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Showing 1 - 14 of 14 results
Studs interviews Willie Dixon and Koko Taylor about the blues. They discuss their song "Insane Asylum" and their work together. Dixon uses his song "Little Red Rooster" to help explain how the blues are created from life experiences. Taylor reflects on singers like Willie Dixon, Memphis Minnie, and others who influenced her desire to sing the blues. Taylor also discusses European audiences and blues influence there. The musical numbers are removed from this edited version of the original recording.
Studs Terkel interview with Wanda Wilkomirska about her life as a violinist. They discuss her childhood and her musical family. Wilkomirska talks about the people and music that influenced her, and she describes the differences in audiences between large cities and smaller ones. She expresses her deep love for music and her need to play her music with emotion. Music performances are cut from this particular recording with Wanda Wilkomirska. Studs quotes Ray Erickson, critic from the New York Times and discusses other critiques of her work.
Studs interview with Thomas Wikman about MOB (Music of Baroque). Wikman shares historical details of the rise of Baroque music. Studs and Wikman discuss various Baroque pieces and the instruments used. Wikman describes various pieces of his work and members of his group. They discuss Baroque composers, and Wikman describes how acoustics play a role in their music selections for live performances. Studs also explores Wikman's childhood and influences to his music.
Studs interviews Mary Collins about her husband, Lee Collins. They discuss the book that she and Lee wrote together until his death in 1960. Mary shares interesting stories of Lee’s experiences when he toured. She and Studs reflect on the other artists that Lee Collins worked with and those that influenced his music. Mary shares the story of how she and Lee reconnected in Chicago. She explains how Lee’s depression because of his health led to his attempted suicide and the horrible way he was treated at the psychiatric hospital.
Studs interviews Jimmy and Marian McPartland. The McPartlands reflect on the people who influenced their music in Jazz. Studs quotes Jimmy McPartland and reads part of a critic's column about Marian in the Chicago Sun Times. Marian shares a little about what it is like to be a female musician in Jazz. Both discuss their past career and their futures. Jimmy reflects on his hard times in the 1920s-1930s. The musical numbers are removed from this edited version of the original recording.
Studs interviews Lukas Foss about his career as a classical composer and conductor. Foss talks about his work with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He reflects on how teachers influenced his career and how he learns from each orchestra that he works with. He shares his love for poetry and explains how he makes music from poems and uses "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird," a poem by Wallace Stevens, to illustrate. They discuss how Foss composes and how it is very similar to the way Jazz is composed with improvisation.
Studs interviews Lawrence Freeman about his career in jazz. Studs notes that he first interviewed Freeman in 1939 as his first guest on his radio program with WGES. Freeman shares the names and events of influences in his life. He describes his interactions with other jazz musicians throughout his career and shares some stories about his brother, father, and childhood. Studs quotes Mark Miller of the Toronto Globe, music critic, for what he notes about Freeman.
Studs interviews Jimmy McPartland, Jazz performer. McPartland speaks about his career and his wife, Marian, who is also a Jazz performer. McPartland names southern black artists, Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, and Big Spider Back as major influences on his music. All musical numbers are removed from this edited version of the original recording.
Studs interview of Air jazz trio with Henry Threadgill - reeds, Fred Hopkins - bass, and Steve McCall - percussion. They discuss their individual careers and the people who have influenced them. Studs quoted Nelson Algren. Studs explores the evolution of their music and how the three came together. They discuss various pieces of their music and the instruments they use. Pauses were taken for musical numbers but none were played on this recording.
Studs interviews George Shearing about his career and performances at Rick's Cafe in Chicago. Shearing shares the events and people who influenced his Jazz music. He describes European audiences and studio musicians. Studs quotes Leonard Feather, music critic, on Shearing's take on the song "San Jose." The musical pieces are removed from this edited version of the original recording.
Studs rebroadcasts an interview he did five years ago with George Flynn, composer and head of the music department at DePaul University. Flynn explains the creative part of his music and how worldly events such as the Vietnam War help him and other musicians like him, write their avant-garde music. Flynn defines some of his compositions that include: "Wound," "American Rest," and "Canal." He shares the people and events in his life from a teenager who have influenced his work.
Studs interviews Brother John Sellers about his career and other blues singers. Sellers explains that religion influenced his music as did performers like Mahalia Jackson, Big Bill Broonzy, and Muddy Waters. Studs reads some of the lyrics of blues song, "In the Evening." Sellers describes street singers and blind singers. He describes the music and style of Jackson and Broonzy and some of his own songs. Sellers performs "Talk About A Child" and "Sally Go Round the Sunshine" live on the program.
Studs interviews Billy Taylor about his performance at the Rick's Cafe at the Holiday Inn in Chicago. They discuss what has influenced Billy Taylor's jazz music. Taylor explains some of his work with various other jazz musicians. This edited version does not include the music recordings.
Studs interviews Abraham Chasins about his book, “Leopold Stokowski: A Profile.” They discuss Stokowski’s life in great detail as they discuss different parts of the book. Chasins describes the amazing career and life of Stokowsky who revolutionized the symphony orchestra. Studs reads a few excerpts from the book. Chasins shares some background behind some of the stories from his book. Studs and Chasins discuss the various orchestras Stokowsky worked with. Chasins notes that Stokowski taught his audience how to behave and never used a baton when he conducted.