A Cool Jazz Conversation with Gretchen Parlato!

It was certainly written in the stars that Gretchen Parlato would enjoy the uber respect of a music career. Her Dad, Dave, was bass player for Frank Zappa for a time - Frank didn't tolerate mediocrity. And Grandfather Charlie Parlato was the trumpet player for Kay Kyser...'s big band. He was also player and vocalist for Tennessee Ernie Ford and Lawrence Welk. It's in the genes, this talent!

So, here she is, with her third highly acclaimed project - "The Lost and Found" - and it's still WAY early in her career - but our guest on Monday has already received more accolades that most twice her 35 years. In 2001, she was accepted into the Thelonius Monk Institute. On the board deciding: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Terence Blanchard. She arrives in New York in 2003 - by the next year, she had WON the Monk Institute Jazz Vocal Competition at the Kennedy Center! Yes, that degree at UCLA in Ethnomusicology paid off, but it's the "chops", Baby, that stand the test :)

Having played with and/or for Esperanza Spalding, Kenny Barron, those judges mentioned above and Terri Lyne Carrington - whose "Mosaic Project" is Grammy-nominated this year, Gretchen Parlato is solidly on track to shake up the Jazz genre even more in 2012. In the BEST way. Hear who many say is the Koolest Kitty purring notes these days...Gretchen joins us at 7 p.m. Eastern U.S. time. MONDAY 1/16. It's a special day in many ways!