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Recent Highlights

Explore the Jazz with George Thomas Program Archive »

Recent Episodes

  • Jazz Old & New Wednesday, 05/23/12 9pm We share some favorites of mine tonight, including "Compared to What" with Les McCann & Eddie Harris, "So What" from the classic Miles Davis album "Kind Of Blue," Horace Sliver's "Song For My Father" with the tenor Sax of Joe Henderson and Christian McBride's duet with Dee Dee Bridgewater on "It's Your Thing." Thanks.
  • Brian Mital from the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival Tuesday, 05/22/12 9pm Our guest tonight is Brian Mital, Managing Director from the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. We listen to many of the musicians coming to the June 1-10 Festival: Bela Fleck and the Marcus Roberts Trio; Jonathan Batiste; Dianne Reeves and Chicha Libre.
  • Fats Waller, Christian McBride, Bill Holman Monday, 05/21/12 9pm Fats Waller is my favorite funny guy in jazz, he's also one of the best pianists ever and we celebrate his birthday tonight along with that of the young bass virtuoso Christian McBride, who will bring his band Inside Straight to the Discover Jazz Festival on June 8th. We also celebrate the birthday of Big Band leader Bill Holman.
  • Big Joe Turner, Kai Winding Friday, 05/18/12 9pm It's the birthday of a key figure in blues & jazz, vocalist Big Joe Turner, who is considered by many to be a key figure in the roots of Rock & Roll. It's also the birthday of trombonist Kai Winding, who worked for many years in the 1950's with another trombone player, J. J. Johnson.
  • Jackie McLean, Dewey Redman & Burlington Discover Jazz Festival Thursday, 05/17/12 9pm We celebrate two jazz birthdays tonight, the alto sax player & composer Jackie McLean and the tenor saxophonist Dewey Redman. Both have sons who are accomplished sax players in their own right. And we continue to sample releases from artists appearing at the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival June 1-10.
  • Betty Carter & Burlington Discover Jazz Festival Wednesday, 05/16/12 9pm Tonight we celebrate the birthday of the Betty Carter, a vocalist with a style that pushes boundaries but is very musical. She always led a band with young, up and coming musicians and ran her own record label. We also review some of the artists coming to the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival June 1-10.
  • Edmond Hall, Ellis Larkins, Grace Kelly Tuesday, 05/15/12 9pm Tonight's birthdays include clarinet player Edmond Hall, who recorded some deep blues in 1941 featuring the acoustic guitar of an electric guitar pioneer, Charlie Christian; pianist Ellis Larkins, known for his solos, duets and his excellent backing of various vocalists including Ella Fitzgerald and alto sax prodigy Grace Kelly.
  • Sidney Bechet Monday, 05/14/12 9pm Sidney Bechet, the first jazz soloist (recorded ahead of Louis Armstrong by a few months), was born in New Orleans on May 14, 1897 and died May 14, 1959 in Paris. In between he recorded some of the finest early jazz with his soprano sax or clarinet soaring above ensembles. Check out Phillip Larkin's poem "For Sidney Bechet"
  • Mother's Day, Gil Evans, Carla Bley Friday, 05/11/12 9pm Tonight we share music in honor of Mother's Day, including gospel mother songs from Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Mahalia Jackson. We also celebrate the birthdays of two of the best big bandleaders in jazz, pianists Gil Evans and Carla Bley.
  • Fred Astaire, Jimmy Ponder Thursday, 05/10/12 9pm Tonight we celebrate the birthdays of tap-dancer & vocalist Fred Astaire and guitarist, bandleader Jimmy Ponder. We also hear new releases by Hailey Niswanger, a young alto sax player, vocalist Marianne Solivan and vocalist Virginia Schenck.
  • Anthony Wilson, Wednesday, 05/09/12 9pm We celebrate the birthday of the young guitarist Anthony Wilson, on record with Diana Krall and Al Jarreau, in addition to his own recordings with his trio and ensemble. We start tonight's program with Lynne Arriale's Trio version of Lennon/McCartney's "Come Together."
  • Mary Lou Williams, Keith Jarrett - Part 2 Tuesday, 05/08/12 9pm Tonight we celebrate Part 2 of the birthdays of pianist, composer, arranger Mary Lou Williams and pianist & supreme improvisor Keith Jarrett. We hear Mary Lou Williams' piano, compositions and arrangements with Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie and Andy Kirk.

About Jazz with George Thomas

VPR Jazz Host, George Thomas
End your evening on the right note with Jazz in the Evening with George Thomas. From traditional crooners to contemporary improv, George swings you into the night.

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VPR Jazz Fest Blog 2009-2010

Selections from the Archive

Tuesday, 01/12/10 9pm

Jazz: Sandra Wright, Jay McShann

We note sadly the passing of "Vermont's Blues Diva," Sandra Wright, with a live recording done in 2000 with Big Joe Burrell introducing her. Jay McShann's birthday is the occasion to revisit some on his 1941 Decca recordings featuring a young Charlie Parker soloing on his first recordings.

Friday, 01/08/10 10pm

Jazz: Vocalese

Vocalese is a style of setting new lyrics to an existing jazz performance, often using a recorded instrumental solo as a starting place. We hear some of the masters of the genre including, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, Joe Carroll, Eddie Jefferson, Kurt Elling and more.

Friday, 10/15/04 8:05am

Jazz with George Thomas

Jazz in the Evening with George Thomas for Friday, October 15, 2004