Jazz

It's poetry and Jazz  on Thursday's Jazz New England.  Former U. S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky returns to the WICN studio, this time pairing  his prose with the piano styles of Grammy winner Laurence Hobgood, the man behind the award-winning Kurt Elling sound. These two have been collaborating recently, will perform in New England this week and are sure to bring a little pizzazz to Jazz New England. Join us Thursday at 2 pm.

The angular sounds of Thelonious Monk connect with the clave of the Afro-Cuban rhythms. Pianist Danilo Perez tells the story of Monk through his own Panamanian roots. Hear 'Round Midnight' and 'Bright Mississippi' through a new set of ears.

Ava Astaire McKenzie grew up surrounded by creativity. She draws on this experience lecturing around the world about her father Fred, and has expressed her own creativity in her book “At Home In Ireland” Cooking and Entertaining with Ava Astaire McKenzie. Ava talked with Judy about her life-long love of jazz and the influence jazz had on her father.

This is a must listen this weekend on Bonnie Johnson's Color's of Jazz program. Bonnie will be interviewing the living legend, Hugh Masekela. The South African trumpeter and singer has toured across the globe, won a Grammy, and had several number one singles. In addition to the success of his musical voice, he is a legend for his activism and work to end apartheid in his native South Africa.

Dubbed “the Real Diehl” by Wynton Marsalis, pianist Aaron Diehl is bringing the music of keyboard giants like Scott Joplin, Art Tatum, and Duke Ellington to a whole new generation. Diehl was named the 2011 Cole Porter Fellow in Jazz by the American Pianists Association. On this session, hear Diehl’s modern take on the music of the time honored masters of stride and swing.