On this special jazz episode we look at the legendary music career of Mr. George Benson! Who is an american guitarist, singer and songwriter known for blending jazz with pop, R&B, and soul. He gained widespread recognition with his 1976 album Breezin, which featured the Grammy-winning hit "This Masquerade". With a smooth voice and virtuosic guitar style, Benson remains a celebrated figure in contemporary jazz and crossover music. This podcast episode is dedicated to Ray The Jazzman's mother Mrs. Betty Jean Weaver, who recently passed away on June 26th 2025. One of her favorite musical artists that she enjoyed listening to and seeing in concert for years.

1. Breezin'

2. Turn Your Love Around

3. This Masquerade

4. The World Is A Ghetto

5. On Broadway

6. Moody's Mood

7. Mt. Airey Road

8. Summer Breeze

Clare Fischer (1928–2012) was a versatile American composer, arranger, and pianist whose career spanned jazz, classical, and pop music. He began his professional journey as a pianist and conductor for The Hi-Lo's, a vocal group, and gained early acclaim for his arrangements for Dizzy Gillespie's A Portrait of Duke Ellington. Over the decades, Fischer became a sought-after arranger for artists such as Prince, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, and Chaka Khan.

Carlos Santana is a legendary Mexican-American guitarist known for blending rock, Latin music, blues, and jazz into a unique and influential sound. He founded the Santana band in the late 1960s, gaining fame with their electrifying performance at Woodstock and hits like “Black Magic Woman” and “Oye Como Va.” The band has seen various lineups over the decades, but Santana’s signature guitar style remains at its heart, earning numerous Grammy Awards and a lasting legacy in modern music. Still to this day touring extensively throughout the world, Viva Santana!

Songs Include :

1. Milagro

2. Eternal Caravan Of Reincarnation

3. Waves Within

4. Look Up To See What’s Coming Down

5. Just In Time To See The Sun

6. Song Of The Wind

7. Jingo

8. Samba Pa Ti

9. Europa (Earth’s Cry, Heaven’s Smile)

10. Black Magic Woman/ Gypsy Queen

11. Oye Como Va

12. Blues For Salvador

Jimmy Smith was a pioneering American jazz organist, widely regarded for his mastery of the Hammond B-3 organ. He played a crucial role in popularizing the instrument in jazz, blending elements of blues, bebop, and gospel into a unique and soulful sound. With an innovative approach to rhythm and improvisation, Smith's influential recordings from the late 1950s and 1960s, such as Back at the Chicken Shack, left a lasting legacy on both jazz and soul music. He also recorded on Verve Records throughout the 60's and 70's making him the most influential Hammond B3 organist of his generation.

Songs Include:

1. Midnight Special

2. All Night Long

3. Back At The Chicken Shack

4. Wives And Lovers

5. The Theme From "Any Number Can Win"

6. Confirmation

7. The Sermon

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In this episode your 8:30 Crew Herman Hollywood Dawkins and Ray The Jazzman explore the R&B side of Jazz with songs that are typically known as associated with R&B groups or acts. You will be able to hear how the music genres of Gospel, the Blues, and Rhythm and Blues all share something in common.

Songs include :

1. The Sound Table - Cameo
2. Valdez In The Country - Donny Hathaway
3. Fight Me, Chase Me - Ohio Players
4. Everybody Loves The Sunshine - Roy Ayers Ubiquity
5. Summer Madness - Kool& The Gang
6. New World Symphony - East Wind & Fire
7. City, Country, City - War
8. A Pauper In Paradise 3rd Movement - Gino Vanelli
9. Contusion - Stevie Wonder

On the next jazz podcast, the 8:30 crew will dive into the music of smooth jazz artists who created the sounds that are played on radio stations throughout the country. Smooth jazz is a mellow, melodic genre that blends elements of jazz, R&B, and pop music. Known for its soothing rhythms and polished instrumentation, it often features saxophones, keyboards, and guitars. Musicians like David Sanborn, Bob James and Earl Klugh will be featured in this extended set so stay jazzed always!

1.Grover Washington Jr. "Mister Magic"

2.Earl Klugh & Bob James "Kari"

3.Chuck Mangione "Feels So Good"

4.David Sanborn & Bob James "More Than Just Friends"

5. Al Jarreau "Were In This Love Together"

6.Onaje Allan Gumbs "No Question"

7.George Benson "This Masquerade"

8.Michael Frank's "When Sly Calls"

9.Larry Carlton "Smiles & Smiles To Go"

10.Hollywood Dawkins "And Then There Was Hollywood"

11.Steve Swallow "Last Night"

Legendary Jean-Luc Ponty is a French jazz violinist and composer, renowned for his pioneering work in blending jazz improvisation with electronic music. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with a wide range of influential artists, including Frank Zappa, and has released numerous albums as a bandleader, pushing the boundaries of the violin in jazz and fusion. Ponty’s unique fusion of genres, innovative use of the electric violin, and mastery of complex harmonies have made him a key figure in both the jazz and progressive rock scenes.Songs Include:

1. Renaissance

2. Cosmic Messenger

3. Enigmatic Ocean Pt. II

4. Enigmatic Ocean Pt. III

5. Sunset Drive

6. A Taste Of Passion

7. The Gift Of Time

8. Individual Choice

9. Elephants In Love

The Yellowjackets and Spyro Gyra are both iconic jazz fusion bands that emerged in the late 1970s, but they represent distinct approaches to the genre. The Yellowjackets tend to blend complex harmonies and intricate rhythms with a more contemporary, experimental sound, often incorporating elements of funk and R&B into their music. In contrast, Spyro Gyra is known for its smoother, more accessible style, mixing jazz with elements of pop and Latin music, creating a more polished, radio-friendly sound. They have been together as a group for 50 years now still recording and touring extensively.