89.1 Jazz with Linda Yohn

  Is the guitar today’s universal instrument? Actually, the voice is our first and most universal instrument, but the guitar could follow shortly behind it. In permutations from the oud to the cittern, zither, bouzouki and many others, portable stringed instruments are easy to transport and play while singing. These instruments including today’s modern guitars are versatile in all styles of music. 

I admit it – I’m often skeptical regarding a concept CD from a new artist.  I think to myself - oh they need a gimmick to get to me to listen.  

One of the songs on Musica Para Un Dragon Dormido by pianist and composer Emilio Teubal is The Constant Reinventor. 

New / old school soul sensation James Hunter tops WEMU’s Sweet Sixteen with Minute By Minute from March 18th through the 24th. It’s been five years since Hunter released a new CD.

WEMU’s focus for Women’s History Month 2013 has been a living history approach. Throughout March we have balanced classic recordings of blues jazz women with new offerings.

WEMU listener favorite Harry Connick, Jr. was staff favorite from March 11th through the 17th.

Each week we track how many times we play a new CD. Between March 11th and the 17th, pianist and singer Harry Connick, Jr. claimed the top spot of our Sweet 16. We first premiered the disc on Mardi Gras 2013 (February 12th). The disc’s presence at the top of the list a month later is a testament to the authenticity of Harry Connick, Jr’s joyful New Orleans funk grooves.

We welcome Asuka Kakitani to the realm of expressive composers and arrangers with Bloom. Chronologically, March 21st is the second day of spring for 2013, but the weather proved otherwise. So, we dreamed of spring and listened to new music evoking rebirth and the beauty of nature by Asuka Kakitani and her Jazz Orchestra this morning on 89.1 Jazz.

Today we honored a woman who helped shape the history of jazz as a musician, band leader, composer, 

With Signs Of Life, singer Rondi Charleston breathes new life into jazz classics and shares highly personal yet universal reflections on life. During Women’s History Month we are focusing on women of jazz and blues past and present. Rondi Charleston’s Signs Of Life is one of the most powerful and personal discs to be premiered this March.

One of the pleasures of working with the talented team of WEMU music hosts is discovering what the weekly consensus of the “most-played” recording will be. Each Sweet 16 list topper reveals another aspect of the WEMU variety. During the week of March 4th through the 10th, the most played recording was Ciudad De Los Reyes by Gabriel Alegría and his Afro-Peruvian Sextet. 

With Water And Air, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt re-affirms his dedication to modern black music. Over the years he has absorbed the foundations of jazz: call-and-response, pacing, drama, interplay and tension and release.  It is especially that final principle that operates throughout Air and Water.

"This music isn't about a change in the direction as much as it's about strengthening my commitment to my art at present." - Jeremy Pelt.

It is undeniable: siblings sound great together making music whether sisters, brothers or both.  Some legendary examples are The Carter Family, The Haden Family, Phil & Buddy Guy, The Avett Brothers, The Isley Brothers, The Andrews Sisters, The Jackson 5, The Everly Brothers, The Louvin Brothers, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Katia & Marielle Labèque, The Allman Brothers, The Clayton Brothers and The Pointer Sisters. 

Long Tall Marcia Ball is beloved in the blues world and by WEMU listeners, so when we received a new disc by newcomer Long Tall Deb, we had to see if she could live up the name like Ms. Ball.  Long Tall Deb Landolt is worthy of the name and our attention.

This morning WEMU premiered "December's Moon" the CD by organist/pianist/accordionist Ron Oswanski. 

We played various approaches of vibraphone and marimbas with some piano, bass and drums. The initial inspiration for the feature came from "The Bespoke Man's Narrative", the new CD by pianist/composer Aaron Diehl featuring vibraphonist Warren Wolf. Diehl's debut CD has been highly anticipated for over two years!

Even though the official release of In A World Of  Mallets by Jason Marsalis is not until February 19th, we jumped on it immediately at WEMU.  With the panoply of vibes, tubular bells, marimbas and other mallet instruments this recording is like a breath of light, spring air.  Perhaps it’s the New Orleans vibe that percolates throughout the songs or the emergence of a new working group in jazz, but this is a welcome addition to the WEMU playlist.  

José James is simply beyond category. No Beginning No End is a culmination of his career and life weaving threads of jazz, balladry, R&B, classic and neo-soul plus hip-hop into a sensual stream of consciousness.