Over the past 23 years at the Manchester Craftsman's Guild, guitarist Marty Ashby has produced 2,000 concerts and 40 recordings on the MCG Jazz label, with four GRAMMY Award winners including one by Nancy Wilson.  He still finds time to keep up his guitar chops and play on Grammy winning jazz recordings.  Tonight he'll stop by K-Jazz to talk about a jazz guitar presentation on Wes Montgomery that he is doing at The MIM this week.  Hear Marty Ashby tonight on the 9 O'clock Special.

  It's a holiday  fiesta of music on KJZZ.  Besides the classic jazz you enjoy every night, you'll hear YOUR holiday jazz favorites,  Vince Guaraldi's  Christmas Time is Here Eartha Kitt's Santa Baby,  Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song and some new releases that will add some sparkle and spice to the holiday music mix.  Enjoy the holiday treats this week on the 9 O'clock Special.  

Tonight hear the latest holiday jazz records from Tony Bennett and Gypsy guitars to Harry Connick's elf music. Enjoy new versions of your favorite  tunes to get you in the holiday spirit.  Join Blaise Lantana tonight for the 9 O'clock Special and you'll  get new ideas for what to give your favorite friends on your shopping list.  Jazz awakes tonight at 8.

Tonight  tune in for holiday jazz by Marcus Roberts and Wynton Mar

In the 50s and 60s pianist Dave Brubeck had one of the best loved quartets of all time with his sax playing partner Paul Desmond.  Brubeck's brilliant use of time signatures and Disney melodies started a whole new trend in jazz performance.  Today Brubeck performs with his own quartet, with his talented sons, and with symphony orchestras.  He is still creating new music at the cutting edge of jazz.  Take five and hear the dynamic talent of Dave Brubeck tonight on the 9 O'clock Special with Blaise Lantana.

Jamaican born pianist, Wynton Kelly played with so many jazz giants in the 60s that it's impossible to name them all!  He is best known for his work on Miles' "Kind of Blue" and "Someday My Prince Will Come" albums and his work with guitarist Grant Green.  Tonight hear Wynton Kelly with his own trio and with Miles, Coltrane, Cannonball and more, and find out why he was in such great demand as a pianist and composer.  Wynton Kelly stars on tonight's 9 O'clock Special.

  Guitarist Jim Hall just turned 81! Besides his own trios over the years his collaborations with Bill Evans, Ron Carter, and Paul Desmond have become legendary.  His work with jazz giants like Sonny Rollins and Art Farmer are only part of his repertoire; Jim Hall has written guitar concertos and string quartets.  Hear composer and jazz guitarist Jim Hall Monday night on the 9 O'clock Special. 

If you are looking for new CDs to add to your holiday collection, or if you need the right jazz stocking stuffer, tune in tonight to hear the best of the new holiday jazz releases.  You'll hear a Gypsy jazz Christmas, New Orleans jazz Christmas, and piano trios doing their own Santa thing.  Get in the spirit tonight on the 9 O'clock Special. 

Paul Desmond is best known for his work with The Dave BrubeckQuartet.  The beautiful tone of his alto sax is like no other and can just enchant you and take to another world.  His composition "Take Five" is one of jazz's greatest hits and has been played by many different artists.  Hear the sweet soaring tones of Paul Desmond tonight on the 9 O'clock special.

Swee' Pea, Strays, Weely, Billy Strayhorn had many nicknames in the Ellington band, but he was Ellington's right hand man and arranger for many years. Billy Strayhorn's Take the A Train, became a hit for the Ellington band, and his tune Lush Life, which he wrote at 15, has been sung by many great jazz vocalists who love the lyrics and the intricate melody line.  Hear the melodies of Billy Strayhorn played by Ellington and other jazz legends tonight on the 9 O'clock Special.