In this second episode of our third season, we pick up the trail and continue our exploration of jazz rock - a journey we started in episode one.  In this episode, we'll take a close look at the amazing work done by three great bands in that genre; Steely Dan, Traffic, and Supertramp.  Great songs, and interesting artist interviews abound!  Here's what you can look forward to:INTERVIEWS WITHDonald FagenDave MatthewsJim CapaldiDave MasonSteve WinwoodRoger HodgsonJohn HelliwellFEATURED SONGSSteely Dan     My Old School     Deacon Blues     Bodhisatva     Reelin' in the Years     Aja     Cousn DupreeTraffic     Mr. Fantasy     John Barleycorn (Must Die)     Medicated Goo     The Low Spark of High Heeled BoysSupertramp     All Along the Watchtower     Surely     Your Poppa Don't Mind     Dreamer     School     Hide in Your Shell     Easy Does It     The Meaning     Fool's Overture     Breakfast in America     Goodbye Stranger     Don't Leave Me NowCURIOUSITIES     Tom Lehrer - World War Three Blues     Jay and the Americans - Capture the Moment     The Joint - Freak     Argosy - Mr. Boyd     Argosy - Imagine

In this second episode of our third season, we pick up the trail and continue our exploration of jazz rock - a journey we started in episode one.  In this episode, we'll take a close look at the amazing work done by three great bands in that genre; Steely Dan, Traffic, and Supertramp.  Great songs, and interesting artist interviews abound!  Here's what you can look forward to: INTERVIEWS WITH Donald Fagen Dave Matthews Jim Capaldi Dave Mason Steve Winwood Roger Hodgson John Helliwell FEATURED SONGS Steely Dan      My Old School      Deacon Blues      Bodhisatva      Reelin' in the Years      Aja      Cousn Dupree Traffic      Mr. Fantasy      John Barleycorn (Must Die)      Medicated Goo      The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys Supertramp      All Along the Watchtower      Surely      Your Poppa Don't Mind      Dreamer      School      Hide in Your Shell      Easy Does It      The Meaning      Fool's Overture      Breakfast in America      Goodbye Stranger      Don't Leave Me Now CURIOUSITIES      Tom Lehrer - World War Three Blues      Jay and the Americans - Capture the Moment      The Joint - Freak      Argosy - Mr. Boyd      Argosy - Imagine

Jazz Rock Part 2: The Music of Steely Dan, Traffic and Supertramp

The first generation of jazz rock musicians had been heavily influenced by some of the pioneering jazz musicians who forged jazz fusion, beginning with Miles Davis.  Miles was the first of the great jazz artists to venture into the new, amplified and electronic sounds of 1960’s rock music, and in doing it he recruited a number of very young, incredibly talented, and mostly unknown musicians who became giants in their own right, As a number of jazz musicians embraced elements of rock music, rock’s audience re-discovered jazz.  Music is a living, breathing part of our culture, it is changeable in the hands of both listeners and players.  We take it up and use it as it gives us pleasure.  Just as jazz musicians were blending rock music into their art, rock musicians were equally influenced by jazz players, and they also added jazz elements into their own music.  This is the first of a two-part deep dive into the world of jazz rock.  In this episode, you'll see how some of rock's greatest musicians have been influenced by jazz.  We'll also spend some time on a deeper dive into a few of the great jazz rock bands of the past, including Blood Sweat and Tears, and Chicago.  In part two, we'll come back and explore the music of Steely Dan, Traffic and Supertramp.  I think you'll enjoy it!Music In this episode:Weather Report: Boogie Woogie WaltzThe Grateful Dead: Help On the WayJohn Coltrane: A Love SupremeDuke Ellington: Take the A TrainThe Modern Jazz Quartet: BluesologyDavid Bowie: Life On MarsKeith Richards: Blues JamNat King Cole Trio: Straighten Up and Fly RightOrnette Coleman: Jimi Hendrix: South Saturn DeltaJohn McLaughlin: DevotionCharlie Watts: All or Nothing at AllTim Ries: Miss YouGinger Baker's Air Force: Da Da ManMiles Davis: GuinnevereDavid Crosby: AmeliaBob Dylan: Like a Rolling StoneBlood Sweat and Tears: I Love You More than You'll Ever KnowBlood Sweat and Tears: God Bless the ChildThe Buckinghams: Kind of a DragChicago: Questions 67 and 68Chicago: Make Me SmileChicago: If You Leave Me NowChicago: It Better End SoonChicago: Alive AgainInterviews in This EpisodeAl KooperDavid CrosbyJames PankowDanny SerafineThis episode is dedicated to the memories of: Charlie WattsWayne ShorterDavid CrosbyThank you for all the beautiful music!

The first generation of jazz rock musicians had been heavily influenced by some of the pioneering jazz musicians who forged jazz fusion, beginning with Miles Davis.  Miles was the first of the great jazz artists to venture into the new, amplified and electronic sounds of 1960’s rock music, and in doing it he recruited a number of very young, incredibly talented, and mostly unknown musicians who became giants in their own right, As a number of jazz musicians embraced elements of rock music, rock’s audience re-discovered jazz.  Music is a living, breathing part of our culture, it is changeable in the hands of both listeners and players.  We take it up and use it as it gives us pleasure.  Just as jazz musicians were blending rock music into their art, rock musicians were equally influenced by jazz players, and they also added jazz elements into their own music.  This is the first of a two-part deep dive into the world of jazz rock.  In this episode, you'll see how some of rock's greatest musicians have been influenced by jazz.  We'll also spend some time on a deeper dive into a few of the great jazz rock bands of the past, including Blood Sweat and Tears, and Chicago.  In part two, we'll come back and explore the music of Steely Dan, Traffic and Supertramp.  I think you'll enjoy it! Music In this episode: Weather Report: Boogie Woogie Waltz The Grateful Dead: Help On the Way John Coltrane: A Love Supreme Duke Ellington: Take the A Train The Modern Jazz Quartet: Bluesology David Bowie: Life On Mars Keith Richards: Blues Jam Nat King Cole Trio: Straighten Up and Fly Right Ornette Coleman: Jimi Hendrix: South Saturn Delta John McLaughlin: Devotion Charlie Watts: All or Nothing at All Tim Ries: Miss You Ginger Baker's Air Force: Da Da Man Miles Davis: Guinnevere David Crosby: Amelia Bob Dylan: Like a Rolling Stone Blood Sweat and Tears: I Love You More than You'll Ever Know Blood Sweat and Tears: God Bless the Child The Buckinghams: Kind of a Drag Chicago: Questions 67 and 68 Chicago: Make Me Smile Chicago: If You Leave Me Now Chicago: It Better End Soon Chicago: Alive Again Interviews in This Episode Al Kooper David Crosby James Pankow Danny Serafine This episode is dedicated to the memories of: Charlie Watts Wayne Shorter David Crosby Thank you for all the beautiful music!

The Other Side of Fusion:  Jazz Rock

In today's podcast episode, we pick up our exploration of jazz fusion by looking at the amazing careers and music produced by a number of genius musicians who came out of Miles Davis' bands.  We'll visit with Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin and his band, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Joe Zawinul, Jaco Pastorious and the band Weather Report, Chick Corea and his bands Return to Forever and the Elektrik Band.  The forces that Miles pioneered and set in motion continued to evolve in multiple directions. You'll discover in today's episode, and you'll be able to hear from the musicians themselves about what it was like to play in these bands and create this adventurous, beautiful new music!IN TODAY'S EPISODE:Interview;  Herbie Hancock from a lecture given at Harvard UniversityHerbie Hancock       Chameleon       Watermelon ManInterview:  John McLaughlin talks about what it was like to play with Miles Davis.Graham Bond Organisation:  Train TimeThe Mahavishnu Orchestra       Inner Mounting Flame       One Word       Eternity's Breath Pt. 1Weather Report       Birdland       Nubian Sundance       Tears       HerandnuInterview:  Jaco Pastorious talks about his collaboration with Joe ZawinulJaco Pastorious/ Weather Report       Teen TownInterview:  Pat MathenyInterview:  Chick Corea talks about joining Miles Davis' band.Return to Forever       Return to ForeverInterview:  Chick Corea talks about forming his band,  Return to Forever       SpainThe Elektrik Band:  RumbleSteely Dan:  Aja

In today's podcast episode, we pick up our exploration of jazz fusion by looking at the amazing careers and music produced by a number of genius musicians who came out of Miles Davis' bands.  We'll visit with Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin and his band, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Joe Zawinul, Jaco Pastorious and the band Weather Report, Chick Corea and his bands Return to Forever and the Elektrik Band.  The forces that Miles pioneered and set in motion continued to evolve in multiple directions. You'll discover in today's episode, and you'll be able to hear from the musicians themselves about what it was like to play in these bands and create this adventurous, beautiful new music! IN TODAY'S EPISODE: Interview;  Herbie Hancock from a lecture given at Harvard University Herbie Hancock        Chameleon        Watermelon Man Interview:  John McLaughlin talks about what it was like to play with Miles Davis. Graham Bond Organisation:  Train Time The Mahavishnu Orchestra        Inner Mounting Flame        One Word        Eternity's Breath Pt. 1 Weather Report        Birdland        Nubian Sundance        Tears        Herandnu Interview:  Jaco Pastorious talks about his collaboration with Joe Zawinul Jaco Pastorious/ Weather Report        Teen Town Interview:  Pat Matheny Interview:  Chick Corea talks about joining Miles Davis' band. Return to Forever        Return to Forever Interview:  Chick Corea talks about forming his band,  Return to Forever        Spain The Elektrik Band:  Rumble Steely Dan:  Aja

Electric Walls of Sound:  Jazz Fusion Part 2

As jazz musicians started realizing that rock and electric bands were stealing their audiences, Miles Davis, who’s alternately been called most important musician in the history of jazz, the man who transformed jazz, and even the man who changed music itself, took the music in a new direction when he invented jazz fusion.  In fact, during his lifetime, Miles didn’t change music just once, he did it five times.  Fusion started happening in the late 1960s and early 1970s.   Like trad jazz, it uses acoustic instruments like trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano, guitar, bass, and drums, but to all that, fusion also adds heavy use of synthesizers, electric piano, drum machines, and effects-saturated electric guitars. IN THIS EPISODE:Santana:  WelcomeInterview:  Teo Macero; Miles Davis' legendary record producer.The Free Spirits (featuring Larry Coryell) - Girl of the MountainGary Burton              Norwegian Wood              I Want YouSteve Marcus            Tomorrow Never KnowsInterview:  Larry Coryell talks about his early days in '60s New York CityMiles Davis             So What             Stuff             Tout de Suite             Mademoiselle Mabry             In a Silent WayInterview:  John McLaughlin talks about playing with Miles DavisInterview:  Teo MaceroJimi Hendrix             Little Miss LoverMiles Davis             John McLaughlin             Miles Runs the Voodoo Down             Time After TimeInterview:  Miles Davis talks about Prince

As jazz musicians started realizing that rock and electric bands were stealing their audiences, Miles Davis, who’s alternately been called most important musician in the history of jazz, the man who transformed jazz, and even the man who changed music itself, took the music in a new direction when he invented jazz fusion.  In fact, during his lifetime, Miles didn’t change music just once, he did it five times.  Fusion started happening in the late 1960s and early 1970s.   Like trad jazz, it uses acoustic instruments like trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano, guitar, bass, and drums, but to all that, fusion also adds heavy use of synthesizers, electric piano, drum machines, and effects-saturated electric guitars. IN THIS EPISODE: Santana:  Welcome Interview:  Teo Macero; Miles Davis' legendary record producer. The Free Spirits (featuring Larry Coryell) - Girl of the Mountain Gary Burton               Norwegian Wood               I Want You Steve Marcus             Tomorrow Never Knows Interview:  Larry Coryell talks about his early days in '60s New York City Miles Davis              So What              Stuff              Tout de Suite              Mademoiselle Mabry              In a Silent Way Interview:  John McLaughlin talks about playing with Miles Davis Interview:  Teo Macero Jimi Hendrix              Little Miss Lover Miles Davis              John McLaughlin              Miles Runs the Voodoo Down              Time After Time Interview:  Miles Davis talks about Prince

Electric Walls of Sound:  Jazz Fusion Part 1

First of all, Happy Independence Day everybody!  I'm so pleased to publish another episode of American Song on America's birthday!Back in America, ever since the plane crash in the winter of 1959 that ended the lives of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, the Big Bopper, American rock and roll had been sort of losing steam.  By 1964, it very easily could have just petered out.   Certainly, the likes of Frankie Avalon, and post-army Elvis were not going anywhere exciting.  It was a new day, what was needed was music for a new generation.  The British Invasion shot a whole new attitude, excitement and energy right into the veins of American culture. Just like American culture changed England, the Brits changed American music.   You can see that play out in the competition between the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson and the Beatles.  The English band's changed American culture, too.  Sex was prolific.   Drugs were everywhere.   On the Merv Griffin show,  Timothy Leary told his audience he'd used LSD 311 times and predicted a coming age when kids would be educated through the use of psychedelic drugs, unlocking their internal Smithsonian Institutes or Libraries of Congress. The British Invasion also caused a chain reaction all across America when local musicians formed new bands, for instance Roger McGuinn and David Crosby who formed the Byrds.  It was a powerful response to the excitement, new sounds, perspectives, and inspiration that bands like the Beatles, the Stones, and the Who injected back into our rock scene.All this, and lots more, in this month's episode of American Song!IN THIS MONTH'S EPISODE:The Who - My GenerationBob Dylan - 4th Time AroundThe Beatles - Norwegian WoodThe Beatles - You've Got to Hide Your Love AwayBob Dylan - Got to Serve SomeoneJohn Lennon - Serve YourselfThe Rolling Stones - Crackin' UpThe Beatles - RainThe Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be NiceThe Beatles - Sargeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club BandThe Beach Boys - Good VibrationsBrian Wilson - Our Prayer/ GeeJohn Lennon - Promo for Tower RecordsElton John - Texan Love SongLed Zepellin - Whole Lotta LoveJohn Lennon - Cold TurkeyPaul McCartney - Interview 1967The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky With DiamondsThe Rolling Stones - 2000 Light Years from HomeDr. Timothy Leary - Interview 1967Blind Faith - In the Presence of the LordJohn Lennon - GodJohn Lennon - Interview 1966The Byrds - Eight Miles HighThe Standells - Dirty WaterThe Monkees - The Last Train to ClarksvilleJimi Hendrix - Purple HazeBob Dylan - Mr. Tambourine ManPaul Revere and the Raiders - Indian ReservationThe Turtles - Happy TogetherThe Lovin' Spoonful - Do You Believe in MagicSimon &amp; Garfunkel - Mrs. RobinsonThe Young Rascals - Good Lovin'The Mama's and the Papa's - California DreamingTommy James and the Shondells - Hanky PankyThe Beatles - Revolution 9The Doors - The EndVedder/ Tierney/ Krieger/ Manzarek - Doors Induction to Rock and Roll Hall of FameThe Velvet Underground - HeroinThe Strokes - Walk on the Wild SideSonic Youth - European SonU2 - Satellite of LoveREM - Femme FataleDavid Byrne - Candy SaysBowie/ Reed - Waiting for the ManQueen - God Save the Queen

First of all, Happy Independence Day everybody!  I'm so pleased to publish another episode of American Song on America's birthday! Back in America, ever since the plane crash in the winter of 1959 that ended the lives of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, the Big Bopper, American rock and roll had been sort of losing steam.  By 1964, it very easily could have just petered out.   Certainly, the likes of Frankie Avalon, and post-army Elvis were not going anywhere exciting.  It was a new day, what was needed was music for a new generation.  The British Invasion shot a whole new attitude, excitement and energy right into the veins of American culture.  Just like American culture changed England, the Brits changed American music.   You can see that play out in the competition between the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson and the Beatles.  The English band's changed American culture, too.  Sex was prolific.   Drugs were everywhere.   On the Merv Griffin show,  Timothy Leary told his audience he'd used LSD 311 times and predicted a coming age when kids would be educated through the use of psychedelic drugs, unlocking their internal Smithsonian Institutes or Libraries of Congress.  The British Invasion also caused a chain reaction all across America when local musicians formed new bands, for instance Roger McGuinn and David Crosby who formed the Byrds.  It was a powerful response to the excitement, new sounds, perspectives, and inspiration that bands like the Beatles, the Stones, and the Who injected back into our rock scene. All this, and lots more, in this month's episode of American Song! IN THIS MONTH'S EPISODE: The Who - My Generation Bob Dylan - 4th Time Around The Beatles - Norwegian Wood The Beatles - You've Got to Hide Your Love Away Bob Dylan - Got to Serve Someone John Lennon - Serve Yourself The Rolling Stones - Crackin' Up The Beatles - Rain The Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice The Beatles - Sargeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations Brian Wilson - Our Prayer/ Gee John Lennon - Promo for Tower Records Elton John - Texan Love Song Led Zepellin - Whole Lotta Love John Lennon - Cold Turkey Paul McCartney - Interview 1967 The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds The Rolling Stones - 2000 Light Years from Home Dr. Timothy Leary - Interview 1967 Blind Faith - In the Presence of the Lord John Lennon - God John Lennon - Interview 1966 The Byrds - Eight Miles High The Standells - Dirty Water The Monkees - The Last Train to Clarksville Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze Bob Dylan - Mr. Tambourine Man Paul Revere and the Raiders - Indian Reservation The Turtles - Happy Together The Lovin' Spoonful - Do You Believe in Magic Simon &amp; Garfunkel - Mrs. Robinson The Young Rascals - Good Lovin' The Mama's and the Papa's - California Dreaming Tommy James and the Shondells - Hanky Panky The Beatles - Revolution 9 The Doors - The End Vedder/ Tierney/ Krieger/ Manzarek - Doors Induction to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Velvet Underground - Heroin The Strokes - Walk on the Wild Side Sonic Youth - European Son U2 - Satellite of Love REM - Femme Fatale David Byrne - Candy Says Bowie/ Reed - Waiting for the Man Queen - God Save the Queen

Action: Reaction - American Bands and American Society Respond to the English Invasion

With the big English interest in blues music, suddenly, America’s original bluesmen started hearing about the chance to reignite their careers with English, French and German audiences.  Unbelievably, they found themselves welcomed, even celebrated. American Bluesmen like Big Bill Broonzy, after living years in poverty, discovered they could actually have careers in Europe.   The Cunard Yanks, and the American Folk Blues Festival were the catalysts behind cultural and musical changes that revolutionized Britain in the years after World War 2.The impact on young English musicians was epic.  The bands and musical brilliance of the period has been an inspiration for several generations that followed.   You know the names: The Beatles,  the Rolling Stones, the Who, The Kinks and many more.  Now, hear the music, and learn the history!In this episode, you'll hear the stories, the music, and the artists who lived and created this formidable library of music that millions around the world are still listening to!Inspired by American music, sculpted, painted, and built by the English, the music is in many ways, still with us today.  Enjoy this second installment in the story of the British Invasion!

With the big English interest in blues music, suddenly, America’s original bluesmen started hearing about the chance to reignite their careers with English, French and German audiences.  Unbelievably, they found themselves welcomed, even celebrated. American Bluesmen like Big Bill Broonzy, after living years in poverty, discovered they could actually have careers in Europe.   The Cunard Yanks, and the American Folk Blues Festival were the catalysts behind cultural and musical changes that revolutionized Britain in the years after World War 2. The impact on young English musicians was epic.  The bands and musical brilliance of the period has been an inspiration for several generations that followed.   You know the names: The Beatles,  the Rolling Stones, the Who, The Kinks and many more.  Now, hear the music, and learn the history! In this episode, you'll hear the stories, the music, and the artists who lived and created this formidable library of music that millions around the world are still listening to! Inspired by American music, sculpted, painted, and built by the English, the music is in many ways, still with us today.  Enjoy this second installment in the story of the British Invasion!

When the Blues Came to Britain, the British Came to America Part 2

England was caught between two cultures: the old order and whatever came after it.  The rigid class distinctions between upper and middle classes were disappearing, and government reforms had a lot to do with it.  The Conservative Party with their slogan, “Set the People Free,” won the 1951 election, and popular culture began to replace stuffy, upper crust stuff like classical music, opera, theatre, and fine art with mass-market media like radio, movies, and television. The BBC believed they had a responsibility to the nation to uphold the pre-war idea of ‘respectability’, or, at least, not broadcast music that could threaten the morality of England’s youth.  It was a lot like the U.S. stations refused to broadcast black music in the U.S. in the ‘20s and ‘30s.  More than that, they believed they claimed a responsibility to inform and educate the public in what it perceived as ‘good music’.  English kids were being seduced by the rhythm and forward thrust of American entertainment with movies like Blackboard Jungle (where Rock Around the Clock was heard for the first time), Elvis, and Bill Haley &amp; the Comets.  Both these bands were MAJOR influences on those four guys from Liverpool, England.  The other musical influencers from America were the living legends of American Blues.The timing was perfect for a musical revolution that would impact two continents!Welcome to Episode Eight, Season Two in the American Song series:  American Song Ushers in a Changing of the British Guard.Thanks to Mark Davis, for the new bumper music included in this episode.You can learn more about Mark and his music at www.towakeyou.com!

England was caught between two cultures: the old order and whatever came after it.  The rigid class distinctions between upper and middle classes were disappearing, and government reforms had a lot to do with it.  The Conservative Party with their slogan, “Set the People Free,” won the 1951 election, and popular culture began to replace stuffy, upper crust stuff like classical music, opera, theatre, and fine art with mass-market media like radio, movies, and television. The BBC believed they had a responsibility to the nation to uphold the pre-war idea of ‘respectability’, or, at least, not broadcast music that could threaten the morality of England’s youth.  It was a lot like the U.S. stations refused to broadcast black music in the U.S. in the ‘20s and ‘30s.  More than that, they believed they claimed a responsibility to inform and educate the public in what it perceived as ‘good music’.   English kids were being seduced by the rhythm and forward thrust of American entertainment with movies like Blackboard Jungle (where Rock Around the Clock was heard for the first time), Elvis, and Bill Haley &amp; the Comets.  Both these bands were MAJOR influences on those four guys from Liverpool, England.  The other musical influencers from America were the living legends of American Blues. The timing was perfect for a musical revolution that would impact two continents! Welcome to Episode Eight, Season Two in the American Song series:  American Song Ushers in a Changing of the British Guard. Thanks to Mark Davis, for the new bumper music included in this episode. You can learn more about Mark and his music at <a href="http://www.towakeyou.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.towakeyou.com</a>!

When the Blues Came to Britain, the British Came to America Part 1

In a country based on freedom, equal opportunity, and democracy, you’d think that lessons related to social justice would not need to be re-hashed so often.  But that does seem to be our fate.  And so, in every generation, we’ve witnessed one group after another struggle to claim their own share of the American dream.Music has had a huge role in raising awareness, unifying people, inspiring empathy, and challenging the status quo in every major social wave of change.  Today, we’re looking at how American music was used, like the trumpets at Jericho, to knock down the walls that separated Hispanic Americans from the promises made to all Americans, beginning in 1776.  In many ways, this is a fight that continues today, and its as true about the Hispanic struggle for justice as it's been for every group in our history.  Hispanics have had a wide range of musical inspirations, including familiar faces such as Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, and Woody Guthrie, and musical heroes from their own communities.  Music from the black civil rights struggle was also borrowed, early on.  But the most important parts of the cultural foundations that the Chicano community drew from came from their own Mexican heritage – especially the corrido, which we talked about last month in the Roots of Latin American music episode.  As the revolutionary tide of the 1960s began to swell in American culture, Chicanos started by resurrecting the corrido, and added to it a new, political consciousness, giving air to their grievances and struggles.   Soon, out of the streets, and in the rising youth movement, Chicano rock and roll bands from both sides of the border were filling the radio waves, and encouraging their own people to advance towards a better future.Welcome to Episode 22, American Song and the Fight for Hispanic Equality.In This Episode:Agustin LiraAztecaCannibal and the Head HuntersChan RomeroEl ChicanoCarlos SantanaChuy NegreteClarence Sonny HenryThe Village CallersEl JarochoThee MidnightersFreddy FenderTrini LopezJose SuarezLos ShakersLos LobosLos Teen TopsOzomatliRichie ValensRobert DeNiroSon Jarocho Master Musicians

In a country based on freedom, equal opportunity, and democracy, you’d think that lessons related to social justice would not need to be re-hashed so often.  But that does seem to be our fate.  And so, in every generation, we’ve witnessed one group after another struggle to claim their own share of the American dream. Music has had a huge role in raising awareness, unifying people, inspiring empathy, and challenging the status quo in every major social wave of change.  Today, we’re looking at how American music was used, like the trumpets at Jericho, to knock down the walls that separated Hispanic Americans from the promises made to all Americans, beginning in 1776.  In many ways, this is a fight that continues today, and its as true about the Hispanic struggle for justice as it's been for every group in our history.  Hispanics have had a wide range of musical inspirations, including familiar faces such as Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, and Woody Guthrie, and musical heroes from their own communities.  Music from the black civil rights struggle was also borrowed, early on.  But the most important parts of the cultural foundations that the Chicano community drew from came from their own Mexican heritage – especially the corrido, which we talked about last month in the Roots of Latin American music episode.  As the revolutionary tide of the 1960s began to swell in American culture, Chicanos started by resurrecting the corrido, and added to it a new, political consciousness, giving air to their grievances and struggles.   Soon, out of the streets, and in the rising youth movement, Chicano rock and roll bands from both sides of the border were filling the radio waves, and encouraging their own people to advance towards a better future.Welcome to Episode 22, American Song and the Fight for Hispanic Equality. In This Episode: Agustin Lira Azteca Cannibal and the Head Hunters Chan Romero El Chicano Carlos Santana Chuy Negrete Clarence Sonny Henry The Village Callers El Jarocho Thee Midnighters Freddy Fender Trini Lopez Jose Suarez Los Shakers Los Lobos Los Teen Tops Ozomatli Richie Valens Robert DeNiro Son Jarocho Master Musicians

American Song and the Fight for Hispanic Equality.

Before the arrival of Colombus and the Spanish, Puerto Rico was peopled by the Taino tribe.  They’d called it home – and paradise – for over 1,000 years, having come either from the Amazon river basin, or maybe from the Colombian Andes before they arrived on the island.  In our March episode, we talked about the Jones Act – a law made during the Wilson presidency.  The chief goal of that act was to help the U.S. shipping industry recover after World War I.  It also annexed Puerto Rico, and gave citizenship to everyone living there.  U.S. citizenship started major migration to the U.S. mainland.  At first, Puerto Ricans settled into East Coast cities like New York and later Miami where mostly they were stuck in the bottom end of the labor market, working as domestic workers, in manufacturing jobs (back in the old days when we still had those in America, and maintenance industries.  Puerto Rican Americans, on both sides of the US coast, have contributed beautiful music to the American Song jukebox.  These songs echo the rich cultures that became Puerto Rico, their love for their island home, their struggles in the United States and their determination to succeed, despite the hardships.  Today's episode builds on what I began in March, adding more current sounds to the mix.  I think you'll find it equal parts fascinating, and entertaining!In This Episode:Bomba street musicians in Old San Juan Puerto RicoFiel a La VegaField Recording of La Tierruca (old Puerto Rican woman)Haciendo Punto en Otro SonHector Carrasquillo Sr.Original Cast from West Side StoryPablo Milanés Piri ThomasRicky MartinRoy BrownSteven ColbertTaina Asli

Before the arrival of Colombus and the Spanish, Puerto Rico was peopled by the Taino tribe.  They’d called it home – and paradise – for over 1,000 years, having come either from the Amazon river basin, or maybe from the Colombian Andes before they arrived on the island.  In our March episode, we talked about the Jones Act – a law made during the Wilson presidency.  The chief goal of that act was to help the U.S. shipping industry recover after World War I.  It also annexed Puerto Rico, and gave citizenship to everyone living there.   U.S. citizenship started major migration to the U.S. mainland.  At first, Puerto Ricans settled into East Coast cities like New York and later Miami where mostly they were stuck in the bottom end of the labor market, working as domestic workers, in manufacturing jobs (back in the old days when we still had those in America, and maintenance industries.   Puerto Rican Americans, on both sides of the US coast, have contributed beautiful music to the American Song jukebox.  These songs echo the rich cultures that became Puerto Rico, their love for their island home, their struggles in the United States and their determination to succeed, despite the hardships.   Today's episode builds on what I began in March, adding more current sounds to the mix.  I think you'll find it equal parts fascinating, and entertaining! In This Episode: Bomba street musicians in Old San Juan Puerto Rico Fiel a La Vega Field Recording of La Tierruca (old Puerto Rican woman) Haciendo Punto en Otro Son Hector Carrasquillo Sr. Original Cast from West Side Story Pablo Milanés  Piri Thomas Ricky Martin Roy Brown Steven Colbert Taina Asli

Puerto Ricans Sing Out for Justice.

Latin music and 'American' music were once considered to be separate and unique. They had distinctly different properties and music labels managed them differently. But not anymore.Danny Ocean is a singer-songwriter and native of Caracas, Venezuela, and has said “Music is something that transcends beyond any language or nationality…it’s all about being a global artist.”   Latin music has become mainstream - it's no longer a 'crossover' genre.  Today, Latin culture is American culture. Latins are now the largest minority in the United States, and the second largest ethnic group after whites.  All across Latin America, the cultures that we talked about in episode 4 have combined to create distinct, regional music and dances that have each entertained and inspired the people in their home nations, while also making their way to our homes in the United States and entertaining people across the entire world! Salsa,  mambo, rumba, calpyso,  bomba, latin jazz, samba, batucada, samba de enredo, bossa nova, tango, festejo and lando.  These are the names of the inspired music that came out of the New World once the Spanish, Portuguese, Native Americans, and Africans blended their music and rhythm.  In this episode, we'll hear examples and learn about the artists, and cultures that devoted their lives to this fabulous art!You're in for a treat!  Enjoy!In Today's EpisodeTango - La CumparsitaIgnacio Pineiro - Echale SalsitaEl Orquesta Belisario Lopez - El CimarronOrquesta Arcano y sus Maravillas - MamboPerez Prado - Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom WhiteJulian Whiterose - Iron Duke in the Land Hubert "Roaring Lion" Charles - Mary AnneHary Belafonte - Jump in the LineBP Renegades Steel Orchestra - Like Ah BossWinston "Mighty Shadow" Bailey - Bass ManBomba ExampleIsmael Rivera - VolarePlena De Puerto RicoTito PuenteMachito _ Ni Chi, Ni ChaWilly Colon y Ruben Blades - Buscando GuayabaRumba Examples:1.  Yambu2.  Guaguanco3.  ColumbiaStan Getz / Luiz Bonfa - So Danco SambaCandomble Example - Orixa OssaimErnesto "Donga" Dos Santos - Pelo TelefoneOs Oito Batutas - Meu PassarinhoNoel Rossa- Com Que Roupa?Batucada BradileiraRatos e Urubus - Larguem Minha FantasiaFrank Sinatra / Antonio Carlos Jobim  - The Girl from ImpanemaJorge Ben - Mais Que NadaBola Sete - BaccaraLuis Correa - Siete MujeresLibertad Lamarque - Yo Soy La MorochaCarlos Gardel - Mi Noche TristeAnibal Troilo - Te Aconsejo Que Me OlvidesPepe Vasquez - Ritmo de NegrosOscar Aviles/ Arturo Cavero - El AlcatrazCharango example - Sebastián Pérez Cajon Example - Maestros del Cajon PeruanoCharagua Example - Son de los Diablos

Latin music and 'American' music were once considered to be separate and unique. They had distinctly different properties and music labels managed them differently. But not anymore.Danny Ocean is a singer-songwriter and native of Caracas, Venezuela, and has said “Music is something that transcends beyond any language or nationality…it’s all about being a global artist.”   Latin music has become mainstream - it's no longer a 'crossover' genre.  Today, Latin culture is American culture. Latins are now the largest minority in the United States, and the second largest ethnic group after whites.  All across Latin America, the cultures that we talked about in episode 4 have combined to create distinct, regional music and dances that have each entertained and inspired the people in their home nations, while also making their way to our homes in the United States and entertaining people across the entire world! Salsa,  mambo, rumba, calpyso,  bomba, latin jazz, samba, batucada, samba de enredo, bossa nova, tango, festejo and lando.  These are the names of the inspired music that came out of the New World once the Spanish, Portuguese, Native Americans, and Africans blended their music and rhythm.  In this episode, we'll hear examples and learn about the artists, and cultures that devoted their lives to this fabulous art! You're in for a treat!  Enjoy! In Today's Episode Tango - La Cumparsita Ignacio Pineiro - Echale Salsita El Orquesta Belisario Lopez - El Cimarron Orquesta Arcano y sus Maravillas - Mambo Perez Prado - Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White Julian Whiterose - Iron Duke in the Land  Hubert "Roaring Lion" Charles - Mary Anne Hary Belafonte - Jump in the Line BP Renegades Steel Orchestra - Like Ah Boss Winston "Mighty Shadow" Bailey - Bass Man Bomba Example Ismael Rivera - Volare Plena De Puerto Rico Tito Puente Machito _ Ni Chi, Ni Cha Willy Colon y Ruben Blades - Buscando Guayaba Rumba Examples: 1.  Yambu 2.  Guaguanco 3.  Columbia Stan Getz / Luiz Bonfa - So Danco Samba Candomble Example - Orixa Ossaim Ernesto "Donga" Dos Santos - Pelo Telefone Os Oito Batutas - Meu Passarinho Noel Rossa- Com Que Roupa? Batucada Bradileira Ratos e Urubus - Larguem Minha Fantasia Frank Sinatra / Antonio Carlos Jobim  - The Girl from Impanema Jorge Ben - Mais Que Nada Bola Sete - Baccara Luis Correa - Siete Mujeres Libertad Lamarque - Yo Soy La Morocha Carlos Gardel - Mi Noche Triste Anibal Troilo - Te Aconsejo Que Me Olvides Pepe Vasquez - Ritmo de Negros Oscar Aviles/ Arturo Cavero - El Alcatraz Charango example - Sebastián Pérez Cajon Example - Maestros del Cajon Peruano Charagua Example - Son de los Diablos

Land of A Thousand Dances - Latin American Music

American Song is a podcast that traces the origins and development of American - and ultimately world-wide - forms of modern musical entertainment.  Over time, we will trace every major genre from its origins through the current day.American Song looks at the development of our music through the lens of social, political, and economic changes that were occurring in each case, and we'll feature the most important musicians in each genre.Every episode is chock-full of the music we love and where possible, we include archival interviews so you can hear about, in the actual words and voices of these great musicians and singers, the motives and passions that drove their creativity.

In this episode, we shift focus to consider another important cultural vein, brought here by the Spanish, and rising out of the American west and Southwest as well as New York City – and obviously all of Central and South America,  Cuba and Puerto Rico.  A few things have struck me as I’ve been putting my thoughts together for these next few episodes.  Of course, the first thing is that – just like in earlier genres that we’ve talked about – the music we hear today has gone through a long journey of changes.  Second, like jazz and the blues, the music often gives voice to the frustrations and struggles Latin Americans have experienced while hacking and carving out their own rightful place in America. In this episodes, we’ll explore the origins of Latin music, – not just in the United States, but on a wider level, across most of the New World.  When the Spanish and Portuguese came to the New World, they brought European music traditions with them, including the influences from several hundred years of Moorish occupation of Southern Spain.  They were coming to a land that had already been hope to millions of Native Americans - stretching from the Bering Strait to the southern tip of Argentina - and the people that lived here had their own musical traditions that made their way into Latin music.  African slaves also brought their rhythms.  Like we've seen in American music, African traditions would have an enormous impact on music that would develop over centuries.This is a fascinating musical journey -  I’m so excited to share it with you!In Today's Episode:Gypsy Kings - Una AmorAncient Consort Singers - Serenisima Una NocheSpanish-Arabic Music of AndaluciaFlor De Un DiaDjembe tribal drummingNative American Flute with Tribal DrumJorge Reyes - Native American (Mexico) MusicTraditional Inca Music Being Played in CuzcoLos Monjes del Monasterio de Silos - Gregorian ChantGloria Missa de Los Angeles - JUan Bautista Sancho - 18th Century California Mission MusicZephyr -El Cantico del Alba - A Choir of Angels II:  Mission MusicCharles Lummis Wax Cylinder - Corrido de Leandro RiveraLydia Mendoza - Mal HombreEl Vez - Rock and Roll Suicide/ If I Can Dream

In this episode, we shift focus to consider another important cultural vein, brought here by the Spanish, and rising out of the American west and Southwest as well as New York City – and obviously all of Central and South America,  Cuba and Puerto Rico.  A few things have struck me as I’ve been putting my thoughts together for these next few episodes.  Of course, the first thing is that – just like in earlier genres that we’ve talked about – the music we hear today has gone through a long journey of changes.  Second, like jazz and the blues, the music often gives voice to the frustrations and struggles Latin Americans have experienced while hacking and carving out their own rightful place in America. In this episodes, we’ll explore the origins of Latin music, – not just in the United States, but on a wider level, across most of the New World.  When the Spanish and Portuguese came to the New World, they brought European music traditions with them, including the influences from several hundred years of Moorish occupation of Southern Spain.  They were coming to a land that had already been hope to millions of Native Americans - stretching from the Bering Strait to the southern tip of Argentina - and the people that lived here had their own musical traditions that made their way into Latin music.  African slaves also brought their rhythms.  Like we've seen in American music, African traditions would have an enormous impact on music that would develop over centuries. This is a fascinating musical journey -  I’m so excited to share it with you! In Today's Episode: Gypsy Kings - Una Amor Ancient Consort Singers - Serenisima Una Noche Spanish-Arabic Music of Andalucia Flor De Un Dia Djembe tribal drumming Native American Flute with Tribal Drum Jorge Reyes - Native American (Mexico) Music Traditional Inca Music Being Played in Cuzco Los Monjes del Monasterio de Silos - Gregorian Chant Gloria Missa de Los Angeles - JUan Bautista Sancho - 18th Century California Mission Music Zephyr -El Cantico del Alba - A Choir of Angels II:  Mission Music Charles Lummis Wax Cylinder - Corrido de Leandro Rivera Lydia Mendoza - Mal Hombre El Vez - Rock and Roll Suicide/ If I Can Dream

The Roots of Latin Music in the New World

In our July, 2021 episode on the first generation of folk music, “Folk Music Stood for America”, we talked about how the music was swept up in the major social movements of the day, especially the socialist/ American Communist party movements which gathered speed because of events like the Great Depression and the Dustbowl.  The second revival of the 1960’s also had its own causes; the war in Vietnam, Civil Rights, and the Women’s  movement primarily.  The ‘60s was the era when all the WWII war babies grew up.  Highly idealistic, they wanted to seize the moment in history and change the world for the better.  Raised in the suburbs of the concensus-driven fifties, and living under the palatable fear of the Cold War, with Eishenhower’s warning about the military industrial complex ringing in their ears, seeing their classmates ship off to Vietnam, and shipped back home in body bags, they’d grown cynical about their parent’s generation and demanded change NOW.  Folk music was the soundtrack to their rebellion; you could hear it played on college campuses all over America.  Many of the musicians matched that idealism note for note.   That’s the theme of today’s episode, Folk Music Played the Changes in American Society. Artists Featured in This EpisodeTom PaxtonRichie HavensPeter, Paul &amp; MaryRev. Martin Luther King, Jr.Bob DylanPhil OchsCrosby, Stills &amp; Nash

In our July, 2021 episode on the first generation of folk music, “<a href="https://americansong.buzzsprout.com/1622638/8928452-folk-music-stood-for-america" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Folk Music Stood for America</a>”, we talked about how the music was swept up in the major social movements of the day, especially the socialist/ American Communist party movements which gathered speed because of events like the Great Depression and the Dustbowl.   The second revival of the 1960’s also had its own causes; the war in Vietnam, Civil Rights, and the Women’s  movement primarily.  The ‘60s was the era when all the WWII war babies grew up.  Highly idealistic, they wanted to seize the moment in history and change the world for the better.  Raised in the suburbs of the concensus-driven fifties, and living under the palatable fear of the Cold War, with Eishenhower’s warning about the military industrial complex ringing in their ears, seeing their classmates ship off to Vietnam, and shipped back home in body bags, they’d grown cynical about their parent’s generation and demanded change NOW.   Folk music was the soundtrack to their rebellion; you could hear it played on college campuses all over America.  Many of the musicians matched that idealism note for note.   That’s the theme of today’s episode, Folk Music Played the Changes in American Society. Artists Featured in This Episode Tom Paxton Richie Havens Peter, Paul &amp; Mary Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Bob Dylan Phil Ochs Crosby, Stills &amp; Nash

Folk Music Played the Changes in American Society.

The 1960’s  were a period of massive social change and tension all over the country – all over North America in fact - because we have to include Canada, too.  The conditions were just right for a whole group of passionate, inspired, and gifted young singers and songwriters to lift their voices.    They came from many different American communities; Jewish immigrants, First Nations people, Americans, Canadians, African Americans, Hispanics, Caucasians, from the cities and from the heartland.  All of them had a message to share with their generation, and a desire to build a better world. This episode is about a number of these artists, and the legacies they’ve left behind.  Many of them are still with us today, and a few of them still create new music.    Welcome to today’s episode, 1960’s Folk Music:  How the Fire Spread.  Artists Featured in this EpisodeFred NeilDave Van RonkKarem DaltonBuffy Sainte-MarieLeonard CohenRamblin' Jack ElliottBrothers &amp; CurryBob DylanSimon &amp; GarfunkelPaul SimonJoni Mitchell

The 1960’s  were a period of massive social change and tension all over the country – all over North America in fact - because we have to include Canada, too.  The conditions were just right for a whole group of passionate, inspired, and gifted young singers and songwriters to lift their voices.    They came from many different American communities; Jewish immigrants, First Nations people, Americans, Canadians, African Americans, Hispanics, Caucasians, from the cities and from the heartland.  All of them had a message to share with their generation, and a desire to build a better world. This episode is about a number of these artists, and the legacies they’ve left behind.  Many of them are still with us today, and a few of them still create new music.    Welcome to today’s episode, 1960’s Folk Music:  How the Fire Spread.  Artists Featured in this Episode Fred Neil Dave Van Ronk Karem Dalton Buffy Sainte-Marie Leonard Cohen Ramblin' Jack Elliott Brothers &amp; Curry Bob Dylan Simon &amp; Garfunkel Paul Simon Joni Mitchell

1960’s Folk Music:  How the Fire Spread

Happy New Year and welcome to season two in the American Song podcast series!  It's been a bit since we last got together.  I hope you all are doing well.  In both the first and second folks waves, many of the musicians were heavily influenced by the times and events that lived in.  During the first folk revival, the most important social issues included the Great Depression, and the Oklahoma Dust Bowl.  In different ways, both of these catastrophes laid waste to the dreams and scrapped together  fortunes of the hard-working American people.  Overseas, political revolutions had overthrown ancient monarchies, the latest one being Russia’s Romanov dynasty where powerful winds of change had driven the half starved and long-neglected Russian peasants to revolt, and whose actions were spurred on by ideologues like Marx and Lenin.  The second folk revival that started in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s was, again, another social movement bent on change, but this time, the causes were different.  The 1960’s have been romanticized in a lot of ways.  It’s difficult today to still feel the thrill, and electric charge of what Beatlemania must have been like, or to experience the ‘Us’ versus ‘Them’ pitched emotions that led to student riots and slain college students at Kent State, but they were very real.  Folk music was at the heart of it all.  Just like Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie had demanded better treatment for workers, and economic assistance to America’s poor, the second folk revival rallied people behind Civil Rights, Equal Rights for women, and an end to the war in Vietnam war.   A chorus of new musicians, were inspired by, and in turn inspired social change.  Brave young kids, like Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Barry McGuire, and  Joan Baez – as well as a few old-timers from the first wave - gave voice to a new generation of Americans who dreamed of better things and better days.Welcome to season two in  the American Song Podcast series; today’s episode, “The Second Folk Revival – A Passing of the Torch.”Featured Artists in this EpisodeBob DylanWoody Guthriethe Kingston TrioBill &amp; Belle ReedJoan BaezSteve Allen and Jack KerouacBonnie DobsonSimon &amp; GarfunkelMax Yasgur

Happy New Year and welcome to season two in the American Song podcast series!  It's been a bit since we last got together.  I hope you all are doing well.  In both the first and second folks waves, many of the musicians were heavily influenced by the times and events that lived in.  During the <a href="https://americansong.buzzsprout.com/1622638/8928452-folk-music-stood-for-america" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">first folk revival</a>, the most important social issues included the Great Depression, and the Oklahoma Dust Bowl.  In different ways, both of these catastrophes laid waste to the dreams and scrapped together  fortunes of the hard-working American people.  Overseas, political revolutions had overthrown ancient monarchies, the latest one being Russia’s Romanov dynasty where powerful winds of change had driven the half starved and long-neglected Russian peasants to revolt, and whose actions were spurred on by ideologues like Marx and Lenin.  The second folk revival that started in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s was, again, another social movement bent on change, but this time, the causes were different.  The 1960’s have been romanticized in a lot of ways.  It’s difficult today to still feel the thrill, and electric charge of what Beatlemania must have been like, or to experience the ‘Us’ versus ‘Them’ pitched emotions that led to student riots and slain college students at Kent State, but they were very real.  Folk music was at the heart of it all.  Just like Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie had demanded better treatment for workers, and economic assistance to America’s poor, the second folk revival rallied people behind Civil Rights, Equal Rights for women, and an end to the war in Vietnam war.   A chorus of new musicians, were inspired by, and in turn inspired social change.  Brave young kids, like Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Barry McGuire, and  Joan Baez – as well as a few old-timers from the first wave - gave voice to a new generation of Americans who dreamed of better things and better days. Welcome to season two in  the American Song Podcast series; today’s episode, “The Second Folk Revival – A Passing of the Torch.” Featured Artists in this Episode Bob Dylan Woody Guthrie the Kingston Trio Bill &amp; Belle Reed Joan Baez Steve Allen and Jack Kerouac Bonnie Dobson Simon &amp; Garfunkel Max Yasgur

The Second Folk Revival – A Passing of the Torch.

If there’s an over-riding theme across the last several episodes, it is that music can be whatever we say it is.  In this third and last episode on this theme, we’re talking about Musique Concrete. It’s the name applied to a one of the most radical descriptions of music ever imagined.  Think of this music like you do when you think of abstract, visual art.  For instance, Picasso’s Guernica.  There aren’t too many people that think of that painting as traditionally beautiful, but there is a shocking, provocative, stirring power to it. The same holds true with this challenging music.With musique concrète, (French: “concrete music”), natural and mechanical sounds were captured or created using new inventions, the tape recorder, and later the computer and the synthesizer.   Sounds can either be used in their natural forms, or they could be processed and changed and then combined with other sounds to create a montage.   Other traits that define musique concrete include randomness, and the discard of the traditional composer-performer roles.  Sounds can be looped, played backward, sped up, slowed down, cut short or extended.  Their natural pitches could be varied, echoes could be added and so on.  As I did with episodes 14 and 15, I'm also going to show you how these really bizarre ideas eventually made their way into our current popular music scene.  Musique Concrete has made an impact in jazz and rock, too.   This is fun stuff!In This Episode:Pierre SchaefferPierre HenryJohn CageHarry PartchKarlheinz StockhausenThe BeatlesPink FloydIndustrial bandsPlunderphonics

If there’s an over-riding theme across the last several episodes, it is that music can be whatever we say it is.  In this third and last episode on this theme, we’re talking about Musique Concrete. It’s the name applied to a one of the most radical descriptions of music ever imagined.  Think of this music like you do when you think of abstract, visual art.  For instance, Picasso’s Guernica.  There aren’t too many people that think of that painting as traditionally beautiful, but there is a shocking, provocative, stirring power to it. The same holds true with this challenging music. With musique concrète, (French: “concrete music”), natural and mechanical sounds were captured or created using new inventions, the tape recorder, and later the computer and the synthesizer.   Sounds can either be used in their natural forms, or they could be processed and changed and then combined with other sounds to create a montage.   Other traits that define musique concrete include randomness, and the discard of the traditional composer-performer roles.  Sounds can be looped, played backward, sped up, slowed down, cut short or extended.  Their natural pitches could be varied, echoes could be added and so on.  As I did with episodes 14 and 15, I'm also going to show you how these really bizarre ideas eventually made their way into our current popular music scene.  Musique Concrete has made an impact in jazz and rock, too.   This is fun stuff! In This Episode: Pierre Schaeffer Pierre Henry John Cage Harry Partch Karlheinz Stockhausen The Beatles Pink Floyd Industrial bands Plunderphonics

Musique Concrete:  A Radical Re-Thinking of Sound and Performance

In the world of American art music, Minimalism is another push away from traditional music.  It’s earliest beginnings are found in the 1950’s again, with two American composers;  Steve Reich (b.1936) and Philip Glass (b.1937).  Reich, Glass, and another minimalist, John Adams, were all heavily influenced by mid-century popular music.  Together, they’re known as the ‘big three’ in minimalist music.  The founders of minimalist music absorbed a wide range of sonic influences – African rhythms, Indian ragas, bebop, rock and roll to create something startlingly original.   It abounds in film scores, pop albums, jazz riffs, and other forms of more experimental music.Jazz and rock were influenced by minimalism, too.  Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Pat Matheny all wrote music that show minimalism's influences.  So does the music of Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, David Bowie, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, and Radiohead - just to name a few! In This Episode:Steve ReichPhillip GlassJohn AdamsMiles DavisJohn CagePat Matheny and Lyle MaysBrian EnoDavid BowiePeter GabrielKraftwerkTangerine DreamRadiohead

In the world of American art music, Minimalism is another push away from traditional music.  It’s earliest beginnings are found in the 1950’s again, with two American composers;  Steve Reich (b.1936) and Philip Glass (b.1937).  Reich, Glass, and another minimalist, John Adams, were all heavily influenced by mid-century popular music.  Together, they’re known as the ‘big three’ in minimalist music.  The founders of minimalist music absorbed a wide range of sonic influences – African rhythms, Indian ragas, bebop, rock and roll to create something startlingly original.   It abounds in film scores, pop albums, jazz riffs, and other forms of more experimental music.Jazz and rock were influenced by minimalism, too.  Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Pat Matheny all wrote music that show minimalism's influences.  So does the music of Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, David Bowie, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, and Radiohead - just to name a few! In This Episode: Steve ReichPhillip GlassJohn AdamsMiles DavisJohn CagePat Matheny and Lyle MaysBrian EnoDavid BowiePeter GabrielKraftwerkTangerine DreamRadiohead

The Celestial Pulse of Minimalism.

The 20th century scientific explosion had been in the works since the Enlightenment, but the rate of change, which had been slow, and adaptable, now came in flashes – like a supernova - and repeatedly,  one major wave after another and in ways that dramatically changed our society; instead of having time to gradually adapt and fold these changes into our ordered lives, our lives were forced to conform instead.I hope you’re ready for an adventure, because this episode, and actually the next two after this, are going to challenge you.  You see, the music we’ll discover together was written in complete rejection of the basic assumptions about western music.   What’s equally fascinating is what the rest of the music world did with these musical ideas!  To understand what was happening in America, we have to start away from home, in Europe, in the late 1930’s.  There were a number of European musicians and composers who developed completely new ways of creating, performing, and sharing music that had an equally transformative influence on the music being made in America. In This EpisodeArnold Schoenberg Milton BabbittCharles Wuorinen Jerrald Goldsmith Gerard Schurman Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind The BeatlesPrimusDave BrubeckBill EvansJohn ColtraneOrnette Coleman

The 20th century scientific explosion had been in the works since the Enlightenment, but the rate of change, which had been slow, and adaptable, now came in flashes – like a supernova - and repeatedly,  one major wave after another and in ways that dramatically changed our society; instead of having time to gradually adapt and fold these changes into our ordered lives, our lives were forced to conform instead. I hope you’re ready for an adventure, because this episode, and actually the next two after this, are going to challenge you.  You see, the music we’ll discover together was written in complete rejection of the basic assumptions about western music.   What’s equally fascinating is what the rest of the music world did with these musical ideas!  To understand what was happening in America, we have to start away from home, in Europe, in the late 1930’s.  There were a number of European musicians and composers who developed completely new ways of creating, performing, and sharing music that had an equally transformative influence on the music being made in America. In This Episode Arnold Schoenberg  Milton Babbitt Charles Wuorinen  Jerrald Goldsmith  Gerard Schurman  Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind  The Beatles Primus Dave Brubeck Bill Evans John Coltrane Ornette Coleman

When the World Was In Chaos, Music Became Atonal

Newton’s Third Law of Motion;  For every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction.   I mentioned that rock and music was equal parts music and social movement.  This was a totally new event for music.  In earlier episodes, we’ve seen how jazz was borrowed by the US Government for global PR purposes, and of course, music has always given a voice to the hopes, dreams, hurts, and fears of people everywhere.  But this was something totally different.  Ever since the ‘50s, we’ve never been sure whether art imitates life, or life imitates art.  The most dramatic examples were still in the future, but it started in the 1950’s, and I’ve wondered why then, and not some other time.   Let’s look at the 1950’s together for a few minutes and see if we can’t figure out why that might be.IN THIS SPECIAL FEATURE Bobby DarinMalvina ReynoldsThe Crew CutsCharlie Ryan and the Timberline RidersChuck BerryThe SilhouettesBobby "Boris" PickettSheb WooleyDanny and the JuniorsTodd Rhodes and His Orchestra, Featuring Connie AllenThe Del Vikings

Newton’s Third Law of Motion;  For every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction.   I mentioned that rock and music was equal parts music and social movement.  This was a totally new event for music.  In earlier episodes, we’ve seen how jazz was borrowed by the US Government for global PR purposes, and of course, music has always given a voice to the hopes, dreams, hurts, and fears of people everywhere.  But this was something totally different.  Ever since the ‘50s, we’ve never been sure whether art imitates life, or life imitates art.  The most dramatic examples were still in the future, but it started in the 1950’s, and I’ve wondered why then, and not some other time.   Let’s look at the 1950’s together for a few minutes and see if we can’t figure out why that might be. IN THIS SPECIAL FEATURE Bobby Darin Malvina Reynolds The Crew Cuts Charlie Ryan and the Timberline Riders Chuck Berry The Silhouettes Bobby "Boris" Pickett Sheb Wooley Danny and the Juniors Todd Rhodes and His Orchestra, Featuring Connie Allen The Del Vikings

Special Feature:  1950's American Culture; the Seedbed of Rock and Roll

By the 1950’s, American Music had been on a fascinating journey.  Rolling out of the Appalachian Mountains and into southern cities; drifting out of the cotton plantations of the south, winding its way up from New Orleans, along the Mississippi Delta, carried along many musical creeks, tributaries, and rivers, rolling its way along mysterious trails past the crossroads, and chugging its way across railroad lines.   American Music had evolved, and grown, and changed, just like the culture that produced it.  We’ve seen the rise of jazz in its different forms, and heard the echoes of slavery in the blues – as it evolved from the country blues of Robert Johnson and Huddie Ledbedder to the electric blues of Muddy Waters and BB King – and the evolution of Country music as it grew out of English, Scottish, and Welsh ballads into the slick, urbanized sound of Nashville or the honky tonks and juke joints - the urban sounds of Hank Williams.  In the few decades that led up to the mid-1950’s,  there were just a few more cobblestones that needed to be laid into the roadbed that ended with the birth of rock music.  Among these were Western Swing and Rockabilly.  The rock and roll attitude – rebellion, sexuality, and freedom – is a rockabilly hand-me-down sweatshirt from rock’s big brother.  However, the true rockers that came later were true, dyed in the wool non-conformists and rebels.  There’s a world of difference between someone like, say, Jim Morrison, and Kung-Fu Elvis.  Morrison’s disgust for authority was the real thing.  Elvis, on the other hand, had his picture taken at the White House next to Richard "Tricky Dick" Nixon.   Compare that to many, very public apologies that aging rockabilly artists made later for their antics in younger years.  Good Golly, Miss Molly…. Welcome to the latest edition of American Song; episode 13.  Hail Hail Rock and Roll!IN THIS EPISODETex WilliamsMoon MullicanArthur Smith's Hot QuintetTennessee Ernie FordThe Maddox Bros. and RoseElvis PresleyJerry Lee LewisBuddy HollyJohn LennonPaul McCartneyRingo StarrJackie BrentsonRoy BrownBig Mama ThorntonSister Rosetta TharpeChuck BerryFat's DominoLittle RichardEddie Cochranthe Teen QueensBobby FreemanWanda JacksonPat BooneAllen FreedThe PlattersThe DominoesThomas Hardin/ MoondogThe Who

By the 1950’s, American Music had been on a fascinating journey.  Rolling out of the Appalachian Mountains and into southern cities; drifting out of the cotton plantations of the south, winding its way up from New Orleans, along the Mississippi Delta, carried along many musical creeks, tributaries, and rivers, rolling its way along mysterious trails past the crossroads, and chugging its way across railroad lines.   American Music had evolved, and grown, and changed, just like the culture that produced it.  We’ve seen the rise of jazz in its different forms, and heard the echoes of slavery in the blues – as it evolved from the country blues of Robert Johnson and Huddie Ledbedder to the electric blues of Muddy Waters and BB King – and the evolution of Country music as it grew out of English, Scottish, and Welsh ballads into the slick, urbanized sound of Nashville or the honky tonks and juke joints - the urban sounds of Hank Williams.   In the few decades that led up to the mid-1950’s,  there were just a few more cobblestones that needed to be laid into the roadbed that ended with the birth of rock music.  Among these were Western Swing and Rockabilly.   The rock and roll attitude – rebellion, sexuality, and freedom – is a rockabilly hand-me-down sweatshirt from rock’s big brother.  However, the true rockers that came later were true, dyed in the wool non-conformists and rebels.  There’s a world of difference between someone like, say, Jim Morrison, and Kung-Fu Elvis.  Morrison’s disgust for authority was the real thing.  Elvis, on the other hand, had his picture taken at the White House next to Richard "Tricky Dick" Nixon.   Compare that to many, very public apologies that aging rockabilly artists made later for their antics in younger years.  Good Golly, Miss Molly…. Welcome to the latest edition of American Song; episode 13.  Hail Hail Rock and Roll! IN THIS EPISODE Tex Williams Moon Mullican Arthur Smith's Hot Quintet Tennessee Ernie Ford The Maddox Bros. and Rose Elvis Presley Jerry Lee Lewis Buddy Holly John Lennon Paul McCartney Ringo Starr Jackie Brentson Roy Brown Big Mama Thornton Sister Rosetta Tharpe Chuck Berry Fat's Domino Little Richard Eddie Cochran the Teen Queens Bobby Freeman Wanda Jackson Pat Boone Allen Freed The Platters The Dominoes Thomas Hardin/ Moondog The Who

Hail Hail Rock and Roll

This episode is dedicated to the memory of  Rolling Stones drummer, Charlie Watts,.  Charlie passed away while I was preparing this episode.  In a career that spanned more than sixty years,  he left us all a massive library of songs and memories that we all will treasure forever.  Thanks for everything, Charlie.  It was only Rock and Roll, but I liked it!Episode DescriptionIt was a new day in America.  The middle class was big and growing.  Businesses were flush with cash it had come by, which meant people were working and saving and getting ahead. Those returning war-heroes had gotten to work making money, and making babies and America was a young country, too.  So this young, expressive, exuberant, happy music was ideal for a nation that was feeling the same way. The fact that this new, young music became THE music of the day represented a sea change in what America was all about.Even more, Rhythm’n Blues set the stage for the next big arrival – rock and roll….. like the great R&amp;B singer, Ruth Brown said, “when the white kids started dancing to it, R&amp;B turned into Rock and Roll.”  Hold that thought for a future episode!  Welcome to American Song, Episode 12:  R&amp;B Was Born on the Great American Music River.TracksIke and Tina Turner - River Deep, Mountain HighBarrett Strong - Money, That’s What I WantNina Simone - Mississippi GoddamErskine Hawkins - After HoursAhmet Ertegün and Charlie Rose Interview ExcerptBib Mama Thornton - Hound DogJames Jamerson (isolated bass) - What’s Goin’ OnLouis Jordan - Is You Is, Or Is You Ain’t My Baby?Louis Jordan - Saturday Night Fish FryErskine Hawkins - Tuxedo JunctionHarlem Hamfats - Weed Smokers DreamCab Calloway - Minnie the MoocherCount Basie - One O’CLock JumpBullmoose Jackson - Big Ten InchKing Curtis - Instant GrooveLionel Hampton - Flying HomeLionel Hampton - Hey!  Bop a Re BopT Bone Walker - Stormy MondayBB King - Live at Sing Sing PrisonElvis Presley - That’s Alright MamaHoss Allen InterviewIke &amp; Tina Turner - Proud MaryBooker T and the MGs - Green OnionsMartha and the Vandella’s - Dancing in the StreetStevie Wonder - Heaven Help Us AllFunk Bros. - Aint No Mountain High EnoughFunk Bros. - You Keep My Hangin’ OnFunk Bros. - I Was Made to Love HerMarvin Gaye - What’s Goin’ OnThe New Moonglows - Twelve Months of the YearMarvin Gaye - How Sweet it IsBerry Gordy Talks about Marvin GayeRay Charles - Hit the Road JackRay Charles Interview on Dick CavettMaxin Trio - Blues Before SunriseRay Charles - I Got a WomanRay Charles - What’d I SayRay Charles - Georgia on My MindRuth Brown - 5-10-15 HoursRuth Brown - I’ll Wait For YouRuth Brown Interview with Terri Gross (NPR)Aretha Franklin - Do Right Woman, Do Right ManAretha Franklin Interview with Terri Gross (NPR)Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural WomanAretha Franklin - RespectAretha Franklin - I Say a Little Prayer For YouAretha Franklin - Chain of FoolsSam &amp; Dave - Soul Man

This episode is dedicated to the memory of  Rolling Stones drummer, Charlie Watts,.  Charlie passed away while I was preparing this episode.  In a career that spanned more than sixty years,  he left us all a massive library of songs and memories that we all will treasure forever.  Thanks for everything, Charlie.  It was only Rock and Roll, but I liked it! Episode Description It was a new day in America.  The middle class was big and growing.  Businesses were flush with cash it had come by, which meant people were working and saving and getting ahead. Those returning war-heroes had gotten to work making money, and making babies and America was a young country, too.  So this young, expressive, exuberant, happy music was ideal for a nation that was feeling the same way. The fact that this new, young music became THE music of the day represented a sea change in what America was all about.Even more, Rhythm’n Blues set the stage for the next big arrival – rock and roll….. like the great R&amp;B singer, Ruth Brown said, “when the white kids started dancing to it, R&amp;B turned into Rock and Roll.”  Hold that thought for a future episode!  Welcome to American Song, Episode 12:  R&amp;B Was Born on the Great American Music River. Tracks<ul><li>Ike and Tina Turner - River Deep, Mountain High</li><li>Barrett Strong - Money, That’s What I Want</li><li>Nina Simone - Mississippi Goddam</li><li>Erskine Hawkins - After Hours</li><li>Ahmet Ertegün and Charlie Rose Interview Excerpt</li><li>Bib Mama Thornton - Hound Dog</li><li>James Jamerson (isolated bass) - What’s Goin’ On</li><li>Louis Jordan - Is You Is, Or Is You Ain’t My Baby?</li><li>Louis Jordan - Saturday Night Fish Fry</li><li>Erskine Hawkins - Tuxedo Junction</li><li>Harlem Hamfats - Weed Smokers Dream</li><li>Cab Calloway - Minnie the Moocher</li><li>Count Basie - One O’CLock Jump</li><li>Bullmoose Jackson - Big Ten Inch</li><li>King Curtis - Instant Groove</li><li>Lionel Hampton - Flying Home</li><li>Lionel Hampton - Hey!  Bop a Re Bop</li><li>T Bone Walker - Stormy Monday</li><li>BB King - Live at Sing Sing Prison</li><li>Elvis Presley - That’s Alright Mama</li><li>Hoss Allen Interview</li><li>Ike &amp; Tina Turner - Proud Mary</li><li>Booker T and the MGs - Green Onions</li><li>Martha and the Vandella’s - Dancing in the Street</li><li>Stevie Wonder - Heaven Help Us All</li><li>Funk Bros. - Aint No Mountain High Enough</li><li>Funk Bros. - You Keep My Hangin’ On</li><li>Funk Bros. - I Was Made to Love Her</li><li>Marvin Gaye - What’s Goin’ On</li><li>The New Moonglows - Twelve Months of the Year</li><li>Marvin Gaye - How Sweet it Is</li><li>Berry Gordy Talks about Marvin Gaye</li><li>Ray Charles - Hit the Road Jack</li><li>Ray Charles Interview on Dick Cavett</li><li>Maxin Trio - Blues Before Sunrise</li><li>Ray Charles - I Got a Woman</li><li>Ray Charles - What’d I Say</li><li>Ray Charles - Georgia on My Mind</li><li>Ruth Brown - 5-10-15 Hours</li><li>Ruth Brown - I’ll Wait For You</li><li>Ruth Brown Interview with Terri Gross (NPR)</li><li>Aretha Franklin - Do Right Woman, Do Right Man</li><li>Aretha Franklin Interview with Terri Gross (NPR)</li><li>Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman</li><li>Aretha Franklin - Respect</li><li>Aretha Franklin - I Say a Little Prayer For You</li><li>Aretha Franklin - Chain of Fools</li><li>Sam &amp; Dave - Soul Man</li></ul>

R&B Was Born on the American Song River

American Song

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