The Jazz Show Episode December 23, 2019
The Miles Davis All-Stars with Milt jackson and Thelonious Monk: "The Bags' Groove Session"
9:03pm - 12:42am
The Jazz Show continues with our annual Christmas tradition as we've done for many years as we present this legendary Christmas Eve (1954) recording session with the Miles Davis All-Stars. The music here is not Christmas music per se but as always it carries the Christmas spirit. Perhaps because the session was held on Christmas Eve or it was just the incandescent sound of Miles Davis' horn or the bell-like vibrations of Milt Jackson's vibraharp.....perhaps a combination of both gives it that Christmas sound. The music here is classic and although the players were merely playing the way they always played, somehow they made the music produced here immortal. Pianist Thelonious Monk adds the spice and edge to the music and bassist Percy Heath is rock solid. Drum pioneer Kenny Clarke is so tasteful and hard swinging in an unobtrusive way that blends beautifully with Miles, Monk and Milt. This music is one of the finest examples of musical chemistry between five Jazz Masters. With this Jazz Feature and along with some other Christmas music heard tonight, that you won't hear in malls, the Jazz Show and myself Gavin Walker with you a very Merry Christmas.