Piano Jazz Shorts

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A preview of upcoming conversations and improvisations with Marian McPartland and the brightest stars from the world of jazz. (Author: SCETV)
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Recent episodes from Piano Jazz Shorts

  • Henry Mancini
    Published: Sep 9, 08
    In this program from 1985, McPartland talks with celebrated composer Henry Mancini. Mancini talks about learning piano and flute as a child, playing in clubs around his hometown and teaching himself to compose. He performs one of his personal favorites, "Two For The Road," before he and McPartland improvise on "The Pink Panther Theme."
     
  • Mccoy Tyner
    Published: Sep 2, 08
    In this program from the Piano Jazz archives, pianist McCoy Tyner talks about the influences of Earl Hines and Art Tatum on his playing, and his ground-breaking work with John Coltrane. Tyner performs his own tune, "The Greeting," before joining McPartland on "Take The A Train" and "Naima."
     
  • Tony Bennett
    Published: Aug 26, 08
    McPartland welcomes the world-renown singer Tony Bennett to Piano Jazz. Bennett talks about his singing, his painting and tells fascinating behind-the-scenes anecdotes about Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen. Also included are clips from Tony's first appearance on Piano Jazz where he and McPartland talk about their friend Alec Wilder and Tony extolls the virture of American Popular Song. Performances include "I thought About You," "Last Night When We Were Young," "While We're Young," "Let There Be
     
  • Ahmad Jamal
    Published: Aug 19, 08
    From his 1985 appearance on Piano Jazz, Ahmad Jamal talks about growing up in Pittsburgh and he and McPartland reminisce about the London House and the Pershing Lounge in Chicago. Performances include Jamal's "Spain" and "Without You" and McPartland encourages a reluctant Jamal to lead her into his hit "Poinciana."
     
  • Herbie Hancock
    Published: Aug 12, 08
    Pianist/composer Herbie Hancock joined McPartland in 1987 and talked about getting his start in Chicago and his contributions to the movie, Round Midnight. Her performs a tune from the movie, "Chan's Song," and performs his own hit "Dolphin Dance.'
     
  • Norah Jones
    Published: Aug 5, 08
    Norah Jones joined McPartland at the 2003 Tanglewood Jazz Festival and performed "Mean To Me," Walking My Baby Back Home," and debuted her new lyric to Ellington's "Melancholia." Also included in this podcast - clips from Jones' first appearance on Piano Jazz talking about her her "little kid piano lessons," her move from Dallas to New York, and the whirlwind rise to fame that followed. The two perform "In The Dark" and "Don't Know Why."
     
  • Mel Torme
    Published: Jul 30, 08
    The Velvet Fog, Mel Torme joined McPartland in 1992 for this Piano Jazz. He talked about being at the peak of his career at age 66, his book about drummer Buddy Rich, and his multiple appearances on the television series, Night Court. Performances include duets of "Dream Dancin'" and "Slow Boat to China."
     
  • Dizzy Gillespie
    Published: Jul 15, 08
    The legendary Dizzy Gillespie joined McPartland in 1985 for this Piano Jazz. He talked about the early days of bebop and the probable origin of the term as well as his brief but transformative experiences with Duke Ellington. He and McPartland sit down at the piano for Dizzy's "Con Alma,' and Diz picks up the horn for "In a Mellow Tone."
     
  • Sarah Vaughan
    Published: Jul 8, 08
    In this program from 1986, Vaughan talks about learning to sing and play the piano as a child and her fist big gig at the Apollo amateur hour. Vaughan and McPartland get playful with "Misty" before getting serious on performances of "You Are So Beautiful" and "Tenderly."
     
  • Ray Charles
    Published: Jul 1, 08
    In this Piano Jazz recording from 1991, pianist/singer Ray Charles talks about his love of Nat Cole, listening to a variety of music as a kid and his ability to transcent musical genres. Musical selections include Charles performing Summertime, McPartland's Portrait of Ray Charles, and an improvised blues piano duet.
     
  • Bill Evans
    Published: Jun 25, 08
    Pianist Bill Evans joined McPartland during the first season of Piano Jazz to talk about his deep preperation of tunes, his influences, and working with Miles Davis on "Kind of Blue." \Performances include "Donna Lee," "This is All I Ask" and "In Your Own Sweet Way."
     
  • Stephane Grappelli
    Published: Jun 17, 08
    Violinist Stephane Grappelli joined McPartland in 1990 to talk about how he learned his instrument, his first meeting with a young gypsy guitarist named Django Reinhart and the formation of the Hot Club du France. Performances include "Pennies From Heaven" and "Lady Be Good"
     
  • Warren Vache
    Published: Jun 11, 08
    Cornetist Warren Vache talks with Marian about his earliest gigs and shares stories about Ray Noble. Bassist Gary Mazzaroppi and drummer Glenn Davis join McPartland and Vache for performances of "Louisiana," "Strike Up The Band," and "The Very Thought of You."
     
  • Joe Wilder
    Published: Jun 3, 08
    From this Piano Jazz, originally broadcast in 2001, trumpeter Joe Wilder talks with McPartland about his earliest musical gigs with his father and the differences between playing jazz and classical music. Bassist Rufus Reid joins McPartland and Wilder for performances of "Its You Or No One," "It's Easy To Remember," "How Deep Is The Ocean."
     
  • Elizabeth Doyle
    Published: May 28, 08
    Pianist and singer Elizabeth Doyle talks about her musical upbringing in South Dakota, and she and McPartland share appreciations for the great female singer/pianists. Musical selections include Doyle's piano solo of "Blame it On My Youth" and a piano/vocal performance of Doyle's own tune "Little Blue Boat."