NPR says the 28th annual New Year’s Eve special “Toast of the Nation” will ring in 2008 with nine hours of live jazz, swing, samba and salsa from music venues across the country.
NPR Music and WBGO(FM)/Jazz 88.3 in Newark, N.J., will reunite for the 23rd year of co-producing the special, which airs Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. (ET) on NPR member stations.
The program features live performances including The Count Basie Orchestra with guest Ledisi at the new Yoshi’s Jazz Club in San Francisco; Danilo Perez and his Big Band in Boston; Grammy nominee Patti Austin in Washington; Trio da Paz and pianist Kenny Barron in New York; Nachito Herrera and the Steele Family Singers in Minneapolis; and the Denver-based sextet Convergence performing in their hometown.
WBGO’s Rhonda Hamilton, who has hosted many “Toast of the Nation” specials since its 1979 premiere, will anchor the evening live from Yoshi’s.
For local stations and broadcast times, see www.NPR.org/stations. A list of stations offering live online streaming is available at www.NPR.org/music.
