The Company You Keep...

The company you keep says a lot about you, as the saying goes...and I guess that is true. I am thinking about friends, old and new and why people make the connections they do. I have had the good fortune to be blessed with many great friends, people I admire and who have enriched my life. The cool thing is many of these friends have been around since the early days of childhood and adolescence so you know these people must like you because otherwise why would they still be around? The other aspect of this is it reminds you that you must not be such a bad person, after all you got some good folks who will vouch for you.

I love the internet and really have grown found of the way it can bring people together across distances. I recently reconnected with a very old (not age wise) friend of mine thanks to Facebook. His name is Jerome Scott and we grew up not to far from one another, went to the same High School and Community College and we were both DJ's at the College radio station. Jerome turned me onto some really good music back in the day...he was actually ahead of me in terms of digging the Jazz scene, and so if he said he liked something..I usually said to myself "this should be good" and usually I was right! One track he "hipped" me to (old guy lingo) was a piece by a cat named Cedar Walton, the track was "Jacob's Ladder". Now this was around 1978 and I had never heard of Cedar Walton, I remember looking at the album cover thinking... this time Jerome you wrong. Back then if I didn't like the album cover art, I thought I wasn't gonna like the music either! The record companies must have thought so too.....probably why in the 60's and 70's album cover art was so elaborate - the album cover was like the video of our day, we would stare and stare at the album covers - particularly if it was an album by The Ohio Players!! Anyway...I gave it a listen and guess what Mikey...I liked it...and now you get to like it too!!

This episode is dedicated to friendship, even those long ago ones. Just remember what ever you went through or no matter how much time you've lost, if you got at least one treasured memory from the friendship that was....you have been enriched and blessed more than you know! Thanks Jerome (even though you probably forgot all about all that...)!!

Peace,

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:
Nicholas Payton - "Nida" (2008)
Don Byron - "Leopold, Leopold" (2004)
David Sanchez - "Karla's Changes" (2001)
Cedar Walton - "Jacob's Ladder" (1978)
Charles Fambrough - "Sand Jewels" (1991)
Sphere - "Twilight" (1997)
Abbey Lincoln - "I am In Love" (1958)
Bobby Hutcherson - "Una Muy Bonita" (1966)
Chick Corea - "Willow Grove" (1997)

Once Upon A Cold Jazzy Night...

BRRRRR!!!

It is cold...hawk cold...Chicago cold...wind whipping off the water...stay in the house cold. Turn up the heater, sip on your cocoa...wrap yourself in a blanket with your thick socks on...light a fire and to really warm things up....check out Jazzism Volume 26.2 - aahh yes...that'll do.

Enjoy,

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:
Geri Allen - "Holdin' Court" (2004)
Michael Brecker Quartet - "El Nino" (1998)
Al Di Meola - "Africana Suite" (2006)
Espranza Spaulding - "Ponta De Areia" (2008)
Wayne Shorter - "The Peacocks" (1986)
Roy Hargrove - "The Left Side" (1993)
Eric Reed - "Blues To Come" (1996)
Jacky Terrasson - "Chan's Song" (1997)
Dianne Reeves - "Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise" (1990)

Give Thanks.

Count your blessings before you count your paper. We all have so much to be thankful for, don't believe me? Answer the following questions:

Are your five senses working adequately?
Have you eaten lately?
Do you have a warm, lighted home?
Does this home have furniture?
Got shoes?
Laugh Lately?
Cry Lately?
Received a hug?
Gave a hug?
Walk under your own accord?
Play in the sun?
Have your own kind of fun?
Sleep late every now and then?
Been kissed (ever)?
Have a favorite place you love to be touched?
Are you now smiling?

Well then...Give Thanks for every yes answer and know you are a blessed child of GOD. And if you didn't know...now ya know - WORD!!

Thanks for listening to Jazzism (again)!

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:
Joshua Redman - "Stoic Revolutions" (2000)
Cyrus Chestnut - "Miss Thing" (1998)
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - "A Night In Tunisia" (1960)
Ron Blake - "Waltz for Gwen" (2008)
Kenny Garrett - "Sing a Song of Song" (1997)
Lizz Wright - "Afro Blue" (2003)
Cannonball Adderley - "Somethin' Else" (1958)
Donald Harrison - "One of a Kind" (1996)
The Art Ensemble of Chicago - "Dreaming of The Masters" (1978)

Polka Dots and Moonbeams....

A ride to the moon on a Jitney? Romance sometimes is what you make it, and how you get there is less important then the joy found in taking the journey. Love can blossom most anywhere...even at a country dance held in a garden...just hold your breath and ask ..."May I have the next one?"

Dance to the rhythm of love and life, play amongst the polka dots and moonbeams and perhaps one day all your dreams may come true. who knows...

This episode of Jazzism has rhythm, soul, grooves, a surrey (with the fringe on top no less) and a pug nose dream...enjoy!

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:
David Sanchez - "Prince of Darkness" (2001)
Branford Marsalis Quartet - "Return of The Jitney Man" (2009)
Branford Marsalis - "Brother Tyring To Catch A Cab (on the Eastside) Blues (1992)
Abbey Lincoln - "Ain't Nobody's Business (1958)
Nicholas Payton - "Wild Man Blues" (1995)
Pat Metheny/Dave Holland/Roy Haynes - "H&H" (1989)
Sphere - "Surrey With The Fringe On Top" (1997)
Cassandra Wilson - "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" (2002)
Terence Blanchard - "On The Verge" (2003)

Merge Left.

Change lanes, swerve, adjust, slow down, right lane closed ahead....merge left. Everyday we see signs of change, construction, destruction. One more gray hair. Another year celebrated or dreaded. Change is the most natural thing in life, however many of us have a distinctly un-natural response to change. We freak out! Panic, avoid, delay, fight against...when perhaps it is best to observe and accept. Not all change is bad. True some changes in life are more complex and difficult then others, but the level of our acceptance will determine our ability to rise to the challenges and difficulties of the change.

Jazz music is constantly changing, because part of the creative process is discovery. When an artist ceases to discover new styles and techniques then that artist ceases to grow. Improvisation is at the heart of jazz creation...and improvisation invites change. A major shift occured in jazz music during the late 1960 and continues to this day...the change was dubbed "Fusion" and on this episode of Jazzism, we feature some music of that period (1975-76). Artist like Gil Scott-Heron, Pharoah Sanders, Roy Ayers, Chick Corea and the group Weather Report - as well as our usual mix of great jazz performances. So embrace this change and merge left into the Fusion lane and I promise smooth driving all along the way.

Enjoy,

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:
Pharoah Sanders - "Tomoki" (1996)
Gil Scott - Heron & Brian Jackson - "Summer of '42" (1976)
Weather Report - "Herandu" (1976)
Chick Corea - "Spanish Fantasy part 2 (1976)
Dianne Reeves - "Detour Ahead" (1994)
Ellis Marsalis - "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise" (1998)
Greg Osby - "Shaw Nuff" (2003)
Roy Hargrove - "The Thang" (1992)
Ronny Jordan - "5/8 In The Flow" (2000)
Roy Ayers - "Mystic Voyage" (1975)

Sweetness!!

I got a sweet tooth! Candy won't do! Ice Cream is OK...chocolate is divine...but this sweet tooth I got can only be satisfied by one thing. I got a sweet tooth for JAZZ! So if you are like me make an appointment now for the dentist 'cause this Jazzism episode gonna give you a cavity...fo' sho'!!

Enjoy,

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

ps Happy Halloween candy lovers!!

featuring:
Joshua Redman - Belonging (2000)
Ahmad Jamal - Rossiter Road (1986)
Dion Parsons and Ron Blake - Silhouette (1998)
Abdullah Ibrahim - "Don't Blame Me" (1983)
Regina Carter - "Up South" (2000)
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - "Sweet N Sour" (1962)
Enrico Rava & Stefano Bollani - "Sweet Light" (2007)
Cannonball Adderley - "Nancy" (1961)
Ray Brown Trio featuring Terence Blanchard - "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" (2000)
Joe Williams & Marlena Shaw - "Baby, You Got What It Takes" (1989)
James Carter - "Rapid Shave" (2008)

Community Jazz

com⋅mu⋅ni⋅ty
  /kəˈmyunɪti/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kuh-myoo-ni-tee]
–noun, plural -ties.
1. a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.
2. a locality inhabited by such a group.
3. a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists (usually prec. by the): the business community; the community of scholars.
4. a group of associated nations sharing common interests or a common heritage: the community of Western Europe.
5. Ecclesiastical. a group of men or women leading a common life according to a rule.
6. Ecology. an assemblage of interacting populations occupying a given area.
7. joint possession, enjoyment, liability, etc.: community of property.
8. similar character; agreement; identity: community of interests.
9. the community, the public; society: the needs of the community.

I have said before and I will say it again...Jazz is a community. The community must support one another. For those of you who have donated in the past "thank you". For those about to donate for the first time..."thank you" as well. For those of you who have never donated and probably never will...for whatever reason..."thank you". As a community all parts make up the whole and it is my pleasure to continue to bless all ears that hear, listen and feel - with my small donation to this culture of music and people I LOVE!

"Keep Jazz In Your Life, Not Strife And Everything Will Be All Right"!!

To Donate Please Click On The PayPal button on this webpage...Thanks!

Sincerely,

Brian "Katzpheno" Phoenix

featuring:
Kenny Garrett - "3rd Quadrant" (1999)
Ray Brown Trio featuring Jon Faddis - "Original Jones" (2000)
Cassandra Wilson - "Throw It Away" (2003)
Wynton Marsalis - "Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year" (1998)
Charles Lloyd - "Georgia" (2000)
New York Voices - "Giant Steps" (1994)
Nicholas Payton - "Triptych" (2008)
Steve Coleman & Five Elements - "Drop Kick" (1992)
Wayne Shorter - "Midnight In Carlotta's Hair" (1994)
Rebecca Martin - "The Space In A Song To Think" (2008)