Routes: A Jazz Impressions Podcast – Episode 6

In this tribute episode, we join the dots between Stanley Cowell’s heartfelt composition ‘Sienna: Welcome My Darling’ and Chick Corea’s swirling, impressionistic ‘Litha’. Plus we delve into Sweden, beekeeping and the discography of L. Ron Hubbard – and be sure to listen out for Ollie’s uncanny impression of a shakuhachi.

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Tracklists below (SPOILERS!)

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Routes: A Jazz Impressions Podcast – Episode 4

In episode 4 we connect two very different tracks recorded 10 years apart – the free-leaning post-bop of Eric Dolphy’s ‘Green Dolphin Street’ and the dark, funky, cinematic vibes of Gary Burton’s ‘Las Vegas Tango’. Plus hip-hop and samples and films, oh my!

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Tracklists below (SPOILERS!)

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Routes: A Jazz Impressions Podcast – Episode 3

Episode 3 of Routes: A Jazz Impressions Podcast features a pair of classic tracks from a duo of Detroit jazz legends. Along the way we discuss kalimbas, the history of Strata East Records and Slugs’ Saloon in New York, as well as the historic Fillmore West and the San Francisco hippie scene.

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Tracklists below (SPOILERS!)

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Routes: A Jazz Impressions Podcast – Episode 2

Welcome back to Routes: A Jazz Impressions Podcast! In this Blue Note heavy episode, we discuss an underappreciated gem from master vibesman Bobby Hutcherson, the compositional talents of Joe Chambers, the lyrical side of Freddie Hubbard and the legacy of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Also, there’s a special guest appearance from a squeaky garage door trying to imitate Wayne Shorter.

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Tracklists below (SPOILERS!)

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Pete La Roca – Lazy Afternoon

One of the many attractive qualities of jazz, more than any other musical genre, is how the same song can be interpreted in many different ways. Whether this is Bill Evans and Yusef Lateef offering their personal takes on a classic soundtrack, or Ahmad Jamal and Bobby Hutcherson reworking a Herbie Hancock original, the musical freedom that underpins jazz allows its musicians to constantly reinvent and offer fresh perspectives on popular classics. In his last post, Dan wrote on guitarist Grant Green’s version of the ballad ‘Lazy Afternoon’. Whilst Green’s version is excellent, the definitive version in my opinion of this well known standard is found on drummer Pete La Roca’s album Basra, released in 1965 on Blue Note.

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Bobby Hutcherson – Rosewood

For those who have been following our musical journey so far, the name Woody Shaw should sound familiar. A fantastic trumpeter and composer, we first encountered his compositional talents on Jackie McLean’s ‘Sweet Love Of Mine’ and more recently his contributions to the first draft of Andrew Hill’s album Grass Roots. Vibesman Bobby Hutcherson is also a frequent Jazz Impressions favourite and so it was only a matter of time until we’d end up meeting both Shaw and Hutcherson on the same record.

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Bobby Hutcherson – Black Heroes

Our last post explored We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite (1960), a pivotal work which set the blueprint for many protest records to follow. Bobby Hutcherson’s album Now!, released on Blue Note in 1970, was one of those records which continued to build on the powerful political and musical statement Roach had made ten years prior.

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