"Jazzin' Around" - #041926b

This hour--birthday salutes: Joe Henderson, Johnny Griffin & Ella Fitzgerald! JazzWeek Top-50 Chart. & Upocoming jazz Festival watch.  

Transcript

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Hi, this is John Schofield. Did you know that April is Jazz Appreciation Month? To celebrate, here's a couple of things you can do. Go see some live jazz and take a friend who never thought they'd like it. You know they'll hear it live and become a fan for life. Then, when they have a birthday, give them your favorite jazz CD as a gift. You can give them one of mine, no matter what, this month and every month. Enjoy this glorious music called Jazz, born in America, enjoyed worldwide.

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In times of struggle, conflict, poverty, good finds a way. Good never stops. And neither does Children International. To learn more, go to children.org today.

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My favorite thing about music is it's reliable. It's always there. There's nothing to worry about when you do music.

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You're just having fun.

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Whatever music means to you, just play.

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Brought to you by the NAM Foundation.

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Starting out our number two, real strong again as well. Celebrating the birthday of the fastest gun in the West. Or at least the fastest tenor sacks in the West. Johnny Griffin with his signature piece, The Jamps are coming. Johnny Griffin. With his signature JAMPS are coming. That's JAMPS, all in caps, J A M F. And yes, you can make your own determination there on that uh that acronym. Johnny Griffin. Often called the little giant. He was probably what, five, five, maybe? Not a definitely not a not a big commanding guy like Dexter Gordon was. But he sure was with talent. Often called him the fastest gun in the West. He his technique of the saxophone was clean and as fast as as fast as you could count, he could play the notes. Also called the little giant at times, too. Johnny Griffin. His birthday this week. More saxophone birthday. That of the late great Joe Henderson. From his much loaded album Lush Life from 1992. Including, I believe, one or maybe two for that particular album there. The Lush Life, 1992 release. Joe Anderson. Yeah, one of the greats. Truly. Individual sound and also a fine composer of melody, too. Born and raised in Lima, Ohio, Southeastern Ohio. Musician of the Year and Downbeat, a multiple downbeat winner over the years as well. And member of the Horace Silver quintet, most of them. And and others as well, too, for that matter. The great Joe Henderson. Born on the very same day as Johnny Griffin. Uh nine years apart, though. Joe Henderson, one of the later generation there. And one more saxophone salute. This one is not a birthday for this week, but this one was an OBIT of this week, back in 1992. As opposed to Johnny Griffin, who was maybe five five, I think Dexter was six foot five. Very commanding presence on stage. And then big, full, as you can hear, just kind of really just in your face. Well, innovations, one of his certainly primary influences was his really wide and disparate range of pieces that he would quote from in his solos. Classical music, pop music, uh folk music, uh traditional uh English music, Irish music, German uh Indian melody, and he would just hold things from seemingly nowhere, and worked them seamlessly. Brilliantly, brilliant, brilliant, brilliantly. Not nineteen ninety-two, by the way, but nineteen ninety. And very, very sadly and tragically, he was only sixty-seven at the time. Uh in retrospect, quite young these days, considered, right? All good things considered. Let's do one more of the new batch for you from the uh So Do It album of electric violinist Jimbo Ross, doing a West Montgomery piece. The title piece of the album, So Do It. Album charted for several weeks, not predominantly, but it charted in the 30s and forties and did well enough. Still really enjoy this album though. In jazz, the electric violin, anyway. Kind of like a you know, the Jean Le Ponty noel pointer kind of thing there. Anyway, really enjoyable album, though. I love his sound. Jimbo Ross and his album called So Do It. Moving along to the Jazz Week chart. There is a lot of activity going on at the Jazz Week chop 50 this week. Man, lots of things have fallen off. A number of new and exciting, really, really interesting, exciting new albums on. Let's go down to the bottom or near the bottom. Uh the tide at album 44 for this week with Sean Mason. It's been on the charts for five months so far. A breath of fresh air. That's called Secrets. From the Breath of Fresh Air album, Sean Mason, pianist and uh quintet leader, album 44. The other album 44, guitarist Julian Laj, taking a little different tact on this album. With some heavy duty backing of John Modesky on the Hammond Organ. Cs from above the album title. With John Modesky there. On something called the Talking Drum, Julian Laj from his Scenes from Above album at 44. Coming at album number 41, another Centennial celebration, and a double Centennial celebration. One of the two, Tito Puente, whose 100th birthday literally this week. The other of Tito Rodriguez. Ah, Rebon. Hey, hey, Steve O'Kimbo and his Latin jazz orchestra. Featuring the Tito Rodrig at Tito Rodriguez Peace LK Cue at album 41, a centennial celebration. Album number 40 this week, it's trombone power. Actually, it's the Spartan Power Ensemble of Trombones, led by Professor Michael Deese. A little groove blues here from that album. Trombone heavy ensemble. A little groove blues there at album 40 this week. Let's do a two for here, shall we? Let's do one more birthday salute and wrap that up with album number 39 this week. It's April Varner doing an album simply called Ella, as it would be a birthday Ella Fitzgerald celebration. This week, this coming Saturday, would have been Ella's 109th birthday. Here, April Varner takes on Ella's early big hit. A little tisket a task it.

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A Tisket at Taskin, brown and yellow basket. I sent a letter to my mommy. On the way I dropped it, I dropped it, I dropped it. Yes, on the way I dropped it. A little girly picked it up and put it in her pocket. She went trunkin' on down the avenue. Not a single thing to do. She went peck, peck, peck, pack all around. Then she spied it on the ground. She took it, she took it. My little yellow basket. And if she doesn't bring it back, I think that I will die.

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One of the reasons I suspect why April is Jazz Appreciation Month is Sonicata Fella's birthday, amongst other, as we said, major birthdays this month. The Ella album's second, third week on the chart, it is clearly moving rapidly up at number 39. Coming in at a tie at album 36 this week, the Dave Slonaker Big Band. New album is Shifty Paradigms. This is his original music called Roundabout. Dave Slowmaker, Original Music, with his big band, for the new album is Shifty Paradise. Only its fifth week out, it's on number 36. The other album 36, one of the new ones that just hit the chart this week, it is newest from Bria Sconebird. She's focusing on all trumpet on the album, aptly titled Brass. For obvious reasons, focusing on her trumpet mastery. She, along with Benny Banack, the third, kind of the two really, really promising rising young stars on both trumpet and vocals. And just as serious, if not more so, on trumpet for both of them. That's called Dolly Jones from the new brass album First Week On at 36. Here's another brand new one on its first week appearance on the chart at a 35 this week. Together with the pianist Camir Hendelman. Hendleman. Tamir Hendleman, rather. I think you'll recognize this pretty quickly.

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You came along and everything started to hung. Still it's a real good bet that the best is yet to come. The best is yet to come and it wanna be fine. You think you seen the sun, but you ain't seen it shine. Wait till the warm-up sun loves wait. Wait till our lips have met. Wait till you see that sunshine today. You ain't seen nothing yet. The best is yet to come and age wanna be fine.

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Come the day in your mind. Come to take your mind. I'm gonna teach you to fly.

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We've only tasted the both of them really taking adventurous daring moves. Taking chances, as Mark Winkler used to say. Tierney Sutton and Tamir Hendler Hendleman. Why can't I do that? Tamir Hendleman on the piano from the new spring album, First Week on the Chart, popping up at number 35. This one's a veteran of the charts here at 34. From Canada, the Vancouver Jazz Orchestra, meeting up with Brian Sheraton, and the U.S. Nice sound there with Brian Charrett on the his B3 there. Honeymoon phase from the Vancouver Jazz Orchestra. Album 34. Coming at album 33 this week, our latest album contribution, along with pianist Lafayette Harris. Newest album all in good time. Oh, that is just that is just so nicely done. Lafayette Harris, and a piece that he kind of fell in love with. Just watching old TV reruns of the Carol Barnett show. From All In Good Time. This week marking its 20th week on the Jazz Week chart. 11 weeks in the top ten. Proud of that record. Really, really. Ember album 32. This one's a brand new one on the chart. Saxophonist Javon Jackson. Yes, Jackson plays Dylan. Might be the very first jazz version of that piece blowing in the wind. Yeah, Javon Jackson plays Bob Dylan music, believe it or not, all Bob Dylan music on album number 32 this week. Coming in at a tide album number 27. More from the Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective. From their album Cortadito. Well, that's because the tune is titled Sunday Kind of Day. The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective from Mercortadito album 27. The other album 27 is some strong, strong music. From bassist Corcoran Holtz. Benito Gonzalez, O'Piano Josh Evans, Stacey Diller, all led by bassist Corcran Holt on the album Freedom of Heart at 27. Coming at album number 26 this week, an album number one for six weeks. Previously, eleven weeks in the top three, believe it or not, from Nat Adderley Jr. Music of Matt Adderley Jr., the pianists. A little invitation from his Took So Long album, one of the most played albums of the year so far. One of the other most played albums this year. From Brandon Sanders, the lasting impression album, fifteen weeks in the top ten for this one. Drummer Brandon Sanders with a quintet there, Warren Wolf on vibes from lasting impression. Album 22 this week. The other album number 22 in the time, saxophonist Noah Preminger from his new album, Dark Days, marking its third month on the Jazz Week chart. Moving up rapidly, it's third week on the charts. These are the Sistering. Vocalists, wise and their words and their outlooks. This is Nina Freeland featured here.

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She'll see bridges swinging. Creole love song calling you. I'll remember April and a brother just like you. When the saints go marching in a mellow kind of tone, fly me to the moon. Never let me go. Ain't nobody's business if I don't or if I do. Take a sentimental journey with a brother. Just like you.

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What an impressive lyric. That's hers, too. On a brother. From Nina Freelon on the Sistering Collective album, moving up to number 20 this week. Saxophonist Melissa Aldana. Her newest album, Feline, moving up to album number 19 this week with Gonzalo. Sort of channeling her best late Ben Webster stage sound there on Ocaso. From the feline album at number 19. Let's do one more before we take a quick step aside for some jazz festivals on our watch to put on your future watch. Carfiera Rio Miami from the Belleza Pura album. It's third week on, up to album 16.

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Você entrepe da truca luna de guadalupe você lê meu pantal. Você é a canção que consigo escrever afinal. Você é o buraco, quem? A casa da mãe Joana é a Velisabel. O seu lado está de cova de capa, cabana, tudo que o rio me deu. Mando no meu carinho. Glória meu alteiro. Tudo para o coração de um brasileiro.

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Rio Miami. From their beleza pura album. Moving up to album number 19. Or 16. 16 this week. Well now what's on the top 15 all the way up to number one here momentarily. But first it's time to check in with some albums with some jazz festivals that we want you to put on your to-do list soon. Coming up this week, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, April 23rd through May the 3rd. Herbie Hancock, Diane Reeves, John Batiste, T-Bone Shorty, Robbie Coltray, the new breed brass band, Kermit Ruffins, and tributes to Lewis Armstrong, Miles Davis, and so much more. For the info there, go to M-O-Jazzfest.org. Looking to go across the sea, why not check out the 2026 Cheltenham Jazz Festival? It's 30th anniversary year, April 29th through May 4. Grammy-winning singer Colin Corinne Bailey Ray doing this year's artistic directing job. Joshua Redmond, Roberto Di Fonseca, Courtney Pine, Bill Frizel, Micaiah McCraven, Kim Cypher, a Miles Davis Centeno Salutes by Guy Barker, and a lot more there. Go to Shelton Shelton Festivals.org for the info on that one. Also Florida's Seabreeze Jazz Festival this week. In Panama City Beach, April 22 through 26. Rick Braun, Richard Elliott, Peter White, Marion Meadows, Kirk Whalem, Brian Bromberg, and more there. For the details at SeabreezeJazzfestival.com. And looking ahead of the Canadian Summer Festival Jazz Season, the Medicine Hat Jazz Fest in Alberta, June 16 through 21. The Winnipeg Jazz Festival, June 16th through 22. Jazz Fest Regina, June 18 to 22. The Ottawa Jazz Festival, June 19 through 28. Same dates for the Edmonton Jazz Festival, 19 through 28. The Big Toronto Jazz Festival, June 18th through 28. The Victoria BC Jazz Festival, June 19 through 28th. June 25th through July 4. Then there's the Vancouver Jazz Festival, June 26th to July 5th. And the 35th Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, June 30th through July 10th. All the way up to number one.

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From their new album, Morpheus. This is the song for Cape Town, album number 15 this week. Coming at album 14 this week, another relative newcomer, organist Pat Fiyaki from his new album, Confluence. This is his updating of Fats Waller's classic The Jitterbug Waltz. Coming at album 13, it's drummer Ulysses Owens and his Gen Y band. That's called Road Life, A Rapid Riser. That's its second week out, and it's number 13 on the chart this week. Coming at album number 12 this week, it's vibist Joel Ross from his album Gospel Music. This is the piece called Hostile. From the gospel music album his moving up number 12 this week. Coming in, album number 11. It is Sean Jones leading the Baltimore jazz collective. From the self-titled album. Just on the cusp of the top ten this week at number eleven. This is the minor swing. Really love the juxtaposition of keeping the trumpet in the in the low register, along with that, what, bass clarinet there? Really nice. Sean Jones and the Baltimore Jazz Collective. The album number 11 this week. Kenny Barron's songbook album with guest artists doing lyrics of his compositions back in the top 10 this week at number 10.

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The sun gives warmth, the sun gives light, he sheds his rain and covers all the light.

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Leaves are glistening, petals shine, the shades reflect the angles of the rain.

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Each day begins with Melashore. If we will have sun showers all hoy.

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Slipped back into the top ten this week. Coming at album number nine. Tennis saxophonist Dave Wilson from his album When Even Goes East. A little Jimi Hendrix music jazzed up here. Slipping in a number eight this week, trumpeter Joe Magnarelli from his decidedly so album. It's called DJ. It's called DJ. I know he didn't write it about me. I know that. But I would have been flattered. That's a good tune. From the album Decidedly So at number eight this week. Coming in at Lucky Seven this week again. Saxophonist Gregory Groover from his old new album. Gregory Groover with Joel Ross there again. Album seven this week, old new. Sliding down slightly to album six this week. The most successful in her long career here. Now Lisa Hilton. Her latest album, the extended daydream. Lisa Hilton. Three weeks at number three earlier for her. Currently at number six. Another really, really successful album recently on the chart. Dave Stryker with his organ trio from the album Blue Fire. Every dark street, the name of that tune, from Blue Fire, the Dave Stryker organ trio, number five. Pushing its way up into number four this week, it's Monica Herzig and her latest album, Transparent. This the title piece. Moving up to number four. Coming in album number three, a former number one album for seven weeks earlier, another female led album by Alexa Tarantino. The roar and the whisper. One of my absolute favorite original compositions this year, provoking luck. Alexa Tarantino from album number three this week, The Roar and the Whisper. Holding in at number two, the runner-up spot this week, strong, strong statement from Jeremy Pelt, the album Our Community Will Not Be Compromised or Eliminated. Strong statement. Brothers on the corner, Jeremy Pelt with Oren Evans and Lenny White. From the albumar community will not be erased. Album two this week. And sitting in number one for the first week. Curelling with the WDR, big band.

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So I wrote down a list on my hand, just to get it all straight. Figure out where it is that I stand on my night already. They look shiny and new. And then the top of the list was I really did get screwed on every little detail. It's almost as if you believe I was born on the day before D. Brilliant dreams and stupid landscape. Start to rush to old picnic must go up, like a mummy, I'm in a thumbbook.

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Oh yeah. In the brass palace. The end of the album. Kurt Elling with Bob Mincer leading the WDR Big Band. Oh yeah, at number one this week. Really good number one album. I mean, it deserves it all the way there, right? Right. Taking us home here, Uncle Festive, once again with the boy King from the Paper and the Dog. David J here been jazzing around with you during this middle of Jazz Appreciation Month. Hopefully, you're doing what you can do to spread the word of this great music. All this month. And beyond, of course, really. Thanks for joining us. Do hope you've enjoyed it. Next week, bring another friend along to it. I'm sure they'll enjoy it too. Thanks to our partner radio stations, WNJR, WSPR, KWLC Boston Free Radio, and WWFM Jazz On Two. Do what you can to spread this music and spread the word and spread the good vibes. Keep on swinging. Keep on smiling, my friend, until the next go jazzing around again.