After their multipart series, Points of Departure, which focused on jazz musicians who died young, “Overlooked" host Rob Saffer and contributor Marc Epstein flipped the script and have put together a series of programs featuring jazz legends with great longevity, many of whom continue to perform, upending the infamous myth that jazz musicians die young. This show, Jazz Elders: Then & Now, will feature two tracks from each elder master, one from early in their careers and one more recent. The show will be appropriately kicked off by Marshall Allen, age 100, improvising with musicians 1/3 his age. Note: this program was recorded prior to Benny Golson's death at age 95 and Lou Donaldson's death at age 98 in September and November, 2024, respectively.  

Playlist:

Vitus Labrusca (“Overlooked” Theme) - Ben LaMar Gay

Voice of Space - Marshall Allen 

Untitled Jam from Ghost Horizons - Marshall Allen

Reflection - Roy Haynes

Question and Answer - Roy Haynes

Blues for JP - Lou Donaldson

Untitled Song from Dizzy’s Club, NYC - Lou Donaldson

Stablemates - Benny Golson

Benny Golson/Emmet Cohen Trio - Benny Golson

Be Quick - Sonny Rollins

Billie’s Bounce - Sonny Rollins

Lyresto - Kenny Burrell

Salty Papa - Kenny Burrell

Gandolfo’s Bounce - George Coleman

Four - George Coleman

After the news at noon, “Overlooked” is a show focusing on overlooked and under-heard jazz, improvisational, and other fringe music, from early roots to contemporary experiments, a mix of familiar to rare, classic to weird. Live from Overlook Mountain in Ulster County.

Host Rob Saffer is the former Executive Director and Producer of the Creative Music Foundation. While living in Brooklyn for 25 years, he served on advisory boards for Celebrate Brooklyn and Symphony Space. He also curated the Brooklyn Museum’s summer jazz series and helped found The Mingus Big Band.