Jazztimes Spins & Riffs

Saxophonist Eric Alexander joins Lee on location at the Monterey Jazz Festival to sample cuts from his solo album “Second Impression,” from the One For All album “The Third Decade” and from Mike LeDonne & the Groover Quartet’s “That Feelin’.”  Eric describes his long musical and personal relationship with Harold Mabern, talks about how he stays sane on the road, and explains the genesis for his own tenor saxophone model with Ishimori. This episode sponsored by Inner Sanctum Audio.

On location at the Monterey Jazz Festival, vocalist extraordinaire Kurt Elling sits in with Lee to sing the praises of Branford Marsalis and his quartet, with whom Kurt has recorded the album "Upward Spiral" and has performed a lot. Kurt also talks about and previews his forthcoming holiday music album "The Beautiful Day" which features some unusual choices and which includes a duet with his daughter. Finally, Kurt and Lee talk about Jon Hendricks and the upcoming tribute to the influential vocalist at the Iridium in NYC.  This episode is sponsored by Inner Sanctum Audio.

Marty Ashby, executive producer of MCG Jazz in Pittsburgh, sits in with Lee to talk about the legacy of Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild as a catalyst for jazz in Pittsburgh and on the national scene. They spin cuts from Grammy-nominated albums from MCG Jazz by Bob Mintzer and New York Voices and they talk about the association of the performing arts center with artists like Dr. Billy Taylor, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Brown, Monty Alexander and many others.  This episode sponsored by Inner Sanctum Audio.

Jazz writer Bob Blumenthal sits in with JT publisher Lee Mergner to spin cuts from albums by saxophonist JD Allen (“Americana” on Savant) and drummer Jaimeo Brown (“Work Songs” on Motema).  They talk about the real African-American roots of jazz music and the lost art of conceptual albums.  The two then riff on the legacy of Miles Davis. This episode sponsored by Inner Sanctum Audio.

Jazz writer Bob Blumenthal joins Lee to spin cuts from albums by two stellar pianists—Renee Rosnes and Kenny Barron.  Inspired by the JazzTimes cover story on Seventh Avenue South, a notorious NYC jazz club owned by the Brecker Brothers in the late 70s and early 80s, Bob and Lee riff on important nightclubs from the history of jazz. This episode is sponsored by Inner Sanctum Audio.

Drummer and bandleader Matt Wilson sits in with JT publisher Lee Mergner to spin cuts from his new album looking back on his life with his wife Felicia who died of cancer two years ago.  The album, Beginning of a Memory, features a band he calls Big Happy Family, comprised by the musicians from all his groups over the last 20 years.  Matt talked about the importance of family and how jazz musicians have become his extended family throughout his struggle to deal with his wife’s death.  This episode sponsored by Berks Jazz Festival.

Drummer and bandleader Matt Wilson sits in to spin cuts from two recent albums by drummers as leaders – Francisco Mela & the Crash Trio and Jack DeJohnette/Ravi Coltrane/Matthew Garrison.  Matt talks about the power of a band that collides into each other.  And he riffs on why he loves Jack DeJohnette as both a musician and person.

Drummer and percussionist Daniel Freedman sits in with Lee to spin cuts from his new album Imagine That on Anzic. Daniel talks about his early years in a very musical NYC household where legends such as Max Roach and Charles Mingus were regular visitors.  He also talks about working with Angelique Kidjo and Anat Cohen.  And he explains his affinity for Latin music and African music.  And what he’s learned in playing for people who want to dance! This episode sponsored Exit Zero Jazz Festival.

Harpist Brandee Younger joins JT's Lee Mergner in a conversation recorded on-site at the PDX Jazz Festival in Portland. They talk about how she  picked up that instrument and about the influence and legacy of both Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby. This episode is sponsored by the 2016 Newport Jazz Festival.

Pianist Orrin Evans sits down for a free-wheeling conversation with Lee about performing in Portland at the PDX Jazz Festival, his series at the nightclub South and the challenges of keeping a band together. Orrin and Lee spin a cut from John Coltrane's Africa Brass and Orrin's own album, The Evolution of Oneself. This episode sponsored by Exit Zero Jazz Festival.

Terry Currier, owner of the famous record store Music Millennium in Portland, sits in as guest c0-host to spin cuts from Brandee Younger (from her Wax & Wane CD) and Rene Marie (from her upcoming The Sound of Red CD).  Terry and Lee then riff on the state of the record store and on the vinyl revival,including Record Store Day, which Terry founded many years ago to promote record-buying. This episode sponsored by ECM Records.

Jazz writer Bob Blumenthal sits in to spin cuts from two noted guitarists - Julian Lage and Russell Malone. Then Bob and Lee riff on Cuba and how recent event may affect the music coming from (and to) that country. This episode sponsored by the Newport Jazz Festival.

Jazz writer Bob Blumenthal sits in to spin cuts from two recent very special archival releases from Resonance Records - The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra's All My Yesterdays and Stan Getz's Moments in Time.  Bob and Lee then riff on what it means to release an album today and how technology has change not only how we listen, but also how the music is presented.  This episode is sponsored by Berks Jazz Festival.

Long-time jazz industry exec Don Lucoff sits it to spin some contemporary jazz cuts from guitarist John Scofield’s “Past Present” album and the “Love and Soul” album from drummer Terri Lyne Carrington & the Mosaic Project.  Don, who produces the Biamp PDX Jazz Festival in Portland, riffs with Lee about the Portland jazz scene and how it’s developed over the years into one of the more important regional scenes outside of NYC.  This episode sponsored by the Berks Jazz Fest.

Russ Davis of MOJA Radio joins Lee on-site at the Detroit Jazz Festival to spin albums from trumpeter Randy Brecker and the band Snarky Puppy.  Russ and Lee riff on the rising stars on the jazz scene.  Who among the younger jazz artists will reach large audiences while moving the music forward. Episode sponsored by Scullers Jazz.

Co-host Rene Marie returns to listen and discuss two new great vocal jazz albums from Kurt Elling ("Passion World") and Dee Dee Bridgewater ("Dee Dee's Feathers").  The two very happily married hosts then riff on the institution of marriage.  This episode sponsored by The Jazz Cruise.

Jazz writer and author Bob Blumenthal sits in as guest co-host and reacts to spins of new releases from pianists Benny Green and Kenny Werner.  Bob and Lee then riff on Bob's involvement with the Discover Jazz Festival in Burlington, Vermont. And they talk about whether having non-jazz acts makes a jazz festival better or worse. This episode sponsored by the Newport Jazz Festival.

Co-host Rene Marie returns to check out Cassandra Wilson's latest album "Coming Forth By Day" and listen to her version of "Strange Fruit" on that recording as well as on her earlier "New Moon Daughter" album for Blue Note. Rene and Lee riff on the recent events in Charleston, how the President is viewed by different people, the public display of the Confederate flag, the ubiquity of guns and violence and the many facets of racism.  This episode is sponsored by the Newport Jazz Festival.

Guest co-host Bob Blumenthal joins Lee at the JazzTimes office in Braintree, Mass for a saxophone-heavy session.  They spin cuts from new albums by JD Allen and Jon Irabagon and then riff on the legacy of Ornette Coleman.  This episode is sponsored by ECM Records.

JazzTimes publisher Lee Mergner and guest co-host bassist Gerald Veasley preview new releases from Chris Washburne and Jason Miles/Ingrid Jensen and talk about the perils of redoing songs from iconic artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis. The two riff on the challenges and rewards of teaching adults how to play an instrument, with Gerald talking about his experiences with his Bass Boot Camp. This episode sponsored by the Syracuse Jazz Festival.