Becoming Ella Fitzgerald, Part One

I was happy to speak with Judith Tick, famed musicologist and professor emerita of music history at Northeastern University, and also author of the new biography of Ella Fitzgerald, Becoming Ella Fitzgerald.

Click on the triangle or mp3 link above to listen to part one of our interview, as broadcast today on the Arts Express radio program, heard on WBAI FM NYC and Pacifica affiliates across the nation. Next week, we’ll run part two of the interview.

A Backstage Peek

This was really fun to watch. This guy, Josh Turner, is not only a great guitar player, but he is just so creative and knowledgeable on the back end of things as well. He writes and records a song in one hour, and shows you his process. Just his closetful of mics alone was worth the price of admission. Hilarious and scary!

More at Josh Turner Guitar

Guitar God: Tommy Emmanuel

Monday morning, a virtuoso. True, it’s basically three and a half minutes of showing off, but Tommy Emmanuel kind of has the right to do all the showing off he wants. “Classical Gas” by Mason Williams.

Thanks to YouTuber sung hoon park

Baby It’s You: The Shirelles

The Shirelles, one of the greatest girl groups of the 60s, had a hit with this song, co-written by, oddly enough, Burt Bacharach. The Beatles thought enough of the song to do a very good cover of it on their first album.

Thanks to YouTuber Nipstersongs1

Runnin’ On Empty: Jackson Browne

Monday Morning, Jackson Browne worries about a fuel shortage.

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields
In ’65, I was 17 and running up 101
I don’t know where I’m running now, I’m just running on…

Thanks to YouTuber upfront27

With A Smile And A Song: Barbara Cook

Thanks to David Kenney, who played this song on his radio show Everything Old is New Again today–I had never heard it before. Though the lyric is very Disney, the gorgeous voice of Barbara Cook makes the song something special.

Thanks to YouTuber BlondieJohnson

All The Things You Are: Connie Evingson

I don’t know why I’ve never heard of her before, but I really like her voice and the band. She’s from Bob Dylan’s hometown, Hibbing, Minnesota. Irv Williams on tenor sax and Jeanne Arland Peterson on piano.

Thanks to YouTuber yoichiro tani

Hey Guys, Watch This: Nellie McKay

I was so happy to be speaking again with the inimitable Nellie McKay, a starburst of humor, talent, skill, and insight. She’s a superb and courageous singer/songwriter with nine albums including Get Away From Me, Sister Orchid and her latest album, Hey Guys, Watch This. We talked about her new album of original songs, and a host of other topics including animal rights, the War in Ukraine, the COVID lockdowns, and more.

Click on the triangle or mp3 link above to hear the interview as broadcast on the Arts Express radio program today, heard on WBAI FM NYC and Pacifica affiliates across the nation.

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow

Monday morning, a really excellent cover with three part harmony and Toni Lindgren’s big guitar. Lauren O’Connell on lead and Elle Cordova backing up.

More at Sunday Mornings HQ