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Live on Soundcheck
Soundcheck
On Soundcheck you'll find in-studio performances by everyone from indie rockers to string quartets to jazz ensembles. When artists visit our studios, they are in peak form and often present special tracks, fan favorites and brand-new songs. In case you missed them, here are highlights culled by the Soundcheck staff.
The Underrated Haydn
Soundcheck
November 23, 2009
Franz Joseph Haydn is considered the father of the symphony and the string quartet. He might also be history’s most underrated composer. As the music world marks the bicentennial of Haydn's death, we explore how the composer’s gift for humor may be at the root of why he’s not taken seriously. Austria's Haydn Trio Eisenstadt join us to perform two of their namesake’s works. Also with us is Fred Plotkin, author of several books on music including Classical Music 101.
They Might Be Giants
Soundcheck
November 20, 2009
Are you confused by cosmology? Do you really understand photosynthesis? The brainiacs of They Might Be Giants want to help demystify those scientific concepts and many others, by playing songs from their new album, Here Comes Science, live in our studio.
They Might Be Giants perform an all ages in-store at Barnes & Noble in Union Square on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. More information here.
Grant-Lee Phillips
Soundcheck
November 19, 2009
Singer-songwriter Grant-Lee Phillips has led a notable solo career since the breakup of his band Grant Lee Buffalo. But lately, he’s finding the whole band thing to be pretty irresistible. He even roped his opening act, The Winterpills, into serving as his touring band. He joins us to perform songs from his newest album, Little Moon, live in our studio.
Rickie Lee Jones Live
Soundcheck
November 18, 2009
Thirty years after she won a Grammy for best new artist, singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones has an album that she says feels like her debut. The so-called “Duchess of Coolsville," joins us to talk about the healing aspect of her new album, "Balm in Gilead," and to perform live in the studio.
Forro in the Dark Live
Soundcheck
November 16, 2009
When the rhythm known as forro made its way from the Northeast of Brazil to the Lower East Side it lost the accordion, gained more drums…and some American pop. New York-based outfit Forro in the Dark has featured David Byrne in its first album and for their new album, Light A Candle, they gather Brazilian Girls' Sabina Sciubba and singer-songwriter Jesse Harris. They’ll play live in our studio.
Sara Tavares Live
Soundcheck
November 12, 2009
Sara Tavares was born and raised in Lisbon to Cape Verdian parents. The young singer-songwriter juggles languages, global influences and styles to make music that places her as a potential successor to the diva of Cape Verde, Cesaria Evora. She joins us to play live songs from her new album, Xinti.
Elizabeth and the Catapult
Soundcheck
November 11, 2009
The band Elizabeth and the Catapult describes itself as “baroque pop”, but there are elements of jazz, funk and soul on their music. They join us to perform songs from their new album, Taller Children.
Joshua Bell with Tiempo Libre and Frankie Moreno
Soundcheck
November 10, 2009
Violinist Joshua Bell has appeared in the world’s leading concert halls, on the Oscar-winning score to the film The Red Violin, and even in a Washington, D.C. metro station, at the urging of a Washington Post columnist. But his latest recording, At Home With Friends, was inspired by his long-time practice of holding intimate "musical soirées" at his New York residence. Today, Bell joins us in the Greene Space to perform with two collaborators from the album: the hot young Latin band Tiempo Libre and singer-pianist Frankie Moreno.
Vijay Iyer
Soundcheck
November 03, 2009
Composer and pianist Vijay Iyer has long mixed two genres in his work: jazz and Indian music. On his latest album, Historicity, he not only covers the jazz standards, but also sets his sight on popular music with covers of songs by M.I.A and Stevie Wonder. He performs lives in our studio.
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