Blogs

St. Germain, the stage name for french musician Ludovic Navarre, has been recording music since the early 1990s, but his latest, self-titled work is only his 4th full-length LP to be released, and his first in 15 years. While St. Germain's earlier album blended jazz and pop, his latest album brings Afro-pop sounds into the mix with a plethora of exotic instruments while still maintaining clean and high quality production. Several tracks on the album utilize the staccatto sounds of the N'goni and Kora instruments, while multiple others have African vocalists on the few non-instrumental tracks. However, it is the instrumental tracks where Navarre's skill as a producer really stand out, building towards choruses with several layers of melodies, from the steady drums to the meandering string solos. The standout instrumental track is "Hanky Panky," a funky tune that illustrates St. Germain at the top of their game. In the end, St. Germain is nothing if not original, full of new sounds and daring writing and production.

In the early 80s, a foreign film titled Diva came to America. In that slightly off-center movie for most Americans, there was an aria sung by Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez that riveted anyone who happened to be listening: Alfredo Catalani's haunting solo piece for soprano from his opera "La Wally." That and birthday salutes to Igor Stravinsky, Cole Porter, and Chick Corea are on Gary's agenda. More soundtrack music rounds out this week's 3rd Streaming: Jean-Yves Thibaudet at the piano with the English Chamber Orchestra plays selections from the totally excellent film directed by Joe Wright: "Atonement," which was and remains a winning piece of cinema. Listen for music from the movie, composed by Dario Marinelli. If you haven't seen this 2007 release... do. 

My Way Home is the fifth full-length LP for Soulful R&B artist Eli "Paperboy" Reed, and his return to indie labels following a brief stint with Warner Brothers. In contrast with his last effort, the glitzy and glamorous Nights Like This, Reed's latest is less produced but more organic, soulful, and artistic. Reed's background in church gospel really comes through, with his voice crooning emotionally about life, love, and religion, with songs like "Eyes on You" and the impressive second track "Your Sins Will Find You Out" using religion as a major theme. The album has several fun and frenetic tracks bound to get audiences grooving, especially lead single "Hold Out" and the frantic "The Strangest Thing," both of which see Reed stretch his vocal chords to the very limit of human capacity. Title Track "My Way Home" is one of the more laidback and rythymic songs on the album, with Reed crooning about his long journey home. Lastly, the second to last track on the 11-song LP, "A Few Days More," is quite a standout, with a fantastically funky rythym reminiscent of a bluessy Alabama Shakes single finishing the album on quite a high note.

Lots of guys named David have made great contributions to this week's program. Gary's got a memorable slice of soundtrack music by John Barry that went so well with the 1969 classic Midnight Cowboy. Dustin Hoffman was the star. Pianist Walter Klien plays Arthur Honegger's Fourth Concertino for Piano and Orchesra with the Vienna Pro Musica Orchesra...and there's bluesy music with David Zinman leading the Rochester Philharmonic in a movement of David Amram's Triple Concerto. The jazz hat goes on courtesy of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. It's Dave's jazz hit "Blue Rondo a la Turk." The one-hour program works its way to a close with Maurice Ravel's "Noble and Sentimental  Waltzes." Claudio Abbado conducts the London Symphony Orchestra.

This week's album is "Masterpiece" by the band Big Thief. It just came out on Saddle Creek on 5/27, and we will be spinning the red vinyl album this Thursday 6/2. I heard the title track and loved it so much, it went on my April roadtrip playlist... I must have listened to that song about 25 times since then. It is, well, a masterpiece. Having only listened to the whole album once so far while eating dinner, I haven't formed a full opinion, but perhaps you can help me do so. Join me, C & D for a listen and some discussion. Per usual and due to Memorial Day, I'm running behind, so here's a link to the Saddle Creek description and the NPR review by Bob Boilen (both links have live tracks you can screen). See you Thursday!

The ukulele will be front and center this week on Listening Lyrics. Abhineet Ram will share his talent and knowledge of the ukulele. I have heard him play and it was exceptional. Abhineet is a fourth year cell biology student at UC Davis and started playing the ukulele when he was 14 years old. He also playes the clarinet and bass clarinet. As if that isnt enough, he is also a thrower on the UC Davis Track and Field Team. With him in the studio will be Matt Elliott with his saxaphone - I'm looking forward to one great radio hour.

Summertime means Bossa Nova!

Noah Byrd is back in the studio with us. Noah is a local songwriter (indie rock) and will be introducing to us his new EP Feathers. With a voice compared to Elliot Smith and Bradley Nowell, he combines melancholic vocals with punk-influenced acoustic guitar, giving an aggressive undertone to his otherwise laid-back sound.

All Listening Lyric shows are live on Fridays from 4:00PM to 5:00PM (PST) on KDRT 95.7FM. For those outside the listening area, the show will stream live online at KDRT.org . It will also be available for replays in the show archives or as an podcast on iTunes under Listening Lyrics.