Monday, July 20
Night Train highlights singers tonight, including vocalese greats Lambert, Hendricks & Ross and King Pleasure, rising star Jazzmeia Horn, Virginia Schenck (with a tribute to another legendary vocalist, Abbey Lincoln), popular performer Diana Krall, and NEA Jazz Master Bob Dorough. Also tonight Latin jazz from Ray Mantilla, soul jazz from organist Akiko Tsuruga, and classic tracks from Herbie Mann, Freddie Hubbard, Eddie Harris, and Duke Pearson.
Tuesday, July 21
Night Train marks birthdays of singer Helen Merrill and hard bop pianist and Blue Note stalwart Sonny Clark; highlights new releases from the Ella 100 tribute concert, and pianists Larry Willis and Erroll Garner; and for the Savannah Music Festival Week (in conjunction with the July Summer Festival Month feature), it’s a performance tonight from guitarist Randy Napoleon.
Wednesday, July 22
Night Train marks birthdays of guitarists Al DiMeola, Joshua Breakstone and Jimmy Bruno, bassist Keter Betts (with Ella Fitzgerald and on a groundbreaking bossa nova record with Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd), and soul jazz organist Don Patterson. And Savannah Music Festival Week continues in hour two of the show with a performance from singer Catherine Russell (also heard in hour one with a new song she’s done as a benefit for the Jazz Foundation’s Covid Fund to aid musicians).
Thursday, July 23
Night Train marks birthdays of singer Janis Siegel (solo and with Manhattan Transfer), saxophonist Steve Lacy, and vibes player Khan Jamal; highlights new music from pianist Tim Ray and saxophonist Lekecia Benjamin (with at tribute to Alice and John Coltrane); and wraps up Savannah Music Festival Week in hour two with a “Battle Royale,” an old-fashioned jazz contest on stage between the Marcus Roberts Trio and the Clayton Brothers.
