Blues & Beyond #317: Esperanza Spalding says "Jazz Ain't Nothing But Soul"

In this hour of The Blues & Beyond, new songs from Esperanza Spalding from her album Radio Music Society. The jazz bassist, singer, and songwriter brings jazz and soul together on a compelling collection of mostly original songs. Spalding is an old Blues & Beyond favorite, from back before she edged past Justin Bieber for the best new artist Grammy in 2011. In one song she sings "Jazz ain't nothing but soul," and she makes a convincing case... Also The Heritage Blues Orcestra, a group that brings jazzy horn-driven arrangements to some classics of country blues as well as some new songs. The group is headed up by bluesman Bill Sims, Jr.  We'll open up their debut album "And Still I Rise" and hear new versions of some classic pre-war blues songs, as well as a much more recent one. Plus: Cynthia Felton takes on Eddie Jefferson's re-write of a classic Eddie Harris piece. Felton is a singer-scholar, holding a doctorate and running a music archive as well as singing. And, we'll hear a couple of cuts from the fabulous soundtrack album for the film Chico & Rita, featuring pianist Bebo Valdés, who is going strong at age ninety-three. The film, a most unusual animated film, was nominated for an Oscar in the animated film category this year. The music in it is beyond compare.

promo included: promo317

In this hour of The Blues & Beyond, new songs from Esperanza Spalding from her album Radio Music Society. The jazz bassist, singer, and songwriter brings jazz and soul together on a compelling collection of mostly original songs. Spalding is an old Blues & Beyond favorite, from back before she edged past Justin Bieber for the best new artist Grammy in 2011. In one song she sings "Jazz ain't nothing but soul," and she makes a convincing case... Also The Heritage Blues Orcestra, a group that brings jazzy horn-driven arrangements to some classics of country blues as well as some new songs. The group is headed up by bluesman Bill Sims, Jr.  We'll open up their debut album "And Still I Rise" and hear new versions of some classic pre-war blues songs, as well as a much more recent one. Plus: Cynthia Felton takes on Eddie Jefferson's re-write of a classic Eddie Harris piece. Felton is a singer-scholar, holding a doctorate and running a music archive as well as singing. And, we'll hear a couple of cuts from the fabulous soundtrack album for the film Chico & Rita, featuring pianist Bebo Valdés, who is going strong at age ninety-three. The film, a most unusual animated film, was nominated for an Oscar in the animated film category this year. The music in it is beyond compare.

promo included: promo317