As I type this description, I'm listening to this episode and so enjoying it! The music is both interesting AND accessible.

I'll give you a list of the album's I'm playing here:

If you like this program, I'd appreciate you putting a review and rating wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks.

And I encourage you to buy any of these albums that resonate with you.

-Larry

I was interested in listening to a few of the albums that jazz radio are featuring so far in 2025, and playing a few that stood out for me.

This week you'll hear tracks by Eugenie Jones, Scott Hamilton, Joe Alterman with Houston Person, Renee Rosnes, Ben Patterson, Yellowjackets, Artemis, Claire Martin, Ben Paterson, and a saxophone blowing session with Nick Hampton and Cory Weeds.

Part 3 of pianists described by Robert Doerschuk in his book 88-The Giants of Jazz Piano.

I start by talking about Art Tatum who is " by consensus the greatest jazz pianist who ever lived".

Then I move on to the man that Tatum himself considered his 'heir apparent'. Montreal's Oscar Peterson.

Then the recently desceased Geri Allen, with her 'bracing rhythmic interactions'. Her ability to separate her left and right hands was astounding!

Lastly....a pianist considered to be one of the most important pianists of his generation: Brad Mehldau. And, given the upcoming change in seasons, the tune of his to finish off this episode seems quite appropriate.

Four more pianists as described by Robert L. Doerschuk in his book 88: The Giants of Jazz Piano.

You'll hear two tracks from Jelly Roll Morton and what to look for as you listen to them.

Then I play 3 1/2 tracks from Thelonious Monk, including a couple from very early in his musical career when he was just developing his style.

I talk about and play three recordings from Mary Lou Williams--who was described as a "gifted and delicate appreciator who distills what affects her in the work of other pianists....", where "the grapes are others, the wine is her own".

The episode finishes with one of my all time favourites---Ahmad Jamal. Don't miss his sensational performance of Make Someone Happy from the 1985 Montreal Jazz Festival.

One final thing: this podcast is ranked #35 in the 100 best Jazz Podcasts by Feedspot. You can explore various jazz podcasts through https://podcast.feedspot.com/jazz_podcasts/. And if you enjoy this podcast and want to see it rise, you can always give it a rating and review on the apple podcasts or itunes site----and maybe that can help it rise up the charts.

Thanks.

-Larry

"An outstanding example of freedom built on form and of the possibilities suggested when romanticism and abstraction find each other". Guess what pianist is being described here? And what do you think that description might actually sound like?

Or how about this one: "tantalizing interruptions of the rhythmic flow in the improvised line and his dissonant leaps twisting the melody into a moonscape of peaks and valleys". To what piano player might that description be refferring?

This is Part 1 of a series of episodes inspired by Robert L. Doerschuk's 2001 book "88 Of the Giants of Jazz Piano". Here I play music by Bud Powell, Barry Harris, Cedar Walton, and Paul Bley. Doerschuk describes some of the recordings of each of these giants---and I get to play them for you. The goal? To help me (and you) get a sense of each pianist's style, and be able to identify each one when you hear them. A rather ambitious goal, I realize.

But even if we don't attain it, for sure you will hear some great music!

It's important to remember, especially during Black History Month, that jazz is music born of the African American experience---and it is now played and listened to all over the world. To quote Randall Cline, Artistic Director of SF Jazz: "The birth of jazz, and its evolution is rooted in black artists fighting against systemic oppression. Jazz musicians have always been on the front lines of change".

So in this episode, originally posted and presented 4 years ago, I play music celebrating that fight.

You'll hear recordings by Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Archie Shepp, A Tribe Called Red, Nina Simone, and others. And some very revealing stories.

Also trumpeter Terence Blanchard, and his "Breathless" album from 2015. I neglected to mention who was playing on the album, so here it is:

And as an aside, this podcast, Discovering Jazz, is currently #36 on Feedspot's list of the world's best jazz podcasts. You can find their listing through https://podcast.feedspot.com/jazz_podcasts/.

Taking a couple weeks off and posting programs from the archives.

This week it's Jazz and Black History Month....originally posted February of 2020. Now, despite the efforts of certain racist politicians to eliminate our honouring black history, this episode is in honour of that history.

I play music by James Reese Europe and his Paragons Ragtime Orchestra, Jellyroll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Oscar Peterson & Harry Sweets Edison, Charles Mingus, Joe Williams, Louise Rose (from Victoria, B.C.), Ramsey Lewis, Wynton Marsalis, and The Modern Jazz Quartet. And I talk about this music---focusing on its roots, including Buddy Bolden (who, unfortunately, never recorded).

To conclude what has turned out to be an 8 part series on The Best of 2024---I've randomly selected some albums that were chosen by one or more 'experts'.

There are a lot of artists of whom I was totally unfamiliar...and randomly selecting a few certainly aids my own jazz 'discovery' process, and I hope it will also aid yours. By concidence it turns out that three of these have a Latin (Spanish or Portuguese) flavour. Then there's one artist from Italy, one from England, one 'historical' album from one of America's greatest trumpeters, two from Canada, and a couple from the U.S. (including Portland, Oregon).

Some great music!

Of the albums that reviewers and jazz aficianados placed on their "Best of 2024" list---here are what I feel right now are my nine favourites.

Kenny Barron: Beyond This Place

And my all-time favourite: A 4 cd set (with booklet) by Allen Lowe called Louis Armstrong's America.

Next week I'm playing what I've selected as being my 9 favourite jazz albums of 2024. (At least of those I was able to listen to).

This week, I'm playing records that I wanted on my top 9....but I just couldn't fit them in. And as I listen to this episode now, there is at least one that really should be in that personl 'best of' list. That's the album I start and end with.

Here is the list of 8 amazing albums I'm featuring this week:

Next week: my official "top 9 jazz albums of 2024". For what its worth :)