Gunhild Carling 4/27-5/3
Swedish multi-instrumentalist, Gunhild Carling had a childhood filled with books, music, and magical adventures. It’s hard to imagine many in the business having more sincere fun than Gunhild. I first met Gunhild in Brazil when we were both part of a music festival for which I served as Artistic Director. I still have the vision of Gunhild bounding off the airplane in a perfectly pressed polka dot dress, her baby in tow, looking well-rested and upbeat, with full makeup and perfect hair. I was in jeans and a T-shirt and immediately thought, I need to up my game.
Alonzo Bodden 5/4-10
Comedian Alonzo Bodden’s wit and social commentary is well-known to his stand-up fans and to listeners of NPR’s Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, where he is a regular panel member. Alonzo is also an enthusiastic jazz fan and has been host to many jazz concerts and interviews as part of various jazz-themed cruises, which has given him a chance to not only hear his beloved music but to become friends with many jazz musicians, a happy circumstance he mentioned throughout our conversation. Alonzo feels there is a deep connection between jazz and comedy and talked to me about his passion for both.
Edmar Castaneda 5/11-17
Colombian-born harpist Edmar Castaneda feels his unique musical talent is a gift from God, a gift with the purpose to worship God and bring his presence and unconditional love to everyone.
Edmar took up the harp as a teenager to play Columbian traditional music and later combined it with the jazz he discovered when he moved to NYC at fifteen. Since then, he has collaborated with an impressive variety of top musicians from his early mentor, Paquito D’Rivera to John Scofield, John Patitucci, Marcus Miller and Sting.
Frank Marshall 5/18-24
Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar winning producer/director Frank Marshall grew up on picturesque Lido Isle in Newport Beach, CA surrounded by the musical friends of his father, jazz guitarist, composer, arranger, Jack Marshall, whose arrangement of “Fever” for Peggy Lee was one of many celebrated albums he worked on for Capitol Records in the late ‘50s and 60s. Frank Marshall has produced and/or directed multiple stage shows and films, including the Jason Bourne, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future and Jurassic World franchises. Through it all, music has played a major role in Frank’s life and his memories of being surrounded by great musicians growing up is a vivid and joyous.
In the summer of 1972, Jack Marshall and trumpeter/vocalist, Jack Sheldon joined forces to entice trumpeter/vocalist Chet Baker back into the studio after Chet had stopped recording, due to an injury to his mouth. The record was made but never released until Frank recently discovered the master and together with Zev Feldman, produced Chet Baker & Jack Sheldon, In Perfect Harmony: The Lost Album.
Bob Rummage 5/25-31
Chicago based drummer and Director of percussion at Elmhurst University, Bob Rummage is an old-style swinger. Bob has brought his groove to tours and recordings with Dizzy Gillespie, Nat Adderley, Benny Golson and many other jazz giants.
Bob Rummage and guitarist Andy Brown joined me onstage at the Dixon Historic Theatre in Dixon Illinois in March 2022 as part of my Jazz Inspired onstage series to talk, play music and swing like mad!
Jon Batiste 6/1-7
Pianist, composer, Jon Batiste, is an exuberant presence, whether playing music or talking about the importance of putting good energy and meaningful work into the world. His band, Stay Human, is named to honor the belief that human interaction during a live musical performance can uplift humanity in the midst of the "plug in/tune out" nature of modern society.
Jon Batiste arrived exactly on time for our conversation and danced through the door, softly singing a musical line as he gave me a hug and spotted the piano on the other side of the room. I had been instructed by a mutual friend to play a bit for Jon and he delighted at the thought, asking me to play more, when I stopped after a few bars.
Jim Shearer 6/8-14
Kyle Eastwood 6/15-21
Paula Poundstone 6/22-28
Nate Najar 6/29-7/5
Maud Hixon Two 7/6-12
Rufus Reid 7/13-19
Willie Nelson 7/20-26
Larry Koonse Two 7/27-8/2
Hilary Gardner 8/3-9
Joe LaBarbera 8/10-16
Maria Muldaur 8/17-23
Seth MacFarlane 8/24-30
Don Vappe 8/31-96
New Orleans banjoist/vocalist Don Vappie resisted the banjo during his early years in music but is now considered a virtuoso on the instrument. He has worked with Peggy Lee, Eric Clapton, and countless others in various styles and records, and produces for film and television.
Sam Dunn 9/7-13
British guitarist Sam Dunn spent his early years in the business traveling the world on a 200-passenger, luxury cruise ship where he played solo guitar sets and where I was lucky enough to corral him into playing with me when I was flown in for a concert. A friendship and musical partnership were born and since then Sam and I have toured widely around the world from Europe to Australia.
Neil deGrasse Tyson 9/21-27
Astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium in NYC discusses his love of blues and the connection between science and music. I’m crazy about astrophysics, so this conversation was loads of fun for me.
Nicole Zuraitis 10/5-11
Grammy nominated jazz singer/songwriter, Nicole Zuraitis refers to herself as a recovering opera singer, which her beautiful tone and effortless vocal style reflect. Unlike many of the younger vocalists today who jump out of music school right into a recording studio with little onstage experience to back it up, Nicole has put in the long hours performing honing her craft and creating her own unique style.
Nicole celebrates her vision on her CD How Love Begins, co-produced with bassist Christian McBride. The CD explores the dark and light sides of love--romantic and otherwise--and the tug between those states that always exists.
Antonio Adolfo 10/19-25
Brazilian composer/pianist Antonio Adolfo honors the great Antonio Carlos Jobim on his latest CD, Jobim Forever. Jobim’s music launched the international bossa nova craze and won multiple Grammys in 1965 with the release of Getz/Gilberto, one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time. Antonio Aldolfo’s own compositions have been recorded by Sergio Mendes, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick and many others, so focusing this CD on another composer, and one of his favorites, was a labor of love.
John Boutté 10/26-11/1
Vocalist/composer John Boutte, like many of his fellow New Orleaneans, grew up surrounded by music in the streets and in his home, but unlike most of his fellow natives, he went on to a career in the military after graduating with a degree in business. With influences ranging from Stevie Wonder to Nat Cole, John’s vocal style is swinging and unique. John wrote and sang the theme for the HBO series Treme but sees the fame he’s gained from this as giving him freedom to make the music he wants, rather than a road to stardom.