Soundcheck Archive
September 2006
Farm Aid Rocks the Garden State
Friday, September 29, 2006
Farm Aid holds its annual concert Saturday in, of all places, Camden, New Jersey. We find out why a music festival created to support American agriculture is coming to a concrete-covered city. And, the Wired Next Fest gets underway this weekend. We explore the latest innovations in music technology. Also: The Long Winters, a Seattle-based indie band, perform live in the studio.
Blues Cruise
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Over a thirty year career, blues guitarist Robert Cray has won five Grammys, sold millions of albums and is currently opening for Eric Clapton. Today, Cray shares music from "Live From Across the Pond," his latest album recorded at London's Royal Albert Hall earlier this year. Also: Carmen Consoli, Sicilian-born singer-songwriter whose music blends indie-rock, bossa nova, jazz and blues influences, performs live in the studio. And finally: The "Chicken Noodle Soup" song and dance craze started at parties in Harlem and has made a huge impact on YouTube. Now, both the DJ and the artist behind the phenomenon have inked record deals with Universal Music. Is a backlash far behind?
Master of Movie Music
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Danny Elfman is of Hollywood’s most sought-after composers, especially known for scoring such Tim Burton films as "The Nightmare before Christmas" and for his theme to "The Simpsons." He’ll talk about those projects, and about his first orchestral composition written specifically for the concert hall. Also: Singer-songwriter Nya Jade has been called the new new Sade. She’ll perform live in the studio.
Wynton Marsalis on Louis Armstrong
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Wynton Marsalis is known for his strong opinions and his controversial appreciation of the history of jazz. Today, Marsalis talks about one of his biggest passions: the classic Hot Five recordings of Louis Armstrong. In a program this week at Jazz at Lincoln Center, he's attempting to "re-imagine" these masterpieces. Also: the guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela got started playing thrash-metal in Mexico. Now they're known for their virtuosic acoustic renditions of such rock songs as "Stairway to Heaven" and Metallica's "Orion." They join us with a live performance.
Can You Spare a Ticket?
Monday, September 25, 2006
Paying $400 to see the Rolling Stones or $700 for Barbara Streisand might sound excessive as it is. But you'll fork over even more when you go to eBay or a scalper. Today, a look at how Ticketmaster's new online auction service is changing how we buy concert tickets. With us to explain how the service will affect music fans is Alan Krueger, professor of economics at Princeton University and co-author of the paper "Rockonomics: The Economics of Popular Music." Also: Dr. Dog, the psychedelic rock band from Philadelphia, performs live in studio. Finally, today is the 100th birthday of the late Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich. In honor, we take a close look at his Symphony No. 13 "Babi Yar."
Opera for the Masses?
Friday, September 22, 2006
This season, the Metropolitan Opera is planning to broadcast operas to movie theaters, satellite radio, and even Times Square. Across the plaza, New York City Opera is dropping its ticket prices and presenting an "Opera for All" festival. Today, New York Times chief classical music critic Anthony Tommasini asks whether these and other gambits can attract new opera fans. Also: YouTube.com isn't only for posting quirky homemade videos. An astonishing amount of opera video lives on the site, making it an endless trove of historic material. James Jorden, editor of the opera blog Parterre Box, explains this trend. Finally, Joe Purdy, a folky singer-songwriter whose music is on ABC's hit series "Lost" and "Grey's Anatomy," performs live in the studio.
Perfect Pitch
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Led Zeppelin is out and Hip Hop is in. That’s what one automobile ad campaign wants you to believe. Today on Soundcheck, how ad agencies use music to sell their products...and break new bands. Also: Lambchop was arguably the most consistently brilliant and unique American group of the 1990s with their unclassifiable hybrid of country, soul, jazz, and avant-garde noise. The band plays live in the studio.
Offbeat Concert Venues, from Silos to Rocking Boats
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Only in New York can you hear jazz inside an old grain silo, opera in a converted shoe factory, and chamber music on a barge in the East River. Today, a look the city's unusual performance spaces, in all their charm and grittiness. Joining us is Suzanne Fiol, the executive & artistic director of the Issue Project Room (the aforementioned converted silo on the shores of the Gowanus Canal), and Frank Oteri, the editor of NewMusicBox.org, the online magazine of the American Music Center. Also on the show: the Russian-born pianist Vladimir Feltsman has embarked on an unusual project to kick off the season: he's playing Mozart's sonatas on a replica of a fortepiano by Anton Walter, Mozart's favorite piano maker. He joins us to demonstrate the sound of the fortepiano alongside that of a modern instrument.
Your Music, Your Lifestyle
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Fans of musicals are least likely to take drugs or commit crimes, while hip hop and dance music fans are more likely to have had multiple sex partners. Today on Soundcheck, we discuss a new research study that connects musical tastes with individuals' lifestyles. Also: Ira Kaplan of the indie band Yo La Tengo on their newest record. And the Americana banjo player Riley Baugus performs live in the studio.
Guitars, Gangsters and Garage Rock
Monday, September 18, 2006
Steve Van Zandt has a career built on many roles: as the longtime guitarist with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band; as Tony Soprano's closest advisor (the pompadoured Silvio Dante); and as the promoter of a large touring rock festival (the Underground Garage Rolling Rock and Roll Show). Today, Van Zandt talks about his many roles, including his latest, as the host of the weekly radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio. Also: Arielle Dombasle, French torch singer and actress (and spouse of the philosopher-journalist Bernard-Henri Lévy) joins us to share her latest album, "C'est Si Bon."
Jazz Master Ornette Coleman
Friday, September 15, 2006
Saxophonist Ornette Coleman is one of the leading jazz innovators of our time. He's just released a new album, "Sound Grammar," and he discusses a career of making provocative, trend-setting music. Also: Natasha Atlas combines electronica and middle eastern beats to create global dance music. She joins us to share her most recent release. And: as Fashion Week wraps up, we ask what music helps sell this year's top styles.
Eat to the Beat
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Chef Daniel Bouloud, best known for his Michelin two-star restaurant, Daniel and the Grammy-winning composer Richard Danielpour have collaborated on a menu of six courses and wines, corresponding to a "gastronomic concerto for six instruments." Today, the two join us to explore the long, mouthwatering relationship between food and music, seasoned with a live performance featuring the chamber ensemble Music From Copland House. Also: a visit with Si*Sé, a New York-based quintet that plays a mix of down-tempo soul, electronica, and funk anchored by the soulful vocals of Dominican-Arabic singer Carol C.
Life After Death: The Legacy of Tupac
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
On the 10th anniversary of rapper Tupac Shakur’s death, we'll debate what – if anything – has changed in the world of hip hop. Also: M. Ward. The gravely-voiced singer-songwriter is getting high marks for his new album because he doesn’t sound like your typical "guy with guitar." He’ll join us. And finally: Members of Ethel -- the rock band of string quartets – will share their genre-bending new album.
Keeping Album Art Alive
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Album cover art, a long-celebrated vehicle for visual artists, has changed dramatically as its canvas has shrunk - from 12-inch LP's to 1-inch iPod screens. But reports of its death may be greatly exaggerated. Today, we explore the fate of album art in the digital music age with Josh Koppel, who creates digital liner notes and art for the company TuneBooks.com; and Nathan Brackett, an editor at Rolling Stone magazine. Also on the show: The Dears, a band known for its dark, cinematic art-pop, performs selections from its new album, "Gang of Losers," live in the studio.
The State of the Arts Five Years after 9/11
Monday, September 11, 2006
Today on Soundcheck: A panel of artists and arts activists, including musician Suzanne Vega and Robert Hurwitz of Nonesuch Records, talk about how patriotism, censorship, spirituality and fear have reverberated in New York's artistic landscape. Also, a live performance by Armenian pianist, Şahan Arzruni.
Music Goes to the Mat
Friday, September 08, 2006
Record labels and artists are striking deals with the pro wrestling business as they try to pin down new listeners. A new CD called "WWE: Wreckless Intent," features entrance music to World Wrestling Entertainment matches by bands like P.O.D., Three 6 Mafia, and Motorhead. Today, Neil Lawi, general manager of the WWE Music Group, discusses this unusual collision of pop music and pro wrestling. Also: Venezuelan-born pianist Gabriela Montero is making waves with her new CD "Bach and Beyond." She performs selections from the disc, which features improvisations on Bach's best-loved works. Finally, a look at how CBS News enlisted film composer James Horner when it needed a new theme song for its nightly newscast with Katie Couric.
Covering the Top of the Charts
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Gnarls Barkley’s "Crazy" is one of this year’s most popular songs – so popular that it’s inspired a parade of cover versions by Emo bands, rappers, DJ’s and aging 80s rock stars. We’ll find out how pop tunes go from topping the charts, to making pop music history. Also: Brooklyn band One Ring Zero has set words by authors like Jonathan Lethem, Margaret Atwood and Rick Moody. They’ll perform live in the studio.
Deconstructing Dylan
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Bob Dylan's new album, "Modern Times," is earning praise for its minimalist arrangements and brooding lyrics about romance, faith and mortality. It's also being criticized for what at least one critic calls its outright thefts of other music – snippets of old blues songs and Chuck Berry. Today, we parse Dylan's sources and inspirations with Rolling Stone editor Joe Levy, and Wall Street Journal music critic Jim Fusilli. Also: British scholar Michael Gray joins us to talk about "The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia," the culmination of over thirty years of dedicated research and scholarship. Finally, Camerounian world-fusion bassist Richard Bona performs music from his latest album, Tiki.
Live at the Mercury Prize
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
The Mercury Awards are the British equivalent of the Grammy's: honoring everyone from The Arctic Monkeys to Scritti Polliti's Green Gartside. We'll go live to the awards ceremony. Also: at age 14, prodigious composer Jay Greenberg has already written more than 100 works, including five symphonies, 17 piano sonatas and three piano concertos. He joins us to talk about his compositions. And Ayelet Gottleib is an Israeli-born jazz vocalist whose music draws on rhythms around the Middle East. She performs live in the studio.
Brewing Musical Buzz
Monday, September 04, 2006
What is the sound of Starbucks? Today, a look at how Starbucks is cornering the market on mature, sultry-jazz pop with Mark Rahner, a reporter at the Seattle Times. Also: Baaba Maal will share his unique blend of Senegalese pop, traditional West African song, reggae and dance music. And: the Boston folk-rock duo The Weepies play live. This is a repeat broadcast.
Why Classical Crossover Thrives
Friday, September 01, 2006
Classical crossover is a musical category that includes orchestras playing rock hits, violinists in wet t-shirts, and tenor heartthrobs crooning love ballads. It also includes plenty of music with a real artistic edge. Today, we explore this booming genre with Steven Mercurio, the conductor and composer whose new CD "Many Voices," features crossover singers like Andrea Bocelli and Sumi Jo, and with Greg Sandow, a composer, critic and orchestra consultant. Also on the show: tenor saxophonist Chris Byars shares music from his new album, "Night Owls." His octet will be performing at Joe's Pub this weekend.
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