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In the spring of 2018, South Carolina Public Radio unveiled an exhibit of photos taken during recording session for Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz. This year marks the centennial of host Marian McPartland (March 20, 1918 - August 20, 2013) and in her honor we present a series of 40+ minicasts (mini-podcasts) that capture the essence of the program and correspond with the photos on display.

Les Paul, Marian McPartland, Paul Nowinski and Lou Pallo

Marian McPartland sits next to guitarist Les Paul, with bassist Paul Nowinski and guitarist Lou Pallo, Avatar Recording Studios, New York, 1999
RJ Capak
Marian McPartland sits next to guitarist Les Paul, with bassist Paul Nowinski and guitarist Lou Pallo, Avatar Recording Studios, New York, 1999

Virtuoso guitarist and innovator Les Paul (1915 – 2009) was a supreme contributor to the music world as he is the creator of one of the first electric guitars as well as early multitrack recording technology. He kicked off his career as a country star in the 1920s under the pseudonyms Hot Rod Red and later Rhubarb Red, all the while sitting in with jazz greats Earl Hines and Coleman Hawkins on the side. In this 1999 Piano Jazz session, Paul tells McPartland that he was “torn between jazz and country” and ultimately chose jazz. Joined by Paul Nowinski and Lou Pallo, McPartland makes Paul’s trio a quartet for an hour of favorite tunes that need no introduction.

Artist site: http://www.les-paul.com/

Full episode: https://www.npr.org/2009/08/13/111865107/remembering-les-paul-on-piano-jazz