In Retrospect...

The Line-Up for 1-27-2012

2012-01-27T21:58:00.000-06:00

It's another one of those shows where I had only a few ideas of what to do but it all turned out pretty well in the end.

Brad Mehldau Trio - Knives Out
I had to think back to the last time I played this song, not only on this show but in general. It's been a while. Can you believe that Jeff Ballard has been the "new" drummer in this trio for going on seven years now?
James Pants - Track 27
Rudresh Mahanthappa - Killer
I felt like playing something off Samdhi this week. It's good and you should know about it.
Austin Peralta - Algiers
This was actually a computer selection but I was thinking of pulling something from Endless Planets this week anyway.
James Pants - New Sound (Intro)
Lionel Loueke - Karibu
I almost forgot Loueke was going to be at the Carver next weekend. I'll have to make arrangements to be there. This doesn't feel like something I should miss, nor should you if you're a jazz fan in San Antonio.
Aaron Koppel Quartet - Doorway
We had a bunch of copies of Multiverse floating around the station recently so Kory suggested I take one and give this group a listen. The album art really didn't lead me to believe this would be so straight ahead, so that threw me off. Still, this is a good group and a decent album. I'll keep it in my rotation for a while.
James Pants - Menehune Dance
Robert Glasper Experiment - Move Love feat. KING
Do you have this song yet? Why not? It's free at Glasper's website.
BADBADNOTGOOD - Electric Relaxation
I felt like playing some BBNG, they've been on my mind a lot lately and I should hopefully be able to explain why soon, and this was the song that came up in Google Music as I was walking into the station to put this show together.
Mister Barrington - Landing
This song is the universal head nod coaxer.
James Pants - I Told You Man, I Carry A Gun
Feathers - Old Cutler
This was a computer selection that ultimately confused me. I had never heard of this group and I wasn't quite sure if it was truly jazz, but I did some cursory Googling and figured it was certainly fringe enough for the show, especially for the final spot. I may continue my investigation some.

The Line-Up for 1-20-2012

2012-01-20T21:58:00.000-06:00

I didn't have many ideas for this show but going with the flow of things sort of worked out.

Enoch Smith Jr. - A Misfit's Theme
I'm making up for lost time with playing Misfits.
dela - Get Busy
Johnathan Blake - The Eleventh Hour
We're streaming this album and Ben Wendel's Frame at Nextbop the week before their February 21st releases on the Sunnyside label. Just keeping you on your toes.
Thundercat - Is It Love?
Sometimes the standout tracks on an album jump around. This track came up the other day and reminded me a lot of Stanley Clarke, which I guess is probably the point.
RJD2 - Ghostwriter
Enoch Smith Jr. - She Move Me
Like I said, I'm making up for lost time. There's a groundswell that's building for Smith and I don't want to miss it.
Stefon Harris / Dávid Sanchez / Christian Scott - City Sunrise
The computer picked this one, actually. Fortunately, this is my favorite track off Ninety Miles, so I kept it.
Jack DeJohnette - Indigo Dreamscapes feat. Jason Moran
The funny thing about jazz is that there are so many musicians in the field who you can point to and say they still "got it". DeJohnette proves that all over the place with Sound Travels.
The Stuyvesants - Panty Dropper
Grand Pianoramax - Infidel
I like to revisit GP from time to time.
Jazzanova - Song of Will
This was a computer selection but I've been asking myself over the past few weeks why I don't know enough about this group. The computer reads my mind, man!
Apple Juice Kid - Bitches
Chico Hamilton - El Toro (Mark de Clive-Lowe Remix)
Computer selection but I'm sticking with it.

The Line-Up for 1-13-2012

2012-01-13T21:58:00.000-06:00

I didn't acknowledge this on the show but this episode of the Line-Up falls on Friday the 13th. So... yeah... there's that. I probably didn't say anything because it's not all that important. What is important, though, is new music. Also important is that I can confirm a couple of our acts who will be performing at the KRTU/Nextbop day party at the Red House Pizzeria in Austin, Texas, on March 14th during the South by SouthWest festival (which links up quite nicely to the KRTU/Music for Listeners day party the rest of that week). As if the music itself this show drops on you isn't gold enough, even the info is gold.

Dafnis Prieto Sextet - En Las Ruinas De Su Infancia
I sort of had this song on my mind this week. It's another commute song that got stuck in my head and subsequently hit the airwaves.
Mister Barrington - Helter's Kelter
Ben Wendel - Chorale
We'll be streaming Wendel's Frame at Nextbop on February 21st alongside Johnathan Blake's The Eleventh Hour.
Robert Glasper Experiment - Cherish the Day feat. Lalah Hathaway
For two weeks in a row, I have played Sade covers. This is not a coincidence.
Portico Quartet - Lacker Boo
I've still been playing this groups album compulsively since I got it. It's one of those albums.
Flying Lotus - Golden Diva
Matt Stevens - Stable Mates
Yes, Matt Stevens' group will be playing at our day party during SXSW. Incentive enough to roll through?
ERIMAJ - Conflict of a Man
Jamire Williams' group is playing our day party, too. How about now? How about the fact that it's an all ages free show? How about the fact that this will be one of the few chances to hear jazz at SXSW and it'll still fit in at this kind of festival. You'll roll through now, right?
Kenneth Whalum III - It Was Written feat. Common
I find it sort of weird that not enough people seemed to talk about To Those Who Believe... last year, especially with Robert Glasper sitting in the clutch on keys. Hell, Whalum seems to sit in the clutch wherever he plays himself, quietly bringing the hotness. Be there when the world catches up and takes note.
Robert Glasper Experiment - Black Radio feat. Yasiin Bey
It was a bit of a risk to play this track but I figured why have a specialty show if you can't stand out front at a jazz station. Plus, this track is too cool not to play.
Mister Barrington - Frank's Drebin
I'm playing II pretty often, too. 2012 already has some pretty great releases. I'm already thinking about my lists.

The Line-Up for 1-6-2012

2012-01-06T21:58:00.000-06:00

It's the first Line-Up of the new year and I have a ton of new music to play. I'm pretty hype.

Jaspects feat. Janelle Monaé - 2012
The computer picked this track but how can you say no to playing this? Even JJ Lopez was eyeballing this track but left it to me to play.
Flying Lotus - ...And the World Laughs with You feat. Thom Yorke
Dave Douglas - Fatty's Day Off
The computer also picked this track but I'm not making a habit of that this week.
Nicolay with the Hot at Nights - Satellite
I decided to run with another track from the Shibuya Session EP. It's new enough to fit in with this show and I think it works particularly well in this set.
Mister Barrington - Landing
When I'm telling you II is going to be a vast improvement over this group's self-titled debut last year, believe me. My stanning for Danziger, Rockberger, and Biddle is paying off right now.
Radiohead - Climbing Up the Walls (Zero 7 Remix)
Neil Cowley Trio - Rooster Was a Witness
Cowley's The Face of Mount Molehill is one of those releases I got shortly before putting this show together. I haven't had the chance to listen to it yet but I knew that it'd find it's place in this week's show the moment it found it's place in my inbox.
Aaron Staebell - April 4, Boston
Staebell is going to be one of those artists to watch because when he matures and focuses his ideas more, he'll be outstanding.
Graham Reynolds & the Golden Arm Trio - Caravan
I'm a sucker for any version of "Caravan" and Reynolds is bold enough to make this cover special.
Madlib - Young Warrior
Johnathan Blake - The Eleventh Hour
We're going to be streaming this album at Nextbop next month. This is just a taste.
Enoch Smith Jr. - Love is Stronger
I seriously slept on Misfits at the latter end of last year but I'm on my Ps and Qs now and will be sure to give this album some spins in the future. Also, Sarah Elizabeth Charles does Sade right.
Robert Glasper Experiment - Move Love feat. KING
I had a little trouble with a track I posted the other day from Black Radio with Erykah Badu (which is equivalently dope). It wasn't quite ready for the world, but as long as tracks like this can be out in the midst, I can be patient.
Thievery Corporation - Shadows of Ourselves
Portico Quartet - City of Glass
I just got Portico's latest album today in the same email wherein I got the new Neil Cowley album. I'm excited for this album.

The Line-Up for 12-30-2011

2011-12-30T21:58:00.000-06:00

At long last, it's the Nextbop Best Albums of 2011 episode of The Line-Up. There's not a whole lot more I could say that I haven't said already about these selections. Once again, thanks to the whole Nextbop staff for having such great taste (especially my partner-in-crime, Seb, who I somehow forgot to mention in my closing but want to make sure I try to articulate a mere fraction of the love and appreciation I have for him and all he's done for this site and bringing me on to make something I consider pretty cool) and explaining that taste in your own distinct voices that I love to pick over. Everyone involved in jazz-- musician, critic, and fan alike-- has had what I think is a rather monumental 2011. I feel a lot of great promise for 2012.

Ari Hoenig - Higher to Hayastan
Radiohead - Bloom
Yaron Herman - Heart Shaped Box
Vijay Iyer feat. Prasanna and Nitin Mitta - Duality
Jonti - Hornets Nest
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - Grandfather's Gun
Ambrose Akinmusire - Jaya
Ben Williams - Little Suzie
Teebs - Yellow More New
Gerald Clayton - Round Come Round
Tigran Hamasyan - The Spinners
Gretchen Parlato - Juju
Teebs - LSP feat. Austin Peralta
Thundercat - For Love I Come

The Line-Up for 12-23-2011

2011-12-23T21:58:00.000-06:00

This Christmas Eve Eve, I still haven't been feeling Christmas-y, but I have been feeling list-y. This week's show pulls straight from my personal Best Jazz Albums of 2011 list. Next week's show pulls from Nextbop's full staff Best Jazz Albums of 2011 list. Also, considering this is essentially the radio version of a list I already wrote, please don't be alarmed that I don't have a write-up for each track this week (and likely next week when I do the full Nextbop staff version for next week's Line-Up as well).

Ben Williams - Moontrane
Toro y Moi - Intro/Chi-Chi
Pilc Moutin Hoenig - Nardis
Vijay Iyer feat. Prasanna and Nitin Mitta - Tribal Wisdom
Radiohead - Bloom
Ben Allison - Some Day We'll All Be Free
Somi - Changing Inspiration
Jonti - Pássaros
Tigran Hamasyan - What the Waves Brought
Booker T. Jones - Harlem House
Gretchen Parlato - Circling
Teebs - LSP feat. Austin Peralta
Thundercat - Fleer Ultra

The Line-Up for 12-16-2011

2011-12-16T21:58:00.000-06:00

This week's show has some highlights; for example, I have no words to articulate the amount of glee I feel about this week's soul set. I'm particularly happy playing new music that I just got. There are times when I put together a show and want to keep the mp3 file archived for the sake of awesomeness later. This feels like it's going to be one of those shows.

Le Bouef Brothers - Fire Dancing Dreams
I don't know how it came to me to play this at the top of the hour. The rest of the show seemed to come together with so much coolness and energy that I went against type, usually playing a tamer track to ease the show in, and went with something a little more out there while still palatable. This fit the bill.
Nujabes - Arurian Dance
BADBADNOTGOOD - Rotten Decay
I know I have a tendency of playing just about everything this group releases, but I couldn't pass this track up just because they've finally made the momentous benchmark of releasing an original composition. How can I stan so hard for this group and not play this as soon as possible?
Josh Moshier & Mike Lebrun - We Will Go And...
Once I knew what I'd play in this set, this song came from their The Local Colorists EP to mind immediately as fitting in. That's just how my mind works.
Nicolay with the Hot at Nights - Shibuya Station
I downloaded this EP, Shibuya Session EP, from The Revivalist and forgot about it until a few days later. It bends a little smooth but still impressive enough to play on the show and be the seed for this set.
RJD2 - Ghostwriter
Sean Jones - Kaleidoscope
This one is a computer selection that cut the mustard. I made a little set of computer selections.
Danilo Perez - The Saga of Rita Joe
This is the other computer selected song in this set. There's one more computer selection song that survived but that made it to the soul set later.
Booker T. Jones - The Hive
I knew that I wanted to play something from Jones' The Road from Memphis soon since I'm gearing up to year end lists. This album is on my personal list and this track is a clear example why.
David McCallum - The Edge
The computer picked this one but it's stormy and soulful and funky and awesome and perfect for this set.
The Stepkids - La La La
I've spent months trying to figure out how to play The Stepkids on this show, then on my ride to the station, this track from their performance at Converse Rubber Tracks came up and I finally figured out how to make it fit. Also, take note that I chose to play Jonti after this, just as said at the end.
Jonti - Twirligig
Thundercat - For Love I Come
Yet another track I chose to play in the season of year end lists.

The Line-Up for 12-9-2011

2011-12-09T21:58:00.000-06:00

This show felt sort of weird. I'd put a couple tracks together and wander off until a new idea came to me. I didn't have anything prepared in advance, everything just sort of came together in its own time. Even the few computer selections had their own special part in this week's Line-Up.

Austin Peralta - Ode to Love
The computer picked this one but I knew I'd have to include it because it's around that time to start mulling over what are the best albums of the year. Peralta's Endless Planets is one of those releases that's getting a little of that mulling.
Toro Y Moi - Intro/Chi-Chi
Shane Endsley and the Music Band - Big
I wanted to play some Endsley this week. I didn't have a special reason, it just felt like it was time. This is actually one of one two folks I knew I wanted to play this week in advance, that's how much I knew it was time.
Fabian Almazan Trio - The Vicarious Life
I mean it when I say that I really like Almazan's Personalities. The album is a true delight.
Jonny Greenwood - Proven Lands
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - Black Wall Street
Race Riot Suite is another one of those albums that it's time to consider. It's an ambitious album.
Ben Allison - Jackie-ing
Usually when I play a track from Action-Refraction, this isn't one of the tracks I play. I figured I wanted to play some Allison but I'd switch things up.
Joe Locke - Time Like the Present
Computer selection, simple as that
Toro Y Moi - Lissoms
Steve Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra - Sly Notions
I knew I'd end up playing a track from MTO Plays SLY eventually.
Flora Purim - Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly
Here's the chain of thoughts in my head which led me to playing this track.
The Karin Krog track from this Stanton Davis cratedigging piece EGON wrote for NPR a week and a half ago reminds me a lot of Flora Purim and this major track of hers. The KRTU library doesn't have any Karin Krog but it does have this track, and I really really like this song, so I'm playing it.
David Axlerod - Urizen
The computer picked this track but it was just too cool for me to cut. I seriously worked around this track and its placement, I even moved the Steve Bernstein and Flora Purim around to accommodate it. This track is way too cool and I now need to do some research on David Axlerod and listen to Song of Innocence.
Teebs - LSP feat. Austin Peralta
Mister Barrington - Mister Barrington's Daydream
I haven't played any Mister Barrington in a while.

The Line-Up for 12-2-2011

2011-12-02T21:58:00.000-06:00

Now that I've had the chance to process new music that has come in, I'm glad that I'm able to play some new stuff.

Takuya Kuroda - Skyrocket
I'm impressed with how much Kuroda has progressed from last year's Bitter and High to this year's Edge. He's learned to add some swing and it really helps his work.
MF DOOM - Arrow Root
Gerald Clayton - Snake Bite
Congrats to Clayton for his Grammy nomination for Bond: The Paris Sessions. It's quite well deserved.
Miguel Zenón - Tiemblas
I've wanted to play this on the show for a while but I just haven't had the chance to get this track into the system. Now I have and I'm really glad I'm able to play this now Grammy nominated track.
Francisco Mela & Cuban Safari - Yadan Mela feat. Esperanza Spalding
Everything about Mela's Tree of Life is just grabbing, isn't it?
Washed Out - Feel It All Around
Stanley Cowell - Travelin' Man
Every now and then, I take some inspiration from Destination: Out, one of the best blogs out there in the jazz internet. Their Cowell feature this past week was quite good.
Neal Creque - Rafiki
Kory was asking if I added this track to the system. I didn't, but I certainly did like this song once he told me about it.
Thundercat - Walkin'
The computer actually picked another Thundercat song, which I greatly appreciated, but once this soul set got together, I figured I'd switch the original song out with this one. I've actually been waiting for the right opportunity to play this song. There's this classic quality to it that I knew needed the right spot.
Teebs - While You Dooo
Rudresh Mahanthappa - Breakfastlunchanddinner
I really like Mahanthappa's new album, Samdhi, and as I said last week, I've been wanting to play a track from the album but just didn't have the chance to pick the right one to play on the show until now. I think it works quite well.
BADBADNOTGOOD - Electric Relaxation
It's hard to believe that in less than a year, these guys have taken jazz by storm and have gotten the acclaim they have. This is the energy the genre needs, not its constant lamentation within the community. That's why I love these guys so much.
Teebs - Yellow More New
Mocean Worker - It Still Don't Mean a Thing
We got a bunch of stuff from Royal Potato Family at the station a couple weeks ago. Candygram for Mowo! was one of those albums and likely my favorite from those albums.

The Line-Up for 11-25-2011

2011-11-25T21:58:00.000-06:00

I don't really have a lot to say this week. My words must be on holiday along with the rest of me.

Madlib - Distant Land

I don't really know why I picked this song to start off the show. I just did. It's always a great choice to pull from Shades of Blue.

Teebs - L.S.P. feat. Austin Peralta

Avishai Cohen - Handsonit

The computer picked this one, honestly.

Rudresh Mahanthappa - Playing With Stones

I wanted to play a track from Mahanthappa's latest album, Samdhi, but I couldn't find what I was looking for. Maybe next week.

Esbjörn Svensson Trio - In My Garage

This was also a computer selection. I really don't want to seem like I phoned this week in, though. You should have seen the stuff I had to throw out.

Jonti - Twirligig

Geri Allen and Timeline - Four by Five

While I was reading through Angelika Beener's piece on Geri Allen, I realized I liked her live album with Timeline last year but didn't pay enough attention to it. I made sure to play a track from it this week to make up for that.

Brad Mehldau - The Falcon Will Fly Again

The computer picked this one, too. It's still my favorite track from Highway Rider.

Tycho - A Walk

Mayer Hawthorne & Vince Guaraldi - Christmas Time is Here

It's impossible to improve on Guaraldi's soundtrack for A Charlie Brown Christmas, so the best I can say is that Mayer Hawthorne didn't make this any worse. That's the best I can say. This speaks more about Guaraldi than it does about Hawthorne, even though I really do love his take on it.

Josh Moshier & Mike Lebrun - Sister Winter

I love every time I break out this song.

Roy Hargrove - Family

Another computer selection. I'm seriously just running with it.

Flying Lotus - Breathe . Something/Stellar STar

Portico Quartet - Ruins

This song really got to me. I need more from this album.

The Line-Up for 11-18-2011

2011-11-18T21:58:00.000-06:00

I felt like I was on a roll the past few weeks. I had fully formed ideas before putting shows together. They were great and melded together and I was feeling confident with my decisions. This week, the streak has ended. I'm not saying the songs are weaker, not at all. I just know I didn't come with the fire. The fire just sort of happened.

Takuya Kuroda - S.T.E.P.
Kory suggested I give Kuroda's new album, Edge, a listen. Since I didn't have any ideas on what to play this week, I'd do even one better and start off the show with a selection from it.
Four Tet - As Serious As Your Life
Eric Harland - Voyayer
Nextbop is right now in analysis period for the best albums of 2011. Harland's Voyager: Live By Night is one of the albums that I put on my list for staff contention.
Stanton Moore - Magnolia Triangle
I was actually going to play something else in this slot but I ran across this in the library after trying to figure out new stuff for mic breaks. I made changes post haste.
MF DOOM - High John
Josh Moshier & Mike Lebrun - Hometown Marvel
I try not to stay away from Moshier and Lebrun for too long.
Fabian Almazan - H.U.Gs (Historically Underrepresented People)
I've had this album for a week now and I'm quite happy with it. It's the best rescue I've made from a forgotten box in a while and the rest of the radio station staff agrees with me.
Jonti - Twirligig
Jaspects - Uppity Negro
The computer actually picked this track. Who am I to begrudge the computer wanting to hear some Jaspects?
Ben Williams - The Lee Morgan Story
The computer picked this one, too, but I was due to play some Ben Williams again soon anyway. If not now, when?
Radiohead - Idioteque
Weather Report - 125th Street Congress
The computer also happened to pick this track, but I made it the show's closing track to match up well with J.D. picking the next hour's starter on the indie side with Zappa. Fusion definitely works in this case.

The Line-Up for 11-11-2011

2011-11-11T21:58:00.000-06:00

Why is this day relevant? Y'know, other than the whole Veterans' Day thing. I don't understand why folks are making such a big deal out of the alignment of numbers. I mean, yeah, it looks sort of cool written out but it's still nothing all that important.

Anyway, I have been looking forward to this show this week just based on the excitement I felt at some of the new music I got this week. I've been loving Teebs' Collections 01 from Brainfeeder and Jonti's Twirligig from Stones Throw. Just having that as a framework for new stuff from Portico and BADBADNOTGOOD have propelled me through this week to the moment I put together this show. I hope you're as pleased listening to it as I was making it, though I'm not even sure if you can be as pleased listening to it as I was just thinking about making it.

ERIMAJ - For You (For Who?)
I was trying really hard to find a song for the top of the hour. Normally, I play something a little more subdued to start the show off and then ease folks in. This week, since I'm so happy about many of the new tracks this week, I decided to cast that pattern aside and play something particularly funky to get folks feeling the show from the start.
Jonti - Hornets Nest
Portico Quartet - Ruins
I flipped when I found out Portico is soon to release new stuff. I think I downloaded this track the moment they released it, knowing full well I'd want to share it with you, dear listener. This new album is going to be soooo dope.
Francisco Mela - Yo Me
This track sort of snuck up on me in my commute. It's sneakily cool.
Benjamin Moussay - Hopalong
I honestly needed to fill about 2 1/2 minutes and this fit quite well into this week's show.
Teebs - Yellow More New
Harriet Tubman - Night Master/Ascension
I play Harriet Tubman from time to time just because I can. This group grows on me more and more whenever I listen to them.
Ari Hoenig - Higher to Hayastan
This album closer is probably my favorite track from Lines of Oppression (still streaming now at Nextbop).
Teebs - Your Favorite Weekday
Nicholas Payton - Freesia feat. Esperanza Spalding
It's sort of nice that Payton is feeling his validation for getting Bitches released. It's a mixtape no more. I figured I'd play this track again to commemorate that.
Rachelle Ferrell - Don't Waste Your Time
I'm so psyched about the Rachelle Ferrell concert at the Carver on the 12th, if you couldn't tell. I know every note in this song and I can sing along with the whole thing... except for one note. You'll know it when you hear it.
Teebs - LSP feat. Austin Peralta
BADBADNOTGOOD - DOOM
These guys keep churning out the awesome. This was just bound to happen.

The Line-Up for 11-4-2011

2011-11-04T21:58:00.000-05:00

Yet another great show filled with stuff that's played throughout my week and filtered into an hour for the masses. Oh, and I didn't say it on the air but check out Jonti. My last two mic breaks are his tunes and I've been engrossed with his new album on the Stones Throw label, Twirligig. Give this week's show a listen to understand what I'm talking about. Though there's a lot of other great music this week, too.

Jean Michel Pilc/Francois Moutin/Ari Hoenig - Nardis
I haven't had the chance to delve into this trio's new album, Threedom, but they're on my list. I'm hearing good buzz around the station about it.
Darcy James Argue's Secret Society - Obsidian Flow
I haven't played any DJA in a while and I have yet to play DJA and Josh Nelson together in a set, which seems odd since they're both composers around the same thing thematically.
Josh Nelson - Atma-Krandana
Discoveries really is a great album. That's all I've got to say about that.
Múm - Awake on a Train
Somi - Changing Inspiration
Everything on Somi's album, Live at Jazz Standard, is a winner. Even if you think a song won't be so great from the start, it turns into something spectacular if you give it the chance to grow. This album is one of the biggest surprises of the year.
Rachelle Ferrell - I Can Explain
If you're in San Antonio and you're not planning on attending this show at the Carver next week, you make poor life decisions. Seriously, missing this show is an egregious error.
Aphex Twin - Avril 14th
Ron Blake - Chasing the Sun
I needed a short song to fill in some time and this seemed to work pretty well for the set.
Kenneth Whalum III - A Song For Tomorrow
As good as Whalum's album, To Those Who Believe, is, it's sort of hard to find really great songs for the radio. This one surprised me in my commute this week and I had to nestle it in a nice little home on my show this week.
Ben Williams - Little Susie
I haven't played Ben Williams in a while and also, since I rather like this song, I'm surprised I haven't played this song specifically in a while. I'm fixing that error now.
Jonti - Hornets Nest
Jonti - Pássaros
Flying Lotus - MmmHhmmm feat. Thundercat
Because my show is an extension of my interests, the things I'm taking part in, and from time to time, the things I'm missing out on.

The Line-Up for 10-28-2011

2011-10-28T21:58:00.000-05:00

A cold front has blown into San Antonio, so it's a bit chilly. That's nice, right? October actually feels sort of like October. That's Texas weather for you. But you're not here to talk about the weather, you're here for a really cool radio show.

Rachelle Ferrell - Why You Wanna Mess It All Up?
Rachelle's coming to San Antonio to the Carver Community Cultural Center on November 12th. I'll be there, how about you?
dela - Can It B So Simple?
BADBADNOTGOOD - Electric Relaxation
I've been wanting to play these guys on the show more often than I have but I just haven't found the right slot for them other than a music beds. Oh, and have you seen their recent jam session videos with Tyler, the Creator? I think I finally get OFWGKTA. I was trying really hard to for a while.
Don Cherry - Brown Rice
The computer filled my hour with a lot of stuff that didn't fit this week. This was the only track it picked that did. If fact, it fits really well. It's weird and trippy and awesome and a little gem of this weeks show, I think.
Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood - Legalize It
No, seriously. No comment. I was just feeling some MMW and... um... then this happened.
Nujabes - Tsurugi No Mai
Vijay Iyer - Dogon A.D.
Happy birthday, Vijay, he of utter brilliance and the dopest sneakers in all of jazz.
Austin Peralta - Algiers
Happy birthday, Austin, he of the coolest "jazz" crew on the west coast.
múm - Awake on a Train
Ari Hoenig - Arrows & Loops
Nextbop is streaming Hoenig's 2009 album, Lines of Oppression, from November 8-14.
MF DOOM - Licorice
Marco Benevento - Atari
Kory actually scheduled to play some live Marco Benevento earlier in the day so I figured I'd continue along with it to close my show this week. It felt right.

The Line-Up for 10-21-2011

2011-10-21T21:58:00.000-05:00

This week's Line-Up is filled with energy, even if half the songs aren't necessarily filled with a lot of instruments. These were some of the most interesting new tracks that I've heard this week... and one the computer picked.

Tigran Hamasyan - What the Waves Brought
I knew I would be playing the Brad Mehldau & Kevin Hays and Chick Corea & Stefano Bollani tracks this week so I figured some more solo piano would compliment things. Also, it came up in my commute.
Múm - Awake on a Train
Brad Mehldau & Kevin Hays - Generatrix
Modern Music is a good album. It straddles the ground between a classical concert and a jazz performance so it may not really be for everyone. Still, some of the choicer tracks are definitely great picks for the radio. This is one of those choicer tracks. I'm looking forward to playing others.
Chick Corea & Stefano Bollani - Jitterbug Waltz
This may possibly be the best version of "Jitterbug Waltz" that I have ever heard. It's playful, exploratory, and yet respectful. It's astounding.
Aphex Twin - Avril 11th
David Weiss & Point of Departure - I Have a Dream
I knew I wanted to play this on The Line-Up ever since last Sunday when the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial in DC was commemorated. It's the least I could do. Also, this group is explosive, aren't they?
Sound Directions - Fourty Days
The computer actually picked this one and I kept it because I hadn't played it in a while. Also, I felt it could fit well in the landscape of the show.
Nujabes - Tsurugi No Mai
Hiromi's Sonicbloom - Time Difference
The computer picked a Hiromi track. I figured I'd keep her in for the hour but I went through many different Hiromi songs in the library before I finally decided to stick with this one.
Thundercat - Boat Cruise
As usual, I can't go too long without playing some Thundercat. Fortunately, I can use his birthday as an excuse to play him this time instead of "I just felt like it" or "came up in my commute" like I usually do.
The Remix Project - Electric Relaxation
Fred Ho and the Green Monster Big Band - The Johnny Quest Theme
This track was the biggest surprise of my week. I mean... who does this song? It's inspired and everything about this track reflects it. It's a great closer of the show.

The Line-Up for 10-14-2011

2011-10-14T21:58:00.000-05:00

Another week, another Line-Up. This week there may not be a whole lot of very new music since I'm still coming off of the pledge drive but since I'm back at the station, I'll soon be consuming new music once more. It's weird not taking in a bunch of new stuff for a two week stretch. I may be a bit spoiled. In the meantime, this show is still a good 'un.

Patrick Cornelius - Shiver Song
I've got a few default responses to song selections: commute and computer. This is a commute selection.
RjD2 - Ghostwriter
Wallace Roney - Quadrant
This is a computer selection.
Peter Erskine, Nguyên Lê, and Michel Benita - ZigZag
This also is a computer selection.
Radiohead - Kid A
Le Boeuf Brothers - Fire Dancing Dreams
I said it earlier and I'll say it again-- In Praise of Shadows is a pretty cool album. This track caps off the album and it does so quite strongly.
Marco Benevento - Fearless
I'm glad there's a studio version of this song. The live version I had of this before is pretty moving.
The Stuyvesants - Panty Dropper
Adam Cruz - Outer Reaches
I wanted to play a longer Adam Cruz track but I've played it before on the show and I've yet to play other selections from Milestones on The Line-Up. This is one of those albums that's not getting a lot of buzz but is still worthy of your attention. Maybe this is how buzz happens, huh? Besides, I'm a sucker for pretty much anything from the Sunnyside label.
Austin Peralta - Capricornus
I had some time to fill (by the time the show was put together, I was around 7:30 under, holy crap!) and felt this would be the perfect addition this this week's show.
BadBadNotGood - Salmonella
Flying Lotus - Breathe . Something/Stellar STar
Ximo Tebar - Martino
The computer picked this one, too. I'm not saying the computer can't pick great tracks, because it definitely does. It's like the most awesome autopilot ever, but I really want to pick everything next week. It's time to regain some footing.

The Line-Up for 10-7-2011

2011-10-07T21:58:00.000-05:00

It's the last day of the KRTU fall pledge drive and it's action packed. Join in on all the fun by becoming a member of the station. In the meantime, dig the cool music this week.

Menahan Street Band - Everyday A Dream
Curiously enough, the computer picked this song. Clearly, I wasn't going to throw out any Menahan Street Band.
Andrew Cyrille & Mor Thiam - Water Water Water
Vijay Iyer feat. Prasanna & Nitin Mitta - Duality
I've been feeling playing a selection from Tirtha for a little while. This seemed like a good time to do so.
Gerald Clayton - Snake Bite
This one came up in my commute.
Apple Juice Kid - Bitches
Ben Williams - Moontrane
The computer picked this one, too. I think it's learning me now.
Dafnis Prieto - Emergency Call
I know I played this track a couple weeks ago but it came up in my commute the other day and I knew I wanted to play it again. It re-wowed me.
J&D - Coffee in the Morning
Nujabes - Counting Stars
This came up in my commute. I got really into it, too. It had to make it in the show.
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe - Almost Seedless
Karl Denson came up in a conversation I had at the station today for super secret reasons that I won't yet go into for quite a while and you'll likely forget I brought him up by the time any of this becomes relevant. Still, he put together a damn good band and I'm playing him tonight.
Flying Lotus - Zodiac Shit
Kenny Werner - Lo's Garden
The computer picked this one. I kept it. It sounded cool and it compliments the set I made.
Josh Moshier & Mike Lebrun - We Will Go And...
The work Moshier and Lebrun have been putting together for The Local Colorists EP has been top notch stuff, hasn't it?
Pazes - Etacarinae
Le Bouef Brothers - Two Worlds
Seb and I agree that the album streams we have been doing for Nextbop have all been quality stuff. We're glad to add In Praise of Shadows to that list of great albums we've been able to share with all of you.

The Line-Up for 9-30-2011

2011-09-30T21:58:00.000-05:00

It's pledge drive time again-- the time when I hang out at the radio station a little more than usual and pounce every time I hear a phone ring. It's one of my favorite times of the year and you can be a part of it, too, by heading over to KRTU.org and pledging a donation to the station. Becoming a member is pretty rad, to which I can attest. This week's show involves me saying that a lot, it also has some pretty good music.

Taylor Eigsti - Daylight
This popped up on the commute. Also, I didn't get to go to the Austin City Limits Festival a couple weeks ago and heard Coldplay did a great job. This is in reference to that.
Nujabes - Tsurugi No Mai
Josh Nelson - Dirigibles
As I said last week, I really like Nelson's Discoveries and I hope this track leads you to the same conclusions I'm holding about this album.
Brad Mehldau - The Falcon Will Fly Again
I added Highway Rider back onto my phone recently because I felt I needed to revisit it. Maybe I was really in the mood to hear this song again.
Nujabes - The Space Between Two Worlds
ERIMAJ - For You (For Who?)
If I were to pick a song that epitomizes everything The Line-Up is right now, the proper combination of new school jazz with the rhythm and tradition of the past, this would be the best song I could think of right now.
Somi - Kuzunguka
This may be the best result I've heard of a Kickstarter campaign so far.
Apple Juice Kid - Bitches
Thundercat - Fleer Ultra
I can't let too much time go by before playing Thundercat.
Kyle Eastwood - Big Noise (Remix)
Computer picked it, I kept it.
Jason Lindner - Big Pump
I can't let too much time go by without playing Jason Lindner, either. Also, it seemed to fit in this set, doesn't it?
Trade Vorhees - Stoned Soul
Four Tet - As Serious As Your Life
Bonobo - Animals
The computer picked this one, too, but I wouldn't be surprised if I would have tossed this in for this week anyway.

The Line-Up for 9-23-2011

2011-09-23T21:58:00.000-05:00

If it isn't already clear, I'm particularly excited about Jazz'SAlive. I always am. It's a tradition for my family to go every year and even though I'm now in a position where I'm seeing how the sausages and laws are made, so to speak, I still don't love this event any less. This show isn't really connected to this weekend at all with the exception of my enthusiasm but that's always there, isn't it?

Dafnis Prieto - Emergency Call
I love that the MacArthur Foundation always picks a jazz musician to receive one of their grants each year. We as fans should support musicians even if we aren't an anonymous group of eccentric curators of brilliance with large purse strings, but it's good to know the MacArthur grant is out there. Congrats to Dafnis Prieto for getting this honor. It'll be cool to see what he does with it.
The Remix Project - A Tribe Called Quest-Electric Relaxation
Brad Mehldau - When It Rains
Work has been particularly hectic this week and I found myself saying the expression "when it rains..." a lot which brought this song to mind. Also the arrangement fits quite well with the next track.
Josh Nelson - Atma-Drandana
Nelson's Dirigibles dropped a couple of weeks ago to, from what I can tell, not a lot of fanfare. That doesn't seem right because this pianist/arranger/composer has released a spectacular album that'll tie folks over until Darcy James Argue is able to release his follow-up to Infernal Machines. Be on the lookout for Nelson because he seems to be waiting in the cut.
Trade Voorhees - Stoned Soul
Marco Benevento - Greenpoint
I figured with me making such a big deal about Jazz'SAlive this weekend, I might as well play something live during the show.
Austin Peralta - Capricornus
This one was a decision that came to me on the ride to the station.
MF DOOM - Licorice
LA Funk Mob - Oriental Folk Song
Some changes were made to the computer so certain categories that fit in my show's format would automatically fall in en masse. My hour was filled to the brim with pretty dope shit, some of which I kept and some I filed away on an Evernote to play weeks down the line. This is one of the tracks that stayed this week.
DJ Spinna - Lansanna's Priestess
This is one of the other ones.
Jermski - Particle
Aphex Twin - Avril 14th
BADBADNOTGOOD - Title Theme-Saria's Song-Song of Storms
This trio keeps releasing good music (They dropped a new mixtape last week) and they continue to show great potential. It's going to be great to see how they mature as musicians but for them to show so many seeds so publicly, they're putting a pretty good face forward.

The Line-Up for 9-16-2011

2011-09-16T21:58:00.000-05:00

Combined with the gray (but still pleasant) morning in San Antonio and the passing of my good friend and publisher, Kathy Clay-Little, this week's Line-Up is a bit softer and a little more chill. I hope you don't mind this change up this week.

Ambrose Akinmusire - Jaya
The computer picked this here but I figured I don't play Akinmusire often enough anyway.
Pazes - Untitled
Chris Dingman - Jet Lag
I haven't been playing Dingman as often as I'd like, either. Besides, this track came up in my commute this week and I asked myself why I never played this track on the air in the first place.
JAMES Farm - Unravel
The computer picked a JAMES Farm track for the show but I had to switch things up to fit with the somber mood I'm going for this week.
MF DOOM - Saffron
Tigran Hamasyan - A Fable
Now that I re-obtained A Fable, this album is going to get some steady play for a while.
Brad Mehldau - Things Behind the Sun
On the bus ride to the station today, Nick Drake's original version of this song came up. It fit my commute perfectly today and I knew I had to reflect that in the show in the right mood. I think Mehldau was doing too much when he played this on this year's Live in Marciac, but he handled this tune just right on 2004's Live in Tokyo heard here.
Jaco Pastorius - Portrait of Tracy
I wanted to round out this set with another solo player that fit the theme. "Portrait of Tracy" called out to me.
J Dilla - Bye.
Christian Scott - Jenacide (The Inevitable Rise and Fall of the Bloodless Revolution)
This track doesn't really fit my somber theme but it came up in the commute and it's my favorite track from Yesterday You Said Tomorrow. I didn't budge in playing it, mood be damned.
Menahan Street Band - The Crossing
These folks really think dropping two songs four or five months ago will tie me over until they drop a new album. I'm getting antsy.
Booker T. Jones - Rent Party
I wanted to play a Booker T. track this week and this song came up on my commute right before I arrived at the station and in the perfect mood at that.
MF DOOM - Camphor
Gretchen Parlato - All That I Can Say
I haven't played any Gretchen Parlato in a while, have I? I'm not counting the Terri Lyne Carrington I've been playing lately.
MF DOOM - High John
Patrick Cornelius - Conception
Be on the lookout for Nextbop's stream of Cornelius' Maybe Steps this week just before its release.

The Line-Up for 9-9-2011

2011-09-09T21:58:00.000-05:00

I didn't note it on the air but this week marks my 2 year anniversary of The Line-Up. We've come a long way and I'm proud of this show, what it has spread to the masses and how it has really been a lynchpin for Nextbop. Now, in the tradition of spreading dopeness...

Kyle Eastwood - Marciac
For some reason, Kyle Eastwood really came correct for his latest album, Songs from the Chateau. The energy has really flared up. I dig it.
Ben Allison - We've Only Just Begun
It was another one of those "hey, I haven't played [blank] in a while" moments.
Terri Lyne Carrington - Crayola
I was sort of shocked to hear this on Carrington's The Mosaic Project instead of Esperanza Spalding using this song for one of her own albums. It's just as good live as it is in the studio. It's a blast of fresh air.
Adam Cruz - The Gadfly
Milestone is a great album, period. Rarely do I hear anything from Sunnyside Records that doesn't knock me off my feet. Sunnyside isn't a record label, these folks are master curators of talent.
Tigran Hamasyan - What the Waves Brought
I've had A Fable for months and Seb has likely had it longer than I have. It's apparently been out since February but I haven't heard much talk about it, to the point that I thought I was holding onto some ridiculously early copy that's furloughed by the record label until its due time. Then I heard Gilles Peterson play a track on his BBC1 Radio show a few weeks ago and knew it was time to get this out there into the world as it so rightly deserved.
Thundercat - Fleer Ultra
Thundercat is awesome. You've heard me say that enough. Why don't you have The Golden Age of Apocalypse yet?
Frank Zappa - Blessed Relief
A track from The Grand Wazoo popped up during my commute this week so I figured it was time to play Zappa once again.
Terremoto - Turbulence
This was another track that arose from combing through the library. I'll have to investigate this group further.
Starlicker - Skull Cave
This rolled through the station recently and seemed pretty good. It's adventurous stuff. Double Demon is definitely worth a listen.

Mic Breaks
dela - Get Busy
Jermski - Particle
The Remix Project - Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation
The Remix Project - Outkast - Prototype
dela - Can It B So Simple

The Line-Up for 9-2-2011

2011-09-02T19:58:00.000-05:00

It's the first episode of the show with the new theme song, Christian Scott's cover of Thom Yorke's "The Eraser". I'm sort of excited about that. Other than that, it's an altogether great show even without the new glossy cover.

Chris Dingman - Indian Hill
I hadn't played any Dingman in a while but it seemed appropriate since it seems he's getting a whole bunch of great attention now that his album is out.
Cloning Americana - On the Rise
Kory got ahold of this album recently and has spoken quite highly of this group. I like what I heard and much like anything else on this show, I yoinked the idea and played it here.
Francisco Mela & Cuban Safari - Toma Del Poder
I first got this album last week and it was one of the biggest surprises of that week. This is definitely worth copping.
D'Angelo - Spanish Joint
I love this song; don't you?
Kenneth Whalum III - If We Try
The track that comes after this one by LFQ reminded me a lot of the dynamics in the group Whalum put together for his album. They seem like a good fit.
Rosenberg-Lefkowitz Quintet - Second Face
Sometimes it pays to email with persistence if your music is up to snuff and I'm in a particularly good mood. This group got to me at the right time and it gets a slot in the show. Maybe their album will hit you the same way it hit me.
Kyle Eastwood - Over the Line
What I found most surprising about Eastwood's new album, Songs from the Chateau, was how many of the tracks are not straight ahead jazz, defying my expectations.
New York Electric Piano - 2nd Millennium Rag
The computer picked this one and it is definitely worth leaving in the show.
Erik Truffaz - The Mask
Kory got a bunch of albums from a friend recently. It's literally a grab bag sitting in his office. Last week, I was lollygagging around the station much longer than usual and listening to the stash of stuff he got and this one stuck out to me. There was this interesting turning point in the early '00s with jazz and what it would start to take on within the genre. I believe our thinking of fringe jazz in its current form stemmed from what was taking shape in this era. I've never really heard anyone talk about Truffaz before but his Blue Note album, The Mask, is definitely indicative of that era and seems noteworthy. This is me making that note.
Herbie Hancock - Alphabeta
Two years after Truffaz's The Mask came Hancock's Future 2 Future which shares much of the same aforementioned genre-shaping influences. This album is rarely mentioned but I cherish it all the same and will bring it up from time to time to talk about its relevance.
Jill Scott - Rolling Hills
I've been fighting for this track for two weeks now. It got bumped last week from some mysterious computer error. I've been trying to justify playing it to much of the station staff and yet here it stands.

Mic Breaks
MF DOOM - Saffron
MF DOOM - Arrow Root
BadBadNotGood - Salmonella
DJ Cam feat. Erik Truffaz - The Emperor
Zero 7 - Everything Up (Joker and Ginz Remix)
Jill Scott - The Light of the Sun

The Line-Up for 8-26-201

2011-08-26T21:58:00.002-05:00

This week has been challenging and that has keyed into tonight's show. Someone stole my iPod at work this week which means it won't be as easy coming up with what has stood out to me in a given week to pick for the show, but it's not like pouring over the music I get to decide what hits your ears has been a breeze. Add to the fact that the computer didn't feel like tabulating the time right until I was halfway done putting the show together and lets just say the nuisance continued. It's a labor of love and I make my way through no matter what. No need to get down about it, I just lean on Jesus, peace, and the music.

Jason Moran - RFK in the Land of Apartheid
I was watching the PBS documentary, RFK in the Land of Apartheid, the other night, largely because the score was by Moran. This is also my favorite track from Ten, as I've said quite often, so to the 1 spot this goes this week.
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - Grandfather's Gun
Nextbop is still streaming Race Riot Suite up until its August 30th release.
Stefon Harris, Dávid Sanchez, and Christian Scott - City Sunrise
I have finally determined that this is my favorite track off Ninety Miles. It just sounds made for dramatic openings.
Stephan Crump and Rosetta Trio - Overreach
I have also determined that this is my favorite track from Crump's Reclamation
David Weiss and Point of Departure - I Have a Dream
Snuck In and Snuck Out have been sticking with me ever since I heard these albums.
Seu Jorge and Almaz - Everybody Loves the Sunshine
Hey, I haven't played this track in a while, huh?
Thundercat - For Love I Come
I have played this one a lot, I know, but you have no idea how psyched I am to know I am seeing my generation's Stanley Clarke (would that make Austin Peralta my generation's George Duke?). I've already got my copy of The Golden Age of Apocalypse pre-ordered and I've been compulsively playing the Hype Machine album stream all week. How about you?
Harriet Tubman - Probe
I may not always find a slot for it but I really do like Harriet Tubman's Ascension. It's most certainly a grower.
Ikebe Shakedown - Refuge
Not a lot to say here, I just felt like playing this track.
Jill Scott - Rolling Hills
I've been tossing around the idea in my mind for playing this track. I kept questioning whether or not it was appropriate but I finally just said "to hell with it" and closed out this week's show with it. I still had to legitimize my decision with Kory, the station's music director, but I let the music speak for itself and it's convincing enough.

Mic Breaks
Tribeca - 2gether 4ever (This bed didn't manage to play last week and I rather like it so I tossed it into the first mic break to make up for it.)
Teebs - While You Doooo
Buscrates - Chocolate District
Madlib - Distant Land
The Stuyvesants - Panty Dropper

The Line-Up for 8-19-2011

2011-08-19T21:58:00.002-05:00

It still took me an inordinate amount of time to put this show together. I'll get it together, though. Also, I give this current theme song a couple more weeks so get your input to me as soon as you can.

Johannes Wallmann Brasstet - The Sweet Minute
I kept three computer selections for this week's show. I put the first two at the top of the hour.
Roxy Coss - Lately
Since the computer picked this track, I don't have all that much to say.
Kenneth Whalum III - It Was Written (feat. Common)
I had two or three tracks from KWIII before he gave me his album this past weekend. After finally hearing the whole album, I realize he picked the tracks he sent me for a reason. The whole album fits together really well but "It Was Written" stands on its own very well.
Shane Endsley and the Music Band - Big
When I got the track for this, I had some... problems with it. Hopefully this plays alright.
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - Black Wall Street
From August 23 until it's August 30th release, Nextbop will be streaming JFJO's Race Riot Suite. This is the second track from that album, before the narrative makes a dark turn.
Menahan Street Band - Home Again!
I've been feeling some Menahan Street Band for a little while.
George Benson - White Rabbit
This was the third computer selection.
Jason Moran - I'll Play the Blues for You
Kory suggested this for the new Line-Up theme song. He's not sure how it'll work but I figured I'd play this anyway and toss that option out there.
Christian Scott - The Eraser
Both Seb and I thought about this track for the new theme song as well. I like how we think alike.
The Bad Plus - Flim
Because this serves as the theme song to the show, I don't think I've ever given it any legit play. As one era closes down, I figured I'd give this song its full time.

Mic Breaks
Trade Voorhees - Stoned Soul
J&D - Coffee in the Morning
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Drippy Eye
Tribeca - 4ever 2gether

Shout out to Blind I for hipping me to the Roy Ayers Project Beat Submission Compilation, the source for most of the music beds for my mic breaks this week.

The Line-Up for 8-12-2011

2011-08-12T21:58:00.002-05:00

Steadily figuring it out but the show remains quite good. Quite good indeed.

Stefon Harris, Dávid Sanchez, and Christian Scott - Brown Belle Blues
Funnily enough, the computer picked this track, I just chose to move it to the 1 spot.
Gretchen Parlato - Still feat. Alan Hampton
1) I haven't played Gretchen Parlato in a little while. 2) Isn't just just a feel good song?
Herbie Hancock - Edith and the Kingpin feat. Tina Turner
I really haven't played anything from River: The Joni Letters in a while.
Rachelle Ferrell - Autumn Leaves
Now that I think about it, I'm not quite sure if this fits in with the vibe of the show, but I'm a sucker for Rachelle Ferrell. Even when she's singing straight ahead, she's always out there. I must see her at the Carver in November
Lionel Loueke - Karibu
Folks everywhere keep talking about Lionel Loueke. He's really been an "it" guitarist for the jazz insiders.
The Stanley Clarke Band - Labyrinth (feat. Hiromi)
I still have this album on solid rotation on my iPod. It stays going strong for going on a year now.
BADBADNOTGOOD (The Odd Trio) - Fall in Love
It's weird to know that three guys pretty much goofing around in Ottawa can garner this much attention around the world.
Thundercat - Daylight
One big reason why I can't wait for The Golden Age of the Apocalypse to release is so I can stop playing the same two or three songs over and over again.
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - Grandfather's Gun
Nextbop just got the go ahead to stream JFJO's Race Riot Suite for the week of the 23rd leading up to its August 30th release. Get psyched. I've really been enjoying this album since I got it.
ERiMAJ - Conflict of a Man
Did you see the music video?
Russell Gun - I Wish
I had a little time left and thought this would be nice to wrap up. Although, most of it got cut for the sake of time.

Mic Breaks
Madlib - Distant Land
BADBADNOTGOOD - Salmonella
Radiohead - Bloom
The Stuyvesants - Roosevelt Projects Jam Session
Flying Lotus - Golden Diva

The Line-Up for 8-5-2011

2011-08-05T21:58:00.003-05:00

I think I'm getting the hang of this new computer system. Yes, the music levels are a little high but I think my coordination is getting better. Either way, there's a pretty good show this week.

Gerald Clayton - Snake Bite
I figured I hadn't played any Gerald Clayton in a little while.
Gerry Gibbs Sextet feat. Ravi Coltrane - After the Dawn
I want to ease you into the Flying Lotus & Infinity experience. It'll start more straight ahead jazz and then spin out.
Austin Peralta - Capricornus
1) Still spinning out. 2) I hadn't played any Peralta in a while, unless you count all the straight up Thundercat tracks that have been online for a while from his impending album on which Peralta backs.
Flying Lotus - Mmmhhmmm feat. Thundercat
The genuine article
Miguel Atwood-Fergusson - Hoc 'N Pucky
Atwood-Fergusson is like garlic powder. Garlic powder makes practically anything better. I'm questioning that simile but I'm still putting it out there.
Becca Stevens - Weightless
I haven't played any Becca Stevens in a little while.
Herbie Hancock - Calypso
The computer picked this one so I figured I'd stick with it.
Incognito - 1975
I also figured I hadn't played any Incognito in a little bit. I'm just revisiting all sorts of stuff this week.
Menahan Street Band - Make the Road by Walking
See, revisiting.
Christian Scott - K.K.P.D.
Definitely revisiting.
Herbie Hancock - Alphabeta
I was a little short on time so I figured I'd play another Herbie tune.

Mic Breaks
MF DOOM - Saffron
The Stuyvesants - Roosevelt Projects Jam Session
Madlib - Distant Land

The Line-Up for 7-29-2011

2011-07-29T21:58:00.002-05:00

Putting this show together was a headache like you wouldn't believe. The radio station switched to a new user interface that's faster and sleeker than the old system but also needs a lot of accommodations to fit our non-commercial, jazz needs. I just had to put together an hour, so it's hard to picture the strife the radio staff had to go through this week and all the headaches yet to come. Still, I was able to put together a solid hour of music for you.

Roy Hargrove Big Band - Roy Allen
A few tracks from Hargrove's Emergence are in rotation on my iPod right now which led me to the usual question, "When's the last time I played _____?"
Darcy James Argue's Secret Society - Redeye
Same thing here but I know I had to have played this more recently than Hargrove because Sebastien Noelle is a beast.
Terri Lyne Carrington - Unconditional Love
Hands down, this is my favorite cut from The Mosaic Project. Carrington is very tight all throughout this track and Esperanza Spalding weaves throughout the song giving just the right small touches.
Robert Glasper - Festival
I have a soft spot for this song.
Bill Frisell - 1968
The computer picked this one.
Josh Moshier & Mike Lebrun - We Will Go And...
This is the only new track I played this week. I love Moshier and Lebrun and I love their current (hopefully rejuvenated at full steam again) project, The Local Colorists. For them, I made sure to endure learning the process of adding new tracks into the new system.
Eric Harland - Voyager
Voyager: Live By Night is one of the best albums of the year, period.
Corea, Clarke and White - Captain Marvel
The same can be said for Forever, although whether one has a leaning toward the acoustic or the electric tracks on the album is highly dependent on one's mood at the time. I'm feeling the electric tracks today but Lord only knows about tomorrow.
Marco Benevento - You Know I'm No Good
Kory and I had this weird thing about Amy Winehouse. Last week, we were talking about her and how good her band is and how much she needed to get her life in order. The next day, she was found dead in her London apartment. Weird.

Mic Breaks
MF DOOM - Arrow Root
Flying Lotus - Zodiac Shit
J Dilla - Nothing Like This
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Drippy Eye

The Line-Up for 7-22-2011

2011-07-22T21:58:00.003-05:00

I hadn't a clue what I was going to talk about or play today. Not only did I have a Line-Up to put together but I was also featured on KRTU's Jazz Break at Noon to talk about Nextbop and jazz today. Oddly enough, this all worked out. I feel good about the interview and I feel really good about this playlist.

Madlib - Funky Blue Note
When I don't have any idea what to play, I can never go wrong with a track from Shades of Blue.
Vijay Iyer with Prasanna & Nitin Mitta - Duality
I haven't played anything from Tirtha in a while. It's time to plug up that gap.
Jaco Pastorius - Punk Jazz
Earlier this week, Gilles Peterson pontificated that Thundercat's new album may be the most anticipated bass album since Jaco Pastorius' Jaco. I didn't pick a track from that album but I still wanted to put a Pastorius track next to a Bruner track and let you decide.
Thundercat - For Love I Come
Every time I listen to Thundercat lately, I realize I don't have enough 70s George Duke in my life. If you don't either, Brainfeeder can help with that.
Ravi Coltrane - United
I think the computer picked a Ravi Coltrane song for the hour. I had to switch some things around but I don't question the computer's judgement when I agree with it.
Ben Williams - Little Suzie
We played a Williams track earlier today at noon but I wanted to play one more track from State of Art.
Ikebe Shakedown - Tame the Beats
I can never stay too far away from a soul set and I haven't played Ikebe Shakedown in a little while. Their self-titled release is quite impressive.
Nomo - One to One
Yet another computer pick.
Donald Byrd - Think Twice
I think I like this week's picks because of older picks like this. It adds a different kind of variety that gives The Line-Up some good range. I like to switch things up on the show so I'm really happy I ran with this one.
Marco Benevento - Greenpoint
We'd be remiss if we didn't wish Marco Benevento a happy birthday. Dude's hella awesome.

Mic Breaks
Baths - Aminals
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Count Down to Black
The Stuyvesants - Panty Dropper
Full Crate - Cut the Barb

Friday's Jazz Break at Noon
Christian Scott - After All
Stefon Harris, Dávid Sanchez, & Christian Scott - Brown Belle Blues
ERIMAJ - For You (For Who?)
ERIMAJ - Conflict of a Man
Ben Allison - Some Day We'll All Be Free
Ben Williams - Moontrane

The Line-Up for 7-15-2011

2011-07-15T21:58:00.000-05:00

I don't really have much special to say for this week's show. I had a pretty good birthday and a shoutout in the LA Times so I'm feeling pretty good. This week's show should reflect that.

Peter Erskine - Pong
I was just looking through the library and ran across this song. This is a good random selection.
Kneebody - Teddy Ruxpin
I had hopes I could get up to Austin and check out their show this week but my ride fell through. I'm a little disappointed but I can only get all Zen-like and say I am where I should be and leave things at that. Still, this is what I was missing.
Ben Allison - Some Day We'll All Be Free
It's my birthday so I'm playing one of my favorite songs of the year. I owe it to myself.
ERIMAJ - Conflict of a Man
Ever since Jamire & Co. dropped this song last week, it's been stuck in my head. Now it should be stuck in yours.
Harriet Tubman - Night Master/Ascension
This group really starts to grow on you the more you're willing to expand your mind.
Marco Benevento - RISD
I haven't played anything from Between the Needles and Nightfall in a little while, have I?
Thundercat - Daylight
The second half of this song always seems to make up for the first half. I feel like I'm breaking some on air rule when I play this until it breaks into that second half.
The Nels Cline Singers - Devining
Like Harriet Tubman's "Night Master/Ascencion", I like this one more and more whenever I hear it.
Brad Mehldau - Everything In Its Right Place
Everything about this song is perfect. Jorge Rossy and Larry Grenadier get to shine brightly. The trio take Radiohead to a whole other level (as usual). The song, both the original and all covers, has always been an anthem of mine about serenity. It's the perfect song to play to commemorate another year of life for me.

Mic Breaks
Mecca:83 - Detroit Twilight
Mecca:83 - The Message
Daedelus - Denovement
Daedelus - Experience

The Line-Up for 7-8-2011

2011-07-08T21:58:00.001-05:00

Much of the music I've gotten this week were live recordings so much of the music on this week's Line-Up will reflect that. Not much to say, really.

Terri Lyne Carrington - Unconditional Love
I've yet to sit down and listen to this album in a sitting but generally when tracks come up randomly in shuffle, I've been impressed.
Booker T. Jones - The Vamp
I keep coming back to this album. The Road From Memphis really is my favorite album of the year so far.
David Weiss & Point of Departure - I Have A Dream
Snuck In and Snuck Out are albums recorded as the first and second sets of a night at New York City's Jazz Standard. That had to have been a hot night in NYC.
Kneebody - You Have One Unheard Message
This was a last minute add to the show. I had an older Kneebody track in this slot but I just got some new material from the band. This is all in anticipation of their upcoming show in Austin next week. I'm pretty psyched about it.
Eric Harland - Voyager
Of all the new live albums I've gotten in this past week, the Eric Harland has impressed me the most. This is also just off the heels of James Farm, so I think Harland is enjoying a good run right now.
Matt Stevens - After All
This song has been on my mind lately, so here it resides.
The Bad Plus - Velouria
Honestly, I needed a short selection and TBP still wows me with this cover.

Mic Breaks
The Stuyvesants - Stuyvesant Swing
Ben Harper - Get There From Here
Washed Out - Far Away
The Stuyvesants - Roosevelt Projects Jam Session

The Line-Up for 7-1-2011

2011-07-01T21:58:00.008-05:00

I spent all week putting the playlist for this Line-Up together. I meticulously entered track by track into an Evernote, taking a whole week to cobble together a good show. I figured I was completely wrapped by Thursday only to find I had a little more time to fill and fill it I did. That's how much effort I give to all this. It takes a whole week to put a show together.

Anthony Wilson - Transition
Campo Belo is a pleasant album, in a good way. Usually when I say an album is "pleasant", I mean that it's nice to play but not particularly evocative. I may play a pleasant album only once and forget it soon after. Wilson's latest album does not fit this bill in the least. I've been thoroughly enjoying it ever since I got it last week.
Russell Gunn - Blue In Green
This is the only track that I didn't have already figured out earlier in the week. I figured I'd play Gunn after looking at some old playlists and realizing I hadn't played any of his work in a while.
ERIMAJ - End of the Rainbow
Jamire Williams celebrated his birthday yesterday by jaunting off to some European tour dates. I'm celebrating by playing a song off his EP, Memo to All.
Esperanza Spalding - Inútil Paisagem feat. Gretchen Parlato
This came to mind from the songs that follow it needing to be surrounded by something else with some bossa nova flair.
Sound Directions - Dice Game/Wanda Vidal
I love this song because you come for "Dice Game" but I really stay for "Wanda Vidal".
Bebel Gilberto - Aganjú
I remember the first time I hear this song playing on satellite radio riding home late at night in Georgia. The opening of it was pleasant but as it built into its funky, electric, lounge grooves, I was entirely bowled over. I want to be able to do that for someone out there to feel that same reaction.
The Odd Trio - Electric Relaxation
I like this version because if you watch the video, the last part of the song is drummed on a 40 oz beer bottle. That's dope.
Marco Benevento - Coffee Cold
This song is just too cool for school. That is all.
Thundercat - For Love I Come
I've been playing the Brainfeeder/Mochilla George Duke mix a lot this week, so naturally I had to play what the Duke inspired.
Nujabes - Peaceland
This song is dope and you know it.

Mic Breaks
Fat Jon - How You Feel
Fat Jon - Funkin'
Thelonious Martin - Break In Case Of Emergency
Thelonious Martin - A Hot Day In Winter

The Line-Up for 6-24-2011

2011-06-24T21:58:00.019-05:00

So what if you can't be in New York City or Montreal for the really great jazz festivals going on this weekend. I'll bring the festival to you.

Ben Williams - Moontrane
Just another friendly reminder that State of Art is still up for streaming over at Nextbop until its release date this coming Tuesday.
Gerald Clayton - If I Were A Bell
This man is everywhere lately, isn't he? First, He hit up Atlanta and now he's playing Undead? Insane.
Dave King Trucking Company - Payphones
I had seen that Dave King's new band was playing the Undead Jazz Festival but the moment I got to the station today, my music director was sure to put this album, Good Old Light, in front of me to make sure I could put it in front of you.
Tarbaby - Jena 6
Hank Shteamer wrote quite glowingly about Tarbaby's appearance at the Undead Jazz Fest, which made me think maybe I, too, should give The End of Fear another listen. Maybe we all should.
Ari Hoenig - Anthropology
I needed a decent come down from some eclectic selections while still fitting the theme of the set and the show. After poking, prodding, and cross referencing the KRTU library with the Undead schedule, this tune came up.
Darcy James Argue's Secret Society - Flux in a Box
Whenever DJA posts a new Gig Postmortem, it's a time for celebration.
Brad Mehldau - Exit Music (For a Film)
I knew I wanted to play this track, odd editing of Live in Marciac's tracks and Mehldau's fluid playing be damned.
Kurt Rosenwinkel - Blue Line
I wanted to close with something really cool. Rosenwinkel fits the bill.

Mic Breaks
TOKiMONSTA - Questing
TOKiMONSTA - Bright Shadows
St. Germain - What You Think About...
Morcheeba - Post Houmous

The Line-Up for 6-17-2011

2011-06-17T21:58:00.001-05:00

As much as I wasn't feeling the groove of putting last week's show together, I felt almost the opposite of picking this week's Line-Up. I had no pre-prepared Post-it Note of selections, I just had a soul set in mind and a few folks I knew I wanted to get back to playing. I feel it worked out pretty well.

JAMES Farm - Unravel
Some people get out of rotation in my show for a few weeks for the sake of variety, that way, I can ask "Hey, when's the last time I played some _____?" That's what happened here.
Ben Allison - Some Day We'll All Be Free
I haven't put together a ranked list of the best albums of the year so far (I'll be lazy and won't make a list until November or so) but Allison's Action-Refraction is certainly in consideration.
Portico Quartet- Clipper
Portico is one of those groups that needs time to breathe. I've been getting into them again lately. Some music rejoins us in their proper seasons.
Gretchen Parlato - Circling
I have to piecemeal the Parlato sometimes because I could still probably play two or three tracks of hers a week and not get tired of her, but I care about you, dear listener.
Stefon Harris, Dávid Sanchez, & Christian Scott - Black Action Figure
We're now at the point where Ninety Miles is getting all the play everyone anticipated it should be getting
Ben Williams - Mr. Dynamite
Be on the lookout for our album stream of Williams' State of Art next week.
Menahan Street Band - Everyday A Dream
This week's soul set is put together to compliment the new Ikebe Shakedown album that was most impressive rather immediately. Besides, I'll take any excuse to play Menahan Street Band.
Ikebe Shakedown - Tujunga
Seriously, it seems like the moment I put this album on, I was immediately impressed. Judging by the review The Revivalist gave it, I'm not alone in my thinking.
Booker T. Jones - The Hive
This is my favorite track off Jones' The Road From Memphis. Also, could this album be the companion piece to John Legend and The Roots' Wake Up? They have proven themselves to make amazing soulful albums as a session band two years in a row. I want The Road From Memphis to get the same level of Grammy consideration.
Marco Benevento - Greenpoint
I really enjoy the album version of this but it's really something to know that Benevento can get even funkier with this tune.

Mic Breaks
Sufjan Stevens - Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Restore! Rebuild! Reconsider!)
Dntel - Anyone Anywhere
Daedelus - Welcome Home
Teebs - Moments

My Posted Works for June 8-15

2011-06-15T14:01:00.000-05:00

I'm honestly going to try to keep this thing updated with works I've published on a weekly basis, especially since I have now added a second semi-regular avenue for my voice, SunDryed Affairs. I should hopefully be chiming in here weekly to post what new words I have scattered about the internet.

Last week's Nextbop column hearkens back to the same classicist/modernist jazz argument that sparks up from time to time.

I'm going to put this out plainly. I am tired of having this argument. I know that by mentioning it here, I'm part of the problem by even acknowledging it. But I also know that we can't move forward if we have all this infighting holding us back. When an angry old man starts spouting off at the mouth, we need to follow the late Sidney Lumet's example in Twelve Angry Men and start turning away en masse. There will be times like these when we can let talk like this still hold us down, but we need to move forward and make strides to embrace different lines of thought and leave the grackles outside to screech into the morning until they tire themselves out.

Also, fresh up today at SDA, my love letter to the city of Austin. (And yes, the second sentence is supposed to be that long and rambling.)

As a person of rather limited resources, I don’t go on vacation all too often. I hear vacationing is nice and I’m filled with appropriate levels of resentment whenever I see friends’ pictures on Facebook of their travels without the whole voyeuristic process becoming a hatred of others’ resources or my own wallowing in self-loathing (I’m trying to cut down). Yet from time to time, I’m actually able to get away from it all and revel in this vacation thing I hear so much about. A couple of months ago, I schlepped up to Austin for the South by Southwest music festival, which I found to be the perfect vacation for a neurotic control freak like me for a host of reasons. This was the likely the best vacation I ever had in my life (which is why I held this essay idea in my head for what’s now three months) and I realize it’s because it’s constructed exactly for my personality type. SXSW is totally keyed into passions I have about certain fundamental elements of life.

The Line-Up for 6-10-2011

2011-06-10T21:58:00.004-05:00

It was a grind putting this week's Line-Up together but all's well that ends well, eh? I'm not even sure if it's a great episode. I've got doubts. I don't like the combinations. But these shows work out well anyway.

Corea, Clark & White - Captain Marvel
I like that this group is still getting together and making good work. I'll never shy away from playing stuff like this, no matter how old they get. That just means they're growing even more chops.
Madlib - Stormy
Whenever I'm stuck putting a playlist together, I know I can never go wrong with Madlib, especially with Shades of Blue.
Gerald Clayton - Snake Bite
I revisit this album a lot lately, don't I? Well, it's good.
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones - Life in Eleven
I am most impressed with this album and its amalgamation of styles. Rocket Science is a quality album.
Jeff Lederer - Snake in the Blackberry Patch
One of the advantages of being at a radio station is that there are always people around with great taste who recommend good new music. Our music director, Kory, played a track or two off Lederer's Sunwatcher for me last week and I knew it was an album worth copping.
Thundercat - Daylight
When this song dropped on Pitchfork a few days ago, I had my doubts in the first minute but those doubts were quickly dashed immediately afterward. How dare I doubt Bruner.
Chris Dingman - Indian Hill
Look forward to Dingman's Waking Dreams to stream next week at Nextbop. I hope your appetite has been whetted.
Pat Metheny & Brad Mehldau - Ring of Life
This is my favorite song from the two albums Metheny and Mehldau did together. Jeff Ballard went all out on this track. The whole group did, really.
Robert Glasper - Festival
I love how risky this song is. Glasper's Experiment goes through many twists and turns and I love every part of the ride.
Ben Williams - The Lee Morgan Story
I had some doubts about playing something so rap heavy on the show, but the content, the quality of the playing, and of course Christian Scott's solo at the end removes all doubt. Maybe this is a show where I'm riddled with doubt only to have it dashed later.

Mic Breaks
MF DOOM - Coffin Nails
MF DOOM - Horehound
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Raspberry Dawn
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Count Backwards to Black

The Line-Up for 6-3-2011

2011-06-03T21:58:00.003-05:00

It's times like these when I'm playing music new and old that many folks probably haven't heard before or probably not for a while that I feel like I'm a good DJ. This is a good DJ show.

Grand Pianoramax - Infidel
Shout out to Leo Tardin who is celebrating his birthday today. Or is that last week? Man, Facebook is confusing.
JD Allen Trio - Mr. Steepy
This is a new one and deserves play.
Ben Williams - Moontrane
Williams' debut album is pretty nice. I'm looking forward to playing more of it soon.
Stefon Harris, David Sanchez, & Christan Scott - Ñengueleru
We've been waiting for this album and we've finally gotten our hands on a (scratched, unfortunately) copy. Still, due to some weird happenstance with the record label and things of that ilk, I'm just playing the free track that's already available. You may have heard about it.
Rachelle Ferrell - Why You Wanna Mess It All Up?
For me to have had a show this long and to have not played Rachelle Ferrell is an egregious error that I'm currently rectifying. Also, I'm trying to prove to Seb that vocals are instruments, too. I went to the far end of proving that, though, with this track.
D'Angelo - Spanish Joint
On my way to the station, this came on the iPod and I figured it would fit in the show. How good is Voodoo, huh? The album is eleven years old and I still can't take it out of rotation. I mean, come on. ?uestlove and James Poyser in the heavy Soulquarian sessions and Roy Hargrove, too? Like I said, it's a perfect fit.
Booker T. Jones - Harlem House
I just had to play Booker T. Jones another week. Come to think of it, I just played two tracks produced by ?uestlove in one night. Were this not the start of another set, they'd be a ?uestlove set of their own.
Menahan Street Band - The Crossing
A few months ago, Daptone released two Menahan Street Band tracks to play throughout spring and summer. I've played one, already. This is the other. That should hopefully tie us all over until they drop their next album.
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - Home is Where the Hatred Is
It's a rule of mine that I don't mourn artists I don't feel I know well enough. The passing of Gil Scott-Heron last week, while important enough to me, still left me hollow because I felt I didn't know enough of his work, really. Then on Tuesday, Gilles Peterson dedicated the majority of his BBC1 show to Scott-Heron and I felt I could do something.
Miguel Atwood-Fergusson - Hoc 'N Pucky
This track popped up on my iPod maybe three times in the last week. That's enough for me to say maybe it should get some play on the show.

Mic Breaks
Washed Out - It's Kate's Birthday
Flying Lotus - Shifty
MF DOOM - High John
J Dilla - History (Mos Instrumental)

SunDryed Affairs has launched

2011-06-01T15:14:00.001-05:00

I know that I haven't been altogether diligent here with noting past published works but I wanted to post once more about a project that I have been working on with Kyla Marshell entitled SunDryed Affairs. We have at long last launched and we're very happy to be up and running. This online magazine will feature different voices of color and we're still very much open to submissions. Feel free to submit essays, inquiries, and other assorted pieces to anthonydeanharris@sundryedaffairs.com. We'll be glad to welcome you into our collective.

In the meantime, head to SunDryed Affairs and get an eyeful of our different pieces. We shall constantly endeavor to be an interesting read for you every week.

The Miles Davis Episode of The Line-Up for 5-27-2011

2011-05-27T21:58:00.002-05:00

As is typical fashion for me, I celebrate the major birthdays (at least the ones to me) of jazz musicians that I feel would fit into the scheme of The Line-Up. Joe Sample technically doesn't fit, but I do it anyway. Miles Davis definitely fits so here a Miles Davis episode resides.

St. Germain - Sure Thing
When it comes to songs that sample Miles Davis, I'm going to run to this song pretty quickly. I mean, it's great on its own accord, but once you take the sample into account, that's the end of the game.
Apple Juice Kid - DubApple
I actually had another track from Miles Remixed here but the show was running long so I switched it out with this track. Still, this is a stand up album that's worth copping if you don't have it yet.
Kurt Elling - Blue In Green
When JD, the station's operations manager, was looking over this playlist, he shook his head at this selection. I still stand by Kurt Elling, but we've been over this time and again.
Miles Davis - Guinnevere
This is without a doubt my favorite Miles Davis song. I remember the first time I fell in love with it. I was working at a Cold Stone Creamery in Kennesaw, Georgia, iPod in my ears as I washed the dishes for the evening when I was thrown into a daze from this popping up in shuffle. I fell in love. Maybe that love can spread.
Gerry Gibbs and the Electric Thrasher Orchestra - In A Silent Way
I actually never heard Miles' version of this until his actual birthday. I love his electric period but I always have more stuff that I embarrassingly enough have yet to hear. That's fixed now.
Apple Juice Kid - Come 2 Me feat. Yahzarah & Raheem DeVaughn
I wanted just one more song with vocals and figured this fit the bill. Also, I've wanted to sing just a little bit on the air and poached this (perhaps not entirely well thought out) opportunity.

Mic Breaks
Teebs - Double Fifths
Teebs - Why Like
J Dilla - Bye.
J Dilla - Last Donut of the Night

The Line-Up for 5-20-2011

2011-05-20T21:58:00.002-05:00

There isn't one overall theme or idea this week, just little sets that seem to fit together to me for the most part. Also, I made it a point 1) that my music beds on my mic breaks actually work this week and 2) that all my music beds for my mic breaks are MF DOOM beats.

The Roots - Teen Town
There are tracks that I have added to the system specifically because I need really short selections to fill in time. I love Owen Biddle, I swear I do (that's part of the reason why I play Booker T. Jones later in the show, The Roots deserve their due props), but this song is here specifically because it's 50 seconds long. Besides, isn't it cool when the show starts at such breakneck speed?
Gretchen Parlato - Still (feat. Alan Hampton)
I honestly can't stay away from The Lost and Found for too long stretches of time. On the ride up to the station before putting this show together, the idea to play this song suddenly dawned on me; immediately after that, my iPod chose to play this song on its own. I consider that a sign from God that plays out in Line-Up awesomeness.
James Farm - Unravel
I actually had another James Farm selection in this slot but the show was running super long so I pared it back to this one. It fits, right?
Ben Allison - Some Day We'll All Be Free
I gave this song maybe three weeks to breathe and three weeks had to be enough. I still love it.
Jaspects - One Last Cry Before I Say
It's been far too long since I played the 1-2 punch of "One Last Cry Before I Say..." and "Goodbye Love". Bassist Jon-Christopher Sowells just kills this song, doesn't he?
Jaspects - Goodbye Love (feat. Fonzworth Bentley)
Playing "One Last Cry Before I Say..." without playing "Goodbye Love" just seems incomplete, doesn't it?
Kenneth Whalum III - If We Try
If I'm going to do a Morehouse set, I have to have KWIII.
Thundercat - For Love I Come
I am certainly not alone in my anticipation for Thundercat's upcoming album, fortunately Pitchfork shared the love this week and here this song sits.
Booker T. Jones - The Hive
This is my favorite cut off Jones' new album The Road From Memphis. This album is amazing and one of my favorites of the year so far. I played it three times straight through when I got ahold of it last week. Booker T. and The Roots are a great combo and they should work together forever.
Nujabes - Counting Stars
This is probably my favorite Nujabes song, but that makes sense since it's essentially George Benson remixed.
Harriet Tubman - Probe
Having this song sit here and not flanked by other equivalently or at least escalating and descending levels of free jazz is risky but I think I'm running with it.
The Odd Trio - Medley (Bastard, Lemonade, Assmilk)
My friend Alex is trying to get me into Odd Future but I'm still wrapped up in the ethics of their lyricism and their overall immaturity that doesn't appeal to me. Still, when he showed me this trio, I can at least stand strongly in saying Tyler, the Creator has chops in composition and those compositions have good room for expansion in the right hands. These are the right hands.

Mic Breaks
MF DOOM - Eucalyptus
MF DOOM - Saffron
MF DOOM - Spikenard
MF DOOM - Black Snake Root

The Line-Up for 5-13-2011

2011-05-13T21:58:00.085-05:00

At first, I had no ideas for this week's show. I had maybe one or two ideas for tracks but nothing fully formed. Eventually, I put a show together entirely and then went through my Google Reader as I'm apt to do throughout my day. That's when I found out today is Stevie Wonder's birthday. So I scrapped a good half of the show to put together a rather respectable Stevie Wonder soul set that one would expect from The Line-Up. That's the ramshackle goodness you come here for every week, right?

Jason Lindner - Big Pump
I wanted to play some Jason Lindner since I hadn't in a little while. I saw a video float around so that drove me to play some this week. I figured I'd look at who's featured on the album and it blew my mind. Me'Shell NdegéOcello? Kurt Rosenwinkel? Anat and Avishai Cohen? This album was insane already, then I read who was on it. I didn't know I could love Now Vs. Now any more than I already did.
Gerald Clayton - If I Were a Bell
I figured I'd play Clayton one more time on the air for the folks who've missed out on the Nextbop stream.
Geri Allen & Timeline - Four By Five
I was trying to put this show together when Kory started blasting this from the on air booth. I was compelled out of the production room and knew I had to snag this for the show in the evening.
Kurt Elling - Golden Lady
I think Elling and Lawrence Hobgood did an excellent job with this one, especially Hobgood's stacatto throughout the end. Elling can never escape his loungy tone of voice, and I appreciate that about him, but it's through Hobgood's arrangements that the pair achieve something more with their every endeavor. I stan for Elling. He's clearly not an edgy sound like this show can sometimes get, that's what makes him edgy to me.
Vijay Iyer - Big Brother
It's pretty clear that I had to play this for the Stevie Wonder set. Iyer does a great job with this song, stripped down but still funky.
Stevie Wonder - Maybe Your Baby
Pretty much all the Stevie Wonder songs in the KRTU library are songs I added myself. This is the only one that was here before me. It's nice to know things like that are still appreciated around here by folks other than me.
Adam Cruz - Outer Reaches
Kory suggested I play this and I figured I had room for it.
Chris Dingman - Waking Dreams
I got ahold of this one pretty recently and I really liked it. It deserves a spot and some airtime before its release late next month.
Maxwell - Phoenix Rise
I've actually wanted to play this track for a while now and figured I might as well now. It's just too cool.

The Line-Up for 5-6-2011

2011-05-06T21:58:00.002-05:00

I don't think I have anything special to say about this show in its entirety except that I'm pretty happy with it. The songs, and my subsequent commentary on them, should speak for themselves.

Christian Scott - Isadora
It seemed befitting to start the show off giving congratulations to the fresh engagement of Nextbop's good friend, Christian Scott, to his beloved Isadora Mendez. We wish them all the best.
Gerald Clayton - Snake Bite
All this week, Gerald Clayton's new album, Bond: The Paris Sessions is streaming at Nextbop. Needless to say, we're quite happy to share this album with you. I figured giving you a taste of this would lead you to the rest of the goodness.
Jason Moran - RFK in the Land of Apartheid
By now, you know how it goes... A song comes up on my commute, I fall for it all over again, it makes it into that week's Line-Up. Second verse, same as the first.
Becca Stevens Band - Weightless
Last week, I played a couple of Stevens' covers. This week, I played one of her equally amazing original tunes. Weightless is quickly in contention for hitting my Best of 2011 list.
Marco Benevento - Atari
Do I need to remind you that Benevento's live album, Bene Live: April '11, is free to download? Did I just do so in asking that question? Yep, I guess I did.
Gerry Gibbs and the Electric Thrasher Orchestra - Pinocchio
Yet another find that popped up through combing through the library, but when can I say no to Gerry Gibbs?
Ben Allison - We've Only Just Begun
My favorite track off Allison's Action-Refraction is "Some Day We'll All Be Free". KRTU Music Director Kory Cook's favorite track off this album is "We've Only Just Begun". Which do you think is better?
Ibrahim Maalouf - Esse Emme
This is another one of those albums that Seb got ahold of and therefore so did I. What's interesting about it, though, is that finding information about this album in America is particularly difficult. This is one of those albums that's really more of a European release, which makes sense considering the strong Arabic influences in the music. Thus, KRTU and Nextbop proves itself as playing music that you really don't hear everywhere. This is a legit DJ moment for me and I didn't even notice it until today.
Menahan Street Band - Everyday a Dream
I go pretty crazy for the Menahan Street Band. They're the coolest performing anachronism around.
Incognito - Expresso Madureira
I'll always have a soft spot for Incognito and their acid jazz sound. Also, this song title is hard as hell to pronounce.
Kenneth Whalum III - It Was Written feat. Common
I haven't played this one in a while so I figured it was time to pull up the KWIII. Also, did you know he's Ludacris' music director? That's just wild.

Mic Breaks
Zero 7 - Salt Water Sound
Zero 7 - Look Up
Nujabes - Kodara
Erykah Badu - My People

The Line-Up for 4-29-2011

2011-04-29T21:58:00.000-05:00

Once again, I have a week of really great new music. It's times like these that I feel like a legitimate DJ, although one would think after a year and a half of doing this and the good responses I get, that feeling would have sunk in by now. So goes my cycle of perpetual doubt. Anyway... music...

Ambrose Akinmusire - The Walls of Lechuguilla
Once again, I'm playing Akinmusire in the 1 spot. Also, pronouncing "Akinmusire" is much simpler than pronouncing "Lechuguilla". You have no idea how much practice I had to do with that.
Becca Stevens Band - There is a Light That Never Goes Out
I honestly don't know enough about The Smiths, but I know I like this cover. That and I thought Zooey Deschannel was cute when she sang this in the elevator in 500 Days of Summer. That's enough for me to play this song this evening. Plus, Becca Stevens' Weightless is an awesome album.
James Farm - Polliwog
Joshua Redman, Aaron Parks, Matt Penman, Eric Harland. You can't go wrong with that combo. It's like Ocean's 4 or something.
Ben Allison - Some Day We'll All Be Free
I have been playing this song constantly for the last two weeks. I'd find any excuse to play it. It dictated many walks and bus commutes. Jason Lindner does no wrong on this track. Donny Hathaway would be glad.
Neil Cowley - Stereoface
Seb finally posted tracks from Cowley's latest album, Radio Silence, to Nextbop. As you know, when Seb gets something, I get something. So when I get something, you hear something. Here's that something.
Marco Benevento - Coffee Cold
Another new acquisition is a live album Benevento just released and we've posted to Nextbop. This is just a taste of that legit bootleg. Very nice stuff.
The Bad Plus - Gaston
This is actually one of the better tracks off Everybody Wants to Be a Cat, Disney Jazz Vol. 1.
Bonobo - We Could Forever
This is one of those line straddles in which it's not exactly jazz but I still feel like it contains enough jazz elements that it could fit in the show. Plus, the next track needed a pair so I figured the reach was necessary. Besides, it's not like I didn't think Bonobo's Black Sands isn't great, because it totally is.
Marlena Shaw - California Soul (Diplo/Mad Decent Remix)
I love when I'm fishing around the library to figure out what to play and stuff like this comes up.
Becca Stevens Band- My Girls
I figured an Animal Collective cover is the perfect way to end the show. Right?

Mic Breaks
Radiohead - Feral
Nujabes - Arurian Dance
Nujabes - Steadfast
MF DOOM - Spikenard

The Line-Up for 4-22-2011

2011-04-22T21:58:00.000-05:00

Somehow I managed to put together a show made up primarily of completely new music. A whole lot of stuff I got was painstakingly entered into the computers for your enjoyment. You're going to enjoy it, right? Otherwise, what kind of holiday spirit would you be in to have all new music and not enjoy it?

Orrin Evans & Captain Black Big Band - Art of War
People have been talking about this album for a little while now but I've yet to have the chance to listen to any of it. Usually when that happens, a song like that makes the 1 spot.
Ambrose Akinmusire - Jaya
I also need a little more time with Akinmusire's new one, When the Heart Emerges Glistening. There's been a lot of hype surrounding Akinmusire's Blue Note debut, hopefully you see why.
Nels Cline - Dirty Baby Part IV (Shut This Gate)
Cline has been on my mind lately. Wilco has been popping up on the iPod (I have an iPod, now, btw). The new Harriet Tubman has the same sort of avant garde feel as Cline's recent solo releases. It seemed like a perfect fit for this hour.
Stephan Crump & Rosetta Trio - Overreach
Stephan Crump's latest album seems like a really chill selection of songs that I'm not hearing a lot of folks mention. It's been out for a few months now but it hasn't been getting a lot of talk which I find odd considering the emphasis lately on a "less is more" philosophy a la Gretchen Parlato. Cross apply this thinking to Vijay Iyer's bassist and you have an interesting album here.
Josh Moshier & Mike Lebrun - Hometown Marvel
I really like this song. I've liked it for a while now. When putting this show together, I was scrolling through selections and was completely perplexed as to why this song had never been played on the air before considering how much I like it. I had to correct such an egregious error.
Benjamin Moussay - Don't Wake Me Up!
I honestly haven't taken a lot of time to listen to Moussay. His latest album, On Air will sit in various media players for months on end and I'll say I'd listen to it eventually. Even his placement on Nextbop's Best of 2010 list was a decision Seb made. I should really trust his judgment more.
Harriet Tubman - Night Master/Ascension
This album is a challenge. It's a challenge the way the aforementioned Nels Cline is a challenge. But this group is doing some really interesting stuff both with Coltrane's headier work and with their own compositions. Interesting jazz is sometimes worth that little bit of effort.
Vijay Iyer with Prasanna & Nitin Mitta - Tribal Wisdom
Have I mentioned that I think Tirtha is Iyer's best album yet? Because it totally is.
Gretchen Parlato - Circling
I love this song. I loved this song when I first heard her sing it with Aaron Parks on piano during the documentary Icons Among Us: Jazz in Present Tense. I love it even more here with a full backing and Taylor Eigsti on piano. I love her new album, The Lost and Found. I'll get off my soapbox now.
The Bad Plus - Never Stop
I think this is one of the two repeats I'm playing on this show but I figured it's a good, pulsing closer to a pretty great hour overflowing with great new music.

Mic Breaks
Daedelus - Sew Darn Mend
TOKiMONSTA - Gamble
Matthewdavid - All You'll Never Know
Daedelus - Slowercase D

The Line-Up for 4-15-2011

2011-04-15T21:58:00.002-05:00

It's the Herbie Hancock episode of The Line-Up. This is the episode that's a big deal but not as big a deal as the Joe Sample episode. That's just how it goes.

Kurt Elling - Blue in Green
I think my favorite thing about this song is the use of layering. When folks talk about Kurt Elling, they need to note that they're also talking about Lawrence Hobgood since the two are essentially attached at the hip. The arrangement Hobgood puts on this rendition (which is essentially an upgrade of Al Jarreau's cover of the same song that he did on his 1992 album, Heaven and Earth) gives this a certain amount of depth that I never thought such a simple song could have. I really, really enjoy this.
Jaspects - Chitlins & Chalupas
What is Battle of Flowers anyway? San Antonio comes to some sort of celebratory halt in the middle of April for Fiesta and I don't know why. My family was never one for Fiesta so I never get caught up in it. I figure I'll throw the city a bone and play a song that references chalupas (even though it's by an all black band of Morehouse Men).
Bann - Minor Shuffle
Honestly, this is a computer selection but I'm definitely copping this album.
Herbie Hancock - Kebero, Pt. 2
Not a lot of people talk about Hancock's '02 album, Future 2 Future, but that may be why I have a soft spot for it. It's trippy, maybe a little misguided, and Chaka Khan eventually shows up (on last week's selection). Some folks may not care for it, but I try to shout out this littlest album that could.
Herbie Hancock - Butterfly
This is my favorite Herbie Hancock song ever. Both Gretchen Parlatto and Robert Glasper have covered it fairly recently. It's pretty good in its original version on Hancock's Thrust, but he really pulls out all the stops on the live Japanese import album, Flood, heard here.
Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay
I actually forgot Hancock was a player on this album. I guess that's yet another reason why I love this song so much.
Nordic Connect - Things I Love
This is a pretty cool computer selection and I figure an alright close to the show.

Mic Breaks
Daedelus - Adventress
The Remix Project - OutKast "Prototype"
DJ Jazzy Jeff - Bossynova
Thundercat - Thundercat Jamboree

The Line-Up for 4-8-2011

2011-04-08T21:58:00.002-05:00

I'm feeling much less under the weather than I was last week, still the cough is still nagging while the music this week is still banging.

Gretchen Parlato - Juju
I am quite happy with Parlato's latest album, The Lost and Found. I think she's moving forward as a musician and vocalist quite well. She's making interesting song selections and the Robert Glasper touch in production shows quite well. She's growing into one of the great jazz vocalists of our era.
Austin Peralta - Capricornus
I asked myself when was the last time I played some Austin Peralta. I'm still loving Endless Planets so it had to have been too long.
Jason Parker - Way to Blue
The biggest surprise of Parker's latest album, Five Leaves Left: A Tribute to Nick Drake, is Josh Rawlings on piano. When he cuts loose, these songs really play.
Noah Preminger - Quickening
Computer selection, leaving it at that
Mostly Other People Do the Killing - Round Bottom, Square Top
Folks have been talking about this group for some time and I have yet to ever hear any of their stuff... until now.
Stevie Wonder - Contusion
I realize I haven't played this song in a while so I figured it was time for it to resurface.
Mickey and the Soul Generation - Chocolate
This soul set just sort of grew and grew from songs the computer picked into all I could cram into a certain amount of time. By the time I had arranged everything, I ended up with this selection here.
George Benson - Water Brother
The same could be said for this track here. After a while, I asked what was short and could fit here in this time slot so I don't go over time too much for the hour. I think these picks paid off.
Herbie Hancock - The Essence feat. Chaka Khan
Not a lot of people talk about Hancock's 2001 album, Future 2 Future. It's not really one of his best ones but there are still some pretty good tracks on it and it's worth a revisiting spin every now and again. Let this track here be a jogging of your memory of an album that's still pretty decent, even though folks may have not have fully embraced it when it dropped ten years ago. Besides, is there ever not a time for Chaka Khan?
Christian McBride - The Wizard of Montara
The computer actually chose another McBride song to close out the show but as I started playing songs, I had to rearrange stuff for time and this shorter tune fit. Not a bad replacement, either.

Mic Breaks
Nujabes - Tsurugi No Mai
Ethereal - Big Bluff...
Quantic and His Cosmic Barbaro - Cancao Do Deserto
Zero 7 - Look Up
Nujabes - World Without Words

The Line-Up for 4-1-2011

2011-04-01T21:58:00.000-05:00

To be frank, I'm fighting off a cold so I don't really have a lot to say this week. Fortunately, the music shall speak for me. Oh, and make sure to pledge your support to KRTU. The spring fund drive is over but that still doesn't mean it's too late to become a member of the station.

Garage A Trois - Outre Mer
Who's excited about a new Garage A Trois album? Eh, anybody? I know y'all are. I'll hip y'all to that as soon as I get my hands on it.
Justin Vasquez - Nimbus
This one's a computer selection but I figured since I intended to play some new Gretchen Parlato this week anyway, this seemed like a logical fit.
Taylor Eigsti - Midnight After Noon feat. Becca Stevens
This one's here because Eigsti is the pianist for Parlato's latest album. Everything seems to fit together so well.
Gretchen Parlato - All That I Can Say
Who remembers this song? I remember first hearing it and thinking it was the most I had ever been impressed with Mary J. Blige. When I learned it was Lauryn Hill who wrote it, things made sense. Knowing that Gretchen Parlato is tackling it for her new album makes it all the better.
Jason Parker - River Man
At long last, Parker has released his Nick Drake project on the world.
The Bad Plus - Physical Cities
This is my favorite TBP song from my favorite TBP album.
Freddie Hubbard - South Street Stroll
I've been sort of feeling like playing some Freddie Hubbard lately. I hope you don't mind.
Pat Metheny - The Spirit of the Air
Computer picked it but when was the last time I played a track from Orchestrion, huh?

Mic Breaks
Bonobo - Kiara
Iron and Wine - Rabbit Will Run
Black Moth Super Rainbow - From the See
Tom Waits - Midtown
Glover Gil & Tosca Tango Orchestra - El Cholulo

New Project: SunDryed Affairs

2011-03-28T13:11:00.000-05:00

It's a little weird using this space for anything other than playlists for The Line-Up and it's not like I've been using it to sum up all the writing I've been doing in various locales like I should but I did want to make a note of another project I'm undertaking.

Kyla Marshell and I are putting together a blog collective/online literary journal entitled SunDryed Affairs. The site will be a collective of voices of people primarily of color. The focus of the site will mostly be whimsical essays on various topics but to put it plainly, it can be just about whatever you want it to be because I'm asking you, dear reader, to be a part of it.

Check out http://sundryedaffairs.wordpress.com/, check out our submission guidelines, and be on the lookout for the greatness to come.

The Line-Up for 3-25-2011

2011-03-25T21:58:00.001-05:00

Hey, thanks for bearing with me for missing a week of The Line-Up. Special thanks to Kory Cook for filling in for me last week. Last week was one of only two weeks in which I've missed doing my show and one of them was a power outage. I figure missing another for South By Southwest is good enough of an excuse.
This week's show is a combo "This show is awesome so please support KRTU during our annual spring pledge drive"/"Stuff I've roundaboutly run across while at SXSW" show. It's going to get weird but still pretty cool. Dig in.

Menahan Street Band - Home Again!
Before I went on my trip, I hipped my family to Menahan Street Band. I totally wish I could have seen their couple of shows at SXSW but maybe another time. You can hear, they are quite awesome.
Sun Ra - Lanquidity
I cannot say no to Sun Ra. Seriously. This song is technically too long for me to play on this show considering I have other lengthy selections in this hour. It has little to do with the theme of what I'm going for this week for the show. Still, I just can't say no to it once the computer put it in the hour. Even thinking about deleting it makes me feel leery.
Grand Pianoramax - Clairvoyance
Leo Tardin and crew did a spectacular show during SXSW. I was there. They really blew the doors off the place.
Marco Benevento - Heartbeats
I didn't know Benevento was playing shows up in Austin last week until maybe a day after I got there and after that, it was pretty impossible to schedule him into the juggling act that is scheduling for a music festival that's so congested and spreads across all of Austin, Texas. I wish I could have made it but maybe next time.
Daedelus - Thanatopsis
I've been listening to Daedelus since college. A friend of mine hipped me to him and I've been hooked ever since. But every time he rolled through Atlanta while I was there, I was never able to make it to a performance. When I found out he was playing SXSW, I moved like the wind to make it. The wait was worth it.
Kool and the Gang - Summer Madness
I wanted to play this song for a few weeks now. This was one of those "oh, no he didn't" tracks that fits perfectly and displays just how wide one can consider jazz. I love the hell out of this song.
Frank Zappa - The Grand Wazoo
I'd like to thank my friend Matt once more for letting my friend and I crash at his quite full house during the festival. Chilling on the back patio, drinking beer, and talking about Zappa's fusion period was one of the best moments of last week's Austin trip. There were many many moments that were quite amazing last week but the calm of that moment at 2am was pretty amazing. I'll always think of that when I think about Frank Zappa.
Charlie Hunter - Special Shirt
It's a computer selection, but like all of them, I like it. That's what's so great about KRTU. They have a great selection of music.

Mic Breaks
OutKast - My Favorite Things
Bonobo - Kiara
Quantic and His Cosmic Barbaro - Undelivered Letter
Flying Lotus - Galaxy in Janaki (This song is essentially my theme song to life.)

The Line-Up for 3-11-2011

2011-03-11T21:58:00.000-06:00

I rather like this show. There were some tracks that I managed to lose the night before that didn't make it in this week (really, there was one "oh, no he didn't" track that I wanted to play that would have fit perfectly but it dropped from my memory card so it will have to wait until next week) but I think this week's selections are particularly good. You be the judge.

Matt Savage - Picturesque
The computer picked it, but you know how I am about computer selections. We keep a good library for a reason.
Jason Moran - RFK in the Land of Apartheid
I'm often finding myself coming back to this song. It'll make me stop what I'm doing to dance and whistle to it. It's that serious.
Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green - Eastern Echoes
This is here largely because it seems like the logical fit for the following track. This whole set was formed around the new Vijay Iyer that follows these tracks.
Vijay Iyer feat. Prasanna & Nitin Mitta - Duality
I am loving Tirtha. Iyer constantly proves that he can do whatever the hell he wants to do with his music because he's just so awesome at it. This trio is spectacular and everyone gets the chance to shine all over this album. It is truly amazing.
Sam Barsh - George Dub
Whenever I'm at a loss about what to do when I can't come up with tracks for the show, I'll search around the computer's library and see what catches my eye. This popped out at me and now I must have the work of Sam Barsh for myself.
Chico Hamilton - El Toro (Mark De Clive-Lowe Remix)
The same can be said for this one. These last two songs may have been some of the best library searching I've done in quite some time. These are some great discoveries for me. I hope you agree.
Gerry Gibbs and the Thrasher Band - The 70s Song
The computer picked this one but I might have placed this here myself all the same. I really was feeling bad that I hadn't had a real soul set in a few weeks. This marks that comeback in spades.
The Crusaders - Last Call feat. BB King
I was waiting for the bus the other day when I realized I don't have to wait for February to play The Crusaders. Everyday can be Joe Sample Day if you keep it in your heart.
Bill Goodwin & John Scofield - Ida Lupino
A couple months ago, Music Director Kory Cook was telling me about this album, Solar Energy, that came in. He recommended it to me so I ripped a copy of it to my BlackBerry and figured I'd listen to it later. I finally gave the album its due attention and I understand why Kory likes it so much. I figured I'd give it some play this week. Then, when I was entering this track into the library, in my research, I didn't realize how much of a rarity this album is. Now I understand Kory's enthusiasm about it even more.
Garage A Trois - Needles
Why don't I have any Garage A Trois? No, seriously? Why?

Mic Breaks
(I went all Brainfeeder label on the mic breaks. At least up until the end when I figured I'd play something a little less known about Donald Glover, whose latest EP has bombarded the internet this week, but did you know before he got really famous, he remixed all the songs from Sufjan Stevens' Illinoise? He totally did.)
Teebs - You've Changed
TOKiMONSTA - Sweet Day
The Gaslamp Killer - Monsterfromtheunderground
mc DJ - tallest

The Line-Up for 3-4-2011

2011-03-04T21:58:00.008-06:00

This is actually the first time in a few weeks in which I walked into the studio without a concept for a show already in mind. Fortunately, I managed to pull together some more new stuff from some folks I've been playing lately and the computer also got my back this week by throwing in some pretty choice cuts. Altogether, your standard awesome jazz show out of San Antonio.

Kyle Eastwood - Hot Box
This was a computer selection but I rather like the idea of the son of Clint Eastwood as a jazz bassist with a song called "Hot Box."
The Trio of Oz - I Will Possess Your Heart
This one came up out of scrolling through the new additions to the computer. First, the name of the group caught my eye but once I saw this title, I thought to myself, "They can't really be doing what I think they're doing. Really?" They totally are.
Austin Peralta - Ode to Love
1) Yes, I'm still loving this album and will likely be tossing it around in my head come December when it's time to make year end lists.
2) I finally saw Lords of Dogtown the other day. It's nice to get the context surrounding his dad. This kid is really forging his own path, though, in a really cool way.
Brad Mehldau - Things Behind the Sun
This version from Live in Marciac is just a little bit better than when he played this on 2004's Live in Tokyo. The Tokyo version had a nice solemn tone to it that really hits me but the beat he added to his Marciac rendition really brings it.
Plunge - Life Lite
It's a computer selection and it's new. I figured I'd give it a shot. With it just being a group of horns, I figured it could juxtapose the sparseness of this group to a solo piano without missing much.
Rahsaan Roland Kirk - I Say A Little Prayer
I feel I've been ignoring the soul set lately so I figured I'd halfway ease myself back with some Rahsaan Roland Kirk. It's only one song but when it comes to Kirk, you may not need much more soul than him.
Kenneth Whalum III - If We Try
This song came up while I was riding the bus home yesterday and I felt so inspired, I knew it had to come up again on the show this week.
Tia Fuller - Shades of McBride
I know this concert has been on my mind for a little bit but it still felt like a bit of a surprise to me. I guess it's because I'm sort of surprised it's already March and I'm wondering if I'm going to make it to SXSW and in the whirlwind of all these thoughts, that's when I noticed this concert fell right in the middle of it. It does need it's due attention but this also means I should be paying it attention myself. This is a taste of that.
Grand Pianoramax - Infidel
So Leo Tardin is going to be playing a show at SXSW. I'm really shocked but sort of excited that a jazz act is playing SXSW, an official show at that. It being an official festival show, this means I'm almost definitely not getting to see it, but that doesn't mean my excitement wanes. I'm glad jazz, especially jazz on the fringe like this, is getting this kind of exposure.

Oh, I want to make a note of this. I really really really want to go to SXSW but I'll need a place to crash in Austin. If I have any listeners in Austin or who knows anyone in Austin who can loan some floor space for me and a friend for a night or two, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Mic Breaks
Erykah Badu - Gone Baby, Don't Be Long
Mogwai - White Noise
Kanye West - Devil in a New Dress
Miguel Atwood-Fergusson - Affolements Grantiques
Miguel Atwood-Fergusson - Don't Nobody Care 'Bout Us

The Line-Up for 2-25-2011

2011-02-25T21:58:00.002-06:00

I don't think I have much of a theme for this week other than this being a collection of mostly new music that I got in this week. Actually, some of it is new and some of it has just been waiting for the opportunity to come to light.

Brad Mehldau - Lithium
The moment I'm done putting this playlist together, I'm going to tear this station apart until I find this album and rip it to my BlackBerry to have for my very own. It's new and I neeeeeed it.
Nicholas Payton - Freesia feat. Esperanza Spalding
If you do a standard Google, you'll run across this mixtape somewhere out there in the Wild West that is the Internet. It's free so you might as well put a little work into it. Also, it's still waiting for confirmation but Payton just got on Twitter and he is nothing if not entertaining (like hearing him talk or hearing his music).
Mister Barrington - Wrong Number!
I've been waiting for Owen Biddle of The Roots to get on a project like this, so I was really glad to see it come to fruition.
Q.E.D. - Soft Lights
I've had this album for a little while but have been waiting for just the right time to play something from it on The Line-Up.
Henry Threadgill Zooid - It Never Moved
You may not like this at first, I didn't, but when it finally clicks in your head, a whole new world will appear.
Gerry Gibbs and the Electric Thrasher Orchestra - Directions (Take #1)
I love Gerry Gibbs in practically all his endeavors so hearing him play Miles tunes in his fusion period with a large ensemble like this is absolutely majestic.
Miles Davis - Hip-Skip
When I ran across this over at Destination: Out, I knew it would find a spot on The Line-Up. This show is just made for Miles in his most contentious period.
Alice Coltrane - Journey in Satchidananda
I don't really know why I picked this song to wrap up the show this week. I was replacing a song in this slot that I absolutely knew wouldn't fit and this actually just shouted out to me that it would be the proper replacement.

Mic Breaks
Toro y Moi - Intro/ChiChi
Tycho - Lapse
Flying Lotus - Breathe . Something/Stellar STar
Washed Out - Feel It All Around

The Line-Up for 2-18-2011

2011-02-18T21:58:00.001-06:00

It is a glorious day. Radiohead pulled the okey-doke on us all and released The King of Limbs a day in advance. I actually had planned to play this album in th mic breaks this evening anyway since I hoped to get the album around noon (since that's about midnight in England) but the push up in release made things much simpler. It's a good album. Not their best, but good.
But I'm gushing too much about non-jazz issues. Here's this week's Line-Up.

Benjamin Drazen - Inner Flights
I just got Drazen's Inner Flights album this week and thought it was pretty good. It's pretty straight ahead but nice. You'll hear more of this in the future more than likely.
Josh Moshier & Mike Lebrun - King's Road
I've been feeling saxophone/piano combos lately so Moshier/Lebrun have come up. I like this pair and I like what they're rolling out with next even more.
Austin Peralta - Capricornus
The works of the Brainfeeder label have still been stuck on my mind. The moment I got paid this week, I bought Endless Planets. This is a very good album and a great first major effort for Peralta. This kid shows a lot of potential. Plus, if this is where Brainfeeder is going, I'm getting excited about the attention jazz is soon to get.
Esperanza Spalding - I Adore You
This really is one of my favorite songs from Spalding, fully indicative of her range as a vocalist and bassist.
Stanley Clarke feat. Esperanza Spalding - All Over Again
This track serves as a transition between recent Grammy winners. This song was my first introduction to Spalding. If Stanley Clarke vouches for her, I'm game.
The Stanley Clarke Band - Fulani
I think I may have played this recently. Like... really recently. But after this album won a Grammy, I have to give it its due justice. Plus, I really like this song.
Medeski Martin & Wood- Uninvisible
I was really working hard on figuring out what song to put in this spot. I technically don't have a soul set this week and that bugs me, but MMW still gets pretty funky enough to count, right?
Kenneth Whalum III - If We Try
I wanted to play some more Kenneth Whalum and also keep with the sax/piano combo that's been on my mind lately.
Nicholas Payton - Tantric
This is another one of those moments when I figured I'd go all out at the close of the show. I also want to marvel in the breadth and versatility of Nicholas Payton's repertoire. I'm a little excited about his upcoming concert now.

Songs During the Mic Breaks (The King of Limbs, woo!)
Radiohead - Lotus Flower
Radiohead - Bloom
Radiohead - Little By Little
Radiohead - Separator

The Line-Up for 2-11-2011

2011-02-11T21:58:00.001-06:00

I had an idea that I wanted to carry out for this week's Line-Up based largely on Flying Lotus' takeover of Benji B's show on BBC radio a couple of weeks ago. I listened to this set recently and I felt my life changing. I was rethinking jazz and radio and music in general and I just had to bring some of that vibe to The Line-Up this week. I think this is the most chill I've ever sounded on the radio. This may have been one of my favorite shows to have ever put together. Plus, I finally figured out how to play music in the background of my talking! Boy, is that ever complicated.

Ralph Bowen - Drumheller Valley
I always say that if you really want to impress me musically, get at me in my commute, especially while walking. If I can really feel walking to your song, you'll essentially open me up to the rest of your work. Bowen's "Drumheller Valley" showed up on my BlackBerry on shuffle (like everything else I play) and really moved my commute one day this week. For that, it gets the first spot of the hour.
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - Hoc N Pucky
This guy has been everywhere I look musically lately so it was only a matter of time before one of my binges on his stuff would filter into the show. "Hoc N Pucky" is my favorite track from Timeless: Suite for Ma Dukes. It, too, is good walking music.
The Roots feat. The Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Dillchestra - Antiquity
The binge continues.
J Dilla - Oblighetto
I know it's a little ironic for my column this week to be against mourning, especially for those musicians I don't know a lot about, but for some reason I bucked my own logic on both counts and did a set about Dilla and closed with this track. Maybe, like most things in jazz, I'm more moved by how late greatness moves those still here, so I don't feel too late to the celebration that is James Yancey.
Kenneth Whalum III - It Was Written feat. Common
In full disclosure, both Whalum and I are Morehouse class of 2008 but I'd play his stuff all the same. He's backed Maxwell's triumphant return. He's playing with Robert Glasper all over his debut album. He's sitting on top of iTunes' jazz charts. Real recognize real, institutional bias or no. But, of course, this is the kind of greatness one would expect from a fellow Morehouse Man.
Robert Glasper - Downtime
Well since Glasper was on the last track, I might as well make a clear thread between the two tracks.
Sound Directions - The Horse
In my mind, if I start the show off playing J Dilla, it almost mandates I eventually play some Madlib.
Monk Higgins - Black Fox
The soul set is always an excuse for me to explore the library and see what I come across, practically sight unseen (or unheard, really). This is one of those blind picks that I think worked out really well.
ERIMAJ - End of the Rainbow
Let's see that thread I made again. J Dilla -> Madlib -> Madvillain, also KWIII -> Robert Glasper -> Jamire Williams. Though this be madness, there be method in't.
Flying Lotus - Mmmhhmmm feat. Thundercat
I figure by this point, the chill will have taken you over and such a turn in genre (if you can still make those sorts of clear divisions) like this isn't jarring. The sounds have been so cool this week, haven't they?
Nujabes - Counting Stars
Another thread: producers who made great jazzy hip hop stuff who died far too young. J Dilla -> Nujabes.
Apple Juice Kid - Dubapple
And I figure one more producer of jazzy hip hop stuff would be a great closer for this week's show.

Mic Breaks:
Flying Lotus - Zodiac Shit
The Roots - Donuts (Outro)
Bobby Hutcherson - Montera
Henry Threadgill Zooid - Lying Eyes
Maurice Brown - Hip to Bop

The Line-Up for 2-4-2011

2011-02-04T21:58:00.003-06:00

Today was rather interesting. Early this morning, San Antonio saw its first snowfall since 1985. Some places saw all of 3 inches of snow. Yes, it's not a lot but it is for us and it caused much of the city to shut down. Still I'm a professional so I made sure to get a show to you this week and a good one it is, too.

Joe Sample feat. Lalah Hathaway - Fever
As is tradition (that I'm currently making), the first song following the previous week's Joe Sample episode of The Line-Up must also be a Joe Sample song so as to ensure that his birthday is adequately sandwiched between Fridays. Also, I didn't have the time to fit in anything from his 1999 album, The Song Lives On. I mentioned it last week but didn't have the time to play it until now. This seemed like the perfect time for it.
Medeski, Martin & Wood - Everyday People
When I think of MMW, I'm not thinking of a lower energy song so when I saw how this song was categorized, I figured it was worth playing.
Charles Lloyd & Brad Mehldau - Lotus Blossom
I actually haven't gotten around to listening to this album but I remember the look of intrigue that ran across everyone at the station's face when we combed through the new albums and saw this here.
Portico Quartet - Clipper
The arrangements of these last three songs steadily built to this point. Once I put the MMW and the Lloyd/Mehldau together, I somehow knew Portico would fit here. This specific song.
The Bad Plus - You Are
I don't know why but I sought out this song to put here. No reason why, I just knew it would fit.
The Stanley Clarke Band feat. Hiromi - Fulani
I have been really feeling this album lately. I like fusion and I feel I have to apologize for it a lot because it sounds so dated, even when it's new. Still, I believe with many genres and subgenres, in the right hands, even a generally loathed genre can be executed well and Clarke accomplishes this.
Menahan Street Band - Make the Road By Walking
I've had this group stuck in my head for a couple of weeks now and did a Google of them the other day. I had no idea that this is a new group. Their classic sound is so brilliant I felt I've been hearing them for years. Also, yes, Jay-Z used this song as a sample. I think Wale did, too. Someone check me on that.
Roy Hargrove Big Band - Roy Allen
I felt like the whole show was raising to this specific peak.
The Nels Cline Singers - Devining
And now that we've reached the peak, we can go just plain nuts to close things out.

The 1st Annual Joe Sample Episode of The Line-Up for 1-28-2011

2011-01-28T21:58:00.001-06:00

Yes, it's that time of year again. February 1 is right around the corner so it's time for the Joe Sample episode of The Line-Up. Sample is the man whose career I have adored since I was a small child and I feel I owe it to him to celebrate his birthday every year. I always had when I grew up so it was only natural that I'd do the same with The Line-Up. Also, I rather like celebrating the birthdays of jazz musicians while they're still alive. Folks deserve their due recognition while they're here.

Joe Sample - Black and White (As Simple As)
My favorite Joe Sample album has to be 1996's Old Places Old Faces. The one time I was able to see him perform live was while he was touring around this album. I distinctly recall the cold night at Sunken Gardens, my sister clearly the youngest at that concert and still with some knowledge of the songs (I was 10 at the time). This album holds a special place in my heart.
Michael Franks - Chez Nous
I just realized that while I knew I would play some Michael Franks this week, I told someone at an event the other day that I'd play something from The Art of Tea, not Blue Pacific. Oops.
Anita Baker - Sometimes I Wonder Why
The songs Sample played on Baker's 1994 album, Rhythm of Love, always made me hear more of these two together. Fortunately that happened shortly after Baker's recent comeback. Sample played on every track of Anita Baker's 2005 album, Christmas Fantasy and it was 1) a very decent Christmas album with some choice cuts that one could listen to year round and 2) probably a better album than her actual comeback album, 2004's My Everything (which was still pretty damn good). Still, this track is a great ballad and a nice departure from the clearly 90s R&B sound (which has a time and place, generally I do love the rest of this album, though) that's all throughout Rhythm of Love.
Joe Sample - Invitation
I like to think Invitation is when Sample 1) started to become a true jazz historian, giving a different kind of credence to jazz standards that wasn't always present in his earlier work and 2) when Sample decided he could do whatever he wanted. My guess is Warner Bros. disagreed with him which is why he might have left the label soon after Old Places Old Faces.
The Crusaders - Street Life
This song was The Crusaders' biggest hit. If you don't know this song, get acquainted. Randy Crawford tears the walls down.
Freddie Hubbard - Crisis
While putting this show together, I wanted to make sure I was doing something truly different, so I actually decided to do some research (and by research, I mean combing through Joe Sample's credits page on allmusic.com. I knew I'd run across quite a few artists who would make me say, "Oh, I didn't know he worked with ______." This is one of those artists who caught my eye.
Donald Byrd - Where Are We Going?
Donald Byrd is another.
The Crusaders - Marcella's Dream
This is probably one of my favorite Crusaders songs. Plus, I like the ebb and flow I made in this week's soul set.
Joe Sample - Jitterbug Waltz
Once you get to Sample in the Aughts, he hits full blown historian mode. When I first heard his 2004 album, Soul Shadows, I just thought he was being a cranky old man. He's playing entirely by himself? He's playing old standards some folks have never even heard of? What the heck is he doing? But the more I listened to the album, the more I realized just how beautifully he was playing. How his general heavy-handed playing still gave each note a chance to breathe, even when there are many of them frantically put together. I thought this was a particularly good version of this classic standard, "The Jitterbug Waltz." He doesn't stray too far from the melody, he just plays with the time and the actual number of notes. It's playing in a classicist way but still doing something new. The more I listen to him now, the more I see he's not a cranky old man after all. That's why I love him.

The Line-Up for 1-21-2011

2011-01-21T21:58:00.000-06:00

I really had no clue what to play for this week. I almost just put together a whole show of Radiohead covers (that could still happen at some point). Still, I put together a show with a good mix of new and old that came together pretty well with little hints here and there for next week's show commemorating Joe Sample's birthday (on February 1st).

Medeski, Martin & Wood - Junkyard
I figured I'd put some MMW in here but thought it a little risky to play them at the top of the hour. This is me living dangerously.
Takuya Kuroda - Blue Tomato
I've had this album for a little while but haven't given it a proper chance yet. Consider this Kuroda's chance for me.
Joe Lovano Us Five - Passport
Everyone is talking about this album lately. I mean absolutely everyone in the jazz world. This is me jumping on the bandwagon as any good radio host should.
Jaco Pastorius Big Band - Good Morning Anya
I was first exposed to Jaco Pastorius in the winter. I don't know if his music is good for this season but that's when he always called out to me. With it still a little chilly, now's a good time for him.
Marcus Miller - Amandla feat. Roy Hargrove
We've had Miller's new album, A Night in Monte Carlo at Nextbop for a good little while now and there are more tracks there up for streaming. Also, we've got a contest running right now for you to get the chance to win an autographed copy (It's station policy for us to not mention contests on the air or calls to action, but I'm pretty sure I can mention this here on the blog). This is just a taste.
Donald Byrd - Think Twice
I can't stop singing the praises of The Revivalist. Their post this week on this song is the reason why "Think Twice" made my soul set of the week. The variations of this song are worth a listen.
CTI All-Stars - Fire and Rain
I think the era CTI label is one of my favorite periods in jazz. Benson, Hubbard, Carter, Turrentine, Laws? What? A group like that is just crazy.
Russell Gunn - I Wish
I didn't know Russell Gunn covered this Carl Thomas song (remember him?). It's a little slow for me at the start but still a good cover.

The Line-Up for 1-14-2011

2011-01-14T22:58:00.001-06:00

This is one of those shows that came together in an odd way. I had an idea for what I wanted to do when I headed to the station, scrapped much of it while putting the show together, and now I'm oddly proud of this mix. Hopefully you'll feel the same.

Also, someone let me know if the descriptions I add for each track is really necessary. I think I may cut them out completely after a while. The intros are a must, but the whole "why I picked this track at this spot" thing may not be necessary, unless I'm linking something important or something. I'm still mulling it over.

The Bad Plus - Super America
Dr. Lonnie Smith - Mellow Mood
Kneebody - Never Remember
Apple Juice Kid - Bitches
Astrud Gilberto - Bim Bom (Psapp Remix)
Jason Lindner - Seven Ways
St. Germain - Sure Thing
Donald Byrd - Stepping Into Tomorrow
Fela Kuti - Gentleman
Dizzy Gillespie - Manteca (DJ Funky Lowlives Remix)

The Line-Up for 1-7-2011

2011-01-07T21:58:00.001-06:00

Alright, so I clearly couldn't make it to New York for Winter Jazz Fest, I still can relish in such a festivals options with a radio station's resources before me. You can do the same by proxy.

Gregory Porter - Feeling Good
Folks around the station have been singing the praises of Gregory Porter for some time now. Now that I think about it, I can't think of a another distinct, soulful voice like his on the scene right now. Porter seems to be the kind of guy who is the voice of his time right now.
Anat Cohen - What a Little Moonlight Can Do
If Cohen's show is as awesome as her stop by San Antonio last month, the folks at (Le) Poisson Rouge are in for a great show.
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - 7 Inch 6
I need to make a note to myself to learn more about this group. I never knew the reach they had.
Robert Glasper - Festival
I really like this song but it's another one of those songs I don't often play because I find it too challenging for air play. This week, I succumb to the instinct of the frenetic groove.
Jason Lindner's Now Vs Now - Big Pump
Now Vs Now really was one of my favorite albums of 2009 that I discovered a hair too late. When Lindner drops his next project on us, I'm going to be all over it.
Aaron Goldberg - The Rules
I honestly don't know enough about Aaron Goldberg but I'm working on it.
Tia Fuller - Ebonics
Fuller's accolades have been picking up steam a lot lately. Her presence at Winter Jazz Fest must be pretty huge. Her upcoming San Antonio appearance is going to be pretty big for us, too.
Kendrick Scott Oracle - Mantra
Kendrick Scott is one of those names I keep seeing but don't know enough about (I say that a lot). Still, I felt this song would be a great closer for the show.

The Line-Up for 12-31-2010

2010-12-31T21:58:00.001-06:00

This week's New Year's Eve episode of The Line-Up, the last episode of 2010, is a recap of Nextbop's Best Jazz Albums of 2010 list. So it's going to be a little difficult coming up with an entirely different set of words after all the writing I've done this week. Nonetheless, this is a show that depicts what we believe to be the best cutting edge jazz of the last year. I figure a few more works to back up this music would be worth it.

Jason Moran - RFK in the Land of Apartheid
I can whistle this song all day. Seriously. Yesterday, I was walking around in the 79°F temperatures on the Riverwalk, just soaking in the unseasonably warm weather (yes, I'm gloating), and whistling this tune. The beat and melody is just so catchy. This is likely the catchiest tune on the album.
Taylor Eigsti - Daylight
When Seb sent me this album, he used this song as its selling point. True enough, this is a very good song, but as I said in my write-up for this list, it's the vocal talents of Becca Stevens that really pushes Eigsti's Daylight at Midnight over the edge.
Vijay Iyer - Human Nature
Michael Jackson's original version of this song had an airy quality to it that I (and practically everyone else as well) love. Iyer takes that airy quality and adds just a little more subtle charm.
ERIMAJ - End of the Rainbow
There are only four tracks on Jamire Williams' debut EP for his group, yet it was extremely difficult to pick which one to play for this show. In situations such as these (and when you have a show with a time slot right before the Indie Overnight format), it's probably best to go with the Madlib cover.
Baptiste Trotignon - Suite... Pt. I
Picking out just one part of Trotignon's five part Suite... doesn't do the entire composition justice. It really is great in its full context, but a taste should do.
Matt Stevens - Stable Mates
This track is a testament to the wide range that the Meet Matt Stevens EP has.
Marco Benevento - You Know I'm No Good
I probably wouldn't have picked this song from this album for this show, not because it's not a great song but because it seems like the obvious choice. I hate making the obvious choice. Still, when you're trying to cram as much of your top 10 list in an hour as you can (and this list still misses two selections), sometimes you just have to go with a song that's just shorter. This fit the bill.
Christian Scott - The Eraser
Was there any surprise that this evening would end any other way? This is me we're talking about.

The Line-Up for 12-24-2010

2010-12-24T21:58:00.006-06:00

For some reason, I had a shortage of ideas for jazz Christmas music. Also, KRTU has played quite a bit of it today anyway. I figure half a show of Christmas music will suffice for this Christmas Eve episode.

Marco Benevento - Atari
The October concert at Montreal's Le Divan Orange is full of gems like this.
Sound Directions - Dice Game/Wanda Vidal
Seriously try to avoid whistling "Wanda Vidal" after this. I dare you.
Cari Stevens - Dienda
It's a computer selection, what can I say?
Chaka Khan & Freddie Hubbard - I Love You, Porgy
This coming Wednesday will mark the second anniversary of the passing of Freddie Hubbard. I wanted to make sure I acknowledge this fact.
Joe Sample - Clifton's Gold
For those of you who may not know this about me, I absolutely love Joe Sample. I go crazy about the man's work. With that little bit of a nip in the air, it only means we're not too far off from February 1, Sample's birthday. Get ready.
Bill Frisell - It's Nobody's Fault But Mine
I don't quite know what compelled me to put this song here. I just sort of did.
Mayer Hawthorne & Vince Guaraldi - Christmas Time Is Here
This song has been floating around the internet for about a week now, but chances are you may not have heard it yet. It's the song you've known forever with a damn soulful singer not ruining the tune. It is worthy of your ears and your praise.
Anita Baker - My Favorite Things
I realized something today and I'm about to make a bold statement: Anita Baker's Christmas Fantasy is better than her comeback album, My Everything. It's like she was just warming up to this superior album. Though it's hard to lose when you have Joe Sample backing you on every track (I reiterate, get ready).
Grover Washington, Jr. - Jesu (Joy of Man's Desiring)
Usually, it's not exactly the best thing possible for your career when one of your last albums recorded before your death is a Christmas album. Still, Washington provides a certain depth all throughout
Breath of Heaven that such an album doesn't mar his legacy. This really is a great album and this song is a shining point of it.
Josh Moshier & Mike Lebrun - Sister Winter
This has been one of the most welcome additions to my inbox ever. I can only hope that Sufjan Stevens' Christmas songs grow steadily in our thoughts of holiday fare. Moshier and Lebrun kill it and that's just a taste of other great music they're making.

The Line-Up for 12-17-2010

2010-12-17T21:58:00.001-06:00

I didn't really have anything planned for this week. I'm amazed a show came out of this at all, but I think it all came together well. Still, since I don't have a lot to say about the selections this week, I hope you won't begrudge me for not discussing all the song selections this time. Hey, you're still getting new shows on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve so a shorter blogpost of only lists shouldn't be too much of a hassle.

Jacky Terrasson - O Cafe, O Soleil
Taylor Eigsti - Magnolia feat. Becca Stevens
Portico Quartet- Dawn Patrol

Anthony Branker & Ascent - Dance Music
Dr. Lonnie Smith - People Make The World Go Round
Gerry Gibbs and the Thrasher Band - Patrice Rushen aka The 70's Song
Nujabes - Counting Stars
Grand Pianoramax - Clairvoyance

The Line-Up for 12-10-2010

2010-12-10T21:58:00.001-06:00

This week's show is a continuation of my column for this week. I figured that if I was going to speak at length about how to make a good cover, I should have some good examples. Well, here's an hour worth of examples. Also, if you're seeing this and you want to turn your friends onto jazz music, this may be the show with which to do so.

Seu Jorge and Almaz - Everybody Love the Sunshine
The Seu Jorge and Almaz album may be one of the best albums of 2010. It's just too chill. Their rendition of this famous Roy Ayers tune is clear evidence of that.
Herbie Hancock - All Apologies
All of Hancock's The New Standard album is great evidence of my main conceit but I always find myself coming back to this track.
Gretchen Parlato - Weak
For some reason, my family just can't latch themselves onto this song. I love it. Many of my friends who I've made hear this song love it. But my family, my sister especially who loves SWV, just doesn't. We're at an impasse. It's probably along the same lines as to why they just can't understand why I hate the works of Tyler Perry. You just can't please everybody.
Brad Mehldau - Everything In Its Right Place
This song has randomly come up at least three times in the past week. I swear. Usually when that sort of thing happens, the song finds its way into the show. Mehldau's cover of my favorite Radiohead tune (and common mantra) is no stranger to The Line-Up. In fact, it's probably part of what spurred this week's theme.
Joshua Redman - The Crunge
I've played this song once on the show before. Just once, which is why I couldn't remember who did this track until I was putting the show together. Shame on me.
The Bad Plus - Tom Sawyer
When one thinks of The Bad Plus and covers, a lot of options come up. I figured this one hasn't been on the show in a while. Besides, I don't know much about Rush but I know I like this song from my favorite TBP album, Prog.
Marco Benevento - Heartbeats
I really really really like Benevento's version of this song. This version beats out José González's version in my mind.
Chris Hunter - Too High
This was actually a computer selection. I knew everything I would play this evening and this nugget was plopped in the middle of the songs the computer already placed here for this hour. When I saw it, I just couldn't believe this was really a cover of the Stevie Wonder song, but lo and behold, it is. The computer picked a cover of a Stevie Wonder song? From my favorite period in his career? For a show devoted entirely to covers? Yeah, the computer loves me.
The Crusaders - Eleanor Rigby
This really is what wakes me up every morning. For this to be my alarm clock and it doesn't bug me is a testament to how much I love this song.
Yaron Herman - Heart Shaped Box
I've been holding onto Herman's latest album, Follow the White Rabbit for some time now, just waiting to play some of the choicer tracks on the air. I got tired of waiting.

The Line-Up for 12-3-2010

2010-12-03T21:58:00.003-06:00

It's all Grammy nominees and stuff getting attention for this week. Ultimately, you're hearing what you should be hearing, because this show is great and informative... or something.

The Bad Plus - Super America
I must say, I'm not wowed by The Bad Plus' latest album, but there's still no such thing as a bad TBP album. There's always some gems in their work, and this is certainly a simple little gem from Never Stop.
Esperanza Spalding - Winter Sun
How do you get nominated for Best New Artist when most everyone in your field knows who you are, you've started and ended your work in academia while everyone in your field knew you, you performed for the President of the United States at the White House twice, and for the same president while he got his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. If this qualifies as new, I don't know what's going on.
Darcy James Argue's Secret Society - Phobos
Who saw this Grammy nomination coming? Did anyone? Of course he deserves his nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble, but I didn't figure the folks who did these nominations would make such a gutsy move.
Chick Corea and Hiromi - Windows
Why have I not listened to this album until now? God, why aren't people hounding me about stuff this awesome?
Vijay Iyer - Historicity
Gosh, as if Iyer needs even more people telling him how awesome he is. And just when you thought Historicity would topple over with accolades, there's yet another.
Sunny & the Sunliners - Grazing in the Grass
The computer picked this week's soul selection but who can say no to anyone doing "Grazing in the Grass"?
Anat Cohen - Do It
This will be an awesome show, San Antonio. Trust.
Jason Parker - Three Hours
This is just a taste of the awesomeness to come with your support.

The Line-Up for 11-26-2010

2010-11-26T21:58:00.002-06:00

This is a sign of my dedication. I still came up to this station on the day after Thanksgiving to put this show together. Needless to say, I'm not feeling like doing a lot of banter. Hopefully, the music makes up for my aversion from my normal loquacious nature.

Jaspects - Chitlins & Chalupas
This seems like the perfect song to top off the post-Thanksgiving Line-Up, broadcast from San Antonio, Texas, doesn't it?
Clayton Brothers - Street Dance
This is here because along with jazz elders Jeff and John Clayton leading the band on saxophone and bass respectively, Nextbop's own Gerald Clayton, John's son, backs up on piano.
Kneebody - Wide Eyed
I love Kneebody. I still don't know why I haven't gotten any of their albums yet.
Garage A Trois - Outre Mer
I didn't even know there was any Garage A Trois in the KRTU library until today. Expect to hear more of this.
Tarbaby - Unity
It still feels weird saying this band's name on the air... or in general.
Christian McBride & Inside Straight - Stick & Move
I probably needed to let this song out for some air.
Medeski, Martin & Wood - Buster Rides Again
I needed something to play for my soul song of the show and I was surprised to see MMW classified as soul. So surprised, I made it the track for the week.
DJ Spinna - Lansanna's Priestess
When putting the show together this week, I had my eye on another song that I played earlier and accidentally clicked this one. I liked what I heard, though, and found it a proper spot for the show.
E.S.T. - Letter From The Leviathan
I probably should let this song out for air, too. Also, this band needs to be heard as much as possible so they could be seen as the legends who should be recognized before Svensson left us far too soon.

The Line-Up for 11-19-2010

2010-11-19T21:58:00.000-06:00

It was very difficult for me to set my mind to putting together an hour of music that didn't include Kanye West. I've been listening to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy since it leaked. Still, jazz music is good, too. Here's some...

The Bad Plus - The Radio Tower Has A Beating Heart
I've only had one track from this album since it released so I've been sort of in withdrawal from new Bad Plus for a bit. This track should stop me from getting the shakes.
Brad Mehldau - She's Leaving Home
I decided that since Apple chose to make a big deal out of putting The Beatles on iTunes, I'd make an unnecessarily big deal about joking about The Beatles on iTunes. Neither my joke or Apple's announcement probably solicited much response but just like The Beatles, at least the music is good. Oh, also Josh Jackson took my suggestion that this is among the 50 best Beatles covers of all time.
Ben Allison - Across the Universe
I just wanted to finish out this set of Beatles songs. I never knew Ben Allison covered "Across the Universe."
Cassandra Wilson - Blackbird
This song was the catalyst to this set. Silver Pony is a very good album and I really liked how Wilson and the band handled this song.
Negroni's Trio - Golden Man
Computer selection but great start for a high energy set.
Nicholas Payton - Cannabis Leaf Rag
This song is here for a number of reasons. I was trolling through the computer to find a song that fit well. A song named "Cannabis Leaf Rag" really catches the eye. I don't know enough about Nicholas Payton. This is a really interesting turn on this song. Pick a reason.
Azar Lawrence - Journey's End
The computer picked to plan an Azar Lawrence song but it didn't fit with the show so I switched it out with another song from him.
Gil Scott-Heron - A Sign of the Ages
You don't really believe I could listen to nothing but Kanye West for two days straight and not allude to him somehow. MBDTF closes on a Scott-Heron track so I figured I'd toss one in for the soul song of the show.
Robert Glasper - Downtime
This week just called for some Glasper. What can I say?
Avishai Cohen (Bassist) - Come Together
I loved this cover the first time I heard it. Plus, it goes with the fade down of energy of the evening. Did you like how I started out all high energy and then wound it down? Eh, I got skills.

The Line-Up for 11-12-2010

2010-11-12T21:58:00.000-06:00

You know, I'm still sort of tired from last weekend? I'm looking forward to spending this weekend bundled up in my room where it may or may not rain and the weather may or may not be brisk but still significantly warmer than everyone else's mid-November (hey, it's still South Texas). This show should be a good precursor of all that.

Nadav Snir-Zelniker - Pizmon Layakinton (Song for the Hyacinth)
The computer picked this one, but it only took me two tries to pronounce this name in a manageable way. I hope I said it right. At least the song is good.
Cassandra Wilson - Beneath a Silver Moon
People are really liking Cassandra Wilson's new album. I of course read Nate Chinen's review of it. Then I later saw Paste had a review as well. That ultimately meant I had to give it some attention, post haste.
Tarbaby - Jena 6
This album arrived at the station last week and the music director, Kory, and I had a long discussion on how to talk about and play this group on the air. I still don't know if I handled it well, but I figure we can just ignore my jibber jabber and focus on this group's music.
Portico - Paper Scissors Stone
I like this group a lot, but it's hard to meld them together with other songs in a set because each of their tracks are steadily constructed. They're woven very intricately and laboriously. I guess that's why I like them. It's also why I work so hard to find a good place to put them in the show. It's a good, worthy challenge.
Terence Blanchard - Flow, Part III
I placed this song here to fill space but it actually fits very well next to Avishai Cohen (trumpeter) which the computer picked.
Avishai Cohen (Trumpeter) - One Man's Idea
Like I said, the computer picked it. It works.
Sugarman Three & Bernard Purdie - Modern Jive
I think a lot about what kind of soul jazz song to put in the show each week. Soul jazz is one subgenre I try to learn little by little through these shows. Hopefully, you're learning along with me.
Nels Cline - Dirty Baby Part IV (Shut This Gate)
I'm enjoying Nels Cline's latest album a whole lot more than I thought I would be. Initiate was a bit rough to get through, but Dirty Baby, while still out there, is a much easier listen. It's also a bit more radio friendly (song title's notwithstanding), so I hope to play more of it down the line on the show.
Pat Metheny - Day Trip
I felt it was appropriate to put Pat Metheny next to Nels Cline.
Stefon Harris & Blackout - Tanktified
The computer picked this but I'm quite glad I've coming back to Harris. I haven't listened to anything from Urbanus in a while. It's nice to revisit it.

The Line-Up for 11-5-2010

2010-11-05T21:58:00.002-05:00

We've made it to November. The air is crisp, spirits are high. The jazz keeps coming. I'm feeling pretty good about this week's Line-Up, hopefully you do, too. Let's find out, shall we?

Joe Locke - Bright Side Up
This one is a computer selection but I felt it had a better spot to start out the hour than in the middle where the computer picked it. I like starting off with pretty high energy and this song has it.
Vijay Iyer - Patterns
I've had this song in the library for quite some time now but I just couldn't find the right time to play it. It's complex and maybe off-putting for most radio listeners but once again, I decided to have a little faith in my audience. Please don't let me down, audience, and appreciate this song for the complex awesomeness that it is.
Ronnie Foster - Mystic Brew
I didn't notice until just now that I placed this song here immediately after Vijay Iyer, who covered this song on his most adored album last year, Historicity. Total coincidence, really. I was just in the mood to hear this song.
Brad Mehldau - The Falcon Will Fly Again
I really really love this song. It's been coming up a lot recently in my commutes and it's been far too long since I've played it on the air.
Nomo - All The Stars
This track is a library search gone right. I was just scouring the quirky category of music where I place much of the more out there stuff you hear on The Line-Up and ran across this gem. I get some pretty nice gems in here.
Grand Pianoramax - Infidel
It brings me great joy to play this one. I've liked Leo Tardin for a little while now. When I got on board with Nextbop and found out he was part of the collective, it threw me for a bit of a loop. When Seb sent me his latest album, Smooth Danger, I couldn't wait to listen to it. It took even less time for me after that to play a track of it on the show.
Anat Cohen - Washington Square Park
She's coming to San Antonio in December and I'm rather looking forward to it.
The Bad Plus feat. Wendy Lewis - Comfortably Numb
This is hands down, the best track off of the trio's 2009 album, For All I Care. It got stuck in my head a week or two ago. Hopefully, the haunting melody and Lewis' vocals are stuck in yours, too. Hopefully, you won't mind all that much, either.

The Line-Up for 12-29-2010

2010-10-29T21:58:00.004-05:00

I'm feeling pretty good about this week's Line-Up. I think it's well put together. I think it has the right touches of the right moods. I think it has a good energy to it. I'm actually live in the studio for stuff but the song order and arrangement was done in advanced and blends together fairly well. It covers a broad spectrum of periods but meshes. It has a full body and a nice aroma with a hint of hickory and elderberries. Etc, etc.

Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott - Big Brother
I was sort of expecting this to be a cover of Stevie Wonder's song, a la what Vijay Iyer is doing lately, but it's its own creature, and a fine one at that. Good computer selection to top things off.
Chick Corea - The Great Pumpkin Waltz
I'm not really a Halloween person. I wasn't raised up with it and even though I try to take parts in some of the holiday now that I'm older, I'm just not huge about it. Still, I'm a sucker for Vince Guaraldi compositions and I'm a sucker for Chick Corea's cover of this song.
Vijay Iyer - One for Blount
We've been slacking at Nextbop Tuesday was Vijay Iyer's birthday and we didn't make a post. Playing a track off of Iyer's Solo album was the least I could do to belatedly acknowledge the joyful day.
Weather Report - 125th Street Congress
I've been thinking about Weather Report for weeks. Seriously, weeks. I don't have much of their stuff, but I need it. Besides, jazz fusion seems appropriate around Halloween time, right?
Sarah Wilson - Underneath the Soul
This was a pretty cool computer selection.
Nujabes - Peaceland
I've played this song a few times, but normally at the end of the show. This time, I figured I'd put it in the middle of the show it can be acknowledge in its entirety. It's a great jam.
The Bad Plus - Velouria
The Bad Plus playing The Pixies. Seems to fit, don't you think?
Ben Allison - Third Rail
I like Ben Allison. He brings fire and it's like I don't acknowledge the smoke enough.
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - Muskogee Smalls
This selection is here specifically because of a discussion I was having with Kory, the station's music director, and JD, the station's operations manager, about ridiculous group names. Kory made a thread from Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet (which I probably wouldn't feel comfortable saying on the air) to JFJO. I don't quite remember how he made the connections. It was like watching this weird one-player game of punk-jazz six degrees of separation. Anyway, I switched up how I put the show together and here this song stands to close us out.

The Line-Up for 10-22-2010

2010-10-22T21:58:00.001-05:00

I'm not really in the mood to explain my rationale for each track for this week's show. The only thing I feel I need to explain is the two tracks from Jaspects, which I'm playing to note the SpelHouse homecoming that I'm unable to attend. Still, if I had left for Atlanta, I probably might not have been able to do my show this week and that means you would have missed out. We wouldn't have wanted that, would we?

Incognito - Solar Fire
Mike Clark - Bookin'
Pharoah Sanders - Astral Traveling (Boozoo Bajou Remix)
The Nels Cline Singers - Floored
Jaspects - One Last Cry Before I Say
Jaspects - Goodbye Love feat. Fonzworth Bentley
Ximo Tebar - Nica's Dream
Medeski, Martin and Wood - Song 3
ERIMAJ - For You (For Who?)
Marco Benevento - Heartbeats

The Line-Up for 10-15-2010

2010-10-15T21:58:00.004-05:00

I wasn't quite sure what kind of show I'd end up doing this week. I had a few songs scrawled on a Post-It like I often do to prepare each show, but I still didn't have a big idea for the week. All I knew was that I wanted to do something different. Well, I combed through some new stuff I got, thought about different sounds that are pleasing but challenging, and went a little off the beaten path through computer here to put together a pretty great show. Seriously, I was surprised about how good this show is. Hopefully I'm not alone in this sentiment but I'm rather excited about this playlist.

Meshell Ndegeocello & Cassandra Wilson - The Chosen
This one came up through a certain degree of combing through the computer. I had to come up with something completely different from what I usually play and after giving a quick glance at Rob Fields' Bold as Love black rock site, it finally hit me to see if we had any Ndegeocello. Combining her exquisite musicianship with Cassandra Wilson's velvety voice is the perfect choice for tonight.
Bonobo - Black Sands
Some time ago, I noted how odd it was for me to be playing Bonobo on The Line-Up, but if certain tracks were chosen well, it would work in the context of the show. The last time I played Simon Greene, I spent a lot of energy explaining why I was playing him. This time, I just felt more comfortable letting the song and its proper placement in the playlist speak for itself.
Matt Stevens - After All
I know I played this track pretty recently, but the combo of Stevens, Milton Fletcher on organ, and Jamire Williams on drums is so perfect, it requires constant revisiting. It makes me seriously look forward to when Stevens and Williams aren't cutting EPs and cutting legit, full length albums. Either way, these three are killing this song.
Fela Kuti - No Agreement
If anything acted as a game changer for tonight, it's this. I honestly don't know much of anything about Fela Kuti other than the fact that he was a great musician and the show about him on Broadway (produced by ?uestlove) is awesome. I should learn more, starting tonight.
Darcy James Argue's Secret Society - Redeye
Reasons why this song is here: 1) It's awesome, duh. 2)It's come up once or twice while riding on the bus so it naturally found its way into this week's Line-Up. 3) The group performed another awesome version of it last month at Iridium. For all of these reasons did I decide to end this week's Line-Up with some awesomely epic, trippy soloing by Sebastien Noelle and the rest of the Secret Society.

The Line-Up for 10-8-2010

2010-10-08T21:58:00.001-05:00

The KRTU fall pledge drive has reached its end but that doesn't mean we're still not accepting new members. Make sure to head there and become a member of the station. All the cool people are doing it. Also, no breakdown for each track this week. I hope you'll pardon me that, just listen to the music.

Jeb Patton - Cloak and Dagger
Dr. Lonnie Smith - Mellow Mood
Freddie Hubbard - A Night in Tunisia
Gerry Gibbs Sextet feat. Ravi Coltrane - Impressions
Gretchen Parlato - Weak
Rahsaan Rolank Kirk - Blacknuss
Jaspects - Uppity Negro
Tom Harrell - Paz
The Bad Plus - Never Stop

The Line-Up for 10-1-2010

2010-10-01T21:58:00.002-05:00

Once again, it's time for the KRTU pledge drive, so I'm making the call to head to the site and donate to become a member of the station to keep great music like this on the air.

Marco Benevento - You Know I'm No Good
I figure it's good to start off with some great energy and this song certainly has some great energy.
Jason Lindner - Seven Ways
When I was putting together this week's show, I had a good idea for what the set at the end would be but not necessarily the rest of the show. This Lindner track sort of found its way in here. I'm not mad at it.
Aaron Parks - Peaceful Warrior
I'm terrible at fulfilling requests. I'm seriously bad at it, but from time to time, I'll follow through... a week or two later.
Jason Moran - Crepuscule With Nellie
When it was announced that Jason Moran won a MacArthur grant this week, I knew I had to mention it. Suddenly, an idea crept into my head about how to put together a set of interconnected music, woven together by band members.
ERIMAJ - End of the Rainbow
Jason Moran is the keyboardist for Jamire Williams' group. I knew the moment this EP dropped that I had to have it. Once I heard it, I knew I'd play it on The Line-Up.
Matt Stevens - After All
Stevens also plays in Williams' group, and both Jamire and Matt play in Christian Scott's group. He also has a pretty awesome EP that you may want to hear.
Christian Scott - The Eraser
Finally, I close with this track since it 1) fits with the next hour of programming, 2) it fits with everything in the set before it, and 3) I like the song.

Note - The young lady whose show follows mine went live this evening and is still getting acclimated to the process. Things may have gotten a little screwy at the top of the hour. I'm sorry about that. If it's not known to you by now, most of the time, I prerecord this show. Most of the time this works out, but there were a few hiccups tonight. Trust me, if you were annoyed, know that I was pulling out my hair and calling folks on the phone. And I hate the phone.

Once again, I ask that you head over to krtu.org and pledge your support to the station that allows me to be silly on the air and play stuff you don't likely hear anywhere else.

The Line-Up for 9-24-2010

2010-09-24T21:58:00.001-05:00

Another week, another Line-Up. This week's show sort of felt like pulling teeth, largely because I didn't have a particular theme or focus. Still, I felt like the show turned out alright.

Christian Scott - K.K.P.D.
Yet another song that showed up on The Line-Up because it showed up on my commute. Plus, I haven't played this song on the air in a while. I figured it would be a good idea to start this week's show off with a bang.
Roy Hargrove Big Band - Roy Allen
I can't say enough how much I like this song. It's smooth and cool and the best thing about Hargrove's Emergence album. This is yet another one of those songs that's been a while since I played it.
Terence Blanchard - Choices
The computer picked this one but Blanchard has been on my mind since I rented Just Wright last weekend. That was an okay movie, and it was everything a forward thinking black person would want to put in an okay movie... other than better writing. Still the Terrence Blanchard (featuring Gerald Clayton) cameo was nice.
Kurt Elling - Nightmoves
I rather like this song. It can't beat the original by Michael Franks, but what can. Yes, I like Kurt Elling and Michael Franks. Wanna fight about it?
Gerald Clayton - Two Heads One Pillow
I really really really like this song and it's been too long since I've played it.
Bill Frisell - Winslow Homer
This one is here because I think the computer picked a song from the same category and I needed to replace it and Frisell caught my eye.
3 Cohens - Navad (The Wanderer)
Computer picked this one but it was bound to show up on this show eventually.
Ray Charles - Wha'd I Say
I didn't really do anything for John Coltrane/Ray Charles' birthday yesterday. Their birthdays are certainly worth recognition but they honestly don't mean as much to me as Joe Sample or Miles Davis' birthdays. That's just me. Still, even though it's not in the format of my show, I still love this song and felt it was appropriate to play it. Also, I always say if a song is worth playing, it's worth playing the long version.

The Line-Up for 9-17-2010

2010-09-17T21:58:00.013-05:00

I decided to branch out pretty far with The Line-Up. This will happen from time to time. I'll decide to play some music a little further out from the show's comfort zone and then reel myself back in for the subsequent week. This week was provoked by my pulling Bonobo's Black Sands from the station's "No" shelf. I thought it was different but still sort of jazzy, so it found its way onto this week's show. Then the rest of the hour sort of formed around this one song.

Robert Glasper - Maiden Voyage/Everything in its Right Place
I figured I would want to start a little light. I want the audience to warm up, so I started with Robert Glasper. If you listen to The Line-Up, you know his work. It's courageous but palatable. It signifies that if I start the hour with Glasper, we're going to be taking some twists and turns, but it'll still be a pretty good ride.
Pat Metheny & Brad Mehldau - Ahmid 6
I went through a lot of fighting with myself and the clock trying to figure out what to play here. I knew I wanted to do a Pat Metheny song, which eventually turned into my wanting to play a Metheny/Mehldau song. Then I had to find one with the right pacing but of adequate length. As I started shifting songs in this hour around, eventually I settled on "Ahmid 6."
Jason Lindner - Seven Ways
I didn't really plan on playing any Jason Lindner this week, but after a while it seemed like a rather obvious decision considering the content and tone of this week's show. He should have been on my list all along.
Nujabes - Horn in the Middle
When I made the decision to play Bonobo this week, I knew I would also play Nujabes. This song was a foregone conclusion.
The Bad Plus - Cheney Piñata
Honestly? I needed to fill in two minutes.
Herbie Hancock - Watermelon Man
As is common with The Line-Up, I put at least one track in the middle of the hour from the 70s. This wasn't the originally intended 70s song for this week, but after a while, I put together a pretty good block of tracks from this decade. Plus, pulling from Head Hunters just seemed appropriate for this episode.
Stevie Wonder - Contusion
Since I was attempting to get adventurous this week, I put some thought into what my true 70s track would be. It occurred to me that not enough attention is given to this song from Stevie Wonder. Sure, people will sing praises all about his classic period, especially his Songs in the Key of Life album, but not many people talk about how great "Contusion" is. This is truly a soul jazz song that many people overlook. I don't want to neglect it, so here it resides.
Sound Directions - Dice Game/Wanda Vidal
This song compliments the soul song, and as usual, you can't go too long on The Line-Up without some Madlib.
Bonobo - Animals
This is the catalyst for this whole show. There are a great many reasons why it's here. I like the Black Sands album. I wanted to try something different and out there. My friend, Andrew, eventually relented and gave his blessing that I play music he introduced to me (as opposed to his original thought that I was hijacking his taste), for which I've very grateful. Also, in the back of my mind, I remember a meeting I had with Matt Fleeger and Aaron Prado about the direction of this show. Fleeger told me he'd like to hear some more stuff from the Ninja Tune label on The Line-Up. Once again, I fullfill a late request. But largely, I'm playing this because I feel that this is a show that plays everything along the fringe of jazz, of which this certainly is.
Flying Lotus - Do the Astral Plane
Once you break the seal with playing some Bonobo, you might as well go the rest of the way and play some Flying Lotus. Also, I was playing Cosmogramma in the kitchen the other night while I was washing dishes and my dad walked in for some reason or another. He asked me who this was, and it wasn't with some tone of confusion. This means I assumed he liked what he was hearing. I just had to provoke that reaction again.

The Line-Up for 9-10-2010

2010-09-10T21:58:00.002-05:00

One year ago (really 364 days ago, but it still was 52 weeks ago, so I'm counting this as the anniversary), I hit the airwaves taking The Line-Up from Lyz, who went off to grad school. So began the fun I've had here each week playing great new jazz that I think the masses would love.

The theme for this week's show is all about pianists. Since my favorite musicians all happen to be pianists and I used to play the piano many moons ago, that's what I'm running with for this one year anniversary.

Vijay Iyer - Fleurette Africaine
When I saw this track on the listing for Iyer's Solo album, I wondered how he'd be able to pull off playing this track by himself as opposed to with a trio. I can remember an interview with The Bad Plus in which the interviewer was talking with the group about this song. If memory serves, they don't play it because Reid Anderson just couldn't move as fast on the bass as Charles Mingus. So it really surprised me the first time I heard this song and discovered Iyer really could pull it off.
The Bad Plus - Never Stop
This song is too cool. I first heard it when the trio performed for Issac Mizrahi's fashion show early this year. The mere concept that these guys played for a fashion show sounded like a pretty advanced idea to me. The fact that they put it on their album made me pleased as punch. A song this good should be played in an iPod so you could feel like a badass when you're walking down the street and not "dressed like a villain from Star Trek" as Quentin Tarantino would say. Oh, hit up PJ's post of their extended liner notes for Never Stop when you have the chance.
Marco Benevento - Greenpoint
The idea to do an evening of pianists came to me yesterday morning while waiting for the bus and this song came up. Once again, my commute dictates The Line-Up.
The Stanley Clarke Band feat. Hiromi - Labyrinth
Once I knew I'd play an evening of pianists, I knew I'd want to play something from Hiromi. When I showed up to put together this week's show, the computer already put this song here. The computer and I are buddies. We should go on vacation together or something.
The Crusaders - Eleanor Rigby
Then, when I knew I'd be playing pianists, I knew I'd end up playing some Joe Sample. By the time I realized I wouldn't be playing a soul song as I typically do each week, I figured I'd throw in the rest of the Crusaders. That evolved into me playing one of my favorite songs on the face of the earth and ultimately the song that my phone plays when it wakes me up every morning. This song is my alarm clock.
Aaron Parks - Nemesis
Parks is here just because he's awesome. That's really it. I really am excited about the new stuff from James Farm, though.
Vijay Iyer - Human Nature
Okay, I got really tired of going week after week of not playing anything from this album. I've had the masters for Solo for a couple of months now and wasn't allowed to play anything from it on the air until the release date was closer. Beside the fact, the station hadn't gotten the album yet and I didn't feel comfortable not playing the official version on the air anyway. This show was my breaking point. I resolved that if the station didn't have the album yet, I was going to play master versions. Sure enough, I show up and I'm putting the final album version into the computer and you folks get to hear quality.
Brad Mehldau - Wonderwall
On my first show, I wasn't allowed to change any of the music. The computer picked everything and I was just allowed to talk. It was so I could get acclimated to being on the air and I would worry about picking music maybe a few weeks later. I was alright with that, but the computer picked a Brad Mehldau tune. I figured, what would the harm be if I swapped out just one little song even if it was from the same artist. "Wonderwall" was that song. For this anniversary show, because I like when things go full circle, I play the one song I picked for my very first show once more.

The Line-Up for 9-3-2010

2010-09-03T21:58:00.002-05:00

While I may have been spreading my interests around musically, I always come home to roost with The Line-Up. It may be a good thing because for this week, I'm playing some folks I haven't even thought about for a while and I'm playing some other folks who just caught my eyes and ears. I rather like how this week's episode was put together. There are a few folks here tonight who I've wanted to play for a little while but just couldn't find a good place to play them until now. Tonight, one could say this is the episode in which the chickens come home to roost.

Avery Sharpe Trio - My Favorite Things
Yep, the computer picked it. This episode also has another live selection. I don't quite know how well they work and were edited for radio, but the performances are sound and I'm standing by them.
Pat Metheny - Orchestrion
From time to time, I'll put the show together and I'll wonder when's the next time I should play something from this album again. I often skip over it just because it just doesn't seem to fit with whatever I'm doing in a certain week. Tonight, Metheny seems to fit again.
Ron Blake - Chasing the Sun
Often times, I'll just need to plug in a really quick song just for the sake of filling time and I'll subsequently find that the really short song I pick as an afterthought is really funky. This is one of those songs.
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe - How Fine Is That
I used to hear Karl Denson's Tiny Universe from time to time on KRTU when I was younger. I figured it was time to bring him back again.
Bill Frisell - Tony
Frisell caught my eye and ear after I heard a little bit of his work in the Icons Among Us: Jazz in Present Tense documentary. When I put this week's show together, it seemed like a good idea to play him. I think that was a pretty good idea, if I do say so myself.
Oh, one more thing, never call me Tony. Just don't. I need to say that.
Wallace Roney - Let's Stay Together
This is a computer pick but I wanted to see where this cover would go.
David Chenu - Estimate Sonic Transfer
David Chenu is another one of those folks who I'd hear on KRTU from time to time and was really impressed with what I was hearing. He's another one I've wanted to play on The Line-Up for some time now but just couldn't find a show in which to fit him. Tonight is that show.
Joe Giardullo Trio - Rivers
I always love what Destination: Out does. It's one of the best jazz blogs on the internet and it always features really cool music for inquiring fans to discover. I knew eventually I'd find something they've featured to plug into The Line-Up and this track seemed like one of the most radio friendly to play that they've recently featured. Trust me, they can pick some pretty out there stuff. That's what makes them so awesome.
Jason Moran - Planet Rock
One of the challenges of this show is figuring out what track will lead into the Indie Overnight format after mine. I sort of relish that challenge. For this episode, I closed with Moran playing this all too familiar song.

The Line-Up for 8-27-2010

2010-08-27T21:58:00.002-05:00

I was in a pretty bad mood a couple of days ago and I just needed to play a bunch of ballads to get myself out of it. The next morning, I filled a whole Post-It note with songs I knew I'd play this week. I don't normally play an evening of ballads but that's where I'm headed for this show and I hope you come along for the ride.

Christian Scott - Isadora
I find this song placement sort of odd on this album. Much of the press and commentary for Yesterday You Said Tomorrow lauds it for being such a spot on political jazz album, but in the midst of all those angry tunes with a message is a song to Scott's girlfriend that's as beautiful as any other love song. Sometimes when you're fighting the power, you still have to take some time for loving. I guess this song isn't that out of place, after all.
Esperanza Spalding - Wild is the Wind
A friend of mine some months ago wanted me to play this song originally as Nina Simone sang it. I told him I couldn't since it wasn't in this show's format but I'd do the best I could. I knew Spalding sang this song last year at Newport and I was just waiting for her to record a version so I could play it on the show. She finally did that with Chamber Music Society, so here at last, I fulfill my friend's request.
Jason Parker - Three Hours
I've been teeming with anticipation for Parker to release his Nick Drake project and he's finally performing it live. That means he's oh so close to recording it and it's oh so close to a few of those tracks reaching your ears on this very show. Hopefully you're excited, too.
Brad Mehldau - Secret Beach
Between performing with John Mayer, writing really long essays, celebrating his 40th birthday, and his persistant touring, Brad Mehldau has been a really busy guy lately.
Joe Sample - Nica's Dream
For a moment, I figured I'd play something else a little higher energy but I had a theme and I was sticking to it. This Horace Silver tune is perfect for this evening.
The Crusaders - Marcella's Dream
I've wanted to play this song on the air since I first noticed it was in the system. I've always loved this song but was always looking for an opportunity to play it. Tonight, that opportunity presented itself.
Nujabes - Peaceland
And we close out the hour with a little funkier song than we've heard all night, but still very melodic, very jazzy, and still very very smooth. Jun Seba is no longer with us and that still saddens me but I'll still appreciate the work he left behind.

The Line-Up for 8-20-2010

2010-08-20T21:58:00.001-05:00

Hey, everybody! The Line-Up is a cool, funky episode tonight. I go where the wind blows me, you know. It's totally not the reverential feel I was noting this week over at Nextbop. It's all about enjoying the music this week.

The Dominant 7 - An Ounce of Hope
This is a cool track from a band with a cool name. That's all I really have to say about that.
Esperanza Spalding - Winter Sun
It's pretty much impossible to escape this album lately and I still haven't yet heard it (though I'm about to fix that nigh immediately). This track is here largely because JJ Lopez said it was awesome.
Robert Glasper - No Worries
I'm pretty sure this is my favorite track off of Double Booked and I know I haven't played it in a while.
Brad Mehldau - When It Rains
Before I got Mehldau and Jon Brion's Largo, I used to go to the Apple Store in Atlanta's Lenox Mall and listen to it on any iPod they had on display. This song sounds really great but it sounds even better in a pair of $200 headphones.
Stanley Clarke & Marcus Miller - Milano
I still have Stanley Clarke on the brain from last week.
The Roots - Teen Town
I always loved this track but this is really here because I needed something quick. This song is most certainly quick but it really says something when Owen Biddle and ?uestlove can have you grooving in such a short span of time.
The Dixon-Rhyne Project - Repub Club
I love when the computer picks a really funky track that I just can't bear to let go. Without the computer, Lord knows what The Line-Up would be. Just as I hope you trust my judgment as a dj, I trust the judgment of my colleagues and this computer's algorithm.
David Kikoski - Blanket of Byrd
This song is a little fusiony but you know I just can't turn away from fusion. I love it so, contentious it may be.
Lionel Loueke - Skylark
Because sometimes you just need some crazy scatting and Al Jarreau and Rachelle Ferrel don't fit this show's format. And sometimes you need some George Benson-esque humming with your guitar plucking and this guy is just plain everywhere.
Seu Jorge & Almaz - Everybody Loves the Sunshine
I finally got this album today, so I decided to play this track again. It's too cool. Too cool.

The Line-Up for 8-13-2010

2010-08-13T21:58:00.004-05:00

Yes, it's Friday the 13th but I'm not the superstition sort so this week's show is just as awesome as you would expect it to be. This week is focused initially on everything from the Newport Jazz Festival (many of the sets are available at NPR), but then things just splintered out to a grab bag of all sorts of great stuff. Give it a listen...

Esperanza Spalding - Inútil Paisagem
I didn't want to be the last person on earth to play Esperanza Spalding's latest album (still streamable in its entirety at NPR First Listen for the week) but she wasn't at Newport this year, so I had to find some way to play her while still adhering to the initial theme of this week's show. Fortunately, Gretchen Parlato shares this track and she had a great set last weekend.
Fly - Super Sister
It is amazing how more and more Mark Turner, Larry Grenadier, and Jeff Ballard make their own accolades. Listening to them live should be proof of that.
Darcy James Argue's Secret Society - Phobos
I think I went back to making this my favorite track off of Infernal Machines. And Jon Wikan's cajon sounds even trippier live.
Ben Allison - Third Rail
I've been playing a lot of this guy lately, partially because I just got hipped to him because of Seb. That provoked me to listen to his Newport set. It's good stuff.
The Stanley Clarke Band - Labyrinth
This is the part of the show where the pretense of playing a whole Newport show fell apart. Someone here at the station showed me this album and I couldn't resist playing a track from it. I'm a sucker for Stanley Clarke.
Herbie Hancock & Jaco Pastorius - 4am
When this computer had this track in my hour, I asked myself, "When did Hancock and Pastorius work together?" Then I gave this song a listen and didn't realize after how many times I've heard this song, I didn't know it was these two. You tend to get that a lot in jazz.
The Bad Plus - Heart of Glass
I put this song here claiming I was trying to bring things back to the Newport theme. I mean, they did perform there last year with Wendy Lewis, so I figure it's worth a shot playing an early track of there.
The Nels Cline Singers - Grow Closer
Remember last week when I had that conundrum about playing Nels Cline on the air even though his latest album, Initiate, is really awesome? After that column, I got a few responses from folks saying I should give my audience more credit. (Jeff Albert also had something to say about that column and was a bit of an inspiration for my playing this for this evening.) Still, I figured I'd make it the last song of the evening, just in case.

And remember folks, if you missed The Line-Up while it was live at 9pm CST, it's still available at krtu.org in the Playback archives for the week. You have no excuses for missing the awesomeness.

The Line-Up for 8-6-2010

2010-08-06T21:58:00.004-05:00

Last week's Line-Up didn't quite gel right and that sort of bugs me. For a moment, I considered playing the exact same songs but in a more coherent order, but instead I chose to just move forward as I do with everything else I do and make this show at least 200% better than before. Hopefully, you'll agree that this show fulfilled that promise...

St. Germain - Sure Thing
I try not to get too far from this song. It's just too cool to let go.
Gerald Clayton - Scrimmage
I find it funny when an artist I would want to play anyway is chosen by the computer. I didn't even have to ask, "When's the last time I heard some Gerald Clayton?" This computer knows me too well.
Jaspects - Chitlins & Chalupas
Nothing says "black guy on the radio in San Antonio" than a song called "Chitlins & Chalupas."
Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay
JJ Lopez had a whole CTI label feature on his Diggin' Deep Soul Shakedown show last Saturday and it so provoked me to play this song tonight. I really really really love Freddie Hubbard and a bunch of stuff from the CTI label. It's soulful stuff like that which hits me in my core.
Menehan Street Band - Home Again!
This is one of those computer selections that's just too cool to deny. Plus, I feel like I've heard this song before and it was totally worth playing on the air.
Leon Thomas - Song for My Father
As I was riding in to the station today, my BlackBerry decided to play Pharoah Sanders' "The Creater Has a Master Plan" featuring Leon Thomas. Every now and again, I'm able to stand this sprawling 32 minute free jazz song. It really is quite brilliant when you're in the mood for it. Of course, "The Creator Has a Master Plan" isn't something I could play on The Line-Up (Though it's not like the song wasn't played on KRTU before. I recall Gerry Gibbs playing the full version before to my simultaneous perplexity and adoration.), but I decided I could at least play some Leon Thomas this evening.
Grand Pianoramax - Feudor
Folks don't give Leo Tardin enough credit, so here I am giving him credit.
Jason Lindner - Worrisome
I really do love Lindner's Now vs. Now album and felt it was time to revisit it for a bit this evening.
Ben Allison - Riding the Nuclear Tiger
Funny thing: The computer picked to play Ben Allison in this hour while Seb posted a press release of his on Nextbop about his performance streaming over at NPR for the Newport Jazz Festival this weekend. That's just too happy of a coincidence for me not to play his work this evening.

Oh, and I keep getting this question from folks who read the playlist but don't get a chance to hear the show. If you so happen to miss The Line-Up on its given time (9pm CST) because you don't live in San Antonio, a live webstream of what's playing on the air is available at KRTU.org. Every hour of programming for the last week is also available in the KRTU Playback/Archives. Hit up The Line-Up, Friday at 9pm and you can hear the last episode aired.

The Line-Up for 7-30-2010

2010-07-30T21:58:00.001-05:00

I'm not going to go into a lot of particulars about what today entailed but let me just say you know I love everyone who hears this show when I still put together such great music for you all to hear after a long day like this. It's been long, tiring, but good. With such a runaround day like this, it's perfect to listen to this great music...

Gretchen Parlato - Doralice
I really think one of the best vocalists we have around today is Gretchen Parlato. She has this cool, breathy delivery that just lets the music speak for itself. This song is also as much a showcase of Lionel Loueke as it is for her. She has this way of letting the song just go, the musicians just work (whether it's with Loueke here or Kendrick Scott or Aaron Parks throughout her In a Dream album), and let her voice be her voice. I've loved her music the first time I heard it and it shows.
Aaron Parks - Nemesis
Speaking of Aaron Parks. I really just put this song here because I wanted to hear his stuff, independently of the fact that I put Parlato on at the top of the hour. This is a guy who released a phenomenal first album and shows a great deal of promise for the rest of his career.
Darcy James Argue's Secret Society - Redeye
I've been talking about big bands a bit lately among all sorts of folks and how Argue has the form of the big band down pat with the equilibrium between a composer and a bandleader. The music is able to go as it should while the musicians have the freedom to improvise. I will constantly state that the Secret Society's Infernal Machines is the album that made me totally rethink big bands.
The Gerry Gibbs Sextet feat. Ravi Coltrane - Impressions
I constantly aspire to have the kind of energy on the air that Gerry Gibbs had on KRTU years ago. From time to time I'll play a song of his just so Gerry Gibbs and a Friday night on KRTU can meet each other once again.
Jacky Terrasson - Beat It/Body and Soul
I must say the way Terrasson wove between these two songs was an experiment gone right. This was audacious and it worked.
Jaco Pastorius - Portrait of Tracy
I had Weather Report on the brain lately and kept changing my mind between playing something from the entire group, something from Joe Zawinul solo, something from Trio of Doom (of which Pastorius was also a member), and ultimately decided to go stripped down here for this track.
Madlib - Mystic Bounce
The current background of my BlackBerry is the cover of Madlib's Shades of Blue album. Yeah, it's that serious.
Herbie Hancock & Wayne Shorter - Nefertiti
In a meeting today, the subject of Wayne Shorter and his more audacious work came up. I mentioned that because of that conversation that a Shorter tune would arise this evening. Here it is.
Avishai Cohen - Come Together
There are a few key examples I use when I talk about certain tracks that stuck with me when Aaron Prado was at KRTU. I'll often point to Brad Mehldau or The Bad Plus, but Avishai Cohen's version of "Come Together" really stuck with me. I spent years tracking this song down and learning about this guy. Once again, I recall that earlier time with this song.
Stefon Harris & Blackout - The Afterthought
Stefon Harris also came up in conversation today. I program by suggestion.

The Line-Up for 7-23-2010

2010-07-23T21:58:00.001-05:00

Today wrapped up KRTU's Summer mini pledge drive. It went quite well and we closed strong. I even finally ponied up and became a good and proper member of the station myself. A good time was had by all so there's no reason why you shouldn't become a member yourself. We'd be glad to have you. Trust me, it's important. And what other reason to join the station than to hear some of this great music...

Nnenna Freelon - The Lamp is Low
The computer picked it, but as usual, I run with it.
Quincy Jones - What's Going On?
I initially found this version of this song funny. Now I find it oddly beautiful and a great part of a great album. I distinctly remember Gerry Gibbs playing cuts off of Smackwater Jack on his old show on KRTU. This is, in a sense, a send up to him and a continuing along of the great tradition we hold here at KRTU.
Brad Mehldau - Don't Interrupt the Sorrow
You know I love Brad Mehldau. I really do. But if I had to pick a favorite track off of the collaborative album, A Tribute to Joni Mitchell, it would be Bjork's version of "The Boho Dance." It was the perfect mix of a Bjork song (which is saying quite a bit) while still holding to Mitchell's melody and sense of storytelling. Still, I quite love this song. Mehldau did a great job on it.
Stanton Moore - Pot Licker
The computer picked this one, too.
Charles Earland - The Kicker
Charles Earland showed up on The Line-Up once because the computer picked it. From then on, I remembered that name and this is one of those times in which I sought out one of his tracks for the show. Lovely discoveries like these are why I'm in radio.
Marco Benevento - RISD
I sort of took pause at playing Benevento three weeks in a row but it was his birthday yesterday. How can I not play him for that reason?
Rudresh Mahanthappa - Ganesha
The computer picked this but Mahanthappa is just popping up from time to time in the jazz community and I frankly don't feel I'm hearing enough of him. This is me trying to solve that problem.
Roy Hargrove - Family
I felt like wrapping up the show with some Roy Hargrove and then I noticed I hadn't played this song since January. It felt like it was time to revisit the tune.

The Line-Up for 7-16-2010

2010-07-16T21:58:00.002-05:00

This week, I don't really have anything special to say here other than I suggest you go read my latest column over at Nextbop. Other than that, let's get to the playlist...

Medeski, Martin & Wood - Junkyard
I feel a little trepidation sometimes if I start the hour with MMW. I don't want to put a lot of people off, but MMW so clearly defines what The Line-Up is about that sometimes I just run with it and will play them up top.
Brad Mehldau - Knives Out
I was totally listening to this on the bus yesterday and had so much fun listening to it (as I usually do) that it made its way to tonight.
Anat Cohen - Jitterbug Waltz
The other day, I said to myself, "Retro, you don't play any Anat Cohen on the show." You saw her in Icons Among Us, you know she's learned and has a great background in jazz. You should totally play her on the show. Besides, you don't play enough talented women in general. You should get on that."
Ravi Coltrane - Ginger Bread Boy
I almost chose to put another song here. Probably Freddie Hubbard's version of "Caravan," but I figured I'd play something a little more modern since I'd have another song from the 70s a little later in the show. Ravi Coltrane worked quite nicely.
Aaron Goldberg - The Rules
Another computer selection gone right. The computer loves me.
Dr. Lonnie Smith - People Make the World Go Round
Every now and then, this Stylistics' comes to mind and I'll hum a few bars of it to myself. Tonight, that humming comes to fruition for ten minutes and thirty-nine seconds.
Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life
It's no secret that I was raised on smooth jazz before I moved on to embrace modern mainstream jazz. My education had to start somewhere and falling for Pat Metheny was a part of that. No matter how many Matt Stevens' or Nels Cline's come along, I'll always have a soft spot for Metheny. Even more for jazz from the 1970s. That's what makes Retro, Retro.
Ximo Tebar - Inner Urge
Yep, the computer loves me.

The Line-Up for 7-9-2010

2010-07-09T21:58:00.001-05:00

It's my birthday on Monday so I'm live tonight and I'm playing some of my favorite stuff of old and of stuff I can't stop playing lately. It's not much different from any other Line-Up but maybe a little more self indulgent. Hopefully, you find it to be just as awesome.

The Bad Plus - Flim
This is the song you hear week after week as the intro to this show. It's pretty much the definitive song for The Line-Up and I'm glad that it's the theme song. But from time to time, I come back to it and think about it in a new way. In this case, I thought about how this song is a feature point for Dave King. His drumming is just fantastic and I found myself scatting to myself, emulating his drumming throughout the week. It had to play, not only for my own purposes but to remind people how awesome this band is that they can take an Aphex Twin song and make it their own. Some people got onto The Bad Plus from their first album, These are the Vistas, because of their cover of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." For me, it was always from "Flim."
Christian Scott - Jenacide (The Inevitable Rise and Fall of the Bloodless Revolution)
Yet another week goes by and I play this song again. I swear I don't get tired of it. Once again, I'm putting the focus on the drummer. I'm loving Jamire Williams as much as I'm loving Dave King lately.
Marco Benevento - Greenpoint
If I were to have told you I've listened to Benevento's Between the Needles and Nightfall album ten times in this last week, you'd think I'm lying but I'm pretty sure I've played this album that many times this last week. I'm sort of obsessed. This is the opening track from that album and the man certainly knows how to start strong.
Monsieur Dubois - Dreaming
I think the computer here loves me because every week it manages to stick a song in my hour that I fall for almost immediately. This week is no different. Monsieur Dubois reminds me of early 2000s Incognito (when Maysa began to branch off into her solo career but the group still managed to hang on strong).
The Crusaders - Free as the Wind
If I'm doing a show for my birthday, there's no way I can't not play something with Joe Sample in it. This is also the moment when you realize the show is halfway done and I refuse to play anything low energy.
Russell Gunn - Footprints
A few weeks ago, I said I don't pay enough attention to Russell Gunn. This is me making that effort. On top of that, I had "Footprints" stuck in my head the other day. I mean really stuck. I mean singing the song to myself at work stuck. Of course, if you're going to play "Footprints," you have to play the tried and true Miles version off his 1967 album, Miles Smiles, but that's rather antithetical to The Line-Up, so here I am killing two birds with one stone.
Robert Glasper - Festival
This is yet another "this song played on my commute to work and now everyone else get to hear it" selection.
Brad Mehldau - Everything in its Right Place
You just knew you couldn't get through a special episode of The Line-Up and avoid Brad Mehldau, didn't you? And a Radiohead cover at that? Besides that, nothing says let's get the next year off to a right start by putting everything in its right place.

Nextbop: Jazzaneutics

2010-07-09T11:54:00.000-05:00

This week's post over at Nextbop is all about using Antonius Guillimus Amo's teachings on hermeneutics in listening to and analyzing jazz music. I've wanted to write about this for quite some time but the Holy Spirit finally stuck it in my head how to write it.

To wit:

Amo is heralding authorial intent and states it must be considered when analyzing a work (at least when using a biographical criticism), otherwise, the analysis is ultimately invalid. Cross apply this notion to jazz and its criticism. Right now, one of our biggest issues (upon which I rail habitually) is that of nomenclature. If authorial intent is to trump all according to Amo, if a musician believes his or her work is considered jazz, the audience or the critic theoretically has little basis to state otherwise. The author intended the work to fit under a certain category and the audience must oblige.
Once we pass the issue of nomenclature, the issue on which our community should truly focus should be that of remembering to bridge that gap between the works and the audience. With the dawn of bebop, the genre was decried for moving away from the dancing general populace to an over-intellectual, erratic foot-tapping few. These tendencies and arguments have only increased and intensified over the last fifty years and the genre continued to splinter and evolve. Such is the nature of art.

It's a bit of a difficult read, to be frank, but I'm quite happy with how it turned out. If you can get through the first few paragraphs of the piece, the rest really brings it all home. Head over there and check it out.

The Line-Up and 2 More Hours of Noc Trans for 7-2-2010

2010-07-02T23:59:00.008-05:00

Yet again, I have three hours of programming here and boundless opportunity. Oh, I have a new post up over at Nextbop that folks are liking. Give it a read. Otherwise, let's see if this week is any good, shall we?

Dr. Lonnie Smith - Mellow Mood
I got his last album and thought it was pretty good. It was sort of shocking to see another one so soon but the man is a professional.
Terence Blanchard - Byus feat. Dr. Cornel West
From time to time, I'll come up to the station and JJ will somehow mention Blanchard's Choices album. Then I think about how much I like what I hear. It happened again today.
Etienne Charles - Lala Who?
This is another one of those tracks the computer picks but I keep it because it sounds sort of funky.
Jason Moran - Blue Blocks
Moran's new album, Ten, is proving itself to be quite impressive.
The Bad Plus - Comfortably Numb feat. Wendy Lewis
If there's anyone I should be playing on this show more often, it's The Bad Plus. Their song, "Flim," is the theme song to this show, for crying out loud. So lately I was thinking, "When's the last time I played The Bad Plus on The Line-Up?" as I'm prone to do with many folks and I realized the answer in this case was far too long.
Poyser, Riggins, Jackson - Funky Butt
I ran across this the other day on the Stones Throw site. You may want to give it a listen, yourself outside of the context of this show.
Steve Coleman - Attila 04 (Closing Ritual)
Yet another computer selection.
Marco Benevento - You Know I'm No Good
This guy is getting some serious attention lately. He was filled with remarkable energy when I saw him in the Icons Among Us documentary. He was featured on NPR for this song. Then he's partying with Seb during the Montreal Jazz Fest the other day. He even did an interview for Nextbop. I figured once I got ahold of this song from him that I had to play it on the song.
Jason Lindner - Seven Ways
You have no idea how often I've played Now vs. Now just on a whim. I love it a little too much.
Metropolitan Jazz Affair - Navarone
Another computer selection that just so happens to get pretty funky.

...and two more hours of Nocturnal Transmissions...
Wolf Parade - Cave-O-Sapien
Can - Vitamin C
The Hold Steady - Stuck Between Stations
Led Zeppelin - Since I've Been Loving You
Animal Collective - BrotherSport
Beck - Elevator Music
Nick Drake - Parasite
Elliott Smith - Tomorrow, Tomorrow
Spoon - Car Radio
Solex Vs. Christina Martinez and Jon Spencer - Bon Bon
Flying Lotus - ...And The World Laughs With You (feat. Thom Yorke)
Blur - Pop Scene
Sufjan Stevens - The Avalanche
Vampire Weekend - Mansard Roof
Flying Lotus - Do the Astral Plane
Islands - Pieces of You
The White Stripes - You're Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl)
Ratatat - Wildcat
Quit Zow - The Cut
Joanna Newsom - Soft as Chalk
Dirty Projectors - Stillness is the Move
Neon Indian - Terminally Chill
TV on the Radio - Dirtywhirl
Janelle Monae - Faster
Portishead - Mysterons
Radiohead - Sit Down. Stand Up.
The Jesus and Mary Chain - Just Like Honey

The Line-Up and Whatever Follows It for 6-25-2010

2010-06-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

I actually did three hours of programming tonight since Galen is no longer doing The Distance after The Line-Up. I'm sad to know he's gone and hope he does well but I figured someone should do something with the time slot, at least for tonight. I'll tell you one thing. It's harder to work with so many shorter songs.

This is also the "So I didn't make it to Montreal" show. I'm a little down about it but I never got to program three hours of show before so I guess this is an alright consolation prize. Let me know if I did alright, alright?

Vijay Iyer - Big Brother
I really do like this song, plus Iyer is doing a free concert with Nextbop during the day at the Montreal Jazz Fest.
Terence Blanchard & Bilal - Journey
Blanchard is one of those people I don't pay enough attention to but should.
Roy Hargrove Big Band - Roy Allen
This really is my favorite track off of this album. It's just too smooth, especially for a big band.
Herbie Hancock - Chameleon
I've wanted to play this on the air for some time but it's really hard to just block out fifteen minutes of show for one song. It still was a challenge this week to do so.
Robert Glasper - 59 South
Glasper has been on my mind lately and this song seemed to fit for tonight.
Lionel Loueke - Benny's Tune
Loueke is just the talk of the town lately, isn't he?
Gretchen Parlato - I Can't Help It
This song is here 1) because everyone at the station is finally loving Gretchen Parlato (I'm getting through to these people yet and 2) because I hadn't really done much to commemorate the one year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death. This song did him justice.
Christian Scott - The Eraser
What better way to transition to Nocturnal Transmissions than with a jazz cover of a Thom Yorke tune.

My Noc Trans Set
There's too much going on here for me to explain to you why I picked every song for the succeeding two hours so just trust me when I said that I picked the vast majority of these songs and that telling the computer to pick stuff within the same category is your best friend when your mind is running a blank.
Feist - Sea Lion Woman
Jamie Lidell - Completely Exposed
Wilco - I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
Beck - Tropicalia
LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yrself Clean
Flying Lotus - Do the Astral Plane
Zero 7 - Distractions
The Roots - How I Got Over
Interpol - Untitled
The Bird and The Bee - La La La
Tom Waits - Goin' Out West
Spoon - The Book I Write
Toro Y Moi - Talamak
Foals - Total Life Forever
TV on the Radio - DLZ
MF DOOM - Gazillion Ear
Spoon - The Underdog
Fujiya & Miyagi - Knickerbocker
Radiohead - Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Jimi Hendrix - Hear My Train A Comin'
Neutral Milk Hotel - Ghost
Explosions in the Sky - First Breath After a Coma
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps
Iron and Wine - Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car
Sufjan Stevens - Dear Mr. Supercomputer
Bad Brains - Banned in DC

Nextbop: 'Insular and Diminishing...' and '...Covertly Agreeing'

2010-06-22T14:18:00.001-05:00

While I'm mentally going over a few other posts for Nextbop and other things on the horizon, I figured I shouldn't let too much time pass without noting the last couple of things I've written for Nextbop.

There was a great deal of controversy in the jazz blogosphere in teh last month and I ultimately addressed things with my post, "Insular and Diminishing or Liberal and Proliferating."

Who the hell do we think we are to equate disagreeing with newcomers with the possible loss of pedigree of a publication or the destruction of the genre (or at least its nomenclature)? Why do we so often get up in arms when a contradictory idea rears its head when our own fold is floundering for its own vitality? Why do so many of us require a wide breadth of knowledge on the history of jazz before truly accepting new musicians and commentators?
I’m not suggesting we give equal credence to the opinions and talents of the glaringly ignorant, but I am saying it’s equally not as encouraging to newcomers of the genre to say they cannot appreciate the genre until they hear the first hundred years of music and commentary.

The subsequent week, I fought not to get into a writer's block and "A Brief Word on Us Covertly Agreeing," a short commentary on a recent piece by Jason Marsalis in the Los Angeles Times, was born.

Truthfully, there isn’t much one can say on Marsalis’ analysis outside of what’s been said already. As I’ve often done in the past, I’m deferring to [Peter Hum’s analysis] on the post. I pretty much agree with Hum in this regard. The calculating, mathematical, cold approach to music does happen here and there in this modern mainstream jazz that’s floating around, but without Marsalis’ naming true culprits, the video and subsequent post sort of continues more ill will in the community, at least if we weren’t all tired of fighting and complaining.
When it’s all been said and done, there will always be people who complain about what they find to be bad music. Marsalis is doing so in a rather open forum and because of that, there has been outcry from various sources. Because we’re dealing with something as subjective as art, this isn’t necessarily out of the question and this is certainly creating the public, controversial discourse that [some] have stated we need. But what’s most important is Marsalis’ comment at the end of his post, “…I’m glad we are having this conversation.”

I have three ideas for my next few Nextbop columns (two of which I actually think are pretty good) that I'm going to work on so I suggest you look there in the next coming weeks.

The Line-Up for 6-18-2010

2010-06-18T21:58:00.001-05:00

I actually didn't write this in advance so this is going to be a bit of a challenge to do. I'm typing this in real time from my BlackBerry. Enjoy the show, y'all.

Jason Moran - Gangsterism Over 10 Years

This track is new and actually streaming over at NPR right now. Moran's Ten albums is releasing next week to positive reviews. I'm just sayin'.

Quincy Jones & Bill Cosby - Hicky-Burr
What better choice for Father's Day than America's dad? This is really the best I got.

Gretchen Parlato - Doralice
I dare you to say this song didn't pull you out of a funk. You could have been feeling great and Parlato made you feel even better.

Chaka Khan & Freddie Hubbard - Them There Eyes
I'll take any excuse I can to play some Chaka Khan. This one: The computer put it there.

Vijay Iyer - Big Brother
I will whistle songs from Vijay Iyer's Historicity randomly at work. It's an affliction I've become fond of having.

Herbie Hancock - All Apologies
Hancock's The New Standard album always holds a special place in my heart.

Miles Davis - Guinnevere
Friends of mine on Twitter have been talking about Crosby, Stills, and Nash all week so I figured I'd further indulge right here.

Tord Gustavson Trio - Where We Were
I don't have a real reason why this is here other than it fit.

The Line-Up for 6-11-2010

2010-06-11T21:58:00.004-05:00

I'm actually trying to do the show live this time. I don't know if you've noticed but the show is typically recorded since I can't find a way home at night by bus.

Stanton Moore - Knocker
The computer picked this one but I found it to be pretty funky so I decided to keep it.
Medeski, Martin & Wood - Uninvisible
Yet another one of those, "When's the last time I played ____" moments. Noticing a theme here?
Eliane Elias - Oye Como Va
The computer picked this and I really wasn't feeling playing a lot of vocal tracks this evening (there are three tonight), but it's "Oye Como Va." Try listening to anyone perform "Oye Como Va" and not get a little chipper.
Lizz Wright - A Taste of Honey
Once again, I'm playing Lizz Wright to prep the Alamo City for her performance at the Carver tomorrow.
The Roots - Teen Town
Owen Biddle does too good of a job on this song. Seriously. It makes be sad it's less than a minute long. Get the LNJF Sandwiches mixtape if you don't already have it. There's too much pure gold in it that The Roots just gave away.
The Roots feat. George Benson - Breezin'
Also from the LNJF Sandwiches mixtape is this choice selection and includes George Benson himself having too much fun. Fun like that needs radio play.
Marc Cary - Just In Time
I've been waiting for a while for the station to get some Marc Cary to play on the air. Now they have some and here it is.
Jaco Pastorius & Herbie Hancock - Kuru/Speak Like a Child
After hearing someone else play some Pastorius, I just had to go to the genuine article.
Seu Jorge & Almaz - Everybody Loves the Sunshine
This begins my ending the show with a block of stuff from Stones Throw. I've been playing this song pretty consistently lately so I knew I wanted to play it on The Line-Up at some point.
Sound Directions - Dice Game / Wanda Vidal
If there's a rule anyone could apply to The Line-Up, it's that you just can't go too long on this show without playing Brad Mehldau or Madlib. Tonight's a Madlib night.
Madlib - Montara
I reiterate: tonight is a Madlib night.
Robert Glasper - For You
I slipped this in at the last minute because I clicked a wrong button earlier. Still, that's the kind of stuff that happens when you go live.

The Line-Up for 6-4-2010

2010-06-04T21:58:00.001-05:00

It was rather difficult for me to put this show together this time. I sort of walked into the station like a zombie and was hard pressed to put things together, but once I heard the Nels Cline album, I knew exactly how to make all this work. This show gets a little out there but if you have grit, you get to enjoy a really great show. Let's get into it.

Maria Neckam - Deeper
It's become standard practice for me to ask Seb for suggestions before putting together a show. He sent me this track to play. I don't play many vocalists but tonight's show is rather vocal heavy. I decided to put much of that singing up front.
Gregory Porter - Black Nile
This is actually a suggestion from JJ to continue with the vocalists. This was also the first time I put together a show with other people in the room listening. It was weird to have other people around instead of me sitting in a room by myself like a crazy man.
Stefon Harris & Blackout - Minor March
It should be pretty clear there are times when I ask myself, "Hey, Retro? When's the last time you played _____?" This time, I plugged Stefon Harris into that blank and here we are.
Tom Scott, Terence Blanchard, & George Duke - Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
I'm not going to give away any secrets but one of these people in this song is going to be doing something special to which I'm attached. More on that down the line.
Kurt Rosenwinkel - Minor Blues
This is another Seb suggestion. I was all too happy to take it because I don't have enough Kurt Rosenwinkel in my life.
Jaspects feat. Janelle Monaé - 2012
Oh sure, everyone's playing Janelle Monaé everywhere now and she's on Letterman, but let's not forget that I've played her on The Line-Up a few times before when she was guesting with Jaspects. Let's not forget these folks used to perform in my coffee shop when I was working for $7.50 an hour and free pastry and then walking back to my Mays Hall dormroom at Morehouse. Now Jaspects are featured on CNN, Monaé is the hottest thing since sliced bread, and I'm... well, I'm getting there. I have a show on the radio and you enjoy it, right listener?
Christian Scott - The Eraser
Yeah, I'm playing Scott's cover of "The Eraser" again. Wanna fight about it?
The Nels Cline Singers - Devining
This album is weird. It stretches the imagination. It's a little difficult to stomach. It's right up my alley. I would expect nothing less awesome from the lead guitarist of Wilco.
Alice Coltrane - Journey in Satchidananda
There are a couple of reasons why this is here. 1) The computer put it here. 2) I've always wanted to hear some Alice Coltrane but never investigated her work. 3) Since it's here, it gives me an excuse to play something else sort of adventurous later.
Flying Lotus - Do the Astral Plane
This is that something adventurous. This may not even fit in the auspice of my show, but I need to get this album anyway and I wanted to hear a track off of it and Flying Lotus is Alice Coltrane's son, so there.

Other Writings: Nextbop Articles and Juneteenth

2010-06-03T12:19:00.000-05:00

Things have been a little out of sorts lately so I haven't had the chance to update you on other things I have written. This is now one of those times.

When last we've spoken, I wrote my usual columns over at Nextbop.
Today's post entitled "Jazz War, What is it Good For? (Absolutely Nothin')" (sing it again now!) was on the pointlessness of jazz commentary infighting and in doing so, I solidified Nextbop's stance to only talk about music that's awesome and not cause fights with sensitive folks...

But as a guy who holds the reins on a site dedicated to promoting one of those viewpoints of jazz, it’s hard for me not to bash one ideology to promote my own, especially when such talk is in vogue. Still, I am a man of my word, so I refuse to keep fighting just to increase hit counts (and we really do like steadily increasing our website’s hit count). Besides, there are times when I feel like playing more traditional jazz music. I’m not against that whole aspect of the music, neither are many other jazz fans and musicians.
When we recognize this, we can then focus on our actual forward movement. Rubbernecking isn’t truly beneficial, even if it is entertaining. It’s better that we stay on the highway, focused on getting where we’re trying to go.

The week before that, I published a rather controversial post on jazz opening acts and made a misguided proposal in which musicians stop holding out for more money. It's an idea that works if a musician is paying his/her dues to get a foot in the door but not necessarily a long-term, stable solution for the jazz music industry. Still, it's worth a read.

If this is really all about the music, about the proliferation of the genre, about being creative for the masses, about making jazz music in the way it was intended, live, then why is this genre trying to hold out for the $200 gig when other folks in other genres will put together a show with a bunch of their musician buddies for a night of all free Pabst Blue Ribbon they can drink?

I’m not begrudging the genre for wanting the $200 gig and the $60 million concert halls. I’m begrudging the genre for holding out for these things. I’m begrudging the genre for blaming the industry for its lack of success instead of continuing to create and put itself on display and losing its optimism that the fans and community will keep things alive.

Finally, I wrote an article for the San Antonio Juneteenth Foundation about the importance of Emancipation Proclamation Day (Juneteenth) to the Millennial Generation. I don't particularly like speaking for my entire generation in such a glossary fashion (like how Tyler Perry claims to speak for black culture or Steve Harvey speaks for black men while berating black women some other foolhardy, myopic moron of that ilk) so I hope I was rather evenhanded in my assessment. It was actually a pretty fun piece to write (pdf).

Juneteenth is the foot of the mountain. It is the start of our ongoing race. It is our own piece of America’s belief of Annuit Coeptis, “He (God) approves our undertaking.” Our people from that day forward were capable of undertaking our own varied goals. We were able to accomplish great things without our shackles holding us back. We continue this undertaking today in 2010 and will always have the freedom to continue to do so.

If there isn't anything else, I'll see you here tomorrow night for the playlist for The Line-Up.