After the local news at noon, a broadcast celebrating the September 28, birthday of reed player, John Gilmore. Gilmore spent more than 40 years working almost exclusively with composer and bandleader Sun Ra and his Arkestra. The program, recorded with Sun Ra enthusiast Michael Shore before the COVID-19 pandemic, will focus on his work in smaller group settings outside of his longtime involvement with Ra. The music covers his roots in late-1950s hard bop, with Clifford Jordan and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers; “Sketches of Spain”-style flamenco jazz with Freddie Hubbard; a stint with pianist Elmo Hope at Riker’s Island; a rare relaxed blues with McCoy Tyner; and the cream of heady Avant-leaning mid-60s post-bop with Andrew Hill and Paul Bley. One track with Hill features Gilmore on the bass clarinet, demonstrating a command of that instrument to rival Eric Dolphy. Throughout, Gilmore’s playing is typically commanding and authoritative, passionate and percussive, original and devoid of cliche. One can hear why John Coltrane revered Gilmore so much.

Playlist:
"Status Quo" - John Gilmore & Clifford Jordan - Blowing In From Chicago (Blue Note)
"Blue Lights" - John Gilmore & Clifford Jordan - Blowing In From Chicago (Blue Note)
"The 7th Day" - Freddie Hubbard - The Artistry of Freddie Hubbard (Impulse!)
"A Night in Tunisia" - Elmo Hope Ensemble - Sounds From Riker's Island (Audio Fidelity)
"T 'n' A Blues" - McCoy Tyner - Today and Tomorrow (Impulse!)
"Le Serpent Qui Danse" - Andrew Hill - Andrew!!! (Blue Note)
"Ictus" - Paul Bley Quartet - Turning Point (Improvising Artists)
"Ida Lupino" - Paul Bley Quartet - Turning Point (Improvising Artists)
"Premonition" - Andrew Hill - Compulsion!!!!! (Blue Note)
"The Egyptian" - Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (Jazz 625 UK TV 1965/YouTube)
"I Can't Get Started" - Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (Jazz 625 UK TV 1965/YouTube)
"Love Planet" - Pete LaRoca - Turkish Women at the Baths (Douglas)
"Contact" - Dizzy Reece Quintet - From In to Out (Futura)
"Contemporary Focus" - McCoy Tyner - Today and Tomorrow (Impulse!)

“Overlooked” is a show focusing on overlooked and under-heard jazz, improvisational, and other fringe music, from early roots to contemporary experiments, a mix of familiar to rare, classic to weird. Live from the shadow of Overlook Mountain in Ulster County.

Host Rob Saffer is the former Executive Director and Producer of the Creative Music Foundation.

Overlooked Playlist Archive