Sitting In
Sundays at 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM
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Jazz instrumentalists, singers and bandleaders learn their craft by apprenticing or "sitting in" with older, more experienced players. At least in the past, this was often a hostile process with less able players being literally blown off the bandstand. However, this learning curve also produced players who kept coming back for more and gave us musicians such as Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday and Lester Young to name a very few. In Sitting In I will be playing all that's fiery, true and intense in the very diverse music called jazz. Musicians are at their best when they take risks because this makes other musicians listen and play harder. This is at the heart of what I want to explore in my show. It's a developing project and I welcome you along to listen to the evolving album of what I hope the show will become. Contact the show at: sittingin@gmail.com |
Sitting In: News - Saturday, June 28th, 2008 |
 IMPORTANT NOTICE (Or Not!) Sad but true... After the excitement of the 29th Montreal International Jazz Festival I am going to treat myself to an extended European 'tour.' I will think of you all while I'm mulling over a Martini in Bognor Regis or guzzling down a cup of char in Biggleswade. I will be writing my memoirs and generally recharging my batteries ready for CJLO's impending assault on the AM band. Have a great July and I'll be around again sometime in mid-August!! |
Sitting In: News - Saturday, June 28th, 2008 |
 JAZZ FEST SCOOPERAMA!! Codswallops to the perpetually crap weather but we at SITTING IN have been digging the Jazz Fest like the cool cats we are. This week our correspondent in the field will be bringing back reports about L. Cohen and The Lost Fingers among others. I'll be waxing lyrical about Hank Jones and Stacey Kent whose concerts I attended. I'll also be giving you recommendations about some slightly more down and dirty acts you can catch. They're not like diseases but they can grow on you. Check out Tom Waits tribute Belly of a Drunken Piano and Californian vacumn cleaner diddler That One Guy at the wonderful, artificially smoke filled Spiegel Tent aka the Heineken Stage. Good music and a bit o theatre, Belly is on till July 5th. |
Sitting In: News - Thursday, June 19th, 2008 |
 JAZZ FEST LIFTOFF (almost)!! Well, it doesn't all start to the 26th but I had to continue the witty shuttle metaphor. Anyway, to add to the giant baskets of delights this Sunday I'll ALSO have a live interview with Francois Rioux of Jazz Culture Club. They are definitely an act to bop the bebop and they will hop onto the Esplanade de la Place des Arts at 9pm and 11pm on July 5th. Yeah! |
Sitting In: News - Tuesday, June 17th, 2008 |
 JAZZ FEST PRE-IGNITION!! We at SITTING IN's capacious and beautifully appointed office space are catatonic with anticipation as The Festival approaches. I will be covering it and especially I'll be featuring some of our sparkling local musicians. This week I'll have an interview with Monica Shore. She'll be talking about her quintet and about her appearance at the festival. I am delighted to be meeting Monica so listen out for some choice bytes this Sunday and you are commanded to catch her show at 4pm, June 29th at the Scene Rio Tinto Alcan. |
Sitting In: News - Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 |
 Gadzooks, where have I been? Well, if you were a true fan of SITTING IN, you'd know that I have indeed been here all the while doing my best to sweeten the bandwidth such as it is here at CJLO. However, I have broken my silence because the JAZZ FESTIVAL is here with us again!! Yes, this year the gates of heaven will open from June 26th to July 6th. The mighty SI team will be there to cover all. Interviews with diverse jazz artists such as L Cohen et al are expected. I dare say the call will come any day now. Watch this space for updates and listen out for me at the usual time and place. |
Sitting In: News - Wednesday, January 16th, 2008 |
 Animal Forum gig - le Cagibi, January 27th As per usual, this DJ is always delighted to promote one of our own. Keep your evening free on January 27th and prepare to slink on down to le Cagibi (5490 St Laurent). At 8.30pm or thereabouts Peter Van Huffel's new trio ANIMAL FORUM will be hitting the stage. Expect the usual unusual from Peter himself on saxes, ably complimented by Samuel Blaser on trombone and Ziv Ravitz on drums. Their music is witty, challenging and groovy and if you don't believe me have a listen at www.myspace.com/animalforum. However, if I find anyone out there doubting my word, there will be the usual repercussions and reparations. You have been warned!! |
Sitting In: News - Saturday, December 29th, 2007 |
 Oscar Peterson 1925-2007 This Sunday's show will be a tribute to Canadian jazz legend Oscar Peterson. He was in the jazz game for nigh on 65 years and was born and raised in the Little Burgundy area of our very own Montreal. Tune in and look back with me at a brilliantly original and always energetic jazz musician. |
Sitting In: News - Friday, October 26th, 2007 |
 Mount Your Steeds!! And talking of kittens, here's a quite squidgy one... Yes, I'm back from my transAtlantic jaunt and this Sunday will be SITTING IN the olde saddle with my jodphurs akimbo. Well, sort of. Amazing what you can get away with when it's almost certain no-one is reading. Anyway, along with the usual well-hip tunes this week, I'll also be playing some treasures, some lost kittens if you will, from the CJLO lost pile. They're not jazz and they're not quite pop but whatever they are I'm going to give them a good airing just like you should always do with your drawers. And with that... |
Sitting In: News - Friday, October 12th, 2007 |
 BACK ON OCTOBER 28th!! SITTING IN is away on holiday for a couple of weeks. I'll be gleaning some European vibes. Have a fab two weeks jazz kittens and tune in on the 28th. |
Sitting In: News - Friday, September 21st, 2007 |
 Back In The Saddle Agane!! SITTING IN is back this week with some more stellar jazz. This week on the flaming turntable I'll have some Sacha Distel, Chris Connor, Eric Legnini, Chris Potter, Lorraine Desmarais among others. Of course, the main reason to listen is for my wisdom and general, all-round charm but that goes without saying really. Don't miss SITTING IN!! |
Sitting In: News - Saturday, September 8th, 2007 |
 Normal Service Will Be Resumed As Soon As Possible I am moving house so hang tight and I will be back next week. |
Sitting In: News - Thursday, August 30th, 2007 |
 CANJAZZ EXTRAVAGANZA!! Last week I voyaged into new realms by spinning a bit 'o vinyl for the show. I'll be doing that this week and generally disporting my shiny black stuff for all to hear. The main focus of this Sunday's SITTING IN though will be jazz music from here and especially from Montreal. You all know I'm a big fan of Oscar P but this week I'll be branching out to play some Maynard Ferguson, Charlie Biddle, Jean Derome not to mention all the old favourites such as Diana Krall, Lieutenant Pigeon, Mrs Mills et al. May we all be happy, shiny black stuff people this term!! |
Sitting In: News - Thursday, August 9th, 2007 |
 Free Jazz Sunday!! No more free jazz until the festival next year... Ah... OK, well, no need to be too maudlin. Last week's SITTING IN was all about vocalists, quick little Polaroids of melody. This week, as we move ever nearer to the realisation of CJLO on the AM band, we have something of a FREE JAZZ extravaganza. I'll be playing some later John Coltrane (be strong for this one!) in addition to a bit of Cecil Taylor, a slice of Jackie McLean, a soupcon of Carla Bley and Steve Swallow, a teaspoon of Jaki Byard in addition to the usual surprises and wit. Tune in if you can because SITTING IN is the jazz show the online community swears by or is it swears at? No matter!! |
Sitting In: News - Friday, July 20th, 2007 |
 The A to C of Acid/Jazz Funk The Jazz Festival was a tough act to follow but the summer goes on. Mr Hugh Masekela was here in Montreal on Tuesday but as usual I didn't have the cold hard to check him out. Anyway, this week I'll be starting off with a couple of blistering sets of Hammond-fuelled and brass-stoked classics. In upcoming weeks I'm hoping to do more featurettes on various things plus some guest hosting and a few more interviews I hope to line up. Watch this tiny space for more developments and if you didn't know it already, good ole CJLO will soon be available on the AM band. Blimey, eh? |
Sitting In: News - Thursday, June 28th, 2007 |
 Rick L Blues The Jazz Festival is finally here. This week, in my new, extended, TWO-HOUR time slot (sorry to see you go, Fi) I'll be bringing you some 'live' spots from the festival itself. In my second hour there will be the usual goodies plus an interview with Quebec bluesman, harmonica player, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and all-round gentleman Rick L Blues. I had the good luck to meet with him this week in his Second Avenue studio where he showed me some wicked bending and trilling and talked about some of his formative influences. Check him out (gratuit!) at 9pm and 11pm this Saturday at Parc Fred-Barry. If you fancy finding out more about the amazing Rick L Blues and his music, his website is at www.ricklblues.com. |
Sitting In: News - Saturday, June 9th, 2007 |
 DIG IT!! |
Sitting In: News - Friday, May 25th, 2007 |
 Peter Van Huffel Quintet CD release Concert!! As if we didn't have enough to contend with with the balmy weather sticking our thighs together, I also have some RED HOT tracks to play this Sunday which will leave you baying with pleasure. I'll be playing some tracks from SILVESTER BATTLEFIELD, the latest CD release from the NYC-based Peter Van Huffel Quintet. With Peter himself (a genuine Canadian) on alto and soprano sax, the quintet will be amazing when they play their CD release gig at L'Absinthe on FRIDAY, JUNE 15TH.
I'll also be flinging some other plastic into the olde CD players. This week I have some choice Canadian content. So wonderful will it be, in fact, that you won't even notice the rain that has been forecast for our lovely and temperate city. |
Sitting In: News - Saturday, May 12th, 2007 |
 My Funny (and belated) Valentine! What a poor excuse for a show, eh? Valentine's Day this year came and went two months ago (this Monday) but I needed a reason for some Rodgers and Hart tomfoolery. Anyway, in addition to this little set I'll have some Miles, a bit of Peggy Lee and a smidgen of Lenny Breau plus my usual sparkling wit of course! Also stay tuned for more news on the Jazz Festival as the SITTINGIN team forage for the hot gossip. |
Sitting In: News - Saturday, May 5th, 2007 |
 Jazz Festival Tickets Now On Sale!! This year will be the 28th edition of the Montreal Jazz Festival. The event starts on June 28th and tickets went on sale yesterday. We at the SITTING IN offices are quivering with anticipation at the vast basket of musical talent that will be on offer. Aside from juggernauts such as Keith Jarrett, Zachary Richard and Wynton Marsalis, there will be a giant shoal of jazz tiddlers as well to drool over. This year's festival will be terrific and I invite you to listen to Sitting In on May 6th for what will be the first of many little preview-ettes! Read more about it on www.montrealjazzfest.com
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Sitting In: News - Saturday, April 28th, 2007 |
 Toots and the Duke This week's show was going to revolve around the theme of songs that may have been inspired by Chinese condiments. I gave that one up when I discovered that there are two famous jazz birthdays this Sunday. I know you can hardly contain your excitement but all will be uncovered on the 29th. Prep yourself for a supercharged hour full of blazing Steinways and molten flugelhorns! |
Sitting In: News - Thursday, April 19th, 2007 |
 The Odd Chord This was another week when I ran out of time to check out things happening on the local scene. I will feature this soon! Sitting In this Sunday might well be called The Odd Chord - the songs I tend to like usually have a few chords in them that are out of the ordinary and that just tilt the song into something else. Lee Morgan's compositions really do this and we'll also be hearing what Stan Getz can do with a wild diminished chord that he pulls out of his sleeve (or elsewhere!). Enjoy the show! |
Sitting In: News - Friday, April 13th, 2007 |
 Miles Davis In Jazz, Miles are not only what you walk when the bus doesn't arrive. Miles Davis ('Miles' to his friends) was an enormously influential bandleader, composer and trumpeter. Although he died in 1991, he is still a major point of reference in jazz music and beyond. This week I'll be featuring just a little of his work from the early shows with Charlie Parker to the modal jazz found on Kind Of Blue. |
Sitting In: News - Friday, April 6th, 2007 |
 The James Taylor Quartet This week's show is on Easter Sunday and for no particular reason I'll be featuring the 'Medway Monarch' and his outfit. With JT himself on the Hammond B3, this sulphuric acid powerhouse never fails to get me dancing around like a slightly epileptic dervish. When I'm doing the dishes or cleaning the house this is what I stick on the iPod! Try it yourself. Works for most household tasks! |
Sitting In: News - Friday, March 30th, 2007 |
 Biréli Lagrène at the Spectrum This exciting Django Reinhardt-influenced
gypsy guitarist will be at the Spectrum on April 24th. Wildly original and entertaining, Lagrène is guaranteed to bring the house down. |
