(S4-Ep.13) Otis Redding -Live In Europe with guest Rob Bowman Released July 10, 1967 and Recorded March 1967 and Volt/Atco (Stax) Otis Redding's Live in Europe is a landmark live album that captures the soul legend at the peak of his powers. Recorded during his 1967 European tour, the album showcases Redding's incredible stage presence and raw emotional depth, bringing a vibrant energy to the tracks. The album features classic songs like "Try a Little Tenderness" and "I Ca...
Mar 05, 2025•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stax Records and Special Guest Rob Bowman Stax Records, founded in 1957 by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton in Memphis, Tennessee, played a pivotal role in developing soul and R&B music. Originally called Satellite Records, it was rebranded in 1961, merging the founders’ last names. Known for its deep, emotive sound, Stax produced timeless hits through iconic artists like Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the MG’s, and Sam & Dave. The label's house band, Booker T. & the MG's, c...
Mar 05, 2025•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast (S4-Ep13) The Four Tops - Reach Out (Motown) Released July 1967 and Recorded between 1966-1967 Reach Out is the Four Tops’ best-selling studio album and a landmark Motown release. The album features their signature hit, “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” It showcases Levi Stubbs’ passionate vocals, dramatic orchestration, and the Funk Brothers’ impeccable musicianship. Other standout tracks include “Standing in the Shadows of Love,” “Bernadette,” and “7-Rooms of Gloom,” all highlighting the group’s dyna...
Feb 26, 2025•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tal Yahalom, a Brooklyn-based jazz guitarist and composer, is set to release his highly anticipated ensemble-focused album Mirror Image on March 21, 2025, following the singles Hymn for Tomorrow (Feb. 24) and Tri-Tonal (March 10). Known for his intricate compositions and virtuosity, Yahalom brings together a stellar group of musicians, including David Leon (alto saxophone and flute), Ledah Finck (violin), Irene Han (cello), and Rogerio Boccato (percussion), to create a blend of chamber music and...
Feb 24, 2025•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast (S4-EP 12) Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention-Absolutely Free (Verve) (Special Guest Steve DeLuca) Released May 26, 1967 recorded November 15–18, 1966 March 6, 1967 [ Absolutely Free , the second album by The Mothers of Invention. Expanding on the experimental nature of their debut, Freak Out! , the album blends rock, jazz, and classical music with biting social and political satire. Structured as two conceptual suites—"Absolutely Free" and "The M.O.I. American Pageant"—the album critiques...
Feb 19, 2025•2 hr 30 min•Transcript available on Metacast (S4-Ep10) The Beatles: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart’s Club Band (Parlophone/Capitol) Released May 26, 1967, Recorded Between December 6, 1966 and April 21, 1967 Summary Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), the Beatles' eighth studio album, revolutionized rock music and became a defining cultural moment. Combining psychedelic rock, art rock, and avant-garde techniques, it’s often considered the first concept album. Created during intense studio experimentation, it marked the Beatles...
Feb 12, 2025•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Steve Bryant is a fantastic jazz guitarist who lives and works near the New Jersey shore. His band, RED 123, showcases his masterful compositions and dynamic guitar playing. But beyond performing, Steve is also a dedicated educator, sharing his deep musical knowledge with the next generation. His journey began on French horn before discovering guitar in middle school—a passion that soon became an obsession. Jazz lessons with Vinny Corrao refined his technique, leading to six years in the Navy ba...
Feb 07, 2025•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast (S4-Ep 9) The Jimi Hendrix Experience- Are You Experienced (Polydor in the U.K. and Reprise in the U.S.) Released May 12, 1967 Recorded October 23, 1966, to April 4, 1967 Are You Experienced , released on May 12, 1967, is regarded as one of rock history's most influential debut albums. With Jimi Hendrix at the forefront, the album blends blues, psychedelia, and experimental rock, introducing his signature guitar techniques that would reshape music. Songs like "Purple Haze," "H...
Feb 05, 2025•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast (S4-Ep8) The Velvet Underground and Nico (Verve Records) Released March 1967- Recorded April-May and November of 1966 (Verve Records) Despite its initial commercial failure, the Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) is one of the most influential albums in rock history. The album, produced by artist Andy Warhol, fused avant-garde art with raw, experimental rock, tackling taboo subjects like drug use and urban decay. Lou Reed’s stark lyricism and John Cale’s avant-garde instrumentation—particularl...
Jan 29, 2025•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dave Stryker is a renowned American jazz guitarist with over 25 albums as a leader and collaborations with jazz greats like Stanley Turrentine, Jack McDuff, and Kevin Mahogany. Raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Stryker began playing guitar at ten, initially inspired by The Beatles and later drawn to jazz . By 17, he was performing jazz locally. After moving to Los Angeles in 1978 and then began working with Jack McDuff, touring with him in 1984–1985. Stryker spent a decade with saxophonist Stanley Turr...
Jan 23, 2025•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast (S4 E7) Aretha Franklin -I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (Atlantic) Released March 10, 1967. Recorded January 10 – February 26, 1967 I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967) marked Aretha Franklin’s breakthrough as the "Queen of Soul," blending gospel, blues, and R&B into a revolutionary sound. Released by Atlantic Records, the album featured iconic tracks like Otis Redding’s reimagined “Respect,” which became a feminist and civil rights anthem, and the heartfelt title track, her...
Jan 22, 2025•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast (S4 E6) Miles Davis - Miles Smiles (Columbia) Released February 16, 1967. Recorded October 24-25, 1966 Miles Smiles (Columbia) is a landmark album by Miles Davis' Second Great Quintet, featuring Wayne Shorter (tenor saxophone), Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass), and Tony Williams (drums). The album exemplifies post-bop innovation, blending modal jazz with freer rhythms and structures, referencing avant-garde without discarding form. The album’s compositions highlight the quintet's collec...
Jan 15, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Transcript available on Metacast (S4-Ep5) Donovan Mellow Yellow (Epic Records (U.S.), Pye Records (UK) Released March 24, 1967- Recorded between September and October 1966, Mellow Yellow further highlights Donovan’s transition from folk troubadour to an eclectic innovator, blending folk, jazz, pop, and psychedelia. Produced by Mickie Most and featuring notable collaborators like Paul McCartney and John Paul Jones, the album captures the whimsical, colorful era of the 1960s counterculture. Its title track became a cultural anthe...
Jan 08, 2025•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast (S4-Ep 5) The Byrds- Younger Than Yesterday (Columbia) Released February 6, 1967, Recorded between November 28-December 8, 1966 Younger Than Yesterday marks pivotal in The Byrds’ evolution, blending folk-rock, psychedelia, and early country influences. While not as commercially successful as their earlier albums, it received critical acclaim for its musical innovation and experimental approach. The album features standout tracks like "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star," which critiques the ...
Jan 01, 2025•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast S4-Ep. 4 Jefferson Airplane-Surrealistic Pillow (RCA) Released Feb 1, 1967, and Recorded between October 31-Nov 22, 1966 Surrealistic Pillow (1967) is a defining album of the 1960s psychedelic rock era, marking the debut of Grace Slick as Jefferson Airplane’s lead vocalist. The album blends folk, rock, and experimental sounds, with standout tracks like “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit,” which became anthems of the counterculture. With contributions from multiple band members, the album offer...
Dec 24, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Vega, a celebrated jazz pianist and composer from Nicaragua, continues to captivate audiences with his musical brilliance. His latest album, As I Travel, has garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album, showcasing his original compositions. Vega’s meticulous approach shines through, blending intricate grooves with masterful arrangements that offer structure and creative freedom to his ensemble, featuring John Patitucci, Lewis Nash, and Luisito Quintero. In addition, Vega recent...
Dec 20, 2024•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast S4-Ep.3 The Supremes Sing Holland–Dozier–Holland (Motown) Release Jan 23, 1967, and Recorded 1964-1966 The Supremes Sing Holland–Dozier–Holland is a standout album that showcases the magic between The Supremes and the iconic Motown songwriting and production team Holland-Dozier-Holland (HDH). Released at the peak of their popularity, the album features classic hits like "You Keep Me Hangin' On" and "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone," reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. These tracks highligh...
Dec 18, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast S4-Ep.2 The Monkees-More of the Monkees (Colgems) Released January 9, 1967. Recorded June 25 – November 23, 1966 More of the Monkees is the second studio album by The Monkees, which features a mix of pop-rock and folk influences. The album showcases the group’s emerging sounds, which had very little to do with the Monkees themselves. The manufactured group mainly performed songs by top songwriters as singers, while some of the most talented studio musicians handled the best. More of the Monkees ...
Dec 11, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast S4-Ep.1 The Doors-Self-Titled Release (Elektra) Released January 4, 1967, Recorded August of 1966 Elektra Records The Doors is a groundbreaking debut album that blends rock, blues, jazz, and psychedelia with a unique poetic sensibility, largely driven by Jim Morrison’s dark, introspective lyrics. Recorded in just six days, the album features a distinctive sound, notably Ray Manzarek’s Vox Continental organ, Robby Krieger’s flamenco-inspired guitar work, and John Densmore's jazzy drum style. Key ...
Dec 04, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Naomi Moon Siegel Naomi Moon Siegel is an award-winning trombonist, improviser, composer, and educator committed to creating a positive, transformative music culture beyond conventional genre norms. Her original musical vocabulary draws on the richness of various global musical traditions. Siegel explores the trombone as a vehicle for sonic expression colored by breath, spit, and physicality. A longtime collaborator with Wayne Horvitz, Siegel has performed with such luminaries as Jessica Lurie, ...
Nov 19, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Warren Wolf’s History of the Vibraphone pays tribute to 11 legendary vibe players, including Lionel Hampton, Gary Burton, and Dave Samuels, presenting a deep dive into the vibraphone’s jazz legacy. Starting in classical music under his vibraphonist father’s guidance, Wolf trained on vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, drums, and piano from a young age in Baltimore. Influenced by his dad’s extensive jazz record collection and the local organ trio jazz scene, he eventually studied under Dave Samuels a...
Nov 12, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Charlie Burnham Interview Charlie Burnham is an accomplished American violinist, singer, and composer celebrated for his imaginative and eclectic style. Burnham traverses multiple genres, including bluegrass, folk, free jazz, blues, classical, and chamber jazz. His innovative use of the wah-wah pedal on the violin adds a distinctive flair to his performances. Burnham first gained prominence through his contributions to James "Blood" Ulmer's Odyssey album, highlighting his versatility and skill. ...
Oct 17, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kurt Rosenwinkel, a Philadelphia-born jazz guitarist, is renowned for blending genres and using guitar effects innovatively in jazz. His latest release, The Next Step Band (Live at Smalls, 1996) , revisits the music from his acclaimed 2001 album The Next Step and features longtime collaborators Mark Turner, Ben Street, and Jeff Ballard. In addition to his album, Rosenwinkel has published Kurt Rosenwinkel’s Ultimate Book of Compositions , which includes scores, tabs, and commentary on his extensi...
Oct 10, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summary Brian Bromberg, a virtuoso bassist, honors the legacy of Scott LaFaro with his latest album, LaFaro , and a series of live performances. LaFaro, who tragically died at 25, was a groundbreaking bassist with the Bill Evans Trio, inspiring Bromberg's tribute. Initially reluctant to take on the project due to the pressures of honoring a jazz legend, Bromberg eventually embraced it after realizing LaFaro's profound influence on his playing. Bromberg also shares personal connections to jazz gr...
Oct 01, 2024•2 hr 42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mike Torres is a guitar student of host Jay Sweet and a Vietnam veteran (Air Force). In this discussion, Mike talks about the impact of music during the war and the songs that meant the most to him. Mike's List of Songs: 1. Sky Pilot The Animals 2. After the Gold Rush. Neil Young 3. Longer Boats. Cat Stevens (In memory of my good friend Tom Pat Widmer RIP) 4. Miles From Nowhere. Cat Stevens 5 Pride of Man. Quicksilver Messenger Service 6 Stairway to Heaven. Led Zeppelin 7. Easy Livin. Uriah ...
Sep 11, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast 30- The Who -A Quick One (Reaction Records in the UK and Decca in the U.S ) Released December 9, 1966, Recorded August 30- November -1966 The Who's A Quick One (1966) is the band's second studio album and marks a significant step in their evolution. The album showcases the individual songwriting talents of each member: Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon, with Townshend emerging as the standout composer. The title track, "A Quick One, While He's Away," is a nine-minute ...
Sep 08, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Buster Williams, a legendary jazz bassist, composer, and instructor, has played on numerous records with iconic musicians like Herbie Hancock, Chet Baker, Art Blakey, and Stan Getz, among others. Known for his work as both a sideman and a bandleader, Williams continues to inspire audiences with his performances and compositions. On September 28th, he will perform with his quartet at the Middlesex County Jazz Festival in New Brunswick. The quartet features Lenny White on drums, Steve Wilson on sa...
Sep 02, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast (S3-#29) Cream- Fresh Cream (Reaction) Released December 9, 1966. Recorded July-November 1966 Cream, formed in 1966, was one of the first supergroups. It consisted of three highly regarded musicians from the British blues and rock scenes: Eric Clapton (guitar, vocals), Jack Bruce (bass, lead vocals), and Ginger Baker (drums). Their debut album, Fresh Cream , released on December 9, 1966, blends blues covers and original compositions, showcasing the band's blues roots and groundbreaking sound. Fr...
Sep 01, 2024•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast #28-Buffalo Springfield-Self-Titled Original Released October or December 1966? Without “For What It’s Worth,” then Re-released in March 1967 - Recorded between July 18-September 11-1966 (ATCO) Buffalo Springfield's self-titled debut album, initially released by Atco Records in late 1966, introduced the world to the band's distinctive blend of folk, rock, country, and psychedelia. The original release, recorded between July and September 1966, lacked a major hit but gained significant attention ...
Aug 22, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Kinks -Face to Face Released October 28, 1966.Recorded mainly from mid-April to June 1966, except “I’ll Remember” (October 1965). (Pye Records in the UK and Reprise in the US) Face to Face (1966) by The Kinks marked a major shift in the band's style, moving from their earlier harder-driven sound to a more nuanced blend of baroque and pop music hall influences. This was the first album to feature only Ray Davies' compositions, showcasing his observational and satirical songwriting, which expl...
Aug 15, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
