On Demand
Soundcheck
-

The Year 2006 in Pop Music and Jazz
Critics' Week, Soundcheck's look back at the year 2006 in music, kicks off with an overview of the year in pop music. Jody Rosen, music critic for Slate.com, shares his favorites. Also: a look back at the year in jazz with Doug Ramsey, editor of the jazz blog, "Rifftides," at Artsjournal.com, and author of several books on jazz including Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond. Finally: After making a splash in London, award-winning theatre director Richard Eyre brings "Mary Poppins" to the Great White Way. He joins us to talk about it.
Critics' Week 2006 on Soundcheck
Critics' picks are available on Amazon.com

The Year in Pop Music
Jody Rosen, music critic for Slate.com shares his highlights of the year in pop music.
Jody Rosen's 2006 Picks:
Timbaland as producer on Nelly Furtado's "Loose" and Justin Timberlake's "FutureSex / LoveSounds"
Beyoncé "B'Day"
Mary J. Blige "The Breakthrough"
Joanna Newsom "Ys"
Corinne Bailey Rae "Corinne Bailey Rae"
KT Kunstall "Eye To The Telescope"

The Year in Jazz
Doug Ramsey, author of several books on jazz including Take Five: The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond, and editor of the jazz blog, "Rifftides," at Artsjournal.com shares his favorites of 2006 in jazz.
Doug Ramsey's 2006 Picks:
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra: ”Up From the Skies” (Planet Arts)
Sonny Rollins: “Sonny, Please” (Doxy)
Various: “The Summary, Music of Thad Jones, Volume 2” (IPO)
Bob Brookmeyer: “Spirit Music” (ArtistShare)
Martial Solal, Dave Douglas: “Rue De Seine” (CamJazz)
Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri: “Simpatico” (ArtistShare)
John McNeil: “East Coast Cool” (OmniTone)
Harold Danko: “Hinesight” (Steeplechase)
Alan Broadbent: “Every Time I Think of You” (Artistry)
Houston Person with Bill Charlap: “You Taught My Heart to Sing” (High Note)
Reissues
Charles Mingus: “Music Written for Monterey, 1965, Not Heard, Played at UCLA” (Sunnyside)
Gerry Mulligan: “The Fabulous Gerry Mulligan Sextet” (Fresh Sound)
Shirley Horn, Marian McPartland: “Piano Jazz” (Jazz Alliance)
Benny Carter, Wilbert Baranco, Gerald Wilson: “Groovin’ High in L.A. 1946” (HEP)
Miles Davis: “The Legendary Quintet” (Prestige)
Rifftides at ArtsJournal.com
Soundcheck's Critics' Week 2006
Mary Poppins: The Musical
The world's most famous nanny has danced her way onto Broadway. A look at "Mary Poppins: The Musical" with director Richard Eyre.
- About this program
- Staff Bios »
- Contact Us »
- Latest Episode
- Internship
- Tapes and Transcripts
- Show Archive »
Features & Series
Podcast
Stay up to date.
Subscribe to the Podcast
Soundcheck's Noteworthy New York
Want to know the hottest places to go this weekend? Check out where New York's musicians go in their free time.
More
Soundcheck Blog
Go behind the scenes!
Find out what John Schaefer and the Soundcheck staff have to say about recent segments on the show.
More
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"
- Comments [9]
Pop's Love Affair With Death
Soundcheck
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?
- Comments [60]
Behind the public face of John Lennon
Soundcheck
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.
- Comments [1]
The Soul of British Soul
Soundcheck
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.
