1/4/09

Freddie Hubbard


We lost a good one last week. Believe it or not, I was going to start the year with one of my “Living Legends” show featuring Freddie Hubbard. I’d heard that he was in ill health. Freddie Hubbard launched onto the jazz landscape in the late 50’s with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers (after playing with several other, lesser known bands).  Over the next dozen years or so he would play on some of the finest sessions – ranging from hard bop to the avante garde.  Hubbard suffered a serious lip injury around 1990.  But tonight’s show draws tunes from the peak of his creativity, his heroic stance, and some of the hottest music from the 1960s.

Cantaloupe Island from Herbie Hancock’s Empyrean Isles (Blue Note)
Free For All from Art Blakey & The Jazz Messenger’s Free For All (Blue Note)
We open with a funky number of Hancock’s, that you may recognize as a source of the sample from US3’s rap hit “Cantaloop” a number of years back; then launch into a ferocious (I’m not kidding) hard bop tune by Blakey.

Stolen Moments from Oliver Nelson’s The Blues & The Abstract Truth (Impulse)
Witch Hunt from Wayne Shorter’s Speak No Evil (Blue Note)
Next up is the title track from a terribly under appreciated gem from the 60s, followed by an excellent example of Wayne Shorter’s freebop.

West 22nd Street Theme from Bobby Hutcherson’s Components (Blue Note)
I Was Doing All Right from Dexter Gordon’s Doin’ Allright (Blue Note)
Hubbard contributes mightily to very good sessions by Hutcherson and Dex.

Red Clay from Freddie Hubbard’s Red Clay (CTI)
Maiden Voyage from Herbie Hancock’s Maiden Voyage (Blue Note)
Red Clay is a funky masterpiece.  Maiden Voyage may be the finest piece of music Herbie Hancock has ever recorded.  A transcendant set.

Body & Soul from The Body & Soul of Freddie Hubbard (Impulse)
Children of The Night from Art Blakey & The Jazz Messenger’s Buhaina’s Delight (Blue Note)
Two fine examples of the breadth of Hubbard – from poignancy to swing.

One For Five – Charlie Rouse from The Lost Sessions (Blue Note)
Gaslight from Duke Pearson’s Sweet Honey Bee (Blue Note)
A couple of rarities that are worth staying up for.

East Broadway Rundown from Sonny Rollin’s Reevaluation: The Impulse Years (Impulse)
Sonny Rollins enlists Hubbard to spar with Coltrane’s rhythm section of Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones on this 20 minute cut.  The melody is infectious and the front line play a kind of hide and seek, starting and stopping and finishing each other’s ideas.

Out To Lunch  from Eric Dolphy’s Out To Lunch (Blue Note)
Catta  from Bobby Hutcherson’s Dialogue (Blue Note)
Another set devoted to the avante garde sessions of Freddie Hubbard.  Both classics.  If I had time, I’d throw in Ornette Coleman’s “Free Jazz” and John Coltrane’s “Ascension”.  Hubbard was a warrior of the “New Thing” at one time.

Take Your Pick from Hank Mobley’s Roll Call (Blue Note)
The Turnaround from Hank Mobley’s The Turnaround (Blue Note)
Two more examples of Hubbard playing the changes over some great hard bop.

You & The Night & The Music
When You Wish Upon A Star both from Bill Evan’s Interplay (Riverside)
We finish the night with beautiful interpretations by Bill Evans, featuring guitarist Jim Hall.  Hubbard is ultimately a hopeless romantic.

12/28/08

2008: 10 Favorite Discs of The Year (and they’re not all jazz…)

A couple of disclaimers – I haven’t heard everything released this year. There are many CDs that are garnishing outstanding reviews that I never heard. So, as hard as I try, I can’t hear everything. Second, I don’t believe in “Best of…” because it is all so subjective. These are ten discs that I listened to again and again, that found their way onto my i-Pod, that I had a hard time getting out of my car stereo. Four vocalists, some blues, a country singer covering Dusty Springfield, some outstanding improvisation, a curry flavored Miles tribute, a little good hard bop and a symphonic setting for an outstanding saxophonist round out this year’s selection. Oh yes, and a little home cookin’.

Derrick Gardner and The Jazz Prophets – A RIDE TO THE OTHER SIDE…OF INFINITY;  Owl
***** Evokes the best of the Messengers with a tight collection of hard swinging jazz originals. Trumpeter Derrick Gardner really makes his mark with this album, aided by his brother Vincent and saxist Rob Dixon. Add a tight rhythm section, led by in-the-pocket Rodney Whitaker, and this is music that is relentlessly fun. We’ll listen to Funky Straight and A Ride To The Other Side.

Cassandra Wilson – Loverly; Blue Note
***** I’ve been waiting for Cassandra to do something this strong since “Blue Light Til Dawn” and here it is. We’ll listen to tracks #2(Lover Come Back To Me), a swing tune with an off the hook piano solo by Jason Moran, #5 (Caravan), and #6 (Till There Was You).

Tim Warfield – One For Shirley; Criss Cross Jazz
***** Boy do I like this record. A great collection of soulful jazz, sounds straight out of a jazz fest, laid back, groovy and swinging. Every track is play worthy, not a stinker in the bunch, but tonight we’ll hear Oasis and The Beat Goes On.

Janiva Magness – WHAT LOVE WILL DO; Alligator Records
***** What a voice. What great arrangements. Crunchy guitar, fat saucy baritone, earthy blues from the best bar band in recent memory. We’ll play Bitter Pill, I Don’t Want You On My Mind and Don’t Do It.

Joe Lovano – Symphonica; Blue Note
***** Another masterpiece by Lovano, who has a put together a string of them this decade. I heard Lovano (again) at the Wharton this year and was really struck by his development, his tone and ideas and effortless mastery. Ben Webster and Coleman Hawkins aren’t around anymore, but Lovano conjures that big sound. We’ll hear the Mingus composition, Duke Ellington’s Sound Of Love, with a gorgeous symphonic arrangement.

Shelby Lynne – JUST A LITTLE LOVIN’
***** A country singer interprets Dusty Springfield with a set of understated arrangements. Sexy, spare, haunting. We’ll listen to Just A Little Lovin’, You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me and The Look Of Love.

Charles Lloyd Quartet – RABO DE NUBE; ECM
***** Lloyd’s string of recordings for ECM have been consistently marvelous. This band features a little more of a groove, with Eric Harland and Reuben Rogers cooking up the riddims. And the addition of Jason Moran is a treat. We’ll play Booker’s Garden.

Sunny Wilkinson/Tom Garvin – A Gentle Time;
***** Playing this CD on the air prompted a long distance caller from California to ask, “Who is that pianist?” Another time I played the first track just before going on air, and I was too ver klempt to speak. A sublime collection with intimate intensity. Let’s listen to Heart, If I Were A Bell, O Cantador.

Dave Douglas & Keystone – MOONSHINE; Green Leaf Music
***** The mercurial Douglas has remained rooted in an electric Miles influence for  his last few efforts, and that suits me just fine. His ethereal tunes sound best when planted in some funky soil. We’ll play Scopes, Flood Plane and Kitten from this live album.

Various – MILES FROM INDIA; Times Square Records
***** What can I say? I’m a sucker for all things Miles. Bob Belden puts together a fascinating project with two groups of masterful musicians, alums from Miles’ various bands and Indian masters. The funny thing is, it all works. Let’s hear All Blues and Ife.

See you next year for the 2009 version of The Vinyl Side of Midnight!

12/21/08

2008 Part Two: Runners Up

Last week was the ‘Honorable Mentions’ of Outstanding CDs of 2008. This week we listen to a pile of really great recordings leading up to my favorite recordings of the year.
As this is our annual Christmas Bonanza, we’ll also feature visits from Cathie Blumer and Maggie Lyons!

organissimo – Groovadelphia; Big O Records
**** Another funky slab of grease and groove by Lansing’s own power trio. Hit #1 on the college station charts, and deservedly so. A blast to catch live.

Rick Roe – MINOR SHUFFLE; Unknown Records
**** Rick Roe plays a set of originals and covers, without a single Monk tune to be found.

McCoy Tyner – Guitars; Half Note
**** An all star rhythm section of DeJohnette & Ron Carter, and a passel full of guitarists (and one banjoist) of note.

Francisco Mela – Cirio; Half Note
**** An energetic set recorded live at the Blue Note. Cuban drummer Francisco leads a tight band of ringers (Loueke, Moran, Granadier & Mark Turner) through a bucket of (mainly) original compositions. Think Art Blakey strained through an uptown sieve.

Milton Nascimento and Jobim Trio – Novas Bossas; Blue Note
**** Wonderful blend of Nascimento and the Jobim aesthetic.

Aaron Parks – Invisible Cinema – Blue Note
**** A beautiful piece of parlor pieces that is reminiscent of Bill Evans, ECM & ethereal influences. Based on Park’s piano and composing, he’s aided by some edgy drumming by Eric Harland and the Abercrombie like guitar of Mike Moreno.

The Dixon-Rhyne Project – Reinvention; Owl Studios
**** Damn, makes me wish organissimo had a sax player. What’s Diego doin’? Use #1 (Repub Club), #2 (Mel’s Groove).

Anat Cohen – Notes From The Village; Anzic Records
**** I really like this woman’s tone. The band is good, too.

Dave Holland Sextet – Pass It On; Dare 2 Records
**** Not a masterpiece like “What Goes On” or the double live CD, but still very good. Gone are Billy Kilson, Steve Nelson, Chris Potter. But Robin Eubanks is still here and Antonio Hart and Mulgrew Miller & Eric Harland.

Tough Guys – Generations; International Center For The Arts
**** A very decent blowing session with a bunch of veterans, from Marcus Belgrave to Jimmy Cobb, Ronnie Matthews, ANDREW SPEIGHT! It’s a romp.

Lizz Wright – The Orchard (Verve)
**** Very strong, bluesy CD by Ms. Wright.

Kenny Garrett – Sketches of MD – Mack Avenue
**** Recorded live at the Iridium, and featuring the great Pharoah Sanders, this is a bit of a mixed bag. Tracks 1 & 2 (The Ring & Intro To Africa) are five star affairs. The next two tracks would get three stars. The last track gets one. Add it together and divide by five, and my rating above is generous. But the first two tracks are SOOO good. Like, historically good. His album Remember The Wall is still better.

Saxophone Summit – Seraphic Light – Telarc
**** Ravi Coltrane, Dave Liebman and Joe Lovano in front of an ace rhythm team (Billy Hart and Cecil McBee!), throw in Phil Markowitz and Randy Brecker, you are in for some serious smoke. And Light. Dedicated to Mike Brecker.

Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band – Season Of Changes; Verve
**** What lingers with this album is a recurring thematic motif that seems to appear in variations in more than one song – recited by Kurt Rosenwinkel’s guitar. Very haunting. Spiritually based work?

Vijay Iyer – Tragicomic – Sunnyside
**** Another strong document of Iyer’s roiling pianistics, topped by the Coltrane influenced altoist, Rudesh Rhahanthappa. Great band, interesting compositions.

12/14/08

2008 Part One:

Honorable Mention / Strong Contention for 2008 Favorites

As I previewed CDs this year I gave them ratings from one to five stars. There were eleven discs that I rated five, and I’ll play those the week between Christmas and New Years. Next week, I’ll play the runners up, the best of the four stars. Tonight is a batch of very strong recordings from 2008.

John McLaughlin – Floating Point; Mediastarz
I purchased this based on a rare 5 star review by Downbeat. This is quite good, though the guitar synthesizer is an acquired taste. Raju is our opener.

Corey Wilkes – Drop It – Delmark
Corey plays some good improv with a mean beat. We’ll play Touch, which is Yo Diggity smooth.

Greg Chako – EVERYBODY’S GOT A NAME; Greg Chako
Very strong jazz guitar and a swinging little band. Boppin’ At Berlitz.

The Tierney Sutton Band – ON THE OTHER SIDE; Telarc
She never makes the obvious choice, with this CD devoted to music about happiness. Ray Brinker holds things tight with his drumming. Happy Days Are Here Again.

Ben Allison & Man Size Safe – LITTLE THINGS RUN THE WORLD; Palmetto Records
Great dynamics, solos, textures. We play the title track.

The Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project – SIMPATICO; Artist Share
Steamy Latin jazz. Guajira Dobois is tonight’s selection.

Sophie Millman – MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY; Linus
Okay, she’s gorgeous. She also has a beautiful voice and makes smart choices in the music. I think she’s destined for stardom. Make Someone Happy.

James Carter – PRESENT TENSE; Emercy
One of the best reed players around mixing it up with a crowd of ringers. Sussa Nita.

Al Green – LAY IT DOWN; Blue Note;
Al Green finds a little of the old magic on the title track and a few others.
?uestlove, Anthony Hamilton and Corinne Bailey Rae help with the highlights. We’ll play the title track.

Stacey Kent – BREAKFAST ON THE MORNING TRAM; Blue Note
This is a cool set of vocals by lemony voiced Kent, with hip choices ranging from French romance to sexy Samba. A charmer of a disc. Ces Petit Reins & Samba Saravah are what we’ll hear tonight.

Kate Reid – Sentimental Mood – (label?)
A pleasing voice and good production. I Thought About You. This is one I’d throw on for a dinner party – nice stuff.

Joe Baione – OH YEAH! Joe Baione
Vibes in a mainstream context. What more do you want? Title track.

Bob Mintzer Big Band – Swing Out; MCG
I really like Swangalang which swings like crazy. Interesting timbres.

Ron Blake – SHAYARI
Ron Blake gets a great tone from the sax – and with guests like Christian McBride and Jack DeJohnette, there is a lot of heat. Atonement.

Lionel Loueke – KARIBU; Blue Note
His skittering approach to the strings make his guitar work quite unique. And his humming and mouth clicks make him a triple threat. Skylark is the tune tonight.

Alan Pasqua – THE ANTI-SOCIAL CLUB; Crypto-Gramophone
This set rings of the late 1970s, echoing the sounds of Miles and the whole generation of players who created fusion. We’ll play George Russell.

Drew Gress – THE IRRATIONAL NUMBERS; Premonition Records
Ten tracks of interesting textures and colors. There is groove, there is serious harmony, there is musical intensity. Real good stuff. Chevelle.

Nik Bartsch’s Ronin – HOLON; ECM
I’m not sure you can even call this jazz. It seems to be serial chamber music that shows a heavy Steven Reich/Phillip Glass influence, with flourishes of Klezmer. But I got back to it again and again. Modul 39_8.

William Parker – Double Sunrise Over Neptune (Aum Fidelity)
This is the kind of thick avant stew that I’m a sucker for. Long tracks that feature complexity layered on top of simplicity, Eastern vocals and a huge chorus of horns, drizzled over a drone of a bass line. Strings and percussion add complication. Morning Mantra, at 15 minutes, is one of the shorter pieces on the album.

William Parker Quartet – Petit Oiseau; Aum Fidelity
Another wild and wooly foray into the woods. Ornette & Mingus had a love baby, and he is it. Groove Sweet.

Uros Markovic Gospel Jazz Trio – Jesus Saves; CTA
Where Hank Jones and Charlie Haden took these tunes with reverence, Eric Lewis, Reginald Veal and Markovic tend to swing. We’ll hear Holy, Holy, Holy for some sanctified tinkling.

In between we’ll hear snippets of More Christmas Songs For Jazz Lovers by The Paul Keller Ensemble on PKO records.

12/07/08

1998

A bunch of great discs from ’98, bracketed by tributes to Gershwin, with a dash of Monk, a few Daves and a batch of guitarists. Dig it.

Herbie Hancock – Overture (Fascinating Rhythm), from Gershwin’s World, on Verve
Herbie Hancock – It Ain’t Necessarily So, from Gershwin’s World, on Verve
Herbie Hancock – The Man I Love, from Gershwin’s World, on Verve

Brad Mehldau – Exit Music (For A Film), from Songs, on Warner Brothers
Brad Mehldau – Young At Heart, from Songs, on Warner Brothers

Dave Douglas – Magic Triangle, from Magic Triangle, on Arabesque
Dave Douglas – Kisangari, from Magic Triangle, on Arabesque

Medeski, Martin & Wood – Hey-Hee-Hi-Ho, from Combustication Remix EP on Blue Note
John Scofield (and M,M&W) – A Go Go, from A Go Go, on Verve
John Scofield (and M, M&W) – Chank, from A Go Go, on Verve

Marc Johnson – Faith In You, from The Sound of Summer Running, on Verve
Marc Johnson – Ghost Town, from The Sound of Summer Running, on Verve
Marc Johnson – Summer Running, from The Sound of Summer Running, on Verve

Paul Motian & The Electric Bebop Band – Brilliant Corners, from Monk & Powell, on Winter & Winter
Paul Motian & The Electric Bebop Band – Rootie Tootie, from Monk & Powell, on Winter & Winter

Dave Douglas – Another Country, from Leap of Faith, on Arabesque
Dave Douglas – Millenium Bug, from Leap of Faith, on Arabesque

Dave Holland – Prime Directive, from Prime Directive, on ECM
David Ware – Mikuro’s Blues, from Go See The World, on Columbia
David Ware – Quadrihex, from Go See The World, on Columbia

Patricia Barber – Constantinople, from Modern Cool, on Blue Note
Patricia Barber – Light My Fire, from Modern Cool, on Blue Note

Fred Hersch – Five Views of Misterioso, from Thelonious, on Nonesuch
Fred Hersch – Light Blue/Pannonica, from Thelonious, on Nonesuch
Fred Hersch – I Mean You, from Thelonious, on Nonesuch
Fred Hersch – ‘Round Midnight, from Thelonious, on Nonesuch

Susannah McCorkle – Love Walked In, from Someone To Watch Over Me, on Concord
Susannah McCorkle – I Loves You Porgy, from Someone To Watch Over Me, on Concord

11/30/08

1988

We’re finishing the year with tributes to the years 1988, 1998, and three shows exploring my favorite recordings of 2008! Tonight – get out your shoulder pads, big hair and synthesizers. Get ready to hip hop. We will trickle down through three hours of 1988.

Miles Davis – Human Nature, from Live Around The World on Warner Brothers
Ice T – Colors, from the Soundtrack Colors, on Warner Brothers

John Scofield – Wabash, from Loud Jazz, on Grammavision (1987)
Wayne Shorter – Joy Rider, from Joy Rider, on Sony
Public Enemy – Bring The Noize, from It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, on Def Jam

Marcus Roberts – Country By Choice, from The Truth Is Spoken Here, on Novus
Dave Holland – Nemesis, from Extensions, on ECM (1989)

Wynton Marsalis – Father Time, from Wynton Marsalis, on Columbia
Wynton Marsalis – Sister Cheryl, from Wynton Marsalis, on Columbia

Woody Shaw – Imagination, from Imagination, on Muse
Woody Shaw – Dat Dere, from Imagination, on Muse (1987)

Joe Williams & Shirley Horn – Too Good To Be True, from Every Day, on Verve
Joe Williams – Every Day I Have The Blues/All Blues, from Every Day, on Verve

David Murray – In A Sentimental Mood, from Lovers, on DIW
David Murray – Ming, from Lovers, on DIW

Don Pullen – Jana’s Delight, from New Beginnings, on Blue Note
Don Pullen – Once Upon A Time, from New Beginnings, on Blue Note

Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares – Stani, Mi Maytcho from Vol. II, on Nonesuch
World Saxophone Quartet – Cool Red, from Dances And Ballads, on Nonesuch
World Saxophone Quartet – Hattie Wall, from Dances And Ballads, on Nonesuch
Erik B. & Rakim – Paid In Full, from the soundtrack Colors, on Warner Brothers
Miles Davis – Time After Time, from Live Around The World, on Warner Brothers

All this, plus snippets from the following:

Bobby Brown – My Prerogative from ‘80s Soul/Gold, on Hip O
D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Parents Just Don’t Understand from Hip Hop Party, on Rhino
Pebbles – Girlfriend from ‘80s Soul Number Ones, on Hip O
Rob Base & D.J. E.Z. Rock – It Takes Two from Hip Hop/Gold, on Hip O
Michael Jackson – Man In The Mirror from Number Ones, on Epic
Michael Jackson – DIrty Diana from Number Ones, on Epic

11/23/08

Carvin’ The Bird! (Thanksgiving Preparation)

Nick Brignola – Donna Lee from Baritone Madness on Bee-Hive
Charlie Parker – Donna Lee from Boss Bird on Properbox

Deke Damascus – Now’s The Time from Bird Up on Savoy Jazz
Charlie Parker – Now’s The Time from Now’s The Time on Verve
Charlie Parker – Confirmation from Now’s The Time on Verve
Jimmy Smith – Confirmation from House Party on Blue Note

Barry Harris – Star Eyes from Barry Harris At The Jazz Workshop
Charlie Parker – Star Eyes from Boss Bird on Properbox
Sunny Wilkinson – Star Eyes from Sunny Wilkinson on Positive Music
MSU Vocal Ensemble I – Cousin Mary (self produced)

Joe Pass – Relaxin’ At Camarillo from Appasionato on Pablo
The Quintet – Hot House from Jazz At Massey Hall on Debut

Archie Shepp – Blues For Alice from Looking At Bird on Steeplechase
Charlie Parker – Funky Blues from Jam Session on Mercury

Charlie Parker – April In Paris from Confirmation, Best of on Verve
Sarah Vaughan – April In Paris from Sarah Vaughan on Verve
Charles McPherson – April In Paris from A Tribute To Charlie Parker on Clarion Jazz

Wynton Marsalis – Cherokee from Live At The Village Vanguard on Columbia
Art Pepper – Cherokee from At The Village Vanguard on Contemporary

Dexter Gordon – Scrapple from The Apple from Our Man In Paris on Blue Note
Various – Lester Leaps In from Bird: The Original Recordings Of Charlie Parker on Verve

Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie – My Melancholy Baby from Bird And Diz on Verve
Tommy Flanagan – Birdsong from Sunset And The Mockingbird on Blue Note

11/16/08

Charles Tolliver – Repetition, from Mosaic Select on Mosaic
Dan Cray Trio – That Old Black Magic, from Over Here, Over Heard on Crawdad

Ray Brown Jr. – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You from Friends and Family on SRI Jazz
Brother Jack McDuff – Cold Duck Time from Best of the Concord Years on Concord

Bebo Valdes & Javier Colina -Ritmo from Live At The Village Vanguard on Calle
Milton Nascimento & Jobim Trio – Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser, from Novas Bossas on Blue Note

Randy Brecker – Sambop from Randy In Brasil on Mama Records
Chico O’Farrill – Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite from Calle 54 Soundtrack on Blue Note

Zen Zadravec Quartet – Song For Christine from Coming Of Age on Zen Zadravec Music
Antonio Ciacca Quintet – Chipewha from Rush Life on Motema

Bobby Hutcherson – Pannonica from Mirage on 32 Jazz
Thurman Green – Daughter of Cochise from Dance Of The Night Creatures on Mapleshade

Garag Mahal – Hotel, from wOOt on Owl Studios
Jimi Hendrix – Third Stone From The Sun, on Are You Experienced on MCA
John McLaughlin – Raju, from Floating Point on Abstract Logix

Joe Baione – Oh Yeah! from Oh Yeah! on Joe Baione
Sex Mob – Dawn Raid on Fort Knox from Sex Mob Does Bond on Rope a Dope Records

William Parker Quartet – Groove Sweet from Petit Oiseau on AUM

Anat Cohen – After The Rain from Notes From The Village on Anzic
Coleman Hawkins – Soul Blues from Blues Wail on Prestige

11/9/08

Freedom, Joy & Democracy

On this historic week, let’s celebrate with a trunk full of music that is fitting and appropriate.

Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered, from Hitsville U.S.A. on Motown
The Bar-Kays – Soul Finger, from Atlantic Rhythm & Blues on Atlantic
Shirley Scott – Takin’ Care Of Business, from Hammond Heroes on Prestige
The Impressions – People Get Ready, from The Anthology on MCA
Miles Davis – If I Were A Bell, from Relaxin’ on Prestige

Louis Armstrong – I’ve Got The World On A String, from Portrait Of The Artist As A Young        Man on Columbia
Duke Ellington – Black and Tan Fantasy, from The Centennial Edition on RCA Victor
Charlie Parker – Now’s The Time, from The Immortal Charlie Parker on Savoy

Kurt Elling – I Love The Sunrise, from Nightmoves on Concord
Martin Luther King, Jr. – I Have A Dream, from In Search Of Freedom
Charlie Haden/Hank Jones – We Shall Overcome, from Steal Away on Verve
Aretha Franklin – How I Got Over, from Queen of Soul on Atlantic/Rhino
The Staple Singers – I’ll Take You There, from Wattstax on Stax

Lee Morgan – Search For The New Land, title tune on Blue Note

Benny Goodman and company – Freedom Train, from Music of the Swing Years on  Capitol
Jimi Hendrix – Freedom, from The Essential Jimi Hendrix on Reprise
World Saxophone Quartet – Freedom, from Experience on Justin Time

Milt Jackson & John Coltrane – Stairway To The Stars, from Bags and Trane on Atlantic
Tyrone Brown – This Is My Country Too, from Suite For John A. Williams on Dream Box
Stanton Moore – I Shall Not Be Moved, from III, on Telarc

Otis Redding – A Change Is Gonna Come, from The Definitive Otis Redding on Rhino
Booker Little – We Speak, from Out Front on Candid
Charles Mingus – Freedom, from Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus on Impulse

Terrence Blanchard – Wading Through, from A Tale Of God’s Will on Blue Note
Jaleel Shaw – Optimism, title track on Changu Records

Thelonious Monk – Reflections, from The Complete Blue Note on Blue Note
Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald & The Duke Ellington Orchestra – “A” Train, from Dizzy’s Diamonds on Verve

Kenny Garrett – Realization (Marching Towards The Light), from Beyond The Wall on Nonesuch
Kenny Barron/Regina Carter – Footprints, from Free Fall on Verve