Toast Of The Nation Swings Into 2009
Celebrate With NPR Member Stations
Born in Japan, pianist Hiromi Uehara will perform with her high-intensity quartet Sonicbloom. courtesy of the artist hide caption
Pink Martini vocalist China Forbes and pianist Thomas M. Lauderdale, who will travel from their Portland homes to L.A. for Toast of the Nation. Sherri Diteman hide caption
Preview Toast of the Nation
The Mingus Big Band will perform at the Jazz Standard in New York, where the repertory ensemble has a gig every Monday night. Jimmy Katz hide caption
All concerts are archived on the Toast of the Nation page.
For the 29th straight year, public radio rang in the new year with live jazz, all night long. NPR Music and WBGO teamed up to present Toast of the Nation: live concerts at some of the best music venues from coast to coast.
WGBO's Rhonda Hamilton, host of the first live NPR New Year's Eve broadcast in 1979 and many since, anchored the entire evening.
Hiromi and Sonicbloom: The all-night marathon opened live from Boston, with energetic Japanese pianist Hiromi Uehara and her band Sonicbloom at the Berklee College of Music Performance Center. WGBH Boston produced this part of the program, with host Eric Jackson. Hear the concert.
Marian McPartland Celebration: Toast of the Nation celebrated Marian McPartland, host of NPR's Piano Jazz, with highlights from her 90th birthday party in March 2008, held at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Hear the full first set. Hear the full second set.
Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars: Live from the Terrace Theater at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, "A Jazz New Year's Eve" features the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band with the singing quartet New York Voices. Hear the concert.
Mingus Big Band: The party continued from the Jazz Standard, named Best Jazz Club by New York magazine in 2008. The Mingus Big Band roared through music from Mingus Ah Um, Blues & Roots and Mingus Dynasty -– three acclaimed Charles Mingus albums from 1959. WBGO's Michael Bourne hosted the East Coast countdown to 2009. Hear the concert.
Evan Christopher Quartet: From Donna's Bar & Grill on Rampart Street, clarinetist Evan Christopher played New Orleans jazz and beyond, with Tom McDermott on piano, Matt Perrine on bass and sousaphone, and Shannon Powell on drums. WBGO's Josh Jackson hosts the countdown to 2009, central time (with help from WWNO). Hear the concert.
Pink Martini with Jimmy Scott: The broadcast crossed coasts to L.A.'s Walt Disney Concert Hall for Pink Martini, the multilingual, pan-stylistic, highly entertaining little orchestra that promises two midnight celebrations –- the first for Mountain Time listeners, and the climactic countdown with a confetti blast and "Auld Lang Syne" for Pacific Time. Plus, the legendary high-pitched jazz singer "Little" Jimmy Scott joins in the fun. With thanks to the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Hear the concert.
Jake Shimabukur: The Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso blends jazz, classical, bluegrass, flamenco and rock (from The Beatles to Michael Jackson and beyond). Toast presents highlights from Shimabukuro's performance at the 2008 San Francisco Jazz Festival. Hear the concert.