Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
George Coleman’s resume is the stuff of legend. The reedman cut his jazz teeth alongside some giants of the art form, joining Max Roach’s ensemble in the 1950s, the Miles Davis Quintet, along with the bands of Herbie Hancock, Chet Baker and Elvin Jones. His work as a leader has inspired generations of saxophonists. Now, following in the footsteps of greats like Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, Stan Getz and Ben Webster, Mr. Coleman presents his first recording backed by a string orchestra. The lush arrangements are the work of Bill Dobbins, who was principal director and arranger for the WDR Big Band of Cologne, Germany, for eight years and who has taught composing and arranging courses at the Eastman School of Music.
“West of Broadway” is the third album from vocalist Rachael Price (also of Lake Street Dive) and guitarist, singer and songwriter Vilray, an exquisitely out-of-time vision of their beloved New York City. The disc unfolds in a series of sharply drawn vignettes—offbeat tales of love and heartache along city streets—inspired by a recent fascination with classic musicals. “There’s so much imagery in the lyrics, and I think a fun way to listen to the record would be to go for a walk and let the songs play out like a little movie in your mind,” say Rachael.
Also this week, trumpeter Josh Lawrence unveils “Still We Dream,” a bold and lyrical exploration of music by Thelonious Monk and Frederic Chopin, reimagined through a vibrant, contemporary lens; on “Nueva Timba,” the new album by Cuban-born pianist Harold Lopez-Nussa, the jazz vanguard meets multiple eras of Cuba’s musical history with results that are at once accessible, life-affirming and strikingly accomplished; and, inspired by the Robert Frost poem of the same name, pianist Joe Policastro’s “Mending Wall” explores concepts of identity and borders through a musical landscape of selections from Italy, Hong Kong, symphonic themes, movie scores, pop tunes, and even a cowboy tune written by a Russian classical composer.
You’ve heard a lot from us over the past few months about federal funding and the budget gap KCCK now has after the elimination of CPB. We’re so grateful for the response of our community. At Jazz Under the Stars, gifts were four times our normal average! If you have made an extra donation in response to the funding rescission, thank you so much!
If you increase, or are a new donor this fall, we’ll send you our “Heroes of Jazz” t-shirt. This limited edition wearable is exclusive to KCCK members, and won’t be sold to the public. It will be a visible reminder to everyone that just like Miles, Louis, and Duke, you are a Hero of Jazz when you give to KCCK.
Hey, Jazz fans. Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of composer George Gershwin, singers Herb Jeffires, Ray Charles, Les McCann and Rebecca Kilgore, saxophonists John Coltrane and Frank Foster, drummers Shadow Wilson, Dottie Dodgion, bassist Jimmy Woode and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Leroy Vinnegar’s “Leroy Walks!” (1957), Coleman Hawkins’ “Supreme” (1966), Paul Desmond’s “Pure Desmond” (1974), Donald Byrd’s “Harlem Blues” (1987), David Murray and Friends’ “MX: Dedicated to the Memory of Malcolm X” (1992), Oscar Hernandez & Alma Libre’s “The Art of Latin Jazz” (2016) and many others Mondays thru Fridays and at noon on JAZZ MASTERS on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.