Jazz

Drummer Elvin Jones recently celebrated his 70th birthday. His most influential work was with John Coltrane from 1960 to '66. Their Village Vanguard sessions were recently re-released in a CD box set.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews some CD re-issues by Blue Note Records. He recommends “Complete Quartets of Grant Green with Sonny Clark,” “The Complete Roost Recordings,” and “The Complete Herbie Nichols”.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Charles Mingus, Passions of a Man: The Complete Atlantic Recordings 1956-1961" (Rhino)

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews John Coltrane's CD box set of his recordings in 1961 at the Village Vanguard.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the CD “A Prescription for the Blues” (Impulse) by jazz pianist Horace Silver.

An in-studio concert and interview with jazz pianist Jessica Williams, recorded at WHYY. The concert was previewed on last Wednesday's show. It will feature Williams' original songs as well as some interpretations of standards, some from Williams' 1997 release: "Higher Standards" (Candid). Williams has been recording albums, both solo and with ensembles, since 1978. Her music is often featured on Fresh Air between interview segments.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new reissue "I Remember Newport" (Delmark Records, Chicago) featuring accordionist Leon Sash and his trio.

Soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy. He's on a North American tour with his trio through the beginning of December. Lacy is considered "the foremost interpreter of Thelonius Monk" and in fact trained and performed with Monk when he was in his mid-20's. Lacy is also known as the "father of the modern soprano saxophone." He is known for his unmistakable sound, as well as being one of the most prolific sax players performing today.

Preview of our in-studio interview and concert with jazz pianist Jessica Williams. It will air next week.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Miles Davis works from the 70's which have been reissued on Columbia Records.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "You Must Believe in Swing" (Concord Jazz) featuring pianist Dave McKenna and clarinetist Buddy De Franco.

Jazz singer and guitarist John Pizzarelli. He's put out seven albums in the past two years, playing guitar in his drumless trio, which features his brother Martin on bass. His latest CD, "Our Love is Here to Stay" (RCA) features re-workings of songs by Johnny Mercer to the Gershwins to the Beatles, and this time Pizzarelli interprets these standards along with a 17-piece orchestra. John is the son of jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli.

Jazz critic Kevin White reviews two new CDS featuring Ornette Coleman: "Colors" (Verve/Harmolodic) with Coleman and Joachim Kuhn and Geri Allen's "Eyes in the Back of Your Head" which features Coleman (Blue Note)

In-studio interview and concert with composer Joel Forrester, the co-founder of the Microscopic Septet (now defunct), composer of the Fresh Air theme, and solo pianist with a new cd, "Stop the Music" (Koch Records).

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Horace Tapscott’s new CD “Thoughts of Dar Es Salaam."

Will Friedwald has written a new encyclopedic guide to the music legacy of Frank Sinatra: "Sinatra! The Song is You: A Singer's Art" (Da Capo Press). The work chronicles Sinatra's five-decade career, drawing on interviews with his many collaborators, and interviews with Sinatra himself, and includes a discography of his well know, as well as little known recordings. Friedwald is also the author of "Jazz Singing."

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Higher Standards" by pianist Jessica Williams on the Candid label.

Music critic Milo Miles reviews two new releases of Cuban music. The first is a four-cd set called I Am Time. (Blue Jackel) This is a retrospective of cuban music broken down in four categories. Cuban folk music, Singers, Dance, and Jazz. The second cd is called Buena Vista Social Club (World Circuit/Nonesuch) by a band of the same name. This CD was produced by Ry Cooder.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the 1996 German release by pioneering American soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy. "Five Facings" is released on the German label FMP. In this series of recordings LACY is paired with such diverse piano players as Marilyn Crispell, Misha Mengelberg, Ulrich Gumpert, Fred Van Hove, and Vladimir Miller.

Music critic Milo Miles reviews Ocho's album "The Best of Ocho."