A JULY 4th SURPRISE AND TREAT FOR YOU

Are you a person of taste and insight? Do you think that one of the great painters of the 20th century was Earl Scheib? Are you an afficianado of the great talents of Jerry Lewis---and not French? Well---read on because this is a show for you.

You know that for the years that I had the pleasure of hosting TABLETALK we always featured THE CAPITOL STEPS on the quarterly programs. WFDU and Susan Telser Schwartz have kindly allowed me to air their 4th of July Program at 8 PM on July 19. It will be archived for two weeks. Should you want a scoop you can listen to it right here. Trust me---clever, topical, and, as always, on point. The Capitol Steps.

If you have an Ipod player all to the good. If not I am sure you can access it via whatever player you have installed---if not---contact me and I shall guide you. You know---Blind Leading Blind. In any case this is the thing to click on and I guarantee---trust me---a brilliant and topical 29 minutes will be spent. You can also hear it live on WFDU on July 19 at 8 AM---if you feel inspired to get up that early. In any case---this is the spot to hear it

http://www.capsteps.com/radio/depot/broadcast.html

Not overly complicated complicated (password and screen name are already there) and no videos but, trust me, you will be delighted and have a heads up prior to air on WFDU on July 19.

Just think---topical material, no Michael Jackson, and the shennanigans of the famous in a comical manner---too bad nothing about good old Bernie Madoff---too early. Think about this though. He is thinking of subscribing to a Zagat Guide to prison dining---hope it helps. they do leave out the business about "better not forget your checkbook"---none reqired. You know---he may well be living better than the people he fleeced. Free food and free dining and free beds.

If you want a copy of one of their earlier CDs merely e mail me and the first 10 writers will receive one--- wfdutraditions@yahoo.com Make sure you put in an e mail address and a mailing address.

TRADITIONS on June 28 and a few other comments

It was satisfying that so many people enjoyed my interview with Clement Talbot on June 14. He e mailed me with many thanks for it along with his worry that it might be well received but it seems that listeners contacted him and ordered some 9 or 10 of the wonderful book (that comes with CDs and DVDs) from the website .

The June 28 program will be a program of requests, themes, and a few surprise entries (musically) as well a ticket gift for you for the FALCON RIDGE FESTIVAL. I will announce that at some time during the program.

A few new and also nostalgic moments during the Dave Miller Segment (you know--thrills of the hills, tops in pops, etc;) and some really great story songs for you.

The other comments are on THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER page. I wish the names were shorter but the die is cast and computer Luddites (definitions notwithstanding) find it hard to change them and cause you difficulty

THEODORE BIKEL: THE FIRST 85 YEARS

The most formal of "living rooms" was a lot less formal than this picture of the Stern auditorium of Carnegie Hall would have you believe. Picture a stage filled with microphones, instruments (and, of course, the piano) where a really wonderful birthday bash was about to begin. A birthday bash to honor what one can probably truly refer to as "a man for all seasons". Theodore Bikel. And a real party it was.


From the moment David Amram came out with his various instruments the party was off and running. While there is a list of artists too long to go into detail about, suffice it to say all had a connection to Theo Bikel---be it drama, music, dance, or his causes for justice, freedom, and equal rights.

The first half of the program had the honoree sitting in a box in the center of the hall with some of his celebrated guests--including Chita Rivera while the entertainment started with accolades to him from the likes of Beyond The Pale, the actress (we could say actor) Patricia Connolly, and a host of others. Alan Alda was a truly gracious interlocutor and read some wonderful messages sent for the occasion from various people ending with a message from Michael Bloomberg---but, as Mr. Alda shook the note to see---no key to the city.

A few people I do want to mention in a bit more detail in the first half of the program and also comment that they all presented just one piece --or 2 if they were short ones.

THE KLEZMATICS, as always, brought the house down with 2 pieces; the second of which came from their Wonder Wheel album.

SUSAN WERNER, who many of you have heard on Traditions and recently saw at the Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music club, did a wonderful turn using her guitar--though I admit I had hoped to see her at that Carnegie grand piano.

PETER/PAUL/NO MARY were a wonderful few moments that really got the audience involved with two pieces---the first a wonderful piece about not making fun of people who might be"different" and the second was Puff The Magic Dragon. A few comments about that interlude which was both positive, negative and unnecessary. On a positive note the first piece was perfect for the demographic of the audience--more about the demograpic later--the second, "Puff", also involved the audience and was wonderfully received. Mr. Yarrow's comments about Mary were, I felt, totally unnecessary. As he said himself,"...I am probably saying more than I should.." Right he certainly was. I am sure we are all happy that she --as he said--" is cancer free" but I do not know that he needed to describe her chemotherapy and its side effects which prevented her appearance. Some folks just cannot -- I will leave the last comment out. Noel Paul Stookey was, as usual, a quiet, talented, class act.

There were more great people that came out in the first half---including Judy Kaye, Michael Wex ( who did a brilliant parody/satirical country western piece) the author of Born To Kvetch amongst other that brought him a over the radar.

The second half of the program started with Theodore Bikel making a short and touching speech about the evening and the cause it was benefiting. He followed that with some amazing virtuosic pieces that included some solo work, some work with Shura Livpovsky, and also his wife Tamara Brooks on the piano.

It really turned into a birthday party at this point when Theo Bikel and Tamara Brooks brought out:

SARAH HOROWITZ, the brilliant violinist who, I thought was in her 20s from where I was sitting, but is in fact just 14 years old.

DAVID KRAKAUER, a clarinetist that totally tore the house down with his brilliant mastery of the instrument. Hard to describe what he did with it but, suffice it to say, he combines Jazz, Klezmer, and improv into a magical blend.

Next a wonderful ensemble presentation with the Klezmatics and others after which they all left the stage and left it to Tom Paxton who did two pieces that were known to some---but, as said earlier, given the demographic might not have been familiar to the audience. So, sing a long was out. Arlo Guthrie was next and got a rousing welcome (as did Tom Paxton). After his once piece---more later on that---

Finally the entire group came on stage for the grand finale (though I had hoped the audience would sing Happy Birthday) which was one of the most clever and touching things I have ever seen. It started out with Theo Bikel doing "Those Were The Days" in Yiddish and then it turned to English and many people had original verses to add that pertained to the birthday boy. All were clever but, frankly, I thought Tom Paxton's the funniest (I do not know if he wrote it)---about being in a bar in Greenwhich Village with Irish Revolutionary songs being sung and Bikel singing them in Yiddish. Shades of Saints and Tzadiks CD.

While I said I do not know if Tom Paxton wrote that it is because in the midst of the entire ensemble stood, I believe,Chris Wangro who seemed to be wonderfully conducting this finale. Perhaps he had a hand in the composition since the lyrics were on paper they sang from. The encore came as a wonderful solo piece of "If I Were A Rich Man" by Theo Bikel accompanied on the piano by Tamara Brooks. All on the stage left only for him and Tamara.

It was, by any measure, a wonderful and touching evening. A few thoughts about some of the moments:
The demographic was predominantly an older Jewish crowd which did appreciate Puff the Magic Dragon but seemed lost in the Arlo Guthrie selection---St. James Infirmary. Something I should think a performer would realize. The audience did seem to appreciate the Tom Paxton pieces but were not of the group or age that would sing along---as they did with Puff--or any of the other Yiddish themed pieces.

The entire evening was truly one that was meaningful to the honoree, adored by the audience, and the young artists and the older ones were a joy to behold. It was a wonderful thing that they all had a connection to Theo Bikel.

I was delighted and honored to have been in the hall and it is, truly, a hall that has memories that go through the ages---classical, folk, jazz, etc; The nations "parlor" if you will. The right place for this wonderful 85th birthday commemoration. How wonderful to see the eternal spirit of youth in this youngster at 85----as it is said---Kine Hora---you should live to 125.

ARCHIVED PROGRAMS

WFDU is now archiving the programs at WFDU.FM The programs will be available for 2 weeks from their air date. If you missed any of the TRADITIONS or SUNDAY SIMCHA programs you can now hear them at your convenience---provided a two week period is convenient.

One caveat. When you tune in the program you will hear is the final 2 minutes of the previous program---so, just hang in there!!

A SLIP SLIDING SUGGESTION AGAIN

Which is to scoot over to The Almost Daily Rooster. Just click on the name or the link at the right.

This is sort of like the guy with the cane dragging you into the clothing store of yore. So---get your ass, rear-end, or tuchas over there. I promise it will be of interest.

ROY TALBOT--A REMEMBRANCE OF THE TALBOT BROTHERS

An era ended on May 15 in Paget, Bermuda. The last surviving member of the hugely popular and groundbreaking Calypso group "The Talbot Brothers" died at the age of 94. This Sunday I shall remember them with some of their music and commentary on TRADITIONS.




In the picture above Roy Talbot is on the far right playing his trademark instrument (which he built from meat packing crates---think the origins of steel drums---oil cans) named "Bermudavarius" and had only one string. He was also the resounding bass singer of the group.

The brothers---though a cousin was also in the group---grew up in Tuckertown but their family was moved to another section of Bermuda to allow for the development of Tuckertown into very posh residential community that now has homes owned by Mayor Bloomberg, Ross Perot among others. Like so many people we have played on TRADITIONS their roots started in Church music and led them to such great heights. They appeared in worldwide venues including TV in the US including appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.

A few personal recollections now of the group. My wife and I had the delight of finding the group while visiting Bermuda in the late 1950s. They along with artists like Erskine Zuill were exciting discoveries to us---and an aside here--Bermuda at that time was totally segregated and that also included hotels in which Jewish visitors were not allowed. Elbow Beach comes to mind. Castle Harbour was one of the few that did permit Jews. People like the Talbots had it harder since they, just as in the U S, were precluded from spending nights in the venues in which they performed. That could be an entire different topic---the evolvement of Bermuda.

We found The Talbot Brothers, as I said. Found them with such wonderful pieces as "Yellow Bird", "Trimmingham and Trott", "Back To Back--Belly to Belly"and many more--including "Jane Jane Jane" ( more about that later). One had to reserve quite some time in advance to get into their performances---as one did for people like Zuill and Hubert Smith. The music was rhythmic and topical in that it covered political situations in Bermuda and the U S (Atomic Nightmare---I'm Going to run like a son of a gun).

A word here about some of the topical material---which you will hear a bit of on Sunday. Atomic Nightmare is fairly self explanatory. Trimmingham and Trott is a wonderful piece about a retail establishment in the WW2 years that catered to U S Navy personnel with some feelings of taking advantage. I am not certain if it was recorded by The Talbot Brothers (though they performed it) but it was recorded by Hubert Smith. Back To Back (Belly to Belly) was not their composition and had been covered by many---including some 5 or so versions by Harry Belafonte---I thought theirs the best. It was composed by Lord Intruder-----aka Winston O'Connor. You have to love those names.

The Talbot Brothers consisted of Roy, Archie, Austin, Bryan, Ross, and cousin Cromwell Mandres and used a different instrument line-up than the more typical Trinidadian calypso instrumentation---
Fast forward now to the 1970s. The Talbot Brothers had achieved world wide fame appearing on major TV shows in NY and touring the world. Being, not only, the toast of Bermuda but, given the segregation there in the earlier years much demanded at private parties at the very wealthy. Not only appearing their but being totally trusted entertainers ---as they say--what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. So it was with them and the society types that invited--hired--them.

The personal reminiscences---the later 1970s. My wife and I once again went to Bermuda and hoped to see the Talbots. It seemed sad---an Irish troupe of performers which included dancers, singers, and an alleged comic were headlining and the Talbot Brothers were relegated to being an opening act and playing dance music afterwards. At one point, my wife asked if they might be able to perform "Jane Jane Jane" and they said that the brother who was the lead on that had died---but if she knew the words to please join them on the stage for it. She did. A memorable and nostalgic (now) moment.

Fame may well be fleeting but sincerity and loyalty are not. On the way back to the airport I overheard one of the passengers on the bus say to his wife or fiance---"..hey, was this not great---just like NY". Sad!! You were supposed to open yourself to the great local talent and not hope you were home with the touring Irish Troupe of performers doing what was homogenized entertainment.

More on Sunday on TRADITIONS when we shall hear a bit of their music---and more if I can receive music from the author---Roy Talbot's nephew --of material I do not have. He is the author of a new book celebrating and commemorating his family-"Bermuda's Famous Talbot Brothers---A Celebration in Pictures and Song". It includes 2 CDs.

For more information on that go to http://www.talbotborthersbermuda.com/ If you want to know about Bermuda and segregation in the earlier years let me know and I will discuss it.

Might as well close with a nice shot of Bermuda- on second thought let us close with the Talbots since Bermuda is not the Bermuda that made them who they were anymore and would, probably, not appreciate what they have let slip away from them:

Roy Talbot---long and productive life---you and your era will be missed.