The last few weeks we have been focused on the continued senseless violence of our nations unique and deadly pastime of citizen Russian roulette known as mass shootings, with no end in site. So I thought today we would just Swing! Tune into the only radio program that hips you the Houston's amazing homegrown Jazz. You can listen to the Houston Jazz Spotlight on KPFT 90.1 FM from 6-8 pm and at kpft.org . Trumpeter, Russell Jacquet, elder brother of Texas tenor legend Ilinios Jacquet, had a successful big band on the west coast during the 40' and 50's in his band were many futrue stars of jazz, Charles Mingus, Dexter Gordon, Gerald Wilson, Chico Hamilton and of course his little brother, Illinois.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Today on HJS we will remember civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., born January 15, 1929. We will explore Houston's civil rights movement led by a group of TSU students and assisted by black business leaders. It is a very unique chapter in the city's history about how Houston desegregated quietly to avoid mass protest and negative national media coverage. We will spotlight the music of trumpeter, composer, educator, Brandon Lee.
Houston Jazz Vibraphonists
Houston is blessed to have not one but three masterful jazz vibraphonist on the scene. The elder statesman is Harry Sheppard, who is still swinging at 90 years young, the Don on the scene is Chase Jordan and the young contender is Jalen Baker. We will Spotlight music from his 2021 debut album, ‘ This is Me, This is Us. The album is a beautiful meditation on spirituality, trauma and healing. So tune in today at 6-8 pm to KPFT 90.1 FM and kpft.org to listen to the only radio show that hips you to the amazing cats from the Houston Jazz scene past and present.
Holiday Jazz
Happy Holiday Seasons however you spend this time of year. Today we will soundtrack your evening with jazz for the holidays. We always start our show with music from the Dean of Houston Jazz, Arnett Cobb. I havent come across any recordings of holiday music by Arnett so I choose, his 'Blue Me' it feels like a bluesy, 'Please Come Home For Christmas' by Texas City native, pianist and crooner, Charles Brown. Oh and just to remind you how hip Arnett Cobb still is, 'Blue Me' was used in the Marvel series, Iron Fist, season 2, episode 9, 'War Without End'.
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
Today on the Houston Jazz Spotlight we will be spotlighting a cat that master crooner, Horace Grigsby hipped me to, alto saxophonist, crooner, bandleader and composer, Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson. In 'The Autobiography of Malcom X' written by Alex Haley in chapter 5, 'Harlemite' Malcom speakes fondly of his friend Eddie Vinson and jokes about how Eddie lost his hair and became known as 'Cleanhead'. Another cool fact about Brother Vinson is that he hired a young altoist saxophonist name John Coltrane to join his band and gave him his first tenor saxophone. The master pianist and educator, Barry Harris just recently passed, today he would have been 92 years old. We will show the musical connections Brother Harris had with Houston.
Ernestine Anderson
Today on the Houston Jazz Spotlight we are spotlighting the music of vocalist, Ernestine Anderson. Her career spanned 60 years and she recorded more than 30 albums. She was a master of her craft often compared to the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and Billie Holiday. Tune in today at
Hubert Laws
Today is Hubert Laws birthday! He was born November 10, 1939 in Houston, Texas. He is considered one of the great masters of the flute in Jazz and classical music. He is still traveling the world and making beautiful music at 82 years young as can be seen in this August performance with master pianist and composer Herbie Hancock. Tune in today 6-8 pm on KPFT 90.1 FM and kpft.org as we spotlight the music of the Laws family, saxophonist, Ronnie Laws, vocalist, Debra and Eloise Laws and flutist, Hubert Laws.