Of all Marian McPartland's attributes, possibly the most underrated was her ability as a composer. Her piano pieces have entered the jazz repertoire, while some of her songs — with lyrics by such stars as Johnny Mercer, Sammy Cahn and Peggy Lee — have become part of The Great American Songbook.
In honor of McPartland's birthday this week — she would have been 98 — guest host Murray Horwitz leads this expedition through some of her most beautiful works, with performances by Cleo Laine, Sarah Vaughan, the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra and McPartland herself.
Originally broadcast in the fall of 2011.
Set List
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