Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
While Tucson-born, Los Angeles-based Brian Bromberg has been equally conversant and downright virtuosic on both electric and upright basses, he sticks to the latter on his latest offering, “LaFaro.” A tribute to the legendary jazz bassist Scott LaFaro whose revolutionary contributions to the classic Bill Evans Trio still reverberate to this day, Bromberg’s 28th as leader shows him in an unadulterated swinging trio setting in the company of pianist Tom Zink and drummer Charles Ruggiero.
“Legacy” is a centennial celebration of the legendary J.J. Johnson by admired trombonist, composer and educator Nick Finzer. Known as one of jazz’s most profound luminaries, J.J. Johnson is considered one of the most influential and pioneering trombonists in jazz history. The new disc assembles Johnson’s original band members including bassist Rufus Reid, drummer Lewis Nash and pianist Renee Rosnes, and was recorded at the iconic Rudy Van Gelder Studios where Johnson himself recorded many of his classic albums.
Also this week, Korean pianist, composer and conductor Seulah Noh materializes her creative vison by releasing her debut album, “Nohmad,” with her 21-piece Jazz Orchestra; Washington, DC native Leigh Pilzer, a baritone saxophone specialist, composer, arranger and educator whose resume includes work in the Diva Jazz Orchestra and the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, unveils “Beatin’ the Odds” with her Seven Pointed Star band; and pianist, vocalist and composer Kelly Green, a protégé to legendary pianists Harold Mabern and Mulrew Miller, releases her fourth album, “Seems.”
Hey, Jazz fans! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of singers Bessie Smith and Madeleine Peyroux, bassists Gene Cherico and Richard Davis, trombonist Bennie Green, composer Henry Mancini, flutist Herbie Mann, saxman Leo Parker, drummer Danny Gottlieb and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Stan Getz’ “Stan Getz and the Cool Sounds” (1953), Miles Davis’ “Seven Steps to Heaven” (1963), Jim Hall’s “Concierto” (1975), Pharoah Sanders “Live” (1981), Phil Woods Quintet’s “Mile High Jazz Live in Denver” (1996), Gary Smulyan’s “The Jazz Soul of Frankie Laine” (2008), and many others, Mondays thru Fridays at noon on Jazz Masters on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.
John and Producer Noah give the background on Big Mo’s “Sponsors de Faux,” like Mary’s Hand Battered Catfish, Shorty’s Adult Diapers, and Big Furry Shaving Products. Hear the real-life stories and people behind John’s favorite comedy bits!