Jazz

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews “Mood Indigo” (Milestone) the new CD by singer Jimmy Scott.

Also star Vernel Bagneris who also wrote, directed and starred in the hit show, “One mo’ Time’ and the sequel “Further Mo.’

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews “Hollywood Swing & Jazz: Hot Numbers from Classic MGM, Warner Bros., and R.K.O. Films” (a Rhino box).

Ex-co-leader of the septet Squirrel Nut Zippers, Tom Maxwell. His new recording as a solo artist is “Samsara” (Samsara Ltd.) On the album he continues the work he started with the Zippers, harkening the sound of hot jazz, but also blues and gospel, Country and Western, and even Chinese opera.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews “Dusk” (Palmetto) the new CD by pianist Andrew Hill.

Conductor Maurice Peress. He specializes in reconstructing historic American concerts. He’s worked with Ellington and Bernstein, and is the author of the forthcoming book, “Living With American Music: Dvorak to Duke Ellington.”

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews “Sonny Rollins: The Freelance Years: The Complete Riverside & Contemporary Recordings” (Riverside)

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews “Too Much Coffee Man” (Blue Note) by singer-songwriter Bob Dorough.

Contributing editor for Vanity Fair David Margolick. In his new book “Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday, Café Society, and an Early Cry for Civil Rights” (Running Press), Margolick traces the history and impact of the song “Strange Fruit,” a ballad about lynchings which became Billie Holiday’s signature song. It was written by a Jewish school teacher who was inspired to write the song after seeing a newspaper photograph of a lynching.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Monk's Dream (Verve records), the new record from soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy and trombonist Roswell Rudd.

Singer Keely Smith. She has been called “The Queen of Swing” and “the First Lady of Las Vegas”. Smith is perhaps best known as the duet partner and wife of Louis Prima. Smith and Prima drew crowds to the lounges of Las Vegas in the 1950s. Their hits include “Jump, Jive, an’ Wail,” “Just a Gigolo,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and “That Old Black Magic.” Smith talks about her marriage to Prima, the music they made together, and her career. Smith has just released a new CD called Swing Swing Swing

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews “Tenor & Fallen Angels” (hatology) the new reissue by Joe McPhee.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Life Overflowing" (Nada) featuring John Tchicai (Chick-EYE) and Charlie Kohlhase (COAL-hass) and "The Eternal Hang" (Accurate) featuring Dave Bryant.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews “The Complete Django Reinhardt and Quintet of the Hot Club of France Swing/HMV Sessions 1936-1948 (Mosaic Records of Stamford Connecticut, mail-order)

Jazz mandolinist Don Stiernberg (STEERN-berg). Stiernberg is a 20 year veteran of music and studied under the jazz mandolinist Jethro Berns. His new jazz mandolin album is called “About Time” and is the debut album on a new label. (Blue Night Records, P.O. Box 4951, Skokie, IL 60076-4951, e-mail: HYPERLINK "http://www.bluenightrecords.com" www.bluenightrecords.com. Also available thru Amazon.com)

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new solo piano CD by Keith Jarrett. It’s called “The Melody at Night, with You.”

World Music critic Milo Miles shares the story of Savoy Records, an independent label that specialized in jazz, R&B, and gospel from the 1940s to the 60s.

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.