Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify
Grammy nominated trombonist/composer Marshall Gilkes integrates myriad influences into a singular and distinctive voice, combining the spontaneous invention of jazz with the elegant architecture of classical composition and virtuosic technique with passionate emotion. His sound can be heard in the lush impressionism of the Maria Schneider Orchestra, the unique Slide Monsters Trombone Quartet, and on Monday nights at the world famous Village Vanguard as lead trombonist with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Gilkes has released six albums as a leader. The latest, “Waiting to Continue,” showcases Gilkes playing and writing in a trio setting, with bandmates Yasushi Nakamura on bass and Clarence Penn on drums.
Baritone saxophonist Claire Daly celebrates the music and the influence of the great Rahsaan Roland Kirk with all the enthusiasm promised by the title “Rah! Rah!,” her new album. Blind, eclectic, and larger than life, multi-reedist Kirk was also the musician who inspired the 18-year-old Daly’s direction in the music. “He was such a force of nature,” she recalls. “He made me so happy, and still does.” The quartet date features pianist Eli Yamin, bassist Dave Hofstra and drummer Peter Grant. It includes eight tunes from Kirk’s repertoire, as well as two original compositions in which Daly reworks a pair of Kirk’s seminal pieces.
Also this week, Alex Wintz’s sophomore release, “Live to Tape,” juxtaposes a modern musical approach with the recording techniques of the Blue Note era, a modern celebration of the hallmark recordings that had a large impact on the guitarist’s musical upbringing;
bassist/composer Brandi Disterheft is joined by two iconic octogenarian masters—virtuoso tenor saxophonist George Coleman and the definitive Brazilian drummer Portinho—and world class pianist Klaus Mueller on her fifth album, “Surfboard”;
and the young, Brooklyn-based vibraphonist/composer Joel Ross offers up his sophomore release, “Who Are You?”
Hey, Jazz fans!!! Be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays audio engineer Rudy Van Gelder, pianists Joe Turner and Frank Kimbough, singers Carmen Lundy, Lyle Lovett and Gregory Porter, bassist Reginald Veal, trumpeter Al Hirt and more!!! We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of Sonny Rollis’ “Live at the Village Vanguard” (1957), Benny Carter’s “Swingin’ the Twenties” (1958), Charles Mingus’ “Oh Yeah!” (1961), Ronnie Cuber’s “Live at the Blue Note” (1983), David Hazeltine’s “Manhattan Autumn” (2002) and many others throughout the week and Mondays thru Fridays at noon on our ‘JAZZ MASTERS’ program on Jazz 88.3 KCCK!!!
The KCCK Featured CD for December is “Christmas Vibes” from Warren Wolf. His work with Christian McBride, Bobby Watson, and the SFJazz Collective has established Warren as the foremost straight-ahead vibraphonist of his generation. His new release is brimming with jazz yuletide cheer sure to provide the ideal soundtrack to the season. Wolf takes an even more prominent role than usual, exhibiting his prowess on the piano as well as highlighting his usual virtuosity on the vibes. In part, that was out of necessity as the album was recorded in mid-March just as the pandemic was beginning to take hold, resulting in some last-minute change of plan. “Christmas Vibes” is from Mack Avenue Records. 
Short List with host Bob Naujoks
The Wednesday Night Special
