Tune of the day…Gary Campbell & Mike Gerber - Samba. Two of my favorite musicians that I listened to and played with when I was in South Florida. Both masters that more people should be more familiar with, and man do they sound great in this duo setting on Gary’s tune. #jazzsky youtu.be/ly4xbtEzsnU

Tune of the day…Sun Ra - Saturn. The intro requires repeated listening as the first 30 seconds has 2 completely different rhythmic structures fighting against each other, neither ever giving in, before it’s off to the races with a showtune like melody and bop solos. #jazzsky youtu.be/r2wOVWqLhZk

Tune of the day…Woody Herman - Four Brothers. This famous recording combines elements of bop and big band, while also having a sax section that helped define the west coast sound. I find Herman’s 8 bar clarinet solo a refreshing reminder, this is still my thing. #jazzsky youtu.be/Baczn6iEkPw

Tune of the day…Kei Akagi - In the Fold. I saw a question posted…”Who’s a Miles Davis sideman deserving wider recognition?” Well Kei Akagi is my answer, who I met & played with at UC Irvine and he was in Miles band in the late 80’s. If Miles picks you, you are special. #jazzsky youtu.be/G0-MaqS9c2M

Tune of the day… Lennie Breau - On Green Dolphin Street.This later recording of Lennie Breau really shows off his style at a refined level. You can hear the Bill Evans influence and pianistic approach in his chordal playing, triggering harmonics. He is playing so clean. #jazzsky youtu.be/RbJVcAAHRCk

Tune of the day…Ernie Henry - Orient. The head is a little sloppy, but the feel of the tune makes up for it. Henry’s solo lines tend to end with slightly longer note length than other players, which I find gives him a unique sound. Art Taylor is just cooking throughout. #jazzsky youtu.be/VBFSIb_i8RI

Self Promotion Sunday…Trio Eclectic - Song of the Siren. The title track writen by Duane Allen, is an impressionistic call and response melody, followed by a free combined improvisation of guitar and soprano saxophone. The intro I did with the Freeze pedal and a delay. #jazzsky youtu.be/JM7iASSQ0ss

Tune of the day…Brian Blade - Season of Changes. A composition of different themes next to each other, but everything seems to blend nicely and show off the ensemble possibilities as the tune develops. Then of course you have great solos blowing over these progressions. #jazzsky youtu.be/h_9Wf_ESd5Y

Tune of the day…James P. Johnson - You’ve Got To Be Modernistic. Next level stride piano from the master here, combining just enough commercial appeal with way more advanced harmonic concepts. Which he called playing “Modernistic” & would be a preview of things to come. #jazzsky youtu.be/VKJFzdSkZgg

Tune of the day…Peter Evans - Freaks. I’m late to the party on Peter Evans, somehow only 1st heard him a few years ago on a Dave Liebman album, & was like WhoTF is this guy?Here he is smoking on his piccolo trumpet, with a few overdubs leading into the solo for texture. #jazzsky youtu.be/hPcuOQ1ZHVo

Tune of the day…Paul Desmond - Alone Together. There’s a difference between transposing licks (preconceived ideas) and transposing lines in the moment because your ear tells you it is a logical compositional choice. Desmond does the latter, and with great use of space. #jazzsky youtu.be/O5YpzNMhRDc

Tune of the day…George Duke - The Opening. It’s only 3 minutes and 18 seconds, but packed with so much energy the track feels longer. Love the acoustic bass of John Heard here in this fusion setting, never getting in the way of the dazzling chops of keys and drums. #jazzsky youtu.be/im0Yjt0x3Qk

Tune of the day…James Carter - Oleo. When at a jam and someone calls Oleo, I still often play the melody up a minor 3rd like he does here on the 2nd A section, used to attempt the high squeals too. Played duo with him once at NAMM, super nice guy and formidable force. #jazzsky youtu.be/_9DXKi_wWY0

Self Promotion Sunday…Trio Eclectic - Bubbles (Official Video) My new album just dropped, so I’m happy to share a video I created for my original composition “Bubbles”. Bubbles isolate, protect, exclude, distance & define; are fragile & strong with random permanence. #jazzsky youtu.be/--3QTF-ctrU

Tune of the day…Cal Tjader - Serengeti. This is a nice modal Latin tune by pianist Mark Levine. This tune has a little more edge to it than most of Tjader’s more traditional sounding Latin jazz recordings. His solo here has more firey energy and less coolness to it. #jazzsky youtu.be/eGWlnQJprOA

Happy to announce my brand new album “Song of the Siren” with my band Trio Eclectic is now available on all streaming platforms….

Tune of the day…Shirley Scott - Blue Seven. Her use of the bass allows her to play nice and sparingly behind soloists, and approach the organ more like a pianist, with two hand chord voicings, which really gave her a distinct style to build her own solos as well. #jazzsky youtu.be/3rADQLG9Su8

Tune of the day…George Garzone - Night and Day. The sax trio playing a standard, is the perfect way to check out what a guy has been working on. What their vocabulary is all about, who their influences are, and the direction they are heading. #jazzsky youtu.be/0Czvor5JFN8

Tune of the day…Herb Ellis - Pap’s Blues. Gets right to the heart of it with a call & response, lets you know it’s going to be one of those down home blues. Everyone adjusts their playing accordingly. If more notes are needed as their solos progress, it’s never forced. #jazzsky youtu.be/3XbMRJNoowI

Tune of the day…Nicholas Payton - Wild Man Blues. It’s not his fault he is so good at channeling Louis Armstrong, that when I hear him play, that’s all I want him to do. He is a fine musician that shouldn’t be defined by that one thing, but damn he does it so well. #jazzsky youtu.be/sIXrGuxkSV4

Tune of the day…Kenny Drew - Weird-O. Not to be confused with the Hank Mobley tune recorded by Art Blakey, this is Kenny’s tune and goes interesting places as a tight piano trio arrangement. It strangely has a different solo form than the melody, but goes well together. #jazzsky youtu.be/oJ9VsANCju0

Self Promotion Sunday…Summertime. Musical Challenge - find a new way to present one of the most recorded standards in the history of jazz and make it fresh. So I worked a bass line through it with specific chord voicings, combined with an upbeat Poinciana like groove. #jazzsky youtu.be/QkYp0_ABTyk

Tune of the day…Wycliffe Gordon - Karen’s Contemplation. Beautiful tune by Wycliffe,& Seamus Blake is the prefect partner to have this melodic interplay with. You don’t get solos until about 3 minutes in. Seamus starting his solo with tremolos from the end of Kioski’s 😮 #jazzsky youtu.be/WyqaRBQ80xM

Tune of the day…Peter Bernstein - That Sunday, That Summer. You don’t hear too many instrumental versions of this tune that was originally written for Nat King Cole in 1963. Taking a ballad and blowing it down in 3 is always fun, especially with that rhythm section. #jazzsky youtu.be/WeCEwqJCLuA

Tune of the day…Tina Brooks - Nothing Ever Changes My Love for You. This is the only standard on the record, but I love how he maximizes the arrangement with just such a well written tenor counter melody and harmony. #jazzsky youtu.be/hy9dkBv9_8w

Tune of the day…Eddie Daniels - Blue Bossa. This bass clarinet pairing with guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli brings some fresh life into an often overdone tune, which I enjoy playing but often gets side eye from other musicians when called. Maybe I’ll steal his bass line. #jazzsky youtu.be/Oomto8fUZ0Q

Tune of the day…James Farm - Polliwog. Around the mid 2000’s- 2010’s you got musicians who wanted more of a group dynamic, with everyone contributing compositions in a certain style. James Farm has elements of pop played in an acoustic quartet environment. #jazzsky youtu.be/wXDzOW6pKrI

Tune of the day…Stephane Grappelli / McCoy Tyner - Summertime. Two completely different styles come together beautifully here, with Gershwin’s classic serving as the perfect conduit. Grappelli was completely open to play in different musical situations during his life. #jazzsky youtu.be/zWvILMI1s4o

Self Promotion Sunday…So Near, So Far. Always loved this tune off of Miles Davis’ Seven Steps to Heaven album. Decided it would be fun to flip flop the melody and counter melody between organ and saxophone each time. Blending of 12/8 & swing always goes places. #jazzsky youtu.be/eZKFlUMLIfo

Tune of the day…Louis Hayes - Nisha. This tune of his starts out as a ballad, but he takes it into a 12/8 straight 8th feel, which drummers don’t do enough IMO. Such a great option because from there you can go into heavy swing and it just builds. #jazzsky youtu.be/u4W35oRVCMQ

Tune of the day…Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis - Avalon. Lockjaw had one of the most definitive sounds in jazz history, a huge husky tone and the use of repeated doubled 8th notes, which is unusual for saxophone. Pairs perfectly with Shirley Scott’s larger than life organ sound. #jazzsky youtu.be/f_M5PO3t2Mo

Tune of the day…Lynne Arriale - Sounds Like America. This original of hers, is a nice broken ECM Keith Jarrett like piece of Americana. Simple, soulful, and healing. Which perhaps we need today, as our journey of what this country should be continues. #jazzsky youtu.be/EbT4ylmzPL4

Tune of the day… Joe Pass - Fleur D’Ennui. Joe brings this Django tune 20 years into the future from the to the Jet Setting 1960’s with his rendition. There is a slight tropical flair which pairs nicely with the backing rhythm guitar, while Pass does his thing. #jazzsky youtu.be/dPrUiJFr2Gw

Tune of the day…Ronnie Cuber - Bu’s Beat. This is a cooker written by Ronnie with plenty of blowing space for all. I highly recommend checking out the whole album as Bari players never really get their due, and Ronnie, Kenny Drew Jr, & Co. tear it up. #jazzsky youtu.be/hllX7we9YJI

Tune of the day…Charlie Shavers - Windy 2. This is the 2nd and later version of Shavers’ original on this compilation album, and I like it a lot more. Ray Bryant brings out a hot boogie woogie feel against a cool jazz sounding melody for an interesting blend that jumps. #jazzsky youtu.be/usESobH-9n4

Self Promotion Sunday - Miles’ Mode. I have to say for a bunch of young guys, there is some good listening going on as ideas are shared and built on together. Considering we are exploring one tonality for 11 and a half minutes, the music must keep evloving and it does. #jazzsky youtu.be/htgL_UQq56s

Tune of the day…Stanley Turrentine - Look Out. This early recording hits all the right spots as the swing meter gets to 11, and when that happens you just don’t want it to end. I think that’s why Turrentine comes back and plays a 2nd solo, it would be hard not to. #jazzsky youtu.be/kekcp2UimW8

Tune of the day - Jacob Collier - Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing. When musical talent and technological talent merge like this you get real innovation. His arranging skills at his age here are insane as he takes the Stevie Wonder classic through so many possibilities. #jazzsky youtu.be/pvKUttYs5ow

Tune of the day…Duane Allen - Ides of May. Duane is a close friend who writes great tunes that are fun to play, never forgetting a strong melody is important. This recording features some of Los Angeles top musicians, who often don’t get as much attention but should. #jazzsky youtu.be/rOA3QF2jegk

Tune of the day…The Cookers - Time and Time Again. I figured since they stood on principle and cancelled their New Years Eve Gig at the Kennedy Center refusing to be part of the disrespect, the least I can do to honor my Jazz brothers is by listening to them for my NYE. #jazzsky youtu.be/Zgu8kpHZEbc

Tune of the day…Gil Evans - Struttin’ With Some Barbecue. The name of the album is perfect as Gil blends his new sound with an old tune. Starting off with tuba , leading into his stylized slick brassy sound, then a fiery Cannonball solo with a key change to bop it out. #jazzsky youtu.be/Fix-OPT-pd0

Tune of the day…Gary Bartz - I’ve Never Been in Love Before. This is a great standard with some nice key center changes around the bridge to keep things fresh. Gary really attacks this tune vertically like Coltrane would exploring the harmony that way. #jazzsky youtu.be/BKsvYuWVeEE

Self Promotion Sunday…Motian. Trio Eclectic was inspired by the Paul Motian Trio. It has since evolved into something uniquely ours. Jazz isn’t about copying the greats, rather being inspired by them, then finding your own voice. But this is my tribute to Paul Motian. #jazzsky youtu.be/UTFcZgXtwe8

Tune of the day… Christian McBride - Baubles, Bangles and Beads. I love listening to a bass player interacting with a horn as you have these 2 voices playing off each other, without one of those voices sometimes getting a little lost as it becomes one note of a chord. #jazzsky youtu.be/cO3AF9LFxic

Tune of the day…Eddie Palmieri - 17.1. This jam was named after the average age of the rhythm section, which included 13 year old Chucky Lopez on Bongos. You can really hear Palmieri’s influences of modal jazz here with some McCoy Tyner like chord voicings. #jazzsky youtu.be/Eoo6uHw-res

Tune of the day…Vince Guaraldi - O Tannenbaum. Jazz & Christmas music go hand in hand because harmonically all those tunes are, or translatable to, the Great American Song Book - the basis of jazz standards. And Vince Guaraldi just plays it the right way. Merry X-mas. #jazzsky youtu.be/_fh133ZO1AE

Tune of the day…Fats Navarro - 52nd Street Theme. The Sonny Rollins solo that kicks it off is formidable to follow, but Fats plays this clean solo. He blows across the bar lines & his 2nd phrase flows smoothly for 14 bars on 1 breath 😮. Imagine hearing this lineup live. #jazzsky youtu.be/lHcIqNhiM9Y

Tune of the day…Trio Beyond - Seven Steps to Heaven. Takes a few minutes to get into it and a few minutes to get out of it, but what happens in between is spectacular. Jack just lights a fire under both Sco and Larry. Love when Larry drops the bass line during his solo. #jazzsky youtu.be/e0R5vid9w9I

Tune of the day…Al Cohn - The Lady is a Tramp. Some nice patient liberties are taken with the “melody”, as it reminds me more of different sections of a big band chart. Not sure why they didn’t keep the altered bridge melody & changes on the solos and on the way out. #jazzsky youtu.be/x3Rxty2bwRY

Self Promotion Sunday…Dark Sketch. We decided to do this Duane Allen original as a vignette. It’s the only time I’ve done overdubs on an album as I heard a 2nd voice interacting with the melody. Come to think about it, I think that gives me partial composition credit. #jazzsky youtu.be/r21VM41R8ms