95bFM: The 95bFM Jazz Show

Def Jim returns from his extended Summer break with a total blast of a Jazz Shown featuring a track from each of three brand new releases from the likes of Steve Coleman & 5 Elements, Ava Mendoza and Emily Remler. The latter (which opens the Show) is particularly noteworthy, being a taste of the first previously unheard set from the sadly deceased guitarist Ms. Remler released for 25 years. Naturally there are plenty more delights to be savoured in this Show, such as a piece by 70's UK fusion pioneers Nucleus taken from a multi-CD set released a couple of years ago which exhaustively documents their recording sessions for UK public broadcaster the BBC. Warmly recommended.

Frances Chan lounges on the exotica sofa to start the show, then highlights her favourite acts from Womad Aotearoa 2025, plays a Jarrett twofer and marches out on the funk.

Set list: 

Sun Ra – Interplanetary Music

Beach Boys – Pet Sounds

Esquivel – Boulevard of Broken Dreams

Les Baxter – Mozambique

Dorothy Ashby – Fool on the Hill

Bala Desejo – Baile de Mascaras (Recarnaval)

Nitin Sawhney – Homelands

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Mustt Mustt

Jean Phi Dary, Jeff Mills – The X Factor

O. – 176

The Comet Is Coming – Frequency of Feeling Expansion

Domi & JD Beck ft Thundercat – Not Tight

Ana Carla Maza – Las Primaveras (Live)

Branford Marsalis Quartet – The Windup

Keith Jarrett – Spiral Dance

Kamasi Washington – Vortex

After ‘Ours ft Louis Baker – That Love

Polyrhythmics – Chophouse

The Meters – It Ain’t No Use

Sun Ra – At Sundown

Dr. Mark digs - & kicks the show into high gear - as he gets excited by some interesting, Jazzy discoveries - with fusion, & Hip Hop flavours - also a cool track by Italian Pianist Francesca Tandoi who is making waves on the scene currently - & some local, lovelyness also appears -  by the Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Jonathan Crayford pops on  - ahead of his gig with his Electric Trio on Sunday arvo at San Ray in Ponsonby Road. Miss Dom gets equally excited too -  by all the great live shows on Tamaki stages of late - then digs into the Jazzwise titles -  on offer for this year's Record Store Day 2025.

 DJ Sassy swings by to host the Jazz Gig Guide - Dr Mark shys away from Sassys offer to kick-off the dancing at one of his upcoming gigs featured in the Jazz Gig Guide. #TheVinylFairGuide -   In the shows Podcast only Feature - hear extra tracks from Jonathan Crayford, & Hayden Chisholm #Release&Return, Taylor Griffin band Live, Mark De Clive Lowe, The Adrian Cox Trio - Miss Dom circles back around -  to squeeze-in an extra track from those RSD2025 titles - & jams a cut from the lengendary, late, & great Kenny Dorham  - Blue Bossa - In The Bronx

A lot of Roy Ayers this afternoon, to mark the passing of the great vibraphonist and band leader — and, sadly, of several other luminaries including r’n’b saxophonist Gene Barge (aka Daddy G, the template for Clarence Clemons), David Johansen (featuring a first-ever appearance on any Jazz show anywhere by the New York Dolls!), and of course jazz, soul and pop singer Roberta Flack.  

Two special guests also join Blind Mango in the studio this afternoon: 

Ben Fernandez plays his diminutive keyboard and talks about his many upcoming projects  (including Bollywood and Jazz) and ongoing play-with-music 'a mixtape for maladies' at ASB Waterfront Theatre, every day until March 23rd. 

And Frances swings by to announce the Jazz GigGuide live, and stays to discuss future events and shared jazz memories.

Jazz guru Blind Mango Chutney checks in with another ripping jazz set taking you from Ken Nordine's humour through to Billy Holiday's pathos.