Sunday and Monday highlights:
KDHX 88.1 FM
- There's A Lot Of Lonely People Tonight-Harry Chapin (Songs about longing and loneliness are sometimes too overwrought; that's why I've never cared much for Nilsson's "Without You." Chapin's tone here is far more appealing. Sidebar: Despite the turmoil at KDHX, I'm glad that "Songwriters Showcase" remains as strong as ever.)
- Keep Me In Your Heart-The Wailin' Jennys (The opening a cappella harmony drew me in. This is a moving song for a painful parting.)
WSIE 88.7 FM
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas-Dexter Gordon (A welcoming, expansive tenor sax-driven rendition.)
- O Tannenbaum-Ray Brown Trio (Geoff Keezer, Gregory Hutchinson, and Ray Brown mesh well on piano, drums, and bass in this forthright take.)
KWMU 90.7 FM
- Eraldi-Sylvain Luc (Uptempo and downcast can be a difficult combination to pull off, but this combo of guitar, bass, and percussion makes it work.)
- Raincheck-Duke Ellington & His Orchestra (Ellington maintains the tune's pep on piano while each lead instrumentalist solos impressively.)
KSHE 94.7 FM
- Ready-Ambrosia (Like many listeners, I tend to think mostly of this band's hit ballads. This underplayed album track, however, reminds me that this group could rock out well with some strong guitar. I could imagine Boston covering this.)
- (I've Been) Searchin' So Long-Chicago (I've always liked the way the darkness of the intro soon turns to light, offering the listener some hope. This was one of the band's many strong '70s hits.)
