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 con ..read more

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 ..read more

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 pla ..read more

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 in ..read more

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 Wi ..read more

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 de ..read more

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 ..read more

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 s ..read more

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’. Wha ..read more

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 ..read more