APRIL IS JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH!

This April, we not only celebrate all things Jazz... but we celebrate specifically the centennial of not one but two Icons of Jazz Culture, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Miles and Coltrane was a combination that just couldn't miss.. I mean they went together like peanut butter and jelly or tickle on a belly, like cheese on grits and like The Beatles had hits. All Young Jazz Lovers know their collective story and history and of course the music, the music, the music... yet never tire of indulging in the magic of their artistry one more once!

This episode of Jazzism (a katzpheno mix) is ALL TRANE... with a bit of Miles on the side. Face it, you cannot have one without the other. I also give a few worthy artists their due as they present the music of John Coltrane in their own unique way. So for you die hard Coltrane fans...this one's for you.

Enjoy,

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:

John Coltrane - Giant Steps (1960)

Kurt Elling - Resolution - A Love Supreme pt. 2 (2003)

Gary Bartz - Your Lady (2012)

Conrad Hervig & Brian Lynch - Lonnie's Lament (2003)

John Coltrane - Equinox (1964)

Art Farmer - Naima (1983)

Giant Step NYC - Impressions (1994)

Jack DeJohnette featuring Ravi Coltrane & Matthew Garrison - Alabama (2016)

John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman - Autumn Serenade (1963)

John Blake & Grover Washington, Jr. - Moments Notice (1992)

John Coltrane - Blue Train (1957)

Pharoah Sanders - Central Park West (1981)

Back again with the good news from on high...

The Country Preacher has spread the gospel, a gospel of liberation, and gospel of power, econmoic power, red, black and green... know what I mean! He preached a gospel born of exclusion demanding a seat at the table not for just him and his but for all regardless of gender, race or creed. Shouting let freedom ring!!

The Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson transcended this earthly plane on February 17th 2026 and when he was a young freedom fighter in Chicago - planning, organizing and fighting for a better day, he inspired a young Jazz pianist named Josef Zawinul (who happened to be in a quintet led by the great Cannonball Adderley) to compose a song in his honor. He named the tune "Country Preacher".

Josef Zawinul was an Austrian immigrant who came to NYC with his parents and fell in love with Jazz Culture. He got his start playing soulful jazz with Cannonball Adderley in the 1960's and later went on to become one of the greatest electronic keyboardist of the 20th century. He was instrumental in developing Jazz Fusion alongside saxophonist Wayne Shorter with the creation of the group Weather Report in the early 1970's. You can't get more Jazz than that.... Jazz is about different sounds and cultures, conversations if you will, learning how to work together to create something new and spontaneous and beautiful with chords and melody.

On this episode I touch on the legacy of Jesse Jackson and of course bring all "You Young Jazz Lovers" a whole lot of good, good Jazz music. So... exercise your freedom to enjoy this most democratic of all art forms... Jazz Music Born in America, Enjoyed Worldwide.

Enjoy,

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:

Eddie Harris - Listen Here (1968)

Marcus Miller - Cee Tee Eye (2012)

Next Collective - Thank You (2013)

Benito Gonzalez - Father (2021)

Bonnie Raitt - Everybody's Crying Mercy (2019)

The Cannonball Adderley Quintet - Country Preacher (1969)

Tony Williams - Ancient Eyes (1987)

The Jaleel Shaw Quintet - Fourth Floor (1999)

The Rongetz Foundation featuring Marvin Parks - The Braggart (2012)

Harvey Mason - Montara (2014)

Adonis Rose & The N.O. Invaders - Mellow Moods (2007)

Welcome to the final episode of Jazzism (a katzpheno mix) for 2025.

On this episode we celebrate life, the beauty, the struggle, and the joy of it all. Though a year is full of change we reflect on those aspects of change in our lives that were positive. We focus now on those aspects of change that helped us to grow, that gave us deeper knowledge of ourselves and the world around us, that taught us to share with one another, and to love each other more.

"What the world needs now is love sweet love, that's the only thing that there's just too little of." Burt Bacharach and Hal David penned those insightful lyrics and put it to beautiful music with an unforgettable melody sixty years ago, and it's just as true now as it was then. In my mind it's so obviously true the world needs more love. The killings and the wars and the bombings and the starvation has to stop. Love can do it.

Have a Happy, Jazzy New Year! - Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:

Syndee Winters - Alive (2025)

James Farm - 1981 (2012)

The Anthony Smith Vibraphone Quatet - Highway One (2013)

Stanley Turrentine - Impressions (1971)

Kurt Rosenwinkel - Homage A' Mitch (2012)

M.E.B. - Mellow Kisses (2023)

The Stephen Scott Trio - Renaissance, part 4: With The Least Bit Of Hope (1994)

The Cookers - Time And Time Again (2014)

Branford Marsalis featuring Kurt Elling - Long As you're Living (2016)

Hiromi - Life Goes On (2014)

Nina Simone - Feeling Good (1965)

Nicholas Payton featuring Tim Warfield - After You've Gone (1995)

Greetings All You Young Jazz Lovers!

It is time for another expertly curated Jazz music podcast, and on this episode we take a closer look at the career of the incomparable drummer, pianist and composer Jack DeJohnette. As All Young Jazz Lovers know Jack DeJohnette transitioned from this earthly plane October 26th, 2025. He blessed us with 6 decades of artistry and left an indelible mark upon Jazz Culture Worldwide.

Of course... we also hear from other Jazz greats as we once again revel in this music we so lovingly call Jazz. I am sure you will find something inside this hour to lift your spirits and color your world, I only ask that if you do...please pass the news about the podcast on to a deserving Young Jazz Lover you know.

We gonna keep Jazzism rockin' til the cops come knockin'!!

Enjoy,

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:

Jack DeJohnette Special Edition - PM's AM (1988)

Michael Mayo - You and You (2021)

Elijah Jamal Balbed - What Matters Most In Life (2015)

David Ashkenazy - Children Of The Night (2021)

Terri Lyne Carrington - Money Jungle (2013)

McCoy Tyner - Bayou Fever (1979)

Straight Ahead - Inner Thoughts (1995)

Herlin Riley - New Direction (2016)

Marquis Hill - Straight, No Chaser (2016)

Geri Allen - Black Bottom (2004)

Jack DeJohnette - Exotic Isles

Greetings All You Young Jazz Lovers!

Jazzism (a katzpheno mix) has returned with yet another installment of the "best damn Jazz Music podcast on the internet." So glad you have found the time and place to enjoy my humble offering.

This episode features "Nothing But The Best That The World Has To Offer In Jazz Music" so let the sounds take on a magical journey and "Expand Your Jazz-Like Mind, One Time." I do it all in service to "This Music We So Lovingly Call... Jazz."

OK...I think that cover all my catch phrases. Just remember to "Keep Jazz In Your Life, Not Strife... And Everything Will Be Alright."

Peace,

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:

Robert Glasper - 59 South (2009)

Buster Williams - Audacity (2018)

Ben Williams - Home (2011)

Kamasi Washington - Leroy and Lanisha (2015)

Tia Fuller - Lil Les (2012)

Joanna Pascale - I Wanna Be Loved (2015)

Terence Blanchard - Azania (2003)

Horace Tapscott - To The Great House (1995)

Danny Gatton - One For Lenny (1992)

Kurt Elling - All Or Nothing At All (2009)

Joe Chambers - Man From South Africa (2010)

Greetings All You Young Jazz Lovers!

Another episode of the best damn Jazz music podcast on the internet has dropped, and this episode has drawn its inspiration from the world of film. A cinema masterpiece entitled "Sinners" hit theaters back in April of this year and ever since I can't seem to quench my desire for the blues (I also avoid the sunlight...strange). It's as if I have been seduced and placed under a spell! I wonder, is there such a thing as a Blues Vampire? If so...one must have bit me when I attended the Keb' Mo - Taj Mahal concert in June. Well, in any case... here it is y'all a bit of that voodoo that the Blues do so well.

Enjoy!

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:

Abbey Lincoln - The Music Is The Magic (2007)

Mike Stern - Coupe De Ville (2009)

Warren Wolf - Frankie & Johnny (2013)

Herlin Riley - Wang, Dang, Doodle (2019)

Charlie Hunter - We Don't Nobody Nobody Sent ( 2016)

Jimmy Greene - No Words (2020)

Randy Crawford & Joe Sample - Everyday I Have The Blues (2012)

Charlie Haden, Paul Motain & Geri Allen - Blues In Motain (1987)

Billy Cobham - Red Baron (1973)

Allen Toussaint - Singin' The Blues (2009)

Mack Avenue Superband - Test Of Time (2015)

Joe Williams & Marlena Shaw - Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (1989)

Greetings All You Young Jazz lovers! Brian Phoenix back again with another installement of Jazzism (a katzpheno mix).... one I am certain you are gonna dig the most!

I entitled this episode "Work" for two reasons, one it is the title of a composition written by Thelonious Monk and included here on the podcast (performed by Chick Corea Trio), and because work is essential to life. Work gives us purpose and it sustains us. There is an inherient nobility in all forms of work. Work loses it's meaning only when the work being done is not done to the best ability of the worker. It loses its value when it is not properly compensated or valued by the end user (employer or customer).

We all got work to do, my work is simple and is stated in my tagline - "Bringing You Nothing But The Best That The World Has To Offer In Jazz Music, This Is Jazzism" as well as in my mission statement "Rescuing Jazz Radio From The Blahs!" Good people, I love my job..... now if I could only get some monetary compensation for the work...that would be awesome.

Enjoy the mix,

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:

Buster Williams - Where Giants Dwell (2018)

Nicholas Payton - Levin's Lope (2021)

Gregory Porter - Movin' (2013)

Dave Holland Sextet - Pass It On (2008)

Sonny Rollins - Clear-Cut Boogie (1998)

Roy Ayers - Virgo Vibes (1967)

Chick Corea Trio - Work (2013)

Yellowjackets - An Informed Decision (2013)

Cecile McLorin Salvant - The Underling (2015)

Geri Allen - Baby, I Need Your Loving (2013)

Herlin Riley - You Don't Know What Love Is (2019)

Roberta Flack - Tenderly (1994)

Greetings All You Young Jazz Lovers,

February 14th in the USA is officially Valentines Day, a day created by a small entrepenuer ages ago to... well, quite frankly sell more product. The origins seem to begin around 1850 in Massachusetts with a woman regarded as the mother of the American valentine - Esther Howland, the daughter of a stationer. She started making small Valentine cards made of layers of lace with printed images on them. She hired a bunch of local girls to create them at home in her parlor and sent them out with her brothers who were traveling salesmen and thus the Valentines Day card industry and eventual holiday, as we now know it was born.

Over the years consumers were told by the card makers that today is THE day to express your deepest romantic notions to that special someone. Oh, and by the way these same greeting card companies just happened to have the perfect sentiment printed on a card, just in case you are at a loss for words to offer to your love interest. Neat, huh? Pretty soon candy makers and florists were in on the bit and quicker than a stolen kiss an industry was born. "Love for sale, appetizing young love for sale." Now of course all young jazz lovers know TRUE LOVE cannot be bought nor sold, but there's no reason you should miss out on all the fun! So, with that in mind I offer (at no charge) my specially curated romantic Jazz filled soundtrack to compliment your romantic rendezvous for two. You'll have to supply the wine and candles.

Love ya, mean it! -

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:

Sting - I Burn For You (2010)

Ahn Trio - My Funny Valentine (2008)

Eliane Elias - Sabia (1990)

Angela Bofill - Song For A Rainy Day (1983)

Kenny Garrett - Lullaby Of Isfahan (1990)

Duke Ellington & John Coltrane - In A Sentimental Mood (1962)

Nneena Freelon - Inside A Silent Tear (1998)

Bobby Watson & Horizon - P.D. On Great Jones Street (1990)

Herbie Hancock - Norweigan Wood (1995)

Michael Henderson - Stay With Me This Summer (1976)

The Guilherme-Campos-Monteiro Quintet - One Cloud (1999)

Joshua Redman - Twilight...and Beyond (2000)

Welcome to the first podcast of 2025!!

I apologize for the long wait but sometimes life as we all know... be lifin' and before ya know it 3 months whiz by and you find yourself in a new calendar year. 2025 is setting up to be a "doozy" so a musical escape may just be the thing to get us through. Besides, one of the many taglines of Jazzism (a katzpheno mix) is "Keep Jazz In Your Life, Not Strife and Everything Will Be Alright!"

So, with that in mind.... enjoy the mix!

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:

Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band - "Along Came Betty" (2005)

Steve Khan - "Change Agent" (2011)

Carmen Souza - "Song For My Father" (2010)

Harold Lopez-Nussa - "Africa" (2016)

Groove Collective (featuring: Chucho Valdes) - "Stargazer" (2001)

Eliane Elias - "Waters Of March" (1990)

Al Jarreau - "Summer Breezin'" (2014)

Al Di Meola - "Azucar" (2006)

Stefon Harris (featuring: David Sanchez & Christian Scott) - "Congo" (2011)

Chick Corea Akoustic Band - "Spain" (1989)

Michel Camilo - "Rice and Beans" (2011)

John Klemmer - "Tropical Snowflake" (1979)

Welcome once more to an exploration into Jazz Culture!

This episode, naturally brings you nothing but the best that the world has to offer in Jazz music and a little bit more! With Jazzism 17.5 we begin a new segment I am calling Jazz Music Matters.

For that past few months now I have been developing traction on the hashtag #jazzmusicmatters via Facebook and Instagram and now I take the next step by posing the question to young jazz lovers as I go out and about enjoying this music at live events. On this episode I spoke with audiences at The DC Jazzfest and the responses I got were phenomenal. So for me, and hopefully for you as well, this episode of Jazzism (a katzpheno mix) is indeed Very Special.

Enjoy!

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:

Terri Lyne Carrington - Very Special (2013)

Ben Williams - Home (2011)

Herlin Riley - A Spring Fantasy (2016)

Chris Greene Quartet - The Missing Part (2014)

Stefon Harris - And This Too Shall Pass (2011)

Raul Midon - Wall Of Indifference (2024)

Gary Batz - I Concentrate On You (2012)

Russell Malone - Little B's Poem (2017)

Gloria Lynne - Joey, Joey, Joey (1965)

Patrice Rushen - Cherry Blossom (1990)

Branford Marsalis Quartet - Jabberwocky (2009)