What a dream to have percussionist and bandleader Daniel Villarreal live on WDET during In The Groove.

I was first introduced to Villarreal’s music via a friend in Chicago, where Villarreal and his band call home. After popping on my headphones, going for a long walk and listening to Villarreal’s excellent ‘Panamá 77’ album, I was hooked. The plot on how I could get him to Detroit to perform began!

Thankfully, our friends at Moondog Café solved that issue, booking Villarreal for a live set at their new venue.

And ahead of that performance in Detroit, Villarreal brought the band by the studio to perform a handful of tracks, including “Traveling With” (from his 2023 effort ‘Lados B’), the unreleased song “Bakers Dozen,” “Sunset Cliffs” (another ‘Lados B’ cut) plus “I Didn’t Expect That” from ‘Panamá 77.’

You’ll also hear an interview with Villarreal about his time playing in punk bands in Panama and how that translates to the abstract jazz he plays today.

Hear the performance and interview using the audio player above.

Keep up with Villarreal’s music at danielvillarrealmusic.com.

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

New Orleans native, now Los Angeles-based, drummer and producer Taylor Gordon aka The Pocket Queen brings us this week’s pick on The Progressive Underground. Heavily influenced by jazz/funk and acts like Earth, Wind & Fire and the Doobie Brothers, she became an internet sensation as her highly creative and energetic videos created a buzz on social media.

Gordon has caught the attention of musicians around the nation and performed with several prominent artists including Robert Glasper, Stevie Wonder, Musiq Soulchild and Beyoncé. Her performance aesthetic and style have drawn comparisons to Anderson Paak, with many pundits calling her the female version of him. Let’s listen to a recent single release from her as we sample the track “Good Vibes”— my Pick of the Week.

That was The Pocket Queen with “Good Vibes” from her upcoming album “Introducing: Pocket Queen and the Royal Flush”.

If you dig cuts like this one, make sure you tune into The Progressive Underground every Saturday evening at 6p.m. on 101.9 WDET and wdet.org, where we take you on a global journey through the worlds of future soul, deep house, nu-jazz, b-sides and rare grooves. For The Progressive Underground, my name is Chris Campbell. We’ll see you next time.

More from The Progressive Underground:

• Snoh Aalegra, the cinematic songstress who feels every note
• Pick of the Week (Mar. 15): ‘Society’s Man’ by Spiral Deluxe
• ‘Control’ is Janet Jackson’s Declaration of Independence

This week’s pick is from one of Detroit’s most iconic figures in electronic music. 

Jeff Mills, whose most recent music excursions have revealed a transformative music journey — leaning into his jazzier instincts and pushing the boundaries of electronic fusion. 

He founded a group called Spiral Deluxe, a super-group level electronic jazz quartet comprised of legendary keyboardist Gerald Mitchell (Underground Resistance/ Los Hermanos), Japanese rocker Yumiko Ohno (Buffalo Daughter/Cornelius) on Moog synthesizer and the Japanese bassist, adopted New Yorker, Kenji “Jino” Hino — son of Terumasa Hino, the world famous jazz trumpeter.

This dedicated band of musicians are committed to making music that stretches the boundaries of jazz and electronic fusion. They are set to release a new album later this week titled, “The Love Pretender,” and we’ll hear the cut “Society’s Man” — my Pick of the Week — from that upcoming release.

If you dig experimental tracks like these, tune into The Progressive Underground every Saturday evening at 6 p.m. on 101.9 WDET and wdet.org, where we take you on a global musical excursion of discovery, fascination and deep grooves.  For the Progressive Underground, I’m Chris Campbell, we’ll see you next time.

More from The Progressive Underground:

• ‘Control’ is Janet Jackson’s Declaration of Independence
• The Progressive Underground Pick of the Week (March 10): ‘Cold & Lonely’ by sillygirlcarmen and Hallex M
• Tears for Fears’ sonic manifesto of the 1980s turns 40