One of the best ways to ‘discover’ jazz is to try playing it—on whatever instrument (including voice) that you feel most comfortable. I’ve been trying that with my keyboard and The Real Book, Sixth Edition. When I come up to the pieces that start with ‘g’, there are some real challenges. So here I am listening to (and presenting to you) some great recordings of some of those tunes.

The tunes you’ll hear on this episode are:

Gloria’s Step, performed by Michel Donato, Frank Lozano, Francois Bourassa, and Pierre Tanguay from Montreal.

John Guerin’s Good Evening Mr. and Mrs. America by Tom Scott and the L.A. Express—preceded by a Walter Winchell clip that inspired the piece.

Grand Central by Cannonball Adderley with John Coltrane.

Groovin’ High by Dizzy Gillespie with Charlie Parker

Grow Your Own by Keith Jarrett and Gary Burton

Guilty by Linda Carone from Toronto

Golden Lady: two versions. First the original Stevie Wonder, then a modern jazz adaptation by Robert Glasper.

Gemini by Jimmy Heath with Freddie Hubbard and some wonderful french horn from Julius Watkins

Giant Steps, slowed down and lyricized by Eugene McDaniels and entitled “Curious Traveler”. With Ted Brancato on piano.