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Soundcheck / January 24, 2008

Soundcheck

Thursday, January 24, 2008
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  • Smooth Jazz

    Clear Skies with a 90 Percent Chance of Smooth Jazz

    Airs weekdays at 2PM on 93.9 FM
    For years the Weather Channel has earned a cult following for the smooth jazz played during its "Local on the 8’s" forecasts. Today: hear the hot and cool sounds featured on the channel's first CD. Also: the story behind "Elmer Gantry," a new American opera based on the Sinclair Lewis novel, which gets its local premiere this week in Montclair, NJ.

    Musicians! Show us your space! Starting today, enter Soundcheck's first-ever Rehearsal Space Photo Contest for your chance to win a free copy of Apple's Logic Studio software bundle. Click below for details.

    Photo Contest: Show Us Your Rehearsal Space!

DJ-ing The Weather

For years the Weather Channel has developed a cult following for the music played during its "Local on the 8s." The channel's first CD release "The Weather Channel Presents Smooth Jazz" stormed the music charts when it was released last fall, hitting number one on Billboard's Jazz compilation chart. We talk with Weather Channel music programmer Brian Picard and ambient/jazz artist Ryan Farish about the challenges of DJing the weather and why so many viewers care about the music that accompanies their forecast.

Ryan Farish's Web site
Weather Channel Presents: Best of Smooth Jazz on Amazon.com
Weather Channel Playlists: 1998-2006

Elmer Gantry: A New American Opera

"Elmer Gantry," a new American opera based on the 1927 novel by Sinclair Lewis, with music composed by Robert Aldridge and libretto by Herschel Garfein, gets its premiere this week at Montclair State University's Alexander Kasser Theater. Robert Aldridge and Herschel Garfein join us to talk about the challenges of getting a new opera staged in a field driven by the tried-and-true favorites.

Elmer Gantry at Montclair State University
Elmer Gantry Web site

Even Better Than the Real Thing

If you missed U2 on their recent tour, you could do worse than the concert film "U2 3D." But beware: the dizzying camerawork and in-your-face shots of Bono might not be for the faint of heart. We talk with USA Today pop music critic Edna Gundersen.

Edna Gunderson's story on "U2 3D"

The Pacifica Quartet

Soundcheck

Carter Burwell and Maya Beiser

Soundcheck

Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar's Ode to Jack Kerouac

Soundcheck

The Ill Effects of Urban Noise

The Ill Effects of Urban Noise

Soundcheck

Soundcheck received an overwhelming response to our segment on the effects of urban noise. So much so that Arline Bronzaft decided to address the feedback. Listen to the original segment and read Bronzaft's response.

RZA on the Tao of Wu

Soundcheck