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(Photo by Peter Cunningham)Janis Ian Looks Back
Janis Ian scored a hit at the age of 15 with a controversial song about interracial love, "Society's Child." The singer-songwriter joins us to talk about her life and a new memoir named after the 1966 track. Also: Pianist Lisa Moore joins us to perform pieces by Randy Newman and composer Martin Bresnick live in our studio.
Cast your vote: Soundcheck's music video poll!
Janis Ian
Janis Ian was just 15 years old when she wrote about interracial love in the controversial 1966 hit "Society's Child." In the years that followed, she took drugs with Jimi Hendrix, won two Grammy awards and suffered a nervous breakdown. The singer-songwriter joins us to talk about her new memoir, named after that '66 hit.
Soundcheck blog: Janis Ian and Society's Children
Janis Ian online
"Society's Child" is available for puchase on Amazon.com
CD Picks of the Week
The Cesarians, (self titled)
From London, a city with an apparently inexhaustible supply of quality rockers, rappers, folkies, and classical musicians, comes a band that is none of the above. The Cesarians describe their sound this way: "Had rock and roll been born in 1930's urban Europe, and not 1930's rural America, it would have been like this; part Kurt Weil, part Jacques Brel, part Ernst Kirchner, part klezma." They haven’t finished their first record yet, but a 2-song single is out, and includes this song, "Flesh Is Grass." --picked by John Schaefer
The "Flesh is Grass" single is available from iTunes. More information at the band's official site.
"InsomniMania," Jenny Lin, piano [Koch]
When pianist Jenny Lin's latest CD arrived in the Soundcheck office, it looked like yet another gimmicky lifestyle compilation – like classical lullabies set to hip-hop beats. But not so fast. Lin chose the ten compositions to show the various ways in which nighttime dreams and anxieties have been represented in contemporary piano music. It’s a surprisingly diverse collection. It includes John Cage’s ethereal piece "Dream," William Bolcom's stylish number "Dream Shadows," and this restless selection, "Sleepwalker," by Raymond Scott. --picked by Brian Wise
"InsomniMania" is available for purchase from Amazon.com
Beto Villares, (self-titled) [Six Degrees]
The first time that the Starbucks Hear Music Debut CD series featured an artist from abroad, last year, their choice was an album by this Brazilian singer and songwriter, CeU. The producer behind that record was Beto Villares. Beto has worked as a producer for several Brazilian artists and done music for films and TV shows. This is his self-titled debut album, where he shows his chops as singer-songwriter with a little help from the broad range of music rhythms from his native country… and plenty of famous friends. --picked by Gisele Regatao.
Beto Villares' debut is available for purchase from Amazon.com
Lisa Moore
Pianist Lisa Moore has always broken music molds as a founding member of the downtown new-music group Bang on a Can All-Stars. She joins us to sing, play, hit, whistle and stroke some pieces by Randy Newman, and to perform a New York premiere of composer Martin Bresnick's "Willie's Way," written especially for Moore.
Lisa Moore will perform the piece "Musically Speaking" with guest Martin Bresnick at Merkin Concert Hall on Saturday, Oct. 25. The show begins at 8 p.m. More details here.
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See Tori Amos Live!
Join us Tuesday, Dec. 9 at The Greene Space
Singer and pianist Tori Amos joins us to talk about reworking and reinventing seasonal carols on her new holiday album. And, she performs for a live audience in The Greene Space! Click the link for ticket info.
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