Another really fascinating episode from 5 years ago. This time I explore some of the controversies around two jazz solos. The first one is Tommy Flanagan’s solo on Coltrane’s Giant Steps. One jazz writer stated ““With Giant Steps Coltrane supplanted Cherokee as the litmus test for aspiring improvisers, packing so many harmonic substitutions into one progression that at first blush, consummate pianist Tommy Flanagan could barely eke his way through the changes”. So how bad was Flanagan’s solo? And was Coltrane’s solo so powerful that it could cause us to experience vertigo? Then there’s the controversy around Cannonball Adderly’s solo in Miles (aka Milestones). Fred Hersch said it ‘shone’. And another writer said he ‘struggled’ because he tried to play it like bebop rather than like modal music. You be the judge. Other solos featured are by Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, Guido Basso, Ornette Coleman, Sara

You just finished listening to Parts 4, 5, and 6 of The Jazz Solo. Now, as I take a bit of a break, lets go back five years and hear Parts 1, 2, and 3. The first episode was probably the best of the bunch. Why don’t we all say ‘so what’ to Miles Davis’s most highly renowned jazz solo? And the other great solos in that piece of work as well. Then there’s Louis Armstrong’s and Johnny Dodd’s solos in Potato Head Blues. I also play raved about solos by Paul Bley, Oliver Nelson, John Coltrane, and Israel Crosby.

This is the last of my series designed to help me (and you) distinguish the difference between a ‘great’ jazz solo and a good one. Lots of great music once again from Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock (with Freddie Hubbard), Dave Brubeck, Ellas Kapell (w. Manne Skafvenstedt), Jeff Johnston Trio, Coleman Hawkins, and Hank Mobley.

What are some of the jazz solos that other musicians and jazz writers consider to be so great? And what makes them great? This week I start with a solo by Charlie Parker—talking about what has been termed “the famous alto break”. Then I move onto John Coltrane—and playing that sounds like it’s either “all composed or all improvised”. The episode ends with Jaco Pastorious and his bass and percussion recording of Donna Lee, followed by a Sonny Stitt and Sonny Rollins ‘cutting contest’, with Dizzy Gillespie also getting into the fray. Other well-known solos you’ll hear are Cannonball Adderley playing I Can’t Get Started. Then there’s Chick Corea with a solo described as “a perfect example of motivic development and story telling”. There are also a couple lesser known solos. From 1997 there is Toronto guitarist David Occhipinti along with David Restivo and Jim Vivian. And one of my fa

Part 4, you ask? But where are Parts 1, 2, and 3. Answer: Way way back five years to Episodes 52 to 54. The goal? To get a greater sense of the difference between a jazz solo that is considered *great* versus solos that are just ‘good’ (and sometimes not even that). I reach out to ‘experts’ to get some opinions—and I play some of that music with those recommended solos. This episode there are only seven tracks—and two of them are so long that I can’t play the whole thing. But enough to get a sense of the recommended solo and its context. No jazz solo really exists outside it’s context—which includes the ‘head’ (or main melody), the harmony, and the solo that other musicians play. You’ll hear raved about solos by Paul Gonsalves, Frank Rosolino, Mike Murley, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Kevin Turcotte, and, of course, Louis Armstrong. There are other solos too—and some of them you migh

The last of this fascinating three part series. I start by talking about and playing a great track by Wes Montgomery and Wynton Kelly–from newly discovered recordings released last year. And I finish with the great Rashaan Roland Kirk—focusing on his amazing resilience as he kept playing despite a debilitating stroke. Another amazingly resilient musician who carried on despite physical difficulties was Michel Petrucciani. Other musicians and singers I play this week are Chet Baker w. Paul Bley, Fats Waller, Bessie Smith, Eric Dolphy w. a bunch of jazz superstars (including jazz drummer Tony Williams), drummer Karen Carpenter (really!), and Amy Winehouse. And as a special treat, a Vancouver pianist who made no commercial recordings but was raved about by Oscar Peterson: Chris Gage.

Lots of old recordings today. From 1927 to 2023. But they’re all by great jazz artists who we wish had been around a lot longer than they were. Some of them, like Lee Morgan, King Curtis, and James Reese Europe, and Evan Thomas (who never recorded) died violent deaths at the hands of others. Others, like Albert Ayler and Claude Ranger were very mysterious deaths or disappearances. Trumpeter Jimmy Noone died at home of a sudden heart attack at age 48.. Alcoholism or other addictions claimed Bix Beiderbecke, Jaimie Branch, and Billie Holiday. And the lifestyle of ‘life on the road’ led to the deaths of two Charlies, Christian & Parker. But most important is the great music these artists made….and that’s what you’ll hear on this podcast.

I’ve heard and read many stories of jazz artists who have left us due to drugs, violence, and sudden accidents. The next 3 episodes talks about some of them. But rather than just focusing on how they lived and how they inspired us! And most importantly, I play their music. This first episodes starts off with later-life John Coltrane. You’ll also hear and hear about Eddie Jefferson, Nat King Cole, Chano Pozo, Jaco Pastorius, Wardell Gray, Lenny Breau, Emily Remler, Esjborn Svensson, Tommy Dorsey, Clifford Jordan, and Sarah Vaughan,

This last episode of my ‘best of 2023’ series takes you back in time to re-releases, remastered recordings, or newly discovered vintage recordings. There are a lot of them…and many of them made the critics’ ‘best of’ lists. I start with a never before released recording of Bill Evans Trio playing My Foolish Heart. And finish with a Nina Simone track from a 1966 Newport performance that had previously been stored in The Library of Congress. In-between you’ll hear a newly discovered live track from Dave Brubeck Quartet recorded four months before the legendary Time Out album. And does it ever sound great! Also some Ahmad Jamal, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel, Don Thompson and Rob Piltch, and Charles Mingus.

This week a few more 2023 albums noted by reviewers and critics. You’ll hear a track from: John Zorn: Homenaje A Remedios Var.o. This is just one of 14 releases that Zorn put out in 2023. Talk about prolific!Noah Haidu: Standards. And I’m anticipating him putting out another ‘standards’ album in 2024.Benny Benack IIi: trumpeter and singer’s 3rd album called “Third Time’s The Charm”.Audrey Ochoa: Head of a Mouse. A fantastically talented Edmonton trombonist. Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society: Dynamic Maximum Tension.. The track is a tribute to Alan Turing and his role as ‘codebreaker’. What are the words and numbers the opening intro is tapping out?Flying Pooka: The Ecstasy of Becoming. Another Canadian group—a Newfoundland duo of Florian Hoefner and Dani Oore.Ellas Kapell: For All We Know. My favourite album of 2023. A very different rendition of Harry Warren and Al Dubin’s “How Could

This is Part 6 of my 8 part series of the Best of 2023 according to jazz aficionados. And I take the liberty for this episode of playing tracks from 9 of my own personal favourites. And it turns out that one of the albums is even a 2024 grammy winner. Who’d have thought? I’m interested in hearing how any of them resonate with you, the listener. I also invite those of you who enjoy this podcast to post a review on itunes, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Thank you! -Larry NOTE: Here are the albums that at this point are my favourites of 2023. ELLAS KAPELL: For All We Know BILLY CHILDS: Winds of Change JOSHUA REDMAN W. GABRIELLE CAVASSA: WHERE ARE WE? SUSAN ALCORN: Canto ANTONIO ADOLFO: Bossa 65 EDMAR CASTENADA WORLD ENSEMBLE: Eclesiastes 9 JANE BUNNETT & MAQUEQUE: Feed the Fire STEVE LEHMAN AND ORCHESTRE NATIONAL DE JAZZ: Ex Machina and my favourite local album: RUBIM DE TOLEDO: THE DRIP. #Rubim

Last week I played tracks from the albums that were chosen for the ‘best of 2023’ lists by the most reviewers. This week I’ve picked few albums chosen by only one or two reviewers. But they are ones that were definitely worth my time and energy!I talk about and play a track from the following great jazz albums: -Thunder by Stephan Micus =The Senator: A Tribute to Tommy Banks by the Hutchinson/Andrew Trio (featuring Mallory Chipman) -Bossa 65 by Antonio Adolfo -Apertures by Rajna Swaminathan -Cry Me a River by Hilario Duran -Life and Umbrella by Javier Red’s Imagery Converter -Rags and Ragas by Chara Suri -Master Legacy Series #5 by Emmet Cohen and Houston Person -Beboptical Illusion by the Gaz Hughes Trio -Acrobats by Jo Lawry. –

For this 4th episode of the Best of 2023 According to Experts, I’m posting the titles of 27 albums that were selected by the most reviewers as part of their top albums of last year. And I’ll do a countdown of sorts—finishing with the album that was selected by the greatest number of reviewers. If you want to be surprised, don’t read the rest of this right now until you’ve heard the podcast. The most selected album by far was the latest (and the last) recording by trumpeter Jaimie Branch. Here they are–all the albums that got eight votes or more— listed in order of the numbers of reviewers selecting them. Most of them are new releases, but you’ll notice that two are newly discovered archives. MOST SELECTED JAZZ ALBUMS BY REVIEWERS, MUSICIANS & RADIO STATIONS. Jaimie Branch: Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die (World War) (29) Matana Roberts: Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden (20) Cecile McLorin S

This is Part 3 of some of the jazz albums that critics and reviewers believe are worth our attention. And I do too—for the ones I’m choosing to spotlight on this series of podcasts. You’ll hear a track from the latest recordings of the following great artists: Shakti (w. John McLaughlin) Billy Valentine Joshua Redman with Gabrielle CavassaAline Homzy Joey Alexander Espen Eriksen with Andy Sheppard Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society Arturo O’Farrill Florian Arbenz w. Nils Wogram Arbenz, Krijger, and Osby Definitely an antidote to that oft stated complaint that only the old stuff is worth listening to.

One skill we can develop when putting together radio shows, podcasts, or ‘mix-tapes’ is a way of allowing the energy to build. I think that, just like a great jazz solo, this episode seems to have a nice ‘arc’. It starts fairly low key and builds up in speed and intensity….ending with a sort of sweet sadness. Here are ten albums that have been on the ‘best of 2023″ lists of a number of reviewers. I play a track from the following albums (here stated in random order): Fred Hersch & Esperenza Spalding: Alive at the Village Vanguard Kris Davis and Diatom Ribbons: Live At the Village Vanguard Jason Moran: From the Dancehall to the Battlefield Johnathan Blake: Passage Aaron Diehl and the Knights: Zodiac Suite (by Mary Lou Williams) Allison Miller: Zodiac Suite Noah Haidu: Standards Laila Biali: Your Requests Go Go Penguin: Everything is Going to Be Ok This is the second of what will turn out to be eight epis

It was a busy December! I searched for all the ‘best jazz of 2023’ articles online and tried to listen to at least part of many of the albums. And there were lots! In fact, so far, I’ve found 85 different lists. And a total of 573 albums. And that doesn’t even include the historical albums and re-releases. I picked and chose which ones to listen to….and of those, picked a few that resonated with me. This series of 8 episodes will feature them….including one that ranks them in order of the number of critics and reviewers who chose them. And another will feature some of those re-issues and historical recordings. This episode: I’ll play you a track from Ricky Lee Jones, Lakecia Benjamin, The Monika Roscher Big Band, and a vocal by Sy Smith. That’s just the women! The rest include Billy Childs; Colin Stetson; Orrin Evans; Yusef Dayes; Greg Foat & Gigi Masin; Sissoko,Segal,Pereani & Parisien; and the Canadian Jazz

This is a podcast I put together in 2020 when living in Victoria. It’s NOT Christmas music (although it starts with one of my favourite Christmas songs). It celebrates a few winter holidays: Kwanzaa, Diwali, Channukah, Winter Solstice, New Years, Lohri, Mardi-Gras, and Posada. Lots of very interesting music—different from what you’d normally hear in this podcast, but maintains a jazz ‘consciousness’ throughout. Enjoy!

And I really do mean the greats! There are the ones you all know like Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Diana Krall, Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, Sarah Vaughan Artie Shaw, Phil Woods, Earl Hines, and Tony Bennett. But I also include Toronto pianist Robi Botos, and the wonderful jazz couple of singer Jennifer Scott and bassist Rene Worst. Christmas music at it’s best. Next week since there are so many holidays to be celebrated as well as Christmas (and Christmas will be over) …I’ll be repeating a podcast where I play Winter holiday music. Some fascinating stuff.

This week the recordings I play with awesome intros are: -Nardis, by the 1980 version of the Bill Evans Trio, recorded shortly before Evans died. -Jeanine by the Dave Young Terry Promane Octet out of Toronto. -All The Things You Are, where I play a version that uses BOTH the Rachmaninoff inspired Charlie Parker intro and the original ‘verse’ introduction. -East St. Louis Toodle-o by Duke Ellington with what was described as “the perfect mysterious sounding set-up, complete with cymbal crash, for Bubber Miley’s plunger mute entrance. -A great ‘scat’ beginning of I Am What I Am by Veronica Swift. -Steve Wallace’s extended bass intro on Fishers of Men by The David Braid Sextet. In terms of extros: -Cascades by Oliver Nelson, From Blues and the Abstract Truth. -Aos Pes Da Cruz by Miles Davis and Gil Evans. And with all of them I play the whole tune….not just the beginning and ending. That way you get an

We are approaching the end of one year and the beginning of a next. That’s a good time to talk about beginnings and endings of jazz recordings. I asked for ideas from a few jazz sites, and received great response from jazz fans and musicians from JAzzWorld and Canadian Jazz Recordings. In this episode I play some of their suggestions. Some have remarkable intros. Others have interesting extros. Some have both! It starts with Louis Armstrong and ends with Phil Woods and Ritchie Cole. Inbetween are tracks by Bud Powell, Bill Evans, John Stetch, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Clifford Brown/Max Roach, Rob McConnell’s Big Brass Band, and David Occhipinti. I play one very popular tune where the best known intro was originally the extro of a different recording. Guess which tune?