One thing that kept me going immediately after the September 11th attacks was the thoughtful and moving coverage from :NPR – All Songs Considered has gathered all the music used on various news shows in one place. It helped a lot then, and still helps. Also, there was a lot of amazing commentary they got from ordinary people calling in and discussing the attacks. There are archives of all their news coverage during the period, and there is an archive of links and stories about the response to the attacks. I was alone that week while David was off in…

I had my first “real” session with the new chiropractor last night. If you’ve been to the “back cracker” you know the drill; at some point, therapeutic violence will be done to your musculo-skeletal system. And at that point, you’ll make a loud “Whuff!” sound and hear alarming crackling sounds transmitted not through the air to your ears from without, but through your bones to your ears from within. Did that. Yep. No T-shirt, though. And I’ve been snap, crackle, poppin’ all day since then. My neck was temporarily loosened up last night (the masseur, Tyrone, went town on several…

This was one of those drop-everything-and-find-this-on-Amazon tunes: a group called Whirligig. The CD is called Spin. The tune was “Wink.” It was supposed to be in the New Acoustics channel, but it was this loopy Celtic/Klezmer romp. And here’s another one: Celtic Cafe by Karen Ashbrook and Paul Oorts. The song: “Style Musette.” This time it’s Celtic mashed up with a gypsy waltz. Jeez, I’d better get to bed, but this channel’s a good find.

I heard this incredible song the other day on the radio – it’s a band called Mutual Admiration Society. The song was called “Sake of the World.” Apprently they’re comprised of some people from Nickle Creek and Glenn Phillips, former front man of Toad The Wet Sprocket. I might have to go out and buy this, like, right now. Or very soon. It was a very beguiling tune.

Yesterday, a chance comment of mine after hearing a piece on :NPR gave David a mind virus for the day; he had Ravel’s “Bolero” stuck on repeat in his head. This morning, WXRT was doing their Friday preview for Saturday Morning Flashback with the time machine/wormhole schtick, and today the chosen year was 1984. The opening notes to Nena’s “99 Red Balloons” floated out of the car speakers, and on autopilot my hand reached out to turn the volume up. Good times. Tried to sing along, but it was the English version and I wanted to sing the chorus in…

Something I often do, but haven’t mentioned before: I sing in the car. Yes, I’m one of those annoying people you see in traffic, sitting at a light that’s just turned green trying to hit the note AND remember the words AND get it in gear AND get their ass moving. That’s me. It’s how I gird up on my way to work, or de-gird on the way home. I often think that good songs at the beginning and end of my day act like bookends. I usually listen to WBEZ for news, but WXRT for music. In fact, you…

Listening to KUNC‘s music webcast – they’re playing a lot of Ray Charles’ music just now. Sounds good. It helps. (Why do I listen to a Colorado station? That goes back to a trip with David in 1995. Don’t worry about it. Just listen.)

HONOLULU – Hawaiian music is doing swimmingly with listeners, and now it’s is ready to catch the big one: the Grammy. The genre will have its own category for the first time next year if the National Academy of Arts & Sciences approves. Great news, long time coming. If you’ve ever wondered “who sings that great mix of Over the Rainbow and Wonderful World,” that’s “Iz” Kamikawiwo’ole, a Hawaiian artist who died a few years ago. I was so lucky to have gone to a live show at the Northwest Folklife Festival that featured some Hawaiian Slack Key Masters. I’m…

I wish I’d seen this siteMedieval and Renaissance Instruments back in November when I was promoting the Renaissance Christmas concert we hosted at church with Phoenix Camerata. That was a fun concert – we’ll have them back again, but they’d like to do a springtime/courtly love type of program. Among the instruments they played were hurdy-gurdy, a variety of recorders, and they made quite a rackett, too. The Phoenix Consort was a great group to work with and if you live in northern Illinois, they’re available to book by contacting Kim Katulka.