Online radio sampler highlights XXXIV

I feel lucky to have heard such a wide range of compelling music, including a fair helping of new tunes, this morning.  Some of the stronger selections:

KUTX (Austin, TX)

• No More Blues-Cassandra Wilson (Wilson sings about the pros and cons of plotting a new path.  Also recommended from her "Another Country" album: "Almost Twelve" and "Deep Blue.")
• Easier Said-Sunflower Bean (How Blondie might have sounded as an indie power pop band; subtle soprano vocals drift over a whirling instrumental backdrop.  As in "No More Blues," the protagonist weighs the positive and negative consequences of choosing a new direction.  It's one of 2016's more appealing tracks, at this point.)
• Every Songbird Says-Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop (This is also one of this year's strong new tracks, for sunnier reasons.  This duo's alternating vocals suggest that a couple's future is likely to be a bright one.  The melody skips and hops appealingly, making me curious about the other songs on the "Love Letter For Fire" album, due out April 15.)

WFMT (Chicago, IL)

• Samuel Barber: Adagio For Strings (New York Philharmonic/Thomas Schippers, conductor) (The orchestra's performance brings out the piece's somber, heart-wrenching emotions.)

WHRB (Boston, MA)

• Tone Clone-Oliver Lake & Jump Up (A quirky jazz/funk stew from '82 with sax lines running scales up and down and vocals that bring to mind some of the more interesting tracks on The Urge's "Puttin' The Backbone Back" album.)

WMBR (Cambridge, MA)

• Beton Brut-Bent Shapes (A memorable guitar hook that brings to mind Big Wheel's "Lied" dominates this new indie rock track.)

WRUW (Cleveland, OH)

• Turn My Head Off-Takenobu (If you listen to only one new alt-rock cello instrumental this year--of the many thousands of such tracks out there, of course--you'd be wise to pick this one.) 

WTJU (Charlottesville, VA)

• Ramblin'-Ornette Coleman (Coleman steers this driving melody on alto sax.  Although the announcer's segue with Freddie Hubbard was perfectly fine, this tune also flows well with Cannonball Adderley's version of "Fiddler On The Roof.")

WXXI (Rochester, NY)

• Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 26, "Les Adieux," in E-flat major, Op. 81 (Jonathan Bliss, piano) (A nimble performance of a technically demanding work.)
• Guillaume Dufay: Nuper Rosarum Flores (Pomerium Musices/Alexander Blachly, conductor) (A striking choral work; it's easy to hear why it was composed for a cathedral's consecration.)