Clik here to view.
Ahmad Jamal Trio - The Awakening
After featuring two lesser discussed releases by Ahmad Jamal over the past few days, I thought I would conclude this week's tribute to the jazz great by featuring one of his more landmark recordings he...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Dave Hubbard - Booga Bop
Kickin' off the week with a soul jazz groover in Dave Hubbard's 1971 gem "Booga Bop". This funky cut was featured on the saxophonist's self-titled album he did for Bob Shad's label Mainstream Records....
View ArticleClik here to view.
A New Dawn, A New Day...
Today's featured song is Nina Simone's 1965 classic "Feeling Good". I could go into all the musical nuances, release credits and discography (as I usually do), however today's post IS NOT about music....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Say It Loud! - Friday, July 19th
As you might have noticed (or maybe not), I haven't been posting much lately. As the previous entry alludes to, I've been dealing with a MAJOR life-altering situation and it's safe to say that it's...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Blue Mitchell - Heads Down
This Friday will be the first SAY IT LOUD! Happy Hour (7PM-10PM) at Disco Volante (347 14th Street Oakland, CA), therefore this week, I thought I would feature some examples of the kind of music I plan...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Brother Louie
As we quickly approach the very first SAY IT LOUD! Happy Hour (7PM-10PM) at Disco Volante (347 14th Street Oakland, CA), I thought I would feature the soul jazz gem "Brother Louie" by Roy Ayers...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Johnny 'Hammond' Smith - Shifting Gears
With TONIGHT being the night were I kick off my new happy hour event SAY IT LOUD! at Disco Volante (347 14th Street Oakland, CA), I thought I would get the weekend started with "Shifting Gears" off of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Michael Longo - Funkia
During the seventies, pianist Michael Longo released a number of solid under-the-radar soul jazz recordings for labels like Mainstream Records and Groove Merchant. Out of the handful of recordings he...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Keno Duke - Too Late, Fall Back Baby
Just a quick reminder that THIS FRIDAY (August 2nd) is another rendition of SAY IT LOUD! happy hour (7pm-10pm) at Oakland's Disco Volante (347 14th Street). I'll be spinning 3 hours of non-stop funky...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Buddy Terry - Abscretions
With tomorrow being the 'First Friday' addition of SAY IT LOUD! at Disco Volante in Oakland, today I thought I would feature the funky jazz cut "Abscretions" by saxophonist Buddy Terry. This soulful...
View ArticleClik here to view.
George Duke, 1946-2013
Saluting the life and music of jazz keyboard great George Duke, who sadly passed away yesterday (8/5/13) at the age of 67 after a battle with lymphocytic leukemia. The innovative musician, composer and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Nina Simone - The Thrill Is Gone
Here is a dark, yet beautiful rendition of "The Thrill Is Gone" by Nina Simone off her 1972 album Gifted & Black. This version, which was originally written back in the thirties by Broadway...
View ArticleClik here to view.
SAY IT LOUD! - THIS FRIDAY!!!
Come check out the newest jazz-themed happy hour in the bay area Say It Loud! THIS FRIDAY, AUGUST 16TH in Oakland at Disco Volante. This new happy hour function will feature me (Pat Les Stache)...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Loss of Two Giants
Here is a post I did yesterday for the SFJAZZ Blog, and I thought I would also share it on this site. Enjoy!This month has turned into a heart-breaking time for the jazz community, as we've sadly lost...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Cannonball Adderley - Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
After taking most of August off from writing, to hopefully re-charge a little after what I would call a very transitional summer, I look forward this fall to getting back on track with 3-4 posts a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
John Coltrane Tribute TONIGHT!
SFJAZZ kicks off the first Hotplate show of their 2013-14 season with The Marcus Shelby Quartet performing music from John Coltrane's groundbreaking 1960 recording Giant Steps. For a little background...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Everybody Digs Bill Evans
I haven't featured many quieter pieces on this site, however this evening I'm going to make an exception since this timeless recording titled "Peace Piece" by Bill Evans has been a favorite of mine for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Gregory Porter - Liquid Spirit
Gregory Porter's new highly-anticipated album Liquid Spirit on Blue Note Records was released today. This marks the vocalist's debut on Blue Note, which follows up his two previous GRAMMY-nominated...
View ArticleClik here to view.
John Coltrane Changed My Life...
Today is John Coltrane's birthday (born in Hamlet, North Carolina on September 23, 1926). He would have been 88 years of age, however he was sadly taken from us way too soon in 1967 at the young age of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Pat Les Stache - The Congo Shuffle
Even though I've have a ton of things in the works lately, unfortunately it's been a while since I posted a new re-edit. That being said, here is the most recent edit I've completed, which I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Pat Les Stache - Calypsoul Boogie
I apologize for the lack of posts lately. I was on vacation last week, hangin' out down south in Santa Barbara for a few days. Now that I'm back and fully rested, expect much more daily posts from here...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Thelonious Monk Tribute - TONIGHT!
For this month's SFJAZZ Hotplate event, we celebrate Thelonious Monk's birthday TONIGHT with Si Perkoff and his band Theloniousphere performing music from the jazz giant's classic 1957 recording...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Jukka Eskola's Exploration into Scandi-Bossa
Over the last month, the Italian record label Schema has released a number of great new records including a brand new album by Finnish awarded trumpet player/ composer Jukka Eskola. I've been a fan of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
SAY IT LOUD! Returns THIS SUNDAY!!!
On SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, come check out the return of Say It Loud! at it's new location Duende in uptown Oakland. This happy hour function will feature myself, deejay Pat Les Stache, spinning over 2...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Yusef Lateef, 1920 - 2013
Early in the week (December 23, 2013), legendary jazz saxophonist and flutist Yusef Lateef sadly passed away at the age of 93. Mr. Lateef played a major role in incorporating non-Western musical...
View Article