Blind Mango Chutney delivers a Sunday afternoon of righteous jazz tunes on a semi-tropical afternoon. Mostly local tunes again for New Zealand Music Month, starting with the Lahaar, with Julien Dyne on drums.

Guest this afternoon is Tom Rodwell, bluesman from the band "Storehouse," to talk about an upcoming show and a scintilating recent album, and DJ Sassy delivers the Jazz Gig Guide.

Frances Chan celebrates NZ Music Month, Mother’s Day and the birthdays of Carla Bley, Julian Joseph and Freddie Roach, plus the latest London sounds, an Italian guitar wunderkind and a tour to the Middle East to round out the show.

Setlist:

New or new-ish releases from Jeff Parker, Tim Berne, Julian Lage and John Zorn's New Masada Quartet feature in Def Jim's latest Jazz Show. Mr. Parker is back with another set from the band that recorded Mondays At The Enfield Tennis Academy a while back, this time on a better-distributed label (and available from Real Groovy on vinyl at last check). Otherwise the Show is graced with the usual miscellany of carefully-chosen album tracks new and old from the modern jazz canon. Don't miss it!

First selections come from the early Rock' n' Roll period with key vocalists Big Mama Thornton & Big Maybelle. Things get a tad trippy with psychedelic selections from Hendrix, Les Paul, & Blood Sweat & Tears, unfolding later with some unlikely surprises, as Dambuster unearths some buried nuggets from Alice Cooper, Snakefinger (the Residents), & Throbbing Gristle. Plus The MC5 enter for a totally Sonic moment! - (It's all about the track's epic Drum intro, & the Saxophones mid track folks!).

Blind Mango knocks it into the End-Zone with essential tracks from King Crimson, John McLaughlin, & Larry Coryell, ending the show on a total high with Charlie Hunter's great version of Nirvana's Come as You Are — all making for an eclectic, & indeed an *electric* mix of Rock-Jazz Vibes with a busy text machine keeping the Crew busy with ppl diggin' the show's selections. (A part 2 perhaps, guys?)

DJ Sassy pops in to host the Jazz Gig Guide, & adds a refreshing beverage twist — & Miss Dom to present the Vinyl Fair Guide.

Rock on Folks! With big thanks to our show sponsors: San Ray at 118 Ponsonby Road

Frances Chan lounges on the exotica sofa to start the show, then highlights her favourite acts from Womad Aotearoa 2025, plays a Jarrett twofer and marches out on the funk.

Set list: 

Jazz guru Blind Mango Chutney checks in with another ripping jazz set taking you from Ken Nordine's humour through to Billy Holiday's pathos.

Blind Mango kicks off the show with a sensational version of a seasonal standard.

Female singers & players feature highly this afternoon — with a stunning trio of pieces from Nina Simone, then the delightfulness of vocalist Annette Peacock, & then the keys of Joanne Brackeen.

A Roy Ayers's deep-dig makes an appearance courtesy of Jubt, & a bunch of short-distance, track dedications (&  long distance shout-outs) are sent out to show listeners, & Jazz Show Fam overseas.

Miss Dom pops in to host this week's Vinyl Guide, & for some extra B.V.s (lol).  The pair get excited ahead of visiting Navajo trumpeter Delbert Anderson — playing later that arvo in the Spiegeltent with his Quartet as part of the Auckland Arts Festival Indigenous Music Series. 

Def Jim returns from his extended Summer break with a total blast of a Jazz Shown featuring a track from each of three brand new releases from the likes of Steve Coleman & 5 Elements, Ava Mendoza and Emily Remler. The latter (which opens the Show) is particularly noteworthy, being a taste of the first previously unheard set from the sadly deceased guitarist Ms. Remler released for 25 years. Naturally there are plenty more delights to be savoured in this Show, such as a piece by 70's UK fusion pioneers Nucleus taken from a multi-CD set released a couple of years ago which exhaustively documents their recording sessions for UK public broadcaster the BBC. Warmly recommended.

A lot of Roy Ayers this afternoon, to mark the passing of the great vibraphonist and band leader — and, sadly, of several other luminaries including r’n’b saxophonist Gene Barge (aka Daddy G, the template for Clarence Clemons), David Johansen (featuring a first-ever appearance on any Jazz show anywhere by the New York Dolls!), and of course jazz, soul and pop singer Roberta Flack.  

Two special guests also join Blind Mango in the studio this afternoon: 

Ben Fernandez plays his diminutive keyboard and talks about his many upcoming projects  (including Bollywood and Jazz) and ongoing play-with-music 'a mixtape for maladies' at ASB Waterfront Theatre, every day until March 23rd. 

And Frances swings by to announce the Jazz GigGuide live, and stays to discuss future events and shared jazz memories.