It’s located at the gateway to Northern Alberta, Canada—the city of Edmonton. And it’s been billed as Canada’s longest running volunteer-run jazz club, having first started in 1957. This episode explores its history, and features recordings by some of the great artists who have played there. Along with interviews with Marc Vasey, Todd Crawshaw, and Francis Remedios, you’ll hear some great clips from a documentary film that was made about this club. And a story about David Bowie and his trip to T...
Oct 31, 2023•Season 1Ep. 251
I really love listening to this podcast—even if I did put it together myself. I went through a few of the albums currently (as of Oct 12, 2023) on the Jazz Week Charts. Those charts reflect albums on the playlists of various jazz radio stations in North America. And I played a track from some of the albums that personally stood out for me. One of the most outstanding ones, to my way of thinking, were Joshua Redman and Gabrille Cassava’s interpretation of By The Time I Get to Phoenix….with intere...
Oct 24, 2023•Season 1Ep. 250
Having just heard the news of the passing of one of my favourite jazz musicians, pianist and composer Carla Bley, I thought I’d re-visit a past podcast from 2021.
Oct 17, 2023•Season 1Ep. 161
Last week I talked about modes used in jazz. Modes are really nothing more than a scale. This week I’ll talk about some other scales, and play tunes that illustrate that scale. I talk about the bebop scale, diminished scale, various minor scales, the blues scale, and the whole tone scale. And play tunes by Cannonball Adderley, Horace Silver with Bill Henderson, John Coltrane, Karen Plato, Sonny Rollins, John Stetch, David Baker,, Charlie Parker, and JJ Johnson.
Oct 17, 2023•Season 1Ep. 249
I usually try to avoid talking about jazz theory in this podcast. That’s partly because of it’s complexity, as well as my own limited knowledge. I do believe its possible to love a piece of jazz without understanding the theory behind it. At the same time, if we have a sense of some of the different scales or ‘modes’ used, it can enhance our ability to make sense of it. In this episode I talk briefly about the seven major key ‘modes’–the Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixylidian, Aeolian, and...
Oct 10, 2023•Season 1Ep. 248
“Tis Autumn! There have been some wonderful jazz, big band, broadway, and even ‘folk’ oriented tunes written about the Fall season. In this episode I play a version of ten of my favourites. They range from Paul Bley to Frank Sinatra—and I even throw in something by early Joni Mitchell. You’ll also hear Woody Herman, Ahmad Jamal, Bob Dorough, Hartman & Coltrane, Jennifer Scott w. Peter Bernstein and Cory Weeds, and Dave McKenna & Buddy DeFranco,
Oct 03, 2023•Season 1Ep. 247
Still lots of cd’s I need to listen to and file, discard, or listen to again. I played a few last week….and this week I have a few more. Some are old some are new. Some of the compact discs I’m playing and from which I’ll include a track on this podcast are: Charles Lloyd: Lift Every voice (double album) Monk’estra Plays John Beasley Ivan Lins: My Heart Speaks Shelly Manne: Steps To The Desert (aka My Son the Drummer) The Hutchinson Andrew Trio: Tribute to Tommy Banks. W Mallory Chipman, PJ Perr...
Sep 26, 2023•Season 1Ep. 246
Time to listen to and sort out some of the cd’s that are surrounding me right now. And I’ll play some tracks from the most enjoyable—or at least the most interesting–ones.
Sep 19, 2023•Season 1Ep. 245
How did North America’s first International Jazz festival get established in Edmonton, Alberta? Why Edmonton? And who is the Kansas City Bluesman, Big Miller, after whom a park in this city has been named? And lastly…what famous jazz musician left town in the middle of his concert, absconding with his band’s pay? More from an interview with Jazz City founder and artistic director, Marc Vasey. Plus some great music by Dizzy Gillespie, P.J. Perry, Franco D’Andrea, Stan Getz, Pepper Adams with Tomm...
Sep 12, 2023•Season 1Ep. 244
It’s been claimed to be North America’s first International Jazz Festival. In a city of only half a million. Festival founder Marc Vasey talks about how Edmonton, Alberta, Canada became known as ‘jazz city’. And he talks about some of the challenges and inspiring moments from those early years of 1980 to 1983. Some of the stories include: -How Chet Baker had to be locked into his hotel room. -How an opening night disaster was transformed into an amazing beginning for the festival. -How playing i...
Sep 05, 2023•Season 1Ep. 243
This is the last of my 4 part series on folk songs ‘jazzified’. I also introduce you to some Western Swing—which combines so many different genres. I play jazz recordings by The Stanley Clarke Trio with Hiromi, John Coltrane, Vince Guaraldi, Big Miller with Jon Hendricks, Seattle’s Floyd Standifer, and the wonderful Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs. Western Swing recordings are by Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys and Al Bernard. The Coltrane tune is Song of The Underground Railroad, taken fro...
Aug 29, 2023•Season 1Ep. 242
The first 12 minutes of this podcast takes you to Sweden. Three tracks with Swedish jazz musicians playing folk music from Russia, U,S,A,, and Hungary.That’s followed by Django Reinhardt playing a traditional Russian tune. Then we have more jazz interpretations of Spirituals by Nina Simone, Bevely-Glenn Copeland, Ramsay Lewis, Don Shirley, and Albert Ayler. I think the most exciting track in this episode is Clifford Jordan’s jazz interpretation of Goodnight Irene. Although Shelly Manne playing H...
Aug 22, 2023•Season 1Ep. 241
Did you know that Sonny Rollins didn’t actually write “St. Thomas”. And that Randy Weston recorded this traditional folk song before Rollins, but under the name of “Fire Down There”?And another piece of information: Thelonious Monk’s “Japanese Folk Song” wasn’t really a folk song—as the writer was known. But it has entered an oral tradition within Japan. In this episode you’ll also hear jazz versions of three spirituals: Deep River, Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, and Glory Glory. Othe...
Aug 15, 2023•Season 1Ep. 240
A lot of folk songs—and I’m talking mostly about traditional tunes—have been adapted into jazz. And in a lot of cases the results have been spectacular! Right from the earliest years of jazz when Louis Armstrong with Earl Hines had the 1929 hit of St. James Infirmary. And today, 94 years later, we have the Daniel Hersog Orchestra from Vancouver and their “Folk Songs Reimagined” album. You can hear what they do with Red River Valley. Lots more, too. Even some Flatt and Scruggs style bluegrass jaz...
Aug 08, 2023•Season 1Ep. 239
I’m back with new episodes after a three week break. There have been many well-deserved tributes to Tony Bennett, who we lost July 21st of this year. Here is another one, focusing mostly on his ‘jazz’ side. A number of great jazz musicians played with and respected Tony Bennett, and I feature a few of what I think are the best recordings. The players include Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Elvin Jones, Bill Evans, Phil Woods, and a few others. A...
Aug 01, 2023•Season 1Ep. 238
This program, originally posted January of 2019, features tracks from 2018 albums that Downbeat Magazine reviewers–and a few others–raved about. You’ll hear: -singer Stacey Kent -Polish bassist Wojtek Masolewski and his Quintet – Canadian trumpet player Ingrid Jensen -More trumpet from Ambrose Akinmusire -Downbeat Hall of Fame pianist Kenny Barron -Guitarist Steve Tibbets -London’s Sons of Kemet featuring Shabaka Hutchings -Cuban/Canadian all female group, Jane Bunnett & Maqueque. – –...
Jul 25, 2023•Season 1Ep. 50
More from my archives of old programs while I take a bit of a summer break. IMPORTANT NOTE: Because this program had been recorded directly off a feed from Trent Radio, the sound quality isn’t up to my usual Discovering Jazz podcast standards. But the music’s great…and I hope you’ll find some of the information enlightening. Forgive the slight buzz during the talking. I like to buy records at thrift stores and pawn shops, and it’s hard to find good jazz records at an affordable price. But while ...
Jul 18, 2023•Season 1Ep. 10
This is the Trent Radio program that spawned the Discovering Jazz podcast. In February 2016 my partner and I had recently moved to Peterborough, Ontario and I decided I wanted to do a program on Trent Radio, Call letters CFFF-the community and university radio station. Since they didn’t have a jazz program and I was interested in learning more about jazz I applied to do one. I called it “Discovering Jazz”, as it was (and still is) a discovery process for me. The following year, on a whim, I ente...
Jul 11, 2023
Some more New Discoveries from The Real Book. Some are songs written by jazz musicians, others are Broadway ‘standards. I play music by artists as diverse as Bing Crosby and Roland Kirk. I also try to look at what exactly is a “Charlie Parker Blues”. And for many of those tunes, I play an original version, then a later one. But I think that even people who aren’t huge jazz fans will find the music in this episode to be pleasant as well as stimulating. And feel free to share it....
Jul 04, 2023•Season 1Ep. 237
As I go through this ‘jazz bible’ for students and jammers, I keep discovering new tunes. This leads me to listen to some versions of them. And this week and next I’m sharing some of my ‘discoveries’. I start the podcast with two different versions of Wayne Shorter’s Beauty and The Beast (including a great vocal interpretation)_ You’ll also hear two different versions of Afternoon in Paris, and Gypsy In My Soul. The great jazz singer, Veronica Swift, (who is now touring with Chris Botti and will...
Jun 27, 2023•Season 1Ep. 236
The last of my series on the upcoming Edmonton Jazz Festival. This week I explore some history—touching on the fore-runner of this festival, Jazz City. That festival became Canada’s first Internationally renowned Jazz Festival….beginning in 1980. I also explore the attempt being made to attract youth to this festival. Many of the artists are young, and efforts are being made to attract a youthful audience. After all if young people don’t listen to jazz and us oldies die out (which we eventually ...
Jun 20, 2023•Season 1Ep. 235
Today’s podcast starts with an amazing ‘jam’ led by pianist Emmet Cohen. Other jazz artists featured this week are The Leon Phal Quartet from France, flautist Naissam Jalal, The Ostara Project of Canadian women ‘superstars’, Edmonton trombonist Audrey Ochoa, and Polish bassist Piotr Lemanczyk. And more on the ‘fringes’ of jazz, you’ll hear Nik West with Orianthi and The Mbira Renaissance Band playing music of Zimbabwe. These are all artists who will be at the jazz festival in Edmonton, Alberta J...
Jun 13, 2023•Season 1Ep. 234
There are some great artists coming to the Edmonton Jazz Festival, June 28 to July 02nd. And many of them are touring and going to other festivals as well….so hopefully many of you will get a chance to hear and see them. This three part series features some of the players. I start out with one that I’m most excited about; that’s John Beasley’s MONK’estra, who are opening the evening concerts. Or, one could go and see Australia’s Brekky Boy playing around the same time at Edmonton’s Chateau Lacom...
Jun 06, 2023•Season 1Ep. 233
I’m one of these people that like to touch and see whatever music I’m playing. So I prefer cd’s and lp’s to downloads. I especially like them when I order them by mail or browse through one of those rapidly dwindling cd and record stores. Others I like to be surprised when I find them in a thrift store. This week I’m playing a few recent acquisitions. For me the highlight is a 9 1/2 minute rendition of Autumn Leaves by the great harmonica virtuoso Toots Thielmans, along with piano genius Fred He...
May 30, 2023•Season 1Ep. 232
I’ve started listening to some of the new music that artists and publicists have been sending me, and have made some great discoveries. In this episode I share with you a few of them. The episode starts with a trumpet player from Vancouver (Daniel Hersog) and his 17 piece jazz orchestra. And it ends with a 9-piece group led by saxophonist Brian McCarthy. Between those you’ll hear old-style swing, modern Latin, electronic-jazz fusion, bebop (including some with a Cuban touch), part of a symphonic...
May 23, 2023•Season 1Ep. 231
This is the final program of this four=part series where I play records that have been rated as being good ones to turn a jazz ‘newbie’ into a fan. This week you’ll hear a track from 8 albums. They are: Mingus Ah Um, where I also talk about why that’s such a clever title. Hank Mobley: Soul Station, with Wynton Kelly on pianoJohn Coltrane: A Love Supreme. Do you find it ‘majestic and compelling’ or ‘interminable and pretentious’?Wayne Shorter: Speak No Evil. A composition from when he was thinkin...
May 16, 2023•Season 1Ep. 230
The highlight of this week’s episode is the great pianist Bill Evans and his trio from the late 50’s. What is it about that trio and his playing that makes it stand out? I give a few hints….and you can hear it in the two tracks I play from that first trio album, Portrait in Jazz. Other albums that jazz aficionados say will convince you that jazz is worth your time? I play a track from The Blues and The Abstract Truth by Oliver Nelson. Then, also on Bluenote records is Lee Morgan’s The Sidewinder...
May 09, 2023•Season 1Ep. 229
Part 2 of essential jazz albums for those of us still in the beginner ‘discovery’ process. Which, I suspect, most of us are—considering the wealth of amazing jazz recordings out there! This week, I start off with a track from Dave Brubeck’s ‘Time Out’ album. And query whether The Beatles might have been listening to this album before writing one of their most famous songs. You’ll also hear classic albums by Cannonball Adderley, Louis Armstrong, Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, and Thelonious Monk...
May 02, 2023•Season 1Ep. 228
What you’ll be hearing is tracks from great jazz albums. I’m continually being introduced to jazz, even though I’ve been doing this podcast for over five years. So, here I am again being a ‘newbie’ and listening to (or re-listening in some cases) to albums that jazz bloggers say are essential listening for beginners. This week, you’ll hear tracks by Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (together), Clifford Brown & Max Roach, Count Basie, The Quintet (w. Charlie Chan ak...
Apr 25, 2023•Season 1Ep. 227
Although most of my episodes of this podcast seem to have themes, sometimes I like the flexibility of not having any theme whatsoever. This week I’m playing a few recordings that have come into my consciousness recently. Most are new discoveries and a few aren’t. Some are cd’s, one came originally from an lp, and the rest I’ve downloaded. To welcome Spring, I’ve included two vocal versions of Clifford Brown’s Joy Spring….and I talk a bit about the two different sets of lyrics written. And the wr...
Apr 18, 2023•Season 1Ep. 226
