Genius and Soul

  • Aver from Move 78 sent us his mix for an upcoming episode of Genius and Soul. I’ve been playing it all morning. It’s full of surprises, which is what you’d expect from a member of Move 78.

  • Jason Moran “Jump Up” 🎵 Moran omnivorously channels the history & scope of music in his works, whether it’s playing w/ avant garde legends like Milford Graves or covering Planet Rock. On “Jump Up” rock & roll’s roots are well used & abused. https://bit.ly/33zerpE

  • Gil Scott-Heron “Is That Jazz?” 🎵 Gil Scott-Heron’s music was part of a revolution, but his own influences were made clear when he recorded “Is That Jazz?” and name-dropped many greats of the swing and bebop era. https://bit.ly/3tIVLyw

  • Whit Dickey, William Parker, Matthew Shipp “Whirling in the Void” 🎵 Holy cow this trio hits my absolute sweet spot for #jazzthesedays. 2021 release demonstrates a wellspring of creativity, humor, and bite. https://bit.ly/3u5jWr3

  • 🎧 Guest deejay Jon Butcher spins a mix exploring his relationship with jazz & blues. Music by Jimi Hendrix, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’, Ray Charles, Jeff Beck, Chris Pierce, Richie Havens, Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin, and select tracks from Jon. Listen

  • Anthony Braxton “Composition 23G” 🎵 The tune that brought me first to the Braxton camp. It is fascinating, compelling, grooving etc. and so damn fun! It just makes you smile and laugh. Holland (bass), Wheeler (tpt) Altschul (drums) https://bit.ly/33XNoEF

  • Louis Armstrong “West End Blues” 🎵 If you still wonder what the big deal is about Pops, listen to this 1928 track. Then put your brain back in your school and listen to all the Hot 5s and 7s. This man changed EVERYTHING. https://bit.ly/3o8lCw2

  • Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane “Off Minor” 🎵 Trane and Monk joining up was big news, this tune off the one album that resulted is extra not just for the improv but the smile-provoking cascade of brass in the head. https://bit.ly/3g8mooh

  • Tim Berne & Gregg Belisle-Chi “Purdy” 🎵 GB-C’s acoustic guitar has a baroque sparseness about it that brings the amazing Tim Berne’s music into a space it’s never been before. Berne’s compositions-improvisations are endlessly wonderful. https://bit.ly/3AD9N68

  • Dexter Gordon “Tanya” 🎵 Recorded during Dex’s amazing Paris sojourn, a tune that winds modally for 18 min. Dex is laid back and just ahead of the beat, simultaneously. How does he do that? The best of the pre-Coltranite tenors. https://bit.ly/3KQfCSh

  • Open Question “Confidential BBQ” 🎵 Tenor Ayumi Ishito, piano, Eric Plaks, bass Zach Swanson, drums Jon Panikkar, multi-inst Daniel Carter. Starts in Miles-60s-quartet space & spreads delightful chaos, shared improv. Good 2022 soundstories. https://bit.ly/3AF07bf

  • Nala Sinephro “Space 5” 🎵 From last year’s phenomenal Space 1.8 album, a meditative journey through the ambient and experimental sides of jazz that functions as a healing salve for humanity at large. An essential listen. https://bit.ly/3rNXm3f

  • ICYMI

  • Ross McHenry “Complicated Us” 🎵 A stirring instrumental from the Australian composer, producer, and bassist’s 2020 release Nothing Remains Unchanged, an album that feels tailor made for these strange days and times that we’re living in. https://bit.ly/3G6UzHr

  • Jyoti “This Walk” 🎵 Georgia Anne Muldrow’s vocal jazz turn from 2020’s Mama, You Can Bet! A somber tune that eavesdrops on someone in the midst of working their way through mental trauma in a violent world. https://bit.ly/3rPgZb9

  • Squarepusher “Don’t Go Plastic” 🎵 From the 1998 release Music Is Rotted One Note, an album that found Tom Jenkinson caught between the sonic universes of Herbie Hancock and Karlheinz Stockhausen. https://bit.ly/3nVFfHK

  • Here’s an awesome jazz cover of Final Fantasy VII’s Those Who Fight 💬 The rendition elevates the track from a fun song from FF7’s soundtrack into a beautiful piece of art. https://bit.ly/34pSpWg

  • Mary Lou Williams “Praise The Lord” 🎵 From 1963’s Black Christ Of The Andes. A swinging devotional straight out of the unconventional hymnal courtesy of a composer, arranger, and pianist of the highest order. https://bit.ly/3H7JBmv

  • Madhouse “Two” 🎵 A jazz-funk fusion side project from 1987 featuring Eric Leeds on saxophone and flute and Prince on everything else. Back when Paisley Park Records was the gift that kept on giving. https://bit.ly/3nYvp7K

  • Genius and Soul

    What is Genius and Soul?

    Genius and Soul is a weekly show that features a series of mixes from guest deejays from jazz and Black classical music and the many styles and branches of today’s scene. Our show’s efforts include fundraising for the Jazz Foundation of America and other relevant charitable organizations.

    You can listen to Genius and Soul on your favorite podcast app or on Bondfire Radio, Sundays, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM EST.

    In Case You Missed It

    We just wrapped up our first month. Here are the fantastic people who guest deejayed on Genius and Soul.

    Brian Jackson

    Brian is an American keyboardist, flautist, singer, composer, and producer. Brian has recorded and performed with everyone from Gil Scott-Heron to Stevie Wonder, and recently released an album with Jazz Is Dead’s Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Brian shares his experiences recording with Jazz Is Dead’s Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Shigeto’s remix of their song “Nancy Wilson,” what get’s Brian in a recording studio and his New Years’ resolution.

    🎧 Listen

    Charu Suri

    Charu is an American pianist. She is the first Indian-born jazz composer to premiere work at Carnegie Hall. Charu recently released Book of Ragas, Volume 2. Charu shares songs that she considers masterpieces. Some are classics to be reacquainted with, and others might become your new favorite. These songs fascinate Charu on a compositional level and how the music pioneered new sounds.

    🎧 Listen

    Meg Okura

    Meg is an American jazz violinist, composer, erhu player, and leader of the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, based in New York City. The Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble combines jazz, Jewish and Japanese cultures into a unique musical identity. Meg plays select tracks from the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, various projects she’s involved with, music that showcases her influences and expresses her identities.

    🎧 Listen

    Muriel Grossmann

    Muriel is an Austrian alto, soprano, tenor saxophonist, and composer. Muriel has released 13 albums, all on her Dreamlandrecords music label. Muriel and her band have a distinct sound. You’ll know it when you hear it. They will lock into a groove, and that groove can be trance-inducing. Muriel plays select tracks from her albums and music that have influenced her.

    🎧 Listen

    Phil Freeman

    Phil is a journalist, author, digital marketer, and social media professional. He has written for The Wire, DownBeat, Village Voice, and other fine publications. Phil has written three books. His fourth book is Ugly Beauty: Jazz in the 21st Century, which will be released Tuesday, February 1st. The music Phil selected for his mix draws upon his writings from Ugly Beauty and is a snapshot of jazz in the 21st century.

    🎧 Listen

    Stay Stuned

    We’re still working on the schedule for February, but tentatively this is what we have planned for you.

    • Amina Claudine Myers: singer/songwriter, jazz pianist, organist, vocalist, composer, and arranger
    • Jon Butcher: rock, blues songwriter, guitarist, and freelance multimedia producer
    • ArinMaya: vocalist, songwriter, and arranger
    • John Morrison: writer, DJ, and sample-flipper

    See you next week!

  • Rocket Juice & The Moon “Hey Shooter” 🎵 That time that Damon Albarn, Flea, and the late, great Tony Allen came to an Afrobeat consensus in song. Featuring Erykah Badu on vocals and the horns of the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. https://bit.ly/3464xf1

  • 🎧 Guest deejay Phil Freeman spins a mix of jazz in the 21st century. Music by Jaimie Branch, Seed Ensemble, Brandee Younger, Nerija, Yazz Ahmed, Mary Halvorson, Irreversible Entanglements, Matana Roberts, Tomeka Reid & Nubya Garcia. Listen

  • Jackie McLean w/ Grachan Moncur III “Hipnosis” 🎵 Prolific Jackie Mac & elusive Moncur. Both sublime, together more so. Moncur mysterious genius who’s enjoyed a cult status over 60 years as 1 of most original composers in American music. https://bit.ly/3nQMssw

  • Genius and Soul guest deejay Muriel Grossmann on Bondfire Radio. Tune in now.

  • Sathima Bea Benjamin “In My Solitude” 🎵 Mesmerizing & haunting. Tone of this song bristles w/ warm buzz u get from deep reflection over slow ambush of time. Benjamin recorded this masterpiece during a period of tutelage under Duke Ellington. https://bit.ly/3nTqbu1

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