Monday, August 5
Betty Bryant grew up in Kansas City and throughout our conversation expressed her gratitude for the opportunities she’s had to know great musicians along the way, like her friend and early supporter, pianist Jay McShann. Betty’s latest CD, Lotta Livin’ produced by her longtime friend and collaborator Robert Kyle, showcases Betty’s blues roots, soulful sound, and cheeky sense of humor.
Tuesday, August 6
Animation director and screenwriter John Musker became a jazz fan early on, hearing some of the greatest jazz musicians playing in many of his favorite animated shorts. With fellow director Ron Clements, John has won multiple awards for writing and directing, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog, Moana and many other films.
After 41 years with Disney, John has retired and realized an idea he had years ago: that Dave Frishberg’s song, “I’m Hip” would make a wonderful animated short. Four years on, John’s film, I’m Hip, is a hilarious romp staring a hipster feline, singing, dancing, and making mischief to Dave Frishberg’s classic recording.
Wednesday, August 7
We revisit my 2003 conversation with the late radio personality and host of CBS Sunday Morning, Charles Osgood, who passed away in January 2024. Osgood compares jazz playing and his own writing for radio and TV and talks about having a recording studio early in his career and recording the celebrating Jazz Samba album with Charlie Byrd and Stan Getz.
Thursday, August 8
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.
Friday, August 9
Tuba player Jim Shearer’s new CD, Cloud Bowling with Claude Bolling, is Jim’s take on the celebrated Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio that Claude Bolling wrote for classical flutist Jean Pierre Rampal and recorded with him in 1973. That recording spent almost two years at the top of the Billboard classical chart and stayed in the top 100 for over 10 years. Jim replaced the flute with tuba and this CD was born.
Listen each morning on WBGO from 6 to 8 am ET.
For an archive of episodes on WBGO, visit the show’s page here.
