Visions: Jazz music from the 1970s and more

On this episode of Visions, I unintentionally do a blast from the ’70s past. When I started crafting this playlist, I had only a few things from the 1970s that I wanted to play, including Gene Harris, Charlie Rouse and Donald Byrd. But as I kept adding music to my list, I realized this theme was emerging — so I decided to run with it.

This isn’t the first time I’ve done an episode centered around jazz from the ’70s, and that episode garnered a lot of positive feedback. I think the ’70s is a time of great musical exploration, and clearly an era in people’s hearts and minds that reigns supreme to this day. So, why not provide a taste of what people want to hear?

I also play Elvin Jones (featuring my favorite baritone saxophonist of all time, and Detroiter, Pepper Adams), Lonnie Liston Smith, Mary Lou Williams, and Groove Holmes. I play some almost ’70s music with selections from Wes Montgomery, Detroit’s Yusef Lateef and Roy Ayers.

I also break up this episode with a new single from Walter Smith III, and more modern music from Grace Kelly, Dave Holland, and Diana Krall.

But, maybe my favorite selections on this episode are even older than my ’70s theme.

I’ve been wanting to play these influential women for awhile and this episode I finally worked them in — Jutta Hipp (with Zoot Sims), the incredible Detroit pianist and vibraphonist Terry Pollard, and a group of all women before that was even the norm — Vi Redd, Marian McPartland, Mary Osborne, Lynn Milano, and Dottie Dodgion. These selections go all the way back to the mid-1950s, but their sounds and playing styles are so forward-thinking so they fit seamlessly into this playlist.

I hope you enjoy what I selected for you this week!

Check out the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Visions Playlist for Sept. 9, 2024

• “Mr. Jones” – Elvin Jones
• “Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong” – Gene Harris
• “Cézanne” – Walter Smith III
• “Filosophical Flying Fish” – Grace Kelly
• “Hopscotch” – Charlie Rouse
• “Last Minute Man” – Dave Holland Big Band
• “Almost Blue” – Diana Krall
• “Scrapple from the Apple” – Terry Pollard
• “Soft Winds” – Dorothy Ashby
• “Woodward Avenue” – Yusef Lateef
• “Goin on to Detroit” – Wes Montgomery
• “Places & Spaces” – Donald Byrd
• “Devika (Goddess)” – Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes
• “Wee Dot” – Jutta Hipp & Zoot Sims
• “Now’s the Time” – Vi Redd, Marian McPartland, Mary Osborne, Lynn Milano, Dottie Dodgion
• “Praise the Lord” – Mary Lou Williams
• “The Ringer” – Roy Ayers
• “Red Onion” – Richard “Groove” Holmes