Six standout tunes heard today:
KDRP (Dripping Springs, TX)
- Operator-Jim Croce (One of the most thoughtful, tuneful examples of talking through what you're feeling and reconsidering your original plan. "Operator" isn't played on the radio nearly as often as it used to be, and I've missed hearing it regularly.)
- Little Too Late-Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers (Rhythmically, this reminds me of The Band's "Up On Cripple Creek." I like the confidence with which Bluhm sings this. The more of her music I hear, the more convinced I am that her band and she should be household names. Also recommended: "Only Always," "Waiting On Love," "Love Your Loved Ones," and really, the entire "Loved Wild Lost" CD.)
KUWL (Laramie, WY)
- If Someone Had Told Me-Thad Jones (This movingly elegant trumpet-and-piano ballad could segue with multiple Blue Mitchell tracks.)
- Once In A While-Art Tatum (A warm piano-and-clarinet melody that swings gently.)
WITT (Indianapolis, IN)
- Courtoise musette-Sandra J. (There's nothing like a cheery accordion instrumental to take the edge off of one's day.)
- Silver Wheel-Andreas Vollenweider (There's an appealing determination in this melody, which isn't always apparent in new age instrumentals. Vollenweider's "Hirzel" would flow well into this, which I consider a plus. Sidebar: WITT certainly lived up to its billing as "unpredictable radio" today. Within a 15-minute span, listeners were treated to accordion player Sandra J., Andreas Vollenweider, Philip Glass, and Kenny Rogers.)
