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Jazz Night In America Jazz Night In America is a public radio program, a video concert documentary series, and an online home for the music, from NPR Music and WBGO.

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Isaiah Collier

Isaiah Collier Johanna Brinckman hide caption

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Johanna Brinckman

Isaiah Collier explores 400 years of Black history — one movement at a time

WBGO

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier's The Story of 400 Years is a sweeping suite that traces Black American history from the Middle Passage to today — and the personal and historical moments that shaped it.

Isaiah Collier explores 400 years of Black history — one movement at a time

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Gather around 'The Yule Log' with pianist George Burton

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Gather around 'The Yule Log' with pianist George Burton

WBGO

On this special holiday episode, we gather around the fire for a special listen to pianist George Burton's burning Christmas record, The Yule Log. We'll hear some favorites and some deep, deep Christmas cuts.

Gather around the ‘Yule Log’ with pianist George Burton

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Quincy Jones attends the "Steiger Award 2014" at Heinrichshuette on October 3, 2014 in Hattingen, Germany.

Quincy Jones in Hattingen, Germany, in 2014. Sascha Steinbach/Getty Images hide caption

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Sascha Steinbach/Getty Images

Ode to 'Q': The Jazz Side of Quincy Jones

WBGO

We honor the late Quincy Jones' extraordinary jazz legacy with our host, Christian McBride, who bonded with the media mogul and musical icon over the years.

Ode to “Q”: The Jazz Side of Quincy Jones

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Host Christian McBride and Saxophonist Lou Donaldson in Florida.

Host Christian McBride and Saxophonist Lou Donaldson in Florida. Katie Simon/WBGO hide caption

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Katie Simon/WBGO

Good Gracious! Words Of Wisdom And Soulful Reflection From 'Sweet Poppa' Lou Donaldson

WBGO and Jazz at Lincoln Center

The legendary alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson died on Nov. 9, 2024. To honor his legacy, we revisit our 2019 episode featuring Lou in an intimate conversation with host Christian McBride.

Good Gracious! Words Of Wisdom And Soulful Reflection From 'Sweet Poppa' Lou Donaldson

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John Scofield

John Scofield has played with Miles Davis, Charles Mingus and many more over the 100 or so albums he's recorded as a sideman and bandleader. He says that picking 10 tracks from that illustrious catalog felt "overwhelming." Jonathan Chimene/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jonathan Chimene/Courtesy of the artist

50 years in 10 tracks: A career-spanning playlist from John Scofield

WBGO

Guitarist John Scofield picks 10 of his favorite tracks from his own catalog and shares the stories behind them as he celebrates 50 years of recorded music.

50 years in 10 tracks: A career-spanning playlist from John Scofield

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George Benson, dressed in a dark orange blazer jacket, sits holding his guitar in front of a music staned

George Benson says that at the height of his commercial success in the 1970s, he faced a backlash from the jazz community. "[If] it appealed to too many people ... something's got to be wrong with it." Matt Furman © Rhino-WMG/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Matt Furman © Rhino-WMG/Courtesy of the artist

George Benson on success, critics and staying true to himself

WBGO

Vocalist, guitarist and jazz icon George Benson joins Christian McBride for a conversation about his early years on the jazz scene, fame and his new “lost” album.

George Benson on success, critics and staying true to himself

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Christie Dashiell sings, and Antonio Hart plays saxophone, on opening night of DC Jazzfest with the DC Jazz All-Stars at the Hamilton Live in Washington, D.C. Photo by Cheriss May, for NPR.

Christie Dashiell sings and Antonio Hart plays saxophone with the JazzDC All-Stars on opening night of DC JazzFest at The Hamilton Live in Washington, D.C. Cheriss May/NPR hide caption

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Cheriss May/NPR

The Picture Show

PHOTOS: The DC Jazz Festival celebrates 20 years!

For its 20th anniversary, the DC Jazz Festival featured performances throughout the Washington, D.C., area culminating in a weekend jam-packed with performances stretched across several venues at The Wharf in Southwest Washington.

Sarah Hanahan, dressed in all black with sunglasses on, holds a gold alto saxophone in her lap

Sarah Hanahan Courtesy of the artist/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist/Courtesy of the artist

Sarah Hanahan: A rising star on the alto saxophone

WBGO

We put the spotlight on Sarah Hanahan — one of the most exciting alto saxophonists of her generation. Hear her blazing set from the Caramoor Jazz Festival and music from her debut album, Among Giants.

Sarah Hanahan: A rising star on the alto saxophone

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Gabrielle Cavassa, Gregory Porter, Cory Wong

Gabrielle Cavassa at Exit Zero Jazz Festival, Gregory Porter at Saint Lucia Jazz Festival, Cory Wong at Newport Jazz Festival Mitra I. Arthur; Jonathan Chimene; Newport Jazz / Adam Kissick hide caption

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Mitra I. Arthur; Jonathan Chimene; Newport Jazz / Adam Kissick

Jazz (Fest) in America

WBGO

It’s summertime! Celebrate the season of sun and sounds with live music from some of our favorite festivals around the world.

Jazz (Fest) in America

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Oran Ektin by José De Holanda

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Oran Etkin's global jazz journeys and the magic of Timbalooloo

WBGO

Oran Etkin creates musical connections around the globe. He also makes instruments come to life in his Timbalooloo program for children.

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Pianist Omar Sosa plays 'child trickster' in divinely inspired musical journey

Omar Sosa Fabrizio Cirulli/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Fabrizio Cirulli/Courtesy of the artist

Pianist Omar Sosa plays 'child trickster' in divinely inspired musical journey

WBGO

What happened when the Cuban pianist Omar Sosa met with a Santería high priest? He found his life calling.

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There are multi-instrumentalists and then there's Morgan Guerin

Morgan Guerin Chase Guerin/Courtesy of Artist hide caption

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Chase Guerin/Courtesy of Artist

Jazz Night In America: The Radio Program

There are multi-instrumentalists and then there's Morgan Guerin

WBGO and Jazz at Lincoln Center

Multi-instrumentalist, engineer, composer and producer Morgan Guerin invites us to his home studio to hear tracks from his new, lush, genre-bending record, Tales of the Facade.

There are multi-instrumentalists and then there's Morgan Guerin

'Hello there, I'm Hazel Scott': Jazz's unsung artist-activist

circa 1955: Studio portrait of Trinidadian-born jazz pianist and vocalist Hazel Scott, wearing a black dress with thin sheer panels, leaning against a white piano. Scott trained at the Julliard School. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

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Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Jazz Night In America: Video Episodes And Shorts

'Hello there, I'm Hazel Scott': Jazz's unsung artist-activist

Jazz Night shines a light on the artistry and activism of pianist and singer Hazel Scott, and the efforts to recover her legacy.

Subtle, relaxed and swinging — there's something about Mary Stallings

Mary Stallings performs with Emmet Cohen Trio at Dizzy's Club in December 2021. Left to right: Emmet Cohen, Russell Hall, Stallings, Joe Farnsworth Gabriela Gabrielaa hide caption

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Gabriela Gabrielaa

Jazz Night In America: The Radio Program

Subtle, relaxed and swinging — there's something about Mary Stallings

WBGO and Jazz at Lincoln Center

As a young singer, Mary Stallings shared the stage with legends. Though her career hasn't been a straight line, she's still swinging at 84, as she proves in a performance with the Emmet Cohen Trio.

Subtle, relaxed and swinging — there's something about Mary Stallings

McLean's Scene: How Jackie McLean made Hartford a destination for jazz

Portrait of American jazz musician, composer and band leader Jackie McLean, Hartford, Conn., 1979. Deborah Feingold/Corbis via Getty Images hide caption

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Deborah Feingold/Corbis via Getty Images

Jazz Night In America: The Radio Program

McLean's Scene: How Jackie McLean made Hartford a destination for jazz

WBGO and Jazz at Lincoln Center

At a time when jazz was not widely seen in higher education, the alto saxophonist brought the wisdom learned on the bandstand to the classroom.

McLean's Scene: How Jackie McLean made Hartford a destination for jazz

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