New Channels: "Composers: Beatles" and "Pop Composers"

We're a little late to the party, but AccuJazz is now officially part of the resurgent Beatlemania sweeping the world right now. We've just launched a new channel called "Composers: Beatles," playing over 150 jazz covers of Beatles songs. Accompanying the Beatles channel is "Pop Composers," which includes the Beatles material plus jazz versions of other "non-jazz" composers, like Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Burt Bacharach and more.

"Composers: Beatles" includes everything from Buddy Rich's screaming big band doing "Norwegian Wood" to Gene Harris laying down the funk on "Get Back" and Baptiste Trotignon getting all sensitive on "Julia." It really makes for a fun and interesting listen, and it has quickly become one of the most-listened-to channels on AccuJazz.

It was also a lot of fun to create. It was the first new channel where I had the go-ahead to take AccuRadio CEO Kurt Hanson's credit card to the Amazon mp3 store and go crazy. Thanks to my faithful Twitter followers who made a lot of great suggestions about worthwile Beatle covers. I never knew quite how many Beatles covers there were out there, and I'm sure there are thousands more. The channel was also fun for me because I've totally fallen victim to the wider Beatle craze. I think I've listened to Abbey Road, Revolver, Rubber Soul, and Sgt. Pepper's a combined 20 times in the past couple of weeks.

Go on now and listen. Then, if you're so inclined, let your friends know about it, and let me know what you think!

Now Playing on AccuJazz - 9/21/09

Uh oh, it's been a long time since the last update. That means there's a LOT of new music playing on AccuJazz's many channels.

This update includes plenty of big-name new releases, like those by John Patitucci, Roy Hargrove, Roberta Gambarini, John Abercrombie, Terence Blanchard, Eldar, Stefon Harris, the Monterey Quartet (Holland, Rubalcaba, Potter, Harland), Matt Wilson, and Luciana Souza. Some more under-the-radar discs that have really impressed me include those by Ben Perowsky, Jesse Elder, Linda Oh, Ryan Blotnick and Tyshawn Sorey.

As usual, new releases are listed first, with a section at the bottom of older stuff just now added. Fans of our Avant-Garde Jazz channel should be excited to see 10 ESP Disk albums now playing, including discs by Ornette Coleman, Steve Lacy, Sun Ra, and more.

The "Older Releases" section in this post is larger than usual because I also looked to my personal collection to beef up some of the classic jazz offerings on AccuJazz with music by Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Hank Mobley, Joe Henderson, Wynton Kelly, Eric Dolphy, and more. Now that I'm receiving soooo much newer jazz, the balance in programming is tipping pretty heavily toward this decade, and, while I'm as enthusiastic an advocate as anybody for the promotion of new jazz, I also want the scope of jazz history to be accurately reflected in our programming.

I also purchased a lot of mp3's to create a listenable "Composers: Beatles" channel. The albums containing those songs are included beneath the Older Releases section. For albums from which only one song was selected, I also included the title of that song, so you can listen for it on the channel.

There were also plenty of albums already in our collection that had Beatles covers, and even a few new releases in this post (Gambarini and Perowsky, off the top of my head) that feature great Beatles tunes. Thanks to my awesome Twitter followers for tipping me off to a bunch of great Beatles covers I wouldn't have been able to find otherwise, especially @ryshpanmusic. So, all you Twitter skeptics out there, it really is useful for something!

As usual, double stars (**) adorn releases that come with a particularly high recommendation. Also as usual, I didn't have the time to listen deeply to every single release, so there are surely some discs worthy of stars that I just haven't had the time to absorb.

One more thing! It's a little late, but the Guitar Jazz channel is now playing a lot of early Les Paul Trio tracks, in tribute to the late guitar master, and the Avant-Garde Jazz channel is recognizing the great talent of late drummer Rashied Ali by featuring his collaborations with John Coltrane, Interstellar Space, Meditations, and Stellar Regions.

Without further ado, the list:

New Releases

**John Abercrombie Quartet - Wait Till You See Her (ECM)**
Guitar Jazz, New School, Modern Mainstream, Mellow Jazz

Roberta Gambarini - So In Love (Emarcy)
Vocal Jazz, New School, Modern Mainstream, European Jazz, Composers: Beatles, Women of Jazz

**Roy Hargrove Big Band - Emergence (Emarcy)**
Straight Ahead, Vocal Jazz, Latin Jazz, New School, Modern Mainstream, New York Now, Big Band, Trumpet Jazz, Mellow Jazz

**Stefon Harris - Urbanus (Concord Records)**
New School, Modern Mainstream, Emerging Voices, New York Now, Good Vibes, Groove Jazz

Count Basie Orchestra - Swinging, Singing, Playing (Mack Avenue)
Straight Ahead, Vocal Jazz, Modern Mainstream, Big Band, Nothin' But the Blues

John Surman - Brewster's Rooster (ECM)
Saxophone Jazz, New School, Modern Mainstream, Europe

**Luciana Souza - Tide (Verve)**
Vocal Jazz, Latin Jazz, Brazilian Jazz, New School, Modern Mainstream, Modern West Coast, Mellow Jazz, Women of Jazz

**The Monterey Quartet - Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival (Monterey Jazz Festival Records)**
New School, Cutting Edge, Modern Mainstream, Live Jazz, Covering All the Bassists

Eldar - Virtue
Piano Jazz, New School, Cutting Edge, Modern Mainstream, Emerging Voices, New York Now, Jazz Fusion

**Matt Wilson Quartet - That's Gonna Leave a Mark (Palmetto)**
New School, Modern Mainstream, New York Now, Give the Drummers Some

**John Patitucci - Remembrance (Concord Jazz)**
New School, Modern Mainstream, New York Now, Covering All the Bassists, Groove Jazz

**John Irabagon - Outright! (Innova)**
Saxophone Jazz, New School, Cutting Edge, Emerging Voices, Chicago, New York Now, Avant-Garde Jazz, Composers: Bird and Diz

**Fred Anderson - Staying in the Game (Engine)**
New School, Chicago, Avant-Garde Jazz, Chicago Jazz Festival 2009

Herb Alpert and Lani Hall - Anything Goes (Concord Jazz)
Vocal Jazz, Brazilian Jazz, Latin Jazz, Modern Mainstream, Live Jazz, Modern West Coast, Trumpet Jazz, Groove Jazz

Andy Martin - Setting the Standard (Drewbone Music)
Straight Ahead, Everybody's Boppin', New School, Modern Mainstream, Modern West Coast, Trombone Jazz

**Ben Perowsky - Esopus Opus (Skirl Records)**
New School, Cutting Edge, New York Now, Give the Drummers Some, Composers: Beatles

Quartet Offensive - Carnivore (Self-Released)
New School, Cutting Edge, Emerging Voices

Jesse Elder - The Winding Shell (Off)
New School, Cutting Edge, Emerging Voices, New York Now, Avant-Garde Jazz

**Terence Blanchard - Choices (Concord Records)**
New School, Cutting Edge, Modern Mainstream, New Orleans, Trumpet Jazz

Pauline Jean - A Musical Offering (SJR Sekonsa Jazz Records)
Vocal Jazz, Mellow Jazz, Women of Jazz

Lisa Hilton - Twilight & Blues (Ruby Slippers Productions)
Piano Jazz, Modern Mainstream, Modern West Coast, Women of Jazz

**Linda Oh - Entry (Self-Released)**
New School, Cutting Edge, Emerging Voices, New York Now, Covering All the Bassists, Women of Jazz

**Ryan Blotnick - Everything Forgets (Songlines)**
Guitar Jazz, New School, Cutting Edge, Emerging Voices, New York Now, Avant-Garde Jazz, Groove Jazz

Gordon Grdina's East Van Strings - The Breathing of Statues (Songlines)
New School, Cutting Edge, Avant-Garde Jazz, Third Stream

Benjamin Taubkin / Sergio Reze / Zeca Assumpcao / Joatan Nascimento - Trio + 1 (Adventure Music)
Piano Jazz, Latin Jazz, Brazilian Jazz, New School, Modern Mainstream

Marbin - Marbin (Self-Released)
Cutting Edge, Chicago

John Proulx - Baker's Dozen (MaxJazz)
Straight Ahead, Vocal Jazz, Modern Mainstream

**Tyshawn Sorey - Koan (482 Music)**
New School, Cutting Edge, Emerging Voices, New York Now, Avant-Garde Jazz, Give the Drummers Some

Kobie Watkins - Involved (Origin Records)
New School, Modern Mainstream, Emerging Voices, Chicago, Give the Drummers Some, Groove Jazz

David Gibson - A Little Somethin' (Positone)
Straight Ahead, New School, Modern Mainstream, New York Now, Trombone Jazz, Groove Jazz

Cory Weeds - Everything's Coming Up Weeds (Cellar Live)
Saxophone Jazz, Everybody's Boppin', New School, Modern Mainstream

Sinan Bakir - On My Way (Self-Released)
Guitar Jazz, New School, Modern Mainstream, Emerging Voices, European Jazz

Ben Dowling - World Rising (Vision Sound)
Piano Jazz, Modern Mainstream, Modern West Coast, Jazz Fusion, Groove Jazz

Older Releases

Tim Collins featuring Charlie Hunter - Fade (Ropeadope Digital)
New School, Cutting Edge, Emerging Voices, New York Now, Good Vibes, Jazz Fusion, Groove Jazz

Tim Collins - Valcour (Arabesque)
New School, Cutting Edge, Modern Mainstream, Emerging Voices, New York Now, Good Vibes

Diane Delin - Talking Stick (Blujazz)
New School, Modern Mainstream, Chicago, Mellow, Third Stream, Women of Jazz, Chicago Jazz Festival 2009

Diane Delin - Duality (Blujazz)
New School, Chicago, Third Stream, Women of Jazz, Chicago Jazz Festival 2009

Ben Paterson Trio - Breathing Space (Origin Records)
Straight Ahead, Piano Jazz, New School, Modern Mainstream, Emerging Voices, Chicago, Mellow Jazz, Chicago Jazz Fest 2009

Steve Coleman - Curves of Life (RCA)
Saxophone Jazz, New School, Cutting Edge, Live Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Groove Jazz, '90s

Steve Coleman - Motherland Pulse (Winter & Winter)
Saxophone Jazz, New School, Modern Mainstream, Jazz Fusion, '80s

Eric Dolphy - Live at the Five Spot Vol. 1 (Prestige)
Saxophone Jazz, Everybody's Boppin', Live Jazz, '60s

Stan Getz - Serenity (Emarcy)
Straight Ahead, Saxophone Jazz, Everybody's Boppin', Modern Mainstream, Live Jazz, '80s

Stan Getz - Sweet Rain (Verve)
Straight Ahead, Saxophone Jazz, Everybody's Boppin', '60s

Dexter Gordon - Gettin' Around (Blue Note)
Straight Ahead, Saxophone Jazz, Everybody's Boppin', '60s

Dexter Gordon - The Panther (OJC)
Straight Ahead, Saxophone Jazz, Everybody's Boppin', Nothin' But the Blues, '70s

Herbie Hancock - The Prisoner (Blue Note)
New School, Modern Mainstream, '60s

Joe Henderson - The Kicker (OJC)
Straight Ahead, Saxophone Jazz, Everybody's Boppin', Nothin' But the Blues, '60s

Fred Hersch - Fred Hersch Trio + 2 (Palmetto)
Piano Jazz, New School, Modern Mainstream, New York Now

Wynton Kelly - Piano (OJC)
Straight Ahead, Piano Jazz, Everybody's Boppin', '50s

Hank Mobley - No Room for Squares (Blue Note)
Straight Ahead, Saxophone Jazz, Everybody's Boppin', '60s

Hank Mobley - Workout (Blue Note)
Straight Ahead, Saxophone Jazz, Everybody's Boppin', '60s

Don Pullen - Kele Mou Bana (Blue Note)
Piano Jazz, New School, Modern Mainstream, '90s

Wayne Shorter - High Life (Verve)
Saxophone Jazz, New School, Jazz Fusion, Groove Jazz, '90s

Pepper Adams - 10 to 4 at the 5 Spot (OJC)
Straight Ahead, Saxophone Jazz, Everybody's Boppin', Live Jazz, Nothin' But the Blues, '50s

Steve Coleman - Drop Kick (BMG)
Saxophone Jazz, New School, Cutting Edge, Jazz Fusion, Groove Jazz, '90s

Duke Ellington and John Coltrane - Duke Ellington and John Coltrane (Impulse!)
Straight Ahead, Saxophone Jazz, Everybody's Boppin', Composers: Ellington, Nothin' But the Blues, Mellow Jazz, '60s

Red Garland - Can't See For Lookin' (OJC)
Straight Ahead, Piano Jazz, Everybody's Boppin', Mellow Jazz, '50s

Dexter Gordon - A Swingin' Affair (Blue Note)
Straight Ahead, Saxophone Jazz, Everybody's Boppin', Nothin' But the Blues, '60s

Barry Harris - For the Moment (Uptown Jazz)
Piano Jazz, Everybody's Boppin', Live Jazz, Composers: Monk, '80s

Johnny Hodges - Everybody Knows (GRP/Impulse!)
Straight Ahead, Saxophone Jazz, Old School, Big Band, Composers: Ellington, Nothin' But the Blues, Mellow Jazz, '60s

Carmen McRae - Carmen Sings Monk (RCA)
Straight Ahead, Vocal Jazz, Modern Mainstream, Composers: Monk, Women of Jazz, '80s

Wayne Shorter - Adam's Apple (Blue Note)
Saxophone Jazz, New School, Nothin' But the Blues, '60s

Wayne Shorter - Etcetera (Blue Note)
Saxophone Jazz, New School, '60s

Ornette Coleman - Town Hall 1962 (ESP Disk)
New School, Avant-Garde Jazz

Steve Lacy - The Forest and the Zoo (ESP Disk)
Avant-Garde Jazz

New York Art Quartet - New York Art Quartet (ESP Disk)
Avant-Garde Jazz, '60s

Albert Ayler / Don Cherry / John Tchicai / Roswell Rudd / Gary Peacock / Sonny Murray - New York Eye and Ear Control (ESP Disk)
Avant-Garde Jazz

Paul Bley - Barrage (ESP Disk)
New School, Avant-Garde Jazz, '60s

Ronnie Boykins - The Will Come, Is Now (ESP Disk)
New School, Avant-Garde Jazz, '70s

Don Cherry - Live at Cafe Montmartre Volume Two (ESP Disk)
New School, Avant-Garde Jazz, '60s

Henry Grimes - The Call (ESP Disk)
Avant-Garde Jazz, '60s

Frank Lowe - Black Beings (ESP Disk)
New School, Avant-Garde Jazz, '70s

Sun Ra - Featuring Pharoah Sanders & Black Harold (ESP Disk)
Avant-Garde Jazz, '70s

Special to the Beatles Channel

Bill Anschell - A Different Note All Together (Accurate) "Nowhere Man"

Lynne Arriale Trio - Come Together (Motema) "Come Together"

Count Basie - Basie's Beatle Bag (Verve)

Beatle Jazz - All You Need (Lightyear)

Erin Bode - Don't Take Your Time (MaxJazz) "Here, There and Everywhere"

Don Byron - Romance With the Unseen (Blue Note) "I'll Follow the Sun"

Avishai Cohen - Lyla (Sunnyside) "Come Together"

Julie Hardy - The Wish (World Culture Music) "I'm Looking Through You"

Matt Jorgensen + 451 - Another Morning (Origin Records) "Helter Skelter"

Brad Mehldau - Day is Done (Nonesuch) "She's Leaving Home"

Lee Morgan - Delightfulee (Blue Note) "Yesterday"

John Pizzarelli - John Pizarrelli Meets the Beatles (RCA)

Lonnie Smith - Turning Point (Blue Note) "Eleanor Rigby"

Curtis Stigers - You Inspire Me (Concord Records) "I Feel Fine"

Baptiste Trotignon - Solo II (Naive) "Julia"

George Benson - The Other Side of Abbey Road (A&M)

Various Artists - Step Inside Love: A Jazzy Tribute to the Beatles (Esc)

Various Artists - Day Tripper: Jazz Greats Meet The Beatles (Verve)

Various Artists - Come Together: A Guitar Tribute to the Beatles (NYC)

Various Artists - I Got No Kick Against Modern Jazz (GRP)

Various Artists - Blue Beat: the Music of Lennon and McCartney (Blue Note)

Jazz Now, Right Now

Your very own AccuBlogger appeared on another, slightly more high-profile, jazz blog today: NPR's A Blog Supreme. I'm one of 11 young jazz enthusiasts, including ABS editor Patrick Jarenwattananon, contributing to a project on the blog called Jazz Now.

The point of the project is to single out 5 albums that you'd recommend to people interested in getting into modern jazz, to make it clear that jazz is a thriving, vital, exciting art form. It's partially a reaction to the gloomy results of a recent NEA survey, pointed to by arts critic Terry Teachout as sure signs of the death of jazz.

By offering up examples of excellent, youthful jazz, we say to the doomsayers, "do you realize how much great music is still being created right now, as we speak?" But we're also doing our part to build the young jazz audience, hopefully avoiding the apocalypse scenario that Teachout and others predict.

So, go ahead and read my post, and listen to the 5 music samples. If you like them, buy the records, tell your friends, and find similar artists that you dig. Search out live jazz in your area and experience the joy of in-the-moment music making! Then, write about it on Twitter with the hastag #jazzlives (more info about that last bit here.)

New Channel: Brazilian Jazz

You may have noticed the "Shoutbox" on the AccuJazz homepage. I get an encouraging amount of comments through that little thing. At times I even engage in a genuine conversation with a loyal listener through the 'box. Brazilian Jazz marks the first AccuJazz channel instigated completely by comments in the ShoutBox. Some contributors, including one very persistent individual, have been bugging me to create a Brazilian jazz channel for a long time. Despite other listeners pointing out that there's plenty of great Brazilian jazz on the existing Latin Jazz channel, these folks kept lobbying for Brazil.

I'm glad I followed through. The resulting channel is not merely a select few songs from our Latin channel that happend to have Brazilian rhythms. It's a new thing altogether. All the Brazilian-rooted music on the Latin channel is here, but I also went through AccuRadio's servers and found a lot of other relevant music that, up till now, has only been playing on the Latin format, Radio Preciso. Funnily enough, there's already a "Brazilian Jazz" channel there, but it's a definite misnomer; it's mostly Brazilian popular music, with a little bit of jazz and folkloric styles thrown in.

There was still a lot of good music over on the Radio Preciso channel that would help fill out my nascent AccuJazz project and add some stylistic diversity. So the new Brazilian Jazz channel includes a lot of jazz-tinged MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) as well as some new jazz and bossa nova that wasn't on the Latin Jazz channel previously.

So, when you launch the channel, you'll hear everything from the classic Getz/Gilberto recordings to Dexter Gordon's hard bop bossa to the jazzier output of Caetano Veloso. Go ahead and listen, and then Shout at me about how much you like (or don't like) the channel!

Also, watch out for an all-Jobim composers channel in the coming weeks. If you don't know who Jobim is, listen to the Brazilian Jazz channel and just take a look at the "Composer" field in the media player. Chances are you'll find his name there sooner rather than later.