For more than twenty years, legendary pianist Marian McPartland has welcomed a stellar line-up of jazz artists for conversation and improvisation on her Peabody Award-winning program. Piano Jazz fans say the show's intimate style is "like listening in on a conversation in someone's living room." And no one but McPartland, with her engaging personality and improvisational savvy, could host such a variety of performers in her radio "living room."

Piano Jazz is a forum for jazz legends and influential performers as well as up-and-coming talents. Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, Diana Krall, Max Roach, Cassandra Wilson and Tony Bennett are among the over 400 guests who have joined McPartland to create dynamic duets and discuss their lives and music.

Tune into this graceful series each week and enjoy what The Washington Post calls "an oasis of intelligence and grace and probably the best hour of jazz on the airwaves."

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March 27 - Jimmy McPartland

Jimmy McPartland was one of the great cornet players from the early jazz era and is the late husband of Marian McPartland. Piano Jazz celebrates the jazz legend's centennial with a special concert from the Danny Kaye Playhouse at the 2007 JVC Jazz Festival. Host McPartland gathered a group of Jimmy's former bandmates for an hour of traditional jazz music.

 

April 3 - Renee Rosnes at Tanglewood

Pianist Renee Rosnes joins Marian McPartland on stage for the sixth annual Piano Jazz concert from the 2007 Tanglewood Jazz Festival. The two take turns quizzing each other and trade piano performances with bassist Todd Coolman. McPartland and Rosnes play together on "In A Mellow Tone" and "Swingin 'Till the Girls Come Home."

 

April 10 - Lionel Hampton

Piano Jazz celebrates the centennial of vibraphonist Lionel Hampton. A historic figure in many ways, "Hamp" is credited with establishing the vibes as a jazz instrument, being a part of Benny Goodman's first racially integrated jazz group, and helping to launch the careers of Quincy Jones, Wes Montgomery, and Clark Terry. In this program from the archives, Hampton plays classics "Flying Home," and "Mack the Knife."

 

April 17 - Chuck Leavell

Pianist Chuck Leavell has played for some of the shining stars of rock and jazz, but his most enduring gig has been as pianist and music coordinator for the Rolling Stones. In addition to his piano playing, Leavell is also an accomplished tree farmer. He and McPartland discuss their love of the environment and celebrate Leavell's southern heritage with "Georgia on My Mind."

 

April 24 - Bobby Broom

At age sixteen, guitarist Bobby Broom was recruited by Sonny Rollins. Since then, he's been dazzling listeners and fellow musicians with his well-honed technique and innovative style. His love of jazz flows through his fingers and resonates on his six strings, as he solos on his own tune "Coming Home," before joining bassist Gary Mazzarroppi and McPartland for "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Donna Lee."

 

May 1 - Veronica Nunn with Travis Shook

Vocalist Veronica Nunn grew up in Little Rock, AR, absorbing all kinds of music, from jazz to funk to gospel. When she moved to New York in 1978, she split her time between Harlem's jazz clubs and the Theology department at Lehman College. Now a full-time jazz singer and accompanied by her pianist husband, Travis Shook, Nunn demonstrates her soulful touch on "One Note Samba" and "I'm Old Fashioned."

 

May 8 - Larry Vuckovich

Pianist Larry Vuckovich hails from Yugoslavia, where he studied classically until Armed Forces Radio turned him into an ardent jazz fan. He launched his jazz career in San Francisco in 1960 and has since carried his evocative and elegant music around the world. He plays his own composition "Blue Balkan," before conspiring with McPartland on "Billie's Bounce."

 

May 15 - Oscar Peterson

Pianist Oscar Peterson was one of the giants of jazz piano. Fast fingers and a hard-wired sense of swing defined Peterson and made him a favorite musical partner for everyone from Ella to Dizzy to Herbie Hancock. In this encore presentation, Peterson demonstrates his deft touch and amazing technique on his own "Love Ballad" before joining McPartland on Ellington's "In a Mellow Tone."

 

May 22 - Laurence Hobgood

Pianist Laurence Hobgood has been a fixture on the Chicago jazz scene for years. He has recently come to prominence as pianist, musical director and co-producer for the much-celebrated jazz singer Kurt Elling. An exceptional soloist and trio leader in his own right, Hobgood performs his own tune "The Smuggler" and joins McPartland on "Things Ain't What They Used to Be."

 

May 29 - Frank Morgan

Saxophonist Frank Morgan led a life compelling enough for the big screen. A protégé of Charlie Parker, Morgan's budding career as a jazz musician took a dark turn that led to drugs, prison, and, ultimately, redemption through music. In this memorial broadcast of his 2004 Piano Jazz appearance, Morgan talks about the ups and downs of his life and performs "Sophisticated Lady" and "Billie's Bounce."

 

June 5 - Elizabeth Doyle

Singer, pianist and composer Elizabeth Doyle is one of Chicago's most captivating performers. She blends a dreamy vocal style with swinging piano playing, deftly accompanying herself on both classic standards and her own unique compositions. Doyle begins the hour at the piano, playing "Blame It on My Youth" before pulling together all of her talents, singing and playing on her own tune "Black Coffee Today."

 

June 12 - Joe Wilder

This program honors the legendary trumpeter Joe Wilder, a 2008 recipient of the Jazz Masters Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Wilder is known for his warm lyrical sound and his mastery of the trumpet, whether he's playing jazz or classical music. In this encore broadcast, Wilder and bassist Rufus Reid join McPartland for "It's Easy to Remember" and "Far Away Places."

 

June 19 - Warren Vache

Warren Vache is a remarkable horn player -- proficient on the trumpet, cornet, and flugelhorn. With a warm tone, astounding chops, and his own unique style, Vache has a strong sense of his jazz lineage. His mastery of the traditional jazz repertoire is evident as he joins McPartland, bassist Gary Mazzaroppi, and drummer Glenn Davis for "Basin Street Blues" and "Louisiana."

 

June 26 - Stephane Grappelli

Piano Jazz celebrates the centennial of Stephane Grappelli, one of the jazz world's greatest violinists. Grappelli first found fame in France with Django Reinhart's Quintette du Hot Club. He went on to an illustrious career playing with everyone from Oscar Peterson to Paul Simon to Yo Yo Ma. In this encore program, the always elegant and ever witty Grappelli joins McPartland on "Pennies from Heaven" before showing off his keyboard skills on a piano duet of "Anything Goes."