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Soundcheck

Wednesday, December 06, 2006
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  • Brooklyn Jazz Underground
    Brooklyn Jazz Underground

    Collaborative Efforts

    They say that genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. But these days, great music takes a whole lot of cooperation as well. We find out how a local jazz co-op is getting its music to the masses. Also: songwriter and playwright Adam Arcuragi.

The Psychology of the Collective

We speak with a cognitive psychologist and a diverse set of musicians about what makes collaborative efforts work. Members of the new Brooklyn Jazz Underground discuss their strategy behind creating jazz's newest collective. And pianist Jed Distler of new music group the Composers Collaborative talks about what's kept that effort going for over 20 years.

The Brooklyn Jazz Underground
The Composers Collaborative

Songwriter/playwright Adam Arcuragi visited the Soundcheck studios to discuss why he's considered one of Philly's best-kept secrets.

Adam Arcuragi

The singer-songwriter and playwright Adam Arcuragi is one of the best-kept secrets from Philadelphia, according to some critics. He performs live in the studio.

Adam Arcuragi's MySpace site

audience

Soundcheck Smackdown: When Contemporary Met Classical

Soundcheck

Like vegetables stuck into a delicious meal, contemporary classical music is forced on concert audiences before they are allowed to enjoy their Brahms. So says humorist, critic and author Joe Queenan. Today, Queenan and John Berry, Artistic Director with English National Opera, join us for a Soundcheck Smackdown debate on the merits of contemporary music.

musical clouds

You Are What You Hear

Soundcheck

Washington Post reporter Paul Farhi takes us through some of the most famously botched song lyrics in rock history. We’ll explore why the words we make up are usually more interesting than the real version. Then, listeners confess their favorite and most embarrassing reinvented lyrics.

Leave a comment: Give us your favorite set of misheard lyrics! Were you disappointed when you learned the actual words?

Rosanne Cash and Mark O'Connor

Soundcheck

For her, he was a father. For him, he was a boyhood hero. For the nation, he was an icon. Singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash and composer and violinist Mark O'Connor join us to talk about how Johnny Cash has inspired their musical collaboration. And they will play live.

Katy

Soundcheck's Summer Song Poll

Soundcheck

Every year, popular and critical opinion somehow converge to settle on a "summer song." In 2007, it was Rihanna's "Umbrella." The year before, it was "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley. The practice stretches back to the very dawn of pop radio. Yet defining the essence of a "summer song" is a bit elusive. We enlist the help of Blender editor at large Lizzy Goodman -- and of our Soundcheck listeners, in an online poll.

Cast your vote: Soundcheck's Summer Song Poll 2008

Can't decide? Check out audio and video clips of the contestants here.

Our blog: John Schaefer asks what makes a good summer song,

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