Jonathan Stout 9/19-25
Guitarist, bandleader, swing dancer, and occasional lawyer, Jonathan Stout loves swing music and diving into the specifics of what makes that music so appealing. Plenty of doctors, lawyers and those in other fields play music on the side, but Jonathan is the first virtuosic musician I’ve met who does a bit of lawyering on the side.
We discuss this, Jonathan’s latest CD, and the enduring appeal of this engaging musical style.
Melissa Errico 9/26-10/2
Tony Award-nominated actress, singer, writer Melissa Errico started singing at eleven, and with her pianist father, trumpet-playing brother and Melissa on vocals, they would--in her words--make guerrilla assaults on her neighbor’s pianos, going from door to door as a kind of Italian Partridge family, inviting themselves in to entertain anyone who’d have them. These adventures and others made clear where Melissa’s life was headed.
Diogo Brown 10/3-9
Latin Grammy-nominated Brazilian bassist/composer Diogo Brown is as enthusiastic and joyful as his music, both inspiring you to feel great and maybe just get up and dance.
His latest CD, Beleza Pura, with his eleven-piece band, Gafieira Rio Miami is a celebration of Brazilian music of the 1940s and ‘50s that brought together the sounds of Brazil with American big band swing. Gafieira Rio Miami puts a modern twist on it all by adding musical influences from the rich cultural diversity of Miami adding in some funk and jazz for good measure.
James Gavin Two 10/10-16
James Gavin has written about everything from art and fashion to music and sex. It’s his celebrated biographies that I especially enjoy, where James’ deep empathy for his subjects, and enticing storytelling, both entertains and enlightens.
James Gavin and I met to talk about his latest book, Cool Heat: Anita O’Day and Her Dangerous Jazz Life.