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Jazz with Marian McPartland
Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland
Mondays 2:06pm
Program Website: http://www.npr.org/programs/pianojazz/
For more than twenty years, legendary pianist Marian McPartland
has welcomed a stellar line-up of jazz artists for conversation and improvisation.
Fans say the show’s intimate style is “like listening in on
a conversation in someone’s living room." A Peabody Award-winning
program, Piano Jazz presents a forum for jazz legends and influential
performers as well as up-and-coming talents, who offer dynamic duets and
discuss their lives and music. McPartland has been honored with an NEA
American Jazz Master and received the ASCAP Lifetime Achievement Award
and the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Award for her contributions to
jazz.
June 30
Stephane Grappelli
Piano Jazz celebrates the centennial of Stephane Grappelli, one of the
jazz world's greatest violinists. Grappelli first found fame in France
with Django Reinhart's Quintette du Hot Club. He went on to an illustrious
career playing with everyone from Oscar Peterson to Paul Simon to Yo Yo
Ma. In this encore program, the always elegant and ever witty Grappelli
joins McPartland on "Pennies from Heaven" before showing off
his keyboard skills on a piano duet of "Anything Goes."
Piano Jazz listeners participated in an online
poll to choose 14 classic programs for the summer. These shows from the
Piano Jazz archives feature
artists from Bill Evans and Dizzy Gillespie to Herbie Hancock and Norah
Jones. A schedule of all new programs will begin in October.
July 7
Bill Evans
Pianist Bill Evans is a giant of jazz piano and one of McPartland's first
Piano Jazz guests in 1979. On this program, the usually quiet and reserved
musical genius opens up about his approach and philosophy. Evans solos
on one of his most famous tunes, "Waltz for Debbie," and joins
McPartland for a piano duet of "In Your Own Sweet Way."
July 14
Ray Charles
Ray Charles was one of those rare musicians whose music transcended genre
and category. His unique approach integrated the various strains of American
popular music, from jazz and blues to western swing and rock and roll.
On this encore program, Charles demonstrates his trademark style, performing
a rollicking version of "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" before
joining McPartland for "The Man I Love."
July 21
Sarah Vaughan
The Divine One, Sarah Vaughan, possessed one of the legendary voices
in jazz. With a multi-octave range and a luscious, supple sound, she
was celebrated by critics, fans, and fellow musicians alike. In this
encore program, Vaughan's lively and sassy personality is on display
along with her amazing vocals. She accompanies herself on "East
of the Sun"
and McPartland joins in on "My Funny Valentine."
July 28
Dizzy Gillespie
The name Dizzy perfectly described the playful personality and adventurous
musical style of John Birks Gillespie -- one of the most celebrated jazz
musicians of the 20th century. In this encore presentation, Gillespie
talks about the origin of the term bebop and how he came to love Cuban
music. McPartland performs an impromptu musical "Portrait of Diz"
and the two get together for Gillespie's composition "A Night In
Tunisia."
August 4
Diana Krall
Singer/pianist Diana Krall is one of the true superstars in the music
world today. The amazing performer has brought a new energy to the jazz
scene and new fans to the music. Krall made her first appearance on Piano
Jazz in 1995, just as her career was about to take off. Performances include
Krall's versions of "I've Got the World on a String" and "I'm
a Lucky So and So."
August 11
Mel Tormé
Mel Tormé was a man of many talents -- singer, composer, lyricist,
drummer, arranger, producer and actor. Of course, it was his distinctive,
mellow voice that earned him the nickname "the Velvet Fog."
On this encore program, Tormé performs his own tunes "Stranger
In Town" and "Born to Be Blue," and other favorites including
"Dream Dancing" and "Time After Time."
August 18
Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock is one of the most influential players and composers on
the modern jazz scene. A true innovator and ardent explorer, Hancock's
musical ideas have pushed boundaries and transcended musical genres. In
an encore program, Hancock solos on his own tune "Dolphin Dance,"
then joins McPartland for "That Old Black Magic."
August 25
Norah Jones
Norah Jones is one of the most popular musicians in the world today. Her
soulful vocals and her love of jazz standards were on display when she
joined McPartland at the 2003 Tanglewood Jazz Festival. The sold-out crowd
enjoyed Jones' version of Ellington's "Meloncholia," for which
she wrote new lyrics, as well as duets of "Walkin My Baby Back Home"
and "Summertime."
September 1
Ahmad Jamal
Ever since his 1958 live album from Chicago's Pershing Lounge, Ahmad Jamal
has been recognized as a major force in jazz. In this encore program,
Jamal reprises two signature pieces from that session when he duets with
McPartland on "Poinciana" and "But Not for Me." He
also demonstrates his artistry as a composer, soloing on his own tune
"Without You."
September 8
Tony Bennett
The quintessential American crooner, Tony Bennett is known throughout
the world for his mellow tenor voice and swinging bel canto style. Bennett
talks about his love of painting, his favorite songwriters, and the significance
of American popular song on this encore program. He and McPartland perform
"Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams," "All of Me," and other
favorites.
September 15
McCoy Tyner
Inventive composer and pianist McCoy Tyner is perhaps most famous for
creating the lavish harmonies and percussive piano lines heard on some
of John Coltrane's most famous recordings. He has also had a successful
career as a leader with his own McCoy Tyner Trio. Tyner puts his prodigious
technique to work on "Lazy Bird" and McPartland gets on board
for a driving duet of "Take The A Train."
September 22
Henry Mancini
Composer Henry Mancini penned some of the most memorable tunes of our
time, including classics like "Peter Gunn" and the "Theme
to the Pink Panther." On this enocre program, Mancini talks about
being inspired by the movie screen, and duets with McPartland on "Days
of Wine and Roses" and "Baby Elephant Walk."
September 29
Chick Corea
Corea has been a major force in creative music for nearly 40 years. His
inventive improvisations and musical ideas have made him one of the most
important figures in modern jazz. On this encore program recorded at Corea's
Madhatter studio, McPartland and Chick introduce an electronic element
into Piano Jazz, as McPartland plays the Fender Rhodes and Corea plays
his KX5 synthesizer on "Crystal Silence."
October 6
Nancy Wilson
Nancy Wilson has had a brilliant career as a singer/song stylist, recording
over 60 albums and moving effortlessly between jazz, pop, and R&B.
Wilson has also appeared on numerous television programs, including an
Emmy award-winning variety show. Most recently, Wilson hosted NPR's Jazz
Profiles. She joins McPartland to swap stories and sing songs, including
"Easy Living" and "The Nearness of You."
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