Programming
Inquiry
Sundays at 9 p.m.
In 1818, through a bizarre series of
circumstances, taxonomy and science were put on trial in a courthouse
in New York City. What started as a minor case about inspection of barrels
of whale oil, became a showcase trial on the publics understanding of
natural history and the new order of nature. The whole cause célèbre
court case revolved around the deceptively simple question as to whether
a whale was a “fish” or a “mammal”. Tune in tonight when Inquiry
speaks with writer D. GRAHAM BURNETT about his thought-provoking
history of science and society: Trying Leviathan: The Nineteenth-Century
New York Court Case That Put the Whale on Trial and Challenged the Order
of Nature.
Then at 9:30: Golden Wings and Hairy
Toes by natural history writer and Rhode Island native TODD McLEISH
is one of the most enjoyable and informative books on New England wildlife
published in some time. McLeish came up with a short list of some of
New England’s most endangered birds, mammals, reptiles, invertebrates
and plants, and then arranged to spend some time in the field with the
biologists and conservationists trying desperately to preserve the remaining
populations of these plants and animals. Tune in and find out about
the rare Sandplain Gerardia that seems to survive only in old New England
cemeteries, and the American Burying Beetle, who finds a fresh corpse
to inter for it’s young.
APRIL 20:
Ethel Merman started out as a working
class girl who literally brought the house down one fine night.
From that moment on, she was known around the world as a legendary singer.
Merman was the toast of Broadway in its heyday in the late 30s and 40s.
She could belt out the songs of Girl Crazy, Annie Get Your
Gun or Hello, Dolly! like no one else on the stage at the
time. Tonight, Inquiry speaks with CARYL FLINN, Professor of
Women's Studies and Media Arts at the University of Arizona, about her
new rich biography BRASS DIVA: THE LIFE AND LEGENDS OF ETHEL MERMAN.
Then at 9:30: Do you remember The Poky Little Puppy? Scruffy the Tugboat? Tootles? The Color Kittens? All of these treasures of our childhood were Golden Books, a line of inexpensive children’s literature begun in the 1940s that were destined to be held, read, and cherished by millions of children worldwide. Tonight on Inquiry we speak with noted children’s literature historian LEONARD MARCUS about his fascinating and charming history GOLDEN LEGACY: HOW GOLDEN BOOKS WON CHILDREN’S HEARTS, CHANGED PUBLISHING FOREVER, AND BECAME AN AMERICAN ICON ALONG THE WAY.
Jazz At Lincoln Center
Mondays at 6 p.m.
April 7th: In This House, On This Morning —Fifteen years after its debut at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Wynton Marsalis Septet reunites for a reaffirmation of his first commissioned piece for JALC. "In This House…" takes the form of a church service, packing brimstone, fire and a "Sweet Embrace" in the hands of drummer Herlin Riley, saxophonists Wess "Warmdaddy" Anderson and Todd Williams, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and "Swing Doom" - the bassist Reginald Veal. With Marsalis on trumpet they give old Joshua some stiff competition in "Call to Prayer," "In This House," "Alter Call," and more.
April 14, 2008
Duke Ellington's Degas Suite
—We take you deep into the vaults for this extremely rare work,
commissioned for an uncompleted film and barely played by Ellington's
own band. Inspired by Edgar Degas's famous paintings of racetrack
scenes, it shines like new in this Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
concert. Written by Andrew Rosenblum. Wynton Marsalis hosts.
April 21st
Richard Galliano —The French squeezebox master holds court high above Lincoln Center, in the Kaplan Penthouse, with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Clarence Penn. Galliano's take on the bal musette sound begins with its Parisian café roots and winds through a history of the accordion - and jazz. The trio plays a number of Galliano originals, plus Astor Piazzolla's gorgeous "Libertango" for good measure.
April 28th, 2008
Citizen Tain: Jeff "Tain" Watts
—At the Stanley Kaplan Penthouse, the explosive drummer Jeff "Tain"
Watts shows off his big vibrant band: David Budway (piano), Paul
Bollenback (guitar), John Benitez (bass), Ravi Coltrane (saxophone),
Joe Locke (vibes), Joe Barbato (accordion), and Luisito Quintero
(percussion). They wind through Watts originals, including his infamous
"The Impaler" in a killin' 7/8 time.
Jazz Profiles
Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
April 8th: Benny Waters
As a player whose incredible longevity linked him to the jazz pioneers,
Benny Waters (1902-1998) reemerged late in life as one of the great,
unsung saxophonists in jazz. He had played with all the legends-King
Oliver, Fletcher Henderson, Jimmie Lunceford, and Hot Lips Page. After a
forty-year stay in France, Waters returned to the United States. In the
final years of his life he was discovered by a new generation and was
very active: playing jazz festivals, composing, recording, and telling
stories.
April 15th: Bud Powell
After being brutally beaten by police at age 21, Powell spent the rest
of his short life fighting mental illness, until his death in 1966. His
music revealed his constant state of struggle. Known to improvise like
one possessed, Powell's right hand could race through the upper
registers of the keyboard with astounding clarity while his left hand
grounded the lines with irregularly spaced dissonant bass chords. Bud
Powell created a ferocious body of music that shattered the limits of
bebop and influenced all that followed him.
April 22nd: Gerry Mulligan
Saxophonist, composer, and arranger Gerry Mulligan was a principal
figure in the cool jazz movement of the '50s. He composed for and
performed on the legendary "Birth of the Cool" sessions with Miles
Davis.
April 29th: Charles Mingus Part 1
Charles Mingus was a big man and he played an instrument made for him,
the bass, playing hundreds of his own tunes--music that expanded jazz
and the musicians who played it.
May 5th: Charles Mingus Part 2
After Charles Mingus' groundbreaking 1956 composition "Pithecanthropus
Erectus" came out, Charles Mingus moved from California to New York and
established his legacy as one of jazz's finest writers and bandleaders.
Visit the Jazz Profiles website online! Browse the archives!
JazzSet
Fridays at 6 p.m.
April 11th
Spanish Harlem Orchestra at the 2008 Portland Jazz Festival
Pianist Oscar Hernandez leads a dozen great musicians in classic sounds of New York City salsa at McMenamin's Crystal Ballroom in Portland. Listen and dance!
Spanish Harlem Orchestra at the 2008 Portland Jazz Festival
Pianist Oscar Hernandez leads a dozen great musicians in classic sounds of New York City salsa at McMenamin's Crystal Ballroom in Portland. Listen and dance!
April 18th
Highlights of Monterey 50 -- Otis Taylor Blues and Gerald Wilson Orchestra
More music outdoors from the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival -- the festival's 50th. Bluesman Otis Taylor plays first, and then the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, up from Los Angeles, plays the commissioned piece "Monterey Moods."
Highlights of Monterey 50 -- Otis Taylor Blues and Gerald Wilson Orchestra
More music outdoors from the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival -- the festival's 50th. Bluesman Otis Taylor plays first, and then the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, up from Los Angeles, plays the commissioned piece "Monterey Moods."
April 25th
Dee Dee Bridgewater's LIVE! Red Earth -- A Malian Journey
The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC presents Dee Dee performing with her jazz trio and other musicians playing handmade kora, balafon, and percussion from Mali. Guest hosting this week is Georges Collinet of public radio's Afropop Worldwide.
Dee Dee Bridgewater's LIVE! Red Earth -- A Malian Journey
The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC presents Dee Dee performing with her jazz trio and other musicians playing handmade kora, balafon, and percussion from Mali. Guest hosting this week is Georges Collinet of public radio's Afropop Worldwide.
May 2nd
Daniela Schaechter Quartet at the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center
Schaechter, born in Sicily and first place winner of a Kennedy Center Women in Jazz piano competition, features original music for her quartet with Alex Sipiagin on trumpet.
Daniela Schaechter Quartet at the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center
Schaechter, born in Sicily and first place winner of a Kennedy Center Women in Jazz piano competition, features original music for her quartet with Alex Sipiagin on trumpet.
May 9th
Convergence at Dazzle in Denver
Convergence is six players together for nearly two decades in Denver and Boulder. The group includes veterans of Carmen McRae's trio and the Maria Schneider Orchestra. They release their latest CD, I Can Be There, at a New Year's Eve party on JazzSet.
Convergence at Dazzle in Denver
Convergence is six players together for nearly two decades in Denver and Boulder. The group includes veterans of Carmen McRae's trio and the Maria Schneider Orchestra. They release their latest CD, I Can Be There, at a New Year's Eve party on JazzSet.
Piano Jazz
Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
April 8th:Renee
Rosnes at Tanglewood
Pianist Renee Rosnes joins Marian McPartland on stage for the sixth
annual Piano Jazz concert from the 2007 Tanglewood Jazz
Festival. The two take turns quizzing each other and trade piano
performances with bassist Todd Coolman. McPartland and Rosnes play
together on "In A Mellow Tone" and "Swingin 'Till the Girls Come Home."
April 16th:Lionel
Hampton
Piano Jazz celebrates the centennial of vibraphonist Lionel
Hampton. A historic figure in many ways, "Hamp" is credited with
establishing the vibes as a jazz instrument, being a part of Benny
Goodman's first racially integrated jazz group, and helping to launch
the careers of Quincy Jones, Wes Montgomery, and Clark Terry. In this
program from the archives, Hampton plays classics "Flying Home," and
"Mack the Knife."
April 23rd:Chuck
Leavell
Pianist Chuck Leavell has played for some of the shining stars of rock
and jazz, but his most enduring gig has been as pianist and music
coordinator for the Rolling Stones. In addition to his piano playing,
Leavell is also an accomplished tree farmer. He and McPartland discuss
their love of the environment and celebrate Leavell's southern heritage
with "Georgia on My Mind."
