Brown & Grigsby - Aired 09/02/20

On this installment of the Houston Jazz Spotlight, we are celebrating the birthdays and the music of two living legends from the Houston scene, Ms. Jewel Brown who turned 83 on August 30, and Horace Grigsby. Chris Becker wrote, 'He Got Rhythm' an article about Horace for 'City Book Magazine', Horace talks about how he discovered jazz. Becker also interviewed pianist, Jason Moran for the article during the show today you will hear Jason tell Chris Becker that the only version of the song Jeanine he wants to hear is from Horace.

Playlist:

Part 1
Smooth Sailing - Arnett Cobb
Speech at the March on Washington - John Lewis
Party Time - Arnett Cobb
Medley - Jewel Brown
Jerry - Jewel Brown
Blues in the Closet - Arnett Cobb
That’s a Pretty Good Love - Jewel Brown with Bloodest Saxophone
One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show - Jewel Brown with Bloodest Saxophone
Afrodesia - Jewel Brown with Bloodest Saxophone
Kaimono Boogie - Jewel Brown with Bloodest Saxophone
The More You Hurt Me - Jewel Brown with Bloodest Saxophone
This Bitter Earth - Jewel Brown
Party Time - Arnett Cobb

Part 2
Happy Birthday - Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis
Party Time - Arnett Cobb
I’m Beginning to See the Light - Horace Grigsby
Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me - Horace Grigsby
Sophisticated Lady - Horace Grigsby
In Summer - Horace Grigsby
Where or When - Horace Grigsby
Summer Samba - Horace Grigsby
Quiet Nights - Horace Grigsby with Clayton Dyess
Party Time - Arnett Cobb
Interview with Jason Moran - Chris Becker & Jason Moran
Jeannine - Horace Grigsby
Like Someone in Love - Horace Grigsby
Stormy Monday Blues - Horace Grigsby
Alright Okay You Win - Horace Grigsby
Party Time - Arnett Cobb

Arnett Cobb

Today on the Houston Jazz Spotlight we are celebrating Texas Tenor legend, Fifth Ward son and Third Ward Don, Arnett Cobb, born August 10, 1918. We consider him the Dean of Houston Jazz because of his importance to the Houston Jazz scene. So we are playing his music the entire show. Arnett Cobb is celebrated around the world and should be a household name in Houston. We start every show with his music and we are dedicated to hipping you to the incredible scene he got his start on and that he help to build.

Houston Jazz Sentinels - Aired 8/05/20

August is Jazz Month in Houston. Started by the late master drummer and founder of the Summer Jazz Workshop, Bubbha Thomas in 1970, it was made official by Mayor Louie Welch. It is a time of the year that the Houston Jazz Spotlight focuses on the very talented musicians who keep the Houston Jazz scene vibrant. Today we will spotlight two cats who do just that, master pianist, Sir Bob Henschen and hurculean bassist, David Craig. Im dubbing these two the Houston Jazz Sentinels and on today's show we will feature music from one of their albums in it entirety. 

Protest Gospel - Aired 7/22/20

This episode of the Houston Jazz Spotlight explores the connection between Gospel music and the Civil Rights Movement. The show today is dedicated to two Freedom Soldiers who passed away last week, Civil Rights leaders, Representative John Lewis and Reverend C.T. Vivian. John Lewis stated, "without music the Civil Rights Movement would be like a bird without wings." The Dixie Hummingbirds recorded with Peacock Records in Fifth Ward. They sang background on Paul Simon's hit record, 'Love Me Like A Rock'. On the song, ' Let's Go To The Program' they entertained audiences with their amazing imitations of rival gospel groups of their day.

Kid's Jazz - Aired 7/15/20

Today on the Houston Jazz Spotlight we are celebrating my daughter Essie Joy's 3rd birthday. She is a big fan of cartoons, superheros and Jazz. So we are playing music for those cats who are young and those who are young at heart.

Blues - Aired 7/08/20

Today on the Houston Jazz Spotlight we will explore Houston's connection with the Blues. T Bone Walker once stated there could be no Jazz without the Blues. During my research for the show I came across an interview with the legendary Etta James. She said that early in her career she toured with Johnny Guitar Watson and tried her best to pattern her singing style after the Houston native. The first hour of the show is dedicated to the women of Houston Blues and to those women who have been important in the struggle for Civil Rights in our country.

Independence Day - Aired 7/1/20

As the city weathers the Coronavirus storm and we head into the Fourth of July holiday, today's Houston Jazz Spotlight will hip you to a couple of things along with great music. First, we celebrate the independence of our country every year on the Fourth of July yet in 1776 all the inhabitants of the country were not free to celebrate those liberties extolled, "that all men are created equal". Tomorrow, July 2 will be the 56th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Bill of 1964. Maybe that is a more appropriate day to celebrate because it is date we came a step closer to those ideas we, as a nation, claim to hold so dear. Second, the Fourth of July is the birthday of pianist, bandleader and prolific song writer from Houston, Seger Ellis. He wrote more than sixty songs and recorded over two hundred records from 1925 to 1948. If you know the song, "You're All I Want For Christmas" then you know Seger Ellis. He also recorded with Louis Armstrong.