George Freeman, Ermelinda Cuéllar, Bennie Moten & Lonnie McFadden

We're kicking off the 902nd episode in style—with none other than the King of Kansas City Jazz himself, Lonnie McFadden. We drop the needle on a fiery cut from his 2018 album Live at the Green Lady Lounge, and it sets the tone just right. During a recent chat with Lonnie, he gave us the lowdown on the upcoming Count Basie 90th birthday bash, lighting up KC on International Jazz Day. And guess what? The party doesn't stop there—he's hosting an exclusive after-party at his very own Reno Club. To honor the spirit of KC and the legacy of Basie, we rewind to the roots with Bennie Moten and his classic, The Count. Then, we shift gears and dive into a wave of fresh jazz sounds from the likes of Daggerboard & Erik Jekabson Orchestra, Jeff Libman, Peter Smith, Silvano Monasterios, and Ermelinda Cuéllar. Nestled between the grooves, we pay homage to jazz royalty with cuts from the great Rufus Reid and the legendary Monty Alexander. And with heavy hearts, we salute a true titan—Chicago's own George Freeman—who passed on April 1, 2025. His legacy plays on through the music. We close the set on a hypnotic note with Ben Neill, blending electronic textures and jazz fusion into something truly mesmerizing. So tune in, turn it up, and dig deep into this rich tapestry of sound. This is jazz, my friends—alive, evolving, and full of soul.

Playlist

• Lonnie McFadden "El Montecristo" Live at the Green Lady (Jazz Daddy Records) 0:00
• Host talks 5:50
• Bennie Moten "The Count" The Blue Room (Jazz League Music) 8:54
• Daggerboard & Erik Jekabson Orchestra "Solstice Blues" The Axes, Vol. 2 Summer Solstice (Wide Hive Records) 12:06
• Host talks 17:07
• Rufus Reid "It's the Nights I Like" It's the Nights I Like (Sunnyside) 17:31
• Jeff Libman "A Sleeping' Bee" Feel off the Ground (Cellar Live) 20:23
• Host talks 25:52
• Monty Alexander "Mack the Knife (Swing-Jazz Secrets)" Short Cuts (Arcadia Records) 216:55
• George Freeman "It Was a Very Good Year" George freeman with Charlie Earland Live (Philly Time Jazz) 28:52
• Host talks 31:36
• Peter Smith "Road Songs" Smitty Straightens Out (Real Magic Records) 32:23
• Silvano Monasterios "Ambar's Courage" The River (Silvano Monasterios) 37:25
• Host talks 41:47
• Ermelinda Cuellar "Morning" Under a Lavender Sky (Ermelinda Cuellar Productions) 42:25
• Trilogy "Hi-Fly" The Road Show (Trilogy Records) 46:13
• Host talks 51:12
• Ben Neill "Sweetness and Light" Horizontal (Blue Math) 53:16