This will be another Fund Drive Edition of “Living Jazz.” In memory of the great Charlie Christian, who was born 105 years ago, we’ll listen to a host of terrific jazz guitarists, ranging from contemporary players such as Gilad Hekselman, Lionel Loueke, John Scofield, Bill Frisell, and Mary Halvorson, to legends from the past such as Joe Pass, Jim Hall and Christian himself (playing with Benny Goodman). A track or two from a pair of up-and-coming jazz trombonists is also on the playlist. The first is Mike Fahie, whose band will be performing at the Shandelee Music Festival on Aug. 19. If all goes according to plan, “Living Jazz” on Aug. 20 will air a recording of the concert along with an interview I recorded with Mike. The second trombonist on the list is Ryan Keberle, who ranked as No. 2 among all jazz trombonists in Downbeat magazine’s most recent jazz Critics Poll. Keberle, it turns out, lives in the Catskills and listens to “Living Jazz.” Finally, we’ll listen to a moving exchange (from the new CD “Transformation”) between the legendary jazz reed player Ted Nash and his son Eli. Eli reads a letter in which he comes out to his father as trans; Ted Nash’s response to his son is musical and quite beautiful. Longtime listeners to “Living Jazz” may remember that back in 2016 Ted Nash debuted his “Presidential Suite” album on “Living Jazz.” That album went on to win a Grammy Award.
“Living Jazz” airs Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. on WJFF, 90.5 F.M., and streams online at http://wjffradio.org. Please join me.
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