Studio Sessions

Ann Hampton Callaway: Singing the standards, Streisand and making it up as she goes

Justin Steyer and Abe Beeson — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:06:16 +0000

Vocalist, pianist and composer, Ann Hampton Callaway has had success in the worlds of jazz, Broadway and cabaret. She’s also one of our favorite KPLU Studio Session guests.

We invite her to perform every time she passes through Seattle because, from one visit to the next, we never know what kind of surprises she’ll treat us to.

Joan Osborne and The Holmes Brothers are a recipe for soul

Justin Steyer and John Kessler — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:51:29 +0000

Want a good recipe for soul music?

Here’s what you do: Start with vocalist, Joan Osborne, who has had pop music hits, performed on The Grand Old Oprey, toured with members of The Grateful Dead and yet never strayed from her roots in rhythm ‘n blues music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZF3hIg0gFg

Now add a good, solid dose of The Holmes Brothers (Sherman Holmes, Wendell Holmes and Popsy Dixon), who have been playing their own unique blend of blues, gospel, soul and R&B since the late 1970’s.

Molly Ringwald: Rediscovering her jazz roots

Justin Steyer and Abe Beeson — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:51:14 +0000

In 2010, actress/singer, Molly Ringwald wrote her first book, Getting The Pretty Back. The "pretty" in the title is a reference to what is perhaps Molly’s most famous movie, "Pretty In Pink" (1986), directed by John Hughes.

She also worked with Hughes in "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club." But before Molly Ringwald became one of the world’s most famous teenagers, she was a jazz singer.

Holly Cole: Reinventing the familiar

Abe Beeson — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 21:01:00 +0000

Canadian vocalist, Holly Cole, is one of greatest song interpreters alive.

She can take a song you think you know and bring something out of it that you’ve never heard before.

For example, her latest CD, Night, contains Holly’s inventive re-imagining of a James Bond theme (You Only Live Twice), as well as songs by Danny O’Keefe, Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart, Rod McKuen and Gordon Lightfoot.

Singer Jackie Ryan's life in music

Justin Steyer and Abe Beeson — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:12:53 +0000

In this studio session singer, Jackie Ryan, gives us three of her favorites: a gospel-tinged version of Accentuate The Positive, a beautiful reading of I Loves You, Porgy and the Spanish-language song, La Puerta, dedicated to her mother.

As you’ll hear Jackie say in this interview, she grew up singing. After years as a touring R&B singer, Jackie discovered jazz and never looked back. Today, she’s one of America’s finest jazz singers.

Juan de Marcos and The Afro-Cuban All Stars: The Soul Of Cuba

Abe Beeson and Justin Steyer — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 00:13:08 +0000

On a recent visit to Seattle, Juan de Marcos and The Afro-Cuban All Stars stopped by for a three-song studio session with KPLU in the KCTS 9 studios. How good was it?

Well, as host, Abe Beeson says, “If this music doesn’t move you, you’ve got no place to go.”

Watch the full interview and performance:

http://youtu.be/ayKsqYLvE0g

The intimacy of the duo: Dee Dee Bridgewater and Benny Green

Justin Steyer and Abe Beeson — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:57:40 +0000

Grammy award-winning jazz vocalist, Dee Dee Bridgewater almost always performs with a band accompanying her, while pianist Benny Green is generally heard in a trio configuration and seldom works with vocalists (with the notable exception of being Betty Carter’s pianist when he was in his 20’s).

So this session was a double treat: hearing two great musicians, both slightly out of their performance comfort zones, but totally in the moment with each other.

http://youtu.be/wQe3wO-vMQs

Graham Dechter: Youth steeped in tradition

Justin Steyer and Nick Francis — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:49:14 +0000

Graham Dechter is a 26-year-old jazz guitarist who is, indeed, currently living his dream.

Graham was invited to join the world-famous Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra at age 19. Now, 7 years later, he is leading his own group and just released his second CD, “Takin' It There.”

Here is a video of the quartet performing the title track, "Takin' It There" live in our studios:

http://youtu.be/jvpkJdWyXgc

Bill Charlap solo piano: Tradition, invention and wit

Justin Steyer and Abe Beeson — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 19:30:05 +0000

It’s no wonder that pianist, Bill Charlap, loves the music that has come to be called The Great American Songbook—the songs of great Tin Pan Alley composers such as Jerome Kern, George Gershwin and Irving Berlin.

He grew up with it.

Catherine Russell: Keeping the family tradition alive

Justin Steyer and Abe Beeson — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 19:56:50 +0000

Vocalist, Catherine Russell was raised in a musical family. Her father, Luis, was Louis Armstrong’s band-leader and her mother, Carline Ray, was a member of the International Sweethearts Of Rhythm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO3JccAHRjo&hd=1

Curtis Stigers: Creating new jazz standards from contemporary

Abe Beeson and Justin Steyer — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Curtis Stigers is a singer, songwriter, saxophonist who loves the great Tin Pan Alley songs of George Gershwin and Cole Porter, but finds a greater creative challenge in doing jazz versions of songs by more contemporary songwriters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWE_wx93KR0

Halie Loren: Putting Eugene, Ore. on the jazz map

Justin Steyer and Kevin Kniestedt — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:20:57 +0000

In this studio session, hosted by Kevin Kniestedt, we’re pleased to introduce you to a woman who we believe is one of the finest up-and-coming international jazz talents to come along in years, Halie Loren.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zd6A99oSvw

Bela Fleck & Marcus Roberts Trio 'Crossing the Imaginary Divide'

Justin Steyer and Mary McCann — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 19:34:57 +0000

On a tour to promote their first collaboration, Crossing The Imaginary Divide, Bela Fleck and the Marcus Roberts Trio stopped by the KPLU Seattle studios for a live performance and interview, hosted by Mary McCann. If you’re looking for music that will lift your heart, this is the session for you!

Cyrus Chestnut: Solo piano with ‘The Nutman’

Abe Beeson and Justin Steyer — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 21:07:55 +0000

Pianist Cyrus Chestnut came onto the jazz scene slowly. From the mid-1980’s to mid-1990’s, he apprenticed as pianist for Jon Hendricks, Better Carter, Donald Harrison and Wynton Marsalis. Since then he has toured the world numerous times and recorded 15 albums as a leader.

Bellingham vocalist Cheryl Jewell: Coming home to jazz

Nick Francis and Justin Steyer — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 17:45:57 +0000

Bellingham jazz singer, Cheryl Jewell, was raised in Oak Harbor, Washington. When she went to college in Bellingham, she fell in love with that city. She left only to pursue her singing career in Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles.

After working for several years as a rock and country singer, Cheryl decided to move back to Bellingham and pursue her first musical love—jazz. With the release of her first jazz CD, My Blue Heaven, Cheryl has placed herself on the top shelf of West Coast jazz singers.