The music on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood was good jazz [Media Notes 79]

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood was a children’s TV program that ran from 1968 to 2001. Thus my own childhood was well behind me by the time it got started. But I certainly knew about it. Other shows would occasionally reference it and I’d see part of an episode now and then on PBS. But, for whatever reason, I didn’t pick up on the fact that the music was more sophisticated than what you’d expect for children’s programming. It was uncompromising jazz played live by pianist Johnny Costa and a small ensemble. From the Wikipedia article about Costa:

Costa served as musical director, arranger, and keyboardist for the children's television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood from the show's debut in 1968 until his death in 1996. The show's creator and host, Fred Rogers, regarded Costa as one of the most gifted musicians he had ever met. Rogers' choice was surprising because Costa's style was regarded as too complicated and sophisticated for a children's show. Costa accepted the job without hesitation because it wouldn't require him to travel away from Pittsburgh, and because Rogers offered him the same amount he needed to pay his son's college tuition ($5,000). Although Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was a children's show, Costa made it a point not to play "baby" music. He believed children understood good music[3] and that he could experiment with his own musical styles and techniques, even for a kids' show. Each day, Costa and his trio (Carl McVicker Jr. on bass, Bobby Rawsthorne on percussion) played live in the studio for the filming.

I learned about Costa from two YouTube videos that came across my feed on Tuesday, August 30. Here they are: