Part 3. Miles Davis @ 100, Ballads & Blues: Ballads. In celebration of his Centennial we present Miles in the company of Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams, Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, and George Benson.

Guitarist/vocalist, John Pizzarelli has enjoyed a long career delighting audiences with his swinging music and charming stage presence. As the son of famed guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, John was exposed not only to Bucky’s talents growing up, but to the jazz greats in Bucky’s orbit. John and I have known each other since the early days of our careers, so today’s conversation was a fun reunion and a chance to talk about John’s new CD, Dear Mr. Bennett, which celebrates his friendship with Tony Bennett and the many ways Tony’s music continues to inspire him.

Max Schlenk Quartet. Northeast Ohio has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to jazz musicians, no doubt because of the plethora of jazz and classical educational programs. Many students come for a time and move on to other pastures but some, like Max Schlenk, kick the tires on larger markets but choose to make their way back, and we’re better for it when they do. The last time saxophonist Max Schlenk was featured on this program he was a student at Oberlin leading an Octet. Six years and one sojourn to New York later Max is back and he makes his home here in Northeast Ohio now as a bandleader and educator. This quartet performance features some of Max’s favorites along with a number of original compositions. Featuring Garret Folger on Trumpet, Tim Picard on Guitar, Jordan McBride on Bass, Jeremy McCabe on Drums and Max on Saxophones, and from an April 11th, 2025 performance, Daniel Peck is your host for the Max Schlenk Quintet…Live at the Bop Stop.

Imperial Records, Part 9 - 1956, Part 2. This week, we continue our Imperial series with part nine, focusing on Imperial's R&B releases from the second half of 1956. Fats Domino has the biggest hit of his entire career with "Blueberry Hill," a tune that Dave Bartholomew did not think he should record. It sold millions and millions and topped the R&B charts and landing at a whopping #2 on the pop chart. Matt The Cat presents the story behind that monumental release as well as spinning some great and seldom heard vocal group records from The Barons, The Victorials, The Dukes and The Honey Bees, a female group. We'll also dig on some solid R&B releases from Johnny Fuller, Ernie Freeman and Gloria Jean Pitts as we keep those records spinning on part nine of the Imperial Records Story.

The Montreal International Jazz Festival. We explore the history of The Montreal International Jazz Festival through legendary archival performances and personal stories from its founding artistic director, featuring Miles Davis, Diana Krall, Pat Metheny, and more. Plus the artists making their mark this summer.

Miles Davis @ 100, Ballads & Blues, Part 4: Blues. In celebration of his Centennial we present Miles in the company of Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Red Garland, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams, Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette.

British singer/songwriter, Nina Clark and British guitarist Sam Dunn are a special pair. They can swing like mad, or break your heart on a jazz standard, then be equally effective in other stylistic directions from rock and pop to Country and soul. Sam and Nina’s CD Easy Loving celebrates the collaboration of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass, and the unique character of this pair whose music continues to inspire and inform Sam and Nina their own unique duo.

Nehimah Stix Baker is one of the best young drummers working in Northeast Ohio today. Whether leading his Quintet or Trio, as he is on this program, Stix understands how to best leverage the kit to drive the sound he wants to achieve. For this performance, he enlists a couple of Northeast Ohio veterans, as Joe Lehman sits in on Piano and Steve Kortyka makes a guest appearance on Saxophone along with Bradford McGee on Bass. From June 19th, 2025 Daniel Peck is your host for the Stix Trio…Live at the Bop Stop.

Imperial Records, Part 10 - 1957. This week, we continue our Imperial series with part ten, focusing on Imperial's R&B releases from 1957. Fats Domino continues his hit streak as both "Blue Monday" and "I'm Walkin'" top the R&B chart and "Valley of Tears" stalls at #2. These 3 singles would also crack the pop top 10! Dave Bartholomew records a cult favorite about the Signifying Monkey and produces some great sides from James "Sugarboy" Crawford, Faye Adams and Chris Kenner. Blues shouter Roy Brown returns to the charts in '57 on Imperial with "Let The Four Winds Blow" and a cover of Buddy Knox's Rockabilly hit, "Party Doll." The line between R&B and Rock n' Roll is blurred as we keep those records spinning on part ten of the Imperial Records Story.

In honor of Father’s Day this weekend Jazz Night brings you the story of father-son saxophonists Mike and Julian Lee. We hear music from them at Jazz at Lincoln Center and get the backstory on the homelife that led to Julian's love of jazz at a young age.