Some Political Musical Thoughts

This past Sunday, if you tuned in to TRADITIONS you heard 2 separate interviews. One featured the great Noel Paul Stookey (via phone), Annie Dinerman, and Arlon Bennett. Two wonderful composers that were finalists in the Foundation that Mr. Stookey has created from the proceeds of his memorable compostion--The Wedding Song.
Should you like to listen to this interview with these talented artists just go to Annie's Website and click on the podcasts portion. It is archived there.

Speaking of archiving. The interview with Clay Eals is archived on his website

Additionally, in the 4 PM hour Modern Man was featured. Well, 2/3 --David Buskin and Rob Carlson. Geo. Wurzbach's spirit hovered over the proceedings. Sort of a seance.
Those of you who tuned in might remember both conversations and the music that was featured. Which, finally, brings me to the title and the Political Musical Thoughts referred to.

As they say in radio, TV, and in print---the thoughts and opinions expressed do not reflect those of the station or the artists.
To start with one has to ask the question if music can change the course of events. If so, how can it do that. Hosting a program that plays much topical and political material it is not being a heretic for me to say that in most cases it CANNOT. What it can do, however, is to bring awareness to people.

Now we have to ask ourselves how that can best be done. Frankly, anthemic music can do such things. Think of the Civil Rights Era and "We Shall Overcome", think of Viet Nam and some of the Phil Ochs anthems, think of the anthems of Pete Seeger, Pat Humphries, and many others.

In our discussion with Noel Stookey, he made the point, as well, about anthemic music. My feeling on that is---music that can get your blood boiling, music that can make you say---"hey, I need to take a stand". Far be it from me to now list the songs that I think do that since different songs do that for different people. Yet, those that can be hummed, sung with, and (as the expression goes, "create a worm in your head) are the ones that will help to make a change. I think that there is a great place for songs of subtlety. They show insight and understanding. Will they rouse the masses? Best you think about that one.

Which brings me to the music an conversation with David Buskin and Rob Carlson where, after much banter and some truly wonderful music from their new CD (ASSISTED LIVING) we got down to a bit of politics after playing their brilliant satirical piece about "Abdul, the Reluctant Martyr" (He's not your average Gaza Stripper).


The point was made with humor that was not all that subtle. Well, may be it was. Rob Carlson made a few truly valid points about the British honoring Salman Rushdie with a Knighthood and now those in the Middle East want to honor Bin Laden==="because look what the Brits have done". As Rob said--"how do you compare a murderous thug to a brilliant writer"---and to lighten the moment David Buskin commented about a book Rushdie is now (allegedly--according to Buskin) writing about Big Fat Buddha---so--"..Rushdie is in it for the bucks". Some fun was had with these comments, but the point is humor and some subtlety got a point across and brought us back to, as they say, the entertainment portion of the program.

Was any of this anthemic--NO. Did it make people think a bit? Hopefully. Was there another purpose? Sure---to show the other side of a comedy team and also show the subtle influences of our other guests that day.

One last thought about MODERN MAN on TRADITIONS. They are planning a "blog"---some dialogue follows:


Rob Carlson: I hope other people are as interested in me as I am.

Bill Hahn: Well, I wonder, on these blogs, how many people really want to hear about someone's bowel movements.

David Buskin: Hey, That was my lead article.


Following this topic to a, sort of logical, finish I have to add that I know that when one reviews music, film, or any media a problem arises. If you do it for a general publication (i.e. NY Times, LA Times, etc) you can give an objective and critical review. When you review for a trade publication (music industry, recording, Sing Out, etc;) only a positive review is printed. Or there is no review.

This brings me back to blogs. While it is now July---and some people talk of Christmas in July I will speak of New Years Resolutions in July.

I resolve to review CDs or books that come my way and give an honest opinion---yea or nay. Or any stops in between. Now, I know that I am not the only judge of quality or content but only one person giving an opinion---who never ever mentioned his bowel movements (constipation can make you cranky and pan submissions---David Buskin notwithstanding). That said, I hope it was noticed that I am truly enthused about Clay Eals book on Steve Goodman. There were other things that came in (CDs) that, frankly, I did not mention due to my negative feelings about them. There were positive ones that I did mention if you check the massive archives of this vast collection of pomposity that is now engulfing us.

Hereafter, good and bad in my humble---OK---not so humble opinion. More like Ebert---praise it or knock it and you decide. Seems like the honest and fair way to go.


A few recommendations then (positive):
Rowan and Navarro
Modern Man (Assisted Living)
Eric Bogle (Other People's Children)
Arlon Bennett (Summer's Voice)
Kate Campbell (you pick)

It seems that I should also add one that I did not play on the air and played an earlier version by this wonderful---and I mean that--wonderful artist who, I believe, truly, overdid this with production and pomposity---Arlo Guthrie.

His newest CD is : "Times Like These". Recorded with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. Many of the songs there---"Last Train" is an example, sound a lot better with less production. "City of New Orleans" (by Steve Goodman) also seem overdone. Frankly, there are voices and personas (Judy Collins comes to mind) that can pull of a recording with a symphony orchestra. Arlo, to me, cannot. He is best with less production ---like his father.


As to archival material suggestions:

just leave requests and e mail addresses.

A PROGRAM PREVIEW & THE MARQUEE CHANGE

As you see John Prine has left this mini stage for the present and is now replaced by a most worthy artist--- Steve Gillette. Only a few clips but to find out more about him and his partner Cindy Mangsen you might go to their web-site.

There you will find, besides, appearances, history, and lots of great pictures---a treasure trove of bad and good jokes.

Now for a few brief updates and comments.

For TRADITIONS you will note--if you scroll down--that on Sunday July 15 the appearances of both Noel Paul Stookey, Arlon Bennet, and Annie Dinerman will be featured. In addition, 2/3 of Modern Man join us for a period of fun and frivolity---to put it mildly.

July 16 is, sadly, the date of the demise of Harry Chapin and his music will be featured that day. You may recall that some years back the entire program was devoted to his music on that date. On that occasion we were joined on the telephone by many people of note that were attending an event to aid Harry's World Hunger Year Project.

This brings me to the segue about artists, meaning, and early demise. Steve Goodman, as you know, succumbed to Leukemia at a tender age. Kate Wolf the same way with similar later treatments. To no avail.

The happy news is that their spirit and their music lives on and that legacy is something we should all cherish. One way that can be done is to visit the Kate Wolf Website or the various ones devoted to the memory of Harry Chapin and Steve Goodman. For Steve Goodman I would recommend Clay Eals website at this time. With Clay Eals you will find that Steve Goodman lives again and you live with him.

Now, on a happier note, an event you might wish to be a part of. Clay Eals will be at The Bitter End (NYC) at 2 PM on August 13. He will be joined by David Amram and many musicians to celebrate the life of Steve Goodman and to do a book signing. Admission is FREE. I will be there and hope to meet some of you as well.

David Amram will be with me on various radio programs:

TRADITIONS---July 29

SUNDAY SIMCHA--July 29

TABLETALK---------August 16

DAVID AMRAM ---as you see---has a lot to say and can easily fill all 3 shows---fear not---TRADITIONS is about 40 minutes and SUNDAY SIMCHA--15. TABLE TALK is the full half hour devoted to his relationship with the likes of Jazz greats such as Mingus, Monk, and philosophical insights into his relationships with Jack Kerouac and such meaningful people---including Leonard Bernstein--OK--Lenny, as he says. Pete Seeger, Steve Goodman, and musicians from all over the world are in his comments.

As David Amram tells us---where else but on stations such as this can you have the openness, the time, and the opportunity to allow for such a great interchange of music, thought, and all things in-between.

News Views and Updates

Brief and Concise---that is the watchword here. Unlike Fair and Balanced---where have we heard that?

The line-up on TRADITIONS for July 15 you know of---if not just scroll down. It promises to be a memorable program.

DAVID AMRAM was originally scheduled for SUNDAY SIMCHA. Due to time constraints he will be on TRADITIONS and on TABLETALK. The date will be announced shortly--for TRADITIONS. TABLETALK will have his presence on August 12.

Granted this is not a great picture of a venue that promises to be a nice home for some musical events. In fact, it is a lovely theater located in Stony Point, NY making it a short drive from Bergen County, Orange County, and less than 15 minutes from points in Rockland County. The venue is the PENGUIN REP . Their drama season is now under way and you might want to check that out by clicking above on the website. Their plays are all professionally presented with Actors Equity personnel. The staging and scenery is Broadway class. As the Artistic Director mentioned in my TABLETALK interview ---"...you get Broadway for less than half the price and free parking to boot". One of last years productions that was truly "great" is moving this fall to Off Bway. This is spoken by one who witnessed it and was blown away by it----THE GOLDMAN PROJECT.

The music part will need your help if you think this worthwhile. If you do then you are joining the ranks of, among others, Margot Leverett and The Klezmer Mtn. Boys., Modern Man, Kim and Reggie Harris, and all the others you can see by clicking on the right to view pictures of artists that I have been fortunate to meet and present on TRADITIONS. New artists are also in the offing for this, hopeful, new venue to give a stage to people that can provide us with more that the "pop" and "pap" you get to attend for a very heavy price or the free "pop" and "pap" on your very own boob tube. Which, as we know, is not free. You pay for your cable or satellite and then you watch the commercials.

Now comes an opportunity for a fairly priced venue to welcome you to some brilliant talent. While I, personally, encourage this, and will present some of these people, my interest is solely---as it was, some 25 years back--- in giving a stage to people who should be seen and to have audiences expose themselves (in a most proper way) to artists they may or may not have heard of before.

You might want to contact the Penguin Rep at their web site above and request such a series.

The reception for the interviews and the book on Steve Goodman by Clay Eals has been gratifying. Mr. Eals will be in New York and the environs for book signings in the month of August. I will be joining him for a few of those. A definite one will be at The Bitter End. Some libraries in the area will also have him for his signings and discussion of his book.

It is gratifying that he has brought Steve Goodman to the fore once again. As he said---"...there are Goodman fans there and they do not even know it". True words. City of New Orleans aside (and once you say that---the response--oh, that is Steve Goodman) there are so many songs people do not realize were his creation. So many songs that he helped others compose that no one realizes were partly created by him---who asked no credit.

GUESTS & OTHER UPDATES.

Once again we start with TRADITIONS





STEVE GOODMAN on the left is again the subject of part 2 of my interview with Clay Eals , author of FACING THE MUSIC--Steve Goodman. This interview will be archived on Clay Eals website (link above). Part 1 is up and running. (Click on Reviews & Other Press ---scroll down to Links to Radio Shows and click on WFDU) .Part 2 next week. The response to the interview and, Clay Eals tells me, the book is having a very good reception. His offer of an autographed bookmark mailed to you with the purchase of the book from his web site still stands.

In part 2 we discuss Steve Goodman's relationship with John Prine, why the book has the title it has, and we get to the Goodman classic and signature piece

It is anticipated that the author will be coming East for some book signings and appearances in August. Check his or this site for updates. The month of July is going to be busy with lots of music and guests

Noel Paul Stookey and artists involved in the Music To Life Project from the Public Domain Foundation will join the program on July 15 for some music and talk about the purpose and achievements of the project. Involved in it are such luminaries as Tom Paxton, Tom Chapin, Judy Colin,Christine Lavin , and many more. You know---The Famous Many Others.






MODERN MAN



Also guests in July. They will be joining us on July 15. The same day as Noel Paul Stookey and crew--we shall keep the revolving door well oiled for the great turnover of guests that day. Lots of music and moods to vary the afternoon.

Modern Man has a brand new CD---Assisted Living. This CD is quite a change of pace for the group. One has to say it is both funny, moody, and wonderfully produced.

MICHAEL SMITH

is a surprise entry for July 1. A perfect companion interview to go with Clay Eals. We will talking about Michael Smith---his music, his career, and his close relationship with Steve Goodman.

A full and interesting afternoon is promised and as always it is our honor to be able to welcome such great talents to the program. Besides their personal appearances on stages we are privileged and honored to be a conduit for them to, we hope, a wide and interested audience.

On to SUNDAY SIMCHA :

DAVID AMRAM


the amazing "renaissance man" will be a guest on Sunday Simcha and also on TABLETALK. David Amram has composed operas (The Final Ingredient), symphonies, popular songs, and has performed with such diverse artists as Leonard Bernstein, Steve Goodman, Alan Ginsburg, Jack Kerouac, and many more. It has to be added here that if you read CLAY EALS book about STEVE GOODMAN you will find, in the photo section, a great picture of David Amram under the chupah with his best man behind him----STEVE GOODMAN

It is an honor and a privilege that he will be joining the Sunday Simcha program on---it is planned for July 15. That date is tentative at this point.

From an e mail I rcvd from Mr. Amram (and used with his permission) is a quote relating to WFDU and its programming:

your station is terrific and a lot of young people (and even 76 year oldsters like myself) enjoy the programming as an oasis from the torture of format radio's gradual incarceration into the Penitentiary of Bad Taste in the prison system of the Globalized Entertainment Industry's avalanche of swill which Amnesty International should cite as cruel and unusual punishment!





David Amram is now in the midst of composing a symphony --Variations on Music of Woody Guthrie.

TABLETALK:



JULY 8: The exclusive metro NY/NJ airing of the CAPITOL STEPS
quarterly radio program. This is, obviously, the July 4 Holiday Special. The VPs own laws and undisclosed locations as well as words from the beloved inhabitant of the house that is white located in DC will be explored in song and wit.

JULY 15 DAVID AMRAM will be on the program and information about him is explored at length above. The focus will be on his long and ever so fruitful career and life.

A busy and interesting month. Keep checking in for updates on programs, musical events, and changes on the videos on all 3 pages---Molly Picon is still there for you enjoyment. As are The Kingfish and his cronies on The Almost Daily Rooster.

Program Notes and Reminders

We start with TRADITIONS: A picture that was taken in 1981 at the Great Hudson River Revival (Clearwater) by your never so humble correspondent.



My one and only time that I had the pleasure of meeting this compleat artist.

All this is to say that on June 24 the interview with Clay Eals, author of a most brilliant and readable biography of Steve Goodman will be aired. That will be Part One. Given the size and the detail of this work along with re-hearing much of Steve Goodman's music (and that of his friends who covered his work) it had to be broken into two parts. Part 2 will air on July 1. Hopefully you will be there for that one as well and that you will want to get this book. Long but ever so readable. As Clay Eals says in the interview---"...people have told me to write a book you cannot put down and you wrote one you cannot pick up (it is 5 lbs)." Yet, you cannot put it down.

The wonderful thing about this interview is this---should you miss it or cannot get it on air---within 24 hours it will be archived and you can hear it on CLAYEALS.COM

Moving on to SUNDAY SIMCHA: The next few weeks we return to some traditional music and the good old "shtick" of comedy. While on June 24 we, once again, hear some great Klezmer from the Klezmatics and the Maxwell St. Klezmer Band. In addition a few comments about the "gala" for Folksbiene, which I attended. Suffice it so say our guests---Fyvus Finkel and Zalmen Mlotek (artistic director for Folksbiene) made---0r stole--the show. Aside from the most well deserved awards they were the ones that "captured" the audience with their wit and music.

On a personal note, I have to say that Mr. Finkel is on stage what he was with me in, our conversation on SUNDAY SIMCHA---a "mensch".

For a critique of the gala suffice it to say that it served a very worthy cause and one would hope that performers that can no longer do their "act" should either opt out or the producers should have the sense not to put them in such embarrassing--though welcome to them---positions. Positions that has the audience walking out of the hall.

Let me also salute another wonder of the Folksbiene. That would be Zalmen Mlotek. Artistic director, pianist extraordinaire, and I am proud to say he was a guest on the program as well. Which, is far from his greatest achievements. Those are his talents and direction of Folksbiene.

On another note please do visit that dear old Rooster for a bit of nostalgia and wonder about the passing of time and technology.

MEMORABLE MOVING MOMENTS UPDATES

Steve Goodman will always be with us but the marquee has changed to now feature one of his best friends---John Prine. In the book you will be hearing much more about on TRADITIONS in the last week of June (6.24)and July (7.1) many tales will be told of their relationship--Steve's magnanimity, Prine's creativity, and much more.

If you viewed some of the Steve Goodman pieces this last week you surely saw his dynamism as a stage performer. What you did not see is his interaction with people. He seemed to know everyone in the music "business" (though David Buskin says--."...never use those two words together". Steve knew him as well). Now view the creative writing talents of John Prine for a time.

If you click over to the Playlists you will find some things relevant to Sunday Simcha. Molly Picon is always a favorite====try the trailer at the bottom of the frames.

On THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER you will find, for a brief period, Amos N' Andy. Was there ever more of a Kingfish than Tim Moore? He was the embodiment of George "Kingfish" Stevens. Brilliant acting by brilliant artists that is, sadly, banned from the air-waves for the most inane reasoning. More insights and fun than the nonsense that purports to have meaning today---reality programs of fools making even bigger fools of themselves. And let us never forget the inanity and bad taste that was The Jeffersons and Sanford and Son.