Strong Solos, Vol. 1

There's nothing like a good instrumental solo—that moment when a lone player stands in the spotlight and takes the helm, leading the band in an uncharted direction. On the first edition of Strong Solos, Kirk takes apart a few of his favorite solos, which a special focus on players who use motivic development, also known as theme and variations.

SOLOS FEATURED:

Eric Shenkman on "Two Princes" by Spin Doctors from Pocket Full of Kryptonite, 1991
Sonny Rollins on "St. Thomas" from Saxophone Colossus, 1956
Joe Morello on "Take Five" by Paul Desmond/The Dave Brubeck Quartet from Time Out, 1959
Chris Potter on "Janie Runaway" by Steely Dan from Two Against Nature, 2000

ALSO DISCUSSED:

Excerpts from multiple previous episodes of Strong Songs
“Sponger Money,” traditional Bahamian folk song, from Goombay - the Folk Songs of the Bahamas by George Symonette
"Symphony No. 5" by Ludwig van Beethoven, 1804-08, performed by the London Philharmonic

OUTRO SOLOIST: Steve Pardo

This episode's outro soloist is the one and only Steve Pardo. Steve is a Nashville, TN based producer, composer, and saxophonist. You can find out more at his website: https://www.stevepardo.com/

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MAY 2022 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS

Patrick – Sean D. Winnie – Daniel Hannon-Barry – RR Prince M. Levy-Benitez – Elliot Rosen – Ashley Hoag – Mark and Michelle – Kelsair – Rob Bosworth – Donald Mackie – Melissa Osborne – Christopher Miller – Jamie White – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joshua Jarvis – Niko – Joe Laska – Laurie Acreman – Ken Hirsh – Jez – Melanie Andrich – Jenness Gardner – Simon Cammell – Guinevere Boostrom – Narelle Horn – Bill Rosinger – Erin – Aidan Coughlan – Jeanneret Manning Family Four – Doug Paton – Dave Sharpe – Sami Samhuri – AccessViolation – Ryan Torvik – Glenn – Jim Chokey – Andre Bremer – Mark Schechter – Dave Florey

MAY 2022 HALF-NOTE PATRONS

Ken Is Wearing a Hat – Tony – Jordan Block – Aaron Wade – Michael Flaherty – Chad Hivner – Travis Pollard – Jeff Ulm – Jeff Newman – Jamie – Max Dickstein – Deebs – Portland Eye Care – Adam Ray – Anupama Raghavan – Demetri Detsaridis – Carrie Schneider – Alenka Grealish – Anne Gerry – Richard Sneddon – David Judson – Julian Roleff – Janice Berry – Doreen Carlson – Mtwolf – David McDarby – Abigail Duffield – Rapha David – Wendy Gilchrist – Lisa Turner – Paul Wayper – Dennis M. Edwards – Jeffrey Ferris – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jungben – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Jason Reitman – Greg Burgess – Ailie Fraser – Paul McGreal – Karen Arnold – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Phino DeLeon – Schloss Edward J., MD – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W – Kelli Brockington – Stephen Rawlings – Ben Machta – Victoria Yu – Kevin Rivers – Brad Clark – Christopher – Michael J. Cunningham – Mark Boggs – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – Sarah – David Joske – Emma Sklar – Bernard Khoo – David Blackman – Robert Heuer – Matthew Golden – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Richard Cambier – Madeleine Mader – Timothy Dougherty – Jason Pratt – Stewart Oak – Caroline Miller – Abbie Berg – Sam Norton – Nicole Schleicher – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Olivia Bishop – John Gisselquist – Elaine Martin – Kouroth – Bonnie Prinsen – Sharon Tree – Belinda McGrath-Steer – Liz Seger – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Pete Simm – Susan Plein – Dallas Hockley – Jana J – Jason Gerry – Nathan Gouwens – Will Dwyer – Alethea Lee – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Cookies250 – Spencer Shirley – Damian Brady – Angela Livingstone – Jeffy Thanadros – David Friedman – Sarah Sulan – Diane Hughes – Kenneth Tiong – Jo Sutherland – Michael Casner – Barb Courtney – Derek Bender – Jen Small – Lowell Meyer – Etele Illes – Stephen Tsoneff – Lorenz Schwarz – Wen – Jack Sjogren – Geoff Golden – Robyn Fraser – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – JC – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Tijs Soete – Mark Perry – Dhu Wik – Mel – Eric Helm – Jake Roberts – Bill Fuller – Steven Maron – Michael Flaherty – Jarrod Schindler – Caro Field – Michael Bochner – Duncan – Naomi Watson – David Cushman – Alexander – Chris K – Gavin Doig – Sam Fenn – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Matt Gaskell – Jules Bailey – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Mueller – Nate from Kalamazoo – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Earl Lozada – Jon O’Keefe – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Kevin Morrell – Kevin Pennyfeather – Emily Williams

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💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺
July 11, 2026 | Portland, OR
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