Giant Steps

          Tonight’s edition of Giant Steps included 2 hours of music recorded live at the Big Sur Jazz Fest in April, thanks to the KUSP remote crew. We heard half an hour of highlights of the Mark Levine Trio with special guests Mundell Lowe and Virginia Mayhew, and one and a half hours of the Jazz Fest’s finale, the Roy Hargrove Quintet: Roy - trumpet, Sherman Irby - alto sax, Larry Willis - Piano, Gerald Cannon - bass, Willy Jones III - drums.

          The balance of the program featured a tribute to male vocalists, notably Leon Thomas, singer and songwriter, who died this week at the age of 61. Leon wrote original songs, as well as creating lyrics to accompany jazz classics. His unique and powerful vocal style included vocalese and yodeling. His approach was also heartfelt and uplifting, reflecting his soulful nature and spiritual lyrics. He often worked with Pharoah Sanders and others from the progressive jazz scene on the Impulse Label in the ‘60’s and in recent decades.

Artist-Song-Album-Label-Date

• Jackie McLean-The Bull Frog-Jacknife-Blue Note-4/12/66
• Leon Thomas-Cousin Mary-Gold Sunrise on Magic Mountain-Flying Dutchman-6/18/71
• Oscar Brown, Jr.-Work Song-Then and Now-Weasel-1995
• Leon Thomas-Echoes-Spirits Known and Unknown-Flying Dutchman-10/21/69
• Pharoah Sanders-Colors-Karma-Impulse-2/19/69

• Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross-A Night In Tunisia-High Flying-Columbia-3/9/62
• Pharoah Sanders-Sun Song-Shukuru-Evidence-1981
• Lambert, Hendricks, and Bavan-Bye, Bye, Blackbird-Live at Newport ‘63-RCA-7/5/63

• Miles Davis-Two Bass Hit-Miles & Coltrane-Columbia-7/4/58

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