Five Thursday standouts:
WSIE 88.7 FM
- Pretty World-Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 (Vocally and instrumentally, there's an appealingly breezy idealism.)
KWUR 90.3 FM
- Up And Down-Judi Singh (The piano and orchestra enhance the vocals compellingly. This endearing pick-me-up could segue with "Silly" by Deniece Williams.)
KEZK 102.5 FM
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas-Andy Williams (The harpsichord backing is appropriate for a nostalgic song about Christmas.)
- Feliz Navidad-Jose Feliciano (I've written before about how this song just sticks to one basic theme. Nevertheless, it speaks well of Feliciano that this is the only version I've ever sought out. That's what happens when you sing joyously enough and make a song your own. I'd have been surprised if I didn't hear this at least once since KEZK went all-Christmas last Friday.)
K297BI 107.3 FM, a.k.a. WFUN-HD2
- Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73 (New York Philharmonic/Bruno Walter, conductor) (Tenderness in the strings and winds when appropriate? Check. Drama from the entire orchestra when it's necessary? Yes. A rousing finale, performed with the precise amount of convincing spirit? Absolutely. I know that a piece resonates with me when I start conducting it without realizing it for several minutes.)
