Black History Month Music Programming: Editor's Picks
Good for all of February
Table of Contents
Hour+ Specials
- Thank God It's Friday -- DJ King Assassin
Craig Venegas, 60:49 - DJ King Assassin -- know to many as Tupac's original bay area producer -- get's behind the mic to host the hip-hop show of America.
- Blues & Beyond #73: Joan Armatrading; songs without lyrics
WXPN, 59:00 - Features new blues songs from Joan Armatrading and blues songs without words.
- Blues & Beyond #77: From Spirituals to Swing 1938 & 1939
WXPN, 59:00 - A look at those great 1930s holiday events, the "From Spirituals To Swing" concerts at Carnegie Hall.
- Jump for Joy -- Duke Ellington's Celebratory Musical
WFIU, 59:00 - Ellington once said that Jump for Joy "was the hippest thing we ever did." The inspiration came from a late-night party, a convergence of Hollywood glamour and nascent civil-rights activism with one of America's greatest jazz orchestras.
- Every Voice And Sing!
Eric V. Tait, Jr., 5-hour long shows - Five stand-alone hours on the history and music of Black college choirs. Hosted by NPR's Michele Norris.
- Louis Armstrong's New Orleans, with Wynton Marsalis
Joe Bevilacqua, 58:30 - Veteran radio producer Joe Bevilacqua hosts this entertaining, informative hour, recorded in the French Quarter of New Orleans and featuring jazz great Wynton Marsalas, author Donald Newlove, talk show host Leonard Lopate, members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and others.
- George Clinton Interview
Dan Kramer, 59:56 - An in-depth interview with the Godfather of Funk - George Clinton, about his new album 'How Late Do You Have 2BB4UR Absent?'
- Nina Simone: Forever Young, Gifted & Black
Paul Chuffo, Joyride Media, 59:00 - One-hour documentary pays tribute to legendary artist Nina Simone.
- Sam Cooke: Bring it on Home to Me
Paul Chuffo, Joyride Media, 59:00 - One-hour documentary details the life and music of Sam Cooke.
- Progressions: 100 Years of Jazz Guitar
Paul Chuffo, Joyride Media, 59:00 - A one-hour, music-intensive radio special tracing the history of Jazz guitar from 1906 through today; hosted by Les Paul.
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In the Spirit
WPSU-FM, 59:00 - A one-hour retrospective of 20th Century African-American Religious Music and Interviews.
Half-Hour Specials
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What's the Word? The Blues as Literature
Sally Placksin, 29:00 - Blues lyrics give us unique insight into the African American experience.
Segment
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Thelonious Monk, Tar Heel
Center for Documentary Studies, 08:05 - A musical portrait that explores the Jazz great's overlooked Southern roots.
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Billy Higgins: A Tribute To The Legendary Jazz Drummer
Heidi Chang, 09:14 - A profile of Billy Higgins, one of the most recorded jazz drummers in history. Higgins talks about his life and music. It also features interviews with Harold Land, Cedar Walton, Herb Graham Jr. and poet Kamau Daa'ood.
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The Silver Leaf Gospel Singers
Kerry Seed, 09:21 - Hear the Silver Leaf Gospel Singers perform "It's in My Mind, Lord I'll Overcome Someday" at NAACP Portland's 2006 MLK Jr. Gospel Concert. The performance is cut with brief interview/oral history segements with Deacon Randy Green.
- Michael Franti and His Roots
Tracey Tanenbaum and David Dye, 08:52 - Michael Franti spins music by some of his most enduring influences.
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The Ebony Hillbillies
Amber Edwards, 06:30 - The Ebony Hillbillies prove you don't have to be white and Southern to play authentic, down home country music...they are hip, urban, and black. And reclaiming a musical heritage that has largely been forgotten....
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Herbie Hancock Interview
JR Valrey and Malcolm Marshall, 18:18 - JR interviews the legendary Herbie Hancock.
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Keb Mo and his Musical Roots
Tracey Tanenbaum and David Dye, 13:11 - Blues man Keb Mo talks about his music and his inspirations.
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The Third Unheard: Connecticut's Hip-Hop History
Derek John, 09:00 - A long forgotten hip-hop scene is unearthed in the unlikeliest of places.
Drop-Ins
- Musicians on the Record: Lizz Wright
Tracey Tanenbaum/WXPN, 03:19 - Jazz and folk performer Lizz Wright discovered Abbey Lincoln's "A Turtle's Dream" at a critical juncture in her life. Lincoln's music gave Wright the courage to pursue her art.
- Musicians on the Record: Buddy Guy
Tracey Tanenbaum/WXPN, 04:51 - Blues man Buddy Guy reflects on his favorite album, B.B King's "Live at the Regal".
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Ann Meets Mr. Ellington
Kerry Seed, 06:03 - Ann Searcy is a 76-year-old jazz singer. She grew up as one of the only people of color in Old Orchard Beach, Maine where music legend, Duke Ellington, became her mentor.
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Carla Cook: In her own words
David Schulman, 04:24 - The Grammy-nominated vocalist talks about finding a place in jazz for funk, gospel, and pure joy.
- "Immediately grabbed me."
Merrick | full review
© 2006, The Public Radio Exchange
