Music

A Music Workshop With Vinx

Virginia Prescott — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:34:00 +0000

Vinx has performed, recorded and toured as a singer and percussionist with Sting, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, and many others. As far as we know, he's the only R&B crooners of his caliber currently working and residing in the state of the New Hampshire. This memorial day weekend he’ll be leading Soul Kitchen Volume 29 – that’s three days of collaborative jams and songwriting workshops hosted at Dreamsicle Arts and Entertainment Studios in Suncook Village. But first, we invited Vinx to our Concord studio to tell us a little bit about the event, and maybe even give us a lesson or two.

Remembering Ray Manzarek

Virginia Prescott — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:23:30 +0000

Back in 2010, I interviewed Ray Manzarek, founding member of The Doors. I was sad to hear of his death earlier this week, and went back to listen to that interview...here it is in case you want to hear it, too.

Cathy Grier: Troubador, "Subway Girl"

Virginia Prescott — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:29:45 +0000

While everyone else is going somewhere, musician Cathy Grier is staying still. She's the New York City Subway Girl.

Gabriel Kahane

Virginia Prescott — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:45:11 +0000

Gabriel Kahane made his recital debut as a composer and performer at Carnegie Hall, played piano for Mark Morris Dance Company, premiered a song cycle with John Adams conducting the LA Philharmonic, and performed his “Craigslistlieder” at a number of New York City bars. It’s little wonder the NY Times called Gabriel Kahane a one-man cultural Cuisinart. He’ll be mixing it up Friday, April 19^th at the HOP with the premiere of “Gabriel’s Guide to the 48 States”. It’s the culmination of two years as composer-in-residence with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

The Trials And Triumphs Of Levon Helm

Virginia Prescott — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:31:55 +0000

Moving back in time for a moment to 1976 when The Band released The Last Waltz, Martin Scorcese’s film of that final show at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. The film is often held up as the greatest rock movie ever and almost universally loved, except by Levon Helm…the musician, actor, composer and original member of The Band who died a year ago this week. But then, Levon Helm was a drummer who marched to a different drummer, Helm ’s creative struggles, crippling personal losses, and musical renaissance after battling cancer are at the heart of a new documentary film,and a new book by the writer, editor and spy magazine alum Jamie Malanowski.

Cloud Cult: Musicians On A Mission

Virginia Prescott — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:16:02 +0000

You may know the band cloud cult from an animated commercial that aired during the Super Bowl a few years ago. In exchange for the work, e-Surance helped fund some of the band's costs for greening the recording of album. The fact that Cloud Cult chooses deals like that--writes heart-warming songs, and travels across the country to perform for good causes--may have you wondering if they are for real. But doing good and staying positive are deeply embedded in the DNA of Cloud Cult. This evening the band will perform a live acoustic set during a yoga class at the At Om Yoga studio in Concord. It’s a benefit for a local child with pediatric cancer. I talked with Craig Minowa, singer, guitarist, and leader of Cloud Cult before they headed to New Hampshire and can say that the whole kind-hearted thing is not just PR. In fact, I told him that they are just about the least cynical indie band I can think of.

Howard Fishman

Virginia Prescott — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:42:18 +0000

Howard Fishman is no stranger to the diverse potential of musical genres. His first project, The Howard Fishman Quartet, captured the New York City music scene. The group has released three eponymous quartet volumes since its inception in 1999. After several live and studio albums, he diversified further by helming a brass band echoing hints of bluegrass and New Orleans street music in 2008. This was followed by an original theater work, “We Are Destroyed”. His most recent endeavor consists of a concept album, “No Further Instructions,” which illuminates the traversement of Romania and Eastern Europe.

Howard will appear at the Portsmouth Music Hall tomorrow night, and the Stone Arts Church in Bellows Falls, Vermont on Saturday.

Tower Music: Harnassing The Voice Of The Eiffel Tower

Virginia Prescott — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Eiffel Tower has inspired countless t-shirts, souvenirs and sentimental works of art. A new Kickstarter project aims to turn the iron and lattice landmark into a gigantic instrument. That’s the dream of composer Joseph Bertolozzi, who proved that he can tackle projects on a mammoth scale when he wired and then played New York’s Mid Hudson Bridge.

The Makem & Spain Brothers' Rory Makem

Virginia Prescott — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:16:27 +0000

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, we get a visit from Rory Makem of The Makem & Spain Brothers, a new generation of Celtic music royalty with roots right here in New England.

New Sounds From Arab Lands

Virginia Prescott — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:30:55 +0000

New Sounds From Arab Lands is five musicians from Syria, Tunisia and Lebanon respectively. They were brought together in collaboration with the Aga Khan music initiative, and are artists in a residency at Dartmouth College curated by ethnomusicologist and music professor Ted Levin. The group performs this evening at the Spaulding auditorium. We caught up with the group from a studio at Dartmouth College.

Miami: Muse Of The Mediocre?

Sara Plourde — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:10:39 +0000

Recently, long time Miami resident and author Dave Barry joined us for Writers on a New England Stage and he spoke a lot, as he always does, about his wacky adopted home:
"I think of myself as sort of an ambassador for the city of Miami - which needs an ambassador because it doesn't have a good reputation.

Making Music Out Of Everything...Even An Intercom

Virginia Prescott — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:18:06 +0000

Ranjit Bhatnagar is no stranger to cool projects...he's made iambic pentameter from tweets, and is creating a bunch of instruments out of unexpected items, like a robo- toy piano. Now, the sound artist can add one more feather to his cap...coming on our show.

Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino Warms Up New Hampshire

Zach Nugent — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

It’s not often you get to hear authentic world music in New Hampshire, especially in the dead of winter. But on February 6^th at the Spaulding Auditorium in Hanover, the southern Italian band Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino will be bringing their high energy pizzica tarantata music and dance. Leading a new wave of young Italian artists reinventing and invigorating traditional Italian music, CGS includes six singers/musicians and a dancer.
I think it would be impossible not to have fun at a show like this:

Ukelele Club To Newcomers: "Strum Out Some Tunes And Have Fun"

Gina Gioldassis — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 23:12:22 +0000

The ukelele has never gotten the respect it deserves. When you think of one, you may think of something like Tiny Tim's famous falsetto version of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips." But the ukelele has come a long way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw6YL_l2YxA

Marco Werman, Host PRI's 'The World' (Rebroadcast)

Laura Knoy and la — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 21:00:00 +0000

We sit down with Marco Werman, host of the Public Radio program “The World”. This summer he came to New Hampshire, promoting his new film about Senegalese musician and activist Youssou N'Dour. We’ll learned more about it and talked with Werman about his long career at “The World”, from the huge political and cultural shifts he’s covered, to his particular interest in uncovering unique music from around the globe.
Guest