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Soundcheck

Tuesday, March 23, 2004
  • The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island (illustration by Ben Katchor)
    The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island (illustration by Ben Katchor)

    The New Operetta

    You might call it Neo-Operetta. It's a growing genre that's cropping up around Downtown arts spaces and today we feature two prominent examples. "The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island, or the Friends of Dr. Rushower," is a musical theater work that combines the images and words of cartoonist Ben Katchor ("The Jew of New York" and "Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer") and the music of Mark Mulcahy (former lead singer for Miracle Legion and Polaris). Scored for a rock band and featuring Katchor's drawings as backdrops, it depicts the efforts of a New York philanthropist to bring the modern poetry to a group of exploited island workers. We get a preview in advance of the musical's run at The Kitchen. We're also joined by singer and composer Cynthia Hopkins, whose new operetta "Accidental Nostalgia," explores the pros and cons of amnesia. The piece unfolds as a story about a woman who suffers from severe memory loss and embarks on an investigation of her own history, only to find it might be better left unremembered.

Noteworthy New York

Soundcheck

We have invited musicians and artists to help us select their favorite cultural destination in the neighborhood where they live. From parks and coffee shops to bowling alleys and museums, the options are as diverse as our group of contributors.

The Journey of Quincy Jones

Soundcheck

During his 50-year career, Quincy Jones has worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Puff Daddy, founded Vibe magazine, collected countless awards, and earned a reputation as a jazz giant. (Somewhere in there, he found time to make possible an album called "Thriller.") Jones joins us on the occasion of his new book, "The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey & Passions."

Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer on Quincy Jones, Henry Rollins and the term "Renaissance man"

Pop's Love Affair With Death

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Death may be an unpleasant topic for conversation, but it ranks up there with sex and love as a basic ingredient in song lyrics. Today, we look at how pop music copes (and even thrives) with death. We're joined by Graeme Thomson, author of the self-explanatory book, "I Shot a Man in Reno: A History of Death By Murder, Suicide, Fire, Flood, Drugs, Disease and General Misadventure, as Related in Popular Song."

Soundcheck blog: What's your favorite song about death?

Behind the public face of John Lennon

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Writing a book about the Beatles is to enter a crowded market. But Philip Norman’s new 851-page biography, “John Lennon: The Life” is getting much buzz this fall for the unprecedented access provided by Lennon’s friends and relatives, including Yoko Ono. We talk with Norman about why Lennon remains such a fascinating and troubled figure.

The Soul of British Soul

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British soul divas like Amy Winehouse and Duffy owe a big debt to a '60s icon with a breathy voice and a beehive wig. Today: the story of singer Dusty Springfield. Later: folk-rock artist Ani DiFranco performs songs from her new album "Red Letter Year" live in our studio.