In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

Ken Laster

From Jazz masters of past and present to emerging new artists performing modern jazz and fusion. No smooth jazz here!

  • 59 minutes 41 seconds
    Episode Dec 14 2025

    The core of this episode has some of the best tenor sax players from today and yesteryear. I'm speaking of Potter, Kirk, Rollins and Trane. They are bookended by a new release from Out Of/Into and Zawinul's In A Silent Way.

    Playlist
    Artist ~ Name ~ Album
    Out Of/Into ~ Nacho Supreme ~ Motion II
    Chris Potter ~ The Mind's Eye (For Michael Becker and Joe Lovano) ~ Gratitude
    Roland Kirk ~ Alfie (Live at the Penthouse in Seattle September 1967) ~ Single
    Sonny Rollins ~ Alfie's Theme ~ Alfie
    John Coltrane ~ Moment's Notice ~ Blue Train
    Herbie Hancock ~ Watermelon Man ~ Head Hunters
    Weather Report ~ In a Silent Way ~ 8:30 (Live)
    Miles Davis ~ In a Silent Way (Rehearsal) ~ The Complete in a Silent Way Sessions

    14 December 2025, 10:57 am
  • 59 minutes 50 seconds
    Wonder Jazz

    S Wonder, one of the greatest artists in popular music, is known for his popular hits, vocals, and multi-instrumental playing. However, his compositions extend far beyond the mainstream, incorporating jazz sensibilities that have inspired jazz artists to cover his work.

    Playlist
    Artist ~ Name ~ Album
    Joe Farrell ~ Too High ~ Penny Arcade
    Herbie Hancock ~ You've Got It Bad Girl ~ The New Standard
    SFJAZZ Collective ~ My Cherie Amour ~ Music of Stevie Wonder and New Compositions
    Stevie Wonder ~ As ~ Songs in the Key of Life
    Mike Stern ~ Echoes ~ Echoes and Other Songs
    Michael Brecker ~ Nothing Personal ~ Michael Brecker

    7 December 2025, 11:05 am
  • 58 minutes 8 seconds
    Post Thanksgiving 2025

    After giving thanks, post Thanksgiving Day we get into a guitar set featuring both jazz masters (Kessel, Wess, Forman) and a talented young artist Tony Davis. Also featured are a new release from pianist George Colligan and a modern sound from Ahmad Jamal. We dance our way out with a funky Weather Report.

    Playlist
    Artist ~ Name ~ Album
    Jimmy Greene ~ Give Thanks ~ Mission Statement
    Bruce Forman ~ Rope-a-Dope ~ Reunion!
    Barney Kessel ~ On Green Dolphin Street ~ The Poll Winners
    Tony Davis ~ Sphere Of Blues ~ Jessamine
    Wes Montgomery ~ Bumpin' On Sunset ~ Tequila
    George Colligan ~ If the Mountain Was Smooth, You Couldn't Climb It ~ Live at the Jazz Standard
    Ahmad Jamal ~ Marseille ~ Marseille
    Weather Report ~ 125th Street Congress ~ Sweetnighter

    30 November 2025, 8:34 pm
  • 59 minutes 20 seconds
    Autumn and Thanksgiving

    We begin this week's show with a celebration of this Fall season and Thanksgiving from Jamal and Monk. Also of note in Hutcherson's vibes and Trane's lament. New music from Hartford's guitarist Tony Davis and maestro Kenny Barron.

    Playlist 
    Artist ~ Name ~ Album
    Ahmad Jamal ~ Autumn Leaves ~ Marseille
    Thelonious Monk ~ Stuffy Turkey ~ It's Monk's Time
    Bobby Hutcherson ~ Little B's Poem ~ Components
    John Coltrane Quartet ~ Lonnie's Lament ~ Crescent
    Tony Davis ~ Viridian ~ Jessamine
    Kenny Barron & Kurt Elling ~ In The Slow Lane ~ Songbook
    Marquis Hill ~ Joseph Beat ~ Composers Collective: Beyond The Jukebox
    Marquis Hill ~ Libra ~ Composers Collective: Beyond The Jukebox

    23 November 2025, 11:03 am
  • 59 minutes 14 seconds
    All Jack D

    This episode pays tribute to the late Jack DeJohnette who passed away a couple weeks ago. We feature Jack as a leader and side man on some of my favorite recordings.

    Playlist
    Artist ~ Name ~ Album
    Jack DeJohnette ~ Jack In ~ Parallel Realities
    Joe Farrell ~ Follow Your Heart ~ Joe Farrell Quartet
    Miroslav Vitous ~ Bamboo Forest ~ Universal Syncopations
    Keith Jarrett Standards Trio ~ The Old Country ~ Standards Live
    Hudson ~ Woodstock ~ Hudson
    Michael Brecker ~ Midnight Voyage ~ Tales from the Hudson
    Joe Henderson ~ Isotope ~ Power to the People
    Charles Lloyd Quartet ~ Sombrero Sam ~ Soundtrack

    16 November 2025, 11:03 am
  • 1 hour
    Episode Nov 9 2025

    We begin with a trio led by pianist George Colligan along with Linda Oh (b) and Jack DeJohnette (dr). Mr. DeJohnette passed away last week and was an important figure in modern jazz. Also, new music by guitarist Mike Stern and a live recording of Weather Reports famous tune Birdland.

    Playlist
    Artist ~ Name ~ Album
    George Colligan ~ Song for the Tarahumera ~ Live at the Jazz Standard
    Lenny White ~ L's Bop ~ The Griffith Park Collection
    Mike Stern ~ Stuff Happens ~ Echoes and Other Songs
    Mike Stern ~ Gospel Song ~ Echoes and Other Songs
    John Opferkuch ~ Amerique ~ The Kennedy Files
    Peter Sprague ~ Norwegian Wood ~ All You Need Is Love: Peter Sprague Plays the Beatles
    Weather Report ~ Birdland (Live) ~ 8:30 (Live)

    9 November 2025, 11:01 am
  • 58 minutes 57 seconds
    Jazz Fusion and Beyond

    Mostly jazz/rock fusion on this week's show, featuring some of my favorite bands from the 70's and beyond. This music sparked my interest in jazz music during my college years, and eventually branching out into more traditional forms. But this is the music that started it all for me and many others of my generation.

    Playlist
    Artist ~ Name ~ Album
    Herbie Hancock ~ Heartbeat ~ Man-Child
    Chick Corea ~ Shadow of Lo ~ Where Have I Known You Before
    Frank Zappa ~ Waka/Jawaka ~ Waka / Jawaka
    Shunzo Ohno ~ Runner ~ Runner - EP
    Miles Davis ~ Right Off - take 10 ~ Complete Jack Johnson Sessions
    Shakti with John McLaughlin ~ La Danse Du Bonheur ~ A Handful of Beauty
    Joshua Redman ~ Jazz Crimes ~ Elastic

    2 November 2025, 11:05 am
  • 59 minutes 13 seconds
    Episode October 26 2025

    This show has a number of notable albums including two posthumous releases from Chick Corea. Also an alternative take of a Joni Mitchell composition. Other tracks feature Japanese trumpet player Ohno, Miles and San Diego Latin Jazz pianist Irving Flores.

    Playlist 
    Artist ~ Name ~ Album
    Chick Corea Elektric Band & Chick Corea ~ Trance Dance ~ The Future Is Now
    Chick Corea ~ Armando's Rhumba ~ Forever Yours: The Farewell Performance
    Joni Mitchell ~ The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey ~ Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 4
    Shunzo Ohno ~ Musashi ~ Dreamer
    Miles Davis ~ Paraphernalia ~ Miles In the Sky
    Irving Flores ~ Dana Point ~ Armando Mi Conga

    26 October 2025, 10:02 am
  • 58 minutes 22 seconds
    Episode October 19 2025

    Much of this playlist is from artists that performed at the fundraiser for Young Lions Jazz Conservatory (YLJC.org) founded by trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos. Also featured is music from Shunzo Ohno a trumpet player originally from Japan who has played with Buster Williams, Hancock, Shorter and more.

    Playlist 
    Artist ~ Name ~ Album
    Gilbert Castellanos ~ New Delhi ~ Espérame En El Cielo
    Helen Sung ~ Time Loops ~ Quartet + (with Harlem Quartet)
    Charles McPherson ~ Surge ~ Reverence
    Shunzo Ohno ~ Go On ~ Dreamer
    Buster Williams ~ Decepticon  ~ Something More 
    Emmet Cohen ~ Henei Ma Tov ~ Vibe Provider
    Lee Morgan ~ Party Time ~ The Procrastinator
    Hank Mobley ~ No Room for Squares ~ No Room for Squares

    19 October 2025, 10:04 am
  • 59 minutes 36 seconds
    San Diego-Tijuana Jazz Festival

    The first set of this podcast reviews some of the music represented at the 2nd annual San Diego-Tijuana (SDTJ) International Jazz Festival. This unique festival features artists from both sides of the US Mexico boarder. We begin with a tribute to the late James Moody, a resident of San Diego, celebrating his 100th Centennial of his birth. Also featured is a young singer from Veracruz Mx, Lucia and pianist-composer Irving Flores with his brand new album. We keep to the Latin jazz theme with a reading of Tres Palabras from Charlie Haden. More music concludes with an extended selection from Dexter's homecoming concert.

    Playlist
    Artist ~ Name ~ Album
    James Moody ~ Darben, the Redd Foxx ~ 80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note
    Lucía ~ Veracruz ~ Lucía
    Irving Flores ~ With Amanda in Favignana ~ Armando Mi Conga
    Charlie Haden ~ Tres Palabras ~ Nocturne
    Tony Davis ~ Trinkets From Mars ~ Jessamine
    Les McCann ~ Poo Pye McGoochie (And His Friends) ~ Invitation to Openness
    Dexter Gordon ~ In Case You Haven't Heard ~ Homecoming - Live At the Village Vanguard

    12 October 2025, 10:05 am
  • 59 minutes 15 seconds
    Episode October 5 2025

    This episode begins as a continuation of last week's tribute to the late pianist Mike Wofford with a solo rendition of a Jackie McLean composition Little Melonae. Also featured is another San Diego pianist Irving Flores with his latest album release. Herbie, McLaughlin and Maupin round out the show.

    Playlist 
    Artist ~ Name ~ Album
    Mike Wofford ~ Little Melonae ~ It's Personal
    Irving Flores ~ Tramonto a Massa Lubrense ~ Armando Mi Conga
    Herbie Hancock ~ Oliloqui Valley ~ Empyrean Isles
    Herbie Hancock ~ Ostinato (Suite for Angela) ~ Mwandishi
    John McLaughlin ~ Peace One ~ My Goals Beyond
    Bennie Maupin ~ The Jewel In the Lotus ~ The Jewel In the Lotus

    5 October 2025, 10:02 am
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