They aren't actually collaborating, just sharing the same stage at The Birdland in New York City for this broadcast from the All Star Parade Of Bands series from NBC Radio, recorded on June 4, 1955.

Erroll Garner opens the broadcast, and it includes his latest composition, Misty along with a lot of other great sounds for the first half of the show.

And then Perez Prado takes over the second half, opening with Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White), which was a huge hit for him around this time. The rest of his set is high-voltage, just like all of his material.

Two great sets from a very unlikely pairing, but that was what radio in the 1950's was all about.

(Esperanza Spalding - the Jazz world just took a turn for the wow)

I had heard about Esperanza Spalding for the past few years via some colleagues in Europe, mostly Spain. In her comparatively short time on the scene she has created an enthusiastic word of mouth and has been playing sell-out concerts all over Europe.

So of course I was blown away when I finally had a chance to hear her and doubly blown away to find out she's from Portland Oregon and still in her early 20's.

This track, Ponta de Ariea is off her 2008 album, Esperanza available on Heads Up Records. It's a nice change of pace and a pretty good one for a Monday night.

It just goes to prove if you keep an open ear, there is amazing music everywhere.