Articles by David Brown
DC Jazz Fest + Homework Music
by David Brown
The show opens with a celebration of Sonny Rollins on his 95th birthday, featuring a classic 1954 recording with Thelonious Monk. With students across Philadelphia settling into a new school year, the next set offers a “homework-inspired" segment features selection from Dizzy Gillespie, Johnnie Taylor, Ornette Coleman, Matthew Muñeses, Marian McPartland, and Thelonious Monk. Over Labor Day weekend, the DC Jazz Festival brought world-class performances to the waterfront stages along the Wharf in Washington, DC. The atmosphere was electric--blue skies, ...
Continue ReadingEddie Palmieri, Bela Bartók, Louis Armstrong
by David Brown
This week's program features the music of Latin music innovator, pianist and composer Eddie Palmieri who passed on August 6th. The show will continue with a 124th birthday tribute to Louis Armstrong with a set from The All Stars. The program also features music inspired by composer Bela Bartók as performed by pianist Lucian Ban & violist Mat Maneri and then the Lee Konitz Quintet. ...
Continue ReadingLatin Sounds from the Catskills + New Releases
by David Brown
First up, Sonny Rollins our man in jazz, a live free-form date recorded 63 years ago this week at the Village Gate, NYC; from there, we move into a summer set of sounds from the NY Catskill mountains via the 50s Latin jazz craze with Johnny Conquet and his Orchestra, vocalists Ruth Wallis and Abbe Lane followed by Machito & His Afro-Cubans and Tito Puente His Orchestra. Then, we continue celebrating Anthony Braxton's 80th birthday year with works showcasing his ...
Continue ReadingLive at Newport 1956-69 + New Releases
by David Brown
Today we will bookend the show with new releases from Hiromi, Ambrose Akinmusire, Fred Hersch, Dan Weiss, and Phillippe Massé . In between, a summer selection of recordings originating from the Newport Jazz Festival between 1956 and 1969. Artists for this set will include Duke Ellington, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Dizzy Gillespie, Teddy Wilson, The Sextet, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Miles Davis. Welcome friends and neighbors to The Jazz Continuum. Old, new, in, out... wherever the music takes ...
Continue ReadingAndrew Hill, Ralph Burns, Joe Henderson
by David Brown
In the set I'd like to remember jazz pianist/composer Andrew Hill who was born 94 years ago on June 30, 1931. Hill's music defied categorization for over four decades with its enigmatic and sophisticated musical style. Tracks include two Hill works, a cover by drummer Chad Taylor and a collaboration with pianist Jason Moran. New releases will follow from Julian Shore, Amina Claudine Myers, Eric Reed, James Brandon Lewis, Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer and Tessa Souter. Then, some ...
Continue ReadingSly Stone, Tessa Souter, Cedar Walton
by David Brown
This week we remember progressive soul and funk pioneer Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone with two interpretations of his classic tunes: “Family Affair" from Bobby Hutcherson and “If You Want Me to Stay" from David Murray. Songs featuring some wonderful “oohs" and “aahs" in the background will be follow from Nina Simone and Billy Strayhorn. New releases are up next from Tessa Souter, interpreting Eric Satie, Brandee Younger, performing on Alice Coltrane's Harp, and Adam O'Farrill with ...
Continue ReadingOmar Thomas, Mark Masters, Billy Strayhorn
by David Brown
This week showcases large band music from composer/arrangers Omar Thomas, Gerry Mulligan and Maria Schneider. Bandleader Mark Masters is next with a pair of new albums. With Sam Rivers 100, Masters honors the centenary of the avant-garde jazz pioneer, while on Dance, Eternal Spirits, Dance! Masters explores the music of spiritual jazz legend Billy Harper. Bird themes will follow with the David Murray Quartet's new release Birdy Serenade and Rahsaan Roland Kirk 's classic “Serenade to Cuckoo." Next is a ...
Continue ReadingMaestro Marshall Allen Turns 101
by David Brown
I remember well when The Sun Ra Arkestra performed in 2019 to mark bandleader Marshall Allen's 95th birthday. At the time, it was difficult to imagine he'd continue performing into his second century. Yet, six years later, Maestro Allen remains active--touring, recording, and directing the Arkestra with undiminished energy. As Allen turned 101 on June 25, 2025, this program opens with selections from his extensive catalog, honoring a singular figure in avant-garde jazz. The second set continues with works from ...
Continue ReadingFunky Mama Show
by David Brown
This week's edition of The Jazz Continuum celebrates Mother's Day with an energetic mix of soul-jazz, jazz-funk, R&B, and groove-oriented selections. The program opens with classic organ-driven tracks from saxophonist Lou Donaldson, funk pioneers The Meters, and organist Jimmy McGriff, laying the foundation for the show's rhythmic theme. As the sound evolves into 1970s jazz-funk, selections include works by keyboardist Herbie Hancock, drummer Idris Muhammad, Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes, and Philadelphia native Charles Earland. These artists helped ...
Continue ReadingGiant Steps: Rahsaan Roland Kirk to Vijay Iyer
by David Brown
This week on the Jazz Continuum will be a “cover band" take on John Coltrane's historic recording, Giant Steps. Recorded May 4-5, 1959, several pieces on this album went on to become jazz standards. Each work will be played in album order as performed by Rahsaan Roland Kirk, The John Coltrane Quartet (live), The Vijay Iyer Trio, organist John Patton, and pianist Tommy Flanagan. A set of piano music will follow with Barbara Carroll , Geri Allen, Matt Mitchell, Roland ...
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