Past Programs
RandB - 2008
Carlos Del Junco
06/12/2008
His eclecticism may annoy the odd ‘blues policeman’, but Carlos Del Junco’s Steady Movin ought to delight any ears with an open mind between them. Whether your tastes incline to blues, to jazz or simply to good music, the Cuban-born, Canadian harmonica ace’s new album offers a feast of delight and amazement. As one reviewer observes, ‘One needn’t be a harp-o-holic’ to enjoy it.’ Fittingly, its cover image of a harmonica in flames is a clever variation on an image popular in Mexican culture - of a burning heart.
Carlos Del Junco’s site:
www.carlosdeljunco.com
Jim Conway's Big Wheel
08/11/2008
Share this Life is the second album from Jim Conway’s Big Wheel. The leader is Australia’s most celebrated harmonica player. His colleagues comprise a ‘dream band’ of top-shelf singers and players. All know more than a bit about the blues, other musics, too... and each other. Everyone co-operates, not competes. Each is a master of what NOT to play. Pianist Don Hopkins and guitarist Arne Hanna are the primary singer-songwriters. Moods and grooves are nicely varied, but the ‘feel’ is always just-right. Recorded superbly, the Big Wheelers sound wonderfully relaxed... and highly alert.
Jim Conway’s Big Wheel site:
www.bigwheel.com.au
Jim Conway’s site:
www.jimconway.com.au
Hans Theessink and Terry Evans
01/11/2008
Tonight’s duo partners were born in the 1940s, in low places - the Netherlands and Mississippi, respectively. Hans Theessink is every bit as much a blues/soul man as Terry Evans. You have almost certainly heard Terry, even if you do not know his name. He’s sung back-up on countless albums; most famously for Ry Cooder. Ry long ago opined that Terry was even better as ‘front man’. Hans is a fine singer and superb guitarist, Terry a superb singer and capable guitarist. Visions fulfils a dream long-shared by friends and mutual admirers - to make a stripped-down, ‘2 voices and 2 guitars’ album. It’s warm, relaxed and beautifully recorded.
Hans Theessink site:
www.theessink.com
Terry Evans site:
www.terryevansmusic.com
Aretha Franklin
17/05/2008
Everything on Aretha Franklin’s new double-CD is at least 35 years old. Rare and Unreleased Recordings from the Queen of Soul is a magnificent exception to a general rule: that ‘rare/unreleased’ is code for ‘should have stayed in the vault, but we can milk fans who will buy anything with their idol’s name on it!’ 31 of these 35 cuts {all, from 1966 through 1973} have never previously been issued. Not a few are stupendous. Jerry Wexler chose them. In many cases he was their orignal producer or co-producer. Wexler is - literally - the inventor of the term ‘rhythm and blues.’
Discover more about Aretha, here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Franklin
A nice bio-of-cum-interview with Jerry Wexler can read here:
www.popentertainment.com/wexler.htm
Ruth Notman and Ray Bonneville
26/04/2008
Only on this show would our co-featured artists ever be co-stars! Each is of a different gender, nation, musical background and generation. Ray Bonneville is North American. He’s been around; it shows - in the best sense - on Goin’ by feel. Ruth Notman is nineteen and unmistakably English. Threads is her debut CD. Song-smith/guitarist/harmonica player Ray offers soulful, blues-based grooves, splendidly-grizzled vocals and a marvellous evocation of New Orleans. Ruth has an astonishing voice, and is a capable multi-instrumentalist. She can make an ancient song sound utterly fresh. Ruth also writes good new ones.
Ray Bonneville site:
www.raybonneville.com
Ruth Notman site:
www.ruth-notman.com
