NEWARK, N.J., Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Televison has no lock on ringing in the U.S. New Year coast-to-coast as far as jazz fans are concerned.
"Toast of the Nation," WBGO-FM's New Year's Eve special, will be broadcast nationwide Dec. 31 and early Jan. 1 for the 17th year on National Public Radio. It includes 11 hours of live and recorded programming.
The live portion starts at 10 p.m. EST with "A Jazz New Year's Eve" from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with pianist Cedar Walton and the Timeless All-Stars sextet, and singer Lizz Wright singing with her trio.
At 11:15, the broadcast shifts to pianist Herbie Hancock's quartet live at New York's Blue Note jazz club, followed by live performances from singer Kurt Elling and vibes player Stefon Harris at Chicago's Green Mill, and conga player Poncho Sanchez with organist Joey DeFrancesco and trombonist Fred Wesley at Yoshi's in Oakland, Calif.
Recorded segments from 6 to 10 p.m. and 3:30 to 5 a.m. feature blues singer Shemekia Copeland, pianist Marian McPartland's 85th birthday all-star special taped earlier this year at Birdland, singer Dee Dee Bridgewater's 1997 "Tribute to Ella" Fitzgerald, and a 2002 Chicago Symphony Center concert by the Count Basie Orchestra.
The broadcast will also be carried by Armed Forces Radio.
