Brenda Earl Stokes 5/2-8
Canadian pianist and singer/songwriter, Brenda Earle Stokes’ latest CD, Motherhood explores the joys and challenges of that much celebrated but often under-appreciated role. Stokes lets her fellow mothers know they aren’t alone on this wild ride and clues in everyone else on what mothers are really thinking.
Brenda is a deep thinker and a rare lyricist who can translate those perspectives into moving, meaningful lyrics that enlighten and empower her listeners.
John Pizzarelli Two 5/9-15
Guitarist/vocalist, John Pizzarelli has enjoyed a long career delighting audiences with his swinging music and charming stage presence. As the son of famed guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, John was exposed not only to Bucky’s talents growing up, but to the jazz greats in Bucky’s orbit.
John and I have known each other since the early days of our careers, so today’s conversation was a fun reunion and a chance to talk about John’s new CD, Dear Mr. Bennett, which celebrates his friendship with Tony Bennett and the many ways Tony’s music continues to inspire him.
Sam Dunn & Nina Clark 5/16-22
British singer/songwriter, Nina Clark and British guitarist Sam Dunn are a special pair. They can swing like mad, or break your heart on a jazz standard, then be equally effective in other stylistic directions from rock and pop to Country and soul.
Sam and Nina’s CD Easy Loving celebrates the collaboration of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass, and the unique character of this pair whose music continues to inspire and inform Sam and Nina their own unique duo.
Felix Contreras 5/23-29
Award-winning journalist, music critic and co-creator/host of NPR’s Alt Latino, Felix Contreras has the widest range of music he adores of anyone I know. He’s an international ambassador of Latin music and art but can just as easily rhapsodize about his love for The Grateful Dead, jazz, and the Beatles and explain poetically how it all connects.
Felix and I met at NPR in 2001 when Jazz Inspired was part of a show called, “Jazz Riffs” and Felix was the Executive Director of the series.
Felix has been a dear friend ever since, and a tireless supporter of Jazz Inspired, so it was a treat and honor to finally have him on the show.
Ricky Alexander 5/30-6/5
Imagine my delight when a CD called Just Found Joy came in the mail with a vaguely amused-looking horn player on the cover with a goat standing behind him digging the sounds.
Obviously, this musician was a fellow goat-lover and as my luck would have it, a wonderful, swinging player as well. Clarinetist, saxophonist, composer, Ricky Alexander. I immediately reached out to Ricky and arranged our conversation.