48-Freddie Hubbard "Byrdlike" (Birdlike)

Standards Rating 4 Difficulty Rating 8

Freddie Hubbard’s “Birdlike,” from his 1962 album Ready for Freddie, is a fiery bebop composition that pays tribute to Charlie Parker. The track opens with an angular, II-V-driven intro leading into a creatively harmonized 12-bar blues form. Hubbard’s solo is a masterclass in bebop improvisation, showcasing his technical brilliance, innovative phrasing, and signature tone. Known for his ability to blend complexity with lyricism, Hubbard balances rapid-fire runs with moments of space, creating a compelling narrative in his improvisation. His remarkable control over dynamics and articulation further underscores his status as one of jazz’s finest trumpeters. This composition not only highlights Hubbard’s virtuosity but also cements his legacy as a trailblazer who helped define the hard bop era.

Naomi Moon Siegel

Naomi Moon Siegel is an award-winning trombonist, improviser, composer, and educator committed to creating a positive, transformative music culture beyond conventional genre norms. Her original musical vocabulary draws on the richness of various global musical traditions.

Siegel explores the trombone as a vehicle for sonic expression colored by breath, spit, and physicality. A longtime collaborator with Wayne Horvitz, Siegel has performed with such luminaries as Jessica Lurie, Matthew Golombisky, Carmen Staaf, March Fourth Marching Band, Allison Miller, Julian Priester, The California Honeydrops, Martha Scanlan, Stuart Dempster, Skerik, and Thione Diop. With saxophonist Kate Olson, Siegel formed the folk punk jazz duo Syrinx Effect, which has released four albums and performed around the United States.

Siegel is a recipient of Chamber Music America’s Performance Plus Grant, Jazz Journalists Association’s Jazz Hero Award, Montana Art Council’s Artist Innovation Award, and Earshot Jazz’s Golden Ear Award for Emerging Artist of the Year. .

Siegel is an adjunct professor of trombone at the University of Montana and a dedicated music educator. Siegel is also a staunch advocate for intersectional gender justice in jazz and music settings, leading workshops to build awareness and work towards positive systemic shifts in our music culture.

47- "Butterfly" and Herbie Hancock

Standards Rating 5, Difficulty Rating 5

Herbie Hancock, a legendary jazz pianist and composer, is known for his groundbreaking contributions across jazz, funk, and electronic music. After early classical training and jazz studies, he rose to prominence with Miles Davis' Second Great Quintet and as a solo artist on albums like Maiden Voyage and Empyrean Isles. In the 1970s, Hancock embraced funk and electronic music, forming The Headhunters and releasing the influential Head Hunters album. His pioneering use of synthesizers and electronic elements continued into the 1980s with hits like "Rockit." “Butterfly,” from Hancock's 1974 album Thrust, is a slow, groove-based exploration featuring Bennie Maupin on reeds. The track’s spacious melody and rich harmonic shifts create a unique texture, focusing on rhythm and tonal experimentation rather than traditional structure. Butterfly exemplifies Hancock’s ability to blend jazz with funk, creating a deeply immersive, experimental sound that remains influential in modern music.

Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5bla6DuepTMq3kdzUlXTy7?si=Isyr7K84SmeWs-675afJeg

Herbie Hancock https://youtu.be/knbmKDUYDXc?si=uxCc7eOXezT18Qex

Robert Glasper https://youtu.be/PIDOeJa2nYY?si=xmTYm7lFvJU9VLYx

Warren Wolf’s History of the Vibraphone pays tribute to 11 legendary vibe players, including Lionel Hampton, Gary Burton, and Dave Samuels, presenting a deep dive into the vibraphone’s jazz legacy. Starting in classical music under his vibraphonist father’s guidance, Wolf trained on vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, drums, and piano from a young age in Baltimore. Influenced by his dad’s extensive jazz record collection and the local organ trio jazz scene, he eventually studied under Dave Samuels at Berklee, where he later taught. Wolf’s rich blend of early classical rigor and exposure to jazz and R&B shaped his style, which now spans swing to fusion.

In History of the Vibraphone, Wolf performs each track as an homage to original artists, joined by saxophonist Tim Green, pianist Alex Brown, bassist Vicente Archer, and drummer Carroll “CV” Dashiell III. Standout selections like Gary Burton's “Captain Señor Mouse” and Samuels’s “Spring High” reflect Wolf’s influences and his mission to celebrate lesser-known vibes players. Currently a professor at Peabody Conservatory, Wolf remains dedicated to jazz education. Baltimore’s thriving scene is central to his work, with venues like Keystone Korner and An Die Musik hosting vibrant jam sessions. Wolf's upcoming tour hints at a possible sequel to this record, potentially honoring Red Norvo, Tito Puente, and Mike Mainieri. https://njjs.org/

https://www.warrenwolf.com/

History of the Vibraphone https://open.spotify.com/album/0raNJZzMHYyOr9R398NJ3E?si=CkIRJL2-Rm2iFwruCESL-Q

46 -“But Beautiful” and Stan Getz

Standards Rating 7 -Difficulty Rating 6

“But Beautiful,” composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke in 1947, is a classic ballad celebrated for its lyrical melody and complex harmonic progressions. The song’s 32-bar form in G major features rich ii-V movements and subtle key shifts that add a sense of harmonic intrigue. Notable recordings include renditions by Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra, each capturing the song's emotional essence.

Stan Getz, renowned for his warm, lyrical tenor saxophone tone, recorded a memorable version of “But Beautiful” with pianist Bill Evans in 1964. This recording, released in 1973, also features Ron Carter on bass and Elvin Jones on drums. Evans introduces the melody delicately, creating a serene atmosphere. Getz’s entrance is marked by his signature smooth sound, bringing emotional depth to the piece. His expressive solos, complemented by Evans’s harmonic sensitivity, beautifully balance grace and complexity, exemplifying Getz’s lasting impact on jazz.

Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5bla6DuepTMq3kdzUlXTy7?si=KM1g5VEfSxmpKuplKnHDhg

Stan Getz and Bill Evans https://youtu.be/fl6aEZ47AVs?si=ObyZdd5DEHyv-BXT

Billie Holliday https://youtu.be/ihBfxVcVEPY?si=_Uc9o0aL48owSEUH

44-“Broad Way Blues” and Ornette Coleman

Standards Rating 5 Difficulty Rating 6

Ornette Coleman was a pioneering jazz figure known for breaking traditional boundaries with his radical approach to improvisation and composition. His 1959 album The Shape of Jazz to Come introduced free jazz, where he abandoned chord changes and rigid structures, allowing musicians more freedom. His work at New York's Five Spot Café with a groundbreaking quartet helped establish his status as a revolutionary in modern jazz. Coleman's 1961 album Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation further pushed these boundaries with group improvisation, sparking praise and controversy.

One of his notable compositions, "Broadway Blues," features bluesy elements mixed with free improvisation. His 1968 album New York Is Now! blended avant-garde and post-bop, showing his continued evolution. Guitarist Pat Metheny later interpreted Coleman’s "Broadway Blues," reflecting Coleman's profound influence on later jazz artists, particularly through their 1985 collaboration Song X, which merged their experimental styles.

Ornette Coleman https://youtu.be/ue0XTgUx24o?si=v9ny2p9IU_UcE-1M

Pat Metheny https://youtu.be/eciUMTPmzm0?si=3JKlbTJfrtBqkvle

Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5bla6DuepTMq3kdzUlXTy7?si=kjHm7muGQB6O2jIs5623hw

43- Bright Size Life and Jaco Pastorius

Standards Rating 6 Difficulty Rating 7

In this episode, we look at “Bright Size Life,” the standout title track from Pat Metheny’s 1976 debut album of the same name, and the life and career of Jaco Pastorius, the man who redefined electric bass playing in jazz. The track is a masterful blend of jazz, folk, and rock, featuring Metheny’s signature open chord voicings and a flowing, lyrical melody. But what truly sets it apart is the incredible bass work by Jaco Pastorius. His fretless bass gives the track a unique, almost singing tone, and his use of harmonics and fluid phrasing brings a new dimension to the music. Jaco’s bass line isn’t just a support; it’s a melodic force of its own, weaving in and out of Metheny’s guitar with rhythmic precision and harmonic creativity. This interplay between guitar and bass, supported by Bob Moses’ subtle drumming, creates an expansive atmosphere that defines the track. Bright Size Life showcases Metheny’s compositional genius and Jaco’s ability to push the boundaries of what a bass can do, making it a landmark in jazz fusion.

Pat Metheny (studio recording) - https://youtu.be/0Ozv_S1fuis?si=B11U_5V55NrunhlK

Pat Metheny (live) https://youtu.be/TAAilVUqwSw?si=QQz32RKMqH69Pn0d

Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5bla6DuepTMq3kdzUlXTy7?si=jl6quMa3S16tJp3VtNAnSw