Tonight's Jazz Feature is a style known as "Mainstream Jazz". It really represents a concept where young and older musicians share a common ground. Some players are adaptable and some are not . This session called "The Jo Jones Special" represents some of the old and some of the new. It was recorded in August of 1955 with the leader Jonathan "Jo" Jones on drums. A master drummer was Jo. He assembled a fine group here with Emmett Berry on trumpet, Bennie Green on trombone and Eli "Lucky" Thompson on tenor saxophone on the front line. On piano is Nat Pierce, Basie stalwarts Freddie Green on guitar and Walter Page on bass work hand in glove with Jo Jones. An honored guest on the first and last tune of this album is Count Basie himself replacing Nat Pierce. Enjoy this fine music tonight on "The Jo Jones Special".

Tonight's Jazz Feature is Part 2 of the major stylistic changes that Miles Davis explored. Trumpeter Miles Davis needs no introduction here but over the years he altered his style and musical context several times. Some of the changes caused him to lose some of his audience but alternately he gained new followers. Miles always followed his own artistic muse. We'll hear these stylistic changes from some selected recordings beginning with two from his iconic and classic "Kind of Blue" from 1959 and go from there until the mid 1980's. Enjoy part 2 of the many styles of Miles Davis.

Tonight's Jazz Feature is different from the usual as it will present a selective groups of performances by trumpeter, band leader and Jazz icon Miles Davis over his career and his various changes throughout the years from his early days in the 1940's through the 50's.. Miles Davis was born on May 26,1926 and passed away at age 65 on September 26, 1991. These performances will reveal some of the stylistic changes that Miles Davis went through and pioneered. He is arguably one of the most important musicians in Jazz History and in many ways changed the way we perceive Jazz Music. Many of his changes alienated his fans but brought new ones to the forefront. We'll hear some of these changes tonight as out Jazz Feature. We covered the 40's and early 50's including Davis' "First Great Quintet. Next week we'll continue the Davis odyssey from the late 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's. Be sure to be here.

Tonight's Jazz Feature is a fine album that never saw the light of day until the early 80's despite being recorded in August 1963. It was the first album by trumpeter Richard "Blue" Mitchell for Blue Note Records. It was given a catalogue number and advertised in the Blue Note brochure but never released. It's a fine date with Blue on trumpet, Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone. Joe also did most of the arrangements on this date as well. Leo Wright is here on alto saxophone, Herbie Hancock is on piano, Gene Taylor on bass and Roy Brooks is on drums. Two standards and four original tunes make up this fine date. It simply got lost in the shuffle but finally was issued after research into the Blue Note files.It's a fine and enjoyable date with some solid playing by all. Enjoy "Step Lightly" as tonight's Jazz Feature.

Tonight's Jazz Feature is a belated Birthday tribute to one of the the most unique and individual voices of the alto saxophone John Lenwood "Jackie" McLean. Jackie was born in Harlem, New York City on May 17,1931 and passed away at age 74 on March 31, 2006 after a long illness. Jackie made his first recording at age 19 with Miles Davis as a disciple of Charlie Parker and with his own sound. It wasn't long before Jackie developed his own ideas and phrasing. The Jazz Feature is a rare and previously unissued Blue Note Records date from 1966 that has Jackie exploring linear modal forms on the five tunes on the album. He also presents along with bassist Don Moore, two relatively new players on the New York scene: pianist Larry Willis who contributes the title track and and one other tune and a great young drummer from Chicago named Jack DeJohnette! Jackie's sound has been described as "sugar free saxophone" and you'll hear that in abundance tonight. Happy Birthday Anniversary Mr. McLean and to our listers: enjoy "High Frequency".

Tonight's Jazz Feature spotlights a unique talent who explored various styles of Jazz throughout a long career. Jimmy Giuffre played all the saxophones and most famously, the clarinet. In his early years his clarinet style in which he focused on the lower register of the clarinet (the chalumeau register) was his unique achievement and hallmark. He later explored the clarinet's full register when he turned to more free form Jazz. Of the many styles he performed, tonight's Jazz Feature focuses on his first trio called The Jimmy Giuffre Three. It had Giuffre on tenor and baritone saxophones plus his low register clarinet with the great Jim Hall on guitar and bassist Ralph Pena. This living room sized band explored Giuffre's compositions and dipped into blues and folk music. It's first recording done in Los Angeles on December 3 & 4 1956 was an early masterpiece and issued by Atlantic Records. There was really nothing on the Jazz horizon like this music at this time and this album was greeted warmly by the critics and fans. Enjoy The Jimmy Giuffre Three as tonight's Jazz Feature.

Tonight's Jazz Feature is by one of trumpet master and Jazz pioneer John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie's finest groups. It's both fun and serious and an off the wall tribute to some music from the Caribbean, hence the title: Jambo Caribe. The music is by Dizzy's long standing Quintet with James Moody on tenor saxophone and flute, Kenny Barron on piano, Christopher White on bass and vocal, Rudy Collins on drums and added on some tunes Kansas Fields on percussion and surdo drum. Dizzy of course on trumpet and some vocals. The selections include some calypso flavored tunes that are fun and serious at the same time and some straight up Jazz. This album was recorded in November of 1964 in Chicago and although it's a lesser known album from Dizzy's vast output it demonstrates Dizzy's always serious approach to music and his love of entertaining people with style and humor. Enjoy Jambo Caribe, tonight's Jazz Feature.

Tonight's Jazz Feature is a very fine album by boss trumpeter Blue Mitchell. Mitchell was a mainstay in pianist Horace Silver's Quintet for 4 1/2 years and grew to maturity in that band. His style is devoid of showy pyrotechnics but with a sharp precise tones and a lyrical melodic concept. He's one of the few trumpeters who could sustain interest for a whole album without another horn like a saxophone. Blue is ideally paired here with piano great Wynton Kelly and they are perfect for one another and reflect the pure joy of making music. Blue and Wynton are backed superbly by bassist Sam Jones and drummer Roy Brooks. The tunes are standards and a few original compositions by Blue and others. This is one of the most enjoyable albums as it's easy on the ears. Blue's Moods...tonight's Jazz Feature.

Tonight's Jazz Feature should need no introduction to Jazz people as it is an essential classic and arguably one of bassist/composer Charles Mingus' finest albums. It was done for Columbia Records and it was Mingus' first album for a major label which guaranteed wide distribution and a quality product. It became a best seller for Mingus and Columbia. It was critically acclaimed and literally brought Mingus out of the Jazz underground to the Jazz fore forefront.. It featured Mingus' basic Jazz Workshop quintet augmented by a few Mingus alumni from previous Workshop editions. The regulars were: John Handy on alto and tenor saxophones, Booker Ervin on tenor saxophone, Horace Parlan on piano, Mingus on bass and Dannie Richmond on drums.. The added horns were Shafi Hadi on tenor and alto in an ensemble role, Jimmy Knepper or Willie Dennis on trombone. Mingus had full control of the date and supervised the post production editing and the sequencing of the tunes on the recording. With this album Mingus widened his audience and his musical influence everywhere. Enjoy Mingus Ah Um tonight as our Jazz Feature celebrating Mingus' 103rd Birthday Anniversary tomorrow April 22.

Tonight's Jazz Feature is an early version of the Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop recorded on his independent record label: Debut Records. Mingus and drummer Max Roach owned the label during it's short existence (1952 to 1957). Mingus in 1955 had begun a new concept for his bands. No written music. Mingus taught the players from the piano as Mingus was a more than competent pianist. The players memorized the compositions, background riffs and everything without written music and it gave Mingus' bands more what he was aiming for. This band reflects his new concept and hence the name The Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop. This edition was recorded on Sunday evening from 5:50pm to 8:30 pm on December 18,1955 at a small New York club called The Cafe Bohemia.. The band includes George Barrow on tenor saxophone a fine underrated player with a big sound and a cliche-free concept. Eddie Bert, one of the finest trombonists is on the front line. Mal Waldron is on piano, Mingus leads and is on bass and Willie Jones is on drums. The tunes are all arranged by Mingus and with two exceptions the 8 selections are Mingus compositions. This is a fine solid set and is a new beginning for one of the most innovative and creative minds in Jazz music: Charles Mingus.