Check the jazz calendar for some exciting jazz shows.  This Friday night Bela Fleck is in town with the Marcus Roberts trio at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts and this Monday night there is a special recovery celebration for Margo Reed with performances by the valley's finest  and a special appearance by Francine Reed at Kazimierz World Wine Bar.  Treat yourself to some live music for the holidays.

Saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley created a unique hard bop groove after his recording with Miles.  His work with his brother Nat on cornet is full of fun and brilliant improvisation.  Listen tonight and hear jazz favorites: The Work Song, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, Jeannine and more.

Houston Person is always working, he books his own gigs, produces his own CDs and arranges his own music.  The saxaphonist is determined to play for the people and doesn't want anyone to get in the way of that.  His soulful jazz style has been a hit for over 50 years with jazz and blues fans around the world.  Hear the sweet tenor sax sound of   Houston Person tonight on the 9 O'clock Special.

  Lou Donaldson has got the groove.  Born in North Carolina he started on clarinet and by 15 was playing sax in local bands and when he heard Charlie Parker play he says it changed his life..  Donaldson is known for his organ trio work, but in the early days he played with big bands and beboppers.  Illinois Jacquet and James Moody were two of his biggest fans and encouraged him to come to New York and make jazz his life.  Hear how all that worked out when we listen to Lou Donaldson tonight on the 9 O'clock special.

It's a fun filled double header tonight! At 9, Blaise Lantana plays the lastest new jazz from young saxaphonist, Grace Kelly.  You'll hear the latest swinging B3 organ on Joey DeFrancesco's new CD, and guitarist Kenny Burrell says it all, solo on his latest release.  Start the jazz night at 8 with a Ray Charles party with "Georgia", "Busted", and a spirit filled "Another Saturday Night",  when Blaise gives away tickets to the Tempe Center for the Arts' Saturday Night Ray Charles show.  Tune in to win and to enjoy Brother Ray.

John Coltrane is a jazz legend because he was a brilliant improvisor who took the tenor sax in new directions, creating a uniqe style and sound that many have imitated.  Although he became known for his sheets of sound, he played beautiful ballads and blues and could swing with the best.  Hear the beginning of modern jazz and the many sounds of John Coltrane  when I feature him tonight on the 9 O'clock special.

  Cannonball Adderley lived up to his name.  He was a dynamic performer and educator, who started as a music teacher in Florida.  He became one of the best loved alto sax players of his era and influenced generations of musicians.  Cannonball could go from bebop to hard bop to blues in a single tune,   Hear the big tone and spirit of his playing tonight on the 9 O'clock Special when Blaise features Cannonball Adderley

Tonight it's 2 for 1 on the 9 O'clock special.  Saxaphonist Scott Hamilton has made a career on his beautiful tone and great chops.  He carries on the tradition of Ben Webster and Coleman Hawkins with a modern sense of harmony and time.  Hear the sweet sound of Scott Hamilton tonight as well as the trombone and shells of SNL musician Steve Turre. It's a contrast of sound and style tonight with two jazz giants on the 9 O'clock Special.

  Sonny Rollins is one of the greatest improvisors to play jazz.  His brilliant ideas and his ability to always reference the melody make him one of the most influential artists from his bebop in the 40s to today.  He has written jazz classics like Airegin, Oleo, Doxy and St. Thomas. Sonny's album  Saxaphone Colossus has become one of his nicknames or titles.  Listen tonight and find out what makes Sonny Rollins so admired and enjoyed.  

Saxaphonist Branford Marsalis is the oldest son of the Marsalis New Orleans jazz family.  Three of his brothers are musicians and his father taught music at the University, and had jazz jam sessions at their home.  Today Branford plays everything from funk to symphonic music and leads several different bands.  Enjoy some of his music tonight on the 9 O'clock Special.