Gil Scott-Heron - Lady Day & John Coltrane

Tonight is SFJAZZ Hotplate inside the Joe Henderson Lab at the SFJAZZ Center. As mentioned in my last post, this month's show will feature Bay Area vocalist Scheherazade Stone singing the music of the late Gil Scott-Heron. Before the live music begins, I will be spinning some of Gil Scott-Heron's best-known tracks, as well as a heavy dose of righteous soul jazz gems.

To help pay tribute to the legendary poet, musician and activist here is one of my favorite all-time tracks by the legendary artist in "Lady Day And John Coltrane". This uplifting soulful cut was featured on Scott-Heron's classic 1971 album Pieces of a Man. Like the title suggests, the song pays tribute to jazz great's Billie Holiday, John Coltrane and how listening to their music can help those going through tough times, a powerful message in the early seventies. Overall, just one of the many amazing tracks written and recorded by arguably one of the most influential and important singer/songwriters to have come out of America in the second half of the last century.

Gil Scott-Heron - Lady Day And John Coltrane