About This Event
Join guest WPKN DJs Richard Epstein and Jim Motavalli as they spin curated jazz selections inspired by the exhibition Art, Jazz + the Blues. Guided by the pair’s stories and insights, guests can explore the gallery, dance, and enjoy the conversation.
Dr. Richard Epstein, a Westport native and dentist, co-founded the Jazz Society of Fairfield County and helped launch Thursday night jazz in 2014 with his wife, Ina Chadwick, when saxophonist Greg Wall relocated to the area. He plays bassoon with the Norwalk Symphony and alto sax with the Westport Community Band, while continuing to develop his jazz practice. A dedicated mentor, he works with young musicians through KEYS and other programs and has held leadership roles across numerous local arts organizations, including the Westport Arts Advisory Committee. Since 1977, he has hosted Sometimes Classical on WPKN, which he calls his “ultimate play time.”
Jim Motavalli, a freelance journalist whose work appears in the New York City Jazz Record, is the author of nine books and serves as a radio host and publicity director for listener-supported WPKN—dubbed the “greatest radio station in the world” by The New Yorker. Throughout the evening, he will guide audiences through the program, introducing each album with the stories and historical context that shape the music. His curated selections trace a narrative through the genre, including:
-
Art Tatum – “Tea for Two”
-
Charlie Parker – “Donna Lee”
-
Jaco Pastorius – “Donna Lee”
-
Thelonious Monk – “Well, You Needn’t”
-
Horace Silver – “Song for My Father” (alongside Steely Dan’s “Rikki, Don’t Lose That Number”)
-
Miles Davis – “All Blues” (alongside Tim Buckley’s “Strange Feeling”)
-
John Coltrane – “Giant Steps”
-
Eric Dolphy – “Warm Canto”
-
Chet Baker – “Time After Time”
-
Johnny Hartman – “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning”
-
Art Ensemble of Chicago – “Odwalla”
-
Dave Brubeck – “Blue Rondo à la Turk”
About This Event
Join guest WPKN DJs Richard Epstein and Jim Motavalli as they spin curated jazz selections inspired by the exhibition Art, Jazz + the Blues. Guided by the pair’s stories and insights, guests can explore the gallery, dance, and enjoy the conversation.
Dr. Richard Epstein, a Westport native and dentist, co-founded the Jazz Society of Fairfield County and helped launch Thursday night jazz in 2014 with his wife, Ina Chadwick, when saxophonist Greg Wall relocated to the area. He plays bassoon with the Norwalk Symphony and alto sax with the Westport Community Band, while continuing to develop his jazz practice. A dedicated mentor, he works with young musicians through KEYS and other programs and has held leadership roles across numerous local arts organizations, including the Westport Arts Advisory Committee. Since 1977, he has hosted Sometimes Classical on WPKN, which he calls his “ultimate play time.”
Jim Motavalli, a freelance journalist whose work appears in the New York City Jazz Record, is the author of nine books and serves as a radio host and publicity director for listener-supported WPKN—dubbed the “greatest radio station in the world” by The New Yorker. Throughout the evening, he will guide audiences through the program, introducing each album with the stories and historical context that shape the music. His curated selections trace a narrative through the genre, including:
-
Art Tatum – “Tea for Two”
-
Charlie Parker – “Donna Lee”
-
Jaco Pastorius – “Donna Lee”
-
Thelonious Monk – “Well, You Needn’t”
-
Horace Silver – “Song for My Father” (alongside Steely Dan’s “Rikki, Don’t Lose That Number”)
-
Miles Davis – “All Blues” (alongside Tim Buckley’s “Strange Feeling”)
-
John Coltrane – “Giant Steps”
-
Eric Dolphy – “Warm Canto”
-
Chet Baker – “Time After Time”
-
Johnny Hartman – “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning”
-
Art Ensemble of Chicago – “Odwalla”
-
Dave Brubeck – “Blue Rondo à la Turk”