo" - Birth of the Cool (1949)

Miles Davis Nonet - "Israel" - Birth of the Cool (1949)

Miles Davis Nonet - "Godchild" - Birth of the Cool (1949)

Art Tatum - "Dancing In the Dark" - Solo Piano (1949)

Sonny Stitt & Bud Powell - "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" - Sonny Stitt and Bud Powell (1949)

Sonny Stitt & Bud Powell - "Sunset" - Sonny Stitt and Bud Powell (1949)

Lee Konitz - "Subconscious-Lee" - Subconscious-Lee (1949)

Stan Getz and His Four Brothers - "Five Brothers" - The Brothers (1949)

Hour Two:

Nestor Torres - "Swingin' Shepherds Blues" - Jazz Flute Traditions (2017)

Nestor Torres - "Serenade to a Cuckoo" - Jazz Flute Traditions (2017)

Dexter Gordon - "Hanky Panky" - Clubhouse (1965)

Gene Ammons - "Answer Me My Love" - ??

Red Garland - "Soft Winds" - High Pressure (1957)

Nestor Torres - "Memphis Underground" - Jazz Flute Traditions (2017)

J.J. Johnson - "Elysee" - Trombone By Three (1949)

Hour Three:

            ~ The Break Room ~

Rahsaan Roland Kirk - "Conversation" - The Case of the 3 Sided Dream In Audio Color (1975)

Rahsaan Roland Kirk - "Bye Bye Blackbird" - "The Case of...." (1975)

Rahsaan Roland Kirk - "Horses" - "The Case of...." (1975)

Rahsaan Roland Kirk - "High Heel Sneakers" - "The Case of...." (1975)

Rahsaan Roland Kirk - "Dream" - "The Case of...." (1975)

Rahsaan Roland Kirk - "Echoes of Primitive Ohio and Chili Dogs" - "The Case of...." (1975)

Rahsaan Roland Kirk - "The Entertainer (Done In the Style of the Blues)" (1975)

Rahsaan Roland Kirk - "Freaks for the Festival" - "The Case of...." (1975)

Rahsaan Roland Kirk - "Dream" - "The Case of...." (1975)

Rahsaan Roland Kirk - "Portrait of Those Beautiful Ladies" (1975)

Rahsaan Roland Kirk - "Dream" - "The Case of...." (1975)

Joe Traina - "'SWonderful" - Tip of the Hat (2020)*

Amanda Tosoff - "A Dream Within a Dream" - Earth Voices (2020)*

Foster Joseph - "Now You're Mine" - Foster (2020)*

Hour Four:

Freddie Hubbard - "Keep Your Soul Together" - Keep Your Soul Together (1973) CTI Moment

Diego Rivera - "Marabi" - Indigenous (2019)*

Mike Scott - "Sol Minor" - Collecting Things (2020)*

Joe Chambers - "Ecaroh" - Samba de Maracatu (2020)*

Lee Ritenour - "Storyteller" - Dreamcatcher (2020)*

Freddie Hubbard - "Spirits of Trane" - Keep Your Soul Together (1973) CTI Moment

Playlist for 2-9-2021 WFCF - Soul Jazz Tuesday II

 

This show is the second installment of Soul Jazz Tuesday (and confirmation that it was, in fact, going to be 'a thing'). A few albums were featured including "Mississippi Gambler" by Herbie Mann, both "Several Shades of Jade" & "Breeze From the East" by Cal Tjader, Eddie Henderson's "Heritage" and Wes Montgomery's "A Day In the Life". Thanks to all who tuned in and kept it fun! - Kendo

Hour One:

Freddie Hubbard - "Gittin' Down" - The Black Angel (1969)

Michel Camilo - "Poinciana" - Thru My Eyes (1996)

Herbie Mann - "I've Been Loving You Too Long" - Mississippi Gambler (1972)

Highly enjoyable & solid album!

Thom Rotella - "Come Together" - Storyline (2019)

Cal Tjader - "Theme From Burke's Law" - Breeze From The East (1963)

Herbie Hancock - "Blind Man, Blind Man" - My Point of View (1963)

Wes Montgomery - "When a Man Loves a Woman" - A Day In the Life (1967) request

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

McCoy Tyner & Jackie McLean -It's About Time - It's About Time (1985)

Dave Stryker - "Inner City Blues" - Baker's Circle (2019)*

Hour Two:

Cal Tjader - "Borneo" - Several Shades of Jade (1963)

?? - don't remember what I played here :/

John Scofield - "Hottentot" - A Go Go (1998)

Stanley Clarke - "Quiet Afternoon" - School Days (1976)

Herbie Mann - "Mississippi Gambler" - Mississippi Gambler (1972)

Roland Kirk - "Why Don't They Know" - Now Please Don't You Cry, Beautiful Edith (1967)

Roland Kirk - "Once In a While" - Rip, Rig and Panic (1965)

I grew up with this one. Not his jazziest, but has
it's moments for sure!

Yellowjackets + WDR Big Band - "Mile High" - Jackets XL (2019)*

Howard Roberts - "It's About Time" - Out of Sight (But "In" Sound) (1968)

Howard Roberts - "Spooky" - Out of Sight (But "In" Sound) (1968)

Hour Three:

            ~ The Break Room ~

Wes Montgomery - "Bumpin'" - Bumpin' (1965) - The Ride Home!

George Cables - "Inner Glow" - Cables' Vision (1979)

Lee Morgan - "Cornbread" - Cornbread (1965)

Herbie Mann - "Dippermouth" - Mississippi Gambler (1972)

Grover Washington Jr. - "Georgia On My Mind" - Inner City Blues (1971) CTI Moment

Hour Four:

George Benson - "Here Comes the Sun/I Want You (She's So Heavy)" - The Other Side of Abbey Road (1968) CTI Moment

Cal Tjader - "Fuji" - Breeze From the East (1963)

Cal hated this album, but I think it has it's merits!

Gary Burton - "Tying Up Loose Ends" - The New Quartet (1973)

Allan Harris - "I Grew Up (Kate's Place)" - Kate's Soulfood ()*

Donald Byrd - "Flight Time" - Black Byrd (1972)

Cal Tjader - "Almond Tree" - Several Shades of Jade (1963)

Eddie Henderson - "Inside You" - Heritage (1976)

Eddie Henderson - "Accuphuncture" - Heritage (1976)

Playlist for 1-12-2021 WFCF - Music You Need To Hear!

There was no theme for this show per se, just some seriously solid tracks I've been wanting to spin your way for a while now, and this was the day to do it! Hope you enjoyed and thanks for tuning in! - Kendo

Hour One:

Richard Howell - "Moon Over Tiburon ()*

Charlie Apicella - "Four" - Classic Guitar (2020)*

            3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Johnny Smith - "Sophisticated Lady" - Walk, Don't Run (1954)

Freddie Hubbard - "Brigitte" - Keep Your Soul Together (1973) CTI Moment

Miles Davis - "Bag's Groove" - Bag's Groove (1954)

Jesse Ryan - "Big Ole Shoes" - Bridges (2019)*

Larry Young - "Moontrane" - Unity (1965)

Hour Two:

Pat Metheny Dave Holland Roy Haynes - "All The Things You Are" - Question and Answer (1989)

Johnny Smith - "I'll Remember April" - Walk, Don't Run (1954)

Anita O'Day/Cal Tjader - "It Shouldn't Happen To A Dream" - Time for 2 (1962)

Art Farmer - Benny Golson - "Mox Nix" - Meet the Jazztet (1960)

Dave Brubeck Quartet - "Three to Get Ready" - Time Outtakes (1959)*

Jan Johansson - "Vem kan segla forutan vind" - Musik genom fyra sekler med (1968)

Jan Johansson - "Herr Peder och Malfred" - Musik genom fyra sekler med (1968)

Jan Johansson - "Vi ska stalla till en roliger dans" - Musik genom fyra sekler med (1968)

Jan Johansson - "Ack hogaste himmel" - Musik genom fyra sekler med (1968)

Bud Powell - "Marmalade" - Time Waits (1958)

Wolfgang Lackerschmid & Chet Baker - "Rue Gregoire du Tour" - Quintet Sessions 1979 (1979)*

Hour Three:

            ~ The Break Room ~

Charles Lloyd - "Slugs' Blues" - Manhattan Stories (1965) - The Ride Home!

Jimmy Giuffre - "Syncopate" - New York Concerts (1965)

Jimmy Witherspoon - "Money's Gettin' Cheaper" - Walk on the Wild Side

Sonny Stitt & Jack McDuff - "Sunday" - Soul Shack (1963)

Quincy Jones - "Happy Faces" - The Birth of a Band (1959)

Hour Four:

Freddie Hubbard - "Whistling Away the Dark" - Sweet Return (1983)

Hampton Hawes - "Hip" - For Real! (1958)

Lenny White - "Prince of the Sea" - Venusian Summer (1975)

Doug Carn - "Dimensions" - Jazz Is Dead 5 (2020)*

Scott Routenberg - "Intro (enter)" & "Light Smasher" - (Inside) (2020)*

Gil Melle - "Four Moons" - (1952)

Lonnie Smith - "Dancin' In An Easy Groove" - The Lost Grooves (1969)

Playlist for 12-29-2020 - Last Show of 2020!

Another dreamy 70's ECM release

This show was just grab what looks good and go, along with Christmas gifts received like "J & K", "Legends of Acid Jazz: Sonny Phillips", Pat Metheny "Passengers", Herbie Hancock "The Prisoner" and more! It's also the show that gave me the idea for "Soul Jazz Tuesdays".  Thanks to all who listened - Happy New Year!! - Kendo

Hour One:

Tom Keenlyside - "The Summer Knows" - Fortune Teller (2019)*

Chance Hayden - "Squeeze Tight" - Grab & Go (2020)*

Julian Gerstin - "Spirula Spirula" - Littoral Zone (2020)*

Tom Keenlyside - "The Fortune Teller" - Fortune Teller (2019)*

Killer UK recording from Maynard

Maynard Ferguson - "Move Over" - Maynard Ferguson (1971)

Maynard Ferguson - "Fire and Rain" - Maynard Ferguson (1971)

Sonny Phillips - "Be Yourself" - Sure 'Nuff (1969)

Cal Tjader - "Bachi" - Hurucan ()

Twink - "Pussy Cat" - The Broken Record ()

Hour Two:

Lou Donaldson - "Rev. Moses" - Alligator Bogaloo (1967)

Sonny Phillips - "Sure 'Nuff, Sure 'Nuff" - Sure 'Nuff (1969)

Return to Forever - "Sorceress" - Returns (2008)

Stacey Kent - "O Barquinho" - The Changing Lights (2013)

Gary Burton Quartet with Eberhard Weber - "Sea Journey" - Passengers (1977)

George Kahn Quartet - "I Feel Pretty" - Dreamcatcher (2020)*

Hot debut from Melvin!

Melvin Sparks - "Charlie Brown" - Sparks! (1970)

Hour Three:

            ~ The Break Room ~

Freddie Hubbard - "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" - Sweet Return (1983) The Ride Home!

Herbie Hancock - "He Who Lives in Fear" - The Prisoner (1969)

Jorge Garcia - "Black Dog" - Crossover (2019)*

J & K - "Mojo" - Stonebone (1969) CTI Moment

Hour Four:

Milt Jackson - Joe Pass - Ray Brown - "Moonglow" - The Big 3 (1975)

Melvin Sparks - "Spark Plug" - Spark Plug (1971)

Miles Davis - "Double Image" - Double Image (1970)

Pat Metheny Quartet with Eberhard Weber - "B>G (Midwestern Nights Dream) - Passengers (1977)

Freddie Hubbard - "Straight Life" - Straight Life (197?) CTI Moment

50 years old - hard to believe - still so relevant & fresh!

Playlist for 3-3-2020 WFCF - 1969 and 1996!

1996 live recording featuring 3 giants from 3 jazz generations.

For today's show we explored what was happening in jazz in 1969 (Quincy Jones, Bill Evans, Tony Williams Lifetime, Brother Jack McDuff...) and in 1996 (Bill Watrous Big Band, Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau, Andy McKee, TJ Kirk...) and heard some quality tracks from the new jazz shelf! You can listen to a portion of the show below. Thanks to all who tuned in, and thank you for stopping by! - Kendo

Hour One:

Michel Camilo - "Poinciana" - Thru My Eyes (1996)

Emie R Roussel Trio - "Yatse Club" - Rythme de Passage (2019)*

             3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Gina Kronstadt - "A Simple Man" - October Comes Too Soon (2019)*

1996 Mehldau still sounds fresh.

Brad Mehldau - "I Fall In Love Too Easily" - The Art of the Trio Vol 1 (1996)

Quincy Jones - "Love and Peace" - Walking In Space (1969) CTI Moment

Freddie Hubbard - "Coral Keys" - The Black Angel (1969)

David Newman - "Amandla" - Under a Woodstock Moon (1996)

Alex Levin Trio - "A Sunday Kind of Love" - A Sunday Kind of Love (2019)

Hour Two:

Bill Evans Trio - "Who Can I Turn To" - You're Gonna Hear From Me (1969)

Jeremy Pelt - "Ebony Moonbeams" - The Art of Intimacy Vol 1 (2019)*

Andy McKee and NEXT - "All Blues" - Root Down (1996)

Marlena Shaw - "Out of This World" - Dangerous (1996)

Burton's band transitioning in 1969...

Gary Burton - "Arise, Her Eyes" - Throb (1969)

Gary Burton - "Prime Time" - Throb (1969)

Gary Burton - "Throb" - Throb (1969)

Jenny Davis - "And What If I Don't" - Rearranged (2019)*

Elsa Nilsson - "Changed In Mid Air" - Hindsight (2019)

Hour Three:

            ~ Flagler Footnotes ~

Grant Green - "Upshot" - Funk in France (1970) - The Ride Home!

Herbie Mann - "Flying" - Stone Flute (1969)

Bill Watrous - "Space Available" - Space Available (1996)

Jackie in '96 with a very creative pianist.

Jackie McLean & Junko Onishi - "Bag's Groove" - Hat Trick (1996)

Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau, Charlie Haden - "Cherokee" - Alone Together (1996)

Hour Four:

Michael Zilber - "Joshua" - East West Music for Big Bands (2018)*

T.J. Kirk - "Stomping Grounds/Untitled Instrumental/Green Chimneys" - If Four Was One (1996)

Brother Jack McDuff - "Get It Up" - Gin and Orange (1969)

Grant Green - "I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door I'll Get It Myself)" - Carryin' On (1969)

The Tony Williams Lifetime - "Vashkar" - Emergency! (1969)

1969 Tony - Powerful sounds in an era of change.

Brother Jack McDuff - "Gin and Orange" - Gin and Orange (1969)

Herbie Mann - "Ooh, Baby" - Live at the Whiskey A Go Go (1969)

Playlist for 2-25-2020 WFCF - 1980!

1980 Art Pepper with strings (and Howard Roberts)

On this show we listened to albums created and performances captured in the year 1980 featuring music by Herbie Hancock, Weather Report, Art Pepper, Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Barron, Art Blakey, Gary Wofsey and more along with excellent cuts from the new jazz shelf! Thanks to all who joined me and thank you for stopping by! - Kendo

Hour One:

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers - "Soulful Mister Timmons" - Recorded Live at Bubba's (1980)

            3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Billie Holiday - "Good Morning, Heartache" - (1946)

Eric Alexander - "Some Other Time" - Eric Alexander with Strings (2013)*

Anita O'Day - "I Fall In Love Too Easily" - Anita! (1955)

Michael Wolff - "Bounce" -  Bounce (2019)

Raquel Cepeda - "Canto De Ossanha" - Passion - Latin Jazz (2019)*

Herbie Hancock - "Spiraling Prism" - Mr. Hands (1980)

Posthumous release recording in 1980

Bill Evans - "Knit for Mary F." - Letter to Evan (1980)

Hour Two:

Kenny Barron/Dave Holland Trio - "Porto Alegre" - Without Deception (2019)*

Kenny Barron - "Golden Lotus" - Golden Lotus (1980)

Benny Benack III - "Social Call" - A Lot of Livin' to Do (2019)*

Art Pepper - "Here's That Rainy Day" - Winter Moon (1980)

Weather Report - "Night Passage" - Night Passage (1980)

Herbie Hancock - "4 AM" - Mr. Hands (1980)

Freddie Hubbard - "Red Clay" - The Best Of Live and In Studio (1980)

Hour Three:

Possibly Hutcherson's wildest album cover!

            ~ Flagler Footnotes ~

Bobby Hutcherson - "Ivory Coast" - Un Poco Loco (1980) - The Ride Home!

Bobby Hutcherson - "Ebony Moonbeams" - Un Poco Loco (1980)

Oscar Peterson - "Lulu's Back In Town" - My Favorite Instrument (1980)

Bill Evans - "Emily" - Letter To Evan (1980)

Harry Connick Jr. - "You Do Something to Me" - True Love (2019)*

Kenny back on acoustic piano in 1980.

Oscar Peterson - "Take the 'A' Train" - My Favorite Instrument (1980)

Negroni's Trio - "Tempus Fugit" - Acustico (2019)*

Kenny Barron - "Dewdrop" - Golden Lotus (1980)

Hour Four:

Lafayette Harris Jr. - "Things Ain't What They Used To Be" - You Can't Lose With the Blues (2018)*

Freddie Hubbard - "Sunshine Lady" - Mistral (1980)

Herbie Hancock - "Just Around the Corner" - Mr. Hands (1980)

Gary's 1980 recording

Weather Report - "Dream Clock" - Night Passage (1980)

Gary Wofsey - "Close to the Edge" - Kef's Pool (1980)

Herbie Hancock - "Textures" - Mr. Hands (1980)

Weather Report - "Three Views of a Secret" - Night Passage (1980)

Playlist for 2-18-2020 WFCF - Featured Albums!

photo by Julia Kuzenkov

More featured albums than you can shake a stick at on this show including "Sky Dive" by Freddie Hubbard, Mulgrew Miller's "Wingspan", "Waterbed" by Herbie Mann and "Roll Call" by Hank Mobley. Mixed in was plenty of new jazz along with a song called "Mr. Baggy Pants". Thanks to all who tuned in and thank you for stopping by! - Kendo

Hour One:

Mulgrew Miller - "Soul-Leo" - Wingspan (1987)

Nat "King" Cole - "Off The Beam" - Hittin' the Ramp (1939)*

            3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Hank Mobley - "The More I See You" - Roll Call (1960)

Andrea Brachfeld - " Waters of March" - Brazilian Whispers (2019)*

Aaron Diehl - "A Story Often Told, Seldom Heard" - The Vagabond (2019)*

Freddie Hubbard - "Ride Like the Wind" - Ride Like The Wind (1981)

Mulgrew Miller - "Wingspan" - Wingspan (1987)

Joshua Redman & Brooklyn Rider - "Flash" - Sun On Sand (2015)*

Hour Two:

George Cables - "Mr. Baggy Pants" - Looking for the Light (2003)

Jeff Rupert & George Garzone - "Bahia" - The Ripple (2019)*

Herbie Mann - "Bang Bang!" - Waterbed (1975)

Jason Tiemann - "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" - T-Man (2019)*

Freddie Hubbard - "The Godfather" - Sky Dive (1972) CTI Moment

Benny Bennack III - "Won't You Be My Neighbor" - A Lot of Livin' To Do (2019)*

Mulgrew Miller - "One's Own Room" - Wingspan (1987)

Massimo Biolcati - "Boo Boo's Birthday" - Incontre (2019)*

Hour Three:

            ~ Flagler Footnotes ~

Hank Mobley - "Roll Call" - Roll Call (1960) - The Ride Home!

Freddie Hubbard - "Sky Dive" - Sky Dive (1972) CTI Moment

Mulgrew Miller - "The Eleventh Hour - early take" - Wingspan (1987)

Mulgrew Miller - "I Remember You" - Wingspan (1987)

Hour Four:

John Scofield - "Chicken Dog" - A Go Go (1998)

Twink - "Alphabent" - The Broken Record

Herbie Mann - "Deus Xango" - Waterbed (1975)

Grant Green - "Ease Back" - Carryin' On (1969)

Freddie Hubbard - "Condition Alpha" - Ride Like The Wind (1981)

Bill Cunliffe Trio - "The Continental" - Sunrise Over Molokai (2018)*

Herbie Mann - "Comin' Home Baby" - waterbed (1975)

John Scofield - "Green Tea" - A Go Go (1998)


Grant Green - "Upshot" - Carryin' On (1969)

Playlist for 1-28-2020 WFCF - This and That!

The new kid on the block is good!

There wasn't a theme for this week's show, just some albums I've been itching to share and a lot of new good music coming into the station! We did do some two-fers for some of the albums including Thelonious Monk, Brother Jack McDuff, Jeff Rupert and George Garzone and Joe Farrell. Thanks to all who tuned in and thank you for stopping by! - Kendo

Hour One:

Jeff Rupert & George Garzone - "Bahia" - The Ripple (2019)*

Erroll Garner - "That's My Kick" - That's My Kick (1966)*

            3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Lolly Allen - "If You Could See Me Now" - Coming Home (2016)*

Miles Davis - "It Your Own Sweet Way" - Workin' (1956)

Way cool album cover, excellent pairing.

Art Farmer with Joe Henderson - "Blue Montreaux" - Yama (1979) CTI Moment

Ella Fitzgerald - "I've Got a Crush On You" - Ella at Zardi's (1956)

Jeff Rupert & George Garzone - "Go-Go" - The Ripple (2019)*

Herbie Hancock - "People Music" - Secrets (1976)

Hour Two:

Grachan Moncur III - "Air Raid" - Evolution (1963)

Justin Varnes - "Prelude" - Survival Instinct (2019)*

Justin Varnes - "Fergimore Island, TX BLues" - Survival Instinct (2019)*

The New Tony Williams Lifetime - "Fred" - Believe It (1975)

Aaron Diehl - photo by Jaime Kahn

Aaron Diehl - "Polaris" - The Vagabond (2019)*

Oliver Nelson - "Butch and Butch" - The Blues and the Abstract Truth (1961)

Herbie Hancock - "Water Torture" - Crossings (1972)

Hour Three:

            ~ Flagler Footnotes ~

Freddie Hubbard - "Outer Forces" - Blue Spirits (1965) - The Ride Home!

Alex Levin - "Sweets" - A Sunday Kind of Love (2019)*

Charlie Mingus - "Four Hands" - The Jazz Experiments of Charlie Mingus (1954)

Jack McDuff - "Minha Saudade" - A Change Is Gonna Come (1966)

John Bailey - "Pebbles in the Pocket" - Can You Imagine? (2019)*

Hour Four:

Nat "King" Cole - "There's No Anesthetic for Love" - Hittin' the Ramp (1939)*

Never get tired of this album cover!

Nat "King" Cole - "Riffin' at the Bar-B-Q" - Hittin' the Ramp (1939)*

Thelonious Monk - "Liza" - The Unique Thelonious Monk (1956)

Thelonious Monk - "Memories of You" - The Unique Thelonious Monk (1956)

Jack McDuff - "A Change Is Gonna Come" - A Change Is Gonna Come (1966)

Hubert Laws - "Fire and Rain" - Afro-Classic (1970) CTI Moment

Binker Golding - "I Forgot Santa Montica" - Abstractions of Reality Past and Incredible Feathers (2018)*

Joe Farrell - "Song of the WInd" - Joe Farrell Quartet (1970)

Joe Farrell - "Follow Your Heart" - Joe Farrell Quartet (1970)

Retro Review - Freddie Hubbard "Ride Like the Wind"

Freddie Hubbard "Ride Like the Wind" (recorded 1981)

Score: 2/5
It may appear I'm shooting fish in a barrel for this one, but in my defense I approve of albums others disdain, and I'm frequently at odds with the chaps over at Allmusic, whose occasionally scary opinions seem to hold much weight in jazzlandia.

First, let it briefly be said that there will never be another trumpet player as good as Freddie Hubbard in his prime. There is no adjective to describe just how impossibly good he was, from tone to technique. Secondly, this album was recorded live to two tracks. For that, it sounds really good, and the performances are exceptionally tight from the orchestra and brass sections.

Track by Track (briefly):

"Hubbard's Cupboard" is one of three originals by the album's arranger and conductor Allyn Ferguson. All three are largely mediocre. At times, Ferguson seems to be trying to channel the ghost of Isaac Hayes' writing on the "Shaft" soundtrack. Overall not bad, not great, just kinda fun.

"This Is It" (yes the Kenny Loggins hit) suffers from a tepid arrangement, odd register choices for (or by) Hubbard and a faster tempo. Without the motivational lyrics, it is not a well suited instrumental and is the album's clinker.

Ferguson's soul ballad "Condition Alpha" is the best of his three. No memorable melody here, but the vibe is quite nice and Freddie throws in an exceptional and extended acrobatic solo. Again, the strings during this solo hearken of "Shaft"; in a good way.

"Ride Like the Wind" starts out rather tamely, but Freddie digs in from his solo onward. Ferguson oddly makes us wait for that killer refrain ("bah-dah-dah-dup...) and I kind of like that he did that. That said, the orchestra is strangely laid back on them; and even more sadly, Freddie's obvious inspiration during the last refrain gets faded out immediately. Still, his fire makes this the stand out track.

Side two opens with "Birdland", a composition that many arrangers have difficulty pulling away from every note of the original Weather Report version. Ferguson also succumbs, but he at least tries to alter here and there. Another good solo from Hubbard and some decent energy from the brass lift this track up a bit; but it's still not something you're gonna share with friends or post on social media.

Then we are confronted with yet another version of Hubbard's ballad "Brigitte". Even he sounds a bit tired of it (the best version can be found on the 1973 album "Keep Your Soul Together"). Ferguson choice to make the "hook" into an awkward fusion samba literally takes all the punch out of it. The ending sounds like a justifiably exasperated sigh.

Ferguson's "Two Moods For Freddie" borrows so much from "I Remember Clifford" that it's disappointing when you discover that it isn't. Things do get cooking a bit (another fusion samba) with Freddie's improvisation, and thankfully trombonist Bill Watrous gets a brief solo as well.

So all in all, if you spot a good copy for $1 (I got mine for $3) and you're either curious or just love every note Freddie plays, then pick it up. Otherwise, forget about this one guilt free.

Playlist for 1-7-2020 WFCF - Holiday Haul!

Mid 70's Milestone release with George Duke and Oscar Brashear.

This week we featured music I received as Christmas presents including albums by Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Oliver Nelson, Freddie Hubbard, Gil Evans and more plus great selections from the new jazz shelf! Thanks for tuning in and stopping by! - Kendo

Hour One:

Oliver Nelson - "Stolen Moments" - The Blues and the Abstract Truth" (1961)

Tremendous.

           3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Bill Cunliffe Trio - "The Continental" - Sunrise Over Molokai (2018)*

Christina Watson - "So This Is Love" - So This Is Love (2018)*

Wes Montgomery - "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" - The Incredible Jazz Guitar (1960)

Hank Mobley - "The Steppin' Stone" - Third Season (1967)

Gil Evans - "Stratosphunk" - Out of the Cool (1960)

Freddie Hubbard - Soul Surge" - Blue Spirits (1965)

Hour Two:

Nicholas Payton - "Tea for Two" - Relaxin' With Nick (2019)*

Oliver Nelson - "Hoe Down" - The Blues and the Abstract Truth" (1961)

Helen Merrill - "Where Flamingos Fly" - Out of the Cool (1959)

Recorded just after Happenings, much different vibe!

Joe Henderson - "Tres Palabras" - Canyon Lady (1973)

Bobby Hutcherson - "Una Muy Bonita" - Stick-Up! (1966)

Elena Gilliam, Michael Le Van - "Misty" - Then Another Turns (2019)*

Harold Land - "Our Home" - Choma (Burn) (1971)

Reid Hoyson Project - "Bottom Without a Top" - Natural Gifts (2019)*

Hour Three:

            ~ Flagler Footnotes ~

Freddie Hubbard - "Blue Spirits" - Blue Spirits (1965) - The Ride Home!

Lolly Allen - "Mambo Inn" - Coming Home (2016)*

Buddy Rich - "Wind Machine" - Just In Time (1986)*

Even the album cover is cool...

Buddy Rich - "The Trolley Song" - Just In Time (1986)*

Nat "King" Cole - "With Plenty of Money and You" - Hittin' the Ramp (1938)*

Nat "King" Cole - "Liza" - Hittin' the Ramp (1938)*

Gil Evans - "La Nevada (1959 Version)" - Out of the Cool (191959)

Gil Evans - "Stratosphunk" - Out of the Cool (1960)

Hour Four:

Volker Heuken Sextett - "Doppeltriade" - Siblings (2018)*

Herbie Hancock - "Ostinato (Suite for Angela)" - Mwandishi (1971)

Bobby Hutcherson - "Una Muy Bonita" - Stick-Up! (1966)

Mesmerizing sounds...

Herbie Hancock - "Quasar" - Crossings (1972)

Herbie Hancock - "You'll Know When You Get There" - Mwandishi (1971)