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In memoriam: Jazz Night In America remembers the icons we lost in 2021

American piano player Chick Corea performs live at the OGR Jazz Club on November 9, 2018 at Officine Grandi Riparazioni in Turin, Italy.
Giorgio Perottino
/
Getty Images for OGR
American piano player Chick Corea performs live at the OGR Jazz Club on November 9, 2018 at Officine Grandi Riparazioni in Turin, Italy.

Chick Corea

Jazz is a music of accumulated wisdom, so it means that much more when we bid farewell to our elders: they're guardians of the art form, keepers of the flame. And as we did last year, we're pausing to reflect on some heavy losses.

Each life we're highlighting in this episode of Jazz Night in America tells many stories, unrepeatable and distinct. But together they also tell a larger story, about flexibility and resilience, imagination and commitment, and above all a receptive spirit of play. From pianist Chick Corea to drummers Milford Graves, Dottie Dodgion and Ralph Peterson Jr.; from trombonists Curtis Fuller and Slide Hampton to guitarist Pat Martino; from organist Dr. Lonnie Smith to tubaist and baritone saxophonist Howard Johnson — these are some of our heroes, and we celebrate their legacies here.

There are dozens of other deserving souls who died this year — including some, like impresario George Wein; broadcasters Phil Schaap, Bob Porter, Thurston Briscoe and Eulis Cathey; critic Greg Tate — whom we considered part of the family. We also honor their memories, along with those of musical icons like pianist Barry Harris, in the course of this program. (We hope to devote standalone episodes of Jazz Night to Prof. Harris and another great pianist, Junior Mance, in the new year.)

Set List:

  • Chick Corea, Christian McBride, Brian Blade – "But Beautiful" (Jimmy Van Heusen/ Johnny Burke) 
  • New York Art Quartet – "Rosmosis" (Roswell Rudd)
  • Dr. Lonnie Smith feat. Iggy Pop – "Sunshine Superman" (Donovan)
  • Pat Martino, Joey DeFranceso, Billy Hart – "Oleo" (Sonny Rollins)
  • Dottie Dodgion, Marian McPartland, Vi Redd, Mary Osborne, Lynn Milano – "I'll Remember April" (Gene de Paul)
  • Howard Johnson's Gravity – "Be No Evil" (Howard Johnson)
  • Curtis Fuller feat. Slide Hampton – "Fuss Budget" (Curtis Fuller)
  • Slide Hampton – "Chorale" (Slide Hampton)
  • Curtis Fuller - "The Clan" (Curtis Fuller)
  • Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers – "À la Mode" (Curtis Fuller) 
  • Ralph Peterson – "Jodi" (Ralph Peterson)
  • Credits:

    Writer and Producer: Sarah Geledi, Nate Chinen, Alex Ariff; Host: Christian McBride; Project Manager: Suraya Mohamed; Senior Producer: Alex Ariff; Senior Director of NPR Music: Keith Jenkins; Executive Producers: Anya Grundmann and Gabrielle Armand.

    Dr. Lonnie Smith

    NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 26: Dr. Lonnie Smith performs at Fair Grounds Race Course on April 26, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
    Erika Goldring / Getty Images
    /
    Getty Images
    Dr. Lonnie Smith performs at Fair Grounds Race Course on April 26, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

    Pat Martino

    Guitarist Pat Martino performs at the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, on August 1, 2015.
    Eva Hambach / AFP via Getty Images
    /
    AFP via Getty Images
    Guitarist Pat Martino performs at the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, on August 1, 2015.

    Dottie Dodgion

    CIRCA 1950: Photo of Dottie Dodgion
    Tom Copi / Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
    /
    Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
    CIRCA 1950: Photo of Dottie Dodgion

    Milford Graves

    American Avant-garde Free Jazz musician Milford Graves plays drums as he performs onstage during the 8th annual Vision Festival Avant Jazz for Peace at the Center at St Patrick's Youth Center, New York, New York, May 24, 2003.
    Jack Vartoogian / Getty Images
    /
    Getty Images
    American Avant-garde Free Jazz musician Milford Graves plays drums as he performs onstage during the 8th annual Vision Festival Avant Jazz for Peace at the Center at St Patrick's Youth Center, New York, New York, May 24, 2003.

    Howard Johnson

    Howard Johnson - Jazzmusiker, USAbläst die Tuba- 1997
    POP-EYE/ullstein bild / Getty Images
    /
    Getty Images
    Howard Johnson - Jazzmusiker, USAbläst die Tuba- 1997

    Slide Hampton

    Slide Hampton; 2009; The Hague Jazz;
    / Govert Driessen
    /
    Govert Driessen
    Slide Hampton; May, 2009. The Hague, The Netherlands

    Curtis Fuller

    AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MAY 27: Curtis Fuller performs live on stage at Bimhuis in Amsterdam, Netherlands on May 27 1983
    Frans Schellekens / Redferns/Getty Images
    /
    Redferns/Getty Images
    Curtis Fuller performs live on stage at Bimhuis in Amsterdam, Netherlands on May 27, 1983.

    Ralph Peterson

    Copyright 2023 WBGO and Jazz At Lincoln Center. To see more, visit WBGO and Jazz At Lincoln Center.

    Drummer Ralph Peterson and The Messenger Legacy band perform during Winter JazzFest at Le Poisson Rouge.
    Lev Radin/Pacific Press / LightRocket via Getty Images
    /
    LightRocket via Getty Images
    Drummer Ralph Peterson and The Messenger Legacy band perform during Winter JazzFest at Le Poisson Rouge.

    [Copyright 2024 WRTI Your Classical and Jazz Source]
    Sarah Geledi left her job in advertising in Montreal to pursue a career in music in New York City. She fulfilled that mission, producing content for the JAM Festival at WBGO, segments for The Checkout, and programs for WWOZ and PRI's Afropop Worldwide. She also served as a producer for NYC Winter Jazzfest before landing the "job of her dreams," producing radio for Jazz Night in America.