Hey guys . . .

Haven't heard the WDR Big Band with Maco Parker yet. I will look on iTunes today and have a listen.

Former "Count Basie" and "Airmen of Note" arranger, Sammy Nestico, has done a couple of really good releases with another big band from Germany--the SWR Big Band. The are "Basie Cally Sammy" and "No Time Like the Present" on the Hanssler Classics label and released in 2005.

I also just found another very nice big band CD involving pianist Jim McNeeley, saxophonist Dick Oatts playing with the "Stockholm Jazz Orchestra." This CD is titled "Sound Bites" and was released in 1997 on the Dragon Records label if any of you are interested.

Big band jazz has always been a love of mine and I doubt I will ever get enough of the space a big band environment provides for musician interaction and improvisation. And it seems as if there is a growing abundance of modern big bands putting out some truly wonderful stuff [i.e., Gordon Goodwin, Gerald Wilson, Jaco Pastorius Tribute band directd by Peter Graves, Wayne Bergeron, Frank Capp Juggernaut, etc.].

And Marcus . . .

What do you know about the "SWR" big band?

Woody . . .

Funny you mentioned the Maceo Parker release with the WDR Big Band.

When I walked into the studio this morning to do my show, in my mail slot was a 2-CD set from the Heads Up people, "Roots & Grooves," featuring Maceo and this band.

I will give it a listen this morning and have some cuts ready to air this Friday AM.

Thanks for the heads up (?)

Spun the new Maceo Parker/WDR CD on today's show. The release has a real nice "feel" and as usual the WDR band just flat out swings. I will never get enough of this kind of stuff.

Yellowjackets - Yellowjackets, Altered State
Weather Report - Heavy Weather
Various - A Night Out in New Orleans
Moreira Project - The Journey
Reuben Rogers - The Things I Am
Maynard Ferguson - Hot
Hiroshima - Another Place
Randy Brecker w/Michael Brecker - Some Skunk Funk
The Best of Paquito D'Rivera
Spyro Gyra - City Kids

Hey Phil, I've always loved the way Paul Bollenbeck plays. His voicings are incredible. I'm gettin' flashbacks now when I used to get to sit in with him on a jam session back in the 80's at Takoma Station in DC. As a matter of fact, he and Vinnie Valentino would play duets there that were so beautiful.

Speaking of Vinnie Valentino, I need to get some of his stuff for th Library here at the radio station. Any recommendations?

I've always enjoyed the work of Bollenback and Joey DeFrancesco together as well. The Defrancesco family is a pretty large one. A few years ago I went to Philly to see the JazzTimes Super Band that featured Joey D on B3, Randy Brecker on trumpet, Bob Berg on tenor, and Dennis Chambers on drums. The DeFrancesco clan and friends were there occupying nearly an entire row of seats in the row in front of me and getting into Joey's B3 work at the Keswick Theatre. It was a great evening of jazz and my wife and I got to meet and speak with a number of these talented people.

The Jaco Pastorius Big Band - Word of Mouth Revisited
Veronica Martel - The Art of Intimacy
Gumbi Ortiz - Miami
The George Benson Collection
Diane Schuur and B.B. King - Heart to Heart
David Sanborn - Close-Up
Keith Newton - Feelin' Groovy
Craig Yaremko - Sync
Chris Botti - Night Sessions
George Duke - After Hours
Fattburger - All Natural Ingredients

Just received a couple of releases that are very good:

1. "Something For You" - Eliane Elias [Blue Note, 2008] Ms. Elias is in top form on this one billed as "Eliane Elias Sings & Plays Bill Evans."

2. "Cannon Re-Loaded" - Tom Scott [Concord, 2008] Tom plays alto sax throughout this one and is joined by Terrance Blanchard on trumpet, George Duke, piano & Fender Rhodes; Steve Gadd on drums, Nancy wilson on vocals; Marcus Miller and Dave Carpenter on bass.

3. "Day Trip" - Pat Metheny Trio [Nonesuch, 2008] Pat is joined by Christian McBride on bass and Antonio Sanchez, on drums. This trio did a show locally in October. Unfortunately, I was in Georgia when it played our area. But when I returned to work at the College, I was approached by a woman I've known for years who told me that she and her husband to see Pat's trio. Now she has never been a jazz fan beyond Kenny G, yet she told me that both her and her husband thought it was the most incredible concert they had ever seen. It reaffirms to me that Pat's music appeals to music lovers beyond the imaginary boundaries we erect. I would never have imagined that this woman would have enjoyed this straight-ahead concert.

I wanted to clue you guys in on an incredible vocalist out of the UK by the name of Claire Martin. I'm currently waiting for three of her CD's to arrive ["Waiting Game," "Make This City Ours," and "Offbeat: Live At Ronnie Scott's]. I was absolutely blown away by this gal. She's never really received much recognition in this country and that's a shame. She actually has put out a number of CD's and has been recording since the early 1990's on into today.

Listen to this gal and you'll be a fan for life.

Maynard Ferguson - It's My Time
Horace Silver - Paris Blues
Joyce Cooling - Keeping Cool
Jacintha Goes to Hollywood
Jeff Huddleston & Blue Boss - Cool Drink
*Jeff, last checked he was in New York, but he's the son of a longtime band director here named Roy P. Huddleston. Jeff plays saxophones and flute. This is a self-produced project.
Spyro Gyra - Access All Areas
various - Smooth Africa II: Exploring the Soul

I've been listening to:

Pat Metheny - Day Trip ... really like it!
Brad Mehldau Trio - Day Is Done
Tord Gustaveson Trio - Being There
Lee Ritenour - Alive in L.A. and Festival
Bill Evans - Starfish & The Moon
Bob James - Grand Piano Canyon
Grady Nichols - Sophistication
Chick Corea - Past, Present and Futures
Chuck Loeb - Presence