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Soundcheck / May 21, 2007

Soundcheck

Monday, May 21, 2007
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  • NY Philarmonic Summer Concerts in the Park
    NY Philarmonic Summer Concerts in the Park

    Lines and Tickets and Bands...Oh My!

    With so many options for music this summer, you might need some help sorting through the hype. Today, our expert panel reveals the season's best shows and best albums. And, find out how to survive an outdoor festival. Plus, choreographer Wally Cardona and composer Phil Kline talk about their new collaboration at Dance Theater Workshop.

Summer of Sound

With so many concerts, festivals and hot new albums on tap for this summer, what's a poor fan to do? Rest easy: Let Soundcheck guide you through the next three months of music madness. Bill Werde of Billboard magazine tips us off on the best events and new releases.

Also: Men's Health magazine has assembled a survival guide to outdoor music festivals. Associate editor Mike Dawson shares some tips on avoiding the summertime blues.

A Summer Concert Survivial Kit

Taking it to the Streets

On June 21, the first day of summer, some 400 musical acts will take to the streets of New York for "Make Music New York," a city-wide celebration of music. The event is modeled after France's "Fête de la Musique," first held in 1982 in Paris and an annual event throughout the country ever since. Today, Aaron Friedman, the event's founder, joins us to shed light on some of the more unusual offerings.

Make Music NY Web site

Wally Cardona Quartet

Choreographer Wally Cardona is known for a "landscape" approach to performance. His work transforms not only a stage, but often an entire venue. Cardona and composer Phil Kline join us in studio to talk about their new collaboration, SITE, which runs May 29 through June 2 at Dance Theater Workshop.

SITE at Dance Theater Workshop

cab

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.

Quincy Jones

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"

death

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?

John Lennon

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.

Dusty Springfield book jacket

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.