Nine of the more interesting songs I've heard today:
KCMU (Napa, CA)
- Sunny Road-Roosevelt Sykes (Impressive, committed blues vocals, piano, guitar, and trumpet from 1946.)
- Thinking Like That-Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions (Quiet guitar and vocals fit for ruminating.)
KMRD (Madrid, NM)
- Aguirre I (L'acrime di Rei)-Popul Vuh (The choir is key to enhancing this haunting celestial soundscape, so ending the piece with a one-minute flute solo is an interesting, unexpected choice.)
KRBX (Boise, ID)
- Falling-Dara Tucker (Tucker's vocals mesh compellingly with the piano playing of Aaron Parks in this new release. Both artists pull off the impressive feat of sounding simultaneously melancholy and upbeat. Lyrically and instrumentally, this is an appropriate tune for Autumn.)
- Miles City Train-George Winston (Six well-maintained minutes of raucous, brisk, saloon-style piano playing. I was just listening to Winston's "Ballads And Blues 1972" LP last month, so I'm glad to know someone appreciates this tune as much as I do.)
WDNA (Miami, FL)
- Sketch I--Truth Be Told For MLW-Cecilia Smith (Smith's fine tribute to jazz piano artist Mary Lou Williams, released last month, makes me want to hear more from Williams--and Smith. Smith glides smoothly from a sly mood to an impish one on the vibraphone here. I also recommend Smith's rendition of "St. Louis Blues.")
- Modesty-Cal Tjader & Eddie Palmieri (This is one of the coolest, catchiest Latin jazz instrumentals I've heard in a while. Somehow, I'd overlooked this gem from 1966.)
WXPN (Philadelphia, PA)
- Expert In A Dying Field-The Beths (Lyrically, this is a sound metaphor for a relationship nearing its end.)
- Life By The Drop-Stevie Ray Vaughan (Vaughan's strongly sustained galloping guitar rhythm suits these lyrics well.)
