Podcast 706: Jazzin' on Zeppelin

Fifty years ago today, Led Zeppelin released their second album as a group, appropriately enough entitled Led Zeppelin II. Recorded earlier in 1969, it was released just 10 months after their eponymous debut album. The band's first number one album, it also contained their biggest hit single, "Whole Lotta Love", a transmogrification of Willie Dixon's "You Need Love", the Small Faces "You Need Loving", through the prism of a dizzying display of special effects. Jazz musicians have never turned to the Zeppelin catalogue as inspiration as often as many of their musicals peers. However, that does not mean there are not some heavy jazz covers, as well as some intriguing approaches taken to the band's music. Podcast 705 celebrates the 50th anniversary of Led Zeppelin II with forty minutes of jazz versions of the work of Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham. The first tunes come from Led Zeppelin II, and the rest from various other releases. Musical selections include: James Taylor Quartet – "Whole Lotta Love" Lizz Wright – "Thank You" Bonerama – "Heartbreaker/Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman}" Joshua Redman – "The Crunge" Wave Mechanics Union - "The Rain Song" Cyro Baptista – "Immigrant Song" Stanley Jordan – "Stairway to Heaven"