Playlist for 8-18-2015 WFCF - Vinyl and more!

neat album I picked up at Cosmic Vinyl in Titusville

This week we'll listen to some vinyl I've recently acquired by Frank Sinatra, Ray Bryant, Freddie Hubbard - and we'll do a whole side of a Riverside release (with the cool cover above) featuring their artists playing Dizzy compositions. Much more and new releases! Tune in online by clicking here and say hi on Facebook! 3-7pm eastern. See you then! - Kendo

 

Hour One:

Grant Green - "Dracula" - Green is Beautiful (1970)

Cal Tjader - "I Love Paris" - A Night At the Black Hawk (1958)

    3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Julie London - "No Moon at All" - Time for Love (comp.)

Art Pepper - "Here's That Rainy Day" - Living Legend (1975)

one of his great lps with Nelson Riddle

Frank Sinatra - "Blues in the Night" - Only the Lonely (1958)
Wes Montgomery - "Wives and Lovers" - Tequila (1966)

Joni Mitchell - "You're My Thrill" - Both Sides Now (2000)

Ray Bryant Trio - "Gotta Travel On" - Gotta Travel On (1966)

Dee Dee Bridgewater/Irvin Mayfield - "One Fine Thing" - Dee Dee's Feathers (2014)

Ramsey Lewis - "Living For the City" -- Taking Another Look (1974)

Hour Two:

Ella Fitzgerald - "Sophisticated Lady" - Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book (1957)

Dexter Gordon - "Settin' the Pace Parts I & II" - Jazz On Savoy 1957-1962

Gerry Mulligan Sextet- "Mud Bug" - Presenting the Gerry Mulligan Sextet (1955) 

Gerry Mulligan Sextet- "Sweet and Lovely" - Presenting the Gerry Mulligan Sextet (1955)

Dizzy Gillespie - "Emanon" - Odyssey 1945-1952 (1946)

Bill Warfield and the Hell's Kitchen Funk Orchestra - "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" -

another great one from Terri

Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (2015)

Terri Lyne Carrington - "When I Found You" - The Mosaic Project; Love and Soul (2015)

Bobby Broom - "No Bad Vibes" - Clean Sweep (1981)

Hour Three:

Shelly Manne & His Men - "Step Lightly" - At the Black Hawk Vol. 2 (1959) Ride Home!

Mark Buselli - "What About Me" - Untold Stories (2013)

Jack McDuff - "Moon Rappin'" - Moon Rappin' (1969)

Shelly Manne - "Comeback" - Perk Up (1967)

Carmen McRae - "Monkery's The Blues" - Carmen Sings Monk (1988)

Mark Chiriboga - "Beachside Girl" - Mark Chiriboga (2011)

Jason Miles - "Flamenco Sketches" - Miles to Miles (2005)

Thelonious Monk - "Monk's Mood" - Genius of Modern Music (1947)

Hour Four:

Freddie Hubbard - "Sky Dive" - Sky Dive ()

Duke Ellington - "Just Squeeze Me" - The Best of the Duke Ellington Centennial Edition (1946)

Jim Martinez - "Surfin' Snoopy" - Good Grief! (2015)

Giacomo Gates - "Everything Is Cool" - Everything Is Cool (2015)

Luis Podermo

Luis Perdomo - "Love Tone Poem" - Twenty-Two (2014)

David Sanborn - "Can't Get Next To You" - Time and the River (2014)

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

Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery - "King of the Road" - Further Adventures of Jimmy and Wes (1966) 

Doug Carn - "Eternal Triangle" - My Spirit (2015)

InstaCollection - Goin' Back Some!

InstaCollection! - start or freshen up your jazz collection with DJ Kendo recommendations! Buy downloads for your phone/pc using the handy links below or just load the titles into your favorite music streaming service!

This week here are 3 choice jazz cuts from way back. Technically, these would all be "sides" since they all originally were released on 10 inch 78rpms.

Louis Armstrong's Hot Five - "Struttin' With Some Barbecue" -one of those "must hear before you die" recordings, Armstrong's arrangement of his first wife's strong composition is wildly entertaining start to finish; his own trumpet playing already so distinguished and rich, his improvisatory skills matched with a rare rhythmic genius that spilled over abundantly into his singing later on. Johnny Dodds - clarinet, Kid Ory - trombone, Johnny St. Cyr - banjo and Lil Hardin (Armstrong) - piano. Recorded in Chicago 12-9-1927.

Dizzy Gillespie - "Salt Peanuts" - aside from being a classic that features Charlie Parker on alto; this is an astonishing display of Dizzy's creativity, squeezing so much music into 3 minutes with careful arranging and a serious adeptness at swinging (as well as a place for Dizzy's unique humor!) The 2-28-1945 recording also features Clyde Hart on piano, Slam Stewart on bass, Eddie Palmieri on guitar and Cozy Cole plays drums. Groundbreaking then, and still remarkable!

Duke Ellington - "Just Squeeze Me" - sass and sophistication, no one did it better! Duke is on piano and lead trumpeter Ray Nance takes the vocal. Taft Jordan and Shorty Baker also are in the trumpet section. Several ensemble crescendos with a repeated riff (and fairly experimental harmonies) build a unique tension and add to the foot tapping. Recorded 7-9-1946.

Long-Ass Car Ride Review - Mark Buselli

Long-Ass Car Ride Reviews: I take long-ass car rides, I listen to albums, I let you know if they are worthwhile.

pretty artwork!

Mark Buselli - Untold Stories (2013) 7.75/10

Mark Buselli - trumpet, flugelhorn
Danny Walsh - saxophones
Steve Allee - piano
Jeremy Allen - bass
Steve Houghton - drums

In a word: pleasant!

Don't be fooled by the artwork - it isn't professor jazz and it's not boring straight-ahead, either. Very good players tackle very good, positive music. The opening title track has appealing melody and solos. Pianist Steve Allee's "Slider" could be right off of a 1965 Lee Morgan album. There's nothing wrong with that when it's done well, and it is. Buselli's take on Ellington's "Angelica" winds up being the best track among many good ones; alternating between a happy, gentle funk and swing; Saxophonist Danny Walsh sounds great, here. Buselli's soothing ballad

"Claude" is a nice showcase for his superb flugelhorn with a busy but cool solo, Allee really shines, as well. "Istanbul" is pleasantly jaunty but still manages to sneak in the neat chordal hooks that pervade throughout the album. The long form allows for a lot of great solos: Bassist Jeremy Allen has an excellent turn and Buselli is reminiscent of Art Farmer with fine tone and moody, pretty, searching lines. The pianist's "What About Me" (over "How About You" changes) is whimsical and Konitz-y with pop inspirations where everyone shows off their considerable bebop/postbop vocabulary; Walsh sounding particularly cozy on the alto, and drummer Houghton finally getting some. The combo of alto/flugelhorn in unison is very nice, at times sounding like a human voice. "Jetstream" makes a good closer with it's simplistic melodies and strong outings from everyone. Nice sound from all, an excellent band with modern, feel-good music. Winning!

Playlist for 8-11-2015 WFCF - Jazz Greats!

"City Piano" - Brittany Purdum

acrylic painting
visit the artist's website!

Winging the 2nd hour - everything else was planned this morning. Lots of great new releases and albums new to the show! Tune in by clicking here. See you then! - Kendo

Hour One:

Gypsophilia - "Boo Doo Down" - Night Swimming (2014)

Antonio Adolfo - "Alegria For All" - Tema (2015)

    3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Rudy Royston - "Goodnight Kinyah" - 303 (2013)

Julie London - "I Surrender Dear" - Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast (1967)

Dave Brubeck Quartet - "Spring in Central Park" - Jazz Impressions of NY (recorded 51 years ago on 8-11-1964)

Lee Morgan - "Rigormortis" - Tom Cat (recorded 51 years ago on 8-11-1964)

Ed Reed - "I Can't See For Lookin'" - I'm a Shy Guy (2013)

Ermesc Gonzalez - "Regreso" - Introspection ()

James Leary - "Today's Song" - Together (1980)

Billie Holiday - "Solitude" (1947)

Hour Two:

Ella Fitzgerald - "Just Squeeze Me" - Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book (1957)

Grant Green - "Mama Inez" - The Latin Bit (1962)

Terrell Stafford - "Stop Start" - BrotherLEE Love (2014)

Jeff "Tain" Watts - "May 15, 2011" - Blue, Vol. 1 (2014)

Gonzalo Rubalcaba - "Giraldilla" - Giraldilla (1989)

East Coast Standards Time - "Xibaba" - Impressions (2007)

Flying Horse Big Band - "Tin Tin Deo" - Into the Mystic (2014)

Cannonball Adderley - "I Cover The Waterfront" - Cannonball Adderley and Strings (1955)

Hour Three:

John Coltrane - "Blue Train (alternative take)" - Blue Train (1957) Ride Home!
   
Heads of State - "Capuchin Swing" - Search For Peace (2015)

George Freeman/Chico Freeman - "Dark Blue" - All In The Family (2015)

Michael Brecker - "Song for Bilbao" - Tales from the Hudson (1996)

Miles Davis - "Ah-Leu-Cha" - 'Round About Midnight (1955)

Oran Etkin - "Taxi Dance" - Gathering Light (2014)

Earl Klugh Trio - "One Note Samba" - Volume One (1991)

Hour Four:

Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers - "Right Down Front" - Hard Drive (1957)

Roy Haynes Quartet - "Moon Ray" - Out of the Afternoon (1962)
   
Norah Jones - "The Nearness of You" - Come Away With Me ()

Sarah Vaughan - "Easy to Love" - After Hours (1961)

Chet Baker - "Like Someone In Love" - Chet Baker Sings (1956)

Jeff Berlin - "Lien On Me" - Lumpy Jazz (2004)

Harold Mabern - "Such Is Life" - Afro Blue (2014)

Cassandra Wilson - "Billie's Blues" - Coming Forth By Day (2014)

??

Stanley Turrentine - "Gibraltar" - Salt Song (1971) CTI Moment!

InstaCollection - Cool Wes Cuts!

InstaCollection! - start or freshen up your jazz collection with DJ Kendo recommendations! Buy downloads for your phone/pc using the handy links below or just load the titles into your favorite music streaming service!

This weeks installment features 3 cuts from Wes Montgomery you may not have but should! "Beaux Arts" is actually a Montgomery Brothers recording from 1961, but this is the quasi-Latin trio version (with Monk Montgomery on bass) where Wes lays down statement after statement of relentless grooving mixed with astonishing expressiveness. "Dearly Beloved" has both killer B3 man Melvin Rhyne and Wes delivering rapid-fire soulful bop lines over the clever arrangement while Jimmy Cobb drives this way-uptempo swinger. How did Wes play these lines with his thumb?? "Willow Weep For Me" is a tremendously satisfying reading of Ann Ronnell's standard, Wes in prime form, often overlooked since it comes off a late CTI release. Don't miss it! 

Playlist for 8-4-2015 WFCF - Jazz Greats!

"Sounding the Trumpet" - Edward Carlos
oil on canvas
Visit the artist's website!

For this week's show there is a heavy concentration of artist's found in the "M" section! Mobly, Montgomery, Morgan, McDuff, Mover, MMW, McLean, McKusick and... more! lol Plenty of slots for new releases, and there's some J's, K's and L's in there, too. All of it is excellent. Tune in via iHeart by clicking here, or locally at 88.5 on your FM dial (St. Augustine, Flagler Beach, Palm Coast...). See you then! - Kendo

Hour One:

Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet - "Shutterbug" - Intercambio (2015)

Cyrus Chestnut - "Hello" - A Million Colors In Your Mind (2014)

    3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Julie London - "No Moon At All" - Julie Is Her Name (1955)

Julie London - "'Round Midnight" - Around Midnight (1960)

Scott Marischen - "Alligator Alley" - Alligator Alley (2011)

Jack McDuff Big Band - "Put On a Happy Face" - Prelude (1963)

Jackie McLean - "Our Love Is Here to Stay" - McLean's Scene (1957)

classic MMW

Medeski, Martin & Wood - "Syeeda's Song Flute" - It's a Jungle In Here (1993)

Ella Fitzgerald - "Satin Doll" - Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book (1957)

Ron Miller - "Seventh Sign" - Peacock Park (2010)

Hour Two:

Brecker Brothers - "Rocks" - The Brecker Brothers (1975)

J.J. Johnson & Kai Winding - "I Concentrate On You" - The Great Kai & J.J. (1960)

Kristin Korb - "Them There Eyes" - What's Your Story? (2012)

Milt Jackson - "Lost April" - Olinga (1974) CTI Moment!

Hal McKusick - "Something New" - Triple Exposure (1957)

fun!

Bob Mover - "I Hadn't Anyone Till You - My Heart Tells Me (2010)

Daniel Lantz Trio - "The James Bond Theme" - Plays Bond (2012)
   
Cecile McLorin Salvant - "Growlin' Dan" - For One to Love (2015)

Takeshi Asai - "Beginning Again" - French Trio Vol. 2 (2014)

Hour Three:

Lee Morgan - "Exotique" - Tom Cat (1964) Ride Home!
   
Terri Lyne Carrington - "Come Sunday" - The Mosaic Project: Love and Soul (2015)

Robert Glasper - "Reckoner" - Covered (2014)

George Cables - "Mr. Anonymouse" - In Good Company (2015)
   
Lorraine Feather - "159" - Attachments (2013)

Wes Montgomery - "Yesterdays" - The Wes Montgomery Trio (1959)

Oran Etkin - "Gambang Suling" - Gathering Light (2014)

Trio Shalva - "Eleanor Rigby" - Breeza (2013)

Hank Mobely - Lee Morgan - "High and Flighty" - Peckin' Time (1958)

Johnny Hartman - "Almost Like Being In Love" - Unforgettable (1966)

Hour Four:

Adam Schroeder - "Southside Samba" - Let's (2013)

Jack McDuff - "English Country Gardens" - I Got a Woman ()

on the lighter side!

   
The Miami Jazz Project - "Lordy Lourdes" - The Miami Jazz Project (2014)

Gloria Estefan - "Embraceable You" - The Standards (2013)

Jacques Lesure - "Remember to Smile" - Camaraderie (2014)
   
Steve Davis - "Pinnacles" - Say When (2014)

Cassandra Wilson - "Crazy He Calls Me" - Coming Forth By Day (2014)

Earl Klugh Trio - "Bewitched" - Volume One (1991)

Mars 4-Tet - "Sleepless" - The Blind Watchman (2014) 

Long-Ass Car Ride Review! - World Jazz from NYC

Long-Ass Car Ride Reviews: I take long-ass car rides, I listen to albums, I let you know if they are worthwhile.

Trio Shalva

This week coincidence strikes again! Both albums I grabbed were recorded at The Bunker in Brooklyn, and both album artists were born in Israel and embrace a new-ish approach to jazz, mixed with forms/songs from their homeland, surrounding middle eastern countries, and beyond. They also both make great driving music!

Trio Shalva - "Breeza" (2013) 7.5/10

Assaf Gleizner - piano, melodica, guitar
Koby Hayon - bass, oud
Nadav Snir-Zelniker - drums, percussion

In a word: cool

Good stuff. A mix of Hebrew songs, originals and some Beatles & Bjork; with modern arrangements reflecting their origin, variety of tone colors thanks to the multi-instrumental skills, and all played with serious spunk. Their is some metric modulation played expertly that will tickle others in the know. For the rest of the, there are plenty of hip Hebrew melodies employed, cool mid-eastern riffs that drive and rock, [both found in the excellent opener "Mizmor Laila (Melody of the Night)" as well as the enlivened and upgraded "Eleanor Rigby"] fun twists in swing and tempo changes ("Ani Godin"), and for those who dig mideastern folk/improvisation there is the splendid oud playing of Koby Hayon blendid with haunting melodica by Gleizner on "Yad Anuga (A Delicate Hand)". Some ballady but artistically fluid piano trio cuts balance things out (the waltz-meets-freetempo "Isabella"). Hard to pick a favorite, but the uptempo opener has many delights. These guys are a good unit. You will dig. 

Oran Etkin - "Gathering Light" (2013) - 7.5/10

Oran Etkin - bass clarinet, clarinet, tenor sax
Ben Allison - bass; Curtis Fowlkes - trombone
Lionel Loueke - guitar, vocals; Nasheet Waits - drums


In a word: fanciful

Very cool trio numbers with just bass, drums and bass clarinet; and quintet numbers that have neat instrumentation. The players obviously are relishing this music. Oran Etkin has a sumptuous clarinet tone, his bass clarinet is downright astonishing. The album opens with "Gambang Suling", an Indonesian folk song that cooks and immediately shows off Etkins range and expression on the bass clarinet. "Taxi Dance" is a fanciful romp in 6, one of three numbers about an imaginary, mischievous globetrotter named Tony (!) where Etkin's delightful clarinet and Curtis Fowlkes trombone have a marvelous, dixieland-like rapport. Another fine element and timbre in the mix is Lionel Loueke, who frequently employs electronics to delightful and ear-tickling effect, and fits perfectly behind the horns, when he's not taking fully committed solos. Between numbers like the quirky and oddly funky "All I Really Wanna Do Is Dance" (duo with marvelous bassist Ben Allison) are calmer, reflective pieces like "Shirim Ad Kan" and "Scattering Light", the latter showing Etkin to have a unique voice on tenor as well, and the capacity to entertain at slower tempos. Tunes from Asia, Belgium, a Yiddish song and even a chilled "When It's Sleepy Time Down South" add even more variety; yet somehow the album comes out congruently as a whole, and will likely entice you back for more listens than you may have predicted. Kudos!

InstaCollection - Current Dreamy Vocal Numbers

InstaCollection! - start or freshen up your jazz collection with Kendo recommends! Buy downloads for your phone/pc using the handy links or just load the titles into your favorite music streaming service!

This week's additions focus on dreamy jazzy vocal ballads from newer releases,

Annie Lennox
Photo by Mike Owen

ones that I happen to spin a lot on the shows. La Lucha's "The Way You Look Tonight" is simply stunning, reharmonized but with reverence for the melody and lyrics, and profound performances from both vocalist Jun and pianist John C. O'Leary III. You may not have heard of them, but I consider this an essential recording. Diana Krall's "I'm Not In Love" also shows respect for the original recording by 70's band 10cc, but with modern emotion and a breathtaking production. Hardly jazz... but great music! It's hard to pick just one cut from Annie Lennox's "Nostalgia" album, but her heart-on-sleeve crooning for "You Belong to Me" is gripping and the arrangement is fresh & lush; this album also wonderfully recorded. Ah - I just realized these are all love songs. Always a plus! Enjoy!! - Kendo

 

Playlist for 7-28-2014 WFCF - Jazz Greats!

"Galaxy Piano" - Lambieb123 (Laura)
watercolor
Visit the artist's website!

No theme, just a bunch of cool people I found on my Twitter followers page! Turning out to be a fine show! Tune in by clicking here. See you there! - Kendo



Hour One:

Zach Bartholomew Trio - "Stop and Go" - Out of This Town (2012)

Jacky Terrason - "Take Five" - Take This (2014)

    3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

La Lucha - "Don't Talk" - La Lucha (2012)

Greg Little - "Late Night Tea" - Dreamwalker (2003)

Alfredo Rodriguez - "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas" - Invasion Parade (2013)

Harvey Mason - "Montara" - Chameleon (2013)

Arturo O'Farrill - "Mercado en Domingo" - The Offense of the Drum (2013)

Jill Wofsey - "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" - I'm Flying (2005)

Lynne Arriale - "Evidence" - Solo (2011)

Hour Two:

Elias Haslanger - "Adam's Apple" - Live at the Gallery (2013)

Brigitte Zarie - "Where There Is Love" - L'amour (2013)

Eric Reed - "Manhattan Melodies" - Groovewise (2014)

Quincy Jones - "One Note Samba" - Big Band Bossa Nova (1962)

Matthew Kaminski - "Turn to Stone" - Swingin' On the New Hammond (2013)

Randy Johnston!

Randy Johnston - "Garden State" - People Music (2011)

Peter Zak - "The Disciple" - The Disciple (2013)

Eli Bennett - "Step On It" - Breakthrough ()

{background music "Joe Harnell - "The Asphalt Jungle" - The Asphalt Jungle}

Hour Three:

Larry Coryell - "Tyrone" - Planet End (1969) Ride Home!

Allison Paris - "Crazy He Calls Me" - Second Chances (2003)

Emanuele Coluccia - "Dexter" - Jazzlito (1999)

Chris Higginbottom - "The Wide Open" - Where Lands End ()

Brianna Thomas - "Don't Be That Way" - You Must Believe In Love (2013)

Rez Abbasi Acoustic Quartet - "Butterfly" - Intents and Purposes (2014)

tasteful drummer Matt Kane

Jason Miles/Ingrid Jensen - "Super City" - Kind of New (2014)

Hour Four:

Matt Kane Trio - "Big Six" - Suit Up! (2013)

Judy Wexler - "Tomorrow Is Another Day" - What I See (2013)

Jacques Lesure - "Grantgomery" - Camaraderie (2014)

Cassandra Wilson - "I'll Be Seeing You" - Coming Forth By Day (2014)

George Cables - "After The Morning" - In Good Company (2015)

Aimee Allen - "My Romance" - Matter of Time New Jazz (2014)

Heads of State - "Search For Peace" - Search For Peace (2015)


New Jazz

New Jazz

Long-Ass Car Ride Review! - Sam Boshnack, Adam Schroeder

Long-Ass Car Ride Reviews: I take long-ass car rides, I listen to entire albums, I

Adam Schroeder

let you know if they're worthwhile.

This week's albums have nice, unusual sound combinations, careful arrangements and a welcome sense of fun!

Sam Boshnack Quintet - Exploding Syndrome (2014) - 7/10

Samantha Boshnack - trumpet, flugelhorn; Beth Fleenar - clarinet, bass clarinet; Dawn Clement - piano, wurlitzer, keyboards; Isaac Castillo -- upright bass; Max Wood - drums, percussion

In a word: remarkable

The album starts off in a positive, fun mood and gradually descends into heaviness and seriousness. This is, after all, chamber jazz. The unique, singable repeated melodies in the first couple of cuts are selling points, and the playing is very strong at times. These are very, very well groomed compositions with fun twists and turns; the players obviously love the music; all originals penned by Boshnack. The sounds and instrument combinations are almost always delightful. The best cut is "Suite for Seattle's Royal Court Movement 1"'; "Juba" and "Dormant" also are ear/brain pleasers. The album lost a point for the slowly building headiness and especially for the crazed vocal moment in the title track (the only actual "exploding" on the cd) it's rather ridiculously out of place and disconcerting, it briefly ruins the otherwise superb vibe. Still - this is fresh and vital music performed exuberantly. Looking for something different and satisfying - this is it.



Adam Schroeder - Let's (2013) 8/10

Adam Schroeder - baritone sax, Anthony Wilson - guitar, John Clayton - bass, Jeff Hamilton - drums

In a word - remarkable

With one of the best baritone sax sounds on earth - it's hard not to thoroughly enjoy this release, with the killer Clayton/Hamilton rhythm section in peak form, and the striking combo of guitar and bari, Anthony Wilson being the perfect foil for Schroeder in every way. Much of the album has a playful and lighthearted mood, thanks to selections like Duke Pearson's "Hello Bright Sunflower" and the old standard "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams". There are some unusual and striking surprises like Sam Coslow's "In the Middle of a Kiss" and Thad Jone's title track. Adam Schroeder is also blessed with sheer musicality; he's always saying something, and often just enough, only breaking into bebop staple licks (very well executed) on the burner "A Hawkeye, a Hoosier & Two Call Cats". The ballads are lovely and meaningful. The best tune is a Schroeder original - the funky and fun "Just Clap Your Hands", written for his daughter. Great jazz in the new millennium - you will enjoy this one.

Playlist for 7-21-2015 WFCF - Jazz Greats!

"Yellow and Black" - Nicola Terlizzi
painting
Visit the artists website!

No theme today just some favorite tracks, cuts from recently acquired albums and a few requests! Tune in for the best jazz in my collection starting at 3pm today (Tuesday 7/21). Listen online by clicking here. Say hi on Twitter! See you then - Kendo


Hour One:

Heads of State - "Impressions" - Search for Peace (2015)

Cecile McLorin Salvant - "Fog" - For One To Love (2015)

    3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Charlie Haden/Gonzalo Rubalcaba - "Sandino" - Tokyo Adagio (2015)

Alfredo Rodriguez - "Veinte Años" - The Invasion Parade (2013)

Etta James - "At Last" - At Last (1960)

Ella Fitzgerald - "Cheek to Cheek" - (1958)

Michael Brecker - "Slings and Arrows" - Tales from the Hudson (1996)

good set from Harry

Harry Connick Jr - "Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey" - Oh, My NOLA (2006)

Sam Boshnack Quintet - "Juba" - Exploding Syndrome (2013)

Diana Krall - "I Remember You" - The Look of Love (2001)


Johnny Conquett - "Cry Cry Baby" -  (195?)

Hour Two:

Art Blakey – “For Minors Only” – Hard Drive (1957)

Annie Lennox - "Summertime" - Nostalgia (2014)

Adam Schroeder - "Hello Bright Sunflower" - Let's (2013)  

Tom Lagana Group - "Nature Boy" - featuring George Garzone Vol 1 (2013)

Freddie Hubbard - "Super Blue" - Super Blue (1978)

Shirley Horn - "That Old Black Magic" - With Horns (1963)

Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet - "Casa Del Sol" - Intercambio (2015)

Cassandra Wilson - "Crazy He Calls Me" - Coming Forth By Day (2014)

Hour Three:

Hank Mobley - "No Room for Squares" - No Room For Squares (1963) Ride Home!

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

classic from Diana

Russell Malone - "Amsterdam After Dark" - Love Looks Good On You (2014)

Jose James - "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" - Yesterday I Had the Blues (2014)

Art Pepper - "Junior Cat" - The Trip (1976)

Cal Tjader - "Money Penny Goes For Broke" - Sounds Out Burt Bacharach (1968)

Matthew Kaminski - "Kylu" - Swingin' On the New Hammond (2013)

Roberto Fonseca – “El Sonador esta Consado” – Yo (2011)

??

Hour Four:

Herbie Mann – “Memphis Underground” – Memphis Underground (1969)

Dave Brubeck Quartet – “Blue Rondo a la Turk” – Time Out (1959)

Barney Kessel – “Laura” – Summertime in Montreux (1973)

New Jazz

Soul Mann and the Brothers – “Bumpy’s Blues” – Shaft (1971)

New jazz

Vinyl

??

Miles Davis – “Straight No Chaser” – Milestones (1958)  

InstaCollection - That Sound!

InstaCollection! - start or freshen up your jazz collection with Kendo recommends! Buy downloads for your phone/pc using the handy links or just load the titles into your favorite music streaming service!

circa 1965 photo: Francis Wolff

These are 3 Blue Note recordings from 1964, 1965 & 1966, respectively, that feature Bobby Hutcherson on vibes - a regular at the label who brought freshness and a distinguishing mood to their catalog; defining a big part of the sixties mainstream jazz sound in the process. "Somewhere in the Night" is a mellow swing number with a very appealing melody. Grant Green sounds inspired by the heavy company: Larry Young, Elvin Jones and Hutcherson! Dexter Gordon's irresistible "Le Coiffeur" is one of his best; a perky quasi-cha-cha that has Bobby front and center and a great groove from drummer Billy Higgins. "Maiden Voyage" is from Bobby's own classic "Happenings" album, and sports the composer Herbie Hancock on an atmospheric, gently driving version of this great composition!

Grant Green - "Somewhere In the Night"
Dexter Gordon - "Le Coiffeur"
Bobby Hutcherson - "Maiden Voyage"

Long-Ass Car Ride Review! Peter Bernstein, Chris Kelsey/Dom Minasi

Long-Ass Car Ride Reviews: I take long-ass car rides, I listen to albums, I let you know if they are worthwhile.

Peter Bernstein with the Tilden Webb Trio - Live at Cory Weeds' Cellar Jazz Club (2012) 7.25/10

In a word - satisfying

The album begins slightly ho-hum with the only original in the set: "Bones", a commonplace blues head. On the heels of that is the cd's standout track "Darn That Dream". Yep. It's a Cellar Live label release of straight-aheadness. Peter Bernstein's sincerity and quest for harmonic expression make this particular one quite worthwhile, and the trio is very supportive. Standard after standard receive Bernstein's full emotional commitment and technical expertise. "Darn That Dream" shows off his luscious guitar tones and constant stream of solid ideas that please and fascinate. "Love For Sale" features several very fine choruses, the final chordal one is especially fine. "Wise One" was a great choice to offset the warhorses, but would've fared better without the McCoy-isms and Elvin-isms. "Come Rain or Come Shine" sports the best solo from competent and swinging pianist Tilden Webb. Bassist Jodi Proznick takes a lengthy turn in "Django" and drummer Jesse Cahill finally gets some in "What Is This Thing Called Love", but mostly the unit does a great job in letting Bernstein shine, giving him plenty of comfort while he lets loose. Well played live jazz!

 

Chris Kelsey & Dom Minasi - Duets|NYC/Woodstock (2014) 6.25/10
 
In a word - Braxtony

The cons: First off - completely free jazz is not my bag. Seriously, whose bag is it? If it's yours, you can add another 2 points to the rating. Truth: the layman off the street won't be able to distinguish the middle of one track from the middle of another. There is nothing "new" here, it could easily be a recording from 1965. Finally - I think Dom Minasi is a great guitarist. It's hard to tell from the sound he emits on this release. Think Joe Cinderella on vinyl circa 1957, your stylus is shot and there's a healthy wad of dust under it, plus someone draped an old tee shirt over one of the speakers. About midway thru the album I got a slight headache coincidentally on the same side as Minasi's guitar is panned.
The pros: I never felt compelled to turn the cd off. Chris Kelsey is quite the gifted soprano saxophonist (highly evidenced during the last minute of the opener "Fondness & Trepidation"). His tone is great and both artists cover most of the emotional spectrum allowed by this sort of music. The necessary empathy between players is in abundance. The tunes (if I may use that word) are never boring and more often than not engaging (they can in fact be distinguished one from the other). The shorter cuts work best. "Tip Toe" was my favorite, and "Blues Ultimatum" and "That Ain't the Blues" are also highlights. If you are in the mood for this sort of thing, it will be a fine listen.

Playlist for 7-14-2015 WFCF - Jazz Greats!

I got some of the playlist done today! (I've been a little distracted lately, can you tell?) Nonetheless - there's a lot more cd in my bag, and I inherited more vinyl last week - we'll be digging into that, including original pressings of "The Best of Bethlehem" and a Pacific Jazz sampler! Lots of new jazz and plenty of variety... tune in via iHeart by clicking here. Say hi or follow the show on Twitter! See you then - Kendo


Hour One:

Jeff Rupert - "The Norfolk Southern RR" - From Memphis to Mobile (2009)

great playing by Jeff & Kenny Drew Jr!

Gonzalo Rubalcaba - "Bouncin' With Bud" - Diz (1993)

    3:15 Jazz Coffee Break

Allison Paris - "Don't Blame Me" - Second Chances (2003)

Teddy Charles - "The Quiet Time" - The Teddy Charles Tentet (1956)

Dinah Washington - "I Remember You" - What a Diff'rence a Day Makes (1959)

Peter Bernstein - "Darn That Dream" - With The Tilden Webb Trio (2012)

Cassandra Wilson - "Billie's Blues" - Coming Forth by day (2014)
 
Cory Weeds - "'Snuff" - Condition Blue (2014)

Aimee Allen - "Out of the Blue" - Matter of Time (2014)

Hour Two:

Larry Young - "Monk's Dream" - Unity (1965)

Forward-looking recordings - what a band!

Art Tatum - "I'll See You In My Dreams" - Solo Masterpieces Volume Two (1953)

Wayne Shorter - "Go" - Schizophrenia (1967)

Larry Young - "The Moontrane" - Unity (1965)

Jeff "Tain" Watts - "May 15, 2011" -- Blue Vol. 1 (2014)

Jason Miles - "Seeing Through the Rain" - Kind of New (2014)

Johnny Smith - "Jaguar" - Moonlight in Vermont (1952)

Gabor Szabo - "Witchcraft" - Spellbinder (1966)

Michael Petrovich - "Bella Luna" - Bella Luna (2012)


Hour Three:

Grant Green - "More Today Than Yesterday" - Live at Club Mozambique (1971) - Ride Home!

Chris Washburne & the Syotos Band - "Get Up, Stand Up" - Low Ridin' (2014)

Harold Mabern (with Kurt Elling) - "You Needed Me" - Afro Blue (2014)

Jose James - "Tenderly" - Yesterday I Had the Blues (2014)

Art Blakey - "Calling Miss Khadija" - Indestructable (1964)

solid, of course!

Rez Abbasi Acoustic Quartet - "Black Market" - Intents and Purposes (2014)

O Som Do Jazz - "Batucada" - A Kiss For Rio (2013)


Frank Sinatra - "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars" - At Last: Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim (1967)


Hour Four: 

Pointer Sisters - "Cloudburst" - Pointer Sisters (1973)
 
Thelonious Monk - "Work" - Thelonious Monk Plays (1953)

Sarah Vaughan - East of the Sun" - In HiFi (compilation)

David Sanborn - "Can't Get Next To You" - Time and the River (2014)

Wes Montgomery - "Days of Wine and Roses" - Boss Guitar (1963)

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

Urbie Green - "Mutation" - Bethlehem's Best (comp)

Don Elliott - "Summer Setting" - Bethlehem's Best (comp)

Julie London - "Motherless Child" - Bethlehem's Best (comp)

Dan Jordan - "Modinha" - Pure Joy (2015)

Maria Schneider Orchestra - "The Thompson Fields" - The Thompson Fields (2014)



 

Instacollection! - Music for Insomniacs!

InstaCollection! - start or freshen up your jazz collection with Kendo recommends! Buy downloads for your phone/pc using the handy links or just load the titles into your favorite music streaming service!

This week's recommends are four long, evolving tracks that are especially good for late night listening by those who are trying to sleep but can't. Interesting enough to fight the boredom and overthinking, but dreamy enough to let you nod off when it's time!

Stan Getz - "Times Lie"
Freddie Hubbard - "Sky Dive"
Miles Davis - "Bag's Groove"
Hal McKusick - "I'm Glad There Is You"
 

ps - another great cut for late night listening is Miles Davis' "Tout de Suite". It's not available online as an independent track, but you can program it into your streaming playlist :)

Long-Ass Car Ride Review! - Gloria Estefan, MARS 4-Tet

Long-Ass Car Ride Review: I take long-ass car rides, I listen to albums, I let you know if they're worthwhile.

Gloria Estefan - The Standards (2013) 6.25/10

in a word: suitable

I was not expecting to like this at all...were you? lol Surprisingly, this is a decent album. Her voice has aged well and is nicely suited to most of the material. Sinatra she is not, but the lyrics are internalized in her usual fashion (just enough), going for beauty more often than drama. There are even moments when you will be slightly impressed, she can be wonderfully precise on her approach. All of the readings are competent and enjoyable. She doesn't reach beyond here stylistic limitations, but rather works with what she has and pulls it off. The arrangements are by Shelly Berg, so the harmonies keep the otherwise innocuous backdrops interesting. The playing is competent but no soloist really soars. Estefan sounds best (of course) on the tracks with Latin rhythms (Eu Sie Que Vou Te Amar in particular is well done) but really all the tracks work fine but for one: the jazziest and oddly arranged "How Long Has This Been Going On". Highlights include "Good Morning Heartache", "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Young At Heart". It's mellow, for sure, but it's nice.

MARS 4-Tet - The Blind Watchmaker (2014) 7.25/10

In a word: peaceful

Although the album is bookended by playfulness; a fun, inventive spin on Thelonious Monk's "Bye Ya" and a more chaotic and reinvented "Black Dog" (Led Zeppelin), the majority of this album has a mellow, slightly spacy jazz rock air to it; due in part to the rounder guitar sound Donato Soveiro favors (although he does employ a sweet rock tone here and there) as well as a superb mix. Everyone plays just fine, and this band functions very well as a unit. The standout track by far is saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk's moody and dreamy "Suddenly". The two Americana-flavored cuts also are pretty hip, Antoniuk's gospel-esque "Cowboy" and a fine reading of Keith Jarrett's "Country". No clunkers on the disc, and Soveiro's "Rudy's Blues" throws in a nice bit of contrasting straight-ahead feel. Overall, the originals by Antoniuk and Soveiro that dominate the set are unique, hypnotic, often easy on the ears and executed with taste and appeal. Good jazz!