     MONOSWEZI Monoswezi Yanga Tugboat 1090 www.worldmusic.net  The second release from Monoswezi builds on their impressive debut. With a sound built on the unlikely twin foundations of Zimbabwean mbira (thumb piano) and Scandinavian jazz. Fronted … Continue reading →
     THE KROPOTKINS Portents of Love Mulatta Records www.cdbaby.com/large-river-music  Named after the Russian anarchist prince Peter Kropotkin, this New York City and Memphis-based sextet was created in 1994 by singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and neuroscientist Dave Soldier … Continue reading →
    VARIOUS ARTISTS Rhythms of Labour Cambridge University Press 9781107000179 www.cambridge.org/large-river-music www.rhythmsoflabour.com  Can you imagine it? Noon rolls around and office workers begin to sing: âBoss man called a meetinâ / At a time I should … Continue reading →
     NORMAN BLAKE Wood Wire and Words Plectrafone www.westernjubilee.com  Blake opens this album with âSavanna Rag,â a loose, syncopated instrumental that shows off his low key fingerpicking virtuosity. Descending bass runs and meandering flurries of … Continue reading →
    LOST LEADERS Lost Leaders Lost Leaders www.lostleaders.net  Lost Leaders is a trio of Byron Isaacs, Peter Cole and Justin Guip. Isaacs and Cole split the songwriting almost evenly on the setâs ten songs. Guip is … Continue reading →
As Memorial Day here in the States always falls on a Monday, itâs become a âthingâ for us here at MBM to try and capture its essence by sharing some meaningful music with you.  This year the honor of trying falls to me, and Iâve … Continue reading →
This week we conclude our two part feature noting Alan Lomaxâs 100th birthday with some music recorded in the late 1950âs from Almeda Riddle, E.C. Ball and Bessie Jones and the Sea Island Singers. Weâll also hear some of the … Continue reading →
I love a good man outside the law⨠just as much as I hate a bad man inside the law. â Woody Guthrie (1940) Legend On October 22, 1934, Charles Arthur âPretty Boyâ Floyd â a bank robber suspected by … Continue reading →
& WFDU-FMâs TRADITIONS playlist for May 17, 2015 It is no secret that beyond the recognizable entertainment and social merits, music has powerful therapeutic values. Trained therapists have shown that music can stimulate brainwaves to increase concentration and also relieve stress. … Continue reading →
& WFDU-FMâs TRADITIONS playlist for May 3, 2015 Singer, songwriter, dancer, instrumentalist, teacher and creative whirlwind Kristin Andreassen recently paid a visit to my radio show to share selections from her new CD Gondolier. Her performances blend powerful original songs, … Continue reading →
