Lou Volpe's Jazz Cast

Lou previews the new version of his "Seriously", which he wrote and produced after a week in the studio with Miles and Bassist Marcus Miller. This episode starts off featuring rhythm and groove with a tribute to Brazilian percussionist, the late and great Dom Um Romao, soars through with some recent compositions and ends with Lou's most recent "Think About That". Enjoy!

Lou unveils his new song dedicated to the magic of living in Hollywood and the beautiful Laurel Canyon in L.A. Hear about Lou's guitar feature during the Judy Collins Show. A song called "Fine Wine" is highlighted here. Fresh new original songs are also featured along with his group of Bob Cranshaw on bass, Onaje on piano and Buddy Williams on the drums. Plus, an acoustic version Lou's soon to be released "A TO Z". Enjoy!

This new episode has Lou talking about his "discovery" of Big Bands when on the way home from his guitar lesson, he saw the great Maynard Ferguson playing with the big band at the Metropole on this tiny stage! A lasting impression was made. Right after that, Lou started studying arranging with some top arrangers around town. Hear Jazz Guitar play orchestrations on multiple guitars to simulate the different horn sections in a big band. WE HOPE YOU LIKE IT!

Hear Lou talk about and perform music associated with and played by the great Cannonball Adderely. His music played an important role  on Lou's studies, and developing a tone and technique. Lou demonstrates how the saxophone master affected his playing and composing. A "feel good" groove was one of Cannon's trademarks. (And Miles had both Cannonball and Trane in his band at one time!) Also, this episode includes some of Lou's latest compositions, many of which were truly influenced by the great alto saxophonist's sound and rhythm. Plus a "live" and rousing up tempo of "Things". Hope you enjoy!

Hear Lou play 10 snippets of his latest songs for an upcoming project along with a salute to one of his most influential mentors, Mc Coy Tyner. Different rhythms and harmonies are explored with various guitar tones to make this latest podcast truly special. We hope you like it!

This episode features Lou playing "clear tone" style on some of his songs from the past, a few spontaneous compositions arranged for two guitars, and a story about meeting and playing with guitar great, Larry Coryell. Hear Lou's new JAZZY "BLUES TO LARRY". Plus a solo take on his original "PRECIOUS JEWEL" Hope you like it!

More of Lou's recent compositions are on display along with originals and standards he recorded or played with 2 of his favorite former employers: Chaka Khan and Herbie Mann. Hear Lou talk about and play music from his time at the iconic Atlantic Records recording studio. He got to know and play for the great producer Arif Mardin while working at Atlantic. Enjoy the set!

This latest episode presents Lou's latest writings in sketch form along with a totally orchestrated master recording. The sketches demonstrate the different grooves and rhythms of these harmonically rich new tunes. Enjoy!

Hear Lou play PART 2 of his JAZZ GUITAR AND BLUESY new songs. A strong tone and a solo-istic approach to the melody statement gives these tunes a new twist and vibrant color. Enjoy!

This episode features melodies and"heads" or lead lines performed with a feeling of playing a solo rather than a rigid statement of the melody.  Lou performs some of his latest compositions with this concept in mind while demonstrating a soulful portrayal of these new songs. Also included are a few brand new renditions of some of Lou's tunes which were released on previous recordings. Enjoy.

GUITAR VOICES ON ORIGINAL AND CLASSIC COMPOSITIONS are featured in this week's new episode. Hear Lou play solo guitar versions of some standards along with refreshing new takes of previously released and soon to be released renditions of his own tunes and riffs! 

Spontaneous renditions of these original and classic songs meet studio/arranged versions showing the different attitudes of these 2 methods of performance. Sometimes the "off the cuff" recordings are more powerful than the thought out, pre-determined ones. Plus, a few new compositions added to the mix. Hope you enjoy!

This new episode continues last week's format with PART 2 of BLUESY-JAZZY Guitar renditions of Lou's latest compositions featuring demos and their Master versions as he introduces excerpts from the soon-to-be released "BEFORE AND AFTER" album on Jazz Guitar Records. A few new songs are also performed with a look back at a Herbie Mann classic groove from when he was writing and playing for the great flutist. Hope you like it!

Guitarist Lou Volpe takes you on a tour of demos to Masters of his latest creations showing original demo versions and the evolution to final Masters. Different Contemporary and Latin rhythms are used to make unique and strong grooves for the soon to be released "BEFORE AND AFTER" and beyond. Enjoy!

This latest jazzcast features a live Quartet version of Green Dolphin Street (inspired by Lou's time playing with Herbie Hancock) along with the latest compositions written for the new album, "Before and After". Listen to studio versions of new music along with standards as Lou plays a spirited performance of a jazz standard! Hear the music used to demo the feel and groove of the latest upcoming release.  

Join Lou on a journey from the composing desk to the recording studio and to the concert stage. Lou shares his songwriting methods with sketches of compositions for the new album. Then into the studio and on to the concert performance stage with the Quartet.  Different guitar tones and sounds are featured throughout this high energy podcast.

From "straight ahead" to Contemporary, the trio and Guitar Choir are showcased in this episode of original compositions. Rhythm and groove come first. Then, different guitar sounds and musical backdrops to bring out some of the best of Lou's unique style. Enjoy!

This episode features different guitar tones and sounds to demonstrate how they can affect the overall attitude and message of the melody or the whole song. Hear Lou play a live solo from his last concert at the Dizzy Gillespie Theater along with other originals and standards. The acoustic guitar sound is also used to hear the great contrast of tone.

This latest podcast brings out Lou's "Les Paul" roots in a few American standards. An original piece, "Perseguidor de Suenos" uses a waltz or triplet feeling against a samba groove on top of a Spanish inspired melody! The idea of simple and beautiful Melodies are also explored along with a "live" version of a classic.  

The basics of arranging music for a recording session are explored as Lou plays a new take on Stella. The big band is back in this episode with a rousing Trumpet section, not to mention the Trombones, Saxes and Rhythm section! An acoustic guitar tone is featured on the pensive "Mountain Stream". The Quartet is also highlighted in this recording from our concert last year at the Dizzy Gillespie Theater. A new take on a classic.