For more than 50 years, Earma Thompson (1923 – 2009) was a constant on the Chicago jazz scene. She was recognized as the reigning queen of Windy City jazz but spent most of her career as a dependable and accomplished side person. At 81, Thompson released her first album as a leader, 2004's Just in Time. The album debuted shortly before her 2005 appearance on Piano Jazz. In this session, Thompson showcases her elegant, bluesy style on "Back at the Chicken Shack" before joining McPartland for "Lullaby of the Leaves."

Originally broadcast in the spring of 2005.

SET LIST

• "Just in Time" (Comden, Greene, Styne)
• "Back at the Chicken Shack" (Smith)
• "Lullaby of the Leaves" (Petkere, Young)
• "With You in Mind" (McPartland)
• "Out of Nowhere" (Green, Heyman)
• "I Remember You" (Mercer, Schertzinger)
• "Portrait of Earma Thompson" (McPartland)
• "Wave" (Jobim)
• "Hot & Spicy Blues" (Thompson)

Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.