Roy Ayers, John Ellis, Ben Markley & Jazz Sabbath

Welcome to the 898th episode of Neon Jazz, where we dive deep into the heartbeat of jazz—past, present, and future. We kick things off with the legendary Jazz Sabbath, helmed by the seasoned Adam Wakeman, bringing their signature blend of jazz-infused reinvention. Then, we take a moment of reverence for the late, great Roy Ayers, a jazz-funk pioneer whose influence will forever echo in the genre. From there, we set our sights on the cutting edge of jazz, spinning brand-new tracks from the likes of Mark Grandfield, John Ellis, Rachel Therrien, Bill Moio, and Ben Markey. The mix gets even more dynamic with an intriguing new album from the Los Angeles Improvisation Ensemble, pushing the boundaries of sound and spontaneity. For a touch of nostalgia, we throw it back to the iconic Eddie Safranski, adding a splash of classic West Coast Jazz to the mix. And just when you think we're done, we close out this unforgettable hour with the electric energy of The Reddish Fetish. So lean in, turn it up, and dig the jazz, my friends.

Playlist

• Jazz Sabbath "Paranoid" Jazz Sabbath, Volume 2 (Blacklake) 0:00
• Host talks 8:51
• Roy Ayers "Reggie of Chester" West Coast Vibes (Blue Note) 11:35
• Mark Grandfield "The Street Where You Live" It's Getting Late (8259373 Records DK) 15:17
• Host talks 18:45
• Eddie Safranski And The Poll Cats "Sa-Frantic" Atlantic Jazz-West Coast (Atlantic) 19:19
• Oh People "The Beat" Part Time Elegance (April Records) 22:05
• Host talks 27:47
• John Ellis "Beautiful Day" Heroes (Blue Room Music) 28:57
• Rachel Therrien "Beauty Free" Mi Hogar II (Lulaworld Records) 33:11
• Host talks 37:44
• Los Angeles Improvisation Ensemble "Tunisian Hooks Bar" Insubordinate Lunar Transgressions (Los Angeles Improvisation Ensemble) 38:22
• Bill Moio "720 Berkeley" Try This (ITI Records) 42:22
• Host talks 47:58
• Ben Markley "Tell the Truth" Tell the Truth (OA2 Records) 48:51
• Host talks 54:06
• The Reddish Fetish "Confirmation" Llegue (The Reddish Fetish) 54:41