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WPR June 2009 NEWSLETTER
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At The Edge, The Blue Side, Jazz Odyssey, and Kalihwiyo'se
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WHAT YOU'LL FIND BELOW:
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* AT THE EDGE – Volcano the Bear
* THE BLUE SIDE - Koko Taylor
* JAZZ ODYSSEY – Cuong Vu
* KALIHWIYO'SE – Bill Miller
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At The Edge with Michael Brown
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*Recently heard on At the Edge with Michael Brown was Volcano the Bear. Volcano the Bear was formed in May 1995, in Leicester, England, by Daniel Padden, Laurence Coleman, Nick Mott and Aaron Moore. These four musicians encountered frustrations with the limitations of traditional musical endeavors and sought an outlet that could defy convention. Volcano the Bear quickly became the platform for their total artistic freedom and personal expression, where they could explore collective ideas and interests in a new and inventive manner.
The music that came forth from this collective ideology was a beautiful cross-section of the English underground of years past (Robert Wyatt, This Heat, Nurse With Wound) alongside the rhythms of Can, the trickery of Faust and a Residents-like surrealist bent. Volcano the Bear adapts these lofty inspirations into a sound that is distinctly their own creation, one that blurs the lines between songs, composition, noise and improvisation.
More information about them can be found at Volcano the Bear.
Check out what At the Edge has to offer on WPNE 89.3 FM and
WHND 89.7 FM from 10p-12mid every Monday. At the show’s website you will find weekly playlists and additional information At the Edge.
At The Edge with Michael Brown can be heard every
Monday night from 10 p.m. to midnight
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The Blue Side with Mary Flynn
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*In this newsletter:
-Koko Taylor passes
-Chuck Berry review
-Janiva Magness at Blues In The ‘Burg
-Chicago Blues Festival 2009
*It was with great sadness that news came of the passing of Koko Taylor on June 3, 2009, from complications after surgery. Ms. Taylor was born in Tennessee, known as Cora Taylor. She was nicknamed Koko by her family due to her love of chocolate. She came to Chicago with her future husband, Pops Taylor, and, in her words, "35 cents and a box of Ritz Crackers". She was 24 years old at the time. She spent her days cleaning houses and by night visited the blues clubs, sitting in and making friends that would stay with her throughout her career and life.
She was taken under the wing of Willie Dixon, who performed with her and wrote many of her earliest great songs, including her signature song “Wang Dang Doodle”. He helped her get signed to Chess Records in the early ’60’s. She moved to Alligator Records in 1975 and remained their star artist until her passing.
Koko faced numerous challenges in the past decades, including a car accident that incurred injuries to and later claimed her husband Pops’ life. A heart attack in 2003, and subsequent medical complications slowed her pace a bit, but she always came back with style and dignity to maintain her place among her fans. She was a frequent sight strolling through the crowds of the Chicago Blues Fest and she delighted fans when she waved to the crowds when introduced or jumped to her feet to dance to the band on the main stage. When a benefit was put together for the ailing Willie Kent, Koko appeared at the event, mingling, dancing, and enjoying the tributes to her old friend. She sang a song or two, and then humbly turned the attention back to Willie as she reminisced about the old days together.
Koko had just appeared at the 2009 Blues Music Awards, winning this year’s Traditional Female Blues Artist Of The Year Award--her 29th trophy from The Blues Foundation. She was a perennial nominee and, most often, winner in the annual awards ceremony. She was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1997, won the Blues Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999, and awarded a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship in 2004. In 1985, she was a Grammy winner for Best Traditional Blues Album for her Alligator release entitled “Queen Of The Blues”. In 2009, she was featured at the Kennedy Center Honors program in the tribute to actor Morgan Freeman, owner of the blues mecca Ground Zero.
For more information and some fascinating reading on the life and times of this true Queen, a simple search on Google or any other site will give you volumes of interesting destinations. There truly will never be another like Koko Taylor. We’ll miss you, Miss Koko.
*Chuck Berry appeared May 31, 2009, at the Oneida Bingo and Casino’s Three Clans Room to a sold out show. Playing with pickup musicians on drums and piano along with his own bass player, Chuck began the show somewhat quietly. Any questions as to the shy beginning were answered when he proclaimed that “if you can positively say I am I in tune, let’s start the show.” The full voice of his guitar then kicked off the next song and Chuck Berry had arrived. Apologizing for his apparent forgetfulness in remembering the numerous verses of many of his songs, he truncated, mixed, segued, stopped & started, teased, and soloed his way through many of his best known songs. He lacked a set list, preferring to go with the requests of the audience and even his own band. He was the Chuck Berry seen in “Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll” film fame as the confident, wry, and independent artist. He was a humble Chuck Berry in acknowledging his forgetfulness while also acknowledging that his many verses in songs would challenge almost anyone at his age--82!
He took a brief performance break to recite a poem (with content from a song recorded in the '70s), which puzzled some in the audience while others hung onto every word. His autobiography noted the deep influence of his mother, an English teacher, who instilled a strong sense of proper use of language. For more insight on this, watch the outtakes of the afore-mentioned “Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll!” where Mr. Berry recites at length an original poem from his earlier days.
He ended the performance by inviting 12 women to the stage to dance. He did a short duck walk--a feat at any age much less 82--and backed off the stage into the night. For The Blue Side, it was classic Chuck Berry--unpredictable, unexpected, and unbelievable--a gift to area music fans!
*Janiva Magness appeared at the Cedarburg Cultural Center’s ‘Blues In The Burg event May 19, 2009. She displayed the entertainment style that earned her both the 2009 B. B. King Entertainer Of The Year Award and the Female Artist of the year at the Blues Music Awards in May. She recently signed to Alligator Records; her latest release is entitled "What Love Will Do".
*The 26th Annual Chicago Blues Festival just concluded its three day run. Paring just one day from its previous four day stretch, the blues festival continues to offer the largest free blues fest in the world. This year's roster of artists was impressive, including a 70th birthday bash for Eddie C. Campbell, Earnest Lane continuing to front his band that backed Ike Turner for many years, soul artist Lou Pride backed by Milwaukee's Blues Disciples, Howard Scott and The World Band, and 2 performances from Big Jack Johnson. A host of artists rounded out the schedules at the fest. This year's stages were fewer, but there was notably less intrusion from music on other stages, making the performances at each stage better heard. A broadening of variety included forays into soul blues as well as the introduction of a "street stage" showcasing Maxwell Street-styled performances. Despite the weather not cooperating until well into Saturday afternoon's scheduling, the atmosphere was one of appreciation for the continuance of this great festival in these economic times; fact noted numerous times throughout the weekend. Thanks to Barry Dolins of the Chicago Mayor's Office Of Special Events, who has spearheaded this event for many years, and continues to direct and guide this festival each year.
Watch The Blue Side website for updates in music events and festivals. Scroll through the Playlists for recent and past shows to find your favorites! You can request music on The Blue Side by writing to host, Mary Flynn, at HYPERLINK "mailto:blues@wpr.org" blues@wpr.org. Each Tuesday, you can hear the best in contemporary and traditional blues on The Blue Side on WPNE 89.3 FM and WHND 89.7 FM. Check out The Blue Side website for the playlist each week. Visit The Blue Side Essential List for updates on sources to find music, articles, and music at The Blue Side.
The Blue Side with Mary Flynn can be heard every
Tuesday night from 10 p.m. to midnight
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Jazz Odyssey with Chris Kuborn
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*Recently heard on Jazz Odyssey was jazz trumpeter, Cuong Vu. The sound of jazz trumpet is vast and varied, from erratic to mellow and smooth. With the exception of maybe Jon Hassell, there is not another modern jazz trumpeter who can bridge all these sonic worlds as nicely as Cuong Vu.
Vietnamese born but U.S. raised and educated, this trumpeter has a unique style that harkins back to Miles and beyond. A two time Grammy Award winner for his work with The Pat Metheny Group, this artist is in demand as a sideman, but it’s in his own combo where his music is born and where his compositions can shine.
Check out this rising star of modern jazz at Cuong Vu.
- you are sure to enjoy!
*Also, mark your calendar for the Plymouth Arts Center's Jazz Crawl extravaganza. This is the 6th Annual Cheese Capital Jazz Crawl for the Arts held August 14th and 15th. Live jazz music will flow from 10 venues downtown, all kicked off at the Arts Center at 4 p.m. with the Virtual Art Gallery of Sheboygan. There will be a silent auction, raffles, horse-drawn trolley rides, and tasty delights. This will be a jazz experience you won't forget! The cost is $10. Call 920-892-8409 for more information about this event.
Tune in to Jazz Odyssey each Wednesday on WPNE 89.3 FM and
WHND 89.7 FM from 10p-12mid. Check out The Jazz Odyssey website for the weekly
playlist at Jazz Odyssey.
Jazz Odyssey with Chris Kuborn can be heard every
Wednesday night from 10 p.m. to midnight
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Kalihwiyo'se with Chris Powless and Richie Plass
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*Save the Date: July 2nd: Bill Miller with Blue Canvas Orchestra!
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Washburn, WI
Cost: Free!
Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua is coming! It is described at the Carnegie Hall of tent shows! Join in the celebration of the 25th anniversary of The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, an intertribal, co-management agency committed to the implementation of off-reservation treaty rights on behalf of its eleven Ojibwe member tribes while protecting the resources for generations to come. The year 2009 is “The Year of the Treaties.” There will be a drum and pipe ceremony, community dinner, and brilliant performance by Big Top’s Blue Canvas Orchestra, featuring special guest Bill Miller! Bill, a Mohican Indian from Northern Wisconsin, is an award-winning recording artist, performer, songwriter, activist, painter, and world class accomplished flute player. You won’t want to miss this special event.
More information at Big Top! There are many other great musicians coming to the festival. Be sure to check out all of the other events too.
In store for you each Thursday is Kalihwiyo’se heard on WPNE 89.3 FM and WHND 89.7 FM from 10p-12mid. Check out their website for weekly playlists and events in the northeastern Wisconsin region at Kalihwiyo'se.
Kalihwiyo'se with Chris Powless and Richie Plass can be heard every
Thursday night from 10 p.m. to midnight
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