[JPL] "under the radar" jazz discs

[McWilliams, Robert C]

I'm curious to see what other programmers think of (if if you have even listened to) some discs that I think are very fine, but arrived here with little or no promotional fanfare (and that I am not seeing, for the most part, in the charts).  I'm always checking out new releases from Origin and OA2, which often have little known players but really good music. Ditto those from Positone. Anyhow, I've been digging and playing recent discs from Ben Markely, Ken Fowser/Behn Gillece, Antnony Branker & Ascent, and Thomas Marriott. I also try to track down good young artists via gigs or myspace, which led me to getting a disc by The Wee Trio (which I think is quite impressive), the latest Geoff Keezer, discs in the past from the likes of Jaleel Shaw and Walter Smith III. Anyone else actually go out and "pursue" new music? I know with all that just shows up, that can be daunting, but if artists know you already dig their music, they usually are amenable to getting one an air copy even if they aren't doing a general mailing. 
 
Just thought I'd talk about something different than how one spins the upcoming conference! 
 
Bob McWilliams
Kansas Public Radio