FM dial scan highlights XXVI

I hadn't planned on writing an FM dial scan highlights list for the third day in a row, but there have been enough good songs played today to warrant it:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• Waking The Jetstream-The Go! Team (A fun power pop tune, released a week ago.)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Country Preacher-Cannonball Adderley (An Adderley favorite of mine that trundles along subtly, with short, recurring bursts of energy; I also recommend Roy Buchanan's version.)
• Keepsake-Craig Wuepper (Not just any song makes me want to sit in the car and listen until the tune is over; this smoky, unhurried piano piece did.)

KCLC 89.1 FM

• Like The Weather-10,000 Maniacs (One of the band's best-crafted melodies.  Also recommended: "Don't Talk," "Verdi Cries," and "Trouble Me.")
• Breakfast At Tiffany's-Deep Blue Something (One of the better '90s one-hit wonder songs; the lyrics convey a universal feeling of realizing you have almost nothing in common with someone and knowing it's best to cut your losses.)

WARH 106.5 FM

• One Way Or Another-Blondie (Blondie absolutely sells the line, "I'm gonna getcha, getcha, getcha, getcha..." and the whole "one way or another" concept.  Worth seeking out: The "Veronica Mars" scene in which Kristen Bell sings this.)

FM dial scan highlights XXV

Among the best tracks I heard this afternoon:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• The Same-Estelle (From Estelle's new release; plaintive, haunting lyrics about taking a break from an unhealthy situation are delivered effectively.)
• Monedita-La Santa Cecilia (An infectious rhythm contrasts effectively with lyrics about a protagonist with possibly questionable priorities.)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Mood Indigo-Nina Simone (For a mood that's "bluer than blue can be," this is a surprisingly upbeat arrangement.)
• The Meaning Of The Blues-Carmen McRae (Lyrically compatible with "Mood Indigo," sung and played elegantly in a slower tempo.)
• Consider Me Gone-Christian McBride featuring Sting (An even stronger version of this Sting song, originally from Sting's album, "The Dream Of The Blue Turtles."  McBride's bass jazzes up Sting's vocals.)

KCLC 89.1 FM

• Dog Days Are Over-Florence + The Machine (A hook that holds up six years later.)

WFUN 95.5 FM

• Moments In Love-Art Of Noise (An atmospheric, of-its-time ('80s) tune, with sparse, effective vocals.  This was an enjoyable track to play on KNJZ.)

FM dial scan highlights XXIV

Six of the stronger selections I've heard this morning:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• My Cherie Amour-The Nylons (A strong a cappella rendition of a Stevie Wonder classic.)
• Moanin'-Lambert, Hendricks & Ross (Most likely the best three-part harmony anthem a pessimist, or someone with repeatedly bad luck, could have.  I enjoyed playing this on WEW.)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• But Not For Me-The Modern Jazz Quartet (The vibraphone arrangement makes this more than a run-of-the-mill version.)

WFUN 95.5 FM

• Open My Heart-Yolanda Adams (A convincingly sung request for help from above.)

K297BI 107.3 FM, a.k.a. KNOU-HD2 

• Sergei Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43 (Philharmonia Orchestra/Bernard Haitink, conductor; Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano) (Beautiful variations, played with delicacy, when appropriate, and force, as needed.  The piano and strings are particularly impressive.)
• Look Away-Joshua Bell, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile (Classical meets bluegrass, in various tempos, through this enjoyable violin/bass/mandolin trio.  The prolific Chris Thile continues to release albums at an impressively fast clip; in recent years, he has released solo albums, Punch Brothers albums, albums with other various Classical and bluegrass artists, and an album with Nickel Creek.  In the time it took you to read that sentence, I wouldn't be surprised if he had released three more albums.)

The art of pacing

Years ago, I worked at a radio station that had a two-minute local newscast.  When the time came, I would press the news button on the board and wait for two minutes.  The newscaster's timing had to be precise because a national program started exactly two minutes after the news began.  Right away, I realized that each newscaster's biggest challenge was pacing.  Having to fit a certain amount of material into a rigid time frame and make it sound natural is sometimes harder than it looks.  The newscast always ended with the weather.  Rookie newscasters would zip through the beginning of the forecast and realize that there was still a lot of time to fill. They would then start to speak slowly, while padding the rest of the forecast.  Near the end of it, they'd realize there was hardly any time left and cram in the current temperature hastily.  Typically, the end result sounded like this:

"Tonight,a60percentchanceofshowersandthunderstormsstartingaround8:30,withanovernightlowof48.  And then, for tomorrow...the weather forecast--for Columbia...and the surrounding metropolitan area...Partly cloudy skies are expected in tomorrow's forecast.  Those partly cloudy skies will be accompanied by a high temperature that is predicted to be within a range of 65 degrees to 68 degrees...approximately.  Rightnow,it'scloudyand61degrees!"

Pacing...It's not always easy to learn.

Flashcards fallback

Whenever my middle school gym teacher didn't have anything planned for that day's class, he'd tell the class, "We're going to play dodgeball today."  Looking back, it seems as though we played dodgeball half the time.

Treble and bass clef flashcards were my seventh and eighth grade chorus teacher's equivalent of dodgeball.  It always seemed that when the teacher was running low on inspiration, he'd say, "We're going to do flashcards today."  Three stools would be set up.  The teacher sat on a stool across from the student, while placing flashcards on a stool between them.  The student was supposed to name the note on each card as quickly as possible.  Thus, those who didn't know the names of the treble and bass clef lines and spaces got to know them extremely well by the end of the semester.  I was puzzled when he asked us to spend one class hour "talking about the lines and spaces."  (I don't recall any exchanges between students such as, "Say, did you know that B is the third line of the treble clef?"  "Why, no, I'd forgotten that.  Thank you for reminding me.")  Students spent that hour just talking or doing homework.  For a chorus class, we did very little singing, but everyone should have known the treble and bass clef notes by the end of the semester.

Unlikely grocery store background music

I was impressed and surprised as I strolled through the produce and baked goods sections of a grocery store recently and realized that I was hearing "Since You Asked" by Judy Collins.  The lyrics about two lives coming together as one are moving, but it's not the type of track you generally hear in stores.  Then again, I've read that songs with slower tempos tend to make shoppers linger longer and spend more, as a result.  I've also been surprised to hear the seldom-played Fleetwood Mac instrumental, "Sunny Side Of Heaven," and Jesse Colin Young's "Song For Juli" in that store, as well.  "Sunny Side Of Heaven" is an overlooked Danny Kirwan track from one of the band's stronger Bob Welch-era albums, "Bare Trees," and "Song For Juli" is a pleasant track written for Young's daughter.  Its unusual, mostly instrumental arrangement of guitar and flute sets a pleasant tone, and Young's vocals are effective when they start, late in the song.  Although I'm sure there's something to the studies that show how music subtly encourages people to buy more, I'd like to think that whoever selected those songs also has an appreciation of deep tracks.

A fun, quirky segue

I've never heard these two songs back to back on the radio and don't expect to, but after pairing them together on a playlist recently, I think it's uncanny how well these songs segue.  Listen to Fleetwood Mac's "Long Grey Mare" followed by Brave Combo's offbeat Easter tune, "I'm A Bunny Rabbit."  The flow is just there; the first song about a horse that doesn't want to go for a ride somehow segues with a song about an Easter bunny who questions the logic of why he does what he does on that holiday.  It's not the most obvious pairing, but it works.

Online radio sampler highlights XI

Selections that have stayed with me this evening:

WDCB (Glen Ellyn, IL)

• Seduction Of Spring-T Sisters (Appealing harmonies from three women; their CD, "Kindred Lines," also includes a good a cappella version of Paul Simon's "American Tune.")

WDNA (Miami, FL)

• Stranger In Paradise (Live)-Seamus Blake (Nice interplay between saxophone, piano, and bass in this expansive tune.)

WJPC (Chicago, IL)

• Thoughts And Wishes-Bohannon (A cool jazzy R&B track from 1975 that perks along on the piano, with vocal punctuation, at an easy pace.)

WNIU (DeKalb, IL)

• Ottorino Respighi: Brazilian Impressions (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/Jesus Lopez-Cobos, conductor) (Conveys the appeal, especially through violins and woodwinds, of Brazilian dances and the caution one needs when visiting a snake research institute.)

WNMC (Traverse City, MI)

• Can't Wait Another Day-The String Cheese Incident (Conjures up a fun, carnival-like atmosphere.)

Not a job for introverts or antagonists

An ad for a radio station sales job in the '90s invited people to apply if "you genuinely like people."  That stands to reason, I suppose.  Any job that typically requires a lot of rejection before you find someone willing to advertise on your station must challenge even the most starry-eyed optimist.

A favorite reaction to Dean Martin's "That's Amore"

"The moon is nothing like a pizza pie, under any circumstances.  As for amore, who can tell?"

--KCOU alum Liz

Simple question, obvious answer

A memory from middle school orchestra class, circa 1984:

Student: I've tried, but I just can't seem to come in on time when we get to that measure.  Any ideas?
Mr. D.: Well, you could...come in on time.  That would work.

SiriusXM highlights V

Some of the better tracks I've heard over the last two days:

1st Wave

• The Mayor Of Simpleton-XTC (One of XTC's strongest tracks, with powerful, confident vocals and percussion that makes you want to drum along on the dashboard.  Lyrically, the tune reminds me of Sam Cooke's "(What A) Wonderful World."  In each song, the protagonist claims not to know much; it's obvious, however, that both protagonists are smarter than they claim to be.  At a minimum, they're smart enough to know when they've found someone special.) 

'40s On 4

• Canadian Sunset-Hugo Winterhalter/Eddie Heywood (Suitable for a radio station's sign-off theme.  I miss playing this instrumental on WEW.)

'50s On 5

• I Can't Stop Loving You-Ray Charles (Ranks with "Georgia On My Mind" as one of the best Ray Charles recordings.  The way he sings, "I've made up my mind," seals it.)

'60s On 6

• Reach Out Of The Darkness-Friend & Lover (Dated, but that's not derogatory; wide-eyed idealism permeates every fiber of this song.  Groovy, indeed.)

'70s On 7

• Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)-Edison Lighthouse (When writing a review, "just because" isn't really a valid reason for recommending a song; after all, it doesn't justify anything.  That said...Hmmm...The melody of this oldie stays with you, and the singer's enthusiasm sells it.  There.  Justification.)

'80s On 8

• Personally-Karla Bonoff (An overlooked hit with a low-key charm.  Also recommended: "Somebody's Eyes.")

'90s On 9

• King Of Wishful Thinking-Go West (The lyrics are just as easy for virtually anyone to relate to as they were 25 years ago.)

Bluegrass Junction

• From Now On-Sierra Hull (An early track from Hull, showing singing and picking abilities that suggest a bright future.  Also recommended: Hull's "Daybreak" CD.)

Bluesville

• Wanna Go Back Again Blues-Leon Redbone (The lyrics empathize with anyone who feels homesick.  The Dixieland band accompaniment should help pep a homesick person up.)

The Groove

• This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)-Natalie Cole (Cole's most energetic, infectious hit.)

Real Jazz

• Blues For Angel-Joe Pass (A good, subtle guitar instrumental with the old school, bluesy feel of a Leon Redbone arrangement.)
• Farewell Mulgrew-George Cables (Classy midtempo piano; turbulence rarely goes down so smoothly.)

Studio 54 Radio

• Dance With Me-Peter Brown (The vocals and melody have held up better than those of most similar hits.)

Underground Garage

• I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better-The Byrds (It's puzzling to see The Byrds categorized as Underground Garage, but this tune ranks with "My Back Pages" as one of the band's best songs.  The word, "probably," in the chorus makes all the difference in the song's attitude.  An excellent blend of guitars and harmonies.)

Motivational speaking?

A favorite quote from my college orchestra director, speaking to the ensemble: "You should have a license to practice, just as physicians do.  If you kill a patient, your license should be taken away.  In here, we kill patients all the time, and yet, we continue to thrive!"

SiriusXM highlights IV

Noteworthy tracks heard on Wednesday:

Bluesville 

• Stormy Monday-Allman Brothers Band (Wailing organ and guitar lines suitable for riding out a storm.)

The Coffee House

• King Of The Road-She & Him (A solid cover from a surprising source.  I never expected to hear Zooey Deschanel sing this, but she pulls it off.)

Escape

• Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars-Henry Mancini (A classy orchestral rendition that's a highlight of the easy listening genre.)

The Loft

• Jump In The Line-Harry Belafonte (Belafonte's best songs are largely slow to midtempo, thoughtful ones, but this fun, fast tune is an exception.)

Ozzy's Boneyard

• Journey To The Center Of The Mind-Amboy Dukes (A brisk, very-of-its-time psychedelic track.)  

Real Jazz

• It's A Beautiful Night To Celebrate-Marcus Roberts & The Modern Jazz Generation (Roberts anchors the proceedings, which consist of some impressive trumpet playing, on piano.  There's a level of quality you'll get from any Roberts release.  The first jazz CD I reviewed for KCOU was his "As Serenity Approaches," and it's still a favorite.)
• Sophisticated Lady-Hank Jones (An elegant piano rendition.)

Siriusly Sinatra

• You Are There-Debby Boone ("You Light Up My Life" was Boone's smash hit, but this track, in my opinion, is more worthy.)

The Spectrum

• No Reply At All-Genesis (The best track from the "Abacab" album, in my view.  Horns augment an already vocally and instrumentally strong track.)
• Steppin' Out-Joe Jackson (Still Jackson's best hit and one of his best uptempo efforts.  Also recommended: "Breaking Us In Two," "Nineteen Forever," "One To One," and "You Can't Get What You Want.")

Symphony Hall

• Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major (Nelson Freire, piano) (One among many reasons that Beethoven's music is still performed so often today.)

Watercolors

• Moonlight Samba-Lawson Rollins (No false advertising in this song title; the mood conveyed is exactly what you'd expect.)

For the remainder of St. Patrick's Day...

Before St. Patrick's Day ends, it's advisable to play just about any track from the Solas CD, "Another Day."  That release strikes a good balance between traditional and modern sensibilities.  Two vocal highlights, offering poignant lyrics and effective lead vocals from Deirdre Scanlan are "All That You Ask Me" and "I Wandered By A Brookside."  Instrumental standouts include "The Highlands Of Holland," featuring Winifred Horan's memorable fiddle arrangement, and the contemplative title track.  "Another Day" is one of the most consistently strong Celtic releases.  Even if you don't get to it before St. Patrick's Day slips away, it's suitable for everyday listening.

For Monty Python fans

While playing a Judy Collins concert promo on KBIA for the first time, I heard Collins sing, "Bring me my bow of burning gold," from the hymn, "Jerusalem."  I wish I had said on-air what came to mind after the promo ended.  I thought, "Looks like Eric Idle's character has to stand in the tea chest.  Someone must have said, 'mattress,' to Mr. Lambert."  (It's nearly impossible to forget that Monty Python sketch after you've seen it.)  It was a challenge not to start laughing as I did the break after the promo.

Only in college VI

Over 20 years ago, someone from my dorm floor walked by my room, heard the music I was playing, and said, "That sounds good."  That was all the encouragement I needed to launch into a five-minute filibuster about the song, the band, and other bands that sounded similar.  The visitor listened patiently and responded, "That's nice.  I  like Madonna."  At first, I thought, "Why do I bother?"  Shortly after that, however, I thought, "Even when someone likes the music I'm playing, five minutes of music trivia is a lot to heap on someone."  The same could be said of certain posts I write here; presumably, though, you're reading those of your own free will, at your leisure.

A questionable but employable announcing style

After graduating from college, I attended broadcasting school.  Students would record mock radio air shifts and meet with an instructor, who would critique everyone's announcing skills.  At one session, a student, who had always sounded like himself on his previous tapes, submitted a tape of himself doing a pretend shift for a classic rock station.  We were all puzzled as the tape played, and the student did the entire shift speaking in a throaty, raspy growl.  All of us, including the instructor, listened without comment.  When the tape ended, the instructor pressed Stop, paused, and asked the student, "Now, why did you do that?"

About five years later, when it was still fairly unusual for radio stations to stream online, I listened to an album rock station I'd never heard before.  I burst out laughing when I heard the morning DJ back announce the music in the same contrived growl that the student had used during that session.  Apparently, at least one program director then favored the Wolfman Jack/seen-it-all detective who smokes five packs of cigarettes a day hybrid announcing style.

Going beyond the page

Sometimes, it's difficult to articulate why one interpretation of a piece moves you more than another.  More often than not, though, I think a moving rendition of any work goes beyond technical perfection and allows the music to breathe.  There's a Boston Symphony Orchestra performance of Maurice Ravel's "Mother Goose Suite," conducted by Serge Koussevitzky, that I listen to more often than other versions.  The sound quality of the old recording is somewhat wobbly, and yet, I keep going back to it.  Mainly, it's because there are two moments in the fourth movement that the orchestra pulls off better than any other I've heard.  There are unwritten pauses and a feeling behind the music that go beyond the notes in the score.  There's a version by another orchestra I've heard that has superior recording quality, and the interpretation is good.  Still, when those two moments come up, the music doesn't breathe.  The same notes are played but in a more rigid, academic way--and that makes all the difference.  Essentially, it's the difference between playing notes and playing music.

Favorite music by Irish artists

With St. Patrick's Day coming up, it's an appropriate time to list some of my favorite music by Irish artists:

• Along The Way-Seamus Egan (A breezy, waltz-like instrumental, suitable not only for St. Patrick's Day but the arrival of Spring.)
• Dance To The Storm-Hothouse Flowers (Still some of the best Irish rock; the band's "Home" CD contains a number of gems--a strong cover of "I Can See Clearly Now," "Give It Up," "Christchurch Bells," and this no-holds-barred highlight.)
• Dulaman-Altan (This arrangement has stayed with me since first hearing it on KDHX in the '90s.  A sing-along number with a cool bounce.)
• Masons Apron/My Love Is In America-Seamus Egan (If I had to pick my favorite track from this list, it would be this one.  It's six minutes of unbridled, instrumental joy.) 
• Morgan Magan-The Chieftains (The tune's delicate, music box feel makes it an endearing highlight of the band's fourth album.)
• Nil Na La (Live)-Solas (As I've written before, Karan Casey and company really sell this one, and the audience feeds off of the band's energy.)
• Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore-The High Kings (A fitting farewell to significant people and places in one's life.)
• Play A Merry Jig-Niamh Parsons (Lyrics that work in any era against a modern, electrified backdrop.)
• The Water Is Wide-Mary Black (Black recorded one of my favorite versions of this traditional tune; her reading is emotionally convincing.)

A program director's true feelings about consultants

During the '90s, a few months after a radio station had stopped using consultants to program its music, I heard a program director say on-air that there was a Van Morrison song he'd always wanted to play on the air, "but the consultants, may they rest in pieces, wouldn't allow it."  With that, "Autumn Song" started playing.  I've wondered how many compelling songs haven't been played or have been played only sparingly because the listening audience isn't familiar with them or because they supposedly don't test well.  I've often thought, "That's circular reasoning.  The audience isn't familiar with these songs because they haven't been played.  They're compatible with the tracks we already play, though, so chances are, if you schedule them next to similar, well-known tracks that the audience likes, they'll come to like the new cuts, as well."  You'd think this would be common sense, but...

Online radio sampler highlights X

Among the better selections I heard today:

KKJZ (Long Beach, CA)

• How High The Moon-Nat King Cole Trio (One of Cole's many sublime piano instrumentals; it's gratifying to hear music recorded so long ago preserved so well digitally.)
• Nice Work If You Can Get It-Jennifer Porter (Smooth, silky vocals in this cover.)
• In Your Own Sweet Way-Dave Brubeck (Lush strings enhance Brubeck's tasteful piano arrangement.)

KZSU (Stanford, CA)

• Heroes And Villains-The Beach Boys (Some of the group's most imaginative harmonizing.  For a lounge arrangement with a hint of Wilbert Harrison's "Kansas City" in it, check out the Geraint Watkins version.)

WCRB (Boston, MA)

• Joaquin Rodridgo: Concierto de Aranjuez: III. Allegro gentile (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; Goran Sollscher, guitar) (It would be refreshing to hear more Classical stations play movements such as this one--or more guitar pieces, in general.)

WVUD (Newark, DE)

• What's Been Going On-Amos Lee (A true-to-life read on what it's like to be on the outside of a situation looking in.)

WXYC (Chapel Hill, NC)

• Molasses-Hiatus Kaiyote (New jazzy R&B with intriguing female lead vocals.)

Sampling that stays with you

Seeing a reference to the '60s TV series, "The Outer Limits," online jogged my memory, bringing to mind a track I played at least once on KCOU.  Eon's "Inner Mind" uses the sample, "We will control all that you see and hear."  Hearing it set to a beat placed the song firmly in my mind again, and I'll be surprised if I stop thinking about it anytime soon.

FM dial scan highlights XXIII

Some of the better selections I've heard today:

KWMU 90.7 FM

• Pleasant Moments-Jean Kittrell/Jay Hungerford (An enjoyable piano and bass instrumental with a ragtime influence.  It's a pleasure to hear this track and many others like it on "Jazz Unlimited.")
• Save Your Love For Me-Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley (Classy and heartfelt.  Al Jarreau's version is also excellent.)

KSHE 94.7 FM

• Forever Autumn-Justin Hayward (Sad but moving; Hayward's emoting on the "You're not here" refrain hammers home the futility of the situation.)
• Take A Little Word-Hudson-Ford (I discovered this on vinyl over 20 years ago at KCOU and have hoped to hear it on the radio here since then.  This would be a fun, fast guitar part to nail.  In the '70s, a portion of the intro would have worked great as a promo for a TV station's news team.)

WFUN 95.5 FM

• His Eye Is On The Sparrow-Tanya Blount (A comforting reassurance of divine guidance, sung movingly.)

WARH 106.5 FM

• Forget You-Cee-Lo Green (This clean, radio-friendly version of a sung catharsis has stayed with me for the last four years.  I always let it play out when I hear it on the radio.)

FM dial scan highlights XXII

Tracks that have stayed with me this morning:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• Tenderness-General Public (A 1984 track that brings to mind bits of David Bowie's "Modern Love" and The English Beat's "Twist & Crawl.")
• Lost Art Form-Future Hits (The vocals are somewhat buried in the mix, but the lost art form of writing and sending a letter is still conveyed.  It's interesting that the arrangement brings to mind a much different type of song, "Kidney In A Cooler" by Keller Williams.)
• If You're Happy And You Know It-Anathallo (It's reassuring that this elementary school song about a carefree outlook on life has endured for so many decades.  What would the appropriate lyrics be for a weary adult, though?  "If you're jaded and you know it, roll your eyes," perhaps?)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Blue Bossa-Joe Henderson (An appealing saxophone reading.  Lou Donaldson's version, with its big band-style arrangement, is equally appealing.)

KCLC 89.1 FM

• Tom's Diner-Suzanne Vega (A memorable study in capturing what's going on around you; Carrie Newcomer's "Betty's Diner" takes this concept and fleshes it out, giving you the back story of the diner's customers and marveling at how they all ended up in the same place.)
• Studying Stones-Ani DiFranco (As a faithful blog reader reminded me, it's impossible to forget some of the memories we think we'd like to abandon.  The ever-prolific DiFranco drives this point home convincingly.)

A favorite bit of back announcing

 "Classic 99, fine performance of the Beethoven first symphony in C.  Actually, it's more than fine.  That's why we're playing it on the radio."

--From the former KFUO 99.1 FM; the announcer's confidence in the orchestra's performance and its deserved airplay is refreshingly honest.

Where did that CD go?

As irritating as it is to lose something and not be able to find it, Beth Wood made the best of the situation.  She turned losing a CD into the song, "My Miles Davis Kind Of Blue."  In it, she imagines who might have found the CD and started listening to it.  You'd hope that whoever found it would, at least, appreciate the stellar musicianship on one of the greatest jazz CDs.  Kudos to Wood for turning an irritant that most people experience into a positive song.

Only in college V

A college friend compiled a scrapbook of drawings she'd made of her friends.  Because she was right-handed, she challenged herself by drawing each person with her left hand, in crayon.  Because one friend--other than me--liked to play and listen to music, she drew him playing air guitar and saying, "Ooh...Ooh...Yeah."  When he saw the drawing, he told her, "I do not say, 'Ooh...Ooh...Yeah!'"  Then, after thinking about it, he added, "Well, maybe I do say that, but I say each word separately--not all together like that."

Online radio sampler highlights IX

Selections that got my attention tonight:

KBCS (Bellevue, WA)

• Lady Be Good-Preservation Hall Hot 4 with Duke Dejan (A ragtime feel and a trumpet line that brings to mind "When The Saints Go Marching In.")
• (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher-Jackie Wilson (The original, fast version of this tune.  Ten years after this was released, Rita Coolidge captured the late '70s pop music sensibility with a somewhat reworked version that was a huge hit.  Both versions warrant airplay.)

KUAT (Tucson, AZ)

• Willem de Fesch: Recorder Sonata, Op. 8, No. 5 (Oustal Trio) (If the feel of a Bach harpsichord piece appeals to you, this likely will, as well.)

WKZE (Red Hook, NY)

• Long Hot Summer Days-Sara Watkins (Watkins convincingly portrays the hard-working subject of this John Hartford song.  Filling up barges on the Illinois River is no picnic, apparently.)
• Eliza Jane-Eliza Gilkyson (I can't help but root for Eliza Jane.  She tries so hard, after all.  With a more positive attitude, she might find happiness sooner.)

It's worth buying the whole album for...

...an excellent, seven-minutes-and-change version of the great Duke Ellington-Billy Strayhorn composition, "Satin Doll."  It's on the "Oscar Peterson & Clark Terry" album, and iTunes requires you to buy the whole album, understandably, to hear it.

As most jazz fans know, Terry passed away February 21 at age 94.  His renowned trumpet playing, flugelhorn playing, and scatting spanned decades.  You can choose basically any recording of Terry's and immerse yourself in it, but the "Oscar Peterson & Clark Terry" album--and "Satin Doll," especially--is a great place to start and revisit.

KCOU playlist flashback: Jazz Odyssey--3/1/93

I always enjoyed choosing two hours of music for my "Jazz Odyssey" shows.  This was my KCOU playlist on this day in 1993:

   1.  C Jam Blues-Oscar Peterson Trio
(Among the most well-known jazz standards on the playlist; the piano serves as a cool anchor of this famous track.  The saxophonists in the high school jazz band had fun with this one.)
   2.  Lo Joe-James Williams
(A great workout for brass players that brings to mind Doc Severinsen & The Tonight Show Band's theme played during Johnny Carson's era.)
   3.  Zec-Steve Coleman
   4.  Swing Spring-Joe Henderson
---
   5.  Milestones-Roy Hargrove
(As I mentioned in a previous post, this is a proud, pulsating rendition of a Miles Davis classic...)
   6.  Take Off-Miles Davis
(...And, when you have a setup like that, it just makes sense to segue it with Miles himself.)
   7.  El Gringo-Charlie Sepulveda
   8.  There Will Never Be Another You-Sala Brothers
---
   9.  Urban Heat-Kevin Eubanks
---
  10.  Cool Lou-M-Base Collective
(The recurring vocal punctuation makes the song...)
  11.  Blues For Anne-Straight Ahead
(...And there's even more effective vocal punctuation on this track.)
  12.  Blue Skies-Al Jarreau
(One of the coolest versions of "Blue Skies," sung at a breakneck pace.  Short of pairing this with a frantic piece, such as "Sabre Dance," it seemed best, at the time, to return to a more sedate tempo in the next track.)
  13.  I Wished On The Moon-Billie Holiday
(One of Holiday's best vocals, to my ears.)
  14.  I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over-Sarah Vaughan
---
  15.  Just Do It-Richard Elliot
  16.  Run For Cover-David Sanborn
  17.  Good And Plenty-Jon Faddis
(The intro could have served as a movie theater chain's theme in the early '80s; a fun trumpet piece.)
  18.  Hicks Time-David Murray & Friends
---
  19.  What Is Happening Here (Now)?-Wynton Marsalis
  20.  City Beat-Wynton Marsalis Septet
---
  21.  Cool T-The Leaders
---

--- indicates a station break between songs.