I love all the arts. Whether it's literature or painting or sculpture or film, I love the expression of the human condition. But I've always loved music of all kinds, especially jazz.
I've hosted my own radio show, The Vinyl Side of Midnight, on 89.7fm WLNZ since 1997. This show can heard on Sunday nights, from 9 until midnight. Over the last few years it can be heard on the web, as well, at WLNZ.org.
The focus of the show is to play 'some of the finest jazz every recorded'. Most shows have a theme or profile a particular artist. The jazz icons all get a lot of attention, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and the like. But I also enjoy focusing on artists who are lesser known to newcomers to jazz, such as Hank Mobley or Sonny Clark. I also include more current artists, such as Dave Douglas, John Scofield or Dianna Krall. And I also make a point cover the avant garde, with features on artists like Sun Ra, Eric Dolphy, or Pharoah Sanders. There is also the occasional interview of artists, such as Rodney Whitaker, Jon Faddis, Arturo Sandoval or Diego Rivera.
The show has been a blast, but some of the most fun has been to hear from my listeners. Feel free to tune in and drop me a line, telling what you like and what you'd like to hear in the future.
Soon, I'll be including set lists for old and future shows, as well as reviews or lists of new or re-issued albums.
Here's a set list of a recent "Vinyl Side Of Midnight" (www.wlnz.org). It lists some of my nominees for finest jazz albums of this decade. I've also listed ideas for some future shows. Let me know what you think...
Oughtn't We Aught? Or… Oooodles of 00s…
I noticed that we're now half-way through the first decade of this new century. Let's ignore politics and bad weather for a night and turn our attention to some of the best discs that were produced in the past 5 years…
This was a tough choice and there were many CDs that didn't make the final dozen. Many artists who made absolute masterpieces in the 90s whose work didn't crack the best of the last few years. I'll have to give these artists their due by doing another ‘best of the 90s' show sometime in the near future.
The order in which we'll hear the music does not portend a ‘ranking' – each one of these discs are superb and I'd be hard pressed to try and rate one over the other.
Dave Douglas – Soul On Soul (RCA VICTOR)
2000
This homage to Mary Lou Williams boasts a front line of trumpeter Douglas,
saxists Chris Speed and bone player Joshua Roseman. Cool, funky and smart.
Either Orchestra – More Beautiful Than Death
(Accurate) 2000
One of the best little big bands around, the writing by Russ Gershon contains
trans-world influences and is truly exceptional.
Diana Krall – The Look Of Love (Verve) 2001
Panned by some critics, Krall surrounds herself with ace players and production,
and the result is an album that rests comfortably between some of the best
Sinatra and Jobim. Perfect Valentine's Day gift, for you romantics out there.
Greg Osby – The Invisible Hand (Blue Note)
2000
The younger Osby wisely brings in ringers Jim Hall on guitar and Andrew
Hill on piano, and the result is one of the better sessions heard in the
last few years.
Tribalistas – Tribalistas (Phonomotor) 2002
Arnaldo Antunes, Carlinhos Brown and Marisa Monte are all stars on their
own in Brazil. They unite as a super group to produce this album that is
a blend of bossa, salsa and pop. This one stayed in my car system for an
entire summer.
Wayne Shorter – Alegria (Verve) 2003
After a career that spanned 3 historic jazz groups (the Jazz Messengers,
Miles Davis' Quintet and Weather Reporter) and a string of great solo albums,
Shorter seemed to be in semi-retirement for years. Then he forms a terrific
quartet that I had the pleasure of seeing at the Chicago Jazz Fest two years
ago, and released this cherry of an album.
Andrew Hill – Dusk (Palmetto) 2000
A nod to the avant garde with another veteran making a come back. The melodies
are angular and inspiring, the solos are brave and warm.
Dave Holland Big Band – What Goes Around
(ECM) 2002
Okay, I take it back. This might be my favorite of the bunch. Holland's
writing packs a punch, his arrangements are interesting and swinging. The
soloists all cook.
Kurt Elling – Flirting With Twilight (Blue
Note) 2001
Elling's voice is an acquired taste but yields satisfying rewards. The photo
on the cover of this album looks EXACTLY like my old friend Tim Held. Amazing
coincidence, or is Tim moonlighting as a jazz singer in Chicago?
David Murray Octet – Octet Plays Trane (Justin
Time) 2000
Murray leads his band through arrangements of Lazy Bird, Giant Steps and
A Love Supreme.
Charles Lloyd – The Water Is Wide (ECM) 2000
This is one of those transcendant albums that seems deeply spiritual. Plus
any record that has both Brad Mehldau and Billy Higgins is aces.
Susana Baca – Eco De Sombras (Luaka Bop)
2000
Sensual, groovey, traditional yet contemporary. Peruvian Gold.
Ideas for Future Shows:
LEGENDS
Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Eric Dolphy, Billie Holiday, Coltrane,
Miles, Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter, Johnny Mercer, Strayhorn
THEME SHOWS
I & I, Physiology (anatomy), Geography (places), Instrumentally yours,
all creatures – great and small, The Beatles, best of the decade 50s, classical
& jazz; Johnny Mercer; deliberately weird
PORTRAITS
Joe Henderson, Vocalists, Dave Douglas, Andrew Hill, Bobby Hutcherson, Sam
Rivers, The Impulse Label, David Murray, Dexter Gordon