Jazz and Blues

Dick Hyman was born March 8, 1927, in New York City. Classically trained, Hyman was drawn to jazz at an early age. Today, he's a living, breathing, swinging encyclopedia of jazz piano history, from ragtime and stride to bebop and beyond.

To hear my conversation with KPLU's Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick, click on the listen button above.

Jazz Northwest full program podcast for March 25, 2012.

Jazz icon Ella Fitzgerald’s voice is recognized by millions around the world. But few know about her career-defining friendship with Marilyn Monroe, to whom Fitzgerald said she “owe a real debt.”

While touring in the ’50s under the management of Norman Granz, Fitzgerald, like many African-American musicians at the time, faced significant adversity as a result of her race, especially in the Jim Crow states. Granz was a huge proponent of civil rights, and insisted that all of his musicians be treated equally at hotels and venues, regardless of race.

When pianist Lynne Arriale released her first CD in 1994, KPLU began playing music from it right away.  It was clear to us that Lynne had that "something extra" that separates good musicians from great musicians.

Over the course of her career she’s continued to build on that quality, so we were especially pleased to finally welcome her as a guest artist in our Seattle performance studio.

Seattle multi-instrumentalist Jay Thomas leads his quartet in highlights from an Art of Jazz concert at The Seattle Art Museum on KPLU's Jazz Northwest this Sunday at 1 PM.  Jay Thomas is a long-time fixture on the Seattle Jazz scene, having performed with a preceding generation of musicians and now teaching a new generation as he continues to perform.  Leading his own quartet in this concert, the music includes some rare pieces from the Sixties, a Swedish folk song, and one more recent piece.

Skerik’s most recent project released this week – Skerik’s Bandalabra: Live at the Royal Room – includes working with Seattle musicians Andy Coe (electric guitar), Evan Flory-Barnes (upright bass), and Donne Lewis (drums).

Skerik explains that it is a change of pace from the rock bands since a lot of the music is created in the moment.

Read more on Groove Notes.

More music from around the region this week's Jazz Northwest... We'll have new CDs by Bill Harris, a Portland saxophonist, some great arrangements for Frank D’Rone by Phil Kelly, Bernie Jacobs’ new CD, another surrealistic song from Lorraine Feather, and a pianist who's also a wood carver!   Join us as we check out the scene, Jazz Northwest, Sundays at 1 on 88.5, KPLU. 

Tenor saxophonist/composer, Benny Golson is now in his second half-century as a touring and recording jazz artist.  He began performing almost 60 years ago and recorded his first LP as a bandleader 55 years ago … and if his stop by the KPLU studios last week is any indication, he shows no signs of slowing down now.