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| Legendary Marian McPartlend You would think that with almost seven decades in show business behind her, Marian McPartland, "The Grande Dame of Jazz" and an NEA Jazz Master, would have no additional milestones left to achieve in such an illustrious and celebrated career but this November, Ms. McPartland will be inducted into the prestigious National Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago. The ceremony takes place on November 3rd and honors Marian for her nealy 30 years at the helm of National Public Radio's popular program Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz. Also being inducted are sports commentator Jerry Coleman, singer/comedian Jimmy Durante, groundbreaking African-American writer/producer Richard Durham and rock radio pioneer Dan Ingram. Piano Jazz, the Peabody-award winning broadcast is produced by South Carolina ETV and Radio is heard by over a quarter million listeners on NPR each week. McPartland's encyclopedic knowledge of the jazz repertoire, warm, witty rapport and her ability to adapt on the fly to the many styles and personalities of her over 500 guests has made this educational, entertaining and sublimely musical program the longest running jazz program on NPR. And as if that wasn't all, the talented 89-year-old legend will premiere a new piece she has composed in honor of the influential environmentalist author of Silent Spring, Rachel Carson. The orchestral piece will be performed by Ms. McPartland and the University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra in Columbia, SC on November 15th as part of a special program conducted by Dr. Donald Portnoy. Long an admirer of Carson's book and a staunch environmentalist herself, McPartland penned the tribute and collaborated with renowned jazz and film pianist/arranger Alan Broadbent who sculpted the orchestrations around McPartland's piano based compositions. Among the expected attendees at the event is Carson's great-nephew, Roger Christie, who was later adopted by Carson after his mother and grandmother passed away. "In terms of what she would have thought about Marian writing this piece in honor of her", Christie says of Carson, "I expect she would be very flattered." In addition, to continuing her weekly Piano Jazz programs, Ms. McPartland has just completed her latest studio recording for Concord Records featuring her regular Piano Jazz trio of bassist Gary Mazzaroppi and drummer Glenn Davis. The session is rich with sumptuous ballads including some rarely heard Marian originals and some tunes she has yet recorded in her nearly 100 sessions over the years. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |