Monday, May 25
Night Train celebrations Memorial Day with two special programs from the premier Air Force jazz ensemble, the Airmen of Note. In hour one, we’ll hear the band with special guest Karrin Allyson, one of today’s top jazz vocalists and an artist who got her start in Kansas City. In hour two, the special guest is one of today’s finest Latin jazz artists – saxophonist, clarinetist and Irakere co-founder Paquito D’Rivera.
Tuesday, May 26
Night Train marks the centennial birthday today of May featured artist Peggy Lee with some key tracks from across her career in hour one and a special in hour two that focuses on Lee as a songwriter. There’s also music from Miles Davis for his birthday, the latest release in the Erroll Garner Octave Records reissue series, and new albums from the Joshua Jern Jazz Orchestra and trumpeter Jeremy Pelt.
Wednesday, May 27
Tonight on the Night Train we’ll hear music from singer Dee Dee Bridgewater (including an interview and special in hour two of the show), saxophonist Bud Shank, bassist Niels Henning Orsted Pederson, and pianist Marc Copland, all born on this date – along with music from the Modern Jazz Quartet (with May featured artist John Lewis), a tribute to guitarist and organist Lucky Peterson, and the latest from Church on Monday and Idle Hands.
Thursday, May 28
Night Train wraps up this broadcast week with birthday salutes to blues and electric guitar legend T-Bone Walker, West Coast pianist Russ Freeman, the late Brazilian trumpeter Claudio Roditi, and guitarist and songwriting partner of May featured artist Peggy Lee, Dave Barbour. Plus new music from trumpeters Thomas Marriott and John Sneider, pianist Michael Wolff, vocalist Kandace Springs, and Brent Jensen (with a 19th anniversary reissue of his album in tribute to Brubeck Quartet saxophonist Paul Desmond).
