Birthday Celebrations, especially celebrity and celebrity icon anniversaries, too often only celebrate longevity.
Rarely are these celebrations for an American Institution, an American Folk Music and Protest Song Institution, a advocate for American labor, earth-care and the environment (we used to call it “fighting against pollution), an American Way of life and the banjo.
Those are just a few reasons for celebrating the 90th birthday of Pete Seeger on May 3, or all throughout the month of May.
Rita Houston hosts and introduces the Pete Seeger biography and his living legacy by way of a well written narrative, excerpts from Seeger’s most recent interview and contributions from author Alec Wilkinson (he has a new Seeger Biography).
With production from Media Mechanics, this is magnificently smooth in its craft, construction and flow. It will leave your listeners historically and musically refreshed – and like Pete Seeger at 90 years old, optimistic.
David Brown, Andy Uhler, Peter Babb and the rest of the radio-gifted crew of Texas Music Matters (KUT) have put together a fast moving sampling from the just concluded South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin.
Taking moments from shows, showcases and KUT studio events, there are, forgive the cliché, too many high points to list, but include The Low Anthem, Asa, T-Bird and the Breaks and the Somalia-born K’Naan who delivers a most dynamic and rousing pay off to a moving but somewhat odd intro during his moment on the show.
Host David Brown and the entire Texas Music Matters – KUT creative group deliver a musical production that will hit home with your station’s music lovers. Music choices, flow and tasteful, minimalist hosting make this program a good fit during afternoon-evening dayparts on weekdays and weekends.
KUT and Texas Matters are well represented with long and short pieces on PRX – including, “Amazing Grace: The Story of Willie Nelson,” recently awarded First Place for Documentary Reporting and the Grand Prize for Radio at the 75th Annual National Headliners Awards. http://www.prx.org/pieces/25468-amazing-grace-the-story-of-willie-nelson.
Comment for
"Harmonia Traditions: Easter" (deleted)
For your April Easter Programming, Harmonia Host and Producer Angela Mariani has created a magnificent music program – suitable for Easter and almost any time of the year.
Choral music from the times and lands of the Pre-Baroque era is all about endless layers upon layers of the richest of human and vocal harmonies.
Your listeners will hear totally original, engaging, and ultimately stunning music from early music choral kingpins Thomas de Victoria, Orlando di Lasso, Handel and others – along with a major discovery by Francois Couperin (better known for his keyboard music).
Often on this page we talk about getting the music to talk ratio right on a “music show.” It’s on the money here as is Angela Mariana and writer Bernard Gordillo’s wisely minimal approach to setting up the historical-theological contexts for this music.
Highly recommended – inside and outside of the classical format.
Producer/Host Boyce Lancaster threads two musical biographies in "Ruby Elzy: Black Diva of the Thirties." These two musician's lives, coincidentally, were themselves entwined. Soprano Ruby Elzy was George Gershwin's choice to portray the role of Serena in the original production of Porgy and Bess.
With the George Gershwin and Porgy and Bess phenomenon as a backdrop, the program follows Elzy's rise from small town Jim Crow living in Mississippi in her quest and "deep desire to become a singer," and to one day sing in a “big hall.”
This is a wonderful story of personal determination, lovely heart and soul, superb musicianship and survival amongst the most difficult of all odds. It's well told and mixed with electrifying historical musical performances.
Here's your Black History Month programming, but it would be a sin to limit it to only one month of the year. "Ruby Elzy: Black Diva of the Thirties" is also friendly to formats beyond classical.
Author Steve Turner calls it "America's most beloved song." "Amazing Grace" and its story is the gift that keeps on giving. Each story begets another story, and they're all captured in a highly enriching and engaging Interview-Documentary, "Amazing Grace: The Story of America's Most Beloved Song."
The song's story and history, by themselves, go well beyond interesting and captivating. But it's the history of the individual words, "wretch," "grace" and "amazing" that create the most interest and momentum.
The hymn lays out the biography of John Newton, a one-time slave trader who wrote the words. He is also the wretch mentioned in the text. Author Steve Turner juxtaposes Newton's original intentions for these words with the stories of people whose lives were rescued and transformed upon hearing them at their lowest and highest life moments. These juxtapositions create the documentary's deepest, most gripping moments.
"Amazing Grace: The Story of America's Most Beloved Song” is convincing story telling suitable for almost all formats and for stations with regular and occasional documentary slots in their schedule.
NEA Jazz Masters Moments has added some new, nifty moments with trumpeter Snooky Young and the Belgian harmonicat, Toots Thielmans. There are multiple Young moments to choose from -- I like "Snooky Young Gives Advice to Aspiring Players", "Snooky Young's Run-in with the Law" is bittersweet.
Toots Thielemans introduces the birth of his big hit, with "Toots Thielmans on Composing "Bluesette" and talks about his cardboard start on "Toots Thielmans on his Musical Upbringing"
As with the other NEA Jazzmoments I've previously recommended, each can serve your listeners and station in a variety of ways -- and each creates joy in some small way.
A veritable best of both worlds here with "Johnny Cash: At Folsom Prison". You've got the story-telling music of Johnny Cash and the story of one of the most royal of all concerts -- the incredible show Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Three put on at Folsom Prison in 1968.
The music and performances are a gritty given. What stands out is how Joyride Media puts you in a seat right next to an inmate in the Folsom Prison cafeteria. You'll hear from prisoners, prison guards and reporters who all capture the color and the concert.
Incredibly entertaining and compelling radio, capturing the wonder, hope and crude and cruel merriment of a historic musical and sociological event. And Johnny Cash.
For those who hate surprises: language advisory at 13:25 in Part 1; 4:32 in Part 2. The program contains songs with drug references as well.
This is just about perfect. "The Mythic Mysteries" is one of five WNYC Radio tributes, explanations and justifications for Richard Wagner's opera, Tristan and Isolde.
Sometimes, rarely, once in a long while, the talk about the music is on the same level as the music itself -- and I'm aware of the potential absurdity of such a statement, considering the music at hand. But, once in a while it happens.
Here in 16-plus minutes "The Mythic Mysteries" investigates, and resolves, the matters of love and longing; unrequited love where hope still remains; adultery; pain before death, pain after death and then letting go after death.
Pow. Deep, deep deep -- but always welcoming and a pleasure to hear, process, and then hear again. "The Mythic Mysteries" offers strong writing, well placed irony and Amy O'Leary's narrative tone and inflections are equally heroic elements.
At 16:32, "The Mythic Mysteries" is tricky to schedule. Consider combining the five parts of WNYC's Tristan Mysteries to create an hour of entertaining and engaging radio -- that just happens to be about opera.
No operatic experience or operatic attachment required for your listeners, and worth consideration for most formats, including news-information. Saturdays on non-MET stations or Friday night after ATC or Marketplace. Classical: suitable for Saturday before the MET; Saturday after the MET.
The MET offers Wagner's Tristan and Isolde on its regular Saturday matinee radio broadcast on Saturday, December 6 at 11 a.m. EST.
Additional Tristan Mysteries Series Segments:
The Sexual Mysteries (14:08): Content advisory aside, this segment is both historically and hysterically revealing and reveling.
The Visual Mysteries (15:54): Director Peter Sellers explains how it's acceptable, understandable and maybe desirable to never quite figure it all out note by note.
The Sonic Mysteries (15:34): College Music Theory courses rarely made such a relevant and contemporary case for this most famous chord of all time.
The Five-Hour Mysteries (16:37): Makes a strong, comforting case that falling asleep during the opera is fine. It only seems like nothing is happening over the opera's 5 hours, but "something is happening all the time." Then there's the sex on the beach at the end. (Content advisory at about 7 minutes in.)
Is it time for a new Roy Orbison revival? Maybe...maybe not, but it couldn't hurt.
Orbison's sweet sound and voice, backed on this black and white night by a who's who of lead singers still stuns and gets under your skin. Joyride Media has gracefully projected Orbison's trademark, three layered stream of vocal purity, gifted phrasing and that undated nostalgic quality that Roy Orbison either invented or perfected.
Many of the Orbison favorites are here, and the other music of the evening is hearing Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, KD Lange and other heavy hitters both praising and explaining Roy Orbison the musician and person -- in gracious and grateful terms and tone.
While there may not necessarily be a specific time or news peg ou can tie to this special -- there's always a time and a reason to put this kind of musical and radio artistry in front of your listeners. Schedule it any evening...and maybe on Thanksgiving day.
"The White Album Listening Party: Revisiting The Beatles' Top-Seller" celebrates the 40th anniversary (Nov. 22, 1968) of the release of the Beatles scary-new, scary-wonderful, scary-ambitious new recording.
The "Listening Party" puts the Beatles White Album in the center of a circle of non celebrity, smart, non-fanatic, well-spoken and knowledgeable Beatles experts, who share their memories, opinions and stories behind the stories and the recording.
It's great to hear this music again, but beyond quality of the music and the invigorating nostalgia of hearing hit after hit after hit -- is the listening party component of the show. It frequently reaches the high notes on the most important radio "best practices" metric board of story telling and listener focus.
You are not the unwelcome eavesdropper on a bunch of stoned college slackers having a conversation about nothing. This is a conversation with music lovers, and Beatles' lovers (who may have been stoned at one time...just not here).
Remarks and the stories behind "Dear Prudence," "Happiness is a Warm Gun," and "Why Don't We do it in the Road?" feature amusing stories and insight, and they may answer White Album questions we've perhaps been trying to formulate for the last 40 years.
Also fresh -- the discussion brings forward the notion and memory that this was a scary album for a number of reasons -- to paraphrase, "What happened to 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand'...where are my Beatles?"
The discussion proceeds by track order, usually two tracks at a time, followed by both songs. Almost each segue from discussion to music generates both a musical "AHA" moment and an satisfying internal organic physical reaction as well -- the kind you get from Bach, Mozart, Bill Evans, Dylan etc.)
The 3-hour presentation of the program, producer Paul Ingles recommends, "Is the best experience for your listeners as it recreates the experience of listening to the whole album. If you can only accommodate a two-hour slot there will be a two-hour version available at PRX."
Three hours is tricky -- two hours is tricky, but your thoughtful, OES promotion strategy (promo materials provided on PRX), the anniversary peg, the 1968 - 2008 connections, the music that still holds up, the stories behind the music and the assembly, tone and flow created by Paul Ingles will likely create a banner day for your listeners and your station.
This could be a Saturday or Sunday afternoon listening and good for any evening -- especially a blue Monday or Friday night. See the PRX page for a range of date specific scheduling options.
This ongoing series of 1:30 - 2:00 jazz performer snapshots are both a kick and a delight. While they aren't intended to change the world, they will brighten up your station's sound in the mornings and could fit pretty much anywhere else throughout the day.
The latest entry into the series features harmonica virtuoso Toots Thielemans -- and what happened to this innocent and easily bemused Belgian musician on his first night in NYC.
Others in the series worth your consideration, Marian McPartland Discusses Her Conversations with Duke Ellington and Thelonius Monk, Shirley Horn on Working with Miles Davis and Phil Woods On Meeting Saxophonist Charlie Parker. Please don't think of these pieces as a bridge between shows -- they are shows in themselves.
In addition to enhancing your jazz programming, the NEA Jazz Master series could also be a nice flash of light on your News-Information station. They're a nice, quick way to entertain and inform your listeners and to promote your jazz programming and jazz brand. They have station fundraising applications as well.
Others in the series (Ramsey Lewis, Slide Hampton and Buddy Defranco) were reviewed in April 2008. The Dave Brubeck pieces in the series are wonderful, but have an April 2008 Brubeck Festival reference at the end.
Here's a most pleasant and musically compelling tale of an American singer-songwriter who became a "banjo player who writes songs in English and Chinese."
That mix of musical styles and cultures brought that banjo playing songwriter, Abigail Washburn and her Sparrow Quartet together with Banjo star and banjo boundary breaker, Bela Fleck.
GPB's Edgar Treiguts's 6:12 feature effectively touches on the high points of Abigail Washburn's "Bluegrass-Americana" career and how it naturally intersected with Chinese culture and a Bela Fleck partnership without going heavy documentary-National Geographic on us. The music is sweet, genuine and often quite touching.
The feature, mixed nicely with music, runs 6:12 and then segues to a Washburn-Fleck collaboration for you to play out or talk over and fade out.
The entire 10:26 could be an ideal way to end your local magazine program or could end a particular hour of your local (AAA or AAA connected) music shift.
Not to sound like a broken record, but my previous recommendations of David Brown's KUT-PRX work usually start with, or include the words, "More nice work from David Brown and his colleagues at KUT."
More nice work from David Brown and his colleagues at KUT.
We find him here introducing the high points from the just-concluded Austin City Limits Music Festival 2008, a three-day blast of "cutting edge rock to blues, soul, country and roots music."
Here's the one quirk or advisory that may make the program a deal breaker on your station:
This program was originally produced as a festival preview and recommendation list to help ACLMF concert goers choose which of the 100s of bands and artists to go hear.
The show contains time references that may be confusing, but to make this a comfortable fit for your station, host/producer David Brown wrote a new intro for PRX stations. With that intro and your advance promotion, you can turn this program into a "Best of the Austin City Limits Music Festival" for your listeners. I felt the show helped me get caught up with some of what's current, new and ahead of the curve in the 2008-2009 music scene. That would be another way to authentically promote it on your air.
In addition to moments with Belleville Outfit, Vampire Weekend, Octopus Project (fantastic), MGMT, Abigail Washburn and others, you'll hear complete tunes from Asleep at the Wheel, Patty Griffin (incredible), Roky Erickson, Okkervil River, Yeasayer, Fleet Foxes, Silversun Pickups and David Byrne.
"The List: Austin City Limits Music Festival 2008 Preview" is a good mix of snippets and complete songs from bands your listeners aren't necessarily going to hear anywhere but on your station. And there are likely to be some first time discoveries as well.
Producer Aaron Henkin has broken the template and traditional default for early folk, blues and vintage music shows. Thankfully.
"Tapestry of the Times" surveys the musical legends, originators and innovators documented on the legendary Smithsonian Folkways Recordings catalogue.
Too often, this radio program genre is smothered by an aged, scratchy, tortuously slow moving, monophonic and musty blanket, brought down further by old-timer style hosting.
Producer/Host Aaron Henkin shows that just because the music and the recording technology are raw and unrefined, the music, hosting and writing can be very much in the present. (The writing is outstanding.)
The first show in the weekly series (programs are 59 minutes) brings your listeners Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie and folk songs from Colombia, Cuba, and Iran.
Other shows include more Americana, music from Afganistan and Uganda and ventures into Sea Chanteys and Blue Grass.
Clear, compelling promos for each show are included. "Tapestry of the Times" is worth considering for News/Music, AAA and eclectic music stations. If you're all-news with a music or Doc slot, this could work for you and your listeners as well.
Looking for a "no doubt what-so-ever" way to quickly and memorably state, restate or reinforce your station's Jazz (or Music) ID or image?
Click download now.
McCoy Tyner's oversized playing style both energizes and pleases, and there's a genuine joy and upward lift in this concert performance with intimate insider moments provided and produced by NPR Music. The pianist also generates good vibes when he talks about making music and making nice with his Manhattan neighbors.
This particular episode of DWD has McCoy Tyner fronting his quartet (Dave Holland, bass; Joe Lovano, saxophone; and Lewis Nash, drums), with some solo spots as well. Especially memorable and mesmerizing is Tyner's original "Walk Spirit...Talk Spirit," sanctified by enlightened bass playing from Dave Holland.
"Discoveries at Walt Disney" has a number of other jazz, classical and multi-labeled music category programs for you to consider one at a time, or as a series. This one is highly appealing and programmable every night of the week and all weekend long.
The piece is as much a Philip Glass Bio, by way of interview, as it is an intriguing investigation into the music ("Minimalism") he wrote that your listeners either love or hate.
His music is much less polarizing these days. For some reason, those on either side of the minimalism bandwagon feel less obligated to take an aggressive stance, either pro or con.
I like how this piece takes you out of intense judgment and "defend your turf" mode into something less...judgmental. You won't feel obligated or directed to make a final musical ruling. Nor will your listeners be forced to make a decision or change their mind about Philip Glass. To Sarah Fishko's credit, this becomes a story.
However, through that story telling, your listeners might very well develop new Glass conclusions on their own (cue the Public Radio Core Values theme music....).
Not just for classical stations - it's a possible fit for your AAA station, and stations committed to a wide and substantial musical diversity. Based on the music, news-worthiness and its superb story telling, "An Hour with Philip Glass" deserves consideration on some News/Music stations.
A portrait of musician Johnny Griffin was long overdue, and this one gets it right. Chicago-based producer Dan Bindert does a good job telling this Chicago-associated tenor sax player's musical story.
There's plenty of excellent music and musical variety for your listeners to hear and let soak in. "The Little Giant" multitasks as a highly appealing musical production and as a concise presenter of historical information and context that astutely illustrates Johnny Griffin's place in music history.
For our side of the microphone, hear what host Dan Bindert does and doesn't do. He gives important session and event dates but does not fall into the traditional recording date laundry list, that jazz break black hole that deflates the music heard just prior to the break.
Timely right now as Mr. Griffin died July 25th. Suitable for fans and first timers, and programmable on your station every night of the week and all weekend long.
I hate "edgy" - mostly due to the posers who use the term and how they misuse it.
This is an entertaining, clever, polished and wonderfully adventurous series of 3:30 stories or strips.
And it's spectacularly edgy.
11th Central Ave is an ongoing radiostrip that follows the breakfast conversation and topical day-to-day over-analysis of Nat, the unemployed husband; Christine, his wife and somewhat ambivalent bread-winner; Anneliese, their 17 year old daughter and others, including Christine?s libertarian brother with a masters degree in government (he works at Kinkos).
This is a raw, but tightly focused lens onto our present day, where the story line and characters give a human and humorous voice to today's social, political and economic ups and mostly downs.
Quick paced in your face, biting, cynical and smart, very funny and occasionally heart breaking - 11th Central Ave's acting, writing and directing operate on an enviously high scale.
There are two catches.
For the show to make its rightful impact with your listeners, it will take more than 2 - 3 episodes to get the rhythm of the show. You'll need to commit for the long term.
A different sensibility is required when you audition this series. How will your station's listeners feel after hearing it 15 times? Will they grow to enjoy if it airs at the right time, if they hear it enough times and if it's creatively and effectively promoted?
Hearing or auditioning 1 - 2 shows won't work.
Start with these recent episodes: http://www.prx.org/pieces/28029, http://www.prx.org/pieces/28197 and http://www.prx.org/pieces/28318
Here's the other catch: the series isn't perfect. Not every strip is a gem. There are a few rough edges that are easily addressable (the opening could be tighter - the promo and info at the end could be clearer).
Each episode is 3:30 or 3:59 with a promo and show information. Consider it for the WESAT or WESUN cutaways; ME on Friday - or Friday during your news/arts magazine program.
Remember...it's not a show: it's a long term series of strips. And it is authentically edgy.
For Jazz and AAA stations that creatively and thoughtfully stretch their format's boundaries, this show is worth strong consideration.
This is A MUSIC SHOW: there's a tuned-in and appealing host (Daniel Frankl) and smart production crew (Manon Miessen, Radio Netherlands and Murray Street Productions), but they're in the background. Anyone interested in hearing the music and story telling integrity of a program with a 90 - 10 Music-to-Talk ratio will not be disappointed.
Overall -- intoxicating.
Jazz via the "Electric Band" and "Jazz Fusion" can be an acquired taste, an occasional treat where a little goes a long way. Not everyone succeded like Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock or Weather Report. Many have fallen short.
You'll get a quick jolt of where you stand with the genre with the Electrified: The North Sea Jazz Festival program from European Jazz Stage 2008, and I think your listeners will like this particular sampling of jazz fusion. There's an organic pull to the show's music; you're never too far from home, even in its more obtuse and free form moments. And this music always resolves and comes home in a big way.
This electric themed program includes John Scofield, Medeski, Martin and Wood and Trumpeter/Band Leader Rob van de Wouw, plus a heart-warming (seemingly) acoustic ballad performed by the Esbjorn Svensson Trio (known as EST).
N.B. The show is listed as 59:34. It's actually 58:30 - with two :30 promos at the end. Other shows from the European Jazz Stage 2008 series are available with a different musical edge, and might resonate as well with your listeners.
Comment for
"Blues & Beyond #104: The John Coltrane Reference with Lewis Porter" (deleted)
Review of Blues & Beyond #104: The John Coltrane Reference with Lewis Porter (deleted)
WXPN Host Jonny Meister is one of our leading blues/jazz and American music resources. Week after week, he produces living and uplifting musical and historical documents on America's known and not so well known musical innovators.
This recent show looks at John Coltrane with author (and Coltrane authority) Lewis Porter. Insights into Coltrane's music life, generosity to other musicians, his addictions and his musical-leadership role warm up Coltrane's music even more. The interview segments are generally compelling and well paced with new information and background.
Coltrane's music is good all day and night, and it sings just as strongly in this unstuffy, mini-doc style presentation.
As station's music-to-talk philosophies vary, I recommend auditioning this specific program in detail. In this edition of Blues and Beyond, the music is excerpted and faded down to return to the Meister / Porter interview. (Fading out on "My Favorite Things" may be against your station's "religion.")
Other editions of the Blues and Beyond programs (#96: Tomcat Courtney) have a higher music-to-talk ratio and will provide you wider scheduling opportunities.
Comment for
"Willie Nelson Sings the Blues with Wynton Marsalis" (deleted)
Review of Willie Nelson Sings the Blues with Wynton Marsalis (deleted)
Music...Willie singing...Winton's intro - all magically understated: it's one of the best show opens I can remember in more than recent history. And from that point on, everyone involved with "Willie Nelson Sings the Blues with Wynton Marsalis" keeps the music, mood, energy and story going for the remaining 57+ minutes.
Marsalis and Nelson's collaboration include the known and lesser known tunes of Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington, Merle Travis, Harry Warren, Spencer Williams, Jimmy Reed...and Willie Nelson.
Especially fine is Willie Nelson's rendition of "Night Life" with wailing trumpets and saxes on the side. And the simplicity and sass of the Nelson-Marsalis back-and-forths on "Ain't Nobody's Business" are another highpoint in the show's second half.
Show your boss and your listeners how Willie Nelson is a strong fit on your AAA, Jazz, eclectic music or News/Music station with a show that joyfully rewards us for looking beyond musical labels and categorization.
NPR Music has just added its newest set of programs from their series, Discoveries at Disney. Yefim Bronfman, Los Lobos, Neko Case, the Venice Baroque Orchestra, McCoy Tyner and a Horace Silver tribute are included in this recent PRX upload.
Why play this program instead of a CD? It's live, it's recent and it demonstrates how pianist Yefim Bronfman and members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic are at the absolute top of the classical music performing hierarchy with their Rachmaninoff, Haydn and Schubert program. And, it may also be a convincing and qualified way to shake up and bring an element of surprise to your local shift.
The LAPO members, picked out of the orchestra, do not sound like a "pick up" group. Their performance of excerpts from Haydn's String Quartet "The Rider" is polished and beautifully crisp. Bronfman and the LAPO's Schubert Trio performance merges an energetic force with a polished air to create all of the romantic urge necessary to tell Schubert's story. The sometimes undervalued or forgotten second movement receives an especially poignant and grabbing performance.
Bronfman plays the Rachmaninoff: Prelude in D Major Opus 23, No. 4 during the program's cutaway segment - his playing here is so fine, I urge you not cut away.
The music to talk ratio is better than 90 - 10, and just about every word is in the proper place - most notably Bronfman's personal and memorable nutshell summary of Schubert. Renee Montagne is the respectful and righteous host.
Appropriate for air during a day-time classical music shift as a change of pace and during any evening or weekend slot.
Comment for
"American Popular Song and World War II" (deleted)
Review of American Popular Song and World War II (deleted)
This is two hours of July 4th programming wonderfully showcasing what is truly the best of the Great American Songbook.
You can hear everything from Frank Sinatra's soulful "The Song is You," to "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition." There's also an incredibly fresh (sizzling) version of "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" along with many of the top standards from the WW II era.
Music is seamlessly interwoven with host narration, radio news casts of the day's biggest stories and some historical perspective from author and cultural historian, Michael McGerr. These short features provide some valuable context and advance understanding of the politics and American sociology before and during WW II.
The contrast between "then" and current events is incredibly striking - making this program even more timely. But, it's the music, either as foreground or background, that will most likely please, entertain and move your listeners closer to the radio.
"Afterglow" is a weekly show hosted and produced by David Brent Johnson and WFIU in Bloomington, IN. The show is two hours (1:18:00) and assembled in mostly discreet single hour sections. With permission from the producer, and some pretty easy editing, you could run just the first hour. But there's something to be said, and gained, by putting this show on in its entirety right after ATC or later on July 4th, which just happens to be a Friday. Two promos are also on the site ready to go.
"...messy and beautiful and delicate and crude: just like life is."
That's the cut that pops at the beginning of the show "Jazz Profiles: Gil Evans," NPR Music's tribute, introduction and explanation of what composer/arranger Gil Evans did to, and did with, music.
You might know Gil Evans for his legendary collaborations with trumpet player Miles Davis, but there was so much more. As always, Jazz Profiles has produced another musical documentary and music appreciation tale without the baggage that can take the music out of the musician at the heart of the story.
Suitable for all jazz and multi-music formatted stations and best suited for weekday evenings and all weekend long.
Comments by David Srebnik
Comment for "Listners Sound Like This - Wynton Marsalis"
David Srebnik
Posted on July 10, 2009 at 12:45 PM | Permalink
A Must Have
A Must Have for most of our formats. Message, mood, tone, delivery: all there.
Comment for "Savannah Music Festival LIVE Presents: Mike Marshall, Darol Anger and Väsen"
David Srebnik
Posted on July 10, 2009 at 11:30 AM | Permalink
Wonderful Mist and Melodies
Please see the recommendation on the Music Stations Picks for July: http://www.prx.org/playlists/82892
Comment for "10 Greats You've Probably Never Heard"
David Srebnik
Posted on July 07, 2009 at 02:11 PM | Permalink
New Musical Discoveries for Music Lovers
Please see recommendation on the Music Stations Picks for July. http://www.prx.org/playlists/82892
Comment for "Back To The Garden: Woodstock Remembered (2 x 59:00 or 2 x 54:00)"
David Srebnik
Posted on July 02, 2009 at 07:01 PM | Permalink
Back to the Garden Takes You There
Please see the recommendation on the "Music Stations Picks for July" Page: http://www.prx.org/playlists/82892
Comment for "The Protest Singer: An Intimate Portrait of Pete Seeger"
David Srebnik
Posted on April 28, 2009 at 01:16 PM | Permalink
Leaves You Optimistic on All Levels
Birthday Celebrations, especially celebrity and celebrity icon anniversaries, too often only celebrate longevity.
Rarely are these celebrations for an American Institution, an American Folk Music and Protest Song Institution, a advocate for American labor, earth-care and the environment (we used to call it “fighting against pollution), an American Way of life and the banjo.
Those are just a few reasons for celebrating the 90th birthday of Pete Seeger on May 3, or all throughout the month of May.
Rita Houston hosts and introduces the Pete Seeger biography and his living legacy by way of a well written narrative, excerpts from Seeger’s most recent interview and contributions from author Alec Wilkinson (he has a new Seeger Biography).
With production from Media Mechanics, this is magnificently smooth in its craft, construction and flow. It will leave your listeners historically and musically refreshed – and like Pete Seeger at 90 years old, optimistic.
Comment for "The Best of South by Southwest Music 2009"
David Srebnik
Posted on April 05, 2009 at 09:45 AM | Permalink
Another strong KUT Radio-Music Showcase
David Brown, Andy Uhler, Peter Babb and the rest of the radio-gifted crew of Texas Music Matters (KUT) have put together a fast moving sampling from the just concluded South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin.
Taking moments from shows, showcases and KUT studio events, there are, forgive the cliché, too many high points to list, but include The Low Anthem, Asa, T-Bird and the Breaks and the Somalia-born K’Naan who delivers a most dynamic and rousing pay off to a moving but somewhat odd intro during his moment on the show.
Host David Brown and the entire Texas Music Matters – KUT creative group deliver a musical production that will hit home with your station’s music lovers. Music choices, flow and tasteful, minimalist hosting make this program a good fit during afternoon-evening dayparts on weekdays and weekends.
KUT and Texas Matters are well represented with long and short pieces on PRX – including, “Amazing Grace: The Story of Willie Nelson,” recently awarded First Place for Documentary Reporting and the Grand Prize for Radio at the 75th Annual National Headliners Awards. http://www.prx.org/pieces/25468-amazing-grace-the-story-of-willie-nelson.
Comment for "Harmonia Traditions: Easter" (deleted)
David Srebnik
Posted on April 04, 2009 at 10:04 AM
An Easter Music Program for all Seasons (deleted)
For your April Easter Programming, Harmonia Host and Producer Angela Mariani has created a magnificent music program – suitable for Easter and almost any time of the year.
Choral music from the times and lands of the Pre-Baroque era is all about endless layers upon layers of the richest of human and vocal harmonies.
Your listeners will hear totally original, engaging, and ultimately stunning music from early music choral kingpins Thomas de Victoria, Orlando di Lasso, Handel and others – along with a major discovery by Francois Couperin (better known for his keyboard music).
Often on this page we talk about getting the music to talk ratio right on a “music show.” It’s on the money here as is Angela Mariana and writer Bernard Gordillo’s wisely minimal approach to setting up the historical-theological contexts for this music.
Highly recommended – inside and outside of the classical format.
Comment for "Ruby Elzy: Black Diva of the Thirties"
David Srebnik
Posted on February 07, 2009 at 09:53 AM | Permalink
Excellent Option for Black History Month Programming and Beyond BHM
Producer/Host Boyce Lancaster threads two musical biographies in "Ruby Elzy: Black Diva of the Thirties." These two musician's lives, coincidentally, were themselves entwined. Soprano Ruby Elzy was George Gershwin's choice to portray the role of Serena in the original production of Porgy and Bess.
With the George Gershwin and Porgy and Bess phenomenon as a backdrop, the program follows Elzy's rise from small town Jim Crow living in Mississippi in her quest and "deep desire to become a singer," and to one day sing in a “big hall.”
This is a wonderful story of personal determination, lovely heart and soul, superb musicianship and survival amongst the most difficult of all odds. It's well told and mixed with electrifying historical musical performances.
Here's your Black History Month programming, but it would be a sin to limit it to only one month of the year. "Ruby Elzy: Black Diva of the Thirties" is also friendly to formats beyond classical.
Comment for "Amazing Grace"
David Srebnik
Posted on January 22, 2009 at 09:50 AM | Permalink
Compelling and Captivating Story Telling
Author Steve Turner calls it "America's most beloved song." "Amazing Grace" and its story is the gift that keeps on giving. Each story begets another story, and they're all captured in a highly enriching and engaging Interview-Documentary, "Amazing Grace: The Story of America's Most Beloved Song."
The song's story and history, by themselves, go well beyond interesting and captivating. But it's the history of the individual words, "wretch," "grace" and "amazing" that create the most interest and momentum.
The hymn lays out the biography of John Newton, a one-time slave trader who wrote the words. He is also the wretch mentioned in the text. Author Steve Turner juxtaposes Newton's original intentions for these words with the stories of people whose lives were rescued and transformed upon hearing them at their lowest and highest life moments. These juxtapositions create the documentary's deepest, most gripping moments.
"Amazing Grace: The Story of America's Most Beloved Song” is convincing story telling suitable for almost all formats and for stations with regular and occasional documentary slots in their schedule.
Comment for "NEA Jazz Master Snooky Young gives advice to aspiring players"
David Srebnik
Posted on January 12, 2009 at 11:25 AM | Permalink
Nifty Snooky and Toots
NEA Jazz Masters Moments has added some new, nifty moments with trumpeter Snooky Young and the Belgian harmonicat, Toots Thielmans. There are multiple Young moments to choose from -- I like "Snooky Young Gives Advice to Aspiring Players", "Snooky Young's Run-in with the Law" is bittersweet.
Toots Thielemans introduces the birth of his big hit, with "Toots Thielmans on Composing "Bluesette" and talks about his cardboard start on "Toots Thielmans on his Musical Upbringing"
As with the other NEA Jazzmoments I've previously recommended, each can serve your listeners and station in a variety of ways -- and each creates joy in some small way.
Comment for "Johnny Cash: At Folsom Prison"
David Srebnik
Posted on January 10, 2009 at 10:21 AM | Permalink
Superb Story Telling with Music
A veritable best of both worlds here with "Johnny Cash: At Folsom Prison". You've got the story-telling music of Johnny Cash and the story of one of the most royal of all concerts -- the incredible show Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Three put on at Folsom Prison in 1968.
The music and performances are a gritty given. What stands out is how Joyride Media puts you in a seat right next to an inmate in the Folsom Prison cafeteria. You'll hear from prisoners, prison guards and reporters who all capture the color and the concert.
Incredibly entertaining and compelling radio, capturing the wonder, hope and crude and cruel merriment of a historic musical and sociological event. And Johnny Cash.
For those who hate surprises: language advisory at 13:25 in Part 1; 4:32 in Part 2. The program contains songs with drug references as well.
Comment for "The Tristan Mysteries: The Mythic Mysteries"
David Srebnik
Posted on November 18, 2008 at 12:50 PM | Permalink
Review of The Tristan Mysteries: The Mythic Mysteries
This is just about perfect. "The Mythic Mysteries" is one of five WNYC Radio tributes, explanations and justifications for Richard Wagner's opera, Tristan and Isolde.
Sometimes, rarely, once in a long while, the talk about the music is on the same level as the music itself -- and I'm aware of the potential absurdity of such a statement, considering the music at hand. But, once in a while it happens.
Here in 16-plus minutes "The Mythic Mysteries" investigates, and resolves, the matters of love and longing; unrequited love where hope still remains; adultery; pain before death, pain after death and then letting go after death.
Pow. Deep, deep deep -- but always welcoming and a pleasure to hear, process, and then hear again. "The Mythic Mysteries" offers strong writing, well placed irony and Amy O'Leary's narrative tone and inflections are equally heroic elements.
At 16:32, "The Mythic Mysteries" is tricky to schedule. Consider combining the five parts of WNYC's Tristan Mysteries to create an hour of entertaining and engaging radio -- that just happens to be about opera.
No operatic experience or operatic attachment required for your listeners, and worth consideration for most formats, including news-information. Saturdays on non-MET stations or Friday night after ATC or Marketplace. Classical: suitable for Saturday before the MET; Saturday after the MET.
The MET offers Wagner's Tristan and Isolde on its regular Saturday matinee radio broadcast on Saturday, December 6 at 11 a.m. EST.
Additional Tristan Mysteries Series Segments:
The Sexual Mysteries (14:08): Content advisory aside, this segment is both historically and hysterically revealing and reveling.
The Visual Mysteries (15:54): Director Peter Sellers explains how it's acceptable, understandable and maybe desirable to never quite figure it all out note by note.
The Sonic Mysteries (15:34): College Music Theory courses rarely made such a relevant and contemporary case for this most famous chord of all time.
The Five-Hour Mysteries (16:37): Makes a strong, comforting case that falling asleep during the opera is fine. It only seems like nothing is happening over the opera's 5 hours, but "something is happening all the time." Then there's the sex on the beach at the end. (Content advisory at about 7 minutes in.)
Comment for "Roy Orbison: Black & White Night"
David Srebnik
Posted on November 11, 2008 at 01:38 AM | Permalink
Review of Roy Orbison: Black & White Night
Is it time for a new Roy Orbison revival? Maybe...maybe not, but it couldn't hurt.
Orbison's sweet sound and voice, backed on this black and white night by a who's who of lead singers still stuns and gets under your skin. Joyride Media has gracefully projected Orbison's trademark, three layered stream of vocal purity, gifted phrasing and that undated nostalgic quality that Roy Orbison either invented or perfected.
Many of the Orbison favorites are here, and the other music of the evening is hearing Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, KD Lange and other heavy hitters both praising and explaining Roy Orbison the musician and person -- in gracious and grateful terms and tone.
While there may not necessarily be a specific time or news peg ou can tie to this special -- there's always a time and a reason to put this kind of musical and radio artistry in front of your listeners. Schedule it any evening...and maybe on Thanksgiving day.
Comment for "The White Album Listening Party: Revisiting The Beatles' Top-Seller (3-Hour / Newscast-Length Version)"
David Srebnik
Posted on November 08, 2008 at 08:24 AM | Permalink
Review of The White Album Listening Party: Revisiting The Beatles' Top-Seller (3-Hour / Newscast-Length Version)
"The White Album Listening Party: Revisiting The Beatles' Top-Seller" celebrates the 40th anniversary (Nov. 22, 1968) of the release of the Beatles scary-new, scary-wonderful, scary-ambitious new recording.
The "Listening Party" puts the Beatles White Album in the center of a circle of non celebrity, smart, non-fanatic, well-spoken and knowledgeable Beatles experts, who share their memories, opinions and stories behind the stories and the recording.
It's great to hear this music again, but beyond quality of the music and the invigorating nostalgia of hearing hit after hit after hit -- is the listening party component of the show. It frequently reaches the high notes on the most important radio "best practices" metric board of story telling and listener focus.
You are not the unwelcome eavesdropper on a bunch of stoned college slackers having a conversation about nothing. This is a conversation with music lovers, and Beatles' lovers (who may have been stoned at one time...just not here).
Remarks and the stories behind "Dear Prudence," "Happiness is a Warm Gun," and "Why Don't We do it in the Road?" feature amusing stories and insight, and they may answer White Album questions we've perhaps been trying to formulate for the last 40 years.
Also fresh -- the discussion brings forward the notion and memory that this was a scary album for a number of reasons -- to paraphrase, "What happened to 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand'...where are my Beatles?"
The discussion proceeds by track order, usually two tracks at a time, followed by both songs. Almost each segue from discussion to music generates both a musical "AHA" moment and an satisfying internal organic physical reaction as well -- the kind you get from Bach, Mozart, Bill Evans, Dylan etc.)
The 3-hour presentation of the program, producer Paul Ingles recommends, "Is the best experience for your listeners as it recreates the experience of listening to the whole album. If you can only accommodate a two-hour slot there will be a two-hour version available at PRX."
Three hours is tricky -- two hours is tricky, but your thoughtful, OES promotion strategy (promo materials provided on PRX), the anniversary peg, the 1968 - 2008 connections, the music that still holds up, the stories behind the music and the assembly, tone and flow created by Paul Ingles will likely create a banner day for your listeners and your station.
This could be a Saturday or Sunday afternoon listening and good for any evening -- especially a blue Monday or Friday night. See the PRX page for a range of date specific scheduling options.
Comment for "NEA Jazz Master Toots Thielemans and His First Night in the US"
David Srebnik
Posted on November 06, 2008 at 02:11 AM | Permalink
Review of NEA Jazz Master Toots Thielemans and His First Night in the US
This ongoing series of 1:30 - 2:00 jazz performer snapshots are both a kick and a delight. While they aren't intended to change the world, they will brighten up your station's sound in the mornings and could fit pretty much anywhere else throughout the day.
The latest entry into the series features harmonica virtuoso Toots Thielemans -- and what happened to this innocent and easily bemused Belgian musician on his first night in NYC.
Others in the series worth your consideration, Marian McPartland Discusses Her Conversations with Duke Ellington and Thelonius Monk, Shirley Horn on Working with Miles Davis and Phil Woods On Meeting Saxophonist Charlie Parker. Please don't think of these pieces as a bridge between shows -- they are shows in themselves.
In addition to enhancing your jazz programming, the NEA Jazz Master series could also be a nice flash of light on your News-Information station. They're a nice, quick way to entertain and inform your listeners and to promote your jazz programming and jazz brand. They have station fundraising applications as well.
Others in the series (Ramsey Lewis, Slide Hampton and Buddy Defranco) were reviewed in April 2008. The Dave Brubeck pieces in the series are wonderful, but have an April 2008 Brubeck Festival reference at the end.
Comment for "Sparrow Quartet"
David Srebnik
Posted on November 03, 2008 at 09:44 AM | Permalink
Review of Sparrow Quartet
Here's a most pleasant and musically compelling tale of an American singer-songwriter who became a "banjo player who writes songs in English and Chinese."
That mix of musical styles and cultures brought that banjo playing songwriter, Abigail Washburn and her Sparrow Quartet together with Banjo star and banjo boundary breaker, Bela Fleck.
GPB's Edgar Treiguts's 6:12 feature effectively touches on the high points of Abigail Washburn's "Bluegrass-Americana" career and how it naturally intersected with Chinese culture and a Bela Fleck partnership without going heavy documentary-National Geographic on us. The music is sweet, genuine and often quite touching.
The feature, mixed nicely with music, runs 6:12 and then segues to a Washburn-Fleck collaboration for you to play out or talk over and fade out.
The entire 10:26 could be an ideal way to end your local magazine program or could end a particular hour of your local (AAA or AAA connected) music shift.
Comment for "The List: Austin City Limits Music Festival 2008 Preview"
David Srebnik
Posted on October 10, 2008 at 04:04 AM | Permalink
Review of The List: Austin City Limits Music Festival 2008 Preview
Not to sound like a broken record, but my previous recommendations of David Brown's KUT-PRX work usually start with, or include the words, "More nice work from David Brown and his colleagues at KUT."
More nice work from David Brown and his colleagues at KUT.
We find him here introducing the high points from the just-concluded Austin City Limits Music Festival 2008, a three-day blast of "cutting edge rock to blues, soul, country and roots music."
Here's the one quirk or advisory that may make the program a deal breaker on your station:
This program was originally produced as a festival preview and recommendation list to help ACLMF concert goers choose which of the 100s of bands and artists to go hear.
The show contains time references that may be confusing, but to make this a comfortable fit for your station, host/producer David Brown wrote a new intro for PRX stations. With that intro and your advance promotion, you can turn this program into a "Best of the Austin City Limits Music Festival" for your listeners. I felt the show helped me get caught up with some of what's current, new and ahead of the curve in the 2008-2009 music scene. That would be another way to authentically promote it on your air.
In addition to moments with Belleville Outfit, Vampire Weekend, Octopus Project (fantastic), MGMT, Abigail Washburn and others, you'll hear complete tunes from Asleep at the Wheel, Patty Griffin (incredible), Roky Erickson, Okkervil River, Yeasayer, Fleet Foxes, Silversun Pickups and David Byrne.
"The List: Austin City Limits Music Festival 2008 Preview" is a good mix of snippets and complete songs from bands your listeners aren't necessarily going to hear anywhere but on your station. And there are likely to be some first time discoveries as well.
Comment for "Tapestry of the Times - episode #1"
David Srebnik
Posted on October 06, 2008 at 05:15 AM | Permalink
Review of Tapestry of the Times - episode #1
Producer Aaron Henkin has broken the template and traditional default for early folk, blues and vintage music shows. Thankfully.
"Tapestry of the Times" surveys the musical legends, originators and innovators documented on the legendary Smithsonian Folkways Recordings catalogue.
Too often, this radio program genre is smothered by an aged, scratchy, tortuously slow moving, monophonic and musty blanket, brought down further by old-timer style hosting.
Producer/Host Aaron Henkin shows that just because the music and the recording technology are raw and unrefined, the music, hosting and writing can be very much in the present. (The writing is outstanding.)
The first show in the weekly series (programs are 59 minutes) brings your listeners Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie and folk songs from Colombia, Cuba, and Iran.
Other shows include more Americana, music from Afganistan and Uganda and ventures into Sea Chanteys and Blue Grass.
Clear, compelling promos for each show are included. "Tapestry of the Times" is worth considering for News/Music, AAA and eclectic music stations. If you're all-news with a music or Doc slot, this could work for you and your listeners as well.
Comment for "Discoveries At Walt Disney Concert Hall: McCoy Tyner"
David Srebnik
Posted on September 21, 2008 at 07:53 AM | Permalink
Review of DWD: McCoy Tyner
Looking for a "no doubt what-so-ever" way to quickly and memorably state, restate or reinforce your station's Jazz (or Music) ID or image?
Click download now.
McCoy Tyner's oversized playing style both energizes and pleases, and there's a genuine joy and upward lift in this concert performance with intimate insider moments provided and produced by NPR Music. The pianist also generates good vibes when he talks about making music and making nice with his Manhattan neighbors.
This particular episode of DWD has McCoy Tyner fronting his quartet (Dave Holland, bass; Joe Lovano, saxophone; and Lewis Nash, drums), with some solo spots as well. Especially memorable and mesmerizing is Tyner's original "Walk Spirit...Talk Spirit," sanctified by enlightened bass playing from Dave Holland.
"Discoveries at Walt Disney" has a number of other jazz, classical and multi-labeled music category programs for you to consider one at a time, or as a series. This one is highly appealing and programmable every night of the week and all weekend long.
Comment for "WNYC's Fishko Files: An Hour with Philip Glass"
David Srebnik
Posted on September 13, 2008 at 05:52 AM | Permalink
Review of WNYC's Fishko Files: An Hour with Philip Glass
The piece is as much a Philip Glass Bio, by way of interview, as it is an intriguing investigation into the music ("Minimalism") he wrote that your listeners either love or hate.
His music is much less polarizing these days. For some reason, those on either side of the minimalism bandwagon feel less obligated to take an aggressive stance, either pro or con.
I like how this piece takes you out of intense judgment and "defend your turf" mode into something less...judgmental. You won't feel obligated or directed to make a final musical ruling. Nor will your listeners be forced to make a decision or change their mind about Philip Glass. To Sarah Fishko's credit, this becomes a story.
However, through that story telling, your listeners might very well develop new Glass conclusions on their own (cue the Public Radio Core Values theme music....).
Not just for classical stations - it's a possible fit for your AAA station, and stations committed to a wide and substantial musical diversity. Based on the music, news-worthiness and its superb story telling, "An Hour with Philip Glass" deserves consideration on some News/Music stations.
Comment for "The Little Giant: A Tribute to Johnny Griffin"
David Srebnik
Posted on September 03, 2008 at 04:39 AM | Permalink
Review of The Little Giant: A Tribute to Johnny Griffin
A portrait of musician Johnny Griffin was long overdue, and this one gets it right. Chicago-based producer Dan Bindert does a good job telling this Chicago-associated tenor sax player's musical story.
There's plenty of excellent music and musical variety for your listeners to hear and let soak in. "The Little Giant" multitasks as a highly appealing musical production and as a concise presenter of historical information and context that astutely illustrates Johnny Griffin's place in music history.
For our side of the microphone, hear what host Dan Bindert does and doesn't do. He gives important session and event dates but does not fall into the traditional recording date laundry list, that jazz break black hole that deflates the music heard just prior to the break.
Timely right now as Mr. Griffin died July 25th. Suitable for fans and first timers, and programmable on your station every night of the week and all weekend long.
Comment
David Srebnik
Posted on August 21, 2008 at 06:25 AM
Review of 11 Central Ave (deleted)
I hate "edgy" - mostly due to the posers who use the term and how they misuse it.
This is an entertaining, clever, polished and wonderfully adventurous series of 3:30 stories or strips.
And it's spectacularly edgy.
11th Central Ave is an ongoing radiostrip that follows the breakfast conversation and topical day-to-day over-analysis of Nat, the unemployed husband; Christine, his wife and somewhat ambivalent bread-winner; Anneliese, their 17 year old daughter and others, including Christine?s libertarian brother with a masters degree in government (he works at Kinkos).
This is a raw, but tightly focused lens onto our present day, where the story line and characters give a human and humorous voice to today's social, political and economic ups and mostly downs.
Quick paced in your face, biting, cynical and smart, very funny and occasionally heart breaking - 11th Central Ave's acting, writing and directing operate on an enviously high scale.
There are two catches.
For the show to make its rightful impact with your listeners, it will take more than 2 - 3 episodes to get the rhythm of the show. You'll need to commit for the long term.
A different sensibility is required when you audition this series. How will your station's listeners feel after hearing it 15 times? Will they grow to enjoy if it airs at the right time, if they hear it enough times and if it's creatively and effectively promoted?
Hearing or auditioning 1 - 2 shows won't work.
Start with these recent episodes: http://www.prx.org/pieces/28029, http://www.prx.org/pieces/28197 and http://www.prx.org/pieces/28318
Here's the other catch: the series isn't perfect. Not every strip is a gem. There are a few rough edges that are easily addressable (the opening could be tighter - the promo and info at the end could be clearer).
Each episode is 3:30 or 3:59 with a promo and show information. Consider it for the WESAT or WESUN cutaways; ME on Friday - or Friday during your news/arts magazine program.
Remember...it's not a show: it's a long term series of strips. And it is authentically edgy.
Comment for "European Jazz Stage 2008, program 2"
David Srebnik
Posted on August 18, 2008 at 02:30 AM | Permalink
Review of European Jazz Stage 2008, program 2
For Jazz and AAA stations that creatively and thoughtfully stretch their format's boundaries, this show is worth strong consideration.
This is A MUSIC SHOW: there's a tuned-in and appealing host (Daniel Frankl) and smart production crew (Manon Miessen, Radio Netherlands and Murray Street Productions), but they're in the background. Anyone interested in hearing the music and story telling integrity of a program with a 90 - 10 Music-to-Talk ratio will not be disappointed.
Overall -- intoxicating.
Jazz via the "Electric Band" and "Jazz Fusion" can be an acquired taste, an occasional treat where a little goes a long way. Not everyone succeded like Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock or Weather Report. Many have fallen short.
You'll get a quick jolt of where you stand with the genre with the Electrified: The North Sea Jazz Festival program from European Jazz Stage 2008, and I think your listeners will like this particular sampling of jazz fusion. There's an organic pull to the show's music; you're never too far from home, even in its more obtuse and free form moments. And this music always resolves and comes home in a big way.
This electric themed program includes John Scofield, Medeski, Martin and Wood and Trumpeter/Band Leader Rob van de Wouw, plus a heart-warming (seemingly) acoustic ballad performed by the Esbjorn Svensson Trio (known as EST).
N.B. The show is listed as 59:34. It's actually 58:30 - with two :30 promos at the end. Other shows from the European Jazz Stage 2008 series are available with a different musical edge, and might resonate as well with your listeners.
Comment for "Blues & Beyond #104: The John Coltrane Reference with Lewis Porter" (deleted)
David Srebnik
Posted on August 14, 2008 at 06:11 AM
Review of Blues & Beyond #104: The John Coltrane Reference with Lewis Porter (deleted)
WXPN Host Jonny Meister is one of our leading blues/jazz and American music resources. Week after week, he produces living and uplifting musical and historical documents on America's known and not so well known musical innovators.
This recent show looks at John Coltrane with author (and Coltrane authority) Lewis Porter. Insights into Coltrane's music life, generosity to other musicians, his addictions and his musical-leadership role warm up Coltrane's music even more. The interview segments are generally compelling and well paced with new information and background.
Coltrane's music is good all day and night, and it sings just as strongly in this unstuffy, mini-doc style presentation.
As station's music-to-talk philosophies vary, I recommend auditioning this specific program in detail. In this edition of Blues and Beyond, the music is excerpted and faded down to return to the Meister / Porter interview. (Fading out on "My Favorite Things" may be against your station's "religion.")
Other editions of the Blues and Beyond programs (#96: Tomcat Courtney) have a higher music-to-talk ratio and will provide you wider scheduling opportunities.
Comment for "Willie Nelson Sings the Blues with Wynton Marsalis" (deleted)
David Srebnik
Posted on August 10, 2008 at 06:25 PM
Review of Willie Nelson Sings the Blues with Wynton Marsalis (deleted)
Music...Willie singing...Winton's intro - all magically understated: it's one of the best show opens I can remember in more than recent history. And from that point on, everyone involved with "Willie Nelson Sings the Blues with Wynton Marsalis" keeps the music, mood, energy and story going for the remaining 57+ minutes.
Marsalis and Nelson's collaboration include the known and lesser known tunes of Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington, Merle Travis, Harry Warren, Spencer Williams, Jimmy Reed...and Willie Nelson.
Especially fine is Willie Nelson's rendition of "Night Life" with wailing trumpets and saxes on the side. And the simplicity and sass of the Nelson-Marsalis back-and-forths on "Ain't Nobody's Business" are another highpoint in the show's second half.
Show your boss and your listeners how Willie Nelson is a strong fit on your AAA, Jazz, eclectic music or News/Music station with a show that joyfully rewards us for looking beyond musical labels and categorization.
Comment for "Discoveries At Walt Disney Concert Hall: Yefim Bronfman"
David Srebnik
Posted on August 08, 2008 at 03:18 AM | Permalink
Review of DWD: Yefim Bronfman
NPR Music has just added its newest set of programs from their series, Discoveries at Disney. Yefim Bronfman, Los Lobos, Neko Case, the Venice Baroque Orchestra, McCoy Tyner and a Horace Silver tribute are included in this recent PRX upload.
Why play this program instead of a CD? It's live, it's recent and it demonstrates how pianist Yefim Bronfman and members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic are at the absolute top of the classical music performing hierarchy with their Rachmaninoff, Haydn and Schubert program. And, it may also be a convincing and qualified way to shake up and bring an element of surprise to your local shift.
The LAPO members, picked out of the orchestra, do not sound like a "pick up" group. Their performance of excerpts from Haydn's String Quartet "The Rider" is polished and beautifully crisp. Bronfman and the LAPO's Schubert Trio performance merges an energetic force with a polished air to create all of the romantic urge necessary to tell Schubert's story. The sometimes undervalued or forgotten second movement receives an especially poignant and grabbing performance.
Bronfman plays the Rachmaninoff: Prelude in D Major Opus 23, No. 4 during the program's cutaway segment - his playing here is so fine, I urge you not cut away.
The music to talk ratio is better than 90 - 10, and just about every word is in the proper place - most notably Bronfman's personal and memorable nutshell summary of Schubert. Renee Montagne is the respectful and righteous host.
Appropriate for air during a day-time classical music shift as a change of pace and during any evening or weekend slot.
Comment for "American Popular Song and World War II" (deleted)
David Srebnik
Posted on June 26, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Review of American Popular Song and World War II (deleted)
This is two hours of July 4th programming wonderfully showcasing what is truly the best of the Great American Songbook.
You can hear everything from Frank Sinatra's soulful "The Song is You," to "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition." There's also an incredibly fresh (sizzling) version of "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" along with many of the top standards from the WW II era.
Music is seamlessly interwoven with host narration, radio news casts of the day's biggest stories and some historical perspective from author and cultural historian, Michael McGerr. These short features provide some valuable context and advance understanding of the politics and American sociology before and during WW II.
The contrast between "then" and current events is incredibly striking - making this program even more timely. But, it's the music, either as foreground or background, that will most likely please, entertain and move your listeners closer to the radio.
"Afterglow" is a weekly show hosted and produced by David Brent Johnson and WFIU in Bloomington, IN. The show is two hours (1:18:00) and assembled in mostly discreet single hour sections. With permission from the producer, and some pretty easy editing, you could run just the first hour. But there's something to be said, and gained, by putting this show on in its entirety right after ATC or later on July 4th, which just happens to be a Friday. Two promos are also on the site ready to go.
Comment
David Srebnik
Posted on June 26, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Review of Afterglow: Jazz and American Popular Song (deleted)
Please see the review of the July 4th program "American Song and WW II" from the series: ?Afterglow: Jazz and American Popular Song.?
http://www.prx.org/reviews/8211
Thank you.
Comment for "How to Sing the Star-Spangled Banner"
David Srebnik
Posted on June 24, 2008 at 06:40 PM | Permalink
Review of How to Sing the Star-Spangled Banner
Nice, drop-in for July 4th - featuring an insider's tip for those who struggle to sing one of the most difficult songs of all time.
Not earth shattering but timely and universally relatable - at least here in the U-S. And you may save your listeners from losing a lung.
Good for your July 4 ME or ATC cutaways, and as an insert during a local music shift or news-magazine slot. Good for your July 3 programming as well.
Comment for "Gil Evans: Distinction in Arranging"
David Srebnik
Posted on June 09, 2008 at 03:08 AM | Permalink
Review of Jazz Profiles: Gil Evans
"...messy and beautiful and delicate and crude: just like life is."
That's the cut that pops at the beginning of the show "Jazz Profiles: Gil Evans," NPR Music's tribute, introduction and explanation of what composer/arranger Gil Evans did to, and did with, music.
You might know Gil Evans for his legendary collaborations with trumpet player Miles Davis, but there was so much more. As always, Jazz Profiles has produced another musical documentary and music appreciation tale without the baggage that can take the music out of the musician at the heart of the story.
Suitable for all jazz and multi-music formatted stations and best suited for weekday evenings and all weekend long.