CURRENT SCHEDULE on WUMR-FM, U92 The Jazz Lover, Memphis, TN
Sundays, 9:00am, Central Standard Time

June 7 #12: "Gary McFarland, Appreciated"

Composer McFarland burst on the scene with a critically acclaimed jazz score to "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying". He played vibes with Stan Getz and others, made beautiful and unique records with Bill Evans, Bob Brookmeyer, Gabor Szabo, and became a record producer before dying suddenly at the age of 38. 

June 14 #A9: "The Make-Believe Ballroom" An Incomplete History of Jazz Radio, Vol. 1 

To help public radio with its pledge drives, we've created a colorful 4-show trip back through the history of jazz on radio. From the first live broadcast in 1906, to swing music played on World War II military stations, part 1 of our story gets illustrated with rare broadcast recordings including New Orleans clarinetist Jimmie Noone live with King Oliver's Creole jazz band in 1923, Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club, Count Basie at the Savoy, Louis Armstrong sitting in with Benny Goodman's Sextet, Frank Sinatra at Roseland, Art Tatum, Roy Eldridge, Cab Calloway, and a 19-year old Bud Powell playing blues with Cootie Williams.

June 21 #A10: "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid" An Incomplete History of Jazz Radio, Vol. 2 

The 2nd part of our pledge drive special continues the story in World War II and looks at the demise of live band remotes, the rise of FM radio, and hip-talking DJs like New York's famous Symphony Sid. An hour of rare broadcasts starts with NBC's unique "Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street" with Lena Horne, goes to a battle of the bands between Charlie Barnett and Woody Herman, finds Charlie Parker at the Royal Roost, Ellington at the Blue Note, Brubeck at Birdland, and a government radio show catches Tony Bennett jamming with Gene Krupa!

June 28 #13: Charles Mingus & Neal Hefti

Even legendary jazz musicians have surprising and overlooked talents. Dig the 1940's & 50's swing trumpet playing of composer Neal Hefti, and the 1950's & 60's unique piano playing of composer, bassist and bandleader Charles Mingus.

July 5 #A5: Independence Day - "The Return of the V-Disc" Vol. 2 

Celebrate America's popular July 4th holiday with the second in our series of re-discovered swing-era V-Disc recordings, made to boost the morale and fighting spirit of the troops in WWII. Records you've never heard by Benny Goodman, Nat King Cole, Red Norvo, Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Bing Crosby, Gene Krupa, and more.

July 12 #14: Lennie Tristano & Billy Bauer

Their "cool" school was so advanced it still sounds modern. Pianist Tristano influenced many musicians but never became popular with the public. Guitarist Bauer is forever identified as his main sideman but in fact played mostly with other cats, from Lee Konitz to Benny Goodman.

July 19 #15: Art Taylor & Charli Persip

Without achieving individual fame, these "hard-bop" drummers swung everyone from John Coltrane to Dizzy Gillespie on hundreds of classic recordings on Prestige, Blue Note, etc.

July 26 #16: Buddy DeFranco & Tommy Gumina

Buddy DeFranco was the best of the few modern jazz clarinetists. Gumina, his frequent partner was another rare virtuoso, a modern jazz accordionist! They had a tough time because of the unpopularity of their instruments, but their Quartet and work as sidemen were amazing.

Aug. 2 #17: Dorothy Donegan & Jutta Hipp

Two female piano players who deserved more recognition: Dorothy was a virtuoso and colorful personality from the 30's to the 90's, German-born Jutta survived Hitler in the 40's to become a cool bop player in America in the 50's.

Aug. 9 #18: Tubby Hayes & Dizzy Reece

These two modern players, tubby on tenor and Dizzy on trumpet, made some great records in the US during the hard bop era, but worked much more in England & Europe. Their rare recordings also feature Vic Feldman, Clark Terry, Donald Byrd, Hank Jones, and more.

Aug. 16 #19: Doc Cheatham & Ruby Braff

Almost a generation apart, these 2 Dixieland/Mainstream brass men had to wait until the 70’s to be recognized for their wonderful melodic gifts. Fortunately, Doc’s career on trumpet lasted almost 70 years, and coronetist Ruby is still going. 

Aug. 23 #20: "Heroes of the Hammond"

In the 50’s Jimmy Smith combined blues, bebop and the B-3 organ to create a new type of earthy jazz. The show highlights equally great music made by less famous organists like Shirley Scott, Big John Patton, Baby-Face Willett, Don Patterson, Larry Young, and Charles Earland.

Aug. 30 #A6: Labor Day - "The Blindfold Test" 

Remember the popular DownBeat Magazine Blindfold Tests where musicians listened to records commenting on the music without being told what or who it was? With everyone relaxing for the Labor Day weekend, we thought it would be fun to play some interesting tracks from swing to bop to vocals to see if you can guess what they are. Watch out, we may have a few tricks in our bag!

Sept. 6 #21: Julius Watkins & Charlie Rouse

If a musician plays an instrument not easily accepted by the public, he’ll have a tough time no mater how good he is. French horn virtuoso Watkins played modern jazz like no one else. Tenor saxist Rouse gained acceptance as Thelonious Monk’s main sideman for 12 years.

Sept. 13 #22: Slide Hampton

Still going strong, Slide Hampton has been a virtuoso trombonist and gifted composer/arranger for 50 years. His work for Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, Dizzy Gillespie, and his World of Trombones is so distinctive, we need the entire hour just to sample some of it.

Sept. 20 #23: "Stars of JAZZLAND"

This short-lived record label was a division of much more famous Riverside. Both went out of business in 1963, and the Jazzlands are rarely reissued. Hear hot and rare hard bop sessions by Paul Gonsalves, Kenny Drew, Harold Land, Blue Mitchell, and even Woody Herman!

Sept. 27 #24: Manny Albam & Al Cohn

In the 50’s & 60’s, these were 2 of the busiest arrangers in New York. Because Al was also a great tenor player, they were often on each other’s sessions. They made 100’s of obscure commercial records, using the hottest jazz players in town, so we’ll play “guess the soloist”.

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