Jazz in the Afternoon with Chris Cooke

Tenor saxophonist Virginia Mayhew celebrates the  100th year anniversary of the birth of Mary Lou Williams  with new arrangements of eight Williams compositions, including "What's You Story, Morning Glory?", material from the "Zodiac Suite",  plus two new compositions by Virginia inspired by the legendary pianist.

Tribute albums are a plenty these days to legends in jazz. These discs have varying degrees of quality and artistic sincerity. Without question Arturo Sandoval’s latest disc is at an extremely high level of accomplishment in any regard. The heartfelt nature of the project no doubt drives the effort.

This week KIOS celebrates the 100th birthday of Gil Evans, one of jazz music's most celebrated composers and arrangers.  Jazz in the Afternoon will begin the weeklong tribute on Tuesday May 8th with music featuring Evans work as a leader and in collaboration with Miles Davis. NPR's Jazz Profiles will examine his life and career on Thursday May 10th. JazzSet will present a concert tribute to the collaborative efforts between Evans and Miles Davis on Friday May 11th.

Jazz fans can turn to NPR Music for archived performances with today's leading jazz artists.  This month you can listen to new performances from Steve Coleman and Third World Love. Recently The Checkout: Live From 92Y Tribeca presented a concert with the Ingrid Jensen Quintet. That performance has been archived, along with recent performances from drummer Al Foster and pianist Geri Allen at the Live at the Village Vanguard concert series.  You may listen to these and other concerts anytime at  http://www.npr.org/music 

Jazz in the Afternoon host Chris Cooke speaks with Calvin Keys in the KIOS studios. Omaha native Calvin Keys has returned to Omaha for a series of performances on May 4th and 5th at Love's Jazz & Arts Center. Show times both nights are at 7:00pm. Keys, an internationally renowned jazz guitarist, has returned many times to his hometown to perform to appreciative audiences.  For more information and reserved seats you may call 402-502-5291.

The latest offering from Michael Benedict and Bopitude, Five and One, is a hard bop delight filled with classic tunes and some forgotten gems by some of the greats of the post war bop scene. Drummer Benedict is joined by special guest baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan, Chis Pasin on trumpet and flugelhorn, Brian Patneaude on tenor, pianist  Bruce Barth and bassist Mike Lawrence. The band offers fresh interpretations of such classics as Nat Adderley's Work Song and Miles Davis' Compulsion. There are a few non-bop tunes in the set as well.

KIOS celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month, a national celebration sponsored by the Smithsonian Institute to help raise awareness of this great American art form. The objective, is to draw greater attention to jazz by encouraging musicians, concert halls, schools, colleges, libraries and public broadcasters to offer special programs on jazz every April. You can learn more about Jazz Appreciation Month at www.smithsonianjazz.org

Jazz in the Afternoon host Chris Cooke interviews Kathy Kosins, veteran jazz vocalist.  Her new recording, To The Ladies of Cool, is a toast to four of the most important vocalists in jazz, Chris Connor, Anita O'Day, June Christy and Julie London. In a wide-ranging interview, Kosins discusses the creative process behind the new disc as well as her influences and busy career as an in-demand vocalist.

For more information you visit http://www.kathykosins.com/

Recording Engineer: Mike Hansen.

Baritone Saxophonist Frank Basile is on tour in the Midwest.  Basile is a familiar musician to Omaha jazz fans, having spent time as a young musician in the area.  Frank Basile will perform with a band he co-leads with saxophonist Rob Scheps. The saxophonists have  sat next to each other in the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, one of the greatest jazz big bands on earth, both in Taiwan and at New York's Village Vanguard.

Legendary drummer has been recording and performing since the 1940's

By Chris Cooke

Listen to the interview (14:13)