Fats Waller, Joe Magnarelli, Alexa Tarantino & Rebecca Kilgore

The 943rd episode of Neon Jazz opens with a heartfelt tribute to the mighty Rebecca Kilgore, the beloved Portland-based vocalist we lost in January 2026. We honor her artistry and enduring spirit with selections from her 2026 album Sings the Music of Fats Waller—a fitting celebration of joy, swing, and soul. From there, we turn to the master himself, Fats Waller, before pausing to remember another profound loss in the jazz world: the legendary Chicago vocalist Josie Falbo, who left us on January 1, 2026. Two voices, two eras, one unbreakable jazz lineage. As the hour unfolds, we dive headfirst into the fresh sounds shaping early 2026, featuring standout work from Naoya Ogura, Joe Magnarelli, the Vancouver Jazz Orchestra, the Heisenberg Uncertainty Players, and Greg Burrows. Along the way, we shine a special spotlight on the dynamic voices of Alexa Tarantino and Marie-Soleil Lambert, artists pushing the music forward with fire and finesse. We close the set by reaching back in time with a rare LP drawn from a 1981 television special, celebrating the timeless brilliance of Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey—a graceful nod to the giants who built the foundation. It's a full hour of remembrance, discovery, and deep-groove swing. Dig this jazz journey, my friends. ????

Playlist

• Rebecca Kilgore with Hal Smith's Rhythm Makers "How Jazz Was Born" Sings the Music of Fats Waller (Audiophile) 0:00
• Host talks 4:16
• Fats Waller "Two Sleepy People" Ain't Misbehavin' (RCA) 6:38
• Naoya Ogura "Colors of a Journey" Colors of a Journey (La Reserve Records) 9:46
• Host talks 13:24
• Joe Magnarelli "Decidedly So" Decidedly So (Cellar Live) 14:07
• Josie Falbo "Get a Kick Out of You" Kickin' It (Josie Falbo) 19:10
• Host talks 22:58
• Vancouver Jazz Orchestra "Colour Contrast" Vancouver Jazz Orchestra Meets Brian Charette (Cellar Live) 24:08
• Nikola Bankov "Peace of Mind" Everwanted (AMP Music) 29:44
• Host talks 33:19
• Heisenberg Uncertainty Players "Catalpa" Return to the Enchanted Forest {La Reserve Records) 38:47
• Marie-Soleil Lambert "Abertica" Anastasia (Marie-Soleil Lambert) 39:07
• Host talks 43:36
• Alexa Tarantino "Provoking Luck" The Roar and The Whisper (Blue Engine Records) 44:42
• Greg Burrows "Piazza Navona" Let's Not Wait: The Music of Ed Bonoff (Grebe Records) 49:11
• Host talks 54:35
• Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey "I Understand" One More Time (ABC TV) 55:02