In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

Highlights from this week's In The Groove include early fusion from Weather Report, lush vocals from San Diego's Steph Johnson and a set of Indian fusion from Shakti and Anoush Shankar to conclude the show... and more

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Weather Report ~ Between the Thighs ~ Tale Spinnin'
Wayne Shorter ~ Second Genesis ~ Second Genesis
Noah Preminger & Max Light ~ Blooming Coldblood ~ Stitching Life
Steph Johnson ~ Here's to Life ~ So in Love
Steph Johnson ~ Case of You ~ So in Love
Shai Maestro ~ The Time Bender ~ The Guesthouse
Shakti ~ Get Down and Sruti ~ Natural Elements
Anoushka Shankar & Norah Jones ~ Traces Of You ~ Traces Of You
Anoushka Shankar ~ River Pulse ~ Traces Of You

Celebrating Baseballs Opening Day 2026 with this week's episode. Really the only track that relates to baseball is the first one by B3 organist Joey D. The balance of the show is music I have been listening to this week. We wrap up the show with the archival release of a 1964 Duke Ellington concert.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Joey DeFrancesco ~ Take Me out to the Ballgame ~ Joey D!
Weather Report ~ A Remark You Made ~ Heavy Weather
ARTEMIS ~ Sights Unseen ~ ARBORESQUE
Noah Preminger & Max Light ~ Everything Means Nothing To Me ~  Single
Shai Maestro ~ GG's Metamorphosis ~ The Guesthouse
Matt Dwonszyk ~ Mode For Rene ~ Matt Dwonszyk Live at the Side Door
Duke Ellington ~ Isfahan ~ Copenhagen 1964
Duke Ellington ~ Medley: Black and Tan Fantasy, The Mooche & Creole Love Call ~ Copenhagen 1964

Classic jazz albums bookend new artists from both coasts. Plus there are some interesting covers of Metheny tunes from guitarist Peter Sprague and vocalist Leonard Patton.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Lee Morgan ~ Mr. Kenyatta ~ Search for the New Land
Matt Dwonszyk ~ Stage Dive ~ Matt Dwonszyk Live at the Side Door
Ian Harland ~ Four-Flat Blues ~ Behind Bars
Shai Maestro ~ Moon of Knives ~ The Guesthouse
Shai Maestro ~ Gloria ~ The Guesthouse
Peter Sprague ~ Life Loves Lone Jack ~ Peter Sprague Plays Pat Metheny, Vol. 1
Peter Sprague ~ Going with Me ~ Peter Sprague Plays Pat Metheny, Vol. 2
Alice Coltrane ~ Journey in Satchidananda ~ Journey in Satchidananda

More new music in this week's show. The first half are established artists with national/international touring bands. The second have are young jazz cats, some with a local following that are making a name for themselves with creative new sounds and music.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Joshua Redman ~ Icarus ~ Words Fall Short
Chris Potter ~ Osawatomie Brown ~ Alive With Ghosts Today
Noah Preminger ~ Hummus ~ Dark Days 
Pat Metheny ~ Make a New World ~ Side-Eye III+
Dolphin Hyperspace ~ The Life of a Bee ~ ECHOLOCATION
Shai Maestro ~ Nature Boy ~ The Guesthouse
Justin Joyce ~ Dos Hermanos ~ Almost Familiar
Carsten Dahl Experience ~ You Stepped Out of a Dream ~ Into the Storm

Perhaps the heart and soul of this episode is the collaboration of Joe Henderson and Alice Coltrane from the album The Elements. The other recording that deserves attention is the release of guitarist Pat Metheny' Side-Eye III+. Not only did Pat's album drop this week, but he has begun a tour of the US and Europe. I'm looking forward to seeing Metheny in May as I already have my tickets.

Playlist
Artist ~ Name ~ Album
Clarke, Rushen & Chancler ~ Take Five ~ Standards
Joe Henderson & Alice Coltrane ~ Fire ~ The Elements
Joe Henderson ~ Black Narcissus ~ Power To The People
Pat Metheny ~ SE-O ~ Side-Eye III+
Nicole McCabe ~ Twister ~ Color Theory
Dave Holland, Norma Winstone ~ Not Waving But Drowning ~ Vital Spark
McCoy Tyner ~ Fly With The Wind ~ Fly With The Wind