turn my headphones up

i find myself listening to the radio a lot these days.  my kids call it "talk talk radio".  i remember talking with tim o'dell, a buddy of mine back in graduate school, about his 50 minute commute to school.  i wondered aloud about what he listened to on the mundane drive into iowa city, imagining that he was ears-deep into some heavy coltrane shit every morning and night.  he guffawed and told me that he listens to a ton of talk radio.  i couldn't believe it.

later that same year, i scored a slot in the sunday night rotation on krui, our college radio station.  i called my two hour show jazz train.   i had a blast picking out cds for my show and was thrilled to be on the air spinning for the scant few that tuned in.  my girlfriend sonja (yep, same one) used to experiment in the kitchen, throwing together a new twist on lasagna for the both of us to scarf down after my shift.

fast forward about ten years... my buddy abe goldstien, local savant (a tzadik, although he'll quickly deny that title) on everything in recorded jazz music, asked me to cruise through dsm and appear on his radio spot for kfmg.  i was there to promote the miles davis experience show that is coming through ames (believe it or not) in a couple of weeks, with ambrose akinmusire in the starring role.  man, we had a blast!  the rapport was smooth and not calculated.  the laughs were real. the music was killing. here's the playlist:

miles davis straight no chaser newport '58
ambrose akinmusire what's new when the heart emerges glistening
miles davis boplicity birth of the cool
charlie haden en la orilla del mundo nocturne
david binney out beyond ideas south
cannonball adderley autumn leaves something else
miles davis springsville miles ahead
dave douglas sea change charms of the night sky
masada katzaz live in nyc
palmetto all stars satin doll the other side of ellington
ambrose akinmusire tear stained suicide manifesto when the heart emerges glistening
django bates like someone in love quiet nights
pat metheny bright size life bright size life
miles davis my funny valentine cookin' with the miles davis quintet
the bad plus chariots of fire suspicious activity
charles lloyd lotus blossom the water is wide
miles davis cta miles davis: volume two

abe brought all of the miles and that ambrose record.  the rest is mine.  the django bates was a stretch for his repertoire, but is one of my favorites.  i found out that abe is trying to bring charles lloyd to dsm for a show.  he also told me a story about how he drug his kid to a matt wilson show and, after the gig was over, his jubilant son ran and told matt that his was the best rock and roll show he had ever seen.  abe liked the dave douglas cut that featured fellow accordionist guy klucevsek.  i found out (after the fact) that ethan iverson left a bad taste in his mouth and that he can't stand jazz guitar players, but his jovial self appeased me like a good host would.  fun show, abe.  great after party.