Monday, April 29
Night Train begins a week long tribute to vibes player Dave Samuels who passed away last week, including music he did early in his career as a member of Spyro Gyra, and highlights music from a number of artists who will be performing in the big International Jazz Day Concert tomorrow. (More info at jazzday.com, including the free video stream of the event). Plus more music from April featured artist Stanley Turrentine and birthday salutes to Ray Barretto, Willie Nelson, and Duke Ellington (including a special focused on his breakthrough early work at the Cotton Club in hour two of the show).
Tuesday, April 30
Night Train marks the birthday of bassist, composer, and Modern Jazz Quartet member Percy Heath with music he did with MJQ and as part of the Heath Brothers (with siblings Jimmy and Albert), contines a week-long long salute to Dave Samuels with music he did with baritone sax legend Gerry Mulligan, and wraps up the April Stanley Turrentine feature with a Blue Note classic and later release, along with a Jazz Profiles special about his life and music in hour two of the show.
Wednesday, May 1
Night Train marks birthdays of singer Big Maybelle, singer and pianist Shirley Horn, and award-winning trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire (including a special featuring him in hour two of the show). Plus the week-long tribute to vibes and marimba player Dave Samuels continues with music from one of his solo releases, and Night Train kicks off the May International Drum Month feature with music from drummers Steve Gadd, jack Kirby, and Allison Miller.
Thursday, May 2
Night Train marks birthdays of organists Eddy Louiss and Groove Holmes, and lyricist Lorenz Hart who wrote so many of the classics of the Great American Songbook with Richard Rodgers. The drum and percussion month feature continues with music from vibes player Tyler Blanton, legendary drummer Max Roach, and vibes and timbales player and Latin Jazz legend Tito Puente (including a Jazz Profiles special featuring Tito in hour two of the show). And Night Train wraps up a week-long tribute to vibes player Dave Samuels, who passed away last week, with music from his Caribbean Jazz Project group and one of his earliest appearances on record, as part of the band with baritone saxophone great Gerry Mulligan.
