Episode 88: Absolute Pitch–what is it, who has it, and what’s it good for?

He ended up being murdered on the bandstand by a jealous husband. At the time the band had just started playing the tune 'I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You'

I’ve heard and read many stories of jazz artists who have left us due to drugs, violence, and sudden accidents. The next 3 episodes talks about some of them. But rather than just focusing on how they lived and how they inspired us! And most importantly, I play their music. This first episodes starts off…Continue reading Episode 266: Jazz Musicians: (How They Lived) How They Died. Part 1

This last episode of my ‘best of 2023’ series takes you back in time to re-releases, remastered recordings, or newly discovered vintage recordings. There are a lot of them…and many of them made the critics’ ‘best of’ lists. I start with a never before released recording of Bill Evans Trio playing My Foolish Heart. And…Continue reading Episode 265: Some Recent Historical Releases

This week a few more 2023 albums noted by reviewers and critics. You’ll hear a track from: John Zorn: Homenaje A Remedios Var.o. This is just one of 14 releases that Zorn put out in 2023. Talk about prolific! Noah Haidu: Standards. And I’m anticipating him putting out another ‘standards’ album in 2024. Benny Benack…Continue reading Episode 264, Best of 2023 Part 7

This is Part 6 of my 8 part series of the Best of 2023 according to jazz aficionados. And I take the liberty for this episode of playing tracks from 9 of my own personal favourites. And it turns out that one of the albums is even a 2024 grammy winner. Who’d have thought? I’m…Continue reading Episode 263: My Favourite Albums of 2023.

Last week I played tracks from the albums that were chosen for the ‘best of 2023’ lists by the most reviewers. This week I’ve picked few albums chosen by only one or two reviewers. But they are ones that were definitely worth my time and energy! I talk about and play a track from the…Continue reading Episode 262:Best of 2023 Part 5

For this 4th episode of the Best of 2023 According to Experts, I’m posting the titles of 27 albums that were selected by the most reviewers as part of their top albums of last year. And I’ll do a countdown of sorts—finishing with the album that was selected by the greatest number of reviewers. If…Continue reading Episode 261: Ten 2023 Albums Critics Rave About!

This is Part 3 of some of the jazz albums that critics and reviewers believe are worth our attention. And I do too—for the ones I’m choosing to spotlight on this series of podcasts. You’ll hear a track from the latest recordings of the following great artists: Shakti (w. John McLaughlin) Billy Valentine Joshua Redman…Continue reading Episode 260: Best of 2023 (Part 3) According to Jazz Lovers.

One skill we can develop when putting together radio shows, podcasts, or ‘mix-tapes’ is a way of allowing the energy to build. I think that, just like a great jazz solo, this episode seems to have a nice ‘arc’. It starts fairly low key and builds up in speed and intensity….ending with a sort of…Continue reading Episode 259: Expert’s Choice of Best Jazz Albums of 2023 Part 2

It was a busy December! I searched for all the ‘best jazz of 2023’ articles online and tried to listen to at least part of many of the albums. And there were lots! In fact, so far, I’ve found 85 different lists. And a total of 573 albums. And that doesn’t even include the historical…Continue reading Episode 258: Best of 2023 According to The Experts—Part 1