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Soundcheck

Friday, February 16, 2007
  • Come Sail Away

    Are you a music fan and thinking about an escape to warmer places? Do you find music festivals too conventional? Try a music cruise. Dozens of genre- or artist-focused cruises are setting sail this year and more artists seem to be getting on board with this trend. Today, we look at some of the more rockin' boats, from the Jam Cruise to Vince Neil's Motley Cruise to the North Sea Jazz Cruise.

If This Boat's a Rockin'

Grammy-winning bassist, composer and producer Marcus Miller; and Johanna Jainchill, associate editor at Travel Weekly, talk about the phenomenon of music-themed cruises. Miller has been a guest performer on several cruises, and will be the musical host of the inaugural sailing of the North Sea Jazz Cruise this summer.

Jazz Cruises Web site
Music Cruises; Rocking the Waters by Johanna Jainchill

Jean-Michel Pilc

New York Times wrote of jazz pianist Jean-Michel Pilc, "Mr. Pilc seems to have dropped from the sky fully formed, with technique and ideas in place." The rocket scientist turned jazz pianist performs live in our studio.

Jean-Michel Pilc's trio will be performing tonight and tomorrow night at the Kitano Hotel and March 1 at Smoke. Jean-Michel Pilc will be performing solo on March 4 at Easy's Woodshed in Harlem.

Jean-Michel Pilc's website

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

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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"

Pop's Love Affair With Death

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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?

Behind the public face of John Lennon

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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.

The Soul of British Soul

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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.