Wednesday highlights:
KELS (Greeley, CO)
- Spanish Flea-Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass (You might not know this upbeat instrumental by name, but if you're my age or older, you've probably heard it in a game show, movie, or store. This 1966 hit has a fun way of imploring listeners, "Whatever happens here, try not to take it too seriously.")
KMUC (Columbia, MO)
- J.S. Bach: Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (Daniil Trifonov, piano) (This is the ideal tempo at which to play this piece. The decrescendo near the end leads the piece to a subtle, effective close.)
KSDS (San Diego, CA)
- Fire And Rain-Avery Sharpe (This is the James Taylor hit remade as a bouncy instrumental for a jazz combo. Sharpe anchors the expansive proceedings on the bass, with Onaje Allan Gumbs carrying out the melody compellingly on the piano.)
WAKT (Toledo, OH)
- Right As Rain-Chloe & The Steel Strings (A well-constructed acoustic number with reassuring lyrics about being on the right path after some missteps. Also recommended: Chloe's endearing rendition of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.")
WIUX (Bloomington, IN)
- Cosmic Love-Florence + The Machine (This group consistently pulls off grandiose arrangements of their vocals and instrumentation.)
WZNC (Bethlehem, NH)
- Face Up And Sing-Ani DiFranco (A direct way of conveying, "Thanks for agreeing with my perspective, but it would mean even more if you'd join me in stopping boorish behavior that shouldn't occur.")
