"Jazzin' Around" - #042626b

This week's 2nd-hour marks birthdays of Percy Heath, Shirley Horn, songwriter Lorenz Hart; our selected Spring-Summer Jazz Festival watch & survey of this week's 'JazzWeek' album chart.  

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:01

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SPEAKER_12 0:24

Hi, this is Taylor Ixte. Did you know that April is Jazz Appreciation Month? The great jazz musicians all found their own sound. They didn't want to sound like anyone else, they wanted to sound like themselves. To learn more about the Jazz Masters, read a book, check out a CD, or listen to jazz programming on radio. Jazz, born in America, enjoyed worldwide. For further information, visit Smithsonianjazz.org.

SPEAKER_14 0:54

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SPEAKER_10 1:11

Hour number two with Jazzing Around here, opening up as we celebrate the birthday of one of the first family of Philadelphia jazz, the late distinguished bassist, composer of the MJQ, and the Heath brothers, Percy Heath. The eldest of the famed Heath brothers jazz family, actually born as the eldest, was born in North Carolina, but raised in Philly with his brothers. That is a Jimmy Heath composition 13th house. Jimmy Percy and uh Al, the uh Tootie Heath, the drummer, the youngest of the three brothers, who only recently passed away. Celebrating the birthday of the late uh Percy. Percy Heath. He would have been 103 uh this coming Thursday. This coming Thursday. Another birthday of a certainly significant musician, inspirational, influential, and respected the late Shirley Hoore.

SPEAKER_02 3:18

Just in time, I found you just in time until you came my time was running low. I was lost, the losing dice were tossed. My bridges all were crossed, no place to go. Now you're here, and now I know just where I'm going. No more doubt of fear. I found my way. But love came just in time. I found you just in time and changed my lonely nights.

SPEAKER_10 4:13

Would have been ninety two.

SPEAKER_02 4:16

Just in time.

SPEAKER_10 4:17

This coming Friday, May the 1st. I found you. Eddie A jazz master, and certainly one of the most uh influential, inspiring vocalists and pianists as well, too. Uh David J here, jazz at around with the inn, hour number two. If you have not yet taken a walk past the buffet table and helped yourself, by all means do. Got some nice Jasmine tea, of course, again today for your enjoyment. Celebrating the birthday of the late not so much a musician, but certainly a preeminent songwriter. Talking about Larry Hart, uh Laurence Hart, I should say. And then, of course, there's this one done by Chet Baker, one of his signature songs.

SPEAKER_03 4:56

Yes, yes. Sweet comic valentine. You make me smile with my eye. Is your figure less than great? Is your mouth full when you all finish to speak? Are you smart?

SPEAKER_10 6:10

You know, Chet Baker may not have had a voice as strong as Sinatra or Billy Eckstein or Mel Torrey or you know, any of the greats, you know, the the big voice vocalist, Joe Williams, certainly. But wow, the expressiveness in his voice. Arresting. Very arresting. Same with his trumpet work as well, too. Not a flashy trumpeter. But just he would grab your ear, and his emotion is approaching. Anyway, that's Rogers and Hart is lasting at my funny Valentine. The baker there from 1954. Happy birthday to the memory of the lady Lauren's Hart. And this is the last week of the last week of January. A little suggestion if you have not seen the biopic of Lauren's Hart. It was done last year. That is a remarkable piece of acting that you want to watch. I don't know if I guess Larry Hart exactly was like that, but uh very revealing and not terribly complimentary view of Lauren's Hart. But still really fascinating. Worth watching if you're into the David J Jazz and Ron with you here in this last week, this last Sunday, last go round of Jazz Appreciation Month. So uh hopefully you can do what whatever you had not got up until this week, and get your Jazz Appreciation extra licks in before the end. Coming in album number fifty this week on the Jazz Week chart, the Vancouver Jazz Orchestra, meeting up with organist Brian Charette. From the album of that name. That's called Honeymoon phase at album 50. This week, maybe it's last week on, after three months running. Coming at album 49 this week, the non-genarian pianist vocalist Betty Bryant. Staying on the piano, this whole piece called All Right Then. Still playing piano, still loving life, playing well. Nothing better to do than aim of that album number 49 this week for the knowledge of Eric. The Betty Bryant album. Oh man, that is just such good stuff here. Coming in at album 43, an album, sort of an album, interesting in its match. The entire album made up of just one song in eight different, totally different genres. Donald Harrison doing his magic touch in soul sway. Conceptualizing. We premiered this for you at least a few years back, in its inceptual form. And uh met up with Donald last year at the Jazz at the Jazz Hang, the Jazz Congress in New York. And we're lucky enough to get a thumb drive out of his uh one of the very few. I think he only said he had 50 of them printed on. One of the few of those thumb drives with all the versions of the magic touch on it. Making this this week's chart for the first week at 43 so far. We'll see where that goes coming up. Coming at album 40 this week. Professor Michael Deese and the Michigan State Spartan Power Trombone Ensemble from the album called Spartan Power, a little groove blues. Coming at Album 39, our most recent album collaboration, along with Lafayette Harris. Here with his trio, wanting just to be happy. From his album, All in Good Time. Eleven weeks in the top ten for him. Overall, just a little over five months. Proud of our work on that album, too. I really had fun with it. And maybe, maybe, get to do another one with him too coming up. We'll see. Coming at album number 37, it is bassist Corcoran Holtz, leading a really strong quintet on the album Freedom of Art. Bassist Corcoran Holtz and his quintet, featuring Benito Gonzalez on piano, on Flat Bush, from the album Freedom of Art at numbers 37 this week. Coming at album 36 this week, Dave Slowmaker's big band. This is their take on Bye Bye Blues. Dave Slowmaker, big band, from the album Shifty Paradigms is up to number thirty-six this week. Here's an album coming up on the chart the very first week. It's the album Spring. Just the two of them Tierney Sutton and Tamir Hendleman on piano.

SPEAKER_17 16:57

You came on and everything started to hold. Wait till the warm up wave. Wait till I seven that you see that sun shine, day. You ain't seen nothing yet. The best is yet to come the day for the five.

SPEAKER_10 17:49

Nice version of that too. Tierney Sutton and Timir Hendleman on piano. First week on the chart. Pop it up at 35. Here's April Varner with her tribute to Ella.

SPEAKER_13 18:10

A tiskin, a 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 chugging on down the avenue. Not a single thing to do. She went peck, peck, pecking 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.

SPEAKER_10 18:46

Tributing Ella Fitzgerald. We celebrated her birthday just last week. One of the significant landmark birthdays during April, which kind of made the Smithsonian choose April as Jazz Appreciation Month, appropriately. Emmett Cohen on piano, April Varner, the artist in front, the Ella Album at 34, its fourth week out. Coming at album 32 this week. Brandon Sanders, drummer with his quintet for the lasting impression album. Fifteen weeks in the top ten earlier. From the lasting impression album of Brandon Sanders, Warren Wolf there featured on Vibes, Stacey Dillard on Sacks. Still holding strong after all these weeks, months actually on the chart. And album 32. Here's a brand new one on the chart first week out. Trumpeter Brian Lynch. His new album is called Torch Bearers. This is the luck of the draw. Alongside of him, one of the respected elders, Charles McPherson on Alto. That's called Luck of the Draw. From the album The Torchbearers, coming in at 31, its first week on the chart. Here's another relative newcomer to the chart, the Daggerboard band. From the album Dream. This is called a Dream Within a Dream. Featuring the skip. Some definitely intriguing music. Dream within a dream. Done by Dagger Board with the Skipper. Henry Franklin featured there on that album Dream at 28 this week. Coming at album number 26 this week. A month and a half at number one earlier. Actually, eleven weeks in the top three previously. Matt Adderley Jr. here. The pianist, Matt Adderly Jr., we stress, from the album Took So Long. It's done well for him at 26 here this week. Coming at album number 25, the Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective. From the album Cortedito. This is a Sunday kind of day. Can you dig in? The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective from their Cortatido album at 25 this week. From New Orleans, it's music from the Nola, N-O-L-A, the Nola Resistance Quintet. This is the song for Cape Town from their new album, Morpheus. Twenty-four this week. Coming at Album 22, another one of the top albums of this year so far. Six weeks at number one previously. Let's do one or two more here before we take a quick step aside for some jazz festival action. This the latest album of Melissa Aldana. Backed up by Gonzalo Rubalcaba, master pianist. That's called Ocaso. Ocaso from the Feline album at 21. One more before we quit take a quick step aside for jazz festival activity. This from saxophonist Noah Preminger from his Dark Days album. Number 20 this week. Number twenty. David J, Jazz and Ronald here on this very last week, this last Sunday, the last week, of Jazz Appreciation Month for this year. Not that we have to stop appreciating. Anyway, moving along to the what's left of the top 20 of the Jazz Week chart in just a moment. But first it's time for us to take a look at some Jazz festivals that are on our watch. What you can put on your calendar list to do. The 2026th Cheltenham Jazz Festival going on now. Well, actually starting the 29th, on Wednesday this week through May the 4th, at the Dea Arena. Grammy winning singer Corinne Bailey Ray, this year's artistic director. Featuring Bill Frizzell, Courtney Pine, Joshua Redman, Roberto de Foseca, Micaiah McCraven, Kim Cypher. They'll have a Miles Davis tribute with Guy Barker, the BBC Concert Orchestra, and more. For the info there, go to CheltenhamFestivals.org. 2026 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Going on now through May 3rd. There is jazz there. I mean, there's a lot of rock and roll and a lot of other non-stuff, but Herbie Hancock, Diane Reeves, John Patisse, T-Bone Shorty, Trombone Shorty, Robbie Coltrane, the new breed brass band. Kermit Ruffins, a tribute to Lewis Armstrong, a Miles Davis tribute, and more. For all the info there, go to NOJazzfest.org. The Manchester Jazz Festival in the UK, going to be going on May 15 through 24. They'll have a unique piano trail competition. Running from March 29, World Piano Day through May 31st. Performers from Brazil, Cuba, France, Italy, Poland, and Spain. Specific shows include the Yellow Jackets, Eddie Shepherd, a Cannonball and Coltrane tribute, three or four shades of Mingus, the alligator gumbo band, and more. For the info on that one, go to Manchesterjazz.com. Summer Jazz Fest season going on in Canada soon. The Medicine Hat Jazz Fest in Alberta, June 16 through 21. The Winnipeg Jazz Festival, June 16 through 22, Jazz Fest Regina, June 18 through 22. The Ottawa Jazz Fest, Victoria Jazz Fest in BC, and the Edmonton Jazz Festival, each are running June 19 through 28. The Big Toronto Jazz Festival, June 18 through 28. The 46th annual International Festival du Jazz Montreal in Quebec, June 25 through July 4. Also the Big Vancouver Jazz Festival, June 26th through July 5, and the 35th Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, set up for June 30 through July 10. Coming up, the 40th annual Syracuse Jazz Festival, July 9th through 12, featuring Trombone Shorty, the Tower of Power Band, the U.S. Airmen of Note, and lots, lots more. Further information there, go to Syracuse JazzFest.com. What is it? There's just some really great stuff there. I don't know what you would choose from first, but any make any decision on any of them. I'm sure you'll have a jazz experience of a lifetime and will not regret it. Remaining top 20 on the Jazz Week chart, all the way up to number one, in just a moment. Stay with us, my friend. There's more to come.

SPEAKER_00 34:43

Hi, this is Ronald Markham from the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and April is Jazz Appreciation Month. Did you know that jazz has influenced virtually every American music in the 20th century, from classical to Broadway and even RB? In fact, jazz has inspired painters, poets, novelists, dancers, and filmmakers. Let's inspire you to jazz born in America and enjoyed worldwide.

SPEAKER_15 35:07

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SPEAKER_11 35:37

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SPEAKER_16 36:08

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SPEAKER_10 36:26

Album 19 this week. Javon Jackson plays music of Bob Billum. It's sourced for jazz material, but Javon Jackson proving otherwise there blowing in the wind. From Jackson, Blaze Dillon at album 19. Coming at album 18 this week of Rio Miami from the Belaza Pura album. This is their take on Sodanzo Samba. The Garfiera, Rio Miami, and Sonanzo Samba from their album Beleza Pura. Album 18 this week, its fourth week out. Album 17 this week, the Baltimore Jazz Collective, led by trumpeter Sean Jones. The Baltimore Jazz Collective on Minor Swing. Album 17 this week. Moving up into album 16 this week, the sistering. For the mature ladies of jazz song, all together. In fact, all here together on this version of It Had to Be You from the album The Sister Ring.

SPEAKER_06 40:48

Just to be sad thinking of you.

SPEAKER_02 40:55

Some others I've seen. Or you can just might never be me.

SPEAKER_10 41:04

You can hear and feel the experience, the wisdom. Right, the ages, the maturity. Kate McGarry, Lenora Zali Helm, Laura Stelach, and Nina Freelon, the sistering album, album number 16th this week. Mallet Man Joel Ross leading the way on the album Gospel Music. This is called Hostile. Hostile from the album Gospel Music, sitting in at number 15 this week. Coming at album 14 this week, organist Pat Bianchi with Troy Roberts on saxophone behind him, doing a little different take of Jitterbug Waltz here. The Fats Walnuts classic Jitterbug Waltz. Pat Bianchi and Troy Roberts from the album Confluence. Coming at album 13, only its second week on the chart, moving up rapidly. Music of Bria Schonberg focusing on her trumpet work here. From the album, aptly titled Grass. Deeply respectful of the trumpet tradition in jazz. Rhea Stonebird. The little New Orleans bump. From the album Brass. Second week out of the chart, it's already. Ad number 13. Speaking of trumpet, here's Joe Magnarelli with album twelve this week. Decidedly so. This is called DJ. Well. Still making it in the top ten, slipped a couple slots though. Keyboardist Monica Herzig, her new album, this, the title piece from that Transparents. Title Tune from Transparent, Album 10 this week. Coming at album nine, slipping a couple of points from last couple of weeks. Saxman Gregory Groover. This is Go for Broke. The album title at number nine this week. Moving up strongly at album eight. The Javier Nero Jazz Orchestra. From the album El Cabulon. This I think you'll recognize. Featuring Verona Swift, vocal.

SPEAKER_06 48:24

As in a morning sunrise, the light of love comes stealing into a newborn diamond. A burning kiss is ceiling. Are the passions of you?

SPEAKER_10 49:09

Moving up strongly this week. Veronica Swift featured with Javier Nero in his jazz orchestra. From the album Al Kebulon. Moving up strongly, number eight. Coming in Lucky Seven this week, Dave Stryker and his organ trio from the album Blue Fire. A little bit of their take on the Fool on the Hill, Lennon McCartney music. The Dave Stryker trio from Blue Fire at album seven. Coming at album six again this week. Spent three weeks at number three there earlier. Lisa Hilton's latest. From the album When Even Goes East, this is Jimi Hendrix all jazzed up, a little fire. Don't know that I would have presumed that Jimi Hendrick's fire would be a jazz tune, but Steve Wilson did. Yeah. Uh uh uh. Coming in at album five this week. A former number one album, seven weeks at number one for Alexa Tarantino from the Roar and the Whisperer. Alexa Tarantino, A Little Provoking Luck from her Roar and the Whisper album, number four this week. Moving up strongly to number three over its third week in the chart. Right near the top already, the Ulysses Owens and his Gen Y band. This is called The Prodigal Sun from around the world, the album title. Seriously swinging. Drummer Ulysses Owens and his Gen Y band from around the world, the album at number three already this week. Coming at album two, slipping from number one last week.

SPEAKER_19 54:45

Cardella in the WDR big bow. Figure out where it is that I stand up my already. They look all shiny and new. And at the top of all this runs, I really don't get screwed on every little detail. It's almost as if you believe I was born on the day before T D Brilliant dreams and super landscape. Start to rustle. Oh, picnic must go up.

SPEAKER_10 55:36

Oh man, Kurt sounds great. Powered by the WDR Big Band, led the Bob Mincer on the very own ride. From the album in the Brass Palace, slipping from number one to number two this week, taking number one over Trumpeter Jeremy Peltz. From his very personal statement album, our community will not be erased. Jeremy Pelt with his quartet on Sandman. All original music on the album Art Community will not be erased. Very forceful statement. Number one. Number one this week. And we made it all the way up to the top once again, in pretty fine shape here. Thanks to you and your assistance and your good vibes. We appreciate your company and your support. Hope you bring a friend along next time. We'll enjoy their company just as much as we enjoy yours, I'm sure. Have yourself a good week. Keep on swinging, keep on smiling, my friend, for sure. Thanks to our longtime partner at radio stations, WMJR, WSPR, KWLC, Boston Free Radio, and WWFM, Jazz On 2. Even though Jam Jazz Appreciation Month is darn near over, doesn't mean you should stop appreciating this music. Keep on and keep spreading as much as you can and as far as you can.