Archive | March, 2015

PLAYLIST FOR “BIRTHDAY SALUTE TO ‘STRAYS'” (3.28.15) #jazz #jazzradio #jazzsingers #billystrayhorn

28 Mar

This week I featured the music of Billy Strayhorn, one of three music giants celebrating their centenary this year. I barely scratched the surface of his amazing compositions and songs, but I only had an hour. I’ll leave it to you to hum the others to yourself this week. 

SONG TITLE  /  Artist  /  CD Or Album Title

  • TAKE THE A TRAIN  /  Duke Ellington  /  “Ellington At Newport”
  • JUST A-SITTIN’ AND A-ROCKIN’  /  Carol Sloane  /  “The Real Thing”
  • SATIN DOLL  /  Dr. John  /  “Duke Elegant”
  • MAYBE  /  Lena Horne  /  “An Evening With Lena Horne”
  • DAY DREAM  /  Marianne Solivan  /  “Prisoner Of Love”                                  
  • LUSH LIFE  /  (Mystery Vocalist)  /  Billy Strayhorn  /  “Lush Life”
  • SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR  /  Ella Fitzgerald  /  “First Lady Of Song” 
  • BITTERSWEET (The Ballad For Very Tired & Very Sad Lotus Eaters)  /  Maude Hixson  /  “Bittersweet”
  • I’M CHECKING OUT, GOOMBYE  /  Catherine Russell  /  “Strictly Romancin’
  • BLOOD COUNT  /  Stan Getz  /  “Anniversary”
  • LUSH LIFE  /  Johnny Hartman & John Coltrane  /  “John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman”
  • PARIS MISMATCH  /  (Theme Music)  /  Cody Owen Stine

Don’t forget: you can always listen to a Turntable For One podcast on PRX, the Public Radio Exchange. Those song have many of the same notes used by Billy Strayhorn. 

http://www.prx.org/series/33284-turntable-for-one

 

HINT FOR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT’S THEME (3.28.15) #jazz #jazzradio #jazzsingers

25 Mar

HINT:

It’s the one-hundredth birthday of three music giants! Anyone have Willard Scott’s private number? No? Guess I’ll have to do the celebrating myself!

TURNTABLE FOR ONE   Jazz Vocals & Live Radio

Saturday Nights   10:00 PM (E.S.T)

WMNR Fine Arts Radio and streaming on wmnr.org and the Pubic Radio app.

For a taste of what’s coming your way this Saturday night, why not listen to a Turntable For One podcast on PRX, the Public Radio Exchange?

http://www.prx.org/series/33284-turntable-for-one

PLAYLIST FOR “POLITICALLY INCORRECT!” (3.21.15) #jazz #jazzradio #jazz vocals

22 Mar

How to celebrate March as National Women’s Month? I had two choices. Choice A: Play a whole song by a male singer and then play a woman singing 77% of her song. Choice B: Demonstrate how far we’ve come by ironically playing a dozen politically incorrect songs which maybe still hit the mark musically, but certainly miss the point of the celebration by a mile. Of course, I pretended to chose B. In truth I don’t find any of these songs, except maybe the Godfrey song, to be politically incorrect, but period pieces and some favorite songs I’ve enjoyed for years. 

SONG TITLE  /  Artist  /  CD Or Album Title

 

  • WIVES AND LOVERS  /  Jack Jones  /  “Greatest Hits”
  • GIRL TALK  /  Giacomo Gates  /  “Fly Right”
  • I ENJOY BEING A GIRL  /  Peggy Lee  /  “Latin A la Lee”
  • TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS  /  Frank Sinatra  /  “Nice ‘N’ Easy”
  • MY MAN  /  Billie Holiday  /  “The Complete 1952-1957 Small Group Sessions”
  • YOU’RE NOBODY TILL SOMEBODY LOVES YOU  /  Sammy Davis Jr.  /  “Here’s Sammy Davis Jr.”
  • TOO FAT POLKA  /  (Mystery Vocalist)  /  Arthur Godfrey  /  “Too Fat Polka”
  • TEA FOR TWO  /  Blossom Dearie  /  “Once Upon A Summer Time”
  • I WANNA GET MARRIED  /  Nellie McKay  /  “Get Away From Me”
  • NINA NEVER KNEW  /  John Pizzarelli  /  “Our Love Is Here To Stay”
  • IT’S A MAN  /  Duchess  /  “Duchess”
  • SLEEPY TIME GAL  /  Tony Bennett  /  “A Time For Love”
  • WHAT THE USE OF WOND’RIN’  /  Daryl Sherman  /  “A Hundred Million Miracles”
  • MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY  /  Jamie Cullum  /  “Interlude”
  • PARIS MISMATCH  /  (Theme Music)  /  Cody Owen Stine

There is a new Turntable For One podcast on PRX, the Public Radio Exchange. I thought you’d rather hear that from me than from your therapist. Click the link below. 

http://www.prx.org/series/33284-turntable-for-one

HINT FOR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT’S THEME (3.21.15) #JAZZ #JAZZVOCALS #JAZZRADIO

18 Mar

HINT:

March has all kinds of feel-good festivities: the first day of Spring, St. Patrick’s Day; and don’t forget March is Optimism Month and Women’s History Month. Just thinking about all the positive and politically correct songs celebrating how far we’ve come is giving me goosebumps – no, wait – those are hives. Does anyone think all those out-dated, neglected, and inappropriate songs nobody should be singing in these enlightened days deserve to be heard, too? I can think of one guy who does.

Turntable For One   Jazz Vocals and Live Radio

Saturday Night   10:00 PM (E.S.T.)

WMNR Fine Arts Radio and streaming on wmnr.org

By the way…there is a new Turntable For One podcast on PRX, the Public Radio Exchange. You don’t want to be the last person to listen to it, do you?

http://www.prx.org/series/33284-turntable-for-one

PLAYLIST FOR “NIGHT OF THE LIVING INSOMNIACS” (3.14.15)

14 Mar

Ok, first things first. Let’s dispense with all the jokes about how can I have insomnia when I’m always putting audiences to sleep. I’m yawning, okay? But not because I’m tired. Still, pretty impressive how many great singers and songs have dealt with the subject. 

 

SONG TITLE  /  Artist  /  Album or CD Title

 

  • IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT  /  Frank Sinatra  /  “Ring-A-Ding-Ding!”
  • IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS  /  Ella Fitzgerald  /  “Live At Mister Kelly’s
  • WHEN YOUR LOVER HAS GONE  /  Nat King Cole  /  “Just One Of Those Things”
  • INSOMNIA  /  Chaise Lounge  /  “Insomnia”
  • SANDMAN  /  The Jive Aces Skiffle Combo  /  “It’s Skiffle Time”
  • ROUND MIDNIGHT  /  Kenny Rankin  /  “Live From Studio A”
  • YOUR CHEATING HEART  /  (Mystery Vocalist)  /  Joey Bishop  /  “Joey Bishop Sings Country Western”
  • DANCING ON THE CELING  /  Inge Brandenburg  /  “Don’t Blame Me”
  • COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS  /  Steven Pasquale  /  “Somethin’ Like Love”
  • BLACK COFFEE  /  Vocapella  /  “Black Coffee”
  • DREAM  /  Michael Bublé  /  “Call Me Irresponsible”
  • ALL NIGHT LONG  /  Randy Crawford  /  “Feeling Good”
  • AND SO TO BED  /  John Pizzarelli  /  “John Pizzarelli Salutes Johnny Mercer”
  • PARIS MISMATCH  /  (Theme Music)  /Cody Owen Stine

Still awake? Looking for a late night or early morning or anytime pick-me-up? Try a Turntable For One podcast on PRX, the Public Radio Exchange. 

http://www.prx.org/series/33284-turntable-for-one

 

HINT FOR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT’S THEME (3.14.15) #jazz #jazzradio #jazzsingers

11 Mar

HINT:  

Believe me – I’ve tried everything. Warm milk, warm baths, baths in warm milk, pills, potions, elixirs, swaddling, hypnotic suggestion. I even read “The Goldfinch” for crying out loud! Nothing works. Find out what I’m talking about and hear some great jazz vocals this Saturday night. 

TURNTABLE FOR ONE   Jazz Vocals and Live Radio

Saturday Night   10:00 PM  (E.S.T.)

WMNR Fine Arts Radio and streaming live on wmnr.org

And speaking of hypnotic suggestions: don’t you want to listen to a Turntable For One podcast on PRX the Public Radio Exchange right now? 

http://www.prx.org/series/33284-turntable-for-one

PLAYLIST FOR “DESERT ISLAND GAME-2015” (3.7.15)

7 Mar

We’ve played The Desert Island game before when I’ve asked listeners to choose songs or singers to take with them to a desert island. Of course I laughed at their pain and deliberations and difficulty in choosing to take one thing and leave behind another equally good choice — but not this week because it was my turn to play the game. Suddenly the Sondheim lyrics, “the choice may have been mistaken, but choosing was not” didn’t sound as easy or certain. 

SONG TITLE  /  Artist  /  ALbum Or CD Title

  • RING-A-DING-DING  /  Frank Sinatra  /  “Ring-A-Ding-Ding”
  • TIME TO SMILE  /  Tony Bennett  /  “The Art Of Romance”
  • YOU TURNED THE TABLES ON ME  /  Delicatessen  /  “Goodnight Kiss”
  • BODY AND SOUL  /  The Real Group  /  “Unreal”
  • BLAME IT ON MY YOUTH  /  Nat Cole  /  “After Midnight”
  • BLAME IT ON MY YOUTH  /  Jamie Cullum  /  “Twentysomething”
  • JUST IN TIME  /  (Mystery Vocalist)  /  Lorne Greene  /  “Young At Heart”
  • JUST IN TIME  /  Nina Simone  /  “At The Village Gate”
  • I KNOW THE WAY TO BROOKLYN  /  Lorraine Feather  /  “Dooji Wooji”
  • CRY IF YOU WANT TO  /  Holly Cole Trio  /  “Don’t Smoke In Bed”
  • MOON RIVER  /  Nancy LaMott  /  “Come Rain Or Come Shine”
  • LOST ON THE RIVER  /  Rhiannon Giddens  /  “The New Basement Tapes”
  • PARIS MISMATCH  /  (Theme Music)  /  Cody Owen Stine

Need more? You can always listen to a Turntable For One podcast on PRX< the Public Radio Exchange! Click the link below: 

http://www.prx.org/series/33284-turntable-for-one

HINT FOR THIS SATURDAY’S THEME (3.7.15) #jazz #jazzradio #jazzsingers

4 Mar

HINT:

Sick of snow, ice, slush, blizzards, wind chill, and winter storm warnings…longing to escape our world of  sad abbreviations? NSA, GMOs, TBTs, LMAO, and CNN? Jeez – whatever happened to quiet desperation? Okay, okay, stay calm and I’ll try to think of something to cheer you up. Maybe a game? Check in with me on Saturday night. 

Turntable For One   Jazz Vocals and Live Radio

Saturday Night   10:00 PM  (E.S.T.)

WMNR Fine Arts Radio and streaming on wmnr.org

Want to hear what you’ve been missing? Listen to a Turntable For One podcast on PRX, the Public Radio Exchange. Click the link below:

http://www.prx.org/series/33284-turntable-for-one

PLAYLIST FOR “BREAKING THE RECORD” (2.28.15) – AN ARCHIVE REPLAY #jazz #jazzradio #jazzsingers

1 Mar

Couldn’t do a live show last night, so I pulled from the Turntable For One archives a program I consider one of my proudest moments (you’ll notice I didn’t solicit anyone else’s opinion about that).  On this show, Turntable For One bravely went where no other radio program has tried to go. (What do they know that I don’t and when will I ever learn?) Nevertheless, throwing caution and good sense to the wind (if not good taste as well), I challenged the record for the most number of songs ever played during a Turntable For One show; and, including references from accompanists, I played 31 songs in one hour, a record I think will stand, especially on a crowded bus. But, you be the judge! Take a look at the playlist. I’d say the music was a Win-Win for me and everyone else.  

SONG TITLE  /  Artist  /  Album or CD Title

 

  •  IT DON’T MEAN A THING/I’M CHECKING OUT GOOMBYE  /  Rosemary Clooney  /  “Girl Singer”
  • ALL GOD’S CHILDREN/DO YOU WANT TO JUMP CHILDREN  /  Joe Williams  /  “At Newport ‘63”
  • BRIGAS NUNCA MAIS/FELICIDADE  /  Jackie Ryan  /  “Doozy”
  • WHEN I FALL IN LOVE/MY ONE AND ONLY LOVE  /  Mark Murphy  /  “Once To Every Heart”
  • NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT/THEY CAN’T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME/S’WONDERFUL/SWANEE/STRIKE UP THE BAND / Sarah Vaughan  /  “Gershwin Live”
  • WATCH WHAT HAPPENS/FLY ME TO THE MOON/YOU AND THE NIGHT AND THE MUSIC/SHAKING THE BLUES AWAY  /  Mel Torme  /  “Live At Marty’s”
  • SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES/ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE  /  Roberta Gambarini  /  “Easy To Love”
  • I WANT TO BE HAPPY/SOMETIMES I’M HAPPY  /  Jessica Molaskey/John Pizzareli  /  “Waiting In Limbo”
  • TIME AND LOVE/AHMAD JAMAL’S MOONLIGHT IN VERMONT  /  Mark Winkler  /  “The Laura Nyro Project”
  • AMERICAN LULLABY/ NOT WHILE I’M AROUND  /  Veronica Nunn  /  “American Lullaby”
  • PARIS MISMATCH  /  (Theme Music)  /  Cody Owen Stine  

Worried about what you’ll do during the week while waiting eagerly for next Saturday’s show? Good news! You can listen to a Turntable For One podcast on PRX, the Public Radio Exchange. Your friends will never look at you the same way again. Click the link below:

http://www.prx.org/series/33284-turntable-for-one