# Sunday Night (American TV program)

Sunday Night, later named Michelob Presents Night Music, is a late-night television show which aired for two seasons between 1988 and 1990 as a showcase for jazz and eclectic musical artists. It was hosted by David Sanborn. Jools Holland served as Sanborn's co-host for the first season; Sanborn hosted solo for the second. The show also featured a house band of Omar Hakim (drums), Marcus Miller (bass), Philippe Saisse (keyboards), David Sanborn (saxophone), Hiram Bullock (guitar), and Jools Holland (piano). Hal Willner was the music coordinator.

## Production history

The show's host, David Sanborn, originally conceived of the initial concept for Sunday Night: to bring together an eclectic mix of musicians from different genres, have them perform deep cut songs individually instead of their hits, then have a group jam at the end where they perform in unexpected combinations. Having been a member of the Saturday Night Live band, he pitched the show to the show's boss Lorne Michaels, who approved and attached Michelob as a sponsor to bankroll the show. 12 episodes of the show were ordered from Michaels and his company Broadway Video, who pitched it as a musical counterpart to Saturday Night Live, The show was syndicated nationally, on 55 stations across the country (including NBC's New York affiliate WNBC 4) who mostly aired it at 12:30am on Sunday nights (technically Monday mornings). Michaels installed his longtime friend, British filmmaker and ex-SNL crew member John Head, as producer. At the time, Head told the press he expected the network to pick up 25 more episodes if the ratings were good, but NBC only wound up ordering an additional 10 episodes and two specials. The show aired Sunday nights (technically Monday mornings) at midnight beginning October 3, 1988. The show was not considered a hit in the ratings, attracting 1.3 million viewers, but was critically-acclaimed.
In 1989, the show was retitled Night Music (sometimes Michelob Presents Night Music) to allow syndicators to play it whenever they want. SNL music producer Hal Willner was brought in as the new music producer for the show. The show ended following its second season.

## Cast and crew

The Sunday Night Band Season 1: episodes 101–122 :
| plays | 1988 1st lineup | 1989 2nd lineup | 1989 3rd lineup | 1989 4th lineup |
| keys | Philippe Saisse | Philippe Saisse | Philippe Saisse | Philippe Saisse |
| guitar | Hiram Bullock | Hiram Bullock | Hiram Bullock | Robben Ford |
| drums | Omar Hakim | Omar Hakim | J.T. Lewis | J.T. Lewis |
| bass | Marcus Miller | Tom Barney | Tom Barney | Marcus Miller |
| Music Associate (keys): | Music Associate (keys): | | Brenda V. Browne | Brenda V. Browne |
Night Music Band Season 2: episodes 201–218 :
| plays | 1989 5th lineup |
| keys | Philippe Saisse |
| guitar | Hiram Bullock |
| drums | Omar Hakim |
| bass | Tom Barney |
| hand drum | Don Alias |
Production credits :
| Title | Name |
| Sponsor | Michelob |
| Production companies | Broadway Video, Inc. PRA, Inc. |
| Videotaped at | Chelsea Television Studios, New York City |
| Director | Dave Wilson (1988–89) John Fortenberry (season 2: 1989–90) |
| Musical Directors | Marcus Miller (1988, 1989) George Duke (1989) Hiram Bullock (season 2: 1989–90) Philippe Saisse (season 2: 1989–90) |
| Producer | John Head |
| Co-Producer | Patrick Rains |

## Series overview

Sunday Night seasons :
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 22 + 2 specials | 22 + 2 specials | October 3, 1988 (1988-10-03) | March 30, 1989 (1989-03-30) |
| 2 | 18 + 2 specials | 18 + 2 specials | October 2, 1989 (1989-10-02) | March 1990 (1990-03) |

### Season 1

| No. overall | No. in season | Original release date | Guest(s) | Prod. code |
| 1 | 1 | October 3, 1988 (1988-10-03) | Ruth Brown Ivan Neville George Duke | TBA |
| 1 | 2 | 1988 (1988) | James Taylor Milton Nascimento Nana Vasconcelos Don Grolnick Lani Groves Dennis Collins Ivan Neville George Duke | TBA |
| 1 | 3 | 1988 (1988) | Eddie Palmieri Nelson Gonzales Phoebe Snow Yomo Toro | TBA |
| 1 | 4 | 1988 (1988) | Dr. John Mavis Staples Jeff Healey | TBA |
| 1 | 5 | 1988 (1988) | Marianne Faithfull Dizzy Gillespie Dianne Reeves David Peaston Onaje Allan Gumbs | TBA |
| 1 | 6 | February 19, 1989 (1989-02-19) | Slim Gaillard Mark Knopfler Randy Newman Take 6 | TBA |
| 1 | 7 | 1988 (1988) | Marianne Faithfull John Zorn Aaron Neville Rob Wasserman John Sebastian NRBQ | TBA |
| 1 | 8 | 1988 (1988) | Jack Bruce Joe Walsh Al Green Highway 101 Nat Hentoff | TBA |
| 1 | 9 | April 2, 1989 (1989-04-02) | Boz Scaggs Anson Funderburgh Betty Wright Trio Bulgarka Dave Bargeron Randy Brecker Ronnie Cuber Lou Marini | TBA |
| 1 | 10 | 1988 (1988) | Al Jarreau Darlene Love Bashiri Johnson Johnny Clegg & Savuka Lambert, Hendricks & Ross Brenda White, Lani Groves, Dennis Collins (backing singers) | TBA |
| 1 | 11 | 1988 (1988) | Earl Klugh Patti Austin Joe Sample Donald Fagen Sister Carol Kasey Cisyk Lani Groves Vaneese Thomas Vivian Cherry Bashiri Johnson | TBA |
| 1 | 12 | 1988 (1988) | Judy Mowatt Joe Cocker David "Fathead" Newman Ladysmith Black Mambazo Annicia Banks Vaneese Thomas Kasey Cisyk Lani Groves | TBA |
| 1 | 13 | January 15, 1989 (1989-01-15) | Curtis Mayfield Taylor Dayne David Lindley Jorge Calderon Shinehead George Duke | TBA |
| 1 | 14 | 1989 (1989) | Squeeze Sam Moore Stanley Turrentine Ashford and Simpson Joseph Joubert Steve Thornton George Duke | TBA |
| 1 | 15 | January 29, 1989 (1989-01-29) | Youssou N'Dour Theo Diarra Mar Gueye Habib Faye Philip Bailey Lani Groves Marcus Roberts Ambitious Lovers George Duke | TBA |
| 1 | 16 | 1989 (1989) | Carlos Santana Lyle Lovett Chester Thompson Armando Peraza José "Chepito" Areas Wayne Shorter Fontella Bass George Duke | TBA |
| 1 | 17 | March 12, 1989 (1989-03-12) | Betty Carter Branford Marsalis Willie Dixon Katie Webster John Sebastian George Duke | TBA |
| 1 | 18 | 1989 (1989) | Take 6 Rev. Claude Jeter Rev. Shirley Caesar Ann Caesar Price Bernard Sterling Michael Mathis The Dixie Hummingbirds George Duke | TBA |
| 1 | 19 | 1989 (1989) | Sonny Rollins Leonard Cohen Ken Nordine Perla Batalla Was (Not Was) Julie Christensen George Duke | TBA |
| 1 | 20 | 1989 (1989) | Lou Reed John Cale Katie Webster Harry Connick, Jr. Paul Shaffer(co-host) | TBA |
| 1 | 21 | March 26, 1989 (1989-03-26) | Robert Cray John Hiatt Koko Taylor (failed to appear) Tracy Nelson (replacement) World Saxophone Quartet | TBA |
| 1 | 22 | March 30, 1989 (1989-03-30) | John Lurie & The Lounge Lizards The Roches Little Milton Campbell Marcus Miller | TBA |
| 1 | Compilation–1 | 1989 (1989) | Yomo Toro (Show 103) Dizzy Gillespie (Show 105) Slim Gaillard (Show 106) Aaron Neville (Show 107) Al Green (Show 108) Boz Scaggs & Betty Wright (Show 109) Savuka (Show 110) Joe Cocker (Show 112) Louis Jordan (archive video) | TBA |
| 1 | Compilation–2 | 1989 (1989) | David Lindley (Show 113) Squeeze (Show 114) Youssous N'Dour (Show 115) Ambitious Lovers (Show 115) Fontella Bass (Show 116) Betty Carter (Show 117) Branford Marsalis (Show 117) Rev. Claude Jeter (Show 118) Leonard Cohen (Show 119) Sonny Rollins (Show 119) Robert Cray & John Hiatt (Show 121) | TBA |

### Season 2

| No. overall | No. in season | Original release date | Guest(s) |
| 2 | 1 | October 2, 1989 (1989-10-02) | Stevie Ray Vaughan Pharoah Sanders Van Dyke Parks Maria McKee |
| 2 | 2 | 1989 (1989) | TBA |
| 2 | 3 | 1989 (1989) | Nona Hendryx Pops Staples Ivo Papasov and his Wedding Band Adrian Belew Elliott Sharp |
| 2 | 4 | October 21, 1989 (1989-10-21) | Bootsy Collins Loudon Wainwright III Pretty Fat Carla Bley Steve Swallow Allen Toussaint Karen Mantler & Band |
| 2 | 5 | October 28, 1989 (1989-10-28) | Todd Rundgren Pat Metheny Group Taj Mahal Nanci Griffith Christian Marclay |
| 2 | 6 | December 2, 1989 (1989-12-02) | L.L. Cool J Jean-Luc Ponty Ray Manzarek Elliott Sharp |
| 2 | 7 | 1989 (1989) | The Pixies Sun Ra Syd Straw Arthur Baker Al Green Sister Carol |
| 2 | 8 | 1989 (1989) | Sting & Fareed Haque Carla Thomas & Rufus Thomas Bill Frisell & Band Mary Margaret O'Hara |
| 2 | 9 | 1989 (1989) | Miles Davis Hank Ballard & The Three Midnighters Djavan Marcus Miller Zahar |
| 2 | 10 | 1989 (1989) | Sonic Youth Indigo Girls Daniel Lanois Evan Lurie & his Tango Band Diamanda Galás |
| 2 | 11 | 1989 (1989) | Eric Clapton Robert Cray Julee Cruise Papa Wemba Dan Hicks & The Acoustic Warriors |
| 2 | 12 | January 20, 1990 (1990-01-20) | Conway Twitty The Residents Kronos Quartet Aster Aweke |
| 2 | 13 | 1990 (1990) | Red Hot Chili Peppers Toots Thielemans Charlie Haden & his Liberation Orchestra Nick Cave & Mick Harvey Annabouboula Sister Carol |
| 2 | 14 | February 3, 1990 (1990-02-03) | Graham Parker NRBQ Abbey Lincoln Phil Woods Lakim Shabazz and His D.J. C.E. Just Steve Turre and His Sea Shells |
| 2 | 15 | 1990 (1990) | Bob Weir Rob Wasserman Warren Zevon Artis the Spoonman John Lurie and Nana Vasconcelos Bongwater Screamin' Jay Hawkins Modern Jazz Quartet |
| 2 | 16 | 1990 (1990) | Richard Thompson Tim Berne Jo-el Sonnier John Cale & B.J. Cole Shawn Colvin Howard Johnson Sister Carol Hank Crawford |
| 2 | 17 | February 24, 1990 (1990-02-24) | Miles Davis Red Hot Chili Peppers Hank Crawford Abbey Lincoln Kronos Quartet |
| 2 | 18 | 1990 (1990) | Eric Clapton and Robert Cray Warren Zevon NRBQ Modern Jazz Quartet Charlie Haden & his Liberation Orchestra Dan Hicks & The Acoustic Warriors Sister Carol Steve Turre and his Sea Shells |
| 2 | Compilation–3 | 1990 (1990) | Stevie Ray Vaughan (Show 201) Debbie Harry (Show 202) Al Green (Show 207) The Pixies (Show 207) Miles Davis (Show 209) Eric Clapton and Robert Cray (Show 211) |
| 2 | Compilation–4 | 1990 (1990) | Pharoah Sanders (Show 201) Ivo Papasov and his Wedding Band (Show 203) Mary Margaret O'Hara (Show 208) Zahar (Show 209) Abbey Lincoln (Show 214) NRBQ (Show 214) Red Hot Chili Peppers (Show 217) |