95bFM: The 95bFM Jazz Show

This week Def Jim pays tribute to visionary reedsman Anthony Braxton, who turned 81 on June 4th, and to Sonny Rollins, mighty Everest of jazz saxophone, who as most people will now know, passed late last month. The Show also features carefully selected recent album tracks from such diverse talents as Mary Halvorson, Matthew Shipp, Jeff Parker and James Brandon Lewis and the usual smattering of sterling stuff from The Back Catalogue chosen with equal forethought and design. Dames & dudes, your Jazz Week starts here.

  Blind Mango Chutney, Miss Dom, & new Jazz Show recruit Max join forces. The Trio celebrates #nzmm2026 in a Jazzy / Soulful style, & fashion playing 100% Aotearoa Jazz. Also - massive thanks go out to our show's Guest:  The good Sir @juliendyne from the incredible, & totally world class @thecirclingsun  - Julien dialed in on the line from Te Whanganui-a-Tara -ahead of their exciting, upcoming performance at Pitt Street Methodist  - on Friday June 12th - with support from Yolanda F Fagan - Their show - as part of the 'Strange Universe' series of shows playing all over the city this month. Julien also caught us up on all the new, 'totally Wow' developments going forward in their Circling Sun World. As always - thanks for your texts, folks. And thanks to San Ray for sponsoring the Jazz Show!

With Jonathan Crayford in the studio, he and Blind Mango Chutney talk through his 2007 album 'Big Foot,' just dropping on vinyl. Also welcomed to the studio is DJ Carlotta, celebrating her dad, Grant Chilcott aka Wentworth Brewster. Taking us home, on what would have been his 100th birthday, is a quick trip through Miles Davis's career... Thanks to San Ray

Frances Chan showcases a bucketload of local artists for NZ Music Month, plus some fathers and sons, and a 90s throwback set. Setlist: Clear Path Ensemble – Plasma Plaza Yurt Party – The Gambler Jonathan Crayford – Nine Angine de Poitrine – Ababa Hotel Oscar Laven – Dizzy Orchestra Fine Wine Social Club – Sleep Better Pino Palladino & Blake Mills – Somnambulista Yussef Days ft Rocco Palladino – Tioga Pass Ulysses Owens Jr – Mo’Betta Blues Chico Hamilton – Blue Sands Kenny Sterling – Isle of Light Fugue State – Danger Jamiroquai – Music of the Mind Corduroy – Chowdown Ellis Marsalis & Branford Marsalis – Sweet Lorraine Christian McBride – King Freddie of Hubbard Alex Ventling – Trondheim II The Circling Sun – Flying Myele Manzanza ft Rosie Frater-Taylor – Falling Fast Quincy Conserve – Frustration  

Def Jim's Jazz Show for NZ Music month features a totally out piece from local disruptors Trioglodyte recorded some years ago live at the Wine Cellar, a track from a recent Rattle release by Michel Benebig Quartet recorded live at the ATO Jazz Club in New Lynn and two vintage tracks from Space Case (featuring Murray McNabb) and Kim Paterson respectively. Other, international bases touched include guitartists Terje Rypdal and Tisziji Munoz plus new releases from Ethnic Heritage Ensemble and Craig Taborn et al and a newly unearthed 1979 set from Detroit legends Griot Galaxy. Just dive on in.

Welcome be-boppers to the jazziest 2 hours on 95bFM. Host Blind Mango digs into the (re)released 1976 Dr Tree album again to mark its 50th anniversary of the original release, plays a blast of 'pre-Prince,' and delivers a teaser for an upcoming show. Thanks to show sponsors San Ray on Ponsonby Rd.

Frances Chan opens with an award-winning soundtrack and ends with an apt seasonal 50-year-old classic. In between she explores the work of Robert Glasper, digs Japanese jazz and celebrates the birthdays of George Benson and Dave Pike. Playlist: Mark de Clive-Lowe – Horses Crystal Chen – Top Down Thundercat – I Wish I Didn’t Waste Your Time Robert Glasper – I Don’t Even Care – Live at Capitol Studios 2014 Robert Glasper ft Q-Tip, Esperanza Spalding – Why We Speak Robert Glasper – Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box Masayoshi Takanaka – Breezin’ Yasei Collective ft Shun Ishikawa – Brilliants Count Buffalo & The Jazz Rock Band – Mago-Uta Jiro Inagaki and His Soul Media – Breeze Michel Benebig & the Le Grand B3 Big Band – Alenka’s Mood Salin – Egungun Wes Montgomery – A Day in the Life Ahmad Jamal Trio – The Awakening Shabaka – Dance in Praise Brandee Younger – Breaking Point George Benson – The Shape of Things to Come Dave Pike – Walkin’ Down the Highway in a Red Raw Egg  Temporary Blessings – Fata Morgana Ryo Fukui – Autumn Leaves  

  Welcome beboppers to the jazziest two hours on the station.  Host Blind Mango Chutney begins with Sperber Dan’s theme from last week with a visits to the Middle East, before a virtual world tour including Brazil, Melbourne, Wellington, Washington, New Caledonia, and (of course) New York. Special guest Ben McNicoll from the Creative Jazz Club with some exciting news, and some tracks from upcoming visitor Thundercat. Thanks as always to our special friends at San Ray on Ponsonby Rd.

  Today’s show with host Sperber Dan goes beyond borders, including visits a bunch of countries -- including our good friends in the Middle East. The 95bFM Jazz Show is brought to you by our friends at San Ray in Ponsonby Rd.

Your host Blind Mango Chutney takes you in all directions this afternoon, from classic Blue Note to South American and Dutch fusion, through to blues and acid jazz  -- and Canadian alt-jazz band BadBadNotGood, playing tonight in Auckland. And news of a great live event at San Ray this coming Sunday. A true celebration of sound! Thanks to San Ray, your all-day eatery on Ponsonby Rd. 

Another cracker of a Jazz Show from Def Jim, who only had access to a single functional studio CD player but nonetheless delivers selections from new releases by Tomeka Reid Quartet, Fred Hersch, Wolfgang Muthspiel and Joe Morris/Elliott Sharp (among others) plus a classic Oregon track from 1974 by way of tribute to the late guitarist Ralph Towner plus  another instalment in his ongoing exploration of the 1970s-90s work of Chico Freeman and a bunch of other plusses besides. Essential listening for Jazz Heads of every stripe. 

Blind Mango is back, playing a few groovy Valentine specials, and he catches us all up on last week's Somethin' Else Festival.  Thanks to our amazing sponsors  -  San Ray - the 'home of great eats'  - find them at 118 Ponsonby Road. 

Hey there be-boppers, it’s NZ Music Month here on the Jazz Show, with your host Blind Mango Chutney. So settle back for some of the best from Aotearoa — with a special feature on Pacific Eardrum. But since it was also International Jazz Day this week, headlined in concert by Herbie Hancock, we start with Herbie … Brought to you by San Ray on Ponsonby Rd.

Welcome be-boppers to the jazziest most hypnotic show on the "b." Your host Blind Mango takes you through recent gigs, recent appearances, some recent lucky record acquisitions -- along with special guest muso & comedian Joel Vinsen, talking about music favourites and the upcoming Comedy Festival. All to the best soundtrack for your Sunday afternoon. And all thanks to San Ray, for Southern Californian bistro classics at 118 Ponsonby Rd.

Frances Chan plays her favourite jazzy theme tunes, celebrates the diversity of James Gadson, plus classics that have spawned tasty samples and a bunch of new releases too. Playlist: Ahmad Jamal – Theme from M.A.S.H Masayoshi Takanaka – Funkee Mah-Chan Toshiki Soejima – Resonance Daniel Caine Orchestra – Theme from “Barney Miller” Kool & The Gang – Give it Up Raffy Bushman – The Leopard Monty Alexander – Aggression Herbie Hancock – Heartbeat Donald Fagen – I.G.Y. Vulfpeck – Running Away Flea – A Plea Ebi Soda, Yaz Ahmed – Chandler Tom Lundberg – Theme from “Night Court” Glass Museum – III Weather Report – Elegant People Jaco Pastorius – Kuru/Speak Like a Child Jill Scott – Pay U on Tuesday Aja Monet ft Meshell Ndegeocello, Georgia Ann Muldrow Justin Hurwitz – Theme from “Whiplash” Dr Tree – One for Dianne  

Blind Mango Chutney Hosts the Show this arvo - arriving in the 'Jazz Show hot seat' slightly wind blown, umbrella slightly bent, & rained upon - due to the current, Tamaki weather events. Blind Mango is shortly joined by Jazz mates - Miss Dom jumps on as BMC's trusty side-kick  - & the pair reflect on the busy vinyl fair wekend they just had - & also get 'Jazzed' -  ahead of the busy week ahead -  with Record Store Day, & Several, fun DJ Vinyl appointments  -  also for the pair this week   - Miss Dom preview's -  in the form of an ultra 'high-speed Roll'  - some of the Jazz Record Store Day  - Tasty Treats incoming as part of this years RSD 2026. Vinyl enthusiast Max pops-by to host this weeks Jazz Gig Guide - & Miss Dom 'The Vinyl Guide.' Thanks - as always -  to our awesome Sponsors @sanray - find them at 118 Ponsonby Road for great eats ! 

The latest 95bFM Jazz Show with Def Jim features the work of a number of notable contemporary guitarists, including Miles Okazaki, Julian Lage, Kurt Rosenwinkel, John Scofield, Nels Cline and Terje Rypdal. Following the death of Country Joe McDonald in early March, tribute is paid in the form of a classic Country Joe & The Fish track from the late 60's which has Def Jim remembering that at one time there was a tradition of playing a not-jazz track almost every Jazz Show, a custom which has now lapsed. This Jazz Show finishes with a Michel Benebig Quartet piece recorded live at the ATO Jazz Club in New Lynn, Auckland - out now on Rattle Records.