---

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."

 

Piano Jazz Home Page

February 4 - Remembering Eubie Blake

This month marks the 122nd anniversary of the birth of James Herbert "Eubie" Blake. He was the last-known original ragtime pianist when he appeared on the second season of Piano Jazz at the age of 93. On this program from 1980, Blake remembers his vaudeville days, writing classics "Charleston Rag" and "I'm Just Wild About Harry." Blake and McPartland get together for duets on "St. Louis Blues" and "The Star Spangled Banner."

February 11 - Janis Siegel

Singer Janis Siegel is one quarter of the jazz supergroup, The Manhattan Transfer. Throughout the 30 years she spent with this musical institution, she's also released her own recordings featuring hip, seductive arrangements of standards, as well as newer works. She visits Piano Jazz along with pianist and accordion player Gil Goldstein to perform Tad Dameron's "Whatever Possessed Me" and Annie Lennox's "A Thousand Beautiful Things."

February 18 - Pre-empted - SU Basketball vs. Georgetown

February 25 - Steve Kuhn

Pianist Steve Kuhn is a highly accomplished player, a creative composer and a longtime friend of McPartland. In his youth, Kuhn played with Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz and John Coltrane. Over the years, he's honed a unique style built on melodic variation, rhythmic sparkle and his ceaseless imagination. He joins McPartland for "Walkin'" and "Too Late Now."

March 4 - Remembering Stacey Rowles

Trumpeter, flugelhorn player, and vocalist Stacy Rowles was a fixture on the Los Angeles jazz scene and played regularly in all-female jazz groups the Jazz Birds and Maiden Voyage. This program from 2001 is presented as a tribute to Rowles, who passed away last year. Rowles talks about working with her father, pianist and composer Jimmy Rowles. She brings along bass player Todd Warrington and joins Marian McPartland for trio renditions of "Emily," "Prelude To A Kiss," and "Time After Time."

March 11 - Loston Harris with guest host Michael Feinstein

Singer/pianist Loston Harris began his musical study as a percussionist, but shifted to the piano after Ellis Marsalis overheard him tinkering at the keys. Today, the Loston Harris Trio is a mainstay of the Bemelmans Bar at Manhattan's Carlyle Hotel. On this Piano Jazz, Harris and guest host Michael Feinstein sit down to discuss the cabaret tradition and, of course, to play a few tunes. Harris plays "Jitterbug Waltz," "Route 66," and "Misty." He joins Feinstein for a piano duet of "The Way You Look Tonight."

March 18 - Remembering Jimmy McPartland

Jimmy McPartland was one of the great cornet players from the early jazz era and late husband of Marian McPartland. In this program, Piano Jazz celebrates the jazz legend with excerpts from a special centennial concert at the Danny Kaye Playhouse at the 2007 JVC Jazz Festival. Tunes include "Struttin' With Some Barbeque," "St. James Infirmary," and "Basin St. Blues."

March 25 - Bill Frisell

Guitarist Bill Frisell has been on the cutting edge of jazz guitar since his arrival on the scene in the early '80s. With an amazing technique and creative mind, he has incorporated the whole of American music in his work, relying on country, blues, rock and jazz. He solos on the Hank Williams honky-tonk classic, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," before joining McPartland for "Blue Monk."

April 1 - Bucky Pizzarelli with guest host John Pizzarelli

Guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli is known for playing the great guitar compositions of the '30s on his seven-string guitar. He played with Benny Goodman and for many years was a member of Doc Severinson's Tonight Show Band. As part of the 30th Anniversary celebration, Bucky Pizzarelli returns to Piano Jazz with guest host John Pizzarelli -- his son and fellow guitarist. The duo plays "Tangerine" and "My Blue Heaven," with John Pizzarelli also supplying vocals.