Monday, January 30
Night Train marks birthdays of drummers Lewis Nash and Jerry Granelli, and also of guitarist Frank Vignola (featured in concert special in hour two of the show). Plus the latest releases from the Metropolitan Jazz Octet, Greg Abate, Monty Alexander, and Wallace Roney.
Tuesday, January 31
We have two New Year Eve specials tonight. In hour one, it’s a Night Lights New Year’s Eve Jam with jazz and spoken word performances from Charlie Parker, Slim Gaillard, Ken Nordine and more to see out the old year and ring in the new. And though we will only be an hour away from 2020, in hour two of the show we go back 90 years for a 1929 New Year’s Eve Festival featuring classic jazz of the Twenties from the likes of Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Fletcher Henderson, Bessie Smith, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and more.
Wednesday, January 1
Night Train kicks off the new year with music from some artists born on January 1st – vocalist Susannah McCorkle, Latin jazz bassist Andy Gonzalez (with his brother Jerry and the Fort Apache Band), and also vibes legend Milt Jackson (with Ray Brown, Oscar Peterson, and the Modern Jazz Quartet – MJQ will also be featured in a special in hour two of the show). There’s also a new take on the music of West Side Story from Ted Nash, a new album from vibes player Lolly Allen, and a big band tribute to the Allman Brothers Band.
Thursday, Jaunary 2
It’s bari-madness tonight on the Night Train, as the show features legends and rising stars of the baritone saxophone. We’ll hear music from Gerry Mulligan, Nick Brignola, Gary Smulyan, Ronnie Cuber, and Hamiett Bluiett (with the World Saxophone Quartet); new releases from Paul Nedzela and Baritone Madness; bari players featured with Al Foster, Lioness, Bill O’Connell & the Afro Caribbean Ensemble, and the Dan Pugach Nonet; and also great baritone vocalist, Everett Greene.
