Wednesday, August 01, 2007

TT #12 - Cool NPR Stories about Music



Here are some cool stories about music from NPR:
  1. Yusuf Islam: the Former Cat Stevens on his new CD - In his first secular studio album in 28 years, it is obvious that this man has lost none of his talents. It is unbelievable that he had not played the guitar until 2 years ago when his son brought a guitar home. Music simply pours from his body and soul and it is wonderful that he has finally decided to embrace music again and share it with the world.
  2. Oboist Liang Wang: His Reeds Come First - A cool look into the life a classical oboist. The oboe is a notoriously hard instrument to play and maintain and Liang Wang does it with grace, unending dedication to crafting reeds and a bit of humor and superstition.
  3. Jason Vieaux Picks Out a New Guitar - I first heard of classical guitarist Jason Vieaux back in this post, and here he selects a new guitar and plays many fine selections in the process.
  4. Percussionist Simon Boyar, Breaking New Ground - Hip-hop drummer as well as music professor at NYU, Simon Boyar plays an awesome marimba as well as many other percussion instruments.
  5. Music and Mayhem in 'Laurel Canyon' - An audio flashback to the summer of love in that magical spot in California, home to none other than the Byrds, the Mamas and the Papas, Frank Zappa, Crosby Stills and Nash, The Eagles, Jim Morrison, Joni Mitchell and Carole King.
  6. Something in the Way You Remix - Giles Martin, son of George Martin, remixes Beatles classics for the Cirque du Soleil's Beatles LOVE show. This was my second choice in shows to see at Las Vegas as the soundtrack sounds awesome.
  7. Marni Nixon: Hollywood's Invisible Voice - Marni Nixon dubbed the voices for Deborah Kerr in The King and I, Natalie Wood in West Side Story and Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. She often went uncredited, but everyone has heard her wonderful voice.
  8. Tom Petty Packs 30 Years of Rock for the Road - This 40 minute interview is chock full of songs and a frank glimpse into Tom Petty's life including his battle with depression.
  9. 'Misirlou,' from Klezmer to Surf Guitar - This story tells the tale of the origins and recurrences of this gypsy-like tune, one of my favorites (think Pulp Fiction).
  10. Arlo Guthrie, Remembering 'Alice's Restaurant' - This was one of the very first NPR podcasts that I listened to in 2005. It recounts the story behind the well known song.
  11. Suphala, Savoring the Beat of a Different Drum - The beautiful Indian musician, Suphala, studied for years with Ravi Shankar's tabla player, the late Usted Allarakha, and forges on in her own style.
  12. Brooklyn Bar Serves Opera on Tap - This fledgling company not only lets its unknowns perform in front of a live audience, it brings opera back to masses in a fun, non-stuffy manner.
  13. A Home Recorder's Dream: Playing with the Pros Online - This story show the process by which you can take your own home recording, add tracks from other musicians online and produce a professionally sounding recording. Of course, you'd never be able to take your online band on tour, but it is cool that you can get professional results without spending the big bucks to hire studio musicians and rent studio space.
I actually had to stop this list short, perhaps there will be another installment another Thursday!

7 comments :

Anonymous said...

Great list, thanks. Lots to add to my library reserve list now! (and my Amazon list...)

Anonymous said...

Wow, those are some really neat facts. I love learning such things, thanks!

Anonymous said...

"Tea for the Tillerman" is still one of my favorite songs of all time and I was thrilled that Ricky Gervais used it for his HBO series, "Extras." I'm glad he's back.

And oh, Arlo...That takes me back.

Elle Fredrix said...

Wow. I think you just pointed me in the direction of more music to write too!

Thanks for stopping by my TT!

Janet said...

Oh, I loved Cat Stephens back in the day, even more after I saw Harold and Maude ;-)

Tom Petty has always been a favorite of mine, and when I clicked on the link, it led me to another favorite, Ray Davies, founder of the Kinks!

and Love...seeing that made me glad I went to Vegas!

Great list :-)

J. Lynne said...

I love NPR. I'm always discovering authors and musicians through their stories. My current favorite song is "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" sung by Pink Martini, which is extremely haunting. I never would have heard of Pink Martini if not for NPR. Now they're stuck on my iPod. ;)

Great list. Happy TT!

Anonymous said...

Hmmm... Cat Stevens has a new CD out - interesting! I did not know that...

I do find it humorous that they left "Another Saturday Night (and I ain't got nobody)" out of his list of hits!

I will have to check that out...