Mark McLean, composer for the new series based on the beloved book by Kwame Alexander, tells GBH Music's Jazz on 89.7 hosts Al Davis and Va Lynda Robinson about his tunes and the inspiration behind them.
GBH Music and JazzBoston close the 2025 JazzNOW series with a tribute to jazz icon Ella Fitzgerald, featuring acclaimed Boston-based vocalist Gabrielle Goodman. Ella Fitzgerald, celebrated for her groundbreaking scat improvisation, impeccable vocal technique, and definitive interpretations of the Great American Songbook, redefined jazz over her 60-year career, earning 13 Grammys and breaking barriers for women and Black artists. Gabrielle Goodman and her band honor Fitzgerald’s legacy with fresh interpretations of the works that made her "The First Lady of Song." A professor at Berklee College of Music, Goodman is a versatile artist whose career spans jazz, R&B, classical, and gospel. She has performed with legends like Chaka Khan, Nancy Wilson, and Roberta Flack, who called her "one of the finest singers today." Goodman has released six acclaimed albums, including Travelin' Light and Until We Love on the Verve label, and was paired with Ella Fitzgerald recordings on a compilation album from Verve. She has also performed internationally at major jazz festivals.
Photo credit: Courtesy of the artist, Gabrielle Goodman
Michael Weiss has been a leading pianist and composer in jazz spaces for over 30 years. He’s returning to Sculler’s Jazz Club with his trio on March 15th. Before the show, he sat down with the hosts of Jazz on 89.7, Al Davis and Va Lynda Robinson.
Samara Joy is rolling like a river. Fresh off her self-titled debut in 2021, she’s been around the world, across the country and back home. Jazz 24/7’s…
