Monday, February 22
Night Train pays tribute to musician, composer, arranger, band leader and Fania Records co-founder Johnny Pacheco with guest appearances he made with jazz artists McCoy Tyner, Erroll Garner, Herbie Mann, Shirley Scott, and George Benson. We also remember Chick Corea with a selection from a recent reunion album he did with drummer Steve Gadd and with one of his compositions performed by Trio da Paz. Night Train also marks birthdays of Texas Tenor Buddy Tate, and trumpeter and NEA Jazz Master Joe Wilder; highlights new music from Eddie Henderson, Charlie Apicella, Hendrik Meurkens, and Monty Alexander; and continues the February New Orleans feature with music from Kermit Ruffins, James Andrews, and Poncho Sanchez.
Tuesday, February 23
Not quite 76, but still lots of trombones tonight on the Night Train – including the Crescent City’s Delfeayo Marsalis, trombone pioneer J.J. Johnson, the eclectic Roswell Rudd (both with Steve Lacy and from his own album Trombone for Lovers), veteran Curtis Fuller, the Latin Jazz side Conrad Herwig, and modern master Wycliffe Gordon.
Wednesday, February 24
Lots of Ray Charles related music tonight on the Night Train with covers of his famous songs from Amy Cervini and the Flying Horse Big Band (from their new Charles tribute album), a composition from New Orleans clarinetist and jazz educator Alvin Batiste inspired by the interstitial music played during Charles’s performances, and most especially, to mark the birthday of one of the great musicians to come out of his bands, music and a special in hour two with saxophonist David ‘Fathead’ Newman. Also birthday salutes to Michel LeGrand and Papo Vasquez, and new music from Doug Webb and Lisa Hilton.
Thursday, February 25
Night Train joins in with Global Village and Strange Currency tonight to mark the birthday of George Harrison. We’ll hear Harrison and other Beatles covers in hour one from guitarists Steve Kahn, Anthony Wilson and John Scofield, Chick Corea with Gary Burton, Joel Harrison, Organissimo, and Bela Fleck & the Flecktones in hour one, and a Beatles Jazz Songbook special in hour two of the show.
