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On Demand

Soundcheck

Monday, October 10, 2005
  • Fred Hersch performing on WNYC's Steinway grand - photo by Christine Butler
    Fred Hersch performing on WNYC's Steinway Grand (Christine Butler)

    A Whitman Sampler

    Hem, the Brooklyn band whose sound is known as "countrypolitan" has released their second album, Eveningland, featuring not only the regular eight-piece unit, but also the Slovak Radio Orchestra. The combination added a more lush and complex element than the group had realized when they set themselves to recording an old fashioned album: no samples, no fancy protools edits. They'll join us to discuss their sound, and this record in advance of their Saturday night show at Southpaw. Also: jazz pianist Fred Hersch and vocalist Kate McGarry join us to perform music from their Walt Whitman tribute album, "Leaves of Grass." The CD is an orchestration of Whitman's 150-year-old masterpiece written for a 10-piece chamber jazz ensemble and vocalists. This is an encore edition of Soundcheck.

A-Hem

Brooklyn-based Hem - which will be on Lincoln Center's American Songbook series in February - performs its brand of new country.
» Hem's Web site

Pianist Fred Hersch and vocalist Kate McGarry

The duo performs music set to the words of Walt Whitman.
» Fred Hersch Interprets 'Leaves of Grass' on NPR

The Swell Season in The Greene Space

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Joshua Bell in The Greene Space

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