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Soundcheck

Friday, February 25, 2005
  • Journalist Jeff Chang
    Journalist Jeff Chang

    From Concert Bands to Vintage Hip-Hop

    Think of bands and you might think halftime shows, parades, and military ceremonies. But in fact wind bands are a serious medium as well, commissioning and performing more new music than any other kind of ensemble in America. A growing number of high-profile composers are getting in on the act these days. Among them are David Del Tredici, who joins us today, along with Jerry Junkin, the director of bands at the University of Texas and artistic director of the Dallas Wind Symphony. They'll talk about the growth of the concert band around the country. Also: Journalist Jeff Chang has written a new book titled Can't Stop, Won't Stop, that explores the overlooked history of early hip-hop. Today on Soundcheck, he explains how rapping, break-dancing, and graffiti empowered inner-city youth.

Introducing our Video Contest

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John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.

In Studio: Los Amigos Invisibles

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The Venezuelan funk-rock band "Los Amigos Invisibles" was discovered by David Byrne in a Manhattan record shop. They perform live on Soundcheck.

In Studio: Angel Deradoorian

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The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist performs live in our studio.

Cucu Diamantes Performs Amor Cronico

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Cucu Diamantes went from a tough childhood in Havana, Cuba, to an art school in Rome to underground New York City, where she co-founded the Latin alternative band Yerba Buena.

In Studio: The Decemberists

The Portland, Ore., band's latest album, "The Hazards of Love," is a concept album with a mythological flair. They joined Soundcheck to play live for a studio audience in WNYC's Greene Space.

Sound Off

Soundcheck

Throughout May, Soundcheck presents “Sound Off” a Friday series on the many aspects of noise in music and our lives. The series -- which coincides with “Better Hearing and Speech Month” -- looks at issues like New York’s noisiest neighborhoods, the latest research on iPods and hearing loss, and what happens when noise becomes a musical ingredient.