"Jazzin' Around" - #061426a

Special "Last Call" features on two very different but influential guitarists -- avant-bluesman James 'Blood' Ulmer and the beloved "Handyman" Joe Negri (of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" fame). Several Jazzy birthdays from the week -- Marcus Miller, Dave Lambert, Tom Harrell, Cy Coleman -- and a sampling of several recent jazz albums.  

Transcript

SPEAKER_08 0:07

Okay my friend, it is good time. It's a very good time for you and I go do some jazz it around. So come on aboard and join us. It is time to go jazz it around. David J here, your host for the next couple of hours of America's most informative, distinctive, and absolutely unique jazz radio program. And probably the most fun jazz radio program you'll find anywhere, too, for that matter. Jazz it around is your weekly jazz magazine that all you need to do is just listen to on the radio. Each and every week we share with you the latest albums on the jazz scene, occasional pre-release sneak previews of upcoming albums, popular artist features, interviews, a little bit of jazz history, the latest in jazz news in our first hour. Also, a look at the Tri-State Club and Concert scene. In the second hour, to look at jazz festivals from all across the country, and occasionally around the world, too. And the centerpiece of the program in the second hour, also, as always, a look at the Jazz Week chart. What's making the top 50 on the jazz radio stations from all across the country, put together right here. And as far as we're aware, it's the only place anywhere that does that for you. Jazz and Round comes to you each and every week from our cozy cool and comfortable subterranean jazz band here in Pittsburgh. Our podcast hosted since uh 2005, that's right, 21 years now. To over a hundred and seventy some thousand people over the years, too. Cool, very cool. And a program that's been on itself, just jazzing around even before the podcast since uh what 2002, something like that. Each and every week bringing you 70 well, seven decades, let's put it this way, over seven decades of jazz and jazz radio experience for you. I have a long time thanks to our partner radio stations, WNJR, WSPR, KWLC, Boston Free Radio, and WWFM Jazz On Two.

SPEAKER_12 2:42

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_08 2:46

Oh, got a lot going on here this week. Uh, not all of it necessarily good news. We do have some uh some last calls, a couple of last calls today before you, actually. But we do have several birthdays to celebrate, lots of exciting new releases on the scene, and of course the Jazz Week chart all coming your way. Taking a look at what's going on, though, this week in the world of jazz, two, two significant last calls to issue today. The innovative, adventurous, unique, and easily identifiable guitarist James Blood Ulmer has passed away. Born in a very segregated area of South Carolina, way back when, Ulmer got his first guitar at age four from his father, who's a preacher, with whom the young James started singing with the church choir. Although his parents certainly strongly disapproved, the young Ulmer began being drawn toward the music of Chuck Barry and other blues, RB, and early rock and roll artists. After high school, though, he left home. Left for Pittsburgh for a while, right here. Then on to Columbus, later to Detroit. Worked as an RB group at Dell Vikings while here and in Columbus. And uh a group called Focus Novi. I don't know of them, but uh Focus Novi, significantly mentioned in his bio. Uhmer is said to have approached guitar idol Wes Montgomery at one point, but was rebuffed by Wes, somewhat surprisingly, I think. Anyway, convinced him though that uh he needed to forge his own distinctive approach to the guitar, continuously trying to, quote, not sound like anybody else, and in that he succeeded hugely successfully. He subsequently arrived in New York City in 1971 and was warmly greeted by Ornett Coleman, joining Coleman's prime time band for a while there, too. He went on to release a series of critically acclaimed albums in the 80s and 90s, although none of them really you would call reaching a wider popular audience or much popular acclaim. He was well known in highly regarded in avant-garde and blues avant circles, and was active until late 24 at the Detroit Jazz Festival, his last professional gig. Falling into ill health afterward, he pretty much went into retirement. The family does plan a public celebration later on of his life and legacy, noted tales released quite yet. Pioneering Avant blues jazz guitarist James Blood Ulmer was 86. And another guitarist in our last call notices today. This one on a much more personal level. The greatly loved and respected guitarist from the mainstream side of jazz, known as known to millions as worldwide as Handyman Joe, the handyman of Mr. Rogers' neighborhood. That of course is guitarist Joe Megri. Joe instructed and introduced generations, generations of youngsters to a variety of music and musical instruments on the Mr. Rogers Neighborhood program. On his own trio, on his own though, he was one of uh the most admired and most respected guitarists anywhere, I mean, real literally anywhere. Among his peers and admirers were including Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell, George Benson, Gene Burtoncini, Bucky Pizzarelli, Pat Martino, but also such artists, non-guitarists as Winton Marsalis, Michael Feinstein, Terry Gibbs, Yo-Yo Ma, and many, many, many more. Although he did hit the road briefly after leaving home at 16, he hit the road with Shep Field's orchestra, he soon returned to Pittsburgh, where he remained based here the rest of his career. He also taught guitar at the music schools at Pitts, Duquesne, and CMU for around at least 40 years, starting maybe the first jazz guitar program in the country at the University of Pittsburgh back in the early 1970s. Joe was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Joe passed away peacefully on May 30th, less than two weeks from what would have been his 100th birthday. First got to know Joe back in our very early years here, doing jazz radio for WDUQ in the early 70s. Became quite good friends, luckily, fortunately, and enjoyed his live performances on many, many, many, many occasions and places, including his Newport Jazz Festival debut at age 85. We were there in the front row. That was back in 2011. His Newport Festival debut at 85. And we had hired Joe to play at numerous Shady Side Arts Festival occasions, summers. And Joe certainly was among the creme of the crop of the jazz guitar, but also an admirable human being. Fortunately, I feel very privileged to call him a good friend as well. And will always, always, always be our favorite guitarist in the neighborhood, so to speak. Always. Joe, Joni, his family. Um heart goes out to you. Joe's a very, very, very special person, very special musician. Other news, now that the school year is wrapped up for the most part, time to consider a summer jazz camp or workshop. A few selected choices to consider the DC-based Blues Alley summer camp, July 27th through August 7th, ages 11 to 18. Camp Director Michael Bowie. For info there, go to bluesalley.org. There's the Eastman School Summer Jazz Institute, July 5 through 10, focused on, quote, highly motivated high school students, led by Eastman School faculty Clay Jenkins, Jeff Campbell, Marshall Gilkus, Sarah Gazarek. For info there, go to summer.esm.rochester.edu. There's the Fordham Jazz Workshop, June 22 through July 5. At Fordham College at their Lincoln Center location. Faculty includes Ted Nash, Melissa Aldana, Mark Whitfield, Matt Wilson, Allison Miller, and more. For information there, go to jazzartsny.org. Ezra's Jazz House Summer Workshop in Montclair, New Jersey, August 5, August 3, 215, geared toward both vocal and instrumental students, 12 to 18. Faculty includes Christian McBride, Billy Hart, Andy McKee, Michelle Rosewoman, and more. For info there, go to jazzhouseekids.org. Promise a new name to remember. We mentioned this to you before, winner of the ninth annual Elephants Gerald Jazz Vocal Competition in Washington at Blues Alley. 21-year-old vocalist from Cleveland has already been 12-time winner for the Downbeat Magazine Student Music Awards. Ava Preston is her name. Do you remember that name? Ava Preston. She topped the five finalists. Judging by her vocal work, the judges were Nina Freeland, Satala Sandani, top prize for her, $2,500 in cash award. Other finalists, Kyra Choffee of New Jersey, Gabriela Alleman, Alamana of Chicago, Lily Alter of Oak Park, Illinois, Emily Davies of Buffalo, New York, all five were invited to perform during the Jazz Appreciation Month next April at Blues Alley. It's a little bit of what's going on this week in the world of jazz, and so now you know, right? It's the music of James Bloodomer, and certainly of the handyman Joe Negri. And more birthdays to celebrate too this week. When Jazz and Ron returns in just a moment.

SPEAKER_02 13:16

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SPEAKER_08 14:48

James Bloodolmer, certainly highly respected in the Avant Garde, kind of hard blues rock, jazz community. For my own tastes, uh he's never been I've never been a big, big fan of his of his work, of his of his recordings. But it got a couple of new things here. Recent things of his 2001's Blue Blood album. A lot of accessible material on it, really. This one called Up On and On. James Blood Ulmer. On and on. From the Blue Blood album, James Blood Ulmer from 2001, also from that album, another relatively accessible piece. This one kind of straight at you. A little harder edged, perhaps, called Home Alone. Certainly very little derivative from uh almost any other prior jazz guitar. More in line, maybe with I don't know, maybe a bow diddly. Certainly certainly Chuck Mary as well, too, there on that as well. But uh definitely his own man. Definitely, definitely his own guitar man. James Blood Ulmer. Uh the late James Blood. He was a Pittsburger for a while, uh following high school, spent a few years here before heading on to Columbus and Detroit. Uh James Blood Elmer, certainly forging an adventurous progressive path of his own. Speaking of guitar and of jazz, certainly related musicians, from the other more melodic, harmonic side of the music, the handyman, Joan Egri. Heard in a rare instance here with a really fine big band led by Dr. John Wilson. Not a common experience for Joe. Oftentimes playing in duo sessions, trios, small quartet, his own quartet for decades here in Town Brother Bobby. Fine pianist, uh, the Clifford Brown bassist, Bob Boswell, and Chuck Spatifor on drums. Long, long, long time quartet performing in town for many, many years. That's from the 2004 Up of Town Elegance album. A rare, but fine, fine example, a fortunate example of his being recorded and cut in a really first-class setting. Here, also from that same album is Joe doing blues for Brody with a couple of his peers from out of town, shall we say. Together with his peers. And I call them peers because Joe was really first class top shelf. Buddy DeFranco and Terry Gibbs, together with him on that one called Lose for Brody, from that Uptown Elegance album in 2004, highly recommended. If you're even curious about Joe and his legacy, rarely, unfortunately, sadly, was rarely recorded, particularly in a first-class setting. Uh but that one is is a real recommendation for you. And one more from the Uptown Eleance album, and this is of course probably best known as his signature piece. The Fred Rogers theme. Beautiful day in the neighborhood. Yeah, Joe was more than just a fine guitarist. He was among the finest. Mentioned earlier, some of his peers and admirers and good friends, including cats like Kenny Burrell, Pat Martino. Cheryl Bailey, actually quite a fine guitarist of her own note, was one of Joe's students. She absolutely adores Joe, and and it just gives him so much credit for her own career as well, too. Uh the passing of Joe Nagrake this last week. Just about a week and a half before what would have been his 100th birthday. And speaking of aging gracefully, when we caught Joe at the Newport Festival in 2011, again, just after his 85th birthday, and his debut, his first ever performance at Newport, caught him backstage and asked him what the next eighty-five years would bring, and he responded in his own way like this. I hope a lot more of the same. I hope a lot more of the same. What a dear. Uh Joan Negri. Uh the late handyman and the best finest guitarist in the neighborhood. We do have birthdays to celebrate this week, though, as well. Uh yes, uh, a musician, pianist, songwriter, composer, best known for his compositions, Cy Coleman. One of his best known and most loved compositions. Done up here by Joey Bon. Gonna laugh you right out of my life. A big spender. My friends can only see me now, and a lot of other great, great show tunes as well. And also, in the 1960s, uh, as kind of tapped by Hugh Hefter, he gave us the Playboy theme. The original, at least the one that we're aware of, Billy Larkin and the Delegates, 1966 version of Clifford Scott, of the Playboy theme written by Cy Coleman.

SPEAKER_12 26:05

Then I don't know, I think I've done within if you let me let it down.

SPEAKER_08 26:39

And got a birthday for one of the premier musicians of the last several decades, Marcus Miller, one of the most talented multi-instrumentalists. Marcus Miller learned his music on clarinet initially. And of course, you heard him there on the bass clarinet, doing a moving instrumental version of Strange Fruit. Worked with Miles for several years as a as a composer, bassist, writer, and producer. Uh worked with numerous Bob James, David Sanborn, you know, quite a list of uh all-stars and Hall of Famers. Marcus Miller, his birthday, also today. Marcus Miller, also a New York City native, as well. Moving on to a Pittsburgh birthday to celebrate here this week. The Inimitable, pioneer of the piano, Errol Garner. For the 1974 album The Magician, his own composition, Lucho Gusto. Certainly aptly titled The Magician. The magician of the piano, Errol Garner from late in his career, 1974. I don't know if you could notice or pick up on that, but there was an electric bassist behind him on that, no less than Bob Cranshaw, uh native of Youngstown, Ohio, Youngstown in Cleveland, by the way, Northeastern Ohio native. Uh, from that Mucho Gusto, 1974 release, and Grady Tate, by the way, on drums behind him too. Errol Garner. Uh this is one of not one of his own compositions, but from much earlier in his career, from 1961. Just a little typical example of his interesting sense of harmony. Oh man, what a master. What an absolute master. If you have not gotten into the Errol Garner legacy, by all means get yourself some Errol Garner now and DD. One of the most loved of Pittsburgh musicians, certainly, even after all these decades. Tomorrow would have been his one hundred fifth birthday. But boy, wow, he certainly was his own immediately recognizable self on piano. Wow. Errol Garner's trio from the close-up and swing album nineteen sixty-one. The best things in life are free. And how true, how true that certainly is. Let's do um oh, should we do one more birthday? Let's wait. Let's wait. Let's check on some jazz on the live side here, first off, should we? So let's jump in and see who is buying where over these next coming weeks in the Tri-State area, shall we? This is June, and June is busting out all over, and so is a lot of great music as well, too. Coming up this Thursday, the U.S. Navy Commodore's Jazz Band at the MCG Manchester Craftsman's Guild Hall. One show, 7:30, free and open to the public by ticket only, but free, of course. On Tuesday, the 23rd, at the August Wilson Center downtown, it's Sean Jones coming back to celebrate Miles at 100 with his quartet. Also Friday the 25th, flutist Jamie Baum and her septet featuring Leo Genevais on piano. They'll be appearing at the Manchester Craftsman's Guild Hall for one evening, one show only, Friday the 25th at 7:30. Or Friday the 26th. That's where they are. Friday the 26th. Coming up on Sunday the 28th. Next Sunday the 28th. Or the following Sunday of the 28th, or the Roger Humphreys Scholarship Fund Jazz Cruise on the Gateway Clipper downtown along the three rivers. From noon till 4 p.m. Tonight, tomorrow, you'll go Suzuki Richard. And Reggie Watkins, all special guests there, along with Max Leek and Dwayne Dolphin. Definitely. Alongside two special guests, too. That's Sunday evening, Stickings of Latin Jazz, featuring Tito Fuente Jr. Plus Nester Torres at the Heartwood Acres. On the grounds out of the North Hills, under the trees, and the breeze, and the hills. Oh man. What a great setting, huh? And the opening group, Hugo Cruz and his Caminos, man. Don't miss that. For free, 7 30 Sunday evening. Coming up July 18. Marion Meadows with Alex Bunyan at the MCG Manchester Craftsman's Guild Hall. One show, one evening for 7.30 only. Coming up in August Friday evening, the 9th for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Command at Heartwood Acres, 7 30 for free. Friday the 14th, the Women in Jazz show featuring Camille Thurman. Daryl Green and the Core Twitter Sue Terry and the Jazz of Tomorrow. Plus Deanna Witkowski and her trio at the Heartwood Acres at 3 p.m. in the afternoon and free and open to the public. No matter where you are, no matter where you'll be by any means necessary, if there is jazz going on live, spread the word. Share it. Spread it all over the place. Bring a friend. Certainly attend and maybe even co-sponsor if you can. Supporting living live jazz musicians, not only the best way of keeping this music alive and vital, but really maybe the only way, too. Coming back in a moment, we've got some new albums that are kind of on the horizon and pretty exciting, and some more birthdays to celebrate, too. So stay with us.

SPEAKER_03 35:58

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SPEAKER_07 36:08

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SPEAKER_03 36:12

Actually, it was my favorite.

SPEAKER_08 36:14

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SPEAKER_08 38:03

Here's a woman definitely, definitely forging her own path in her 90s. Still playing piano, still swinging. Album title says it all. Betty Bryant. Anyway, the nonagenarian pianist and swinger Betty Bryant. From her album, Nothing Better to Do, just keep on swinging, dear. Her quintet. Something called All Right Then. And this is moving along here to Rebecca Raffla, her new album, Fundamentally Unfinished. Well, this sounds pretty nicely, nicely finished. Her rendition of O'Barkino, a little boat.

SPEAKER_09 39:55

My little boat is like a note bouncing merrily alone. Here it's flashing up a stone. The sails are white, the sky is bright, heading out into the blue with a crew of only two. Where we can share a little salty air on a little paradise. That's afloat. Not a care have we.

SPEAKER_08 42:42

Anyway, recently discovered, rediscovered music of Thelonious Monk, Thought Lost, just released for the very first time from the Live in Paris 1967 set with Larry Gales and Ben Riley. 1967 sessions just recently recently released. A little ruby, my dear, there for us. As we celebrate the 100th centennial birthday year of Miles Davis, Mark Morganelli dedicates his latest album to the Miles Legacy. Jazz Society producer Mark Morganelli, focusing on his trumpet work here on a Miles dedicated album, Tune Up, from the early years of Miles. Mark Morganelli and his quintet on his latest uh dedication to the centennial year of Miles Davis. And it'll get to one last thing here before we leave you. Let's stay on the trumpet side, shall we, with Shunzo Ono, one of Japan's most revered, admired, and respected musicians, the trumpeter, composer, band leader, his latest album live at Joe's Pub in New York City. Trumpets of Shunzo Ono, live at Joe's Pub newest music from the Japanese veteran trumpeter. David J. jazzing around with you here as we celebrate some more birthdays, shall we? Let's keep it in the trumpet line with Tom Harrell. Tomorrow, well no, Tuesday, Tom Harrell will turn 80. Figure about an Illinois native. One of what we think is one of his finest recent albums, Colors of a Dream, with Esperanza spolding. Very, very, very versatile. All the kinds of and creative in his compositions. Just heard there going out. His tune from the album Colors of a Dream featuring Esperanza Spaulding and some of her strengths on that. From his album Moving Pictures, some very visual music. Again composed and performed by Tom Harrell. Certainly a premiere, premiere from the very shy, withdrawn, almost to a fault, but wow, his music is respected and admired worldwide. One of his compositions, the impressive album Moving Picture, very moving music from Tom Harold. Turning 80. Turning 80. Uh this coming uh Tuesday this week. Shut it out his professional, his big name career with Stan Kent in the band. Spent some years in Woody Herman's band. And uh five very high-profile years with Horace Silver and a number of others, uh, Phil Woods and so on, uh, as well. Uh the great Tom Harold there. Happy 80th birthday to him, Tuesday. Canadian Gino Vanelli with a birthday this week.

SPEAKER_10 50:12

No contestants wet clean, you'll run along looking green. It's a key neighborhood.

SPEAKER_08 51:07

Gino Vanelli. Yeah, drummer, producer, singer, and notably composer. A little bit of Judas there from the Yonder Tree album, maybe his most impressive, with Chuck Finley there on trumpet. And Brother Joe, Brother Joe Vanelli on Vibes. From the Yonder Tree album. Happy birthday to Gino Vanelli, Quebec native, by the way, this coming uh Tuesday as well. Uh it's gonna be 74. 74 this Tuesday. Happy birthday to the memory of the late jazz vocalist innovator, Dave Lambert. That name not sound too familiar to you. How about Lambert Hendrickson Ross? Maybe that one. He's the Dave Lambert of that group.

SPEAKER_10 51:57

Oh, what a party! Oh, what a party. I never thought so many people really come back.

SPEAKER_08 52:30

Of the fabulous Lambert Hendricks and Ross trio. Nonetheless, certainly an innovator and one of the most important cogs in that Lambert Hendricks and Ross trio as well, too. Dave Lambert! Uh I think it's the Boston area, if I'm not mistaken. Uh he would have been what, a hundred? Well, pretty close to a hundred as well, too. If not mistaken, here this week. Anyway, Dave Lambert. Dave Lambert from the Lambert Hendricks and Ross trio. Setting his legacy this week with his birthday. And uh wrapping up here, wrapping up our number one. Not quite, wrapping up our number one, close to it. A couple more to do. Celebrating the birthday. Talk about somebody forging his own path on his instrument, Eric Dolphy. Born and bred ninety-eight years ago, this coming Friday, or Saturday rather. Born in LA. Very, very well traveled in Europe, well known, well respected, highly regarded in Europe. Passed away in 1964 in Berlin while he was still there. Uh the late Eric Dolphy. On flute, yeah. He was a master on flute, master on clarinet, on bass clarinet, soprano clarinet. Alto sax most notably, probably as well. Eric Dolphy. Again, his birthday would have been this Saturday. And let's do one more here. Let's go on uh Chuck Rainey, as we mentioned earlier. Bassist for so many jazz, RB, pop, folk, instrumental, and others like the Crusaders from the Scratch album. One of the most recorded bassists ever. Uh, with Steely Dan, Quincy Jones, numerous Quincy Jones recordings, Aretha Franklin, uh Kirby Man. Ooh, and of course the Crusaders, just so tasty there. And speaking of the Quincy Jones recordings, he was on the Walking in Space album as well as Quintessence and a few other Quincy Jones classics. This is his base work on Killer Joe. On the Quincy Jones edition of Killer Joe, that is Chuck Rainey. Oh, here comes again. And for several international jazzers, Gato Barbieri. Also, Jeremy Montiero, Sergio Mendes, and this 1978 recording from the California shower for Japanese saxophonist Sadao Watanabe. This Chuck Rainey on a little California shower with Dave Brusen, Lee Rittenauer, and Sadao. As we wrap up our number one, our number two, Jazz It Around coming your way in just a moment or so. Got a couple more. Milestones to mark musically, and of course the Jazz Week chart, just around the corner.