A great book - the story of Miles Davis and John Coltrane and their collaboration together in the late 1950's - deserves a podcast, featuring "Airegin", "Dr. Jackle", "Flamenco Sketches" and a live "So What" from their final tour.

Sorry for the delay - my microphones have been giving me trouble, so I've decided to go ahead and publish the music only for a while.

 

This one is a belated birthday shout out to the late great Thelonius Monk!

A look at the Duke Ellington classic song "Caravan", with versions by the Duke himself, Fred Hersch, Hiromi, Marilyn Scott, Cassandra Wilson and James Carter.

A set of songs about August, featuring Mark Prince, Brad Melhdau, Dexter Gordon and Lyle Mays.

A tribute to Joni Mitchell's music as covered by jazz artists, including tracks from Herbie Hancock, Sonya Kitchell, Don Sebesky. Brad Mehldau and Karrin Allyson.

Connecticut's two free jazz festivals - Hartford and New haven - are profiled, featuring music from Jeff Lorber, Harold Danko and Giacamo Gates.

Wynton & Willie and the boys have a great time on "Two Men with the Blues"; Jazz singers cover Hank Williams.

Jazz musicians, including Barney Kessell, Larry Coryell, Stanley Jordan and of course, the MJQ, take a crack at classical compositions. Real Long Hair stuff!

Previewing the Freihofer's Jazz Festival in Saratoga Springs, NY

Podcast 115 - Just Add Words - features recordings where lyrcis have been added to existing jazz tunes. Listen to Eddie Jefferson tackle "Bitches Brew", Abbey Lincoln on "Afro-Blue" and more.

Cassandra Wilson's new CD "Loverly" sends me scurrying into the bins for jazz covers of songs from "My Fair Lady".

Since you can't all  be invited to the reception, here's some music being played during the ceremony and reception.

Israel celbretes its 60th anniversary today, and we celebrate Israeli jazz musicians like Anat Cohen, Avishai Cohen, Yuval Cohen, Anat Fort, and Sophie Milman, among others.

A look at the music of guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, featuring his new double-CD live album from the Village Vanguard.

Ten Days of Brazilia ends with a salute to the "Gershwin of South America", Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Celebrate the vernal equinox with a Spring-themed show featuring the music of Ike Quebec, Dave Brubeck, Spyro Gyra, Gary Burton and Jane Monheit.

Music for reflection and contemplation for the Easter weekend.

A look at Italian jazz musicians and music recorded in Italy. Ciao!

Serenade your valentine with romantic jazz classics.

"Something For You: Elaine Elias Sings and Plays Bill Evans" is the subject of the podcast, featuring tracks from the new CD and music from Elias, Evans, and Keith Jarrett.

Chcik Corea and Gary Burton celebrate 35 years of "Crystal Silence"

Proposed reunion of Return to Forever - tracks from the individual members and the band.

To celebrate the 100th podcast, here are four different versions of Thelonius Monk's composition "Straight No Chaser", from whence the title of this humble blog comes. Versions are by Joe Henderson with the Wynton Kelly Trio, the Ginger Baker Trio, Carmen McRae, and Cannonball Adderly. www.straightnocahserjazz.blogspot.com

 

A tribute to the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. on his birthday - featuring excerpts from his speeches, and music by Charlie Haden's Liberation Orchestra, Grant Green, Cecil Payne, Horace Silver, and the Blind Boys of Alabama.