Trudy Pitts on Piano Jazz
Organist, arranger, composer, teacher, and singer Trudy Pitts (1932 – 2010) earned a reputation not only for her technical prowess, but also for her ability to convey a wide range of emotions. Her...
View ArticleDoug Wamble on Piano Jazz
Guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Doug Wamble grew up listening to the Southern gospel, country, and blues traditions of his Tennessee home. Once he developed his love for jazz, Wamble began to soak...
View ArticleAhmad Jamal on Piano Jazz
One of the most popular stylists in contemporary jazz, pianist Ahmad Jamal has been a major force on the jazz recording scene ever since his 1958 live album made at Chicago’s Pershing Lounge. On this...
View ArticleJoey DeFrancesco on Piano Jazz
Joey DeFrancesco was only 20 years old when he was McPartland’s guest on Piano Jazz . Hailed as the new hero of the organ, his stint with Miles Davis brought the classically trained keyboardist...
View ArticleJudy Roberts on Piano Jazz
Pianist and vocalist Judy Roberts is one of Chicago’s best-loved musicians. She’s an imaginative and insightful pianist with an articulate touch, and her voice readily conveys many different moods....
View ArticleCarli Muñoz on Piano Jazz
Pianist Carli Muñoz’s musical journey has taken him from Puerto Rico to the studios and clubs of LA, and back to the island of his birth, where he owns his own jazz club. His musical career has taken a...
View ArticleMose Allison on Piano Jazz
One of the most original and provocative musicians in jazz, pianist Mose Allison (1927 – 2016) was heavily influenced by the blues. The Mississippi native drew inspiration from Sonny Boy Williamson,...
View ArticleDorothy Donegan on Piano Jazz
This week Piano Jazz remembers NEA Jazz Master Dorothy Donegan (1922 – 1998) with an early session from 1983. Donegan's technical command of the piano was nothing short of breathtaking, and she was...
View ArticleNnenna Freelon on Piano Jazz
Internationally hailed as the greatest vocalist to come along in decades, Nnenna Freelon exudes both class and sophistication. Her soulful style consists of fresh interpretations of classic standards....
View ArticleMeredith D’Ambrosio on Piano Jazz
A sensitive and romantic vocalist and pianist, Meredith D’Ambrosio is a champion of the lesser-known songs of famous composers. She is also respected as a visual artist, composer, and teacher. In the...
View ArticleGrover Washington, Jr. on Piano Jazz
Saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. (1943-1999) was a master musician and multiple Grammy winner. He performed internationally and worked with names like Bobby McFerrin, B.B. King, Patti LaBelle, and...
View ArticlePatti Wicks on Piano Jazz
Pianist and vocalist Patti Wicks (1945 – 2014) began picking out tunes at the age of three and learned to play by ear because she was born visually impaired. As an adult, Wicks continued her music...
View ArticleAndré Previn on Piano Jazz
Conductor, composer, and pianist André Previn has received multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards, including honors from the Kennedy Center, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Grammy Awards. Previn...
View ArticleLoston Harris on Piano Jazz
For more than a decade, Loston Harris has headlined at Bemelmans Bar in Manhattan, delighting audiences with his smooth, soulful voice and piano style. Harris began his jazz career as a drummer but was...
View ArticleToots Thielemans
This week Piano Jazz remembers Jean-Baptiste “Toots” Thielemans (1922 – 2016), unrivaled master of the jazz harmonica. He was recognized the world over for his trademark style and tender sound, and he...
View ArticleJeannie Cheatham on Piano Jazz
Pianist and vocalist Jeannie Cheatham began piano lessons at the tender age of five and at 13 became intoxicated with the sounds of jazz. Cheatham toured with such blues artists as Jimmy Witherspoon,...
View ArticleLalo Schifrin on Piano Jazz
Composer, arranger, and pianist Lalo Schifrin trained classically as a young man in Argentina. He went on to study at the Paris Conservatory as he developed a career as a jazz musician, playing and...
View ArticleKendra Shank on Piano Jazz
From a background in visual arts and French literature at the University of Washington, Kendra Shank has been pursuing a successful singing career from Seattle to Paris to New York, where she is...
View ArticleBarry Harris on Piano Jazz
Barry Harris is a seminal figure in the jazz world. As the “keeper of the bebop flame,” Harris is committed to preserving jazz through education and performance. His workshops play an important part in...
View ArticleKeith Ingham on Piano Jazz
British-born pianist Keith Ingham began his jazz career in London after studying Mandarin at Oxford University. In the late ’70s, he moved to New York, which led him to connect with the likes of Peggy...
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