Tune of the day…Willie the Lion Smith - Echoes of Spring. This is the 1939 version which is the first time he recorded his signature tune solo piano. Known for his virtuosic stride piano, this tune shows his melodic side as a composer and influences of Impressionism. #jazzsky youtu.be/0sTRPp8wV6w

Echoes of Spring - Willie "The Lion" Smith |1939|

YouTube video by ABXY Reviews

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Tune of the day…Red Rodney & Ira Sullivan - Sophisticated Yenta. Gary Dial’s tune starts off and ends with this beautiful chorale of two flugelhorns, in between Ira switches to alto flute over a relaxed Latin feel. Great tune and album if you can find it. #jazzsky youtu.be/a6q405PzPiY

Red Rodney & Ira Sullivan - Sophisticated Yenta

YouTube video by rujazz

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Tune of the day…Sonny Criss - Criss Cross. This is a Barney Kessel tune, not the more famous Monk composition by the same name. It’s an AABA call and response minor tune to jam on, with an interesting train inspired intro and outro, also a pun on a railroad track sign. #jazzsky youtu.be/DSfKeUR7KGI

Criss Cross

YouTube video by Sonny Criss - Topic

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Self Promotion Sunday - Surreality. I revisited this tune that was the title track from an album of mine 20 years prior. Ended up with a spooky minimalist version of it that creates a mood. Didn’t plan on playing a combined solo with organ, it just naturally happened. #jazzsky youtu.be/uWcLFyeX3Js

Surreality

YouTube video by Dave Goldberg - Topic

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Tune of the day…Victor Wooten - Liz & Opie. Ok so you have this electric bass, sax with effects, drums trio, but they’ve added an Indian vocalist doubling the melody & who learned Wooten’s solo and doubled that too. And the Police Academy guy doing vocal DJ scratching. #jazzsky youtu.be/rm0ueNnzpQw

Liz & Opie

YouTube video by Victor Wooten - Topic

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Tune of the day…Max Roach - Effi. Some nice post bop Max Roach here. Like Miles, Max used younger musicians to keep his music fresh so he could tap into what was currently happening and allow that youthful energy to inspire him. 2:53 playing off of Bartz’ trill 😮. #jazzsky youtu.be/cxoZ8GdOzAc

Effi

YouTube video by Max Roach - Topic

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Tune of the day…Teddy Edwards - I Hear a Rhapsody. Often you discover that the standards you have learned from historic jazz recordings, were originally ballads or very relaxed tempo tunes. Most guys do this tune - Up. But Teddy brings out the beauty and takes his time. #jazzsky youtu.be/BP7gN1oZEXU

I Hear A Rhapsody

YouTube video by Teddy Edwards - Topic

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Tune of the day…Zakir Hussain, Dave Holland, Chris Potter - J Bhai. This original by Zakir as well as this recording comes out out his Crosscurrents project, of which it was streamlined to this trio, released under their names. This tune is dedicated to John McLaughlin. #jazzsky youtu.be/L9VOE8HeMS0

J Bhai

YouTube video by Dave Holland - Topic

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Tune of the day…Roland Hanna - Yesterdays. Filling so much solo piano space here with classical choices but still in a jazz context, Sir Roland Hanna can go wherever he wants with this simple 16 bar tune. Everything is a surprise, even the very end. #jazzsky youtu.be/r7ZBlmbF8CI

Yesterdays

YouTube video by ROLAND HANNA - Topic

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Tune of the day…Dexter Gordon - Second Balcony Jump. Gershwin’s I’ve Got Rhythm changes, along with a 12 bar blues, are the 2 forms that all young players must learn to master. Learning this Dexter solo over Rhythm Changes was my moment as a kid when the light went on. #jazzsky youtu.be/lLyWhan-5pg

Second Balcony Jump (Rudy Van Gelder Edition / Remastered 1999)

YouTube video by Dexter Gordon - Topic

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Tune of the day…Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian - Eighty-one. This just hits all the right spots. 3 great voices interacting on Ron’s open blues. I could listen to them play this tune all day. Each had played with one another but this is the 1st time together. #jazzsky youtu.be/gwzm5AZGKe8

Eighty One

YouTube video by Bill Frisell - Topic

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Tune of the day…Kendrick Scott - Gingerbread Boy. This one pays homage to the original Jimmy Heath version & the more famous Miles version. I like how the use the original guitar comping and end phrase that Miles dumped & make it more like how Miles would have done it. #jazzsky youtu.be/As3f6cSSpCQ

Gingerbread Boy

YouTube video by Kendrick Scott - Topic

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Tune of the day…Bobby Hutcherson - 8/4 Beat. Which of course starts in 7/4, because why not. 4 bars of 7/4, 3 bars of 8/4, 4 bars of 7/4, 2 bars of 8/4 if you are keeping score at home. Solos just swing out in 4. Which is how we think of it. Maybe 8/4 is a joke. #jazzsky youtu.be/pvO-cRg78ks

Bobby Hutcherson - 8/4 Beat

YouTube video by Modern Jazz Classics

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Tune of the day…Joshua Redman & Brad Mehldau - Always August. This Mehldau original has just the right amount of melancholy and beautiful melody to it. It’s the perfect vehicle for these two to explore as a duo. Recorded live on a European tour in 2011. #jazzsky youtu.be/aGBannU8lVc

Always August

YouTube video by Joshua Redman - Topic

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Tune of the day…Wynton Marsalis - Stop and Go. This is a fun song that emulates the hustle bustle of the city. Composers have always enjoyed capturing that musically, and Wynton’s attempt really nails it, constantly changing, just like the city that never sleeps. #jazzsky youtu.be/93JLewcxX4I

Stop And Go

YouTube video by Wynton Marsalis - Topic

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Tune of the day…Keith Jarrett - Country. The gift of creating a beautiful melody, can be underrated in the jazz world. When he stopped composing, he left a lot on the table that we could enjoy. Of course he provided many special in the moment moments after that as well. #jazzsky youtu.be/cAtEoPBd5aQ

Country

YouTube video by Keith Jarrett - Topic

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Tune of the day…Jimmie Lunceford - Sleepy Time Gal. Amazing virtuosic sax soli at 1:08. The execution is flawless, then after Edwin Wilcox’s piano interlude, you get this shout section with trademark laying back on the time that made the Lunceford band so danceable. #jazzsky youtu.be/42AZLGpDWfY

Sleepy Time Gal - Jimmie Lunceford - 1935

YouTube video by Swing Blues Jazz 78 RPM

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Self Promotion Sunday - Trio Eclectic - Respite. We have a nice concert coming up at Alva’s Showroom in San Pedro, CA this Saturday Aug 22nd at 8pm. If you are nearby come on out. This was recorded live at Blue Whale in LA a few years ago…here’s a preview of us live. #jazzsky youtu.be/GD_3gZdQEKM

Trio Eclectic - Live at Blue Whale - #2 "Respite"

YouTube video by Trio Eclectic

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Tune of the day…Miles Davis - Little Willie Leaps. In 1947 Miles asked Bird to play tenor on 4 tunes. This was the 2nd tune recorded and is the sweet spot for me where Bird still sounds like himself, as throughout the session Bird leans more into a huskier tenor sound. #jazzsky youtu.be/EtieboyNWIA

Little Willie Leaps (Master Take 3)

YouTube video by Miles Davis - Topic

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Tune of the day…BANN - Guinnevere. BANN stands for Blake, Anderson, Noy, Nussbaum. This Crosby, Stills, Nash cover is more true to the original than Miles’ version. Makes for a great textural setting to explore and set the mood before the melody comes in 2 minutes in. #jazzsky youtu.be/ruxn3TfgnDE

Guinnevere

YouTube video by BANN - Topic

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Tune of the day…Mary Lou Williams - Lady Bird. She taught Bud Powell and Bill Evans credited Bud as a big part of his influences, but man if you don’t hear a lot of Bill Evans-isms here that makes you respect the lineage and her true place in jazz piano history. #jazzsky youtu.be/z0S9LqO-TWc

Lady Bird

YouTube video by Mary Lou Williams - Topic

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Tune of the day…Lew Soloff - With a Song in My Heart. Committed to Harmon mute on this entire album, the title track has a nice reflective punchiness to it. You have these bursts and then a moment to take it all in, before the next line. The rhythm section is cooking. #jazzsky youtu.be/nfJWWRIlHiY

With a Song In My Heart

YouTube video by Lew Soloff - Topic

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Tune of the day…Bob Mintzer Big Band - Truth. This tune was originally composed for Jaco Pastorius Word of Mouth Band, but here he rearranged it for his own big band. Beautiful tenor sax feature for him, where about 4 minutes in builds into this nice double-time feel. #jazzsky youtu.be/fktsSHE2IQo

Truth

YouTube video by Bob Mintzer Big Band - Topic

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Tune of the day…James Spaulding - Escapade. “That guy” who always sounds so good on everyone else’s albums, had to wait a while before releasing some of his own. This is the great Kenny Dorham tune off of Joe Henderson’s Our Thing album. Great Flute/ Flugelhorn pairing. #jazzsky youtu.be/IrJvu9g9pOE

James Spaulding - Escapade

YouTube video by Jazz Everyday!

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Self Promotion Sunday…Trio Eclectic - Lonely Carousel. Our trio is stripped down to its acoustic self on this haunting original by Duane Allen. I approach joint improvisation like this, like my horn is just another guitar string. Nice lonely circular cymbal at the end. #jazzsky youtu.be/Lh28TdE4-ro

Lonely Carousel

YouTube video by Trio Eclectic - Topic

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Tune of the day…Wayne Krantz - Whippersnapper. Recorded live at the 55 Bar, this tune has a rawness to it, but obviously what they are playing is complex. It sounds relaxed but at the same time has a frantic energy as well. Fusion at the highest of levels here. #jazzsky youtu.be/ivo-HDQDkWA

Whippersnapper

YouTube video by Wayne Krantz - Topic

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Tune of the day…Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald - It Ain’t Necessarily So. Such a strong trumpet entrance by Louis, it’s a reminder where this whole Jazz thing really began. Then you have Ella’s beautiful voice, Gershwin’s masterpiece, and Russ Garcia’s arrangement. #jazzsky youtu.be/XJ-cBbq8DhQ

"It Ain't Necessarily So" Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald from Porgy and Bess 1958

YouTube video by Retro Chick

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Tune of the day…Bennie Moten - Let’s Get Low Down. Starts off with a bit, Moten playing stride piano, then cornetist Ed Lewis wanting him to change to a newer more soulful bluesy style. Moten plays some boogie-woogie & feel changes from 1 & 3 to a more relaxed 2 & 4. #jazzsky youtu.be/coQlQ6Ve92g

Get Low Down

YouTube video by Bennie Moten - Topic

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Tune of the day…Art Blakey - This is for Albert. You know a composition is great when, you can easily hear the melody in your head, while the solos are going on. Then after 4 great solos, there is this amazing shout section as a reward before you get back to the melody. #jazzsky youtu.be/3Tdel_QACLM

Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers - This Is for Albert

YouTube video by 60otaku4

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Tune of the day…Arthur Blythe - My Son Ra. Named for his son, Rashied, it might also be a slight pun on Sun Ra. This tune shows off his distinct expressive wide vibrato, maybe the most expressive since Johnny Hodges. Beautiful lyricism as this tune lopes around in 7. #jazzsky youtu.be/g1ZYJogS8x0

My Son Ra

YouTube video by Arthur Blythe - Topic

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