On today’s show: mandarin tree woes, catalpa questions, leaf spots on redbuds, growing herbs indoors, and more.

From Portland, Ore., to the heart of New Orleans—Ari Kohn followed his musical compass all the way south. In New Orleans, he discovered that music isn’t just heard, it’s felt. It’s in the ground beneath your feet, in the way people move, even in the rain on your skin. And yes—the food plays right along.

This week on Listening Lyrics, Ari shares that journey. A Jazz Studies graduate from Tulane, Ari—known on stage as “Ariel”—brings a bold, warm sound on sax, flute, and vocals. Ari also performs with the band Brass Lightning. He will perform with J & The Causeways Sept. 19, 2025 at the Boom Boom Room in San Francisco.

Vince Guaraldi’s music continues to have a wonderful afterlife, thanks to the successful recent releases of the Peanuts soundtracks that Guaraldi recorded before he died at 47 in 1976. Today we update the story with Derrick Bang, who wrote the book about the San Francisco jazz pianist and writes liner notes for the Peanuts soundtrack producers Jason and Sean Mendelson. Bang believes there’s likely more unreleased music to come even after the soundtracks series ends. Today on Davisville he also names an often-overlooked Guaraldi song that he says evokes a stroll in the rain as winningly as the composer’s Christmas song “Skating” evokes kids skating on a pond. We hear part of the song, “Rain, Rain Go Away,” which is nothing like the children’s nursery rhyme.

Bang underscores his belief in Guaraldi’s music and talent. “I want to do the best I can to make sure that his music lives into the 22nd century,” he says on today’s program. “I want him to become one of our Tchaikovskys.”

Illustration taken from the cover of The Charlie Brown Suite and Other Favorites CD (2003), which uses a drawing of Vince Guaraldi by Charles Schulz.