All times listed are Eastern Time
*denotes part of our Roots and Branches series
*American Routes – Fire and Water: The Neville Brothers & Herbie Hancock
Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock joins us to talk about keeping his hardcore jazz credentials while breaking the pop barrier with “Watermelon Man,” and recalls famous associations with Miles and more, including those on his recent Record of the Year, River: the Joni Letters. Plus the four faces of New Orleans’ Mount Rushmore–Art, Aaron, Charles and Cyril–the Neville Brothers. Since 1954, when Brother Art hit with the ultimate carnival classic “Mardi Gras Mambo,” the Nevilles have been on the scene, solo or as a group. We’ll hear their legacy of soul, funk and R & B as the brothers tell us how it all came to pass, and how the legacy lives on in the next generation.
Bluegrass Breakdown – January, February & March, 1970
We’ll be on the redline to January, February and March, 1970 when, among other things: George Gruhn, Tut Taylor and Randy Wood open GTR, Inc. in downtown Nashville, specializing in the sale and repair of vintage instruments; Martha White Foods announces a contest to name Lester Flatt’s new band with a first prize of $500; Jimmy Martin is hospitalized for abdominal surgery; and Reno & Harrell, Buzz Busby, Bill Monroe and the Country Gentlemen churn out some tolerably fine bluegrass.
Bluegrass Master Class – Banks of the Ohio #85
Bluegrass Review
We begin the show with new Bluegrass. Then, the Gem of Bluegrass focuses on how a prevailing mood of early bluegrass – experiencing a loss that cannot be recovered — is represented today. In the second half of the show, we play a couple of old time tunes that you would not expect to hear. Then it’s a few songs that anticipate spring, and of course a happy-sounding sad song. Host Phil Nusbaum hopes that listeners will contribute their happy-sounding sad songs to the show either through email at the contact link at www.bluegrassreview.com or at the Bluegrass Review site on Facebook.
Bluegrass Signal – DBFS – live!
As Jonathan Takiff wrote in the Philadelphia Daily News, “I don’t know which I enjoy more: Dry Branch Fire Squad’s hard-core, purebred bluegrass music, or leader/mc Ron Thomason’s hilariously droll ‘country bumpkin’ (but not really) monologues that are also a big part of the band’s show.” This week’s “Bluegrass Signal” has plenty of both, drawing from the two live albums DBFS has released on Rounder, concert recordings from 1995 and 2002. I told you that, now I’ll tell you this.
*The Dick Spottswood Show
We salute the long awaited coming of spring with the Maddox Brothers and Rose, Memphis Jug Band and the Lilly Brothers, and we check our phone messages from the Carter Family, Blue Sky Boys, Jim Reeves and Merle Travis. Gary Davis, Frank Stokes and Libba Cotten pick some blues guitar, Hank Snow and the Sons of the Pioneers remember Stephen Foster. and we’ll enjoy classic gospel from the Brown’s Ferry Four and Charlie Monroe. It’s a good week for a season change and Obsolete Music too.
*etown – Joan Baez & Brett Dennen
This week’s show was originally recorded at the historic Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder in 2008 as part of their remarkable landmark’s 110th anniversary celebration. Joan Baez returns to eTown to celebrate a new album and her 50th anniversary year of performing. Her top-notch touring band (John Doyle, Dirk Powell and Todd Phillips) accompanies her. Also with us this week for this encore airing is rising star, Brett Dennen.
The Free for All – Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. LIVE, Friday 9 p.m.-12 a.m.
The Gary Henderson Show – Saturday 8-11 a.m. LIVE, Monday 12 p.m.,
The Katy Daley Show - Monday- Friday LIVE, 7-10 a.m. ET
The Lee Michael Demsey Show – Saturday 11a.m.-2p.m., Monday- Friday LIVE, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET
Lonesome Pine RFD with Carol Beaugard – Mon. 12 a.m., Wed. 9 p.m., Thurs. 12 p.m.
*Mountain Stage
Featuring Neko Case, Greg Brown, Vic Chesnutt, Crooked Fingers, Sonos . View Playlist.
Music from Foggy Hollow
In Music from Foggy Hollow from Australia this week Mike Kear’s featuring a whole raft of new albums with songs from the songwriting powerhouse of Miss Dixie and Tom T Hall. That includes new songs from The Ridgerunners Gospel band, Summertown Road, Ken Scoggins & Miller’s Creek, Don Rigsby – back on the road now with his band Midnight Call, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, and lots more. As usual we don’t take ourselves too seriously – there’s time for some goofing off too. It’s another packed show of wholesome bluegrass fun, so don’t miss it!
Old Time Jam
This week the show is all about dogs, “Man’s Best Friend.” Included are new releases like “Oh Blue” by Alice Gerrard and Mike Seeger, “Granny, Does Your Dog Bite,” by Stephanie Coleman, and “Old Dog,” written by Chris Coole and the title cut from his new CD by the same name.
Open Mic – Mountain Stage
This week we Open the Mic for an encore broadcast of Mountain Stage. We’ll highlight the grassy groups that have performed live on this West Virginia program in the past few months, including Cadillac Sky, Sometymes Why, Kathy Mattea, and Kelleigh McKenzie.
The Ray Davis Show – Monday- Friday LIVE, 3-6p.m., Sunday 10am-1p
Rotating Shows
The Old Home Place with Lisa Kay Howard – Sunday 3 a.m. (March 21)
Foster’s Corner – Tuesday 12 p.m., Thursday 12 a.m., Sunday 3 a.m. (March 28)
Special Programming - Jim Hurst & Lou Reid & Carolina LIVE
This week we feature live performances from Jim Hurst (from our Washington, DC studios) and Lou Reid & Carolina (from our IBMA 2009 broadcast).
LIVE Stained Glass Bluegrass hosted by Bob Webster
On this edition we continue our visit with Don Rigsby for the second (and final) part of the interview with him about his new all gospel recording “The Voice of God.” Keep those song books handy for singing the old hymns at the start of the third hour – you’ll need to practice since Easter is only two weeks away and we’ll have a lot of songs to sing for that special day.
*Thistle and Shamrock – Mando Banjo Magic
Stringed instruments of all sorts help forge this music’s identity. This week we feature two that have become central to its sound with Seamus Egan, Jane Rothfield, and Gerry O’Connor.
LIVE *Traditions with Mary Cliff – Saturday 2-6 p.m.
Uptown Bluegrass with George McKnight – Generations
This week we feature bluegrass music spanning generations; Fathers and Sons, Moms and Daughters, Brothers, Sisters, G’pa and Grandsons, in terrific presentations. Many notable artists have the joy of bringing family members into the music and the blend of voices in lead and harmony singing is very delightful.
