Tune of the day…Al Di Meola - Short Tales of the Black Forest. If you like burning fusion but with a little acoustic flair, then this tune is definitely for you. Written by Chick Corea, you have his Spanish influence, with Al Di Meloa’s chops on full display. #jazzsky youtu.be/Si6y7Rj65cY

Tune of the day…Mary Lou Williams - Aries. This is the 1st movement of the Zodiac Suite, an ambitious 12 Movements that combines elements of jazz and classical. You can hear influences of Gershwin, Ellington, and Debussy, but it’s interesting how she moves between them. #jazzsky youtu.be/Ivy6rG3wBNY

Self Promotion Sunday…Diminished Returns. I wrote this modal/bop tune in the style of Joe Henderson or Woody Shaw. The name is wordplay on the financial success of jazz combined with the root movement around the bridge is diminished, returning you back to the A section. #jazzsky youtu.be/fWOL8WTBq0Y

Tune of the day… Andy Milne & Gregoire Maret - Con Alma. I heard this duo live and bought this disc immediately. Dizzy’s Con Alma is such a great tune and can go so many places. Some of my favorite Gregoire Maret is with Andy Milne, the two work so well together. #jazz youtu.be/AQkiaTgAjNI

Tune of the day…Dewey Redman - Boody. Ok, I know it’s a 12 minute bluesy journey, but go with it, I promise you there are moments along the way that remind you of Mingus, or Rahsaan Roland Kirk and will eventually get you into a trance like state of spiritual blues. #jazzsky youtu.be/T8RZVdMM9QQ

Tune of the day…Arturo Sandoval - Hot House. This is a nice fiery big band arrangement from Chip McNeill with some great solos from Arturo and Michael Brecker. A little studio magic going on with some overdubs to fill out the band, but doesn’t lessen the vibe at all. #jazzsky youtu.be/jXhUN_-caug

Tune of the day…Billy Bauer - Night Cruise. Often cited as a very pianistic guitarist, it’s Bauer’s sustain that keeps his tone quality even, actually sounding more like a horn player. His sound doesn’t seem to have the natural decay of most guitar players at the time. #jazzsky youtu.be/A9lvQWjxlzc

Tune of the day…John Patitucci - Sonrisa. Surprisingly not the Herbie Hancock tune with the same name. Patitucci’s tune purposely or not pays some homage to Sonny Rollins’ sax trio and love affair with Caribbean music. And Chris Potter is the right guy for the job. #jazzsky youtu.be/yxxMb1NzOcg

Tune of the day…Cecil Taylor - Port of Call. Having some kind of structure to cage in the beast of Cecil Taylor’s explosiveness, allows you to appreciate his concept even more, as he smashes against the walls of confinement with reckless abandon. This tune does it well. #jazzsky youtu.be/QcxgQEuZtFw

Self Promotion Sunday - Kilgore Trout. Named after a recurring character in Kurt Vonnegut’s novels, this original of Duane Allen’s is very melodic. I like that we start with the bass solo, hand it off to guitar, end with saxophone. Solo order can be compositional too. #jazzsky youtu.be/7J9coE8ncX8

Tune of the day…Barney Bigard - Rose Room. This concert celebrated all the poll winners in 1944 to raise $ for war bonds. Here Bigard is paired with Art Tatum , who seems to inspire Bigard to play even faster runs. His solo crescendos into a duo with drummer Sid Catlet. #jazzsky youtu.be/XEfASLdaBgM

Tune of the day…Donny McCaslin - Stadium Jazz. The blending of electronica & jazz is just another kind of fusion that started to burst on the scene in the 2010’s. What’s interesting about this track, it’s mostly acoustic instruments emulating electronica patterns. #jazzsky youtu.be/1ztAUZq-qss

Tune of the day…Duke Jordan - Starbright. Often for ballads guys would just record a standard rather than compose their own, but Duke loved Dizzy Reece’s tone on a ballad so he wrote this one. Notice how the repetitive old school comping actually brings out the melody. #jazzsky youtu.be/7qDl2ukcA1w

Tune of the day…Gigi Gryce - Minority. This tune is popular because it has so much packed into just 16 bars. The 1st half a minor tonality so it’s bluesy. The 2nd half descending key centers which really appealed to bop players. The melody is easily learned & singable. #jazzsky youtu.be/7inR9edrBc0

Tune of the day…Terri Lyne Carrington - Michelle. Smart choice to start this reimagining of this Beatles classic with Gretchen Parlato singing just a taste of the lyrics to make everything familiar and allowing you appreciate the journey more. #jazzsky youtu.be/xGLYipw9RvM

Tune of the day… Rob McConnell - Greenhouse. This is a fun chart that features Rob blowing a nice solo on some familiar sounding changes (Limehouse Blues for those keeping score). I like allowing the guitar to comp for Rob’s solo. Great chart by Rick Wilkins. #jazzsky youtu.be/jVqmeDH9UrQ

Self Promotion Sunday…Roundabout. Definitely the simplest tune I’ve written, it’s just 8 bars, repeated 4 times. Kind of inspired by Capricorn recorded by Miles Davis Quintet in its relentless swinging walking baseline, the chord progression gives it a circular nature. #jazzsky youtu.be/znlVbBYJ_rA

Tune of the day…Ambrose Akinmusire - Confessions to My Unborn Daughter. After a reflective turned virtuosic trumpet intro, we get this melody in 3 handed from trumpet to tenor that builds nicely to the B section that acts more like a hook. Great interplay throughout. #jazzsky youtu.be/c4yRqmkOveg

Tune of the day…Russell Malone - Jingles. Russell is a force of nature on this track. As a guitarist to do a tune that Wes Montgomery cut his teeth on, and just do it faster, takes some balls. And if you do that, you better be smoking…which Russell is. #jazzsky youtu.be/uj94eKofdug

Tune of the day…Frank Foster - Janie Huk. This bluesy tune rolls out like a big band chart, with an elaborate form of 8,12,10,8, but then just soloing over the middle 2 sections (minus 2 bars), so you get this 12 bar blues alternating with an 8 bar section. Good solos! #jazzsky youtu.be/RLMAAvbugYA

Tune of the day…Quincy Jones - Quintessence. This is the recording I tell my alto students to check out to teach them how to take control of an alto sax feature on a ballad. Nobody did it better than Phil Woods, who defines lead alto playing in the modern big band. #jazxsky youtu.be/u2hqgJGVMEk

Tune of the day…Jelly Roll Morton - Grandpa’s Spells. If you really sit and listen to all the arranged possibilities covered in under 3 minutes of music here, you will understand the genius of Jelly Roll Morton. Tight compositional structure, but still room for jazz. #jazzsky youtu.be/07gIDMJABWA

Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen - Friends Forever. This nice original features his beautiful tone playing the melody as well as his virtuosic chops soloing. He really had a way of making his acoustic bass sing, without being overly amplified and losing the wood sound . #jazzsky youtu.be/nLy-oV-wxao

Self Promotion Sunday…Winter Fire. This Duane Allen original is a very patient tune. It slowly smolders harmlessly before becoming more…then a little more…and finally something to be reckoned with, only to be reclaimed by the tranquility around it. #jazzsky youtu.be/-XQjWs04u2Q

Tune of the day…Randy Bernsen - Windsong. If you like 80’s fusion, this is tune you might not know about. Randy is a fabulous guitar player, who I used to listen to and occasionally play with when I lived in South Florida. Here’s an original of his with Herbie and Jaco. #jazzsky youtu.be/QCoclQVCjC8

Tune of the day…Vincent Herring - Granted. Some guys were born to be alto players. Vincent is one of those guys, and this Joe Henderson minor blues allows him to get into his fiery Alto bag along with a great swinging rhythm section. #jazzsky youtu.be/aN7W607iVhE

Tune of the day…Grachan Moncur III - Thandiwa. This tune in 3 has a Monk like quirkiness about it. It’s a simple chord progression & clear 16 bar form, yet you have Wayne, Grachan, Herbie, Cecil, and Tony really exploring all the possibilities this tune provides them. #jazzsky youtu.be/XyVZOzalAAc

Tune of the day…Chet Baker - The Thrill is Gone. Chet’s trumpet sound was made for this tune. He keeps it simple & just allows his tone to embrace the melody. A beautiful melody doesn’t need you to do much, other than refuse to let it go, like you never want it to end. #jazzsky youtu.be/n1TAymusXqk

Tune of the day…Pasquale Grasso - Little Willie Leaps. When Pat Metheny declares someone maybe the best guitar player he’s ever heard, that carries some weight. I will say, I don’t think any guitar player has played bebop this cleanly at this tempo before, it’s amazing. #jazzsky youtu.be/WfUCr-E6nlY

Tune of the day…Charles Lloyd - Forest Flower Sunrise/ Sunset. This 1966 live performance captures the sound of the era perfectly. The 2nd half is an example of allowing something simple to breathe long enough trusting that creativity will emerge, refusing to let go. #jazzsky youtu.be/qOGqAvElCAs

Self Promotion Sunday… I got to play on this tune with Randy Becker on this 2023 recording. My solo starts at 3:00 followed after by Randy. I guess I felt obligated to play a lot of notes, considering who he was used to playing with. #jazzsky youtu.be/qcPo7QrEcoc

Tune of the day…Brecker Brothers - Rocks. When the tight funk kicks in, you have some classic virtuosic horn lines that defines this band. Followed by a fun sax battle between Michael Brecker and David Sanborn, the highlight for me being Brecker’s line at 3:26. #jazzsky youtu.be/Q2-NEwoaR8k

Tune of the day…George Russell - Concerto for Billy the Kid. Billy the kid here is Bill Evans who after some really tight fiery intricate composition, including his own two hand octave lines, takes his blazing right hand and quick draws over some stop time. #jazzsky youtu.be/JrNf4KL_9SI

Tune of the day…David Binney - Anacapa. This tune builds from start to finish. Along the way, you might wonder if he’s stole Beck’s hook from “Say Goodbye”, but that was written 10 years after this. It’s a strong hook, two musicians are going to find it over time. #jazzsky youtu.be/MXARF_-9czw

Tune of the day…Jimmy Raney - No Male for Me. This Bob Brookmeyer tune has inviting changes to go along with nice melody/ counter melody between guitar and trombone. While this sounds like a standard or show tune, I’m not that familiar with other recordings of it. #jazzsky youtu.be/nvXMlxEeKyE

Tune of the day…George Coleman - Lush Life. What an aggressive interpretation of this classic Strayhorn tune this is. Rather than being a melancholy reflective drunk, Coleman’s drunk defyingly steps out of the bar, gets into his car and smashes up the town. #jazzsky youtu.be/z6Z1P-ao3Ko

Tune of the day…Steve Swallow - Item 2, D.I.T. This album has one tune blending into another, thus ends with a drum solo, which is actually a transition. But Item 2 stands alone nicely as a bluesy soulful tune that moves around harmonically but brings you back home. #jazzsky youtu.be/S4Wn9GF5OYk

Self Promotion Sunday…Blown Away. I was doing some gigs with vocalist Jules Day, who asked if I had any original tunes she could write some lyrics to. I recorded this previously as “The Path You Choose”, but with her lyrics & beautiful voice, we now have “Blown Away”. #jazzsky youtu.be/938lLFAZVLs

Tune of the day…Nat King Cole - This Will Make You Laugh. It’s easy to get distracted by his great singing, but this interaction between his piano and Oscar Moore’s guitar is next level harmonically and rhythmically. Swing 8ths to triplets to doubletime feel. #jazzsky youtu.be/he_dBMZ3-5Q?...

Meme away America….

Tune of the day…Steve Lacy - Evidence. The openness of Monk’s music allows the individual musician to find their own voice. Don Cherry is in his microtonal bag here. Lacy’s solo is so quirky in its simplicity & development. Bad splice going back into the melody though. #jazzsky youtu.be/ckk41Jj5viI

Tune of the day…Richie Beirach - Snow Leopard. Richie is a musician’s musician, he flies under the radar for most jazz fans. His playing on this tune and album leaves so much space for DeJohnette to just fill it all with some of the greatest drumming you will ever hear. #jazzsky youtu.be/c_Bycxhhby0

Tune of the day…Kai Winding - Speak Low. Maybe this arrangement is little too tight and polished for some, but that’s also kind of the joy of trombone. The great players are concise and their solos just get to the good notes without wasting any time. #jazzsky youtu.be/Knpy-7Nuea4

Tune of the day…Eddie Henderson - Dr. Mganga. This was his nickname in Herbie’s Mwandishi band, since he is a real doctor. You can hear Miles’ influence on Henderson here, but maybe Miles also was inspired by him, because these orchestrated lines sound like later Miles. #jazzsky youtu.be/qkisyHkXJAo

Tune of the day…Ike Quebec - Blues for Charlie. This Grant Green blues is dedicated to Charlie Christian & Parker. Ike starts off behind the piano lightly backing guitar, taking just 4 bars to pick up his tenor and play a hell of a soulful solo, quoting Parker’s Mood. #jazzsky youtu.be/-q2vwVpI39I

Self Promotion Sunday…When Time Approaches. This brisk waltz written by Duane Allen, has a strong melody and fun changes. After we get warmed up, Duane and I blow 2 more choruses together, then the melody leads nicely into a drum solo vamp where Adam and I get loose. #jazzsky youtu.be/0nh702gYFbc

Tune of the day…Mulgrew Miller - It’s Easy to Remember. And definitely hard to forget the many times I enjoyed listening to Mulgrew live. He would always suck me in playing solo on a beautiful ballad, embodying everything great about the piano. #jazzsky youtu.be/j5F9TiJNqrQ

Tune of the day…Charlie Christian - Breakfast Feud. Christian’s electric guitar allowed him to play single note lines at a volume that could blend in with the band. His comping swing feel is intense behind Goodman’s solo, then there’s his perfect clean single note solo. #jazzsky youtu.be/4A4-tAy5eno

Tune of the day…Roy Hargrove - Nusia’s Poem. This is a beautiful arrangement that Roy did of Gary Bartz’ original tune. Really just highlights the composition and allows it to keep evolving, solos from Gary and Roy are nicely understated as not to disrupt the vibe. #jazzsky youtu.be/p2-gBoa2SJI

Tune of the day…Jack DeJohnette - India. Jack starts off quietly on piano, moves over to his throne behind the drums, gets loose during the solos, when the melody comes back in, you realize you would be happy just listening to him play behind the melody over and over. #jazzsky youtu.be/QcNzWzf0lmA