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August 2008

Three years after Katrina, Music's Difficult Path

Friday, August 29, 2008

A new book by author Ned Subletteexplores the history of war, slavery, and aristocracy in New Orleans. A new CD by clarinetist Dr. Michael White looks to that city’s future. On today's show: New Orleans music, three years after Katrina. Also on the show: live music by Avishai Cohen, an Israeli composer, bandleader, bassist with growing reputation for music that fuses Middle Eastern and Latin folk melodies with modern jazz structures.


Summer's Final Note

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Summer is winding down. Today, we find out about some of the best music events in the season's final days. Later: Brooklyn’s McCarren Park Pool is set to present its final concert this weekend. We look back at a venue that made a big splash in New York. And later: art-song composer Gabriel Kahane performs live.


The Art of Liner Notes in the Age of Downloads

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

With downloading on the rise, more musicians are dropping liner notes from their albums. On today's show: what the loss of lyrics, credits, and informative articles means for fans. Also: As their latest album climbs the charts this summer, The Hold Steady are no longer just a bar band. But on "Stay Positive," they still make straightforward, fist-pumping rock and roll. They join us to share the results.


To Plug ... Or Not To Plug

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

As bands ranging from U2 to Deerhunter are discovering, music leaks are a fact of life in the record industry. In another Soundcheck Smackdown, we debate whether leaks are good or bad for fans. Also: the godfather of reggae, Burning Spear, joins us to talk about the state of that genre.


Music in the Mile High City

Monday, August 25, 2008

When the 4,200 Democratic delegates and accompanying media horde arrive in Denver this week for the party's national convention, they'll have an opportunity to sample a thriving music scene in their off-hours. On today's show, we explore what makes music in Denver unique. Also: Aussie songwriter and pianist
Greta Gertler performs live in our studio. And finally: how Michael Phelps used his iPod to help him get in the zone.


The Best of What's Next

Friday, August 22, 2008

Half the fun of being a pop music fan is forecasting which artists will be the next big things. Today, a look at Paste magazine’s list of 26 artists to watch in the coming months. Also: New Orleans singer Irma Thomas has survived 50 years in the music business - and at least two hurricanes. The Grammy winner joins us to talk about her latest record, "Simply Grand."


Bad Vibrations

Thursday, August 21, 2008

The musical technique known as vibrato is being banned by a conductor at the BBC Proms, England's premier music festival this summer. On today's show: a look at whether vibrato shapes -- or taints -- music, from jazz to opera. Also: quirky New York-based septet Spottiswoode & His Enemies join us for a live performance.


The Death of Jimi Hendrix, Revisited

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

A fascinating and innovative musical career was cut short when Jimi Hendrix died in 1970. Today on Soundcheck: a biographer delves into the mystery surrounding Hendrix's final hours and challenges the guitar great's long-accepted cause of death. Later: a live performance from the Jupiter String Quartet.


Why Humans are Hard-Wired to be Musical

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Bestselling author, neuroscientist and former rock producer Daniel Levitin made a splash with his provocative book This Is Your Brain on Music. He joins us today to talk about his latest book, The World in Six Songs, in which he has identified six kinds of songs that make humans tick: songs of friendship, joy, comfort, knowledge, religion and love.


America's Puccini Infatuation

Monday, August 18, 2008

This summer, Italy is celebrating the 150th birthday of composer Giacomo Puccini. Today on Soundcheck, find out how his operas became part of American pop culture, in a live report from the Puccini Festival in Lucca, Italy. Plus: our CD picks of the week. And later: In just two years, the band Ra Ra Riot has drawn critical raves, toured relentlessly and weathered a stark tragedy. They join us to play live in our studio.


Musicians Hit the Jackpot at Casinos

Friday, August 15, 2008

Concerts at casinos used to mean washed-up crooners singing oldies and standards twice a night. But increasingly casinos are featuring some of the hottest touring acts around. On today's show: why arenas are loosing business to casinos from Connecticut to Atlantic City. Also: Gustavo Santaolalla has made a name both as an Oscar-winning film composer and a guitarist with the electronic-tango group Bajofondo. He joins us to talk about reinventing music of his native Argentina.


The Charts: Who's On Top

Thursday, August 14, 2008

The power of ABBA is undeniable. The group's music is back on the top of Billboard's albums chart, thanks to the hit movie "Mamma Mia." Today on Soundcheck, we debut a new series on the battle for the top spots on the Billboard charts. Plus, Billboard's Hot 100 chart turns 50 this year. We look at its enduring influence in the age of MySpace and downloads. Later: A new 51-song live album documents the stage presence of the New York-based group The Fiery Furnaces. They join us for a live performance in our studio.


Oddball Albums From Big-Name Musicians

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Ringo Starr released a country album and Paul McCartney went Techno. Elvis Presley treated fans to a whole album of stage banter. On today's show, the strangest, funniest and most bizarre albums from the biggest stars. Later on the show: a very plausible ensemble, The Ahn Trio, join us to share their lush, ambient arrangements of everything from the "Dies Irae" to Astor Piazzolla and Cole Porter.


Soundcheck Smackdown: Rock's Bottom End

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Marquee rock acts like the White Stripes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are getting along just fine without a bass guitarist. In another Soundcheck Smackdown, we debate the importance of bass guitar in rock music. Plus: Regina Spektor got her start in New York's anti-folk scene. Now she's working with Ben Folds and contributing a song to the latest "Chronicles of Narnia" film. She joins us to perform live in our studio.


When Music Takes the Olympic Stage

Monday, August 11, 2008

Music has a big role in China's extravagant packaging of the Beijing Olympics. On today's show, China-based music writer Ken Smith talks about the opening ceremony, and about the complex dance between the music industry, the Olympic organizers, and the Chinese government. And composer Zhiyi Wang joins us from Beijing to talk about the music he wrote for the opening ceremony. Later on the show: The East Village Opera Company could best be described as a cross between Freddy Mercury and George Frederic Handel. The rock band/opera troupe has a new album, "Olde School," which we sample today.

Listen to Soundcheck's 2007 interview with soul singer Isaac Hayes, who died Sunday at age 65.


Music To Soothe the Savage Beast

Friday, August 08, 2008

Growing evidence suggests that classical music may help to calm your family dog. Today, we're joined by the creator of a new CD that prescribes Chopin and Schubert to soothe your pooch. Also: New Orleans trumpeter Irvin Mayfield explains how an iPod saved his new album from succumbing to floods after Hurricane Katrina. And, he performs in our studio. This is a repeat broadcast of Soundcheck.


On Stage and Off, A Truly Operatic Career

Thursday, August 07, 2008

Plácido Domingo was recently named greatest tenor of all time, according to a poll of leading music critics. He's certainly one of the world's busiest musicians. Today, Domingo talks about a career conducting, directing, and singing, and about his new album of Spanish street songs known as coplas. Later: Classical guitarist Gyan Riley was following in some big footsteps when he left home. His father just happens to be Terry Riley, one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. But he's carved out a niche of his own as he demonstrates today with a live performance in our studio.This is a repeat broadcast.


The Harmony of Amateur Hour

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

For adults, finding time to learn a musical instrument is tough enough. Finding a forgiving partner can be terrifying. Today: a reporter and a bestselling detective novelist reveal how they joined "piano parties" and something called The Really Terrible Orchestra. And later: we bite into "Golden Delicious," the latest solo album from former Soul Coughing frontman Mike Doughty. He performs in our studio.This is an encore edition of Soundcheck.


Soundcheck Smackdown: Baby Boomers vs. Generation X

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Baby boomers had the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Woodstock, but Generation X had Kurt Cobain, Pearl Jam and MTV. On today’s Soundcheck Smackdown: boomers and slackers debate which generation has the most to offer pop music history. Also: alto saxophonist Matana Roberts shares her latest album, "The Chicago Project." This is a repeat edition of Soundcheck.


Ghosts of Pop Music Past

Monday, August 04, 2008

For every stack of CDs and boxed set proudly displayed in the living room, a couple of embarrassing albums lurk at the bottom of a closet. Today on Soundcheck: critics and listeners reveal their dirty musical secrets. Later: singer Ana Moura is part of a new generation of singers working with fado, the melancholic and mournful Portuguese music. She performs in our studio. This is a repeat broadcast.


The Mighty Sound of Leadbelly's Blues

Friday, August 01, 2008

Louisiana Bluesman Leadbelly was discovered in a jail in 1934 and later went on to write such classics as "Midnight Special" and "Goodnight, Irene." He was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. On today's show, we explore Leadbelly's influence on artists from Jimi Hendrix to Kurt Cobain. Also: trumpeter and two-time Grammy winner Roy Hargrove joins us to share his soulful blend of jazz and Latin styles.