
Favorite songs and the power they evoke, on Listening Lyrics, Aug. 12, 2022Fri, 08/12/2022 - 5:10pm | Pieter PastoorAsking someone to select their top 20 songs is difficult, and picking just one is impossible. But that's what we have today: one favorite song from each of several people, along with the reasons it's their favorite. I left the genres open. Music is a mystery that touches us on so many levels at so many different times. It can make us happy, sad, or melancholy. Or maybe we're drawn to the music itself, or to the lyrics; or for many of us a song offers a look back in time that allows us to relive a past moment. On today's show, we play songs chosen by Karin Pastoor Husebosch, Carol Hess, Rod Rodriguez, Preacher, Ed Branam, John Caroll, Jeanne Pastoor, and me, Pieter Pastoor. Listen to the stories and be moved by the power of music. |
Listening Lyrics for 4:00pm on Aug 5th, 2022Fri, 08/05/2022 - 5:10pm | Pieter Pastoor |
Steve Beck of Needle, live in the studio on Listening Lyrics, July 29, 2022Fri, 07/29/2022 - 5:10pm | Pieter PastoorSteve Beck has been involved with music most of his life, from founding a leading musician portal in the early days of the internet, and speaking at SXSW, to releasing three acclaimed albums with his band Needle, and traveling the globe to speak to musicians on behalf of the U.S. State Department. Needle blends Beck’s low-fi minimalist arrangements with Julie Cornett’s collection of lullabies and symphonic sagas. The duo's most recent release, The Long View, came during the pandemic. They enlisted Dana Colley (Morphine, Twinemen, Vapors of Morphine) to play saxophone on a few tracks, and Kramer (Low, Galaxy 500, Daniel Johnston) mastered the project. The Noise Room is Steve’s home on the web; he wrote or conducted most of its articles and interviews. |
Neil Nayyar, the ultimate multi-instrumentalist, on Listening Lyrics, July 22, 2022Fri, 07/22/2022 - 5:10pm | Pieter PastoorNeil Nayyar at 16 years old plays and owns 117 musical instruments from around the world. Chances are if you love a particular type of music, Neil plays it, and he plays it well. Classical, Bollywood, jazz, rock, and sounds from all over the globe flow from this musician, but this is not the only amazing thing about him. Neil’s parents credit much of his ability and love of music to Mozart classics he listened to while still in the womb. However, his talent didn’t surface until he was 5, when he took a drum class and wowed everyone. And this was just the beginning. A lot of Neil’s talent and abilities as a multi-instrumentalist are natural, but he leaves nothing to chance. He practices music six hours each day, and receives training from 25 musical professionals both locally and internationally. |
Telemakus talks about his music, on Listening Lyrics, July 15, 2022Fri, 07/15/2022 - 5:10pm | Pieter PastoorTelemakus, 22, is an Indian-American composer/pianist/producer/UC Davis student who has worked on numerous projects and recently put out his critically acclaimed album, The New Heritage. Listing Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Butcher Brown as influences, Telemakus aims to delve into the jazz fusion/funk and hip-hop sound. His music is modern, yet pays homage to the past. He grew up listening to jazz and hip-hop, and taught himself to play the piano and make beats. After honing his craft, he collaborated virtually during the pandemic to finish his album. It was never recorded in a studio, but instead was made through Zoom sessions, with individual parts sent back and forth online. His music, praised on Spotify, Apple Music, BBC 6 Music, Worldwide FM, The New York Times, and more, has amassed more than 2 million streams. |
Listening Lyrics for 4:00pm on Jul 8th, 2022Tue, 07/12/2022 - 10:40am | Pieter Pastoor |
Didar Singh: Let's talk and play music, on Listening Lyrics, July 1, 2022Fri, 07/01/2022 - 5:10pm | Pieter PastoorListening Lyrics is proud to present Didar Singh Khalsa. Joining Didar is Jeff Brooks, percussion. Didar has played guitars for 52 years, but started writing, singing and recording songs only six years ago, inspired by six consecutive trips to the guitar/songwriting camp taught by the amazing Richard Thompson. He claims the muse is relentless and not even very intermittent. Let’s test that theory. |
Opera singer Eric Jordan shares his story on Listening Lyrics, June 10, 2022Fri, 06/10/2022 - 5:10pm | Pieter PastoorEric Jordan grew up in Davis, and while he was in high school he fell in love with the opera. The world ended up being his stage. Performing around the country and the world, he ended up with the Metropolitan Opera in New York. In New York he suffered a massive stroke which eventually ended his career as an opera singer. While performing in opera productions, he also had an alter ego (as The Opera Cowboy) and performed country music, especially Johnny Cash songs. In this episode of Listening Lyrics, Eric joins us as we listen to some of his story and music, both in opera and as the Opera Cowboy. |
Billy Larkin, pianist/composer, on Listening Lyrics, June 3, 2022Fri, 06/03/2022 - 5:10pm | Pieter PastoorBilly Larkin, who lives in Davis, is an award-winning pianist/composer/arranger who has been bringing his individual brand of musical artistry to audiences for over 40 years. He defies easy categorization and helps define true expression through the collaborative process. From his website: "Following his studies in piano, music theory, and composition at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Billy worked in New York City as music director for cabarets, and wrote and performed music for the modern dance company Cheryl Wallace Dance Works. He went on to co-found Stone Street Foundation for the Arts in Cincinnati, which received numerous grants from the Ohio Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts for large-scale original productions featuring dance and live music. |
Big Joe Daddy in the studio, on Listening Lyrics, May 27, 2022Fri, 05/27/2022 - 5:10pm | Pieter PastoorJoey Wisgirda (Big Joe Daddy) has been playing trumpet since the age of 9. He has studied jazz theory and composition with jazz legend John Tchicai, and performed throughout California with a diverse range of players that includes Joe Craven and Rick Montgomery (David Grisman Quintet), Fully Fullwood (Peter Tosh), reggae superstar Alton Ellis, Hamsa Lila, and John Tchicai. He has opened for such acts as John Scofield, Galactic, Charlie Hunter, Bassnectar, Kraddy, and Tipper. For the past decade, Joey has extended his musical efforts into the computer realm, using soft- and hardware synths, and tying it all together with a Morrison Digital Trumpet (MDT) to morph from jazz and funk to breakbeats and dub. His live performances on Ableton and the MDT are cutting edge. |
Comments
Definitely one fine show Pieter & Jeanne. It was hearing the eclectic mix of music which brought on a rush of memories. Notably, Phillip Glass’ “Open the Kingdom” made me think on my personal favorite Glass piece, the score to the film; Powaqqatsi. As an aside, having a grandchild with Aspergers I remembered listening to an interview with Music Critic, Tim Page who revealed that after being diagnosed as having Aspergers realized that it was Glass’ minimalist focus on each individual note/sound which had him absolutely love Glass’ works; listening by the hour and eventually seeking a career in music. At the time I heard that interview it proved to be just the right positive “punch” I needed while reflecting the future opportunities for my own grandchild. The wonder of music is indeed powerful.
Thanks - we had fun putting it together.
Once I get all of your albums cleaned up - I'm doing a show on your collection. I think I'll call it Vinyl - one mans trash reaps another mans treasure. :)
If I lived in the Davis area I'd chase these two around to every one of their gigs. What a find!
Surely this was a relaxing hour complete with great banter and music. All that was missing was for all of us sitting around with some after dinner Port and maybe a fire in the fireplace as the conversation carried on.
You and Jeanne were so right about the old 78s and their scratch bringing something special to the listening experience. The occasional totally 'dead' moments found on CDs are almost jarring.
Loved Alpert's opening & Justin's closing bumps.
Had I realized just how wonderfully mellow this show was I would have listened in the evening with a cup of caffeine free Peppermint tea and my feet up on the table. As it was, listening in the morning, it was still one I was gald I did not miss.
Just discovered that I am never too old to learn -- this week Chris Clark opened up a whole new pathway leading to a greater appreciation of and the enchantment of jazz.
Thanks for having Chris Clark on the show Pieter.
Mesmerizing show Pieter. Gave me that moment of pause and allowed me to begin wrapping my arms around music and lyrics which will let calm settle in. An excellent compilation of wonderful words and sounds. Thanks.
Love the new dimension and the seamless, feed-each-other, dimension it gives the program's back and forth banter. Great music selection and accompanying background info this week!
So good, so listenable, so smooth,and exactly my favorite style in music. Thanks Pieter and Alex.
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