Show Playlist:
Yusef Lateef
“Blues for the Orient” - 5:37
Eastern Sounds (1961)
Jazz luminary and visionary, unique artistic sense, and a pioneer in incorporating various world music traditions into jazz. Studied Japanese, Indian, Chinese, Arabic, and other cultures from around the world. In addition to saxophone, he played Oboe (heard on this track), bassoon, bass clarinet, and flute. He also learned several ethnic instruments from around the world such as the shakuhachi flute from Japan, the bansuri flute from India, the ney from Egypt, the xun (zun) from China, and many others. A brilliant mind, he also compiled a theory book that contained etudes and analysis of scales from around the world, composed symphonies, and was awarded the NEA jazz masters award. This album was a breakthrough for Lateef, as he distinguished himself apart from other jazz musicians at the time, and cemented his legacy as a true original. Featured on this album is another great Detroit artist, pianist Barry Harris, who we’ll hear from later in the show.
Bennie Maupin
“It Remains to Be Seen” - 8:02
Slow Traffic to the Right (1977)
Bennie was best known for his involvement with Herbie Hancock’s famous Headhunters band in the 1960s that innovated a fresh approach to funk/jazz fusion. Maupin was also featured on the seminal Miles Davis album, Bitches Brew. Bennie struck out on his own with the brilliant album Jewel in the Lotus, and then this album in 1977, IRTBS. Bennie shows on this album his ability to write super groovy tunes with haunting, elegant melodies and unique forms and soundscapes.
I had the pleasure of working with Bennie while living in LA...
Talk 2
Tommy Flanagan
“Minor Mishap” - 7:26
The Cats (1957)
Tommy Flanagan is a hugely important figure in jazz, having performed and recorded with greats such as John Coltrane, Ella, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, and scores more. His elegant touch and deep swing feel on the piano is massively influential, as he shaped the modern jazz piano sound. This album, TC, was only his second album as a leader, and came at a moment in Detroit jazz history when several legends were residing in the city. The personnel is a murderer’s row: John Coltrane on tenor, Idrees Sulleman on trumpet (highly underrated player from this era), Kenny Burrell on guitar, Doug Watkins on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums. Stellar lineup to say the least!
Marcus Belgrave
“Linda” - 7:27 [composed by Lawrence Williams]
Working Together (1992)
Another underrated jazzer coming out of Detroit. Marcus Belgrave had a wildly successful career working with several artists from his local Motown records as a young musician, then went on to tour and record with Ray Charles, Ella, Max Roach, Mingus, Dizzy, Sinatra, and many more. He had a unique and powerful and fiery sound, but could melt you with a smooth ballad. Truly original and underrecognized artist. This album has him performing with another Detroit jazz legend, drummer Lawrence Williams, who wrote most of the tunes for this album which features pianist Geri Allen, another legendary Detroit jazzer whom we’ll hear more from later in the show.
Talk 3
Barry Harris
“Ascension” - 3:48
Listen to Barry Harris (1961)
Son of a gospel pianist, jazz icon Barry Harris played with Miles, Gene Ammonds, Thad Jones, Sonny Stitt, Dexter Gordon, Yusef, Cannonball among others. A jazz musician’s musician, highly respected as an avuncular figure as a player, bandleader, and educator. LtBH is a delightful album finding Harris playing solo piano renditions of standards and original compositions. Love this tune “Ascension” for it’s catchy groove and massively creative runs.
Aretha Franklin
“Blue Holiday” - 2:53 [comp by Willie Denson]
The Electrifying Aretha Franklin (1962)
The queen, the voice of God, the icon. Aretha Franklin was the daughter of a Baptist preacher, singing in the gospel choir in Detroit. This recording comes from only her second release, TEAF, released in 62. She was still finding her artistic voice, mixing gospel with jazz, blues, and pop. You can really hear how delicate and subtle her phrasing can be on this tune, sounding not unlike a seasoned jazz vocalist. We are all the better for her developing her iconic powerful gospel voice that changed the face of music, but these early releases are great to listen to, realisting how versatile her talent was. “Blue Holiday” also feels appropriate these days of COVID and limited traveling. I’m sure many of you are spending Thanksgiving with less family and loved ones than you would have hoped, so from all the way back of the early 60s, here’s a sympathetic song from one of the finest American musicians.
Gerald Cleaver
“Dorham” - 4:08
Gerald Cleaver’s Detroit (2008)
A modern jazz giant, Gerald Cleaver, is an innovative composer, bandleader, drummer, and educator. He is endlessly creative, pushing himself artistically with every project, album, and collaboration. I personally feel that he is one of the most important and important living jazz musicians, and will be remembered as one of the greats of our era.
This 2008 album GC’sD, is an awesome feature for Cleaver’s unique feel on the drums, as well as his compositional prowess. Every tune on this record is beautiful, the arrangements are intricate, the melodies are powerful, the grooves are deep, and the playing throughout is amazing. A brilliant musician and artist, and one of my very favorite, desert island, jazz albums.
Talk 4
Marcus Elliot
“Heart Seam” - 5:48
Broken Seeds Vol. 1 (2019)
Another wonderful contemporary Detroit jazz musician, Marcus Elliot is a new discovery for me. One of my very good friends, artist and musician Billy Mark, lives in Detroit and introduced me to Marcus’ music. He’s a terrific saxophonist and a wonderful composer. I love this 2019 album, which finds Marcus in a trio setting, allowing the listener to enjoy his big tenor sound, and how he interacts with bassist Brian Juarez and drummer Everett Reid. A young talent to watch, can’t wait to hear what he does next.
Geri Allen
“Last Call” - 5:11[comp. by Paul Motion]
In the Year of the Dragon (1989)
Brilliant jazz pianist and composer, Geri Allen was a ferocious player and a visionary artist. Another underrated Detroit master, Allen had a dynamic career that spanned several decades as a performer, composer, and academic. She has this fast twitch technique, a fluid virtuosity, along with an intense creativity as she interacts with her fellow band members. This trio album, 1989s ITYotD, is the perfect setting for interaction as she’s joined by two of the finest collaborative jazz musicians of the 20th century, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Paul Motion. This tune, composed by Paul Motion, is a quick daring tune that features some top notch interplay from this impressive trio.
Talk 5
Regina Carter
“Honky Tonkin’” - 3:52
Southern Comfort (2014)
The brilliant Regina Carter grew up as a prodigious classical violinist studying at NEC before switching her focus to jazz as a young adult, and moving back home to Detroit. It was there that she dove into the Detroit scene, studying with local legend Marcus Belgrave (who we heard earlier in the show). Regina has since developed her own style mixing jazz with classical, folk, country, and bluegrass. A true American original. This 2014 album, SC, finds Carter investigating her family’s heritage, mixing folk music from Western Africa, Finland, Eastern Europe and the American South. Carter composes some wonderfully engaging and dynamic music from all of these influences, creating an amazing listening experience. Highly recommended album!
