Wednesday standouts:
KDHX 88.1 FM
- Every Morning-Keb' Mo' (This is one of Keb' Mo's bluesier tunes. Rhythmically, this reminds me of Amos Lee's "Bottom Of The Barrel," but the DJ's choice of segue, Taj Mahal's "Fishin' Blues," works just as well.)
- Head Over Heels-Japanese Breakfast (Among Tears For Fears songs, I prefer "Last Days On Earth," "Break It Down Again," and "Sowing The Seeds Of Love." I was never a huge fan of this hit, but this more appealing cover makes me appreciate the song a bit more. Michelle Zauner recasts it in a stark, more solemn light that wouldn't be out of place in a soap opera.)
WSIE 88.7 FM
- Who Will Comfort Me?-Melody Gardot (There's an appealing Peggy Lee, "Fever" style to this tune. Gardot's assured vocals and her band's sly accompaniment really sell this. Her laugh in the outro is icing on the cake. Gardot has recorded such quality work, and although she has a following, her music deserves a larger audience.)
- Star Eyes-Freddie Hubbard (The saxophone intro on Charlie Parker's version is one of the most effective openings of any jazz recording. Hubbard's rendition doesn't have that intro, but his warm interpretation shows how the melody fits the trumpet equally well.)
KCLC 89.1 FM
- No California-Ilsey (These lyrics about wishing for a change of scenery after a breakup fit well over guitar backing that reminds me of Firefall's "Mexico." I wish I'd paid this song more notice when it was released last October.)
K297BI 107.3 FM, a.k.a. WFUN-HD2
- Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, "Scottish" (London Symphony Orchestra/Peter Maag, conductor) (I enjoyed playing such a dramatic work on the bass in the '80s. After our ensemble's first rehearsal of it, I felt invigorated--but wiped out. This symphony requires considerable vigor from its musicians, so I can only imagine how players who carry the melody feel when they complete it. Here's how much this London Symphony interpretation captivated me: After hearing it on Classic 107.3, I called it up on YouTube and listened to it again. I don't do that with just any symphony.)
