Monday, February 15
Night Train marks Presidents’ Day with music from “Pres” (Lester Young) and from the Presidential Suite project from Ted Nash. In conjunction with the February New Orleans feature, Night Train marks the birthday of Crescent City drummer Herlin Riley (heard here as a leader and with Ahmad Jamal – and also the featured artist next Monday on Global Village at the Savannah Music Festival). It’s also the birthday of composer Harold Arlen and we’ll hear his work performed by Abbey Lincoln and Red Garland in hour one, and in performances from contemporary artists in a special in hour two of the show. Plus Critics’ Poll Winners The Royal Bopsters, and the latest from guitarists Peter Bernstein and Dave Stryker.
Tuesday, February 16
It’s Fat Tuesday and Night Train celebrates with Crescent City sounds from New Orleans High Society, Cubanismo in New Orleans, Grammy-nominee Jon Batiste, Astral Project and Donald Harrison in hour one and a special highlighting early Mardi Gras jazz from New Orleans in hour two of the show. We also remember saxophonist Jeff Clayton and composer Alec Wilder, who were both born on this date.
Wednesday, February 17
Night Train features some soul jazz, past and present, tonight including music from Gene Ammons, the Godfathers of Groove, Lou Donaldson, Sonny Stitt, Dave Styrker, the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective, the Soul Message Band, and Tony Monaco. Plus vocalists Mary Stallings and Tierney Sutton, and Monty Alexander’s tribute to the club that helped launch his career.
Thursday, February 18
It's a special edition of Night Train as we pay tribute to legendary jazz pianist Chick Corea, who passed away last week at the age of 79, with selections spanning his six-decade-long and diverse career. We’ll hear early Latin jazz recordings with Mongo Santamaria and Cal Tjader, his pioneering fusion recordings with Miles Davis and Return to Forever, duo projects with Gary Burton and Bela Fleck, and his last two recordings – the Grammy nominated Trilogy 2 and the Chick Corea Plays album that explored the intersection of standards and classical music. Plus a special in hour two devoted to his later acoustic and electric releases.
