Jazz for the Asking Blog

(I am not going to put the album art and the links on this post, I am running a little late this morning, and we have to get to Church on time.  If you want to buy any of this stuff, head over to the Jazz for the Asking Store, all the titles are available.)

This is Jazz for the Asking it is Saturday March 31, 2007 and boy what a Saturday it is. I hope that everybody got a chance to get outside and enjoy the nice weather today. We will be playing my favorite jazz tunes form Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock and Diana Krall. and your favorite Jazz tunes, so call the studio at 331-9255 to get your requests in, or you can send an e-mail to studio@jazzfortheasking.com.

I mentioned Diana Krall, for those of you who don’t know who Diana Krall is, is was born in 1964 in BC Canada and is the wife of Elvis Costello of Rock and Roll fame. She just had twin boys back in December of 2006 and writes on her web site that everyone is doing great but sleep is a distant memory. I myself just had a son back in Nov of 2006 so I understand what that is like. This is Diana Krall off of “The Look of Love” CD this is Cry me a River

1. Cry me a River. Dianna Krall from The Look of Love

2. Maiden Voyage. Herbie Hancock from The Essential Herbie Hancock CD

(liner)

3. Soon. Ella Fitzgerald from the Pure Ella CD

That was Ella Fitzgerald singing the G&I Gershwin tune “Soon” with Ellis Larkins on piano. Before that we heard Herbie Hancock with Maiden voyage.  Freddie Hubbard on Trumpet, George Coleman on Tenor Sax, Herbie Hancock on Piano, Ron Carter on Bass and Tony Williams on Drums. From a blue note album. This is Charlie Parter

4. Oh lady be good, Charlie Parker

5. Love for Sale, Miles Davis

You are listening to Jazz for the asking on AM 920 WGHQ, Kingston. That was Miles Davis with Love for Sale. Miles had a unique way of playing across the beat, that is to say he played on the half beat, and he is one of the few jazz artists that could pull that off and make it sound good. Before that we heard Charlie Parker and Oh lady be good. If you ever have any questions about the show you can visit our web site, www.jazzfortheasking.com. We have all our play lists, you can buy the CDs or download the songs from itunes, or if you are looking for contact information or whatever, go to Jazzfortheasking.com. We are featuring female jazz vocalists this evening so This is Billie Holiday and Moon Glow

6. Moonglow. Billie Holiday from the Solitude CD

7. Picasso. The JoAnne Brackeen Trio from the Power Play CD

8. Cousin Mary. John Coltrane from the Giant Steps CD

That was John Coltrane and Cousin Mary off of the Giant Steps CD and before that was Picasso, by JoAnne Brackeen trio form the Power talk CD. That ends the first hour of the show, we will be back after the news, weather and a promo!

(Top of the hour news, weather)

You are listening to JFA, this is the second hour of our show, as always if you have any questions about the show, you can go to jazzfortheasking.com This is Tanya by Dexter Gordon.

10. Tanya. Dexter Gordon Manhattan Symophony

11. Stardust. Loius Armstrong.

You are listening to jazz for the asking on am 920 WGHQ

12. I aint got nobody. Fats Waller

13. Summertime. Charles Mingus Quintet

14. Rocking Chair. Gene Crupa

15. East St. Loius Tootle OO. (played by mistake) by Duke Ellington and his Orchestra.

That was East St. Louis Tootle OO by Duke Ellington and his orchestra. I played that song by accident, but we like it, so we let it roll, Before that was Rocking Chair by Gene Crupa, and now is Sarah Vaughn with you Can’t Take that away from me.

16. Can’t Take that Away from me. Sarah Vaughn

17. Everybody’s Jumpin’. Dave Brubeck Quartet from the Time out CD

18. Pussy cat dues. Charles Mingus off of the Mingus Ah Um CD

That was Charles Mingus off the with Pussy cat dues, with John Handy on Alto Saxophone, Booker Ervin on Tenor Saxophone, Jimmy Knepper on Trombone, Horace Parlan on Piano, Charles Mingus on Bass and Dannie Richmond on Drums.  Before that was Everybody’s Jumpin’ from the Dave Brubeck quartet with Dave Brubeck on Piano, Paul Desmond on Alto Saxophone, Eugene Wright on Bass and Joe Morello on Drums. This is Miles Davis with Eightyone

19. Eightyone. Miles Davis

20. Congeniality. Ornette Coleman Double Quartet

This has been Jazz for the Asking, tune in next week at the same time for more great jazz songs. Thank you for listening.

(Tonight’s show was fraught with technical difficulties, from the buzzing computer sound card interface, to the song which stopped in the middle, and the garbled top of the hour news cast. All I can say is we are working on it! Hopefully some time soon we will have a new computer in the studio so I will not have to bring my lap top in every Saturday, that would be a start)

You are listening to Jazz for the Asking, Today is March 24, 2007. On the show today I will be playing my favorite Jazz songs from the regulars and taking your requests. We do this show every Saturday on WGHQ here in Kingston. This is independently programmed radio, programmed by people in the Hudson Valley for people in the Hudson Valley. To get your request in, call the studio at area code 845 331-9255, or send an e-mail to studio@jazzfortheasking.com. In the mean time, sit back and enjoy the music!

We’ll start if off with :

1. “A Night in Tunisia” by the Bud Powell Trio.
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That was

2.“So What” by Miles Davis and
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3. “Klact-Oveedes-Tene” by the Charlie Parker Quintet.
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Somebody in the office the other day asked me “What is Jazz?” That is a good question, Jazz can encompass many different musical genres including “Blues” “Big Band” “Swing” as well as Bebop, Model, avant garde, acid jazz, smooth jazz, and so on. My favorite Jazz is what you hear here on the air, centered around Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, and Charlie Parker. Not that the smooth jazz artist like Kenny G, Grover Washington, Bob James, Earl Klung are any less than those, it just seems to me that the smooth jazz is less interesting. Remember back in the early 70’s when there was a very popular radio format called “easy listening?” It was mostly instrumentals and you would hear it a the Doctor’s Office or in the Elevator, hence the name “Elevator music.” To me, the smooth Jazz radio stations have taken the place of the easy listening radio stations in providing background music.

Jazz is much more than background music, it is alive, evolving, and most of all interesting. If you have ever had the opportunity to see a Jazz quartet in a nightclub, you will know what I mean. The talent displayed by the musicians when they improvise during a song is amazing, it is thinking in a totally different dimension. I am not taking anything away from other musicians such as rock, country or rap, they are all very talented, however, my preference is for a good jazz group.
That was:

4. Mr. P.C. by John Coltrane off of the Giant Steps Album, and
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5. Without your love by Billie Holiday.
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As we get on our feet here with this show and the studio, I hope to be able to go out and do some live remote broadcasts at some of the jazz clubs in the area, I know there are a few in the Kingston, Poughkeepsie area, perhaps have a band in the studio, I know that there are several really good jazz bands in the area, and it would be nice to do some live performances here on WGHQ. I don’t know, we will have to see if the show is still on the air in the next few months. We’ll hear from

6. Thelonious Monk next with “I should Care.”
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You are listening to Jazz for the Asking, on WGHQ.

That was

8. Duke Ellington, and East St. Louis Tootle OO
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before that we heard

7. Harlem Nocturn. By David Sanborn off the Time Again album,
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That ends this hour of Jazz for the asking, coming up we have some news, weather and other information at the top of the hour, here is a little piece of Bob James’ Rosalie from the Ivory Coast CD to take us there.

(news)

Welcome back to the second hour of Jazz for the asking, we are here in the studio at 82 John Street in Kingston playing our favorite jazz tunes, ir you have something you would like to hear, you can call us at area code 845 331-9255, or send an e-mail to studio@jazzfortheasking.com, as always if you have any questions about the show you can visit jazzfortheasking.com, where you can look at previous shows playlists, down load the music or buy the CD. In the coming weeks I hope to have some news from the local jazz scene, so check back often, that is jazzfortheasking.com. We will start this hour out with a little

9. John Coltrane and Blue train from the Blue Train album.
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The was:

11. Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane with Epistrophy from the complete riverside recordings CD. Before that was
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10. Soon all will know by Wynton Marsalis with Marcus Roberts on paino, Rebert Leslie Hurst III on bass and Jeff Watts on drums.
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If you like what you are hearing today, remember it is independent radio for the Hudson Valley, Jazz for the asking receives no support from the radio station owners, we are doing this all on our own. Next up is

12. Boogie stomp shuffle. from Charlie Mingus off the the Mingus Ah Um album.
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13. Green Chimney CD, Green Chimeny

14. Wahoo, Charlie Parker, best of Charlie parker, boy that sounded really bad, sounded like that came over a telephone, that was off of the best of Charlie Parker CD (audio quality is so bad I am not going to put a link up to it)

We heard:

15. Ella Fitzgerald I’m glad there is you from the Pure Ella CD and
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16. Take five, The Dave Brubeck Quartet from the Time Out Album, with Dave Brubeck on Piano, Paul Desmond on Alto Saxophone, Eugene Wright on Bass and Joe Morello on drums.
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That will do it for this weeks show, you have been listening to Jazz for the Asking on 920 WGHQ, Kingston.

You are listening to Jazz for the Asking on AM 920, WGHQ, Kingston, Poughkeepsie. It is March 17, 2007,
Happy Saint Patrick’s day. For the next two hours I will be playing Jazz selections from Miles Davis, Thelonoius Monk, John Coltrane, Count Basie, Grover Washington, Wynton Marsalis, and many more plus your requests. You can call the studio at any time, that number is area code 845 331-9255 or you can send an e-mail to studio@jazzfortheasking.com.This is Miles Davis with All Blues.

1. All Blues. Composed and performed by Miles Davis from the Kind of Blue album, Recorded April 22, 1959. Kind of Blue is regarded as one of the most influential albums in the history of jazz. It is, as one reviewer called it, “a record generally considered
as the definitive jazz album, a universally acknowledged standard of excellence.” Several of the songs from the album have become jazz standards.

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2. Green Chimney’s Composed by Thelonious Monk, performed by the Charlie Caranicas/Bob Parsons Quartet, from the Green Chimney’s album, recorded January 30,1994 at Sear Sound in New York City. Bob Parsons was the assistant program director of the Jazz program in the department of music and performing arts professions at NYU.

3. Caricature. Composed and performed by Charlie Caranicas, from the Green Chimney’s album, recorded January 30, 1994 as Sear Sound in NYC. (I played this song because I hit the wrong button on the CD player, I was supposed to play Syeeda’s Song Flute, which I played next.)

This is Jazz for the Asking, make your requests now by calling the studio line at area code 845-331-9255, send an e-mail to studio@jazzfortheasking.com or drop us a letter or post card to Jazz for the Asking, C/O WGHQ, 82 John street, Kingston, NY 12401. This half hour of Jazz for the asking is sponsored by cupajava.us, cupajava.us is a discount gourmet coffee store that stocks all of your coffee and tea supplies. Check them out on line at www.cupajava.us.

4. Syeeda’s Song Flute. Composed and performed by John Coltrane from the Giant Steps album, Recorded on May 4th and 5th, 1959 at Atlantic Studios in NYC. It was his first album for the Atlantic label, and marked the first time that all of the pieces on a recording had been composed by him. The album is also considered to be Coltrane’s farewell to the style of music called bebop. He ventured into the territory known as “modal jazz” shortly afterwards. Several pieces on this album went on to become jazz standards, such as “Naima”, “Giant Steps”, “Cousin Mary”, “Countdown”, and “Mr. P.C.”

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(commercial break)

5. Taps Miller. Composed by William ”Count” Basie, performed by the Jazz Knights, recorded at West Point (USMA).

6. Nice work if you can get it. Composed by G&I Gershwin, performed by Ella Fitzgerald from the Pure Ella album, recorded March 30, 1954 in NYC. Ella Fitzgerald made her singing debut at age 17 on November 21, 1934 at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. Her name was pulled in a weekly drawing at the Apollo and she won the opportunity to compete in one its famous “Amateur Nights.” She had originally intended to dance, but intimidated by the Edwards Sisters, a local dance duo, she opted to sing instead, in the style of Connie Boswell. She sang Hoagy Carmichael’s “Judy” and “The Object of My Affection”, a song recorded by the Boswell Sisters, and won the first prize of $25.

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7. Just the Two of us. Composed by Bill Withers, William Slater, Ralph MacDonald, performed by Grover Washington, Jr, from the Wine Light album, recorded July 1980 at the Rosebud Recording Studio. For Grover Washington, Winelight was the album that defined everything he was about. The album was smooth, fused with R&B and easy listening feel. The highlight of the album, and a main staple of radio airplay everywhere, was “Just The Two of Us”. It was also the final step away from Motown, landing him on Elektra Records and into a new era of jazz excellence. The song won a Grammy Award in 1982 for best R&B song.

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If your radio sounds really good today, it is because you are listening to Jazz for the Asking. We are playing your Jazz requests now so call us if you would like to hear anything, the studio number is area code 845 331-9255 or send an e-mail to studio@jazzfortheasking.com. As always, you can visit our website at www.jazzfortheasking.com.

8. Soon All Will Know. Composed and performed by Wynton Marsalis, From the album Marsalis Standard Time, Recorded on May 30, 1986 at RCA studio A in NYC. Wynton Marsalis is considered by many to be a classical Jazz Musician. He said
“I wanted to make somebody feel like Coltrane made me feel listening to it.”

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9. Foggy Day. Composed and performed by Wynton Marsalis, From the album Marsalis Standard Time, Recorded on May 30, 1986 at RCA studio A in NYC

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(top of the hour news, weather, etc)

Welcome back to the second hour of Jazz for the Asking. This hour is commercial free. We are taking requests so call the studio at 854 331-9255 or e-mail studio@jazzfortheasking.com.; In the mean time, sit back, relax and enjoy the music.

10. Body and Soul. Composed by J. Green, E. Heyman, R. Sour, F. Eyton, performed by Coleman Hawkins, From the Body and Soul Album, Recorded October 11, 1939.

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11. Begin the Beguine. Composed by Cole Porter performed by Artie Shaw released as a single, recorded on July 24, 1938. A “beguine” is a spirited ballroom dance. Since “begin” and “beguine” are often pronounced the same by some people, it is common to see the song’s title misspelled as “Begin the Begin” which makes little or no sense at all when you think about it.

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12. Caravan. Composed by Jaun Tizol, performed by Wynton Marsalis, from the album Marsalis Standard Time, Recorded on May 30, 1986 at RCA studio A in NYC.

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You are listening to Jazz for the Asking on WGHQ.

13. Blues for Tomorrow. Composed by G. G. Grace, performed by T. Monk and J. Coltrane, from The Complete Riverside Recordings, recorded April 12, 1957 at the Reeves Sound Studios in NYC. There was a little bit of everything thrown in at the end, wasn’t there.

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14. Comin Home Baby. Composed by Ben Turner, performed by David Sandborn, from the Timeagain Album, recorded 2003 at the Right Track Studio in NYC.

If your radio sounds really good today, it is because you are listening to Jazz for the Asking. We are playing your Jazz requests now so call us if you would like to hear anything, the studio number is area code 845 331-9255 or send an e-mail to studio@jazzfortheasking.com. If you have any questions, need any information about the show or how to get in contact with us, you can always visit our website at www.jazzfortheasking.com.

15. Blue Rondo a la Turk. Composed and performed by Dave Brubeck, from the Time Out album, recorded July 1, 1959 at Columbia records 30th street studio, in NYC. Dave Brubeck is known for using different timing that one would ordinarily use for Jazz Music. Last week we played Take Five, which became a huge hit for him, but had an unusual time. This week “Blue Rondo à la Turk” starts in 9/8 (the rhythm of the Turkish zeybek, equivalent of the Greek zeibekiko, but alternates with 4/4 time.

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16. Original Faubus Fables. Composed and performed by Charlie Mingus, from the album Charles Mingus presents Charles Minus, recorded October 20, 1960.

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That will end today’s show, thank you all for listening and don’t forget to tune in next week at the same time. You can visit our web site at anytime to find out information on the show, down load any of the songs we played today, or buy any of the CD’s that were featured on this show. That address is www.jazzfortheasking.com. I would also like to thank the sponsors because without them this show would not exist. This show is owned and produced by Uniform Circular Motion, LLC who is solely responsible for its content. Until next week, please take care of yourself, this is WGHQ, Kingston.

Here is what I played on Jazz for the Asking, the week of March 10, 2007. If you are interested in buying any of these CD’s click on the link to go the the Jazz for the Asking store, or you can down load the individual song from iTunes.

1. Straight, No Chaser. Composed by T. Monk, Performed by M. Davis and T. Monk, Recorded July 3, 1958 at the Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, RI. I like starting the show with a good toe tapping up tempo tune. Music performed live before an audience is always more interesting than studio recordings.

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2. Manteca. Composed and performed by John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie. Recorded December 30, 1947. In an effort to play many different genre’s of Jazz, I though I would add this one as an example of “Latin Jazz,” even though it was performed by DizzyGillespie.

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3. Blue Train. Composed and performed by John Coltrane, Recorded September 15, 1957 at Van Gelder Recording Studio in Hackensack, NJ. John Coltrane died much too young, and left a lot of good music un-composed.

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4. After you are Gone. Composed by H. Creamer and T. Layton, Performed by Harry Connick Jr., Recorded at BMG Studio A, New York, NY October 1992. I like this song, some people think it is too slow and drags a bit. I think it shows off Harry Connick Jr vocal range nicely.

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5. Take Five. Composed by Paul Desmond, Performed by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, Recorded July 1, 1959. Ths is one of those songs that most people have heard, but few people know the title to. It has been used many many times over the years in commercials etc.

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6. Someone to watch over me. Composed by G. and I. Gershwin, Performed by Ella Fitzgerald, Recorded July 1959 at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, CA. When I looked out of the studio window, the sun was setting and for some reason made me think of this song, so I played it.

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7. Soon one morning. Composed and performed by Fred McDowell, Recorded July 1959. Tennessee Fred Mcdowell is a blues master. Once made a slide for his guitar out of a cow bone. Again, showing the different types of music that is labled “Jazz”

8. Star Dust. Composed by H. Carmichael, Performed by Louis Armstrong, Recorded November 4, 1931. Played because of a non-specific request of Ward from Kingston to hear some Louie Armstrong.

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9. The way you look Tonight. Composed by Jerome Kern, Performed by The Charlie Caranicas Bob Parsons Quintet, Recorded at Sear Sound, New York, NY on Jan 30, 1994Green Chimney’s CD, Not sold in stores. These are people that my wife knows.

10. French Connections. Composed by I. Butman, Performed by Grover Washington, Jr. Recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, PA in 1988. From the Smooth Jazz genre.

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11. Ashanti. Composed and performed by Bob James. Recorded at Remidi studio, Ardsley on Hudson, NY in 1988. More smooth Jazz or possibly Fusion.

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12. Django. Composed by J. Lewis, Performed by the Modern Jazz Quartet, Recorded December 23, 1954.

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13. Jumping at the Woodside. Composed by William Basie, Performed by Count Basie and his Orchestra, Recorded August 22, 1938.

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14. Solitude. Composed by Duke Ellington, Performed by Billie Holiday, Recorded at Radio Recorders Studio, Los Angels, CA in Spring of 1951

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15. Is you is or is you ain’t (my baby). Composed by Billy Austin/Louis Jordan Performed by The Jazz Knights, US Military Academy Band, Recorded in 1997 at West Point sound studios, West Point, NY

This CD is not available is stores

16. ESP. Composed and performed by Miles Davis, Recorded on January 20, 1965

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17. Take the A Train. Composed by Duke Ellington, performed by the Lincoln Center Orchestra, October 17, 1994. This song has a great piano intro. I thought it best to finish on a high note for my first show, too bad the back timing thing didn’t work out because as we were aproaching the top of the hour, I noticed the studio clock was runing 34 seconds slow. Decision time came at the top of the hour and I had to choose between cutting the song off and taking the news, or letting the song play out and joining the news late. I chose to stay with the song, you can hear news at the top of the next hour.

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