The career of Marian McPartland -see a well-made, informative and affectionate video tribute to herabove – was celebrated at Club Dizzy’s Coca Cola (please can someone enlighten me where that name comes from?!) in New York last night. The event celebrated her 30 years presenting Piano Jazz on National Public Radio in the US. McPartland is now 91, and originally hails from Windsor Berkshire.
The Preview in JazzTimes says that the following were exected to attend:
Karrin Allyson, Kenny Barron, Joanne Brackeen, John Bunch, Jackie Cain, Bill Charlap, Cyrus Chestnut, Dena DeRose, Taylor Eigsti, Kurt Elling, Laurence Hobgood, Grace Kelly, Mulgrew Miller, Arturo O’Farrill, Renee Rosnes, Daryl Sherman, Grady Tate, Kenny Werner and Randy Weston.
As if that weren’t enough already…..my as ever ultra-reliable sources tell me……. there were also two Brits in the room….
– One, a long time ago, came from Battersea. Yes, the great George Shearing was there. The organizers weren’t sure if he would make it, but he did. Shearing will be 90 this August.
-From Doncaster, and from a much younger generation, John Escreet. He gave a speech as he proudly presented a Lifetime Achievement award to McPartland on behalf of the Musicians’ Company.
This music unites and unifies generations like no other. Discuss. Or- better- just enjoy.
Categories: miscellaneous
Recent Comments