30 Albums For 30 Years-1964-1994

10/11/2025

What an honor it was to interview Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer Steve Smith — best known for his work with Journey and Vital Information. Stay tuned for a special two-part podcast featuring Steve as he reflects on his remarkable life, career, and the legacy of the late Jack DeJohnette, the legendary drummer and composer whom Steve recently profiled in a documentary.

21/08/2025

New Podcast Episode: INTERVIEW WITH ANTHONY WILSON
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Wmj8xdUrzJsM9NuLjW5SH?si=b911d4acc79543b2

Guitarist and composer Anthony Wilson has long been celebrated for his versatility and creative reach, both as a solo artist and through his longtime role in Diana Krall’s quartet, where his warm tone and subtle swing have made him an essential collaborator on stage and in the studio. His latest project, House of the Singing Blossoms, released in August 2025 on Sam First Records, finds him returning to the sweeping textures of his acclaimed Nonet. Recorded live at Los Angeles’ Sam First, the album captures the immediacy and excitement of performance. The Nonet blends the intimacy of a small group with the power of a large ensemmble. With lush arrangements and Wilson’s lyrical guitar, the album reaffirms his status as one of jazz’s most original voices.

15/08/2025

New Episode: INTERVIEW WITH FRED HERSCH
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/34ypq9XbLdbzmLjCI2j6u3?si=5734c009c98f431e
You Tube : https://youtu.be/InhVO9eAdWI?si=qhiHJrMSPb4sl2lv

Fred Hersch, born in Cincinnati in 1955, is a renowned American jazz pianist, composer, and educator whose career spans over four decades. A prodigy who began piano at age four and composing by eight, he studied at the New England Conservatory with Jaki Byard before emerging as a distinctive voice in jazz. Hersch was the first pianist to play weeklong solo engagements at New York’s Village Vanguard and has released over fifty albums as a leader or co-leader. His honors include multiple Jazz Pianist of the Year awards, seventeen Grammy nominations, and recognition as a Doris Duke Artist. As an educator, he has shaped generations of pianists through his work at Juilliard, NEC, and the Manhattan School of Music.
Openly gay, Hersch has spoken candidly about his experiences living with HIV since the mid-1980s, surviving multiple health crises, and enduring bouts of depression. His memoir and interviews detail how these struggles have shaped his music, deepened his emotional range, and informed his commitment to authenticity on and off stage. He has become a role model for resilience in both the LGBTQ+ community and the jazz world, using his art to explore vulnerability, perseverance, and self-expression.
His two most recent releases reflect the breadth of his artistry. Silent Listening (ECM, 2024) is an intimate solo piano album produced by Manfred Eicher, featuring poetic, nocturnal improvisations that balance lyricism and abstraction. The Surrounding Green (ECM, 2025) marks his return to the trio format after seven years, with bassist Drew Gress and drummer Joey Baron. Together, these works affirm Hersch’s place among jazz’s most expressive modern pianists.

26/06/2025

New Podcast Episode (S4-Ep 29) The Who - The Who Sells Out (Decca in US, Track In U.K.)
Released December 15, 1967- Recorded May -November 1967
https://open.spotify.com/episode/03O7tX5o9tZcxEJlx84LbM?si=eeef1d9233bc4d5b

Released in late 1967, The Who Sell Out is a bold, quirky concept album designed to mimic a pirate radio broadcast, complete with spoof commercials and jingles. It captures The Who at a transitional moment—embracing psychedelia, satire, and studio experimentation, while hinting at their future in grander rock narratives. Tracks like “I Can See for Miles” deliver explosive rock energy, while introspective gems like “Sunrise” and “I Can’t Reach You” showcase Pete Townshend’s growing sophistication as a songwriter. The album doesn’t entirely cohere as a concept and can feel uneven, but it’s a daring, inventive work with a uniquely British sense of humor. While inspired by Sgt. Pepper’s, The Who’s take on the format is more subversive, poking fun at commercialization while ironically being caught in its web. Though not a massive commercial hit in the U.S., it’s now regarded as one of their most creative and influential releases.

25/06/2025

18/06/2025

New Podcast (S4- Ep 28) Rolling Stones- Their Satanic Majesties Request (Decca)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/09Aup6Av4VKD7DB5hrpSyo?si=hLvfxnYORdebdyh4nGTdXA

Released December 8, 1967. Recorded between February 9-October 23, 1967
Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967) is The Rolling Stones’ most adventurous and experimental album, showcasing their willingness to explore new musical landscapes. Embracing the psychedelic spirit of the late 1960s, the band incorporated unconventional instrumentation—such as the Mellotron, dulcimer, and tabla—creating a richly textured sonic experience. Songs like “She’s a Rainbow” and “2000 Light Years from Home” highlight the group’s flair for melody and atmosphere, while Bill Wyman’s “In Another Land” adds a unique and playful touch. The 3D lenticular cover art, designed by Michael Cooper, captures the album’s vibrant, otherworldly tone. With contributions from notable collaborators like John Paul Jones and even uncredited vocals by Lennon and McCartney, the record stands as a collaborative and stylistic milestone. Their Satanic Majesties Request captures a moment of bold creativity in the Stones’ career, offering a colorful, immersive journey that continues and inspires listeners decades later.

Signature Tracks: "She's A Rainbow," "In Another Land," "2000 Light Years From Home"
Full Albums: YouTube Spotify
Playlist: YouTube, Spotify

11/06/2025

NEW PODCAST EPISODE (S4 Ep 27) The Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis: Bold as Love

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6o0Bvt518lPBsTyuqUTCgl?si=88b20b2e94054bb5

Released December 1967 and recorded mostly May -June 1967 (Reprise in the USA and Polydor in the UK)

Axis: Bold As Love is the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s pivotal second album. Produced by Chas Chandler and engineered by Eddie Kramer, it arrived just seven months after Are You Experienced, showcasing Hendrix’s rapid artistic growth. The album bridges raw psychedelia and the jazz-inflected soul of Electric Ladyland, with standout tracks like “Little Wing,” “Spanish Castle Magic,” and the epic closer “Bold as Love.” Studio innovations—including stereo panning, backward guitar, and flanging—are evident on tracks like “EXP.” Though less commercially successful than its predecessor, Axis is now hailed as a masterpiece. Hendrix's lyrical introspection, technical guitar wizardry, and the trio’s cohesive interplay marked a new direction for rock. The album’s blend of soul, blues, and psychedelia cements Hendrix as one of the most innovative artists of the 1960s, rivaled only by The Beatles.

04/06/2025

New Episode -(S4 Ep 26) The Beatles -Magical Mystery Tour

Released in the US on November 27, 1967, In the UK in December 1967, Recorded April 25 - November 1969 (Parlophone/Capitol)
Magical Mystery Tour, released in 1967, is one of The Beatles’ most experimental and imaginative records. Originally a UK double EP tied to their film of the same name, the U.S. version expanded it into a full album by adding iconic singles like “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane.” The record blends psychedelic rock, orchestral pop, and surrealism, continuing the innovative spirit of Sgt. Pepper. Highlights include Lennon’s dreamlike “I Am the Walrus,” McCartney’s nostalgic “The Fool on the Hill,” and Harrison’s hypnotic “Blue Jay Way.” Though initially met with mixed reactions, especially due to the film’s confusing TV debut, the album has since gained recognition for its influence, particularly on the evolution of music videos. It also marked the debut of Apple Corps branding. With vivid songwriting, genre fusion, and rich instrumentation, Magical Mystery Tour captures The Beatles at their creative peak, offering a colorful and surreal snapshot of late-’60s pop experimentation.

28/05/2025

New Podcast Episode: (S4 Ep25) The Doors - Strange Days
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2cAsNJMErcDEqU04bKnjQf?si=948754af9a2a4b6c
Released September 25, 1967, Recorded between May-August 1967 (Elektra)

Strange Days, The Doors’ ambitious sophomore album, blends dark, poetic themes with groundbreaking production. Opening with the eerie Moog-driven title track—one of rock’s earliest uses of the synthesizer—the album dives into surrealism, alienation, and existential dread. Highlights include hits like “People Are Strange” and “Love Me Two Times,” the experimental “Horse Latitudes,” and the 11-minute epic “When the Music’s Over.” Jim Morrison’s lyrics, often lifted from his notebooks, showcase a maturing vocal performance. At the same time, Ray Manzarek’s keyboards, Robby Krieger’s inventive guitar, and John Densmore’s jazz-inflected drumming create a rich sonic palette. Despite a mixed initial reception, Strange Days is now regarded as a milestone in psychedelic rock, influencing subsequent genres such as gothic and post-punk. The album’s avant-garde cover, atmospheric production by Bruce Botnick, and dense, evocative songwriting confirm The Doors as one of America’s most innovative 1960s bands, far more than just Morrison’s myth.