Monday, May 18
Night Train marks birthdays of Kansas City great Big Joe Turner, vibes player Christian Tamburr, trombonist Kai Winding, and pianist Jim McNeely. We’ll also hear music from May featured artists Peggy Lee and John Lewis (with the Modern Jazz Quartet), and the latest from alto saxophonists Vincent Herring, Bobby Watson and Gary Bartz (celebrating Charlie Parker’s centennial later this year), harmonica and vibes player Hendrik Meurkens, pianist and composer Lisa Hilton, vocalist Kat Edmonson, the Kenny Barron/Dave Holland Trio, and the Calle Loiza Jazz Project doing new Latin arrangements of jazz classics.
Tuesday, May 19
Night Train marks birthdays of Sonny Fortune, Kyle Eastwood, Allen Farnham and Cecil McBee (including a special in hour two featuring an interview with McBee and a Tulsa concert performance with an all-star cast including George Cables, Billy Hart and Bryan Lynch). Plus more music from May featured artists John Lewis and Peggy Lee, and new guitar releases from Kansas City’s Guitar Elation and John Stein.
Wednesday, May 20
Night Train marks birthdays of veteran drummer Victor Lewis, jazz bagpiper Rufus Harley, and both with recent releases- singer Carmen Souza and drummer Ferenc Nemeth. Plus more from May featured artists Peggy Lee (with music she did for the Disney film, Lady and the Tramp) and John Lewis (a classic composition, solo project, and guest appearance with Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz and Sonny Stitt). We’ll also hear new music from Chanda Rule + Sweet Emma Band, Harold Mabern, Robby Ameen, Jim Snidero, and Michael Dease.
Thursday, May 21
Night Train marks birthdays of musician, composer and arranger Bill Holman (including a Grammy nominated song he did with May featured artist Peggy Lee), West Coast drummer Laurance Marable, bassist Joe Byrd, and stride piano master Fats Waller (including a special in hour two featuring lesser known Waller recordings). We’ll also hear new music from pianist Tim Ray (with a jazz reinterpretation of a Rolling Stones classic), saxophonist Christopher Hollyday (with his first new recording in 25 years), and tenor men Jeff Rupert and George Garzone.
