Episode 139 - Blue Bossa

We're back! Yes, we've got a brand new episode for you. AJ came to Idaho for the 2026 Sun Valley Jazz Festival, and he and Johnny decided to record a proper episode while the two were together. They chose the Sonny Rollins tune "Oleo" to put under the microscope, and as you will hear, they sound as if they've never been away. And good news, there's more new episodes on the horizon (just not on a regular release schedule; you'll get them as they're finished). So, for today, you're gonna hear versions of "Oleo" by Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis (first and second Great Quintet), Tommy Flanigan, George Benson, and new-to-us artist Holly Channell.

Since AJ was visiting Johnny for the 2025 Sun Valley Jazz Festival, we thought we'd take advantage of being in the same room and record an update for all of you Same Difference fans. For this episode, we've combined two loosely related episodes from our old Patreon library, and added some new commentary to aid in the continuity. It felt good to do it again; we hope you enjoy it!

After 6 years of regularly scheduled episodes, we need to take a break, but don't worry, we'll be back at some point. So, for this final regularly-scheduled episode of Same Difference, we go back to the beginnings of Jazz with "Tiger Rag". Join AJ and Johnny one last time, as they listen to and discuss versions of this Jazz standard by The Original Dixieland Jass Band, Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, Oscar Aleman, The Whiteway Jazz Band, and new-to-us artist Annie and The Fur Trappers.

How does someone take a solid Broadway musical number and turn it into a Jazz tune? Well, on this episode of Same Difference we hear some interesting results, when "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face" goes under the microscope. Join AJ and Johnny as they listen to and discuss versions by Rex Harrison, Tony Bennett and Count Basie, Chris Botti and Dean Martin, Chet Baker, Stan Getz and Cal Tjader, and new-to-us artist Scott Chapman.

It's the second part of our 2-part look at trumpet players, and our friend and professional Jazz trumpeter, Mike Sailors, is back with us for the deep dive. In this part two, join us as the three of us listen to and discuss music by Miles Davis, Lee Morgan, and our guest Mike Sailors, who has a new album coming out in August.

Rather than discuss a single Jazz standard, this episode of Same Difference is all about the trumpet, and we've invited our friend and professional Jazz trumpeter, Mike Sailors, to join the fun. In fact, we had so much fun recording this, we've broken it into 2 full shows! In this part one, join us as the three of us listen to and discuss music by Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, and Kenny Dorham.

Count Basie and Harry "Sweets" Edison are in the songwriting seat with "Jive At Five" on this episode of Same Difference! Join AJ and Johnny as they listen to and discuss versions by the Count Basie Orchestra, Oscar Peterson, Clark Terry and Mike Vax, Martin Taylor and Stephane Grappelli, Joe Newman, and new-to-us artist The Shirt Tail Stompers.

We all get to learn about the Jazz standard "Blue Bossa" together, as neither AJ nor Johnny had any versions of this song in their library, yet it was recommended on good authority to check it out, so we did! We'll listen to versions by Joe Henderson, Art Farmer and Phil Woods, Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, George Benson, and new-to-us artist Mimi Fox.

Time to revisit "At Last", and joining us to do so is the incredibly talented Jazz singer, Melonie Collins! Yes, join the three of us as we listen to and discuss versions by Glen Miller, Etta James, Diane Schuur and BB King, Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass, Phoebe Snow, and of course Melonie Collins with the Side Street Strutters!

So is it "Oysters" or "Ersters"? In this episode of Same Difference, Johnny and AJ address this and many other linguistic questions posed in the song "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off". Along the way, you'll hear versions of this Jazz standard by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Billie Holiday, Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Harry Connick Jr., and new-to-us artist The Jazz Sisters.