"Jazzin' Around" - #051726a-fin

Celebrating birthdays of the "V-P of Tenor Sax" (Paul Quinichette),  KC Jazz-Blues legend Big Joe Turner, saxist G. Auld, guitarist Sheryl Bailey, others. Covering "What's Goin' on in Jazz" this week...plus the 'live' jazz scene around the Tri-State. Also several exciting recent releases.                         

Transcript

SPEAKER_15 0:08

Well, look at that. It is time for you and I to go do some jazzing around again, my friend. Sure, glad to see you. Well, glad to see anybody here this week. I will ask for your indulgence. This is allergy season, and uh I've fallen victim this week, so please bear with me today, huh? This is time for Jazzin' Around. David J here, your host for the next couple of hours. America's most informative, distinctive, and truly unique jazz radio program. And probably the most fun jazz radio program as well, too, despite a little bit of uh sinus congestion here. Actually, there's a good cue uh for myself. Do not try to laugh too much at this program. For myself, anyway. Anyway, each and every week, sharing with you the latest albums of the jazz scene. This is your Jazz Magazine on the radio. Artist features, interviews, some jazz history, uh, the latest of what's going on in the jazz scene nationally and sometimes worldwide. Taking a look at the regional club and concert scene in the first hour and jazz festivals from all across the country and beyond in the second hour. And of course, the only place anywhere. You got a look at what's on the top 50 on the Jazz Week album chart each and every week. Jazz and Road comes to you from our cozy, cool, and comfortable Subterranean Jazz Den here in Pittsburgh. Podcast hosting from Buzz Sprouts and also Live 365, and uh maybe anywhere else, elsewhere where you can maybe find it and pick it up. And certainly, thanks to our longtime partner radio stations as well, WNJR, WSPR, KWLC, Boston Free Radio, and WWFM, Jazz On Tube. Had a beautiful downtown trip, by the way. Well, we got a lot to do here this week, and I want to make sure that uh my voice lasts the entire hour here or two hours. Even more so, right? So let's just jump in and try to find out what's going on this week in the world of jazz, right here, right now, shall we? The JFA, the Jazz Foundation of America, holding its 2026 Great Night of Jazz Gala at Lincoln Center. Uh Thursday, May 21. Artists include Gary Marz, Jimmy Owens, Buster Williams, Patrice Rushan, Nora Jones, Lenny White, plus an all-star tribute to Cal Jader and to Ernest Reiglen. For additional details there, go to jazzfoundation.org. What a spectacular night that sounds like. Also the Jazz Institute of Chicago announcing its 2026 gala to be held on Wednesday, May 27th. It's themed from Chicago with Love. Music for the evening provided by D. Alexander, Makaiah McCraven, Robert Irving, Corey Wilkes, and much, much more. More info on that, go to jazzinshicago.org. The Mono A Jazz Festival says that the single-day tickets are now on sale. That'll be September 25, 26, and 27. Artistic Director John Clayton notes that confirmed artists so far include a Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter Duo. Wow. Charles Lloyd, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Devine Sanchez, Melissa Aldana, Cecile McLaurin, Salvant, Alexa Tarantino, and an all-star Eddie Palmeri tribute. More details there go to Monterey Jazz.org. Pittsburgh's August Wilson Center announcing that we have priority seating. VIP tickets going on sale for summer's outdoor Pittsburgh Jazz Festival now available. The Downtown Jazz Fest is September 19 and 20. VIP priority package is available now. Single-day passes go on sale May the 15th. Artists are yet to be announced. During Jazz Appreciation Month, the JJA, the Jazz Journalist Association, announced its 2026 class of Honored Jazz Legacy Artists, Jazz Heroes. This year's class includes saxophonist and educator Chris Cole Savacron, bassist Henry Franklin, the skipper, trombonist and educator Dr. Javier Nero of Baltimore, jazz radio host Derek Lucas, Go Derek, of Rochester, New York. All about jazz founder Michael Ritchie, David Cook of Toledo, Ohio, Chuck Obachowski, hey Go Chuck from Hartford Jazz Radio, and former Kennedy Center Jazz Director Kevin Struthers. Quite an impressive listener of the whole list, very impressive. The 12th European Jazz Conference is going to be taking place in Cologne, Germany, the 24th through 27 of September. Conference is co-hosted by the Europe Jazz Network, Stuttgarten Clone, and the Cologne Jazz Week, and Mondheim Triennial. The four-day event invites members of the 200 plus European Jazz organizations together, made up of serious jazz fans, promoters, presenters, musicians from 30 different countries. Also during the conference, presentation of the 2026 European Jazz Network Awards, plus 13 performances by a whole diverse premiere lineup of artists from a whole number of countries in Europe. And featured this year will be artists from Germany, some of their most rising jazz players. Registration now open, go to Europeazz.net. The label been home to landmark Ella Fitzgerald Songbook Albums, The Essential Albums by Lustry Young, Cal Basie, Billy Holliday, Bud Powell, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Roy Eldrich, Cal Zayner, Nina Simone, Wayne Shorter, Blake Brecker, Joe Henderson, Anita O'Day, Diana Kral, Charlie Burt, well, the list is just Abby Lincoln, The Righteous Brothers, Frank Zappa, Incognito. That's right, Incognito was the Verge label, and numerous, numerous others. For more information on the year-long schedule of events, special releases, and programs, go to vervrs.com. 2026 Jazz Power Initiative program for adults will be July 9th and 10th at Lehman College in the Bronxboro of New York. Faculty at this 12th annual program includes Bob Stewart, Craig Harris, and Antonette Montague. More on the Summer Jazz Festivals, The Grand Daddy of the Ball, the Newport Jazz Festival holding its summer jazz gala and benefit on Sunday, August 1st, 7 p.m. Proceeds go to the Newport Foundation's music and program. The seating is extremely limited for that. Additional info on the gala or on the Newport Festival itself. Go to Newport Festivals. That's plural. Newportfestivals.org. And one more reminder of the Ben Chatcher Craftsman's Guild here at Pittsburgh. The 40th season MCG Jazz Series has been announced by Barney Ashby featuring What a Lineup! The current Cat Lacy Orchestra with a special guest needed a freeload. A Rick Broad celebration of Chuck May Joe. Gerald Albright, John Schofield, Phillies Navidad Eden with the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. Jose James doing a Sebatra tribute. Fabulous Billy Child's 70th birthday show. Betty Banak, the third, returning to Pittsburgh, returning home to Pittsburgh, bringing a little Manhattan Magic. That'll be really, really special. There'll also be an evening with the Arturo Sado Val. The Django Festival all-stars with special guests of that coin as well. Subscriptions should be reduced now. New subscriptions are open. Should be open now too. New subscriptions. Individual tickets don't go on sale, though, until July. July 6th. And that's what's going on this week in the world of jazz, and so now you know, right? Coming back in a moment. We have got some good birthdays to celebrate. And a lot of you can study music for you as well. When Jazz and Run returns in a few moments.

SPEAKER_07 11:27

We all need it to survive. And yet, did you know we waste as much as 40% of all the food we produced? Americans toss out more than $382 billion worth of food annually, costing an average family of four at least $1,500 each year. Eating leftovers is great. Reason food that you can't eat right away, donating surplus food within your community, and have an even bigger impact. Food should never be trash. Visit us at wwwf.earth slash food waste.

SPEAKER_09 12:03

Whether you're Hillary Banks from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air or Karen Parsons of New York, every day the threat of pollution is real in neighborhoods across the country. Pollution can cause serious health issues like asthma, cancer, and heart problems. Too often it's the minority in low-income communities, as well as young children, who pay the price. We can have clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. Protect our children and our planet. For more information, visit epa.gov slash gateway slash learn.

SPEAKER_14 12:35

Is love in you like it was in four-year-old Joshua Williams?

SPEAKER_11 12:39

I saw homeless men, so I gave him $20 that my grandmother gave me earlier that day.

SPEAKER_14 12:43

But Joshua felt he could do more. So at five years old, he started a foundation to feed the hungry.

SPEAKER_12 12:49

And so far, we've helped over 300,000 individuals. Love is in you. Now pass it on. I think that's it, just giving back and producing love for everybody.

SPEAKER_14 12:59

Now 16. Joshua's amazing story continues. See more at passiton.com.

SPEAKER_00 13:06

I'm a cancer survivor, so I know how awful cancer is. To protect my daughter and son from cancers caused by HPV, I will get them vaccinated when they're 11. Make an appointment today for your child to start the HPV vaccine series. A message from the CDC.

SPEAKER_15 13:24

Starting off the program today is celebrating the birth dates of the late vice pres of Saxophone, all quick as yet. Here it is with an all-star band, 1953. But he's definitely not copying him, that's for sure. Paul Courtishette, they called him the vice pres of the saxophone. Long time veteran of the Cow Bass man. For the 1953 All-Star Sessions of Joe Newman. The Great Marshal Royal. Freddie Green has some bassy alumni there as well, too. Something called the Bustin Sweet. Bust in the Sweet. Paul Cuddish. Denver, Colorado NATO, born on this date 110 years ago. One more saxophone birthday to celebrate today, specifically. That of Dewey Redman. From his 1997 album, In London. Certainly a very evocative palladier here on I Should Care. Wow, yeah. From 1897. Dewey Redmond. Clearly more than just the father of Joshua Redmond. A whole lot more. What a what a wonderful saxophonist of his own. He would have been uh 95. Dewey Redmond would have 95 today. We don't have the music for you right here. But also Jackie McLean. Jackie McLean would have been 95 as well today. Jackie McLean will be exactly the same day. Never got a chance to hear him in the concert, need him, work with him, anything at all. But certainly one of our all-time favorites, Mr. Big Joe Turner.

SPEAKER_05 17:36

Mega Choities.

SPEAKER_15 17:37

Oh yes, my friend. From an 1974 recording. Can't help but play this again. He's just laying it out there for us. Oh, yeah, Big Joe. Shout the blues like nobody else cares.

SPEAKER_05 18:06

One day. We got him and bacon. Next day ain't nothing shaking. Well ain't nobody's business. What we do. And we go to church on Sunday. And cabaret on the Monday. Where ain't nobody's business? If we did.

SPEAKER_15 19:03

Oh man. He just puts so much into just every nuance, every syllable, every utterance, every word. The absolute best. The absolute best. Big Joe Turner from Kansas City, icon of Kansas City. You gotta see The Last of the Blue Devils film. You gotta, if you have not, do you guys appreciate mode? At some point, you've got to see the film. Big Joe is an integral part of that. Big Joe. Totally, totally amazing. Uh it would have been one hundred fifteen. One hundred and fifteen. In the blues hall of fame, as you might well imagine, and in the rock and roll hall of fame as well, too. We can't divorce those tales of there either. Continuing for birthdays, how about saxophonist Georgie Odd? From an eighteen forty-six recording. This is called the Jute Box Joke. I keep forgetting he's from Toronto, he's a Canadian. So do I go. Uh spent a lot of time with a lot of the premiere bands, although uh Georgie Odd did not become one of the premier saxophonists of the period. You know, much like a uh like a Lester Young or Coleman Hawkins or even Paul Corto or Zul Sims or anybody quite like that. But he was certainly a most the the the next tier of uh respected and uh busy saxophonist of the time. Um I'll do that for you. What a brave courageous man. In 1939, no gambler with his little record. Recorded? Absolutely essential. Hello, holiday recording.

SPEAKER_04 23:44

And blood at the room. Black bodies swinging in the sun race. Strange root hanging. From the power tree.

SPEAKER_15 24:11

And of course, you should be familiar with that commanding. Just compelling recording of strange fruitbilly holidays recording. From the Cabinar Records studio in uh record label. Wednesday Milt Gabler would have been 115. Born in Harlem, New York City, instead of Austrian. Uh immigrants. Immigrants. Uh Bill Gabler. His dad had the Cabinar radio company. And then the Cabodor Records or then of course the Cabinar Studios and Cabodors and all the courageous Milt Gabler. Recording registry Hall of Fame. Again, one of the most important. Absolutely one of the most important pieces of music of the 20th century. David J, you and I jazzing around here. We do have some new things for you to get into before we take a quick step aside for some uh jazz on the live side. This is Bobby Matos and his heritage ensemble. And his heritage ensemble from a couple of years ago. A two disc set live performances. That's Cuban Fantasy and Ray Bryant composition from the new album, new double album, Live, La Pena, Bobby Matos. Moving along to a new release by Rebecca Rafia. Fundamentally unfinished. An interesting album title with Steve Ali on piano. Rebecca Rafla. Her little boat.

SPEAKER_02 27:09

My little boat is like a note, bouncing merrily alone. Here it's flashing up a song. The sails are white, the sky is bright, and out into the blue with a crew of only two. Where we can share a love, salty air on a little paradise. That's afloat. Not a care have we a little hug. The wind is till we feel the thrill. We only drift around. Warm by the sun, two hearts is one beating with enchantment melting in each other. When daylight ends and slyly suns, little stars that twinkle brightly a bad.

SPEAKER_15 28:08

Rebecca Rapla. And Little Boat, or otherwise known as O Barakindo. For the fundamentally unfinished album, brand new from her. Interesting title for sure. I always like that. Steve Ali, by the way, doing piano and acting as kind of a musical director for that album. The veteran trumpeter Shunzo Ono. Live performance at Joe's pub from last year. With his band and strings. Moving on to Dave Schneider from his new album, Introducing the Trumpeter with his quintet doing marvelously. Marvelous Lee from his album Introducing David Snyder. Yeah, good stuff. How about the the Barry Sax man, James Forace? From his new album, Big Shoulders. Big sounds. Parrying it down to just three instruments here. Big shoulders, big sounds. James Forache on his baritone sacks there. Moving on to a little bit of exotic jazz from the White Tiki Seven from their new album, Exotica Reborn. This is called Tarpicando. Blending an irresistible mix of tropical South Sea Islands and Jazz together. All together in quite an irresistible mix up there. Tropicondo from the Exotica Reborn album. Moving on to some jazz on the live side here. Let's take a look at uh who is playing where in and around the tri-state area here over these next coming weeks. Three Rivers Arts Festival moving into town this year for two weekends in a row. June 5 through 7 and 9 through 14. For part of it, Del Fio Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, appearing at the festival at the Arts Landing Space 7.30 free and open to the public on Saturday the 13th. Also in Toledo, it's Ray Angry with the Toledo Jazz Orchestra at the Valentine Theater that same night on the 13th. On the 18th of June, the U.S. Navy Commodore's band featuring featured at the Manchester Craftsman's Guild Hall, 7:30. Free but ticketed performance only. Tuesday the 24th of June, it is Sean Jones' quartet with a celebration of Miles Davis at 100. At the downtown August Wilson Center, one evening, one show at 8 o'clock only. Friday the 26th, 26th of June, flutist Jamie Baum and her sex set at the Manchester Craftsman's Guild one evening, one performance at 7:30. Sunday the 28th of June. It's Roger Humphreys and his annual scholarship fund jazz cruise on the Gateway Clipper from noon till 4 p.m. With loose to loop, Mike Tamaro, Yoko Suzuki, Rich Matt, and Reggie Watkins, and uh a few other special guests expected. Sunday afternoon of the Gateway Clipper, noon till 4 the 28th. Also on Sunday the 28th, on the evening of Sunday the 28th, the Kings of Latin Jazz featuring Tito Puente Jr. and Desta Torres with Hugo Cruz and Caminos at the Heartwood Acres site 7.30 outdoors all on the hillside, free and open to the public. Coming in July, on July 18th. Saturday, Marion Meadows with Alex Bouñard at the Manchester Craftsman's Guild. One evening wood show there, 7.30. In August, the big man Voodoo Daddy performing at the South Park Fairgrounds outdoors Friday evening, 7.30 free and open to the public. On the 14th of August, the Women in Jazz, uh featuring Camille Thurman, Daryl Green, with Sue Terry in the Jazz Jazz DeBorrow, Deanna Witkowski and more at Heartwood Acres, Sunday the 14th. That's the 14th of August, by the way. No matter where you are, no matter when you're going to be any place around, wherever you are, you find out any Jazz Vota live with live musicians, particularly doing original music or traditional music, by all means, get out, spread the word. Attend it if you can, and if you're able, you know, help us support it, advertise on it, right? Supporting living live jazz musicians, not only the best way to keep jazz alive, but probably the only way to keep it alive and vital. So let's do what we can, right? More new things and a couple more birthdays before we wrap up our number one here. So stay with us.

SPEAKER_06 37:47

Look out in the street there. You know what you don't see? My car. Because I had to sell it to pay the lawyer I hired when I got busted for drunk driving. Know what else you don't see? My girlfriend. Who decided that a guy with no car and no license and no money was no fun.

SPEAKER_08 38:05

Cops are out there cracking down on drunk driving all across the country, and they'll see you before you see them. Drive sober or get pulled over. Paid for by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

SPEAKER_13 38:19

Far from the city, where the Lorax roams free, it's the home of a magical truffle of trees. In a place you will love with things you'll adore it. It's a magical spot. We call it the forest.

SPEAKER_04 38:31

Everyone here needs the trees. And who are you? I'm the Lorax, Guardian of the Forest.

SPEAKER_13 38:37

The forest is there for you to explore. So come once to see it, then come back lots more. Just like hearing you say it. Visit discover theforest.org. Brought to you by the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council.

SPEAKER_01 38:49

July 31st is a symbolic day for African American women. This marks the day that the earnings of African American women will catch up to their non-Hispanic male counterparts. African American women earn 63 cents for every $1 her male counterpart earns. According to data, the pay gap won't close until 2152. Listeners can impact the wage gap today by negotiating compensation when receiving a job offer. Never accept an offer on the spot. Log on to www.auw.org.

SPEAKER_10 39:22

As Americans, there's one thing we can all agree on. The promise of our constitution. And the hope that liberty and justice is for all people. But here's the truth. Attacks on our constitutional rights, yours and mine, are greater than they've ever been. It is more important than ever to take a stand. So please join us today. Because we the people means all the people, including you. So call now or go online to myacl you.org to become a guardian of liberty.

SPEAKER_15 41:17

Going at him there. I wonder if he's from Michigan. Just a thought. Just a thought. Putting a little bit of a new spin on the organ combo. Guitarist John Shannon with Cliff Barnes, James Johnson III. From John's newest album of Dave Tarifa. This is Star Traveler. James Johnson III on the precious nice work. From Star Travel, that is from the album A Day in Tarifa, John's latest album. For the new album of the Freedom Art Quartet, the album is called First Dance. This interesting piece called Stopwatch. Very energetic music. Stop watching. For the Freedom Art Quartet for their first dance album that is brand new of them. How about Marcus Ruiz and his Mini Moons new album? Marcus Ruiz, trumpeter with his quintet. He's here called by a lot of the colours. Celebrating Miles Davis in his centennial year. The album is called Four Miles. Here's Mark's rendition of If I Were a Bell. Certainly a tune associated with Miles Davis, very clearly. Moving on to Grant Stewart from his album Next Spring. So very appropriate to play this this week, I guess. It's called May into June. May into June, that's called from Scott Silbert. Stephen Philip Harvey from his album Multiversal, recorded live at the Bop Stop. It's a piece called Covert Ops. Stephen Philip Harvey Multiverse Big Man. Live at the Bop. Stop. That's covert ops there. Well, I haven't played this one for a while. It's been maybe a year or so. His most recent album, though. Solomon Fortner, his solo game, Solomon Fortner, what a piano force to be reckoned with. Check out his improvisation here on this familiar tune. With Stevie Wonders, too, don't you worry about a thing. Sullivan Fortner from his highly impressive solo game album. What a remarkable pianist. What a remarkable talent. Speaking of remarkable talent, how about saxophonist Marshall Allen, longtime veteran of the Sun Ra band? Still, still leading the Sun Ra band on tour, and got his own album out. His own solo album. First, I think it's the first one that he's led. And he's 99, or maybe just turned 100. Marshall Allen. A piece called Are You Ready? from his debut album, New Dawn. Marshall Allen. Playing and still leading a band there on the new Dawn album that is called Are You Ready? with Jemal Dean Takuma, special guest on bass there. Marshall Allen, what a remarkable, remarkable musician, for sure. Moving on to a few last birthdays before we wrap up our number one here, shall we? Let's do a local one. Why not? Guitarist Cheryl Bailey. Fine, Pittsburgh, guitarist. What a talent. Cheryl, believe it or not, turning Oh no, this can't be true. 1966? Really? Cheryl Bailey's turning 60 this Wednesday? Oh my gosh. Here she is with RPS from the departure album. New York based for many, many years now. Cheryl Bailey's still got that Pittsburgh thing in her guitar there. Yeah, from George Benson, Joe Degry, Jimmy Potter. She's still kind of got that Pittsburgh thing in there, right? Right. That is called What She Said. That's her composition. Along with Harvey S from the album Departure. Cheryl Bailey. Happy birthday, Cheryl, this week. And let's do one last birthday wrapping up our number one, shall we? A list LA Session saxophonist, Mr. Jazz Band, and Carol Keaton. From his Canon Reloaded Cannonball Tribute album. From his two thousand eight Canon Reloaded album, what a session. Terrence Blanchard. George Duke, Marcus Miller, Steve Cad. What a session. That's Kenneth Ball. And Matt Adderley's tube, inside straight. Happy birthday to Tom Scott this week. And wrapping up our number one with one of our favorite contemporary group albums, Tom Scott leading his LA Express, another all-star aggregation. Sneaking in the back. From the Blue Streak album Joe Sample, Robin Ford, Ralph McDonald's. Stay with us, my friend. Take another walk past the buffet table if you like.