In this episode, Victoria B.C. jazz drummer, composer, and educator, Kelby McNayr talks about the role of percussion in jazz. His thesis that while drumming has changed, it hasn’t necessarily ‘evolved’ is an interesting one. He demonstrates it through recordings over many eras of jazz. We talk about Baby Dodds, Zutty Singleton, Art Blakey, Philly Jo Jones, Elvin Jones, Vernell Fournier, and Ed Thigpen. You’ll hear lots of great ensemble work where the drums play such an important role....
Sep 13, 2022•Season 1Ep. 98
I love hearing interesting stories about the history of certain songs, including how they became popular. In this episode I explore five different songs that have been performed frequently by jazz artists. The first one, Scotch and Soda, nobody knows who really wrote it. The last one, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat came from an improvisation sparked by grief. And all the other musicians had to learn it by ear. And guess who gets the royalties everytime someone plays Autumn Leaves? What was the ‘test piece...
Sep 06, 2022•Season 1Ep. 96
For this episode one of the highlights is a John Coltrane tune that has been described as a sort of ‘training wheels’ for Giant Steps. I also play recordings by Freddie Hubbard, Ornette Coleman, a Wes Montgomery tune by Christian McBride’s Big Band, and a J.J. Johnson tune recorded by Miles Davis. I play two Canadian tracks: a version of Chick Corea’s Crystal Silence by Teresa Doyle and Doug Riley, and Hilario Duran and friends with Billy Strayhorn’s UMMG. And perhaps my favourite of all….a haun...
Aug 30, 2022•Season 1Ep. 94
This is part 3 of a 4 part series on some lesser played or heard tunes from the Real Book 6th Edition—a ‘bible’ for jazz students. This episode includes some obscure and some maybe not-so-obscure tunes from the point of view of the jazz player. You’ll hear some of the greatest jazz players and singers performing standards such as All of You, If You Never Come To Me, and Chega de Saudade (No More Blues). And some players’ favourites such as Wayne Shorter’s Deluge, and another of his classic compo...
Aug 23, 2022•Season 1Ep. 93
I had subscribed, from 1978 to 1983 to a series of 3-disk albums by Time Life Records called The Giants of Jazz”. A new one would be delivered to my door every month. They each contained a very detailed booklet including descriptions each recording on the six sides. I featured these albums on a series of 5 podcasts late in 2019. For this year’s summer reruns I’m playing the last one—Part 5. It features three recordings by the great saxophonist, Johnny Hodges…and talks about how he got the nick n...
Aug 16, 2022•Season 1Ep. 87
A jazz bassist from Peterborough, Ontario, Craig Paterson talks about the music that ‘formed’ him, turning him into a jazz fan. He selected 10 albums, and in this episode he talks about five of them. And we play parts of them for you. At the same time Craig does a great job dissecting what it is about those recordings that made them so interesting to him. I also asked him to select a Canadian album that excites him—and he chose an album with a band fronted by saxophonist P.J. Perry. If you like ...
Aug 09, 2022•Season 1Ep. 48
From the Archives, some 78rpm records from my collection. 78’s were popular from the turn of the century up into the late 1950’s. One unique thing about 78’s is that you could eat them. Technically at least! As well as some great music, you’ll hear Alex Campagnolo, a researcher in Sustainability Studies–a man who focuses on the sustainability of recorded music—talk about why 78’s are good for the environment. As for the great music: I play three tracks by the father of cool and free jazz, Lennie...
Aug 02, 2022•Season 1Ep. 43
Continuing with my summer re-runs of some of the best from past podcasts. Today, Part 4 of a series on Jazz and Politics. It’s mostly music—featuring a few long tracks, such as the whole Freedom Suite by Sonny Rollins. A lot of this music is about freedom and the struggle for equality: for blacks and also for female artists. There is also a selection from an album inspired by conspiracy theories. The program finishes with a jazz protest tune that became a huge hit!...
Jul 26, 2022•Season 1Ep. 41
A few years ago I put together a series of four Discovering Jazz Podcasts on jazz musicians who played on pop recordings. For these archives, I’m posting Part 3, Episode 26. (You may want to also listen to Episodes 24, 25 and 27 if you like this one). You’ll hear guitarist Louis Shelton and his connection with The Monkees. Then Wayne Shorter and Steve Gadd—and their connection to Steely Dan. Andy Milne played with Bruce Cockburn. And then there’s the Chet Baker and Elvis Costello relationship. A...
Jul 19, 2022•Season 1Ep. 26
This week, as part of my ‘summer re-runs’, I feature Beatles tunes that have been adapted to jazz. Most are exquisitely done; some maybe not so much. And not only that I interview John Lennon. Okay—not really! What it is is interesting clips from an interview I did with Michael Gagliano, who starred as John Lennon in a London, England tribute show called Let It Be. Some of the great jazz artists you’ll hear in this podcast are Chick Corea and Hiromi, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Larry Coryell, H...
Jul 12, 2022•Season 1Ep. 19
A program from January of 2018. A lot of real jazz lovers express a rather loud indifference—bordering on contempt—for the role of ‘vocals’ in jazz. Comments like ‘cheesy lounge singers’, ‘they keep the instrumental soloists from truly stretching out’, they make jazz musicians into accompanists, etc. come up. Yet for many of us—-myself included—the vocalist can sometimes help ‘translate’ what the jazz musician or composer is doing into something I can understand. And a really great jazz vocalist...
Jul 05, 2022•Season 1Ep. 17
For my final podcast of the season (but don’t worry—I’ll be posting ones from the archives weekly), I play more artists performing at this year’s Victoria Jazz Fest, 2022. Lots of music this episode, and not much talk. You’ll hear (in order): Ghost Song–Cecile McLorin Salvant The Preacher–Taurey Butler Ranky Tanky–Ranky Tanky Chrome Beauty–Joy Lapps and Larnell Lewis La Sopa–Mazacote Night Song–Wes Carroll Confabulation Stardust–Samara Joy Summertime–David Santana Quartet Reconstruction Beat–Dan...
Jun 28, 2022•Season 1Ep. 199
Putting together these three episodes allows me to find the time to listen to a bit of every performer coming to the upcoming Victoria Jazz Fest, Jun 24th to July 3rd (2022). And what a stellar line-up! In terms of straight jazz—this episode includes The Brubeck Brothers (two of Dave Brubeck’s sons), Ashley Wey from Victoria, trumpeter Giveton Gelin and his Quintet, and a great vibes player named Joel M. Ross. More on the soulful side are Gregory Porter, Malika Tirolien, and Lisa Fischer. And on...
Jun 21, 2022•Season 1Ep. 198
Jazz is best enjoyed live! Watching musicians interacting with each other on stage, as well as with their instrument can be quite exciting. Coming up is The Victoria Jazz Festival June 24th to July 3rd. My plan is to listen to recordings of all the performers….so I can decide which concerts to see (and hear). And I’ll share what I ‘discover’ as I listen to these recordings—playing some of the ones that stand out for me. For part 1 of this series, the tracks you’ll hear are: Atomized—GoGo Penguin...
Jun 14, 2022•Season 1Ep. 197
Jazz has continuously evolved as a result of freeing itself from constraints. According to Steve Haines, jazz bassist and director of the Miles Davis Jazz studies program at the university of North Carolina, jazz as taught in music institutions today is being ‘whitewashed and creativity is being strangled. He says “we need to be singing what’s inside of our soul”. In this episode we play music that well illustrates the freedom that is such an integral part of jazz. You’ll hear historical recordi...
Jun 07, 2022•Season 1Ep. 196
Steve Haines, professor and interim director of the Miles Davis Jazz Studies program at University of North Carolina talks about what he sees as the most essential elements of jazz. And we play music to illustrate some of those elements. What are the essential elements? They include the expected ones—blues and swing. But just as important are gospel, repetition, precedent (attending to what came before), and especially—freedom. Also essential is inclusion—something he feels has been lacking in t...
May 31, 2022•Season 1Ep. 195
If somebody asks you if you like jazz, how can you answer? There are so many sub-genres of jazz around today: hard-bop, be-bop, swing, fusion, Bossa Nova or Latin, funk, free jazz, Cool jazz, Afro-Cuban, world jazz, smooth jazz, astral jazz, etc. etc. etc. Today’s episode explores a few of those. You’ll even hear a bit of one very familiar melody played in some of those styles. And lots of complete selections too illustrating some of those genres.
May 24, 2022•Season 1Ep. 194
Some of the music in this week’s episode is new, a lot of it’s old; they are from lp records, cd’s, and downloads that I’ve recently acquired. Or, in some cases, about to acquire. The lp tracks are by Marian McPartland, H.B. Barnum, and Woody Hermann & Four Others. The cd’s include Angela Verbrurgge, Joey De Francesco, Wayne Shorter, and Jens Thomas w. Verneri Pohjola (doing another AC/DC reinterpretation). Downloads, soon to be cd purchases, include tracks from the newest best-selling album...
May 17, 2022•Season 1Ep. 193
I’m always on the look out for music that inspires me. I may find it through going into thrift stores, perusing emails and facebook mesages from friends and Discovering Jazz listeners, and even by looking at current jazz releases. It might be vinyl record, a cd, a youtube video, or whatever. For this episode and next weeks’ I play a few selections that made their way into my universe. Sometimes the impression they make on me lasts a brief moment, other times a life time. Who can predict? This we...
May 10, 2022•Season 1Ep. 192
Oscar Peterson is described by one of his former students, Victoria’s Louise Rose, as being “driven”…yet still “without ego”. And in the 1972 documentary about him called In the Key Of Oscar, he expressed mixed feelings about the driven-ness, some of which was influenced by a desire to meet his father’s high expectations. There is also the theme of racial prejudice which affected him deeply.. Louise Rose also talks about that and how it got in the way of her becoming a classical pianist. I play ...
May 03, 2022•Season 1Ep. 191
Here in Victoria we are blessed with having a marvellous pianist, singer, and arranger teaching and giving delightful concerts. Her name is Louise Rose, and she studied composition and arranging with the great Duke Ellington. This week’s I present part of an interview with Louise about her experience with Duke, and what she learned from him. It includes information that is personal and not available in books that have been written about and by him. I play great Ellington recordings, as well as t...
Apr 26, 2022•Season 1Ep. 190
Part 1 was about its invention and the 9 different types of saxophones. Part 2 was it’s evolution in jazz as well as its use in classical, r’n’b, and rock ‘n roll. This episodes features more great jazz saxophonists, plus the instrument in modern classical and ‘art’ music. You’ll first hear how a tenor sax can sound so different–depending on whether you’re listening to Archie Shepp or the likes of Ben Webster , Lester Young, or Paul Desmond. I also play two wonderful tracks by Wayne Shorter—one ...
Apr 19, 2022•Season 1Ep. 189
This is Part 2 of my three part series on the saxophone. I take you through the early days of jazz, then talk about how Coleman Hawkins transformed the tenor sax from “mooing and rubbery belches” into a purveyor of musical art. I also touch on the use of the saxophone in classical music, and raconteur and music historian, Al Baggs, from Peterborough, Ontario expounds on that. Then you’ll also hear a bit of rhythm and blues, rock’n roll, and, of course the next step in jazz’s evolution—Charlie Pa...
Apr 12, 2022•Season 1Ep. 188
Beginning a 3 part series on the saxophone…it’s development and use in jazz and other forms of music. In this first episode I play recordings featuring each of the 9 saxophones–from the highest pitched sopranino to the lowest pitched sub contrabass. In-between you’ll hear lots of tenor, alto, baritone, and soprano sax played by the masters. You’ll also hear what happens when tenor saxophonist Stan Getz and Baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan switch instruments.
Apr 05, 2022•Season 1Ep. 187
It’s mostly from my jazz section…but not all. Some you might call ‘world music’, some ‘gospel’, a bit of funk, and one ‘pop; vocalist. But it’s all pretty good, I think (except for maybe the last one). And lots of real jazz!
Mar 29, 2022•Season 1Ep. 186
As I say in my introduction to the podcast, I do play lots of ‘jazz’ that is on the fringes of the genre. A lot of those can be found in my record collection. This week and next I’ve dipped into that collection and I’m spinning a few tunes. You’ll hear -DAWG music (some call it’ progressive bluegrass), j -jazz oriented world music, -a swinging version of Franz Liszt, -a few vocalists that some might call ‘middle of the road’, -a bit of Gypsy jazz (but with Oscar Peterson), -a political song from...
Mar 22, 2022•Season 1Ep. 185
I played some records by some great female instrumental jazz artists last week….and this week I have some more (plus a vocalist or two). I remember only a few years ago when people so often spoke about the dearth of women in the jazz world. And just within five years there numbers have blossomed. Just look at the critics and jazz fans polls in the various jazz magazines. One highlight of this week’s episode is a Vancouver based singer who was recently honoured by Canada Post by having her pictur...
Mar 15, 2022•Season 1Ep. 184
March 8 is International Women’s Day. It falls on a Tuesday–the same day I upload these podcasts. It turned out to be so easy to find great female jazz instrumentalists; much easier than when I did a similar podcast four years ago. And the instruments? There’s piano, guitar, Pedal Harp, Trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax, bass, drums, orchestra arranger, and alto sax. And, of course, some vocals. Some are very familiar names, some of them I’ve heard and heard of for the first time. Some of the perform...
Mar 08, 2022•Season 1Ep. 183
From solo bass to bass in a big band. From free jazz to Gypsy Jazz. And lots more. You’ll hear more bassists in this episode. They include Christian McBride, Victoria’s Joey Smith, Eberhard Weber, Stanley Clarke, Charlie Haden, Ron Carter, Brandi Disterheft, Dave Holland, Tiny Grimes, and two by George Duvivier.
Mar 01, 2022•Season 1Ep. 182
For all you Jaco fans…two tracks from his Weather Report days. I play a track from another electric bassist you’ve probably never heard of…Bill Takas. Another lesser known bassist is Victoria B.C. born Neil Swainson….and here I play a track from the only album under his name, featuring Joe Henderson and Woody Shaw. As well, I play some Chares Mingus and talk about his influences. Also, Paul Chambers and his bass bowing. And the Sam Jones Big Band (where you also hear some soloing from pianist Fr...
Feb 22, 2022•Season 1Ep. 181
