The Weekend Planet

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Sunday 31 August 2008

Listen Now - 31082008 |

Aliéksey Vianna (plays Sérgio Assad ) repeat: first aired on 17.2.08 View Playlist

Tonight’s show revolves around a definitely-Brazilian album for classical guitar, solo. Its still-young virtuoso Aliéksey Vianna was just eight when he took up guitar, via a happy accident at home; in a cupboard he found the guitar his mother had never quite got around to playing. Aliéksey Vianna plays Sérgio Assad: solo guitar works is a project actively encouraged/heartily approved of by the composer. Sérgio Assad is the older sibling in {arguably/inarguably} the world’s top classical guitar duo. Tonight’s show includes that duo’s astonishing take on George Gershwin’s best-loved orchestral work. They manage it wonderfully well, sans-orchestra.

Saturday 30 August 2008

Listen Now - 30082008 |

Randy Newman View Playlist

One of the 20th century’s greatest American songwriters is now in his 65th year. He is still writing great new songs in the 21st century. Harps and Angels shows that Randy Newman is not retiring ... in any sense. Be warned: this American does have a keen sense of irony. If you enjoy mordant wit, Newman’s latests musings on mortality {with particular reference to his own and to ‘the end of an Empire’} ought to make you laugh out loud; the music itself is also amusing ... and deliciously rich. However, if Short People made you angry and fooled you into thinking prejudice was Newman’s pleasure rather than target, you will be much happier with some other sweeter, simpler songster.

Sunday 24 August 2008

Listen Now - 24082008 |

Darrell Scott { Modern Hymns } View Playlist

Darrell Scott is living proof that a ‘talented non-conformist’ can enjoy success, even in today’s Nashville. He has won more than one national award for ‘Songwriter of the Year’, but other great North American songsters wrote everything on his Modern Hymns. Darell is a superbly soulful singer and multi-instrumentalist. With top-shelf accomplices, he does wonderful, non-imitative, oft-surprising, but always-appropriate things to Joni, Bob, Kris, Leonard, Paul et al... including some writers whose surnames you’d not so easily guess!

Saturday 23 August 2008

Listen Now - 23082008 |

Lionel Loueke View Playlist

Jazz guitar’s rising star grew up in Benin. Lionel Loueke has also lived and studied in other parts of Africa and in Paris. His musical world is not just ‘jazz.’ He is, however, American-resident and already a refreshing force in American jazz. Karibu is at core a trio set of new music. Most of the composed notes are the leader’s. His bassist and drummer are, respectively, Swedish-Italian and Hungarian. Loueke’s guests are jazz icons who have already employed and championed him: saxophonist Wayne Shorter and pianist Herbie Hancock. Says Hancock, ‘I haven’t found anybody that’s excited me this much in a long time.’

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