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Omar Sosa (NEW!) Cuban pianist Omar Sosa found his true path as an artist in early adulthood. A mysterious dream from his uncle guided him on the mystical path of the Santería, a ritual intense and ancient religion from the Caribbean with roots from Africa. By following the ways of Elegguá — the owner of roads and doors in this world — he has unleashed his unlimited potential as an improvisor.

This edition of the Annals of Jazz profiles bassist and bandleader, John Kirby. An important bassist in the instrument’s evolution in Jazz, he started playing trombone in Baltimore where he was born in 1908. He spent his childhood in an orphanage where he was encouraged to take up music which led to him to playing the Tuba. He excelled and was recommended to the pioneer big band leader, Fletcher Henderson, where Kirby’s career began as a Tuba player. In 1933 he helped transition the string bass into the jazz rhythm section.

Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar winning producer/director Frank Marshall grew up on picturesque Lido Isle in Newport Beach, CA surrounded by the musical friends of his father, jazz guitarist, composer, arranger, Jack Marshall, whose arrangement of “Fever” for Peggy Lee was one of many celebrated albums he worked on for Capitol Records in the late ‘50s and 60s. Frank Marshall has produced and/or directed multiple stage shows and films, including the Jason Bourne, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future and Jurassic World franchises. Through it all, music has played a major role in Frank’s life and his memories of being surrounded by great musicians growing up is a vivid and joyous.In the summer of 1972, Jack Marshall and trumpeter/vocalist, Jack Sheldon joined forces to entice trumpeter/vocalist Chet Baker back into the studio after Chet had stopped recording, due to an injury to his mouth. The record was made but never released until Frank recently discovered the master and together with Zev Feldman, produced Chet Baker & Jack Sheldon, In Perfect Harmony: The Lost Album.

Details coming soon.

This episode includes music from Ollie Lafayette and the Ladies of Harmony, Ward Singers, Original Gospel Harmonettes, Christianaires, O’Neal Twins, Harmonizing Four and a special St. Patrick’s Day selection.

Sue Halpern, author of the book, Can’t Remember What I Forgot: The Good News from the Front Lines of Memory Research is featured.