Jazz

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews three releases featuring alto saxophonist Lee Konitz,a versatile musician known to be flexible depending on the context or ensemble he's in.

The Butch Thompson Trio was a regular on Garrison Keillor's syndicated radio show. Thompson's specialty is classic jazz from 1890s to about 1940, including the music of Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Eubie Blake, and others. He has a new series of solo CDs entitled "Minnesota Wonder."

Delaria says don't call her a lesbian: she's a dyke who does standup and jazz singing. She has a new recording of songs, "Bulldyke in a China Shop."

Jazz critic Kevin White pays tribute to Ella Fitzgerald who turns 75 this Sunday. He argues that there are two versions of the jazz singer -- an interpreter of ballads and standards, the other a "superhuman" scat singer.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the Evidence label's reissues of three early Sun Ra albums: "Bad and Beautiful," "Super-Sonic Jazz," and "Jazz In Silhouette." The LPs were originally recorded for Sun Ra's own Saturn records.

Frisell is a prolific performer and recording artist; one reviewer likened him to both a "painter and sonic psychopath." His latest album, "Have a Little Faith," pays tribute to American music makers like Muddy Waters, Madonna, John Hiatt and John Philip Sousa.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the trumpet player and composer's new double disc, Citi Movement, which finds Marsalis exploring longer forms.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead pays tribute to the singer, who died last Monday.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead revisits albums that epitomized a different side of the 1950s cool jazz movement: "Once Upon a Summertime," by Blossom Dearie, "Dream of You," by Helen Merrill, and "Ella Swings Lightly," by Ella Fitzgerald.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new recording of ballads by the bebop trombonist, called "Vivian." It's on the Concord Jazz label.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Nocturne Parisian," by Graham Haynes, and "Overlays," by the Ned Rothenberg Double Band. They're both electric ensembles who work to bring new styles into the jazz tradition.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new album by the avant-garde New York quintet, New and Used, called "Souvenir." It's on the Knitting Factory Label.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new, premium box-set of Billy Holiday recordings, "The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve, 1945-1959."

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new album of Christmas music by Mel Torme. Torme wrote the classic, The Christmas Song, and he tries to repeat his success with this album.

World music critic Milo Miles reviews a new collection of vintage African rumbas on the French label "African." It's part of their "Merveilles du Passe" series.

We broadcast a song from Vernel Bagneris and Morten Gunnar Larsen's November 12th performance of selections from their biographical musical. Because of time constraints, this tune never made it on air -- until now.

Actor and playwright Vernel Bagneris and pianist Morten Gunnar Larsen perform selections from their show, "Jelly Roll Morton: A Me-morial," with music written by Morton, and a script taken from Library of Congress tapes of Morton from 1938. The New Yorker calls it, "an experimental study, done within a traditional Broadway-musical framework, of the life and death of a black misanthrope. . . a psychomusical."

Music critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Tony Bennett's new release, "Perfectly Frank," which features fresh interpretations of classic Sinatra songs.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "The Art of Ike Quebec," a new reissue by the late tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviewed "Now & Now," the new, varied, and rambunctious album by the Myra Melford Trio.