Play It By Ear

Tune in Sunday, January 8th as I attempt to play as much music in our station library of Mack Avenue recordings as a tribute to the record company's founder Getchen Valade.

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Jazz Birthdays on Sunday, Jan 8

Submitted by terrence.tyson on Mon, 01/02/2023 - 12:04pm.

Bill Goodwin (drums)
Dave Weckl (drums)
Pamela Wise (keyboards)
Thurman Barker (drums)
Bobby Battle (drums)

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New Years Jazz Babies

Submitted by terrence.tyson on Fri, 12/30/2022 - 11:27am.

Al McKibbon (bass)
Charlie Apicella (guitar)
Chris Potter (sax)
Daniel Carter (reeds)
Manny Oquendo (percussion)
Milt Jackson (vibraphone)

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This gentleman has a debut

Submitted by terrence.tyson on Tue, 11/29/2022 - 11:11am.

Tim Lin from Taiwan

This gentleman has a debut recording out called "Romance in Formosa" featuring Bob Shepard is nice!! We played some tracks from it last week and expect to hear more next week.

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A Couple of Suites to be showcased by Arturo O'Farrill

Submitted by terrence.tyson on Wed, 11/02/2022 - 10:19am.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Z4cAAOSwdFNihJwE/s-l500.jpg

Over the next couple of Sundays, you will be hearing music from this recording.
Two suites from this recording.

"Despedida" which takes inspiration from Jorge Luis Borge's poem about the ending of a relationship. The other suite is "Dreaming in Lions" which is inspired by Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea"

This all is to celebrate his upcoming performance in Detroit on Friday, November 18th at the DSO Orchestra Hall.

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Pianist and Bandleader John Beasley on the show August 28th

Submitted by terrence.tyson on Mon, 08/22/2022 - 1:44pm.

Tune in as I interview leader of the MONK'estra band John Beasley on this week's show.

He is a Grammy award winning artist and he will participate in the 2022 Detroit JazzFest with Chucho Valdes and the Yoruban Orchestra.

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Concert of Colors Performance by Marion Hayden Ensemble

Submitted by terrence.tyson on Mon, 07/25/2022 - 6:49am.

On Saturday, July 23rd in the Detroit Institute of Arts Film Theatre, I was treated to a wonderful show by Detroit's own bassist Marion Hayden and her Ensemble bringing back to life the music of Alice Coltrane.

Like her husband, John Coltrane, her music was very spiritual. Brandee Younger was a special guest on the harp (an instrument rarely heard in jazz).

Brandee announced that John died just before Alice released her recording, " A Monastic Trio" so he never got to hear her on the harp. Also, she was one of the first Black artists to have a recording based upon how she wanted the music presented and not how the record company wished for her to do.

At times, I could just see Alice smiling from the heavens above.
It was truly a magical late afternoon of music from one of our beloved jazz treasures. Thanks to all for making it a great day!!!

Alice Coltrane is also a native Detroiter!!!

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Grachan Moncur III (1937-2022)

Submitted by terrence.tyson on Tue, 06/07/2022 - 9:59am.

Trombonist was a legend in the post-bop and avant garde jazz realm.
Worked with Archie Shepp, Dave Burrell, Joe Henderson, Sunny Murray, Jackie McLean, Cassandra Wilson, and others.
Sad story too that he passed on his 85th Birthday!

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Charnett Moffett 1967-2022

Submitted by terrence.tyson on Sat, 04/16/2022 - 6:29pm.

I am deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing of bassist Charnett Moffett at the age of 54 due to a heart attack. He was one of just a few bassists that I enjoyed either on upright bass or electric bass.
I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Detroit Jazz Festival. I told him how much I loved his playing and we took a picture together. I will miss his creative playing on his many recordings and had the pleasure of seeing him in performance three times. Everytime I heard his music, I felt like I was stepping into another dimension in time. He was forward-thinking. RIP...YOU WILL BE MISSED!!!