This Week's Schedule
8/12 Paula Poundstone
8/13 Maud Hixon 2
8/14 Glenn Close/Ted Nash
8/15 Larry Koonse 2
8/16 Willie Nelson
Monday, August 12
Comedian Paula Poundstone talks about her book The Totally Unscientific Study of The Search for Human Happiness, her passion for 1920s and '30s jazz, and her forays into jazz drumming, swing dancing and tae kwon do!
Tuesday, August 13
Vocalist Maud Hixson is a cool, swinging Minnesota gal whose clear sound and unencumbered delivery lets her virtuosity sneak up on you, in contrast to so many jazz singers today who make sure you hear their vocal chops at hello.
Maud Hixson grew up listening to the Great American Standards of the 1930’s, ‘40s and ‘50s and only discovered the work of Sir Richard Rodney Bennett when he reached out to compliment her recording of one of his favorite songs. A friendship developed and now Maud celebrates this long association with her latest CD, Permanent Moonlight, Songs of Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, which recently won a Bistro Award.
Wednesday, August 14
On the CD Transformation: Personal Stories of Change, Acceptance and Evolution, Glenn Close joins forces with composer Ted Nash and members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on a series of pieces that integrate spoken word segments selected by Close, with compositions by Nash. This is the second collaboration for Glenn Close and Ted Nash, with this one being especially personal, as the spoken segments range from Ted Hughes’s Tales From Ovid,” one of Glenn’s favorites, to a letter in which Ted Nash’s son comes out as transgender. Each piece focuses on change being positive, an attitude Ted Nash and Glenn Close share and encourage others to embrace.
Thursday, August 15
I talk and play with guitar virtuoso Larry Koonse onstage in a special Jazz Inspired Onstage from The Next Picture Show Gallery in Dixon, IL.
Friday, August 16
Musician, singer/songwriter/actor, activist, Willie Nelson is, and always has been a busy, passionate man. While he is much celebrated for his Country Music, he loves and continues to be influenced by the Great American Standards he heard growing up and the jazz musicians he admires. We talk about his favorite singer (Frank Sinatra) and his favorite guitarist (Django Reinhardt) and how Willie has kept his positive attitude through his long, often trouble-filled, life.
Listen each morning on WBGO from 6 to 8 am ET.
For an archive of episodes on WBGO, visit the show’s page here.