Vocalist, Catherine Russell was raised in a musical family. Her father, Luis, was Louis Armstrong’s band-leader and her mother, Carline Ray, was a member of the International Sweethearts Of Rhythm.
Curtis Stigers: Creating new jazz standards from contemporary
Curtis Stigers is a singer, songwriter, saxophonist who loves the great Tin Pan Alley songs of George Gershwin and Cole Porter, but finds a greater creative challenge in doing jazz versions of songs by more contemporary songwriters. In this studio session with jazz host, Abe Beeson, Curtis puts a jazz twist to songs by David Poe and Richard [...]
Halie Loren: Putting Eugene, Ore. on the jazz map
In this studio session, hosted by Kevin Kniestedt, we’re pleased to introduce you to a woman who we believe is one of the finest up-and-coming international jazz talents to come along in years, Halie Loren. Eugene, Oregon, has always had a rich and progressive music scene. Still, when one thinks of notable “jazz cities,” Eugene [...]
Bela Fleck & Marcus Roberts Trio ‘Crossing the Imaginary Divide’
On a tour to promote their first collaboration, Crossing The Imaginary Divide, Bela Fleck and the Marcus Roberts Trio stopped by the KPLU Seattle studios for a live performance and interview, hosted by Mary McCann. If you’re looking for music that will lift your heart, this is the session for you! Bela Fleck is a genre-defying banjo [...]
Cyrus Chestnut: Solo piano with ‘The Nutman’
Pianist Cyrus Chestnut came onto the jazz scene slowly. From the mid-1980’s to mid-1990’s, he apprenticed as pianist for Jon Hendricks, Better Carter, Donald Harrison and Wynton Marsalis. Since then he has toured the world numerous times and recorded 15 albums as a leader. In this performance/interview Cyrus talks about his gospel roots, his discovery [...]
Bellingham vocalist Cheryl Jewell: Coming home to jazz
Bellingham jazz singer, Cheryl Jewell, was raised in Oak Harbor, Washington. When she went to college in Bellingham, she fell in love with that city. She left only to pursue her singing career in Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles. After working for several years as a rock and country singer, Cheryl decided to move [...]
Karrin Allyson: Relaxin’ in the Jazz24/KPLU studios
Over the past 20 years, vocalist, Karrin Allyson, has recorded 13 albums that cover a vast musical territory. She’s explored The Great American Songbook, the musical styles of Brazil and France, the blues and the work of more contemporary songwriters. She’s recorded a tribute to John Coltrane, a CD of late-night ballads and earned 4 [...]
A rare solo performance by Ramsey Lewis
Just in case you haven’t noticed, pianist Ramsey Lewis is having a great career. He’s won Grammy awards, hosted successful television and radio jazz programs and even had cross-over hit records on the pop music charts (quite by accident, he assures us). He’s been playing professionally since about 1950 and has released more than 80 [...]
The Cookers: Bebop supergroup
If we were to make a list of all the recording and composing credits of the members of The Cookers, it would go on for many pages. This is an amazing collection of jazz musicians—Billy Hart (drums), Cecil McBee (bass), Eddie Henderson (trumpet), David Weiss (trumpet), Billy Harper (sax) and George Cables (piano). Individually, they’ve [...]
All-Star Trio: Jack DeJohnette, Chick Corea and Stanley Clark
Drummer Jack DeJohnette was 23 years old when he made his first recording with The Charles Lloyd Quartet in 1966. Since that time he’s been a driving (and we do mean ‘driving’) force in the world of jazz. This year he’ll be celebrating his birthday (August 9th) all year long with a number of special [...]