JAZZ. MUSIC. LIFE.We know… and yet we don’t. It moves. Changes. Evolves. We hear it all the time yet we may not recognize it. It’s a life-long pursuit… understanding this thing.
At Lester the Nightfly we keep circling the topic with artists like Ceclie McLorin Salvant, David Kikoski, Brandi Disterheft, Tony Glausi… to name a few. No. Not enough. Never enough. See the work we do here in this jazz archive as is grows and develops and becomes something of note.
This is an ever-growing collection. Check back with some frequency to catch up on what we are up to on jazz at Lester the Nightfly.
For the aficionado - yep - got you covered with Oscar Peterson, Dexter Gordon, and even some Cedar Walton (Thanks Mitch!). And how about Duke Ellington doing some Nutcracker, Lou Rawls and Johnny Mathis & Ledisi with the Count Basie Orchestra?
We're already celebrating Thanksgiving... c'mon in, pull up a chair, no chicken necks for you... only the best gravy and stuffing, good cheer and reflection. Thanksgiving Jazz. This week on Lester the Nightfly.
Sing Joy Spring | Clifford Brown's name for his wife and the centerpiece of VOCALESE jazz by The Manhattan Transfer.
I Remember Clifford Brown | Vocalese Part 2. We dive into more Manhattan Transfer's Vocalese album and hear some Clifford Brown.
This is Episode One of a three-part series on a jazz vocal genre called Vocalese.
Found one! And it's a gem! The Swingin's Mutual from 1961. George Shearing and Nancy Wilson.
Three songs from Wayne Shorter Weather Report and three renditions of the great track Green Dolphin Street. Yeah man!
Wayne Shorter came to prominence in the late 1950s as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.
Part One of our series on the outstanding jazz composer and improvisationist.
Lizz Wright Jazz Blues Gospel (S2 | E99) on Lester the Nightfly - where you never know what you're gonna get.
Jazz: We have three major meditations and one micro-meditation. We hear the greats and we learn about the new.
Tony Glausi covers Rosalia, Alejandro Sanz and even Louis Cole on this magical playlist.
Tony shares his daily, weekly, monthly life experience with us through his music. During the pandemic, he wrote this little tune called Jada Jada... about dating and love and hope.
It was a last-minute idea that turned into a brilliant show. I was uninspired on Thursday and, thanks to Mitch Nochlin, was super-inspired on Friday. Just in time for another Saturday at noon LIVE LTNF.
The Manhattan Transfer at the Blue Note. A playlist and research of the songs that made a November 2021 night at the Blue Note club special.
Sam, Mitch, Malissa, Brian, Eitan, Running Lady, and Don't Know Her Name Lady. We were Table #1 at the Blue Note on Thursday night to see Robert Glasper.
Dave delivers... the goods in part four of four. We start with Bach (yes J S Bach) and move through some final selections from Dave's playlist.
"Roy Haynes is like a father to me," says Kikoski. At 96 years old - we want to call Mr. Haynes a national treasure.
During his short life, Charlie Parker changed the course of music. Like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and John Coltrane, he was a pioneering composer and improviser who ushered in a new era of jazz and influenced subsequent generations of musicians, writers and artists.
The great Dave Kikoski, Jazz Piano Man joins PJ Ewing on a multi-part interview on Lester the Nightfly.
The Jazz Vibrations of Victor Lewis (E33). Our host, PJ Ewing, sees a jazz show in Manhattan e voilá... we have a radio show.
Ciao! Chick Corea. Part Three of our three-part series. And yes... I'll say it and mean it. It is a "sweet sorrow" to finish this project.
Mellow and Brilliant: Piano-works. The Children’s Songs. Works with Pat Metheny, Gary Burton, Herbie Hancock. We are fascinated with the subtlety of Chick Corea at the keyboard.
Thank you Ryan Reed and the New York Times for a fabulous Chick Corea playlist. We dive deep, and explore the tracks in part one of a three part series on the late, great jazz piano man, Chick Corea