Jazz

Fresh Air Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the Marcus Roberts Trio CD "In Honor of Duke."

We feature an interview with singer/Hollywood legend Rosemary Clooney. She will talk about her life as a singer and performer. We will also listen to songs from throughout her career. Her new autobiography, called Girl Singer, reads like a who's who from the golden age of Hollywood. She has also released a CD companion to the book. Its called Songs from the Girl Singer.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "The Sweetest Punch" (Decca) guitarist Bill Frisell's new CD featuring the music of Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach, and featuring Elvis Costello himself.

1999 also marks the centennial of Duke Ellington's birth. Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews four notable reissued recordings of Ellington's featured sidemen; all on the RCA label: "Cootie Williams in Hi-Fi," "Wild Bill Davis and Johnny Hodges in Atlantic City," "Paul Gonsalves: Ellingtonia Moods and Blues," and "C-Jam All-Stars: Diminuendo, Crescendo and Blues".

We remember jazz trumpeter Lester Bowie. He died Monday at the age of 58 from liver cancer. Bowie was a founding member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, founded in 1969. Bowie was known for his flamboyant performing, his sense of humor and theatrics, and his off kilter interpretations of R&B classics. (REBROADCAST from 11/3/89) (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES AFTER THE FLOATER).

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the 4 CD box set "Central Avenue Sounds: Jazz in Los Angeles (1921-1956)" (Rhino).

Vibraphonist Milt Jackson died from liver cancer. He played with Earl Hine's big band, and Dizzy Gillespie's. He took his style not from another vibraphonist but from Charlie Parker, and was the first bona fide bebop musician on the vibraphone. Jackson also recorded music with Thelonious Monk. And in 1952 he co-founded the Modern Jazz Quartet, pulled from Gillespie's rhythm section, which stayed together for over 20 years. (REBROADCAST from 1983)

Jazz bassist Charlie Haden. His newest release with his Quartet West is "The Art of The Song" (Verve). Haden formed the quartet to play the music of the 1940s and early 50s. He's worked with jazz musicians Art Pepper, Paul Bley, Ornette Coleman. And he's recorded with many artists including Abbey Lincoln, Bill Frisell, Joshua Redman, Rick Lee Jones, and others.

We remember jazz musician Art Farmer. He died on Monday at the age of 71 from heart failure. Farmer was an important second-generation be-bop musician, and also known for his warm tone and lovely ballads on the trumpet and fluegelhorn. He worked with bands led by Wardell Gray, Horace Silver, and Gerry Mulligan. In the 1950s he formed the Jazztet, a sextet with saxophonist Benny Golson, and they wrote many compositions together. (REBROADCAST from 7/21/87)

Bassist and singer Josh Haden is Charlie's son. After years of playing punk, he founded the trio "Spain" and their 1995 debut album "Blue Moods of Spain" was critically acclaimed. Their new album is "She Haunts My Dreams" (Restless Records). The music on their new CD has been described as "languid," "melancholy" and "cabaret-ready country music."

Jazz bassist Charlie Haden. His newest release with his Quartet West is "The Art of The Song" (Verve). Haden formed the quartet to play the music of the 1940s and early 50s. He's worked with jazz musicians Art Pepper, Paul Bley, Ornette Coleman. And he's recorded with many artists including Abbey Lincoln, Bill Frisell, Joshua Redman, Rick Lee Jones, and others.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new album by singer/pianist Diana Krall, "When I Look in Your Eyes" (Verve), and the reissue by Nat King Cole, "After Midnight: The Complete Session" (Capitol Jazz).

Trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas doesn't like to categorize music. He's currently fronting seven ensembles, of varying compositional, improvisational and instrumental styles, including the Dave Douglas String Group, the Tiny Bell Trio, and the Sextet. He's been a sideman with Don Byron, Myra Melford and Uri Caine. Douglas has many compositions and recordings to his credit. His latest recordings are "Songs for Wandering Souls" (Winter & Winter) by the Tiny Bell Trio, and "Convergence" (Soul Note) by the Dave Douglas String Group.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new release by the Jeb Bishop Trio (Okkadisc label).

Composer and jazz pianist Uri Caine (ER-ee CANE). He's fronted and/or played with a number of groups. On his first two CDS as he a leader, "Sphere Music" and "Toys" he played homage to jazz pianists Thelonious Monk and Herbie Hancock. He's worked in groups led by Don Byron, Dave Douglas, Buddy DeFranco, Clark Terry and others. His latest release is "The Sidewalks of New York" which plays homage to turn of the century New York city and the songwriters of tin pan alley. (Winter & Winter label).

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "The Indo-Jazz Suite" (Koch) a reissue featuring Joe Harriott and John Mayer.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new album "Von & Ed" (Delmark) It features tenor saxophonists Von Freeman with Ed Petersen. A cd Whitehead says showcases the generational differences in jazz...between baby boomer Petersen, and Freeman who developed his style in the 1940's.

Jazz guitarists Jim Hall and Pat Metheny talk about their recent collaboration on the album "Jim Hall & Pat Mentheny" (Telarc) Hall emerged on the jazz scene in the late 1950's and went on to performed with such artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Art Farmer and Itzhak Perlman. Metheny's recording career took off in the 1970's and became so successful...that Guitar Player magazine called him the "Jazz Voice of the 80s." This newest recording is being hailed as a cross-generational summit of two exceptional jazz guitarists.

Clarinetist Ken Peplowski. The 40-year old jazz musician, has been playing the instrument since the age of 7, and went on to play in Benny Goodman's last band, and in the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (led by Buddy Morrow). Peplowski influences include Goodman, saxophonist Sonny Stitt, the Beatles, and Ornette Coleman He launched a successful solo career in the early 1980s and now has 16 albums to his credit. His latest is "Ken Peplowski: Last Swing of the Century-Big Band Music of Benny Goodman" (Concord Jazz).

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Convergence" by Dave Douglas' quintet (Soul Note label)