H. Johnson presents underrated and overlooked jazz vocalist Helen Merrill

WABE’s H. Johnson has been a fixture on our station since 1978. As host of both “Blues Classics” and “Jazz Classics,” H. continually educates and entertains WABE listeners every Friday and Saturday night. H. joins “City Lights” every other Friday to share a bit from his breadth of jazz knowledge. The segment “H. Johnson’s Jazz Moment” explores selections from the best of H.’s music collection, along with tidbits from history, personal reflections, and his thoughts on the evergreen resonance of jazz. 

In this segment, H. Johnson featured vocalist Helen Merrill and her rendition of the classic “What’s New.”

“Her artistry goes back to when she performed with Charlie Parker and with Earl Hines and a few other greats,” H. said. “She hasn’t received that recognition among the public that some of the lesser talented people have.”