Eight noteworthy selections heard today:
KQAL (Winona, MN)
- How Long Must I Wait For You?-Joe Jackson (Jackson, best known for such '80s hits as "Steppin' Out," "Breaking Us In Two," and "You Can't Get What You Want," and his band prove their range and credible big band chops here.)
KVSC (St. Cloud, MN)
- The Hang Of It-Dan Israel (Lyrically, this is a breath of fresh air. The "Conformity be damned; I am who I am," outlook powers the tune. If I hadn't known it was a new song, its Lynyrd Skynyrd vibe might have made me think it was a '70s album rock track.)
WPCO (Columbia, SC)
- Windows Are Rolled Down-Amos Lee (The vocals-and-guitar arrangement of this tune would sound right before or after Belle Starr's "Rearview.")
- Percy Grainger: Country Gardens (Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra/Keith Brion, conductor) (Think you don't know this piece? Maybe you do, after all. As soon as I heard the first few measures, I realized, "Hey, that's the piece that Rowlf The Dog and Fozzie Bear played as a piano duet on 'The Muppet Show.'" The Slovak Radio Symphony's interpretation is brassier but just as jaunty. I missed hearing the Jim Henson and Frank Oz dialogue from my childhood, though.)
WRTI-HD2 (Philadelphia, PA)
- Blues For Bill-Jessica Williams (This is the best song I've heard this afternoon. This welcoming piano rhythm that swings is an excellent tribute to Bill Evans.)
- Until You Come Back To Me-Christina Watson (The contemplative piano accompaniment furthers the mood established in Watson's vocals. I'm used to Aretha Franklin's and Basia's strong versions, but this take also deserves its due.)
- Honeysuckle Rose-Ben Webster (Warm tenor sax tone, as usual.)
- Moanin'-Adrienne Fenemor (A cool, expansive version of this tune, best known in its Lambert, Hendricks & Ross vocal rendition. Fenemor plays the organ with the aplomb of Jimmy Smith.)
