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In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
Published by Ken Laster
- Music
- Music Commentary
From Jazz masters of past and present to emerging new artists performing modern jazz and fusion. No smooth jazz here!
Listen on Apple PodcastsRecent episodes
- Episode Aug 3 2026 from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
This episode begins with some of this genre's greatest masters, Herbie, Henderson, Hampton and OP. Following that we have new music from up and coming jazz artists. The show concludes with another jazz master, Charles LLoyd and his latest release from the Indian/Jazz fusion project Sangam. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Herbie Hancock ~ Ostinato (Suite for Angela) ~ Mwandishi Joe Henderson ~ Serenity ~ In 'n Out Lionel Hampton & Oscar Peterson ~ Moonglow ~ The Complete Lionel Hampton Quartets and Quintets with Oscar Peterson on Verve Ralph Alessi ~ A Sun That Never Sets ~ A Sun That Never Sets Joey Alexander ~ Deep Calls To Deep ~ Celestial Keeper Nicole Zuraitis ~ the devil i knew ~ the devil i knew Charles Lloyd ~ Tagore ~ Sangam & Friends
- Episode July 26 2026 from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
Begins with young pianist Joey Alexander who was a young prodigy at age 11, now after a decade of recording and touring is a respected jazz artist for his playing and composing. That is followed by jazz masters Brecker, Jarrett and Dr. L Smith. There is a duo of SoCal artists before the set concludes with the John Coltrane Quartet. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Joey Alexander ~ Aversion ~ Celestial Keeper Michael Brecker ~ The Cost of Living ~ Michael Brecker Keith Jarrett ~ Long As You Know You're Living Yours ~ Belonging Dr. Lonnie Smith ~ Too Damn Hot ~ Too Damn Hot Monette Marino Keita ~ Djagbe Foli ~ Séwa Foli - Single Peter Sprague ~ Anti Ai ~ Anti Ai John Coltrane Quartet ~ Lonnie's Lament ~ Crescent
- Episode July 19 2026 from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
This show features a heavy dose of Coltrane related tracks from his quartet's collaborator McCoy Tyner, to his composition Naima, and concluding with Trane as a sideman with Miles. In between we have a fusion set from Airto, Flora and McLaughlin. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album McCoy Tyner ~ Passion Dance ~ The Real McCoy McCoy Tyner ~ When Sunny Gets Blue ~ Today and Tomorrow Curtis Taylor ~ Naima ~ Snapshot Airto ~ Tombo In 7/4 ~ Fingers Flora Purim ~ Nothing Will Be As It Was - Nada Sera Sera Como Antes ~ Nothing Will Be As It Was... Tomorrow John McLaughlin ~ Nathaniel Drives to New Jersey ~ Music for Abandoned Heights Mauricio Morales & Adam Hersh ~ Retratos De Vida Interrumpida ~ Between Dreams & Twilight Miles Davis ~ Milestones ~ Milestones
- Episode July 12 2026 from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
This episode begins with the politically charged music of Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra. Other highlights are Rene Rosnes playing Brazilian compositions and a newly single from Charles Lloyd and his Sangam Trio. We end this show with another tribute to Miles and Trane on their centenial. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Charlie Haden, Carla Bley ~ Introduction To People ~ The Ballad of the Fallen Charlie Haden, Carla Bley ~ The People United Will Never Be Defeated ~ The Ballad of the Fallen Renee Rosnes ~ Casa Forte ~ Crossing Paths Peter Erskine ~ Lost Page ~ Dr. Um Charles Lloyd ~ Sam on the Ganges ~ Single Holly Hofmann ~ Soul-Leo ~ Low Life Kenny Burrell ~ Isabella ~ Soulero John Coltrane ~ Spiral ~ Giant Steps Miles Davis ~ Miles Runs the Voodoo Down ~ Bitches Brew
- Chick Three Ways from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
This week's episode features a Chick Corea set with three tunes in very different settings. First we feature two young jazz artists with debut albums and a pair of Miles & Trane tunes in honor of their centennial birthdays. We complete this show honoring David Clayton Thomas from BS&T who passed on last week. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Caelan Cardello ~ Music for the People ~ Chapter One Matt Hall ~ Charlie's Harley ~ I Hope to My Never John Coltrane ~ Like Sonny ~ Coltrane Jazz Miles Davis ~ Black Comedy ~ Miles In the Sky Chick Corea ~ Matrix ~ Now He Sings, Now He Sobs Chick Corea ~ Armando's Rhumba ~ My Spanish Heart Chick Corea And Gary Burton ~ No Mystery ~ Native Sense - The New Duets Blood, Sweat & Tears ~ Spinning Wheel ~ Blood, Sweat & Tears
- Episode June 28 2026 from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
Another eclectic set featuring fusion, hard-bop, and protest. Beginning with piano master Hancock and up-and-coming phenom Cardello, and ending with fusion guitarists supreme McLaughlin and Stern. Then a little protest music in between. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Herbie Hancock ~ Actual Proof ~ Thrust Caelan Cardello ~ Steppin' Up ~ Chapter One Les McCann & Eddie Harris ~ Compared to What ~ Swiss Movement Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein & Bill Stewart ~ FU Donald ~ Perpetual Pendulum Pat Metheny Group ~ When We Were Free ~ Quartet Bill Cunliffe & Holly Hofmann ~ Chucho ~ Just Duet, Vol. 2 John McLaughlin ~ Elijah in DC ~ Music for Abandoned Heights Łukasz Pawlik & Mike Stern ~ Eastern Winds ~ Single
- Trane, Brecker, Potter from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
This episode begins with a Coltrane inspired track from Emmet Cohen's latest album. We follow that with saxophone giants Potter and Brecker. The set concludes with a great arrangement of a Coltrane classic from Hancock and then an extended piece from Trane himself. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Emmet Cohen ~ Blue Train ~ Universal Truth Chris Potter ~ Sister Annie ~ Alive With Ghosts Today Michael Brecker ~ Nothing Personal ~ Michael Brecker Michael Brecker ~ African Skies ~ Tales from the Hudson Hancock, Brecker & Hargrove ~ So What / Impressions ~ Directions In Music: Live At Massey Hall John Coltrane Quartet ~ Transition ~ Transition
- Episode June 14 2026 from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
This episode begins with a Joe Henderson tribute after attending a show by flautist Lori Bell of Henderson arrangements. Other tracks of note are Emmet Cohen's latest release, a Miles' classic, and the fusion feature from RTF. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Lori Bell Quartet ~ Black Narcissus ~ Recorda Me - Remembering Joe Henderson Joe Henderson ~ Isotope ~ Inner Urge Larry Young ~ Zoltan ~ Unity Emmet Cohen ~ I. Eternal Glimpse ~ Universal Truth Miles Davis ~ Sid's Ahead ~ Milestones Return to Forever ~ The Romantic Warrior ~ Romantic Warrior
- More Sonny and Miles from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
The last two episodes have been dedicated to Miles and Sonny, but there were a few more tracks I wanted to get into, so we review those at the top of the show. That is followed by some new music including a recent release by Emmet C and Joe F. Finally, we review some early Weather Report and late Joe Zawinul. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Sonny Rollins ~ Way Out West ~ Way Out West Thelonious Monk ~ Bemsha Swing ~ Brilliant Corners Miles Davis ~ Honky Tonk ~ Get Up With It Joe Farnsworth ~ You Already Know ~ The Big Room Emmet Cohen ~ Gingerbread Boy ~ Universal Truth Emmet Cohen ~ III. Universal Truth ~ Universal Truth Weather Report ~ Orange Lady ~ Weather Report Joe Zawinul ~ Black Market ~ Brown Street
- Sonny RIP from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
One of the greatest players in the jazz legacy, Sonny Rollins passed away last week on May 25 at 95 years of age. On this episode, we look back on his career which spanned 7 decades. Here are some of my favorite "Newk" recordings from his most creative years. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Sonny Rollins ~ Strode Rode ~ Saxophone Colossus Sonny Rollins ~ Wonderful! Wonderful! ~ Newk's Time Sonny Rollins ~ Alone Together ~ Sonny Rollins and the Contempory Leaders Sonny Rollins ~ God Bless the Child ~ The Bridge Sonny Rollins ~ Alfie's Theme ~ Alfie (Original Music From The Score) Sonny Rollins ~ The Freedom Suite ~ Freedom Suite
- Miles Centennial Celebration from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
For this week's episode, we celebrate Miles Davis on the Centennial of his birth, May 26 1926. Miles is one of the most influential of jazz artist, having set new directions for jazz time and time again. Here we represent music from his first and second great quintets along with his explorations in electronics and rock rhythms that led to the jazz-rock fusion of the 70's and beyond. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Miles Davis ~ Milestones ~ Milestones Miles Davis ~ So What ~ Kind of Blue Miles Davis ~ Joshua ~ Seven Steps To Heaven Miles Davis ~ Footprints ~ Miles Smiles Miles Davis ~ Spanish Key (alternate take) ~ Bitches Brew (Legacy Edition) Gregory Hutchinson ~ Water Babies ~ Kind of Now - The Pulse of Miles Davis Peter Sprague ~ Flamenco Sketches ~ Blue Kind of Miles
- Latest from the Greatest from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
This episode features brand new music from some of the best jazz artists of today. From Potter to Metheny to Marsalis and more we have new album releases for your listening pleasure. They don't dissapoint. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Chris Potter ~ Sister Annie ~ Alive With Ghosts Today Steve Wilson ~ Quiet Girl ~ Enduring Sonance Billy Childs ~ Lazy Afternoon ~ Triumvirate Gregory Hutchinson ~ Bitches Brew ~ Kind of Now - The Pulse of Miles Davis Pat Metheny ~ Make a New World ~ Side-Eye III+ Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra & Wynton Marsalis ~ Let Freedom Swing (Eleanor Roosevelt) ~ Let Freedom Swing Brian Lynch ~ Blue n' boogie ~ Torch Bearers
- A New York City Groove from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
In this episode, I’m sharing my thoughts on my recent trip to New York City, focusing on the jazz clubs and concerts I explored. We visited some of the iconic spots that have been standing the test of time, like Smalls, Mezzrow, and Smoke, and also discovered some fresh new places, such as Jazz Cultural and Close Up. Plus, we went to the Essentially Ellington competition at Jazz @ Lincoln Center to see the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory perform and snag an Honorable Mention Award. You can listen to the audio from the stream in this podcast. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Caelan Cardello ~ Gone Fishin’ ~ Chapter One Sarah Hanahan ~ We Bop! ~ Among Giants Jacobs Jazz Orchestra (YLJC) ~ Star Crossed Lovers ~ Essentially Ellington Competition Steve Wilson ~ Helen's Song ~ Enduring Sonance Sean Jones ~ How High the Moon ~ Im·pro·vise Never Before Seen John Di Martino ~ Isfahan ~ Passion Flower Scott Robinson ~ Tenor Eleven ~ Scott Robinson: Tenormore Sullivan Fortner ~ In a Sentimental Mood ~ Moments Preserved Steve Davis ~ Club 880 ~ Images
- Episode May 3 2026 from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
Lots of new music in this week's episode. But first we begin with some funky 80's fusion from Steps Ahead with great tenor work from Michael Brecker. Perhaps two of the greatest jazz artists currently touring and making new music are on the playlist from Potter and Metheny. Also new music from today's modern creative forces Wilkins, Preminger and Turner. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Steps Ahead ~ Radio-Active ~ Modern Times Chris Potter ~ Into Africa ~ Alive With Ghosts Today Pat Metheny ~ Urban and Western ~ Side-Eye III+ Immanuel Wilkins ~ THE BIG COUNTRY ~ Immanuel Wilkins Quartet: Live at the Village Vanguard Vol. 2 Noah Preminger & Max Light ~ Smoke Gets In Your Eyes ~ Stitching Life Mark Turner ~ It Very Well May Be ~ Patternmaster
- Episode April 25 2026 from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
This is an eclectic set for sure! It features a vocal track, modern jazz, 70's fusion and a jazz suite with chamber orchestra. The latter is selections from the Zodiac Suite composed by Mary Lou Williams and arranged for strings, brass and woodwinds. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Nicole Zuraitis ~ won't make it out alive ~ the devil i knew Immanuel Wilkins ~ COMPOSITION II ~ Immanuel Wilkins Quartet: Live at the Village Vanguard Vol. 1 Mahavishnu Orchestra ~ Meeting Of The Spirits ~ The Inner Mounting Flame Weather Report ~ Gibraltar ~ Black Market Weather Report ~ Orange Lady ~ Weather Report Helen Sung ~ I Can't Help Falling In Love ~ Everybody's Waltz Umlaut Chamber Orchestra ~ Virgo ~ Zodiac Suite - Mary Lou Williams Umlaut Chamber Orchestra ~ Capricorn ~ Zodiac Suite - Mary Lou Williams Umlaut Chamber Orchestra ~ Aquarius ~ Zodiac Suite - Mary Lou Williams
- Episode April 19 2026 from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
This episode was inspired by recent live performances to commemorate Miles/Coltrane centennial. These concerts featured some of modern jazz's finest artists including Emmet Cohen, Joe Lovano, Terrance Blanchard and others represented here. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Emmet Cohen ~ Well You Needn't ~ Universal Truth Joe Lovano ~ Lady Day ~ Paramount Quartet Joe Lovano ~ Solid Steps ~ Solid Steps Melissa Aldana ~ La Sentencia ~ Filin Terence Blanchard ~ Footprints ~ Bounce Ravi Coltrane ~ Marilyn & Tammy ~ Spirit Fiction Jack DeJohnette, Ravi Coltrane & Matt Garrison ~ Alabama ~ In Movement Matt Dwonszyk ~ Mode For Rene ~ Live at the Side Door
- Chick on the Side from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
This podcast episode features Chick Corea as a sideman on other artists recordings. All except the final track are Corea compositions. His contributions to these albums are significant. These tunes span a timeframe from the 1960's through the 1990's. Chick's influence on the jazz lexicon cannot be overstated. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Stan Getz ~ Five Hundred Miles High ~ Captain Marvel Joe Farrell ~ Circle in the Square ~ Joe Farrell Quartet Bobby Hutcherson ~ Matrix ~ Total Eclipse Blue Mitchell ~ Chick's Tune ~ The Thing to Do Joe Henderson ~ Crimson Lake ~ Relaxin' At Camarillo Gary Burton ~ Straight Up and Down ~ Like Minds Chaka Khan ~ I Love You Porgy ~ Echoes of an Era
- Episode April 5 2026 from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
Highlights from this week's In The Groove include early fusion from Weather Report, lush vocals from San Diego's Steph Johnson and a set of Indian fusion from Shakti and Anoush Shankar to conclude the show... and more Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Weather Report ~ Between the Thighs ~ Tale Spinnin' Wayne Shorter ~ Second Genesis ~ Second Genesis Noah Preminger & Max Light ~ Blooming Coldblood ~ Stitching Life Steph Johnson ~ Here's to Life ~ So in Love Steph Johnson ~ Case of You ~ So in Love Shai Maestro ~ The Time Bender ~ The Guesthouse Shakti ~ Get Down and Sruti ~ Natural Elements Anoushka Shankar & Norah Jones ~ Traces Of You ~ Traces Of You Anoushka Shankar ~ River Pulse ~ Traces Of You
- Take Me Out to the Ballgame 2026 from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
Celebrating Baseballs Opening Day 2026 with this week's episode. Really the only track that relates to baseball is the first one by B3 organist Joey D. The balance of the show is music I have been listening to this week. We wrap up the show with the archival release of a 1964 Duke Ellington concert. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Joey DeFrancesco ~ Take Me out to the Ballgame ~ Joey D! Weather Report ~ A Remark You Made ~ Heavy Weather ARTEMIS ~ Sights Unseen ~ ARBORESQUE Noah Preminger & Max Light ~ Everything Means Nothing To Me ~ Single Shai Maestro ~ GG's Metamorphosis ~ The Guesthouse Matt Dwonszyk ~ Mode For Rene ~ Matt Dwonszyk Live at the Side Door Duke Ellington ~ Isfahan ~ Copenhagen 1964 Duke Ellington ~ Medley: Black and Tan Fantasy, The Mooche & Creole Love Call ~ Copenhagen 1964
- Episode March 22 2026 from In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond
Classic jazz albums bookend new artists from both coasts. Plus there are some interesting covers of Metheny tunes from guitarist Peter Sprague and vocalist Leonard Patton. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Lee Morgan ~ Mr. Kenyatta ~ Search for the New Land Matt Dwonszyk ~ Stage Dive ~ Matt Dwonszyk Live at the Side Door Ian Harland ~ Four-Flat Blues ~ Behind Bars Shai Maestro ~ Moon of Knives ~ The Guesthouse Shai Maestro ~ Gloria ~ The Guesthouse Peter Sprague ~ Life Loves Lone Jack ~ Peter Sprague Plays Pat Metheny, Vol. 1 Peter Sprague ~ Going with Me ~ Peter Sprague Plays Pat Metheny, Vol. 2 Alice Coltrane ~ Journey in Satchidananda ~ Journey in Satchidananda