Michael Feinstein

Austin based quartet the Jitterbug Vipers play 1930s-style viper Jazz - the intoxicating underground take on swing classics by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Cab Callaway. The Jitterbug Vipers are vocalist Sarah Sharp, guitarist Slim Richey, bassist Francie Meaux Jeaux, and drummer Masumi Jones. On this Song Travels, the band presents a set sure to make you want to get up and dance…jitterbug or otherwise!

Legendary composer and arranger Johnny Mandel started out working in the Big Bands of Joe Venuti, Buddy Rich, and Jimmy Dorsey, and later worked as an arranger for Count Basie. Mandel’s resume includes film and television classics such as “Suicide is Painless” (the M*A*S*H* theme) and “The Shadow of Your Smile” from The Sandpiper. The five-time Grammy winner sits down with Feinstein to discuss his lifetime in the industry, writing for screens large and small.

Vocalist, pianist, and Grammy-winning composer John Proulx has a voice that is reminiscent of  another great all-around jazzman, the late Chet Baker. Proulx’s original songs have been recorded by artists including Nancy Wilson and Mary Stallings, and he’s also performed with legends Natalie Cole, Anita O’Day, and Marian McPartland. Proulx joins host Feinstein to discuss the continuing evolution of jazz in a changing world.

Jazz and Soul singer Gregory Porter had a breakout year in 2012. His album Be Good topped many “Best of” lists and was named iTunes’ Jazz Album of the Year. He was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance. On this Song Travels, Porter is joined by his band mates Chip Crawford and Aaron James for a set including numbers from his latest album, Liquid Spirit.

New York Times music and film critic Stephen Holden covered the 1970s singer/songwriter explosion before he went on to write up everything from film to cabaret. Music has been with him every step of the way. On this week’s program Holden illustrates his life’s journey through musical milestones from Bob Dylan to Sinatra to Sting.

Grammy-winning opera star and actress Renée Fleming has performed some of the greatest operatic roles ever written at the world’s leading concert halls. Her awards include a Fulbright Lifetime Achievement medal and the National Medal of Arts. This week she shares a few of her favorite selections including songs by Franz Schubert, George Gershwin, and Leonard Cohen.

Singer/songwriter Ryan Bingham has made the unlikely journey from rodeo rider to Grammy and Oscar winner for the Crazy Heart soundtrack. His gritty-beyond-his-years voice echoes the rough and tumble life he’s known. On this Song Travels, Bingham performs tunes with a roadhouse tinge, including his own “As I Do My Dancing” and “Too Deep To Fill.”

Gloria Gaynor is best known for her sensational 1978 hit, “I Will Survive,” which won the only Grammy ever awarded for Best Disco Recording. In the past decade she has released new music on unsuspecting audiences and has been honored with a slate of accolades. Gaynor performs “My Funny Valentine” and joins Feinstein for a duet of “The Very Thought of You.”

Singer, songwriter, and actor Eric Benét charges his old school soul songwriting with healthy doses of modern funk and hip-hop. His winning formula has been recognized with multiple Grammy and Image Award nominations. Benét joins Feinstein for a set of original tunes and classics by Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, and David Foster.

Jake Shimabukuro has carried the sound of the ukulele from Hawaiian shores to the world’s concert stages. In his hands the humble “little guitar” sings everything from J.S. Bach to the Beatles. On this Song Travels, Shimabukuro performs “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” and joins Feinstein for a duet of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”