The first hour of this week’s “Living Jazz” show will be devoted to great pianists of the past with commentary by the brilliant young pianist Aaron Diehl as published in the latest issue of “Jazz Times” magazine. Among the piano greats we’ll listen to through Diehl’s ears are Earl Hines, Geri Allen and Mary Lou Williams, Muhal Richard Abrams, Sir Roland Hanna, Duke Ellington, and Keith Jarrett.
Continuing with the historical theme in the second hour, we’ll pay brief tribute to Pharaoh Sanders, the legendary jazz sax player and composer who died last year, and check out a tune written by local piano jazz legend Hal Galper from his recently released “Invitation to Openness” CD, which was recorded at a 2008 concert at Dana Duke’s Big Twig Studios. After that will come two newly unearthed historical gems, among the best of 2022, featuring Michael Brecker recorded live in Germany and Charles Mingus Live at the London jazz club Ronnie Scott’s. We’ll finish off with Aaron Diehl playing one of his own compositions on his 2020 CD “The Vagabond.”
“Living Jazz” airs Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. on WJFF Radio Catskill, 90.5 F.M., and streams online at wjffradio.org.