There was this public radio show I listened to for years called piano jazz (sort of like tiny desk). It's actually
still going, but not the same and I moved so the station doesn't carry it, now. The host would invite a guest on and they'd play and they'd talk and it was always, at least if one likes piano jazz, revelatory. Bill Evans, whomever, right? Actually, check some of the names on this
list
Anyway, she could always get something out of the guest that nobody knew--it was both her manner and a gift.
The studio was just a bare studio with 2 decent pianos so the sound isn't always the best, that-way. NPR would put selected "interesting" shows out on a CD with alternating music tracks and converstion tracks. At the time, I bought this one and wore it out a couple times. Was just listening to it again and thought of this thread.
I'd always been a fan of Shirley Horn but mostly only her slow stuff on which she's just incomparable and probably most of us know (there's a couple of those in this playlist if one cares to look). Woman can just melt your heart with a song.
At the time, what I didn't know is that Shirley could just cook on that piano. So it's the first time they ever played together and, at the time, I think Marian was 88 and Shirley wasn't far behind her. They're just sort of finding their way and giggling like little girls on this (#10 of playlist) Duke Ellington song.
If this is new info and remotely interesting to you, I really recommend that whole
disc (= radio show) for both the info and the tunes. Talk about knowing everybody--Marian did--she was there with 'em when it happened
