WGBH - Jazz RSS

Regina Carter Live from Scullers

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:37 AM +0000

Jazz violinist and MacArthur Genius Regina Carter kicked off a new musical series presented by Boston Public Radio 89.7FM and Scullers Jazz Club, broadcasting live from the landmark jazz venue.

Live from Scullers

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 17:14 PM +0000

On Friday, April 26, Boston Public Radio continues its new series of live jazz broadcasts: Live from Scullers.

Monty Alexander and The Harlem-Kingston Express perform April 26. (Photo: Crush Boone)

Each live broadcast begins at 10pm, coming from the landmark Boston jazz venue, Scullers. WGBH's Dean of Jazz, Eric Jackson, will make the series part of his regularly scheduled show, Eric in the Evening, on 89.7 WGBH and streaming online.

To attend the shows, visit the Scullers website for tickets. Listen to earlier performances online:


Jazz Vocalist Roberta Gambarini Friday, Feb. 1 >>Listen to Archived Show	Jazz Violinist Regina Carter Dec. 28, 2012 >>Listen to Archived Show


New York Voices; Friday, March 22	Antonio Sanchez Feb. 22, 2013 >>Listen to Archived Show

Live from Scullers is presented by WGBH and Scullers. Thanks to Sam Kopper of Locomote Media.

See a clip of Antonio Sanchez performing at Scullers, recorded by WGBH Music.

Ken Schaphorst Remembers Bob Brookmeyer

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 00:04 AM +0000

Ken Schaphorst (Andrew Hurlbut/NEC)

Hear WGBH Jazz Host Eric Jackson talk with Ken Schaphorst, Chair of Jazz Studies and Improvisation Department at the New England Conservatory of Music, and NEC alumnae Ayn Inserto, now teaching Jazz at Berklee School of Music.

They discuss NEC's longlasting Jazz program and a recent tribute to the late Bob Brookmeyer, longtime Jazz teacher at NEC who had a profound impact on the language of Jazz and on the musicians who performed and composed under his tutelage there. A recording of that concert is available for download at the NEC website.

Paul Combs Delivers JazzWeek Award to Eric Jackson

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:11 PM +0000

Eric Jackson accepts the 2012 Duke Dubois Humanitarian Award (Annie Shreffler/WGBH)

Listen to Jackson and Combs talk about the award and Duke Dubois.

Last month at the JazzWeek Awards in Detroit, Michigan, saxophonist Paul Combs accepted the Duke Dubois Humanitarian Award on behalf of this years honoree, WGBH 89.7 Jazz host Eric Jackson. Combs visited the WGBH studios to deliver the award in person.

This prestigious lifetime achievement award is named for the late jazz radio promoter Duke Dubois, who was a pioneer in the field and a mentor to many, including Jackson himself, in the jazz radio and record business. to an individual to recognize a longstanding commitment to jazz, jazz radio, jazz education and generous service to the jazz community.

This is Jackson’s second award from JazzWeek as he was honored in 2008 as Major Market Programmer of the Year.

Combs' performs and teaches in the Boston area and has recently completed his book, Dameronia, about the influence of Jazz composer and pianist, Tadd Dameron.

Eric Jackson on Listening to Jazz

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 18:41 PM +0000

WGBH Jazz Host Eric Jackson at the Newport Jazz Festival. (Photo: Craig Harris)

WGBH's own "Dean of Boston Jazz Radio" Eric Jackson stopped by the Boston Public Radio soundbooth to discuss his recent experience at the Newport Jazz Festival, the concerts he's most looking forward to and what he listens to when he isn't listening to Jazz.

"Keep a paper and pencil handy. When you hear something you like, write that down and build a library of music you like," says Jackson about his curation of Jazz music on 89.7 FM and why he doesn't presume that he can give listeners a Top Ten list.

Listen to Eric talk with Boston Public Radio's Edgar B. Herwick III.

A Tribute for Gil Evans on His 100th Birthday

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:36 PM +0000

May 14, 2012

Gil Evans at the office studio of Artists House on West 37th St. in New York City. Photo by Carol Friedman, 1978.

BOSTON — Sunday marked the 100^th birthday of the late jazz legend Gil Evans. He is best known for his compositions and arrangements, and worked with Miles Davis on several albums for Columbia Records in the 1940s and 50s.

As a young man growing up in California, Evans said it was radio broadcasts of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and the Casa Loma Band that inspired him to become a musician. With no means for real music training, Evans depended on informal piano lessons from friends and taught himself by copying what he gleaned from record albums.

WGBH host Steve Schwartz, on his Friday night jazz show, talked about Evans' gift for unusual instrumentation and arrangement.

“He used a lot of low brass in his arrangments: tuba and French horn, bass clarinets and oboe and baritone saxophone, English horns and the like, in addition to the standard saxophones, trumpets and trombones. But he got that beautiful color and texture from using those [additional] instruments,” Schwartz said.

The Gil Evans Orchestra will celebrate the legacy of its namesake this May 21 with a centennial celebration in New York City. Paul Shaffer will emcee the event at the Highline Ballroom, with appearances by Jimmy Cobb, Airto Moreira, Lenny White, Will Lee, John Simon and Matthew Garrison.

WGBH Radio continues its tribute to Evans as WGBH jazz host Eric Jackson devotes his entire Monday night broadcast to the work of Evans and Miles Davis, with songs from the Columbia albums the collaborated on: Birth of the Cool [1957], Miles Ahead [1957], Porgy and Bess [1958] and Sketches of Spain [1960].

Listen to Dee Dee Bridgwater's tribute to Evans on her show Jazzset, and listen to WGBH Jazz hosts Steve Schwartz and Eric Jackson celebrate his centennial on 89.7 FM.

Eric Jackson: A Tribute to Gil Evans

Jazz With Steve Schwartz: Gil Evans Centennial

Marco Pignataro

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:05 PM +0000

April 23, 2012

Photos by WGBH Volunteer photographer Drew Hyman.

Listen to the entire Marco Pignataro performance, recorded live at WGBH.

BOSTON — The April Jazz in Performance at WGBH's Fraser Studio presented Italian saxophonist Marco Pignataro. Now a Boston local, as Managing Director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, Pignataro greeted members of the WGBH Jazz Club and guests during an exlusive performance with band members Somer O'Brien, Nando Michelin, Ehud Ettun and Paolo Orlandi.

Watch Pignataro and his band perform "Arianna"

Jazz in Performance airs on WGBH 89.7FM, hosted by Eric Jackson and produced by Steve Schwartz. Each month they bring audiences up close to jazz greats for an exclusive performance.

Jazz in Performance is free to WGBH's Jazz Club members.

Arni Cheatham Live at WGBH

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:08 PM +0000

Arni Cheatham (photo from Cheathams' Photography blog, Eyes & Ears)

BOSTON — Celebrated jazz saxaphonist Arni Cheatham visited WGBH to perform a show for fans and members of the WGBH Jazz Club. The event was recorded live in the WGBH Fraser Performance Studio.

Over the past 25 years, Cheatham has appeared with such notables as Jimmy Giuffre, Charlie Persip, and Son Seals, and has opened for legends Cab Calloway and Gary Burton. For more than two decades, Cheatham has played lead alto with The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra.

Cheatham played a few original compositions during his set in the WGBH studio. Joining him were Kevin Harris on Piano, Bill Lowe on Bass Trombone and Tuba, Keala Kumeheawa on Accoustic Bass and Steve Langone on Drum Set.

Live jazz performances are hosted by WGBH's Eric Jackson and produced WGBH's by Steve Schwartz. Learn more about Jazz on WGBH radio, and join the WGBH Jazz Club to receive members-only invitations to future Jazz In Performance events.

Spotlight on Jason Palmer

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:22 PM +0000

Jazz with Eric Jackson on WGBH 02/26/2012. This show is features jazz trumpeter Jason Palmer, called one of the “Top 25 trumpeters of the Future” by Downbeat Magazine.

Remembering Mike Melvoin

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:43 PM +0000

In this episode of Jazz With Steve Schwartz, hear some pieces by the late Mike Melvoin, including his 2007 performance at the WGBH Fraser performance studio.

Spotlight on Robert Glasper

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:40 PM +0000

Host Eric Jackson features Robert Glasper, the keyboardist who has kept "one foot planted firmly in jazz and the other in hip-hop and R&B."

Celebrate Shepp And Parlan

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:13 AM +0000

Celebrate the music of Archie Shepp and pianist Horace Parlan this week with Steve Schwartz's jazz show.

In The Crowd For James Brown And Kevin White

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:42 PM +0000

Jan. 30, 2012

BOSTON — In 1968, a day after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed, Boston famously played host to a James Brown concert at which Mayor Kevin White gave a speech that was supposed to inspire unity and peace:

"Twenty-four hours ago, Dr. King died — for all of us, black and white, that we may live together in harmony, without violence and in peace," he said. "Now I'm here tonight, like all of you, to listen to James. But I'm also here to ask for your help. I'm here to ask you to stay with me as your mayor and to make Dr. King's dreams a reality in Boston. This is our city, and its future is in our hands — tonight and tomorrow and in the days that follow.

But what did the fans think?

WGBH jazz host Al Davis was in that audience. He was 17 years old. And White's words didn't ring out so loudly to him.

"We wasn't really too impressed with Kevin White," he says now. "The reason he received that round of applause is because James Brown introduced him. James said he's cool? All right, we'll work with that." Brown was sort of a spokesman for young fans: "Whatever he said, we listened." In this case, Brown said the mayor was "a swinging cat."

The fans felt uncomfortable about the mayor, Davis says. "We knew what he was about. And we listened, but — we didn't listen. ... I personally didn't think he was really sincere because of what was going on at the time. But he had to do that because of the position he's in, being mayor. He had to make this presentation."

They saved the listening for Brown, whose concert was "wonderful" — and who told everyone to go straight home after the show and not start trouble.

The start of the famous concert, with White's speech and Brown's first song:

Welcome 2012 With Toast Of The Nation

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:13 PM +0000

89.7 WGBH, Berklee College of Music and First Night Boston present the Julian Lage Trio at the Berklee Performance Center on New Year's Eve. The concert kicks off NPR's annual worldwide broadcast, Toast of the Nation, and is the centerpiece of this year's First Night Boston festival. WGBH's Eric Jackson hosts the show. Learn more about Toast of the Nation.

The concert is open to First Night button holders — or you can listen live, starting at 8pm, on 89.7 WGBH or at wgbh.org.

> > EXTRA: WGBH News' Jordan Weinstein interviews First Night's Joyce Linehan about this year's highlights.

The Julian Lage Trio Featuring Larry Grenadier and Eric Harland
Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011
7:45pm and 9pm
Berklee Performance Center
136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston

Berklee alumnus and jazz guitarist Julian Lage has been performing since he was 5 and has played with such artists as Carlos Santana, Pat Metheny and David Grisman. A former child prodigy, he was the subject of a 1997 Academy Award–nominated film, "Jules at Eight." His 2009 debut release, "Sounding Point," was nominated for a Grammy. His most recent release, "Gladwell," reflects Lage's wide-ranging musical interests and talents, ranging from chamber music, American folk and bluegrass to Latin, world, string-band tradition and modern jazz.

First Night Boston 2012 Discount
WGBH members receive $3 off First Night buttons. Visit the First Night Boston office at 36 Bromfield St., Boston, during regular business hours to purchase.

Spotlight On Eric Alexander 12/4/2011

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:25 PM +0000

Jazz with Eric Jackson on WGBH 12/4/2011. This show features saxophonist Eric Alexander. He is known for his hard blowing, straight ahead sound. This Spotlight focuses on his work as a leader and as a member of One For All.

Spotlight On Vincent Herring 11/27/2011

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:15 PM +0000

Jazz with Eric Jackson on WGBH11/27/2011. This show features saxophonist Vincent Herring. In his early career, he worked with Nat Adderley but he has been heading his own band since the early 90s.

Spotlight On Cindy Blackman 11/20/2011

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:47 PM +0000

Jazz with Eric Jackson on WGBH 11/20/2011. This show features drummer Cindy Blackman, who is married to Carlos Santana and studied at Berklee School of Music. Since the 80s she has worked with a variety of musicians including Lenny Kravitz, Sam Rivers and Jackie McLean.

Spotlight On Russell Malone 11/13/2011

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:33 PM +0000

Jazz with Eric Jackson on WGBH 11/13/2011. This show features guitarist Russell Malone who has worked and recorded with a vast variety of artists. Eric's 11/13 show highlights Malone as a leader.

Spotlight On Kurt Elling 11/6/2011

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:41 PM +0000

Jazz with Eric Jackson on WGBH 11/6/2011. This show features Kurt Elling, an exciting vocalist who first started recording in the mid 90s for Blue Note. In mid October, Kurt stopped by the WGBH studios for an interview with Eric.

Steve Schwartz 11/11/2011

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:37 PM +0000

Join Steve Schwartz in his 11/11/2011 show celebrating vocalist Ernestine Anderson (b. 11/11/1928) and alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano (b. 11/12/1923).