Trombonist Curtis Fuller with Sonny Buxton

Saxophonist Chris Potter with Chris Cortez

Harpist/Composer Carol Robbins with Melanie Berzon

Trumpeter/Composer Erik Jekabson with Chris Cortez

Riverwalk Jazz BBQ
Light the coals and crack open the cooler. Nothing says July like a barbecue on a lazy afternoon. The forecast may call for triple-digit temps or a passing shower. But whatever’s in store, The Jim Cullum Jazz Band swings their way through some of your favorite warm-weather classic American jazz tunes.

Feelin' The Spirit: The Luis Russel Story

Louis Armstrong: Memories & Reflections
Tune in for a selection memorable stories about Louis Armstrong from producer George Avakian; opera star Robert Merrill; Roger Glenn, son of Armstrong band member, Tyree Glenn; and former Armstrong band member Peanuts Hucko along with The Jim Cullum Jazz Band performing classic Armstrong tunes featuring performances with Nicholas Payton and Bob Barnard.

All The Cats Join In: Catherine Russel In Concert
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band keeps America’s rich jazz tradition alive with the rhythms of hot jazz, swing and the blues as they share the stage with their friend, pianist Dick Hyman and one-of-a-kind vocalist, Catherine Russell, whom jazz critic Nat Hentoff calls ‘the real deal.’

Anthony Brown’s Asian American Orchestra
Anthony Brown’s Asian American Orchestra presents "India & Africa: A Tribute to John Coltrane", recorded at Yoshi's in Oakland On April 21st, 2010.   Dr. Brown arranged these pieces and others for the Asian American Orchestra, augmented with local guest musicians performing on instruments from North Indian and West African musical traditions.  Recording engineer: Lee Brenkman.

Denise Moore and Then Some
Vocalist Denise Moore and Then Some celebrating the history of the most American of art forms...jazz.... in part two of a musical journey, recorded February 25th, 2010 at the Side Door Cabaret of the Palladium Theatre in St. Petersburg, Florida, with Billy Marcus, David Pate, Alejandro Arenas and Stephen Bucholtz. Recording engineers: Jim Bennett & Christopher Spatafora

Omar Sosa and the Afreecanos Quartet
Cuban Pianist Omar Sosa and the Afreecanos Quartet, recorded April 9th, 2010, at the Largo Cultural Center in Largo, Florida.  Sosa explores the African roots of traditional musics throughout the Diaspora, using modern jazz harmonies and the latest audio technology. With Marque Gilmore, Childo Tomas and Mola Sylla.
Recording engineer: Jim Bennett

Rhonda Benin and her Quartet
Vocalist Rhonda Benin and her Quartet, with "Jazz On The Soul Side," recorded at the Jazzschool in Berkeley on April 18th, 2010.  With Tammy L. Hall, Ron Belcher and Robert Rhodes. Recording engineer: Lee Brenkman.

Remembering Ray Smith

Charlie LaVere, Willie Bryant, Edwin J McEnelly, New York All Stars

Will Bradley, Maxine Sullivan, Sam Lanin

Deane Kincaide, Duke Ellington, Henry Lange, Turk Murphy

Saxophonist Illinois Jacquet
Illinois Jacquet performed on every continent and played before kings, queens, and presidents. In his long career, saxophonist Jacquet virtually personified the entire jazz tradition. In the early years, he played saxophone in the swing-era big bands of Count Basie, Lionel Hampton and Cab Calloway. And as a teenager, he became famous for his saxophone solo on "Flying Home" with Lionel Hampton's big band.

Bassist Milt Hinton
Double bassist Milt Hinton built his reputation on being one of the most versatile and consistent players in jazz. Over a thousand recordings feature his rhythmic handiwork. He played with all the greats, including Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, and the Count Basie Orchestra-and collected funny stories about every one of them. This program features vintage and contemporary recordings from Hinton's prolific career and interviews with Clark Terry, Dick Hyman, Rufus Reid and David Berger.

Duke Ellington: The Composer, Part 1
Perhaps the most prolific of America's composers, Duke Ellington (1899-1974) left a legacy of over a thousand compositions. Explore how Ellington intuitively used folkloric elements of the African-American experience to write pieces like "Black, Brown, and Beige" and "Echoes of Harlem" and discover how he used the sights and sounds around him as inspiration for works such as "Daybreak Express," "Sophisticated Ladies," and "Isfahan." Then learn how the blues figured prominently in his creations, and explore the genesis of favorite Ellington compositions. (Produced by Robert Levi.)

Duke Ellington: The Composer, Part 2
Pianist and composer Billy Strayhorn and Ellington maintained a long and prolific writing partnership, collaborating in an uncanny, almost telepathic fashion. Explore how Ellington and Strayhorn's compositional ideas pre-dated the bebop movement of the '40s. Then sit back as Strayhorn's compositions, "Take the 'A' Train," "Chelsea Bridge," and "Johnny Come Lately," and Ellington's unique writing habits take center stage. Not someone who wished to be categorized as a composer or just popular tunes, Ellington created ambitious extended works that pushed beyond category, including "Creole Rhapsody," "Black, Brown and Beige," "Afro-Bossa," and "Far East Suite."

Paquito D'Rivera's Third Stream
Musical polyglot Paquito D’Rivera offers Stravinsky, Brahms, and Bernstein in a jazz dialect. Clarinet, strings, percussion and two pianos accent his penchant for blurring European and African-American idioms, especially on his own hybrid work Fiddle Dreams. Hosted by Wynton Marsalis.

The Music of Gillespie and Puente
The vibrant sound of Latin jazz is rooted in the musical heritage of Dizzy Gillespie and ‘The Mambo King’ Tito Puente. Bassist Carlos Henriquez leads the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with conguero Giovanni Hidalogo and drummer Ignacio Berroa. Selections include Manteca, Ran Kan Kan, Oye Como Va and more. Hosted by Wendell Pierce.

Kings of Crescent City
Clap your hands and sway with the second line as the sons of the Crescent City pay tribute to the kings. Saxophonist Victor Goines with Troy Andrews (trumpet), Don Vappie (guitar), Jonathan Batiste (piano), Reginald Veal (bass) and Herlin Riley (drums) bring it back to their roots. Wycliffe “Pinecone” (he’s from Georgia, but that’s ok) Gordon provides the ‘tailgate’ trombone. Hosted by Wycliffe Gordon.

The Birth of Cool with the Bill Charlap Trio   
Bill Charlap belongs to the new class of cool.  With his trio and guests Frank Wess and Mary Stallings, Charlap revisits the stomping grounds of Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Lester Young.

Piano Jazz 30th Anniversary Special With Guest Host Murray Horowitz
What began as a series of modest, intimate musical conversations has become one of the most successful and longest running music programs in media history; and a national treasure trove documenting jazz greats, pop music giants, and cultural icons such as Dizzy Gillespie, Mary Lou Williams, Oscar Peterson, Elvis Costello, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, and Studs Terkel. Nobody could engage them more entertainingly than the divine, pioneering Ms. McPartland. Marian's friend and NPR veteran Murray Horwitz hosts this hour-long survey of three decades of great radio moments.

Ted Nash with guest host Christian McBride
Virtuoso reed man Ted Nash hails from a respected West Coast jazz family, but for the last ten years he has been heavily involved with Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.  He is also an art lover, and he brings along some of his latest tunes inspired by modern artists to this Piano Jazz session. Tunes include "Breakfast at Tiffany's," and Nash's tunes "Matisse" and "Pollock."

Romain Collin with guest host John Weber
Brilliant young pianist Romain Collin toured with both Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock while still a student at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. And since graduating he has jumped into writing original music on a sweeping, cinematic scale. Guest host Jon Weber welcomes Collin to Piano Jazz for a set including many original tunes by this exciting young pianist/composer.

Marian McPartland selects: Remembering John Bunch (d. March 30th, 2010)
Pianist John Bunch learned to arrange for big bands while held captive in a German POW camp during World War II. After returning stateside he worked with the likes of Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, and Benny Goodman, and was Tony Bennett's pianist for a number of years. He passed away earlier this year, and Piano Jazz remembers Bunch with this 1991 session. Bunch performs "Something to Live For," and duets with host Marian McPartland on "What is This Thing Called Love?"

Arturo Sandoval & Cyrus Chestnut
A mix-and-match of two sets from one weekend at the Kennedy Center, as trumpeter Sandoval rumbas Miami-style, and pianist Chestnut swings from spirituals to Soul Food.

Frank Wess & Terell Stafford Quintets
At the Kennedy Center Jazz Club, the Frank Wess Quintet features the NEA Jazz Master on tenor and flute, and trumpeter Terell Stafford. In Staffords group, Tim Warfield is the saxophonist, with Bruce Barth on piano.

LeeBop from the Detroit Jazz Festival
"Speed Ball," "Beehive" and more buzzing lips for trumpeter Lee Morgan (born July 10, 1938) from Dominick Farinacci and two co-horns - Brandon Lee and Jeremy Pelt.

Miguel Zenon, Vijay Iyer Groups at Newport
With their poll-winning CD’s Este Plena and Historicity, the saxophonist from Puerto Rico and the American-born pianist  of Indian parentage lead their groups in personal, new directions.

Claudia Acuña at Newport, and Duets from Branford Marsalis & Joey Calderazzo
Claudia arranges Chilean folksongs as jazz, on En Este Momento from Marsalis Music. The saxophonist and pianist stretch out together.