Home » Jazz Articles » Radio & Podcasts » Sir Stevie: Jammin' on Stevie Wonder - Part 1

Sir Stevie: Jammin' on Stevie Wonder - Part 1

By Ludovico Granvassu | Mondo Jazz
May 23, 2020
View read count

Click the play button to listen

Stevie Wonder

vocals
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Stevie Wonder has more entries in the Real Book than any other pop musician, The Beatles included. It is not surprising therefore that his Songbook has been mined by hundreds of jazz musicians, including the likes of

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins,

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie,

Ella Fitzgerald

vocals
1917 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Ella Fitzgerald,

Dexter Gordon

saxophone, tenor
1923 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Dexter Gordon or

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock.

To mark the 70th birthday of

Stevie Wonder

vocals
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Stevie Wonder this week we will feature some of the best jazz renditions of his compositions. In this segment we focus, in particular, on renditions from the '70s which payed tribute to hits from his "classic period," making sure to keep a safe distance from those which veered too dangerously towards smooth jazz or stayed too close to the original. We wrap up the set with engaging tributes by present-day musicians.

Happy listening!

Playlist

Ben Allison
bass, acoustic
b.1966
" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Allison "Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00
Ahmad Jamal
piano
1930 - 2023
" data-original-title="" title="">Ahmad Jamal "Superstition" Ahmad Jamal '73 (20th Century) 0:16
Host talks 4:20
Ray Barretto
congas
1929 - 2006
" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Barretto "Pastime Paradise" La Cuna (CTI) 6:12
Gary Bartz
saxophone, alto
b.1940
" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Bartz's NTU Troop "Black Maybe" Juju Street Songs (Prestige) 14:33
Phil Upchurch
guitar
b.1941
" data-original-title="" title="">Phil Upchurch, Tennyson Stephens "Tell Me Something Good" Upchurch/Tennyson (Kudu) 24:08
Host talks 30:03
Charles Earland
organ, Hammond B3
1941 - 1999
" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Earland "I Was Made to Love Her" Soul Story (Prestige) 31:26
Les McCann
piano
1935 - 2023
" data-original-title="" title="">Les McCann "Seems So Long" Talk to the People (Atlantic) 34:14
Richard Tee
keyboards
1943 - 1993
" data-original-title="" title="">Richard Tee "Jesus Children of America" Strokin' (Tappan Zee) 37:16
Host talks 41:56
Ramsey Lewis
piano
1935 - 2022
" data-original-title="" title="">Ramsey Lewis "Uptight" Wade in the Water (Cadet) 43:56
David "Fathead" Newman
saxophone, tenor
1933 - 2009
" data-original-title="" title="">David "Fathead" Newman "Sylvia" The Many Facets of David Newman (Atlantic) 49:39
Lionel Hampton
vibraphone
1908 - 2002
" data-original-title="" title="">Lionel Hampton "Where Were You When I Needed You?" Stop! I Don't Need No Sympathy! (Brunswick) 52:55
Host talks 56:41
Max Ionata
saxophone, tenor
b.1972
" data-original-title="" title="">Max Ionata "I Wish" Two for Stevie (Via Veneto Jazz / Jandomusic) 58:27
Ralph Alessi
trumpet
b.1963
" data-original-title="" title="">Ralph Alessi "Same Old Story" Cognitive Dissonance (CAM Jazz) 1:00:12
Vijay Iyer
piano
b.1971
" data-original-title="" title="">Vijay Iyer Trio "Big Brother" Historicity (ACT) 1:04:03
Host talks 1:08:51
Collin Walcott
percussion
b.1945
" data-original-title="" title="">Collin Walcott,
Don Cherry
trumpet
1936 - 1995
" data-original-title="" title="">Don Cherry,
Nana Vasconcelos
percussion
1944 - 2016
" data-original-title="" title="">Nana Vasconcelos "Colemanwonder: Race Face / Sortie / Sir Duke" Codona (ECM) 1:11:01
Avishai Cohen
bass
b.1970
" data-original-title="" title="">Avishai Cohen,
Yonathan Avishai
piano
" data-original-title="" title="">Yonathan Avishai "Sir Duke" Playing the Room (ECM) 1:14:38

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Codes/Myths
< Previous

Chamber Works
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

Showcase

Featured

Darwin AI: Surivior Choice

By Alex Otey buy

Carnaval - The Songs Were So Beautiful

By Antonio Adolfo buy

Song of the Day

Must Keep Going

From Sub Rosa
by Julian Shore

buy

Playlist

Premium

Angela Verbrugge

vocals

////bc

Weekly newsletter

Get more of a good thing

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories and includes your local jazz events calendar.

Radio & Podcasts

MONDO JAZZ

Dominique Fils-Aim��, Joe Alterman / Mocean Worker,...

with Ludovico Granvassu

EXPLORATION

Exploration (Dominik Kisiel Exploration Quartet),...

with David W. Daniels

A BROAD SPECTRUM

Kelly Green, Jen Allen, Nicholas Payton, Christian...

with Mary Foster Conklin

SITUATION FLUXUS

Meet Adam Hopkins

with Cheryl K.

Tune in daily to hear the internet's top jazz programs including Mondo Jazz, Jazz Bastard, Spotlight On, Liner Notes, World of Jazz, Allston Boylston, One Man's Jazz, The Outer View, Neon Jazz, A Broad Spectrum, Bitches Brew and more. View our program schedule and check this week's JazzWeek Radio Chart.

Program Guide: