Monday, August 10
Night Train kicks off the week with a celebration of a number of jazz birthdays including saxophonist Arnett Cobb, composer Claude Thornhill, organist Trudy Pitts (with a young Pat Martino), retro singer Roberta Donnay, and also vocalist Patti Austin (featured on a new Ella Fitzgerald album and in a special in hour two of the show). Plus new music from the 3D Jazz Trio (from the Diva Jazz Orchestra), the Duchess vocal group, Brent Jensen (with a tribute to Paul Desmond) and a final album from Latin jazz percussion great Ray Mantilla.
Tuesday, August 11
Night Train hosts a ‘tenor battle’ tonight – highlighting both classic and contemporary tenor saxophonists. We’ll hear music from John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Houston Person, Michael Brecker and more. The August Charlie Parker Centennial feature continues with Bird compositions performed by tenor players Donny McCaslin and Stan Getz. And there’s new music from vibes player Christian Tamburr, pianist Errol Garner (from the on-going Octave reissue series), pianist Larry Willis (from his final recording sessions) and a previously unreleased album from Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.
Wednesday, August 12
Night Train celebrates Pat Metheny’s birthday with a program devoted entirely to his music. We’ll hear the famed guitarist as a leader, working with Charlie Haden, Joshua Redman, Marc Johnson, Gary Burton, Brad Mehldau, Roy Haynes, Cassandra Wilson, and Jim Hall, and in covers of his songs from the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet and flutist Holly Hofmann.
Thursday, August 13
Night Train marks birthdays of two accomplished jazz pianists – Mulgrew Miller and George Shearing. We’ll also hear new music from flutist Gerald Beckett and an exploration of varieties of blues from Swingadelic. And in conjunction with the August Charlie Parker Centennial feature we’ll hear music from Bird with Dizzy Gillespie and a special about the two of them and the creation of bebop in hour two of the show.
