Monday, July 8
Night Train marks birthday of jump blues great Louis Jordan and singer and pioneering bebop big band leader Billy Eckstine (included in a special on bebop big bands in hour two of the show). Plus more cool jazz for the July feature, including music from a classic set from Chet Baker, and new music from singer Catherine Russell, bassist Pete Coco, and saxophonist Branford Marsalis.
Tuesday, July 9
Not quite 76, but lots of trombones tonight on the Night Train – including (for the July feature) J.J. Johnson who was part of the original Birth of the Cool sessions, along with music from Roswell Rudd (both with Steve Lacy and from his album Trombone for Lovers), Curtis Fuller, Delfeayo Marsalis, Conrad Herwig, and Wycliffe Gordon. Plus music from singer Kevin Mahogany, guitarist George Freeman, and saxophonist Arthur Blythe.
Wednesday, July 10
Hard bop trumpeter and composer Lee Morgan and banjo master Bela Fleck are the featured birthday artists tonight on the Night Train. We’ll hear music from both in hour one, plus a Savannah Music Festival concert special with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones in hour two of the show. Also more cool jazz for the July feature – this time from Miles Davis and Chris Connor – and the latest from Art ‘Turk’ Burton, the Cory Weeds Quintet, and two rising stars from Cuba, Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito Martinez, in a Duologue.
Thursday, July 11
Night Train continues the July Birth of the Cool 70th Anniversary feature with music from one of the key figures from those original sessions, Gerry Mulligan, along with cool alto saxophonist Paul Desmond. Plus birthday salutes to Carol Morgan and Tomasz Stanko (including a special about him in hour two of the show), along with music from Dave Frishberg, Bob Dorough, and John Scofield (with special guest Mavis Staples, the featured artist on Crossroads throughout this month in celebration of her 80th birthday).
