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