Notes from the Music Director 12-13-11

Howdy, all!

The holiday season is closing in upon us, and I have some wonderful new CDs to tell you about.  First, though, I'd like to remind you to bring in an ornament for the studio tree.  It's looking a little bit less bare than it was, but there's still room for your addition!

Also, our wonderful Office Manager, Laura, is going to put together a "Lost and Found" box for the upstairs.  This can be the new home for random CDs that are left in the CD player, on flat surfaces, etc. that are obviously not part of the KRZA library (i.e. they have no lable, no tape, etc.)

Many thanks to Deb Nichols for organizing and labeling the Big Band jazz section.  It looks terrific, Deb!  Also, many thanks to those of you who give me feedback on new releases.  I still have a lot to learn, so please don't hesitate to tell me if a recording is really good, really bad, etc.

Okay, on to the new library adds:

Rockers: If you love AC/DC, check out "Slash".  Good stuff!

Bluesists: OMG, Beverly McClellan may look like a punk rocker with her piercings and tatts, but this gal puts out some serious blues!  Thanks, Greg, for the recommendation--five stars to you!

Hip-hop devotees of Eminem will love Scribes.  Check it out!

World Musicians: For "something completely different", the Looping Jaw Harp Orchestra will have you hooked in two seconds flat.  Sounds from all over the world: jaw harp, Tuvan throat singing, accordion, bass saxophone...all in nicely crafted, tightly performed compositions that will bend your mind and raise your hairs. Wild, but worth it!  Also, for a trip down a Crestone main street, check out Ancient Futures.  Guitar, tabla, and other instruments are mixed up in a New-Agey way.  Very mellow and nice.

Okay, that's it for this week.  See ya next time!

Notes from the Music Director 11-28-11

Back from vacation, and ready to start reviewing again!  Stay tuned--as they say--for new additions to the library, coming soon!

***IMPORTANT*** KRZA will soon be REPLACING PAPER PLAYLISTS with an online service called Spinitron.  That's right--no more slacking on record labels; Spinitron won't let you submit an entry without a label :-).  The KRZA staff will give you an official training session when everything is set up. Be on the lookout for some changes in the studio when this happens, including a missing turntable, a laptop computer, and NO MORE PAPER PLAYLISTS!

On the fun side, KRZA invites all DJs to bring in a Christmas ornament to add to our studio Christmas tree, which is lighted but at this point otherwise unadorned.  If you bring in an ornament, make sure to put your name and phone number on the ornament somewhere so that we can return it to you when the tree comes down next year.  Help make the studio look a little festive this season...hey, it may even help out with the lighting!

Okay, I think that's it for now.  Until next time...

Notes from the Music Director 11-21-11

Hello again!

Three noteworthy additions this week:

1. Oscar Peterson "Unmistakable":  Oh, my...this is the single-malt scotch of jazz piano, right up there with Art Tatum.  Yummy, yummy, yummy!

Many thanks to the lovely chap who drives the old Volvo P1800s around town for the following additions to the KRZA music library (although they're not "new releases" per se):

2. Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto, featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim.   For lovers of Brazilian jazz, these names need no introduction, of course.  They are joined by the silken vocals of Astrud Gilberto.  Oh, my...

3. A tasty addition to the Latin library: Los Super Seven, a Tex-Mex ensemble extraordinaire.  This is top-drawer stuff.

(Did I mention that the Volvo P1800 is one of my favorite classic cars?  :-)

I am taking advantage of the absence of rehearsals and will be on vacation for the remainder of this week.  See y'all Monday, and have a great Thanksgiving!

Notes from the Music Director 11-14-11

Greetings, all!

We have five new additions to the KRZA library this week:

Ray Charles, who needs no introduction, is back in new compilation, "The Complete ABC Singles", which includes the superlative "Georgia On My Mind".  Oh, yeah.

Jane's Addiction's new album, The Great Escape Artist is now part of our library; fans of hard/alternative rock take note!

Illuminati Congo brings together the sounds of reggae, hip-hop, and African groove in "All Eye See".  This is good stuff!

If anyone happened to be listening in on Monday Morning November 14th, they would have heard Harper interview Patrick Dethlefs and Eye and the Arrow in the studio, and we are now proud owners of their CDs.  Check 'em out in the Folk Rock section (yellow spine tape).

I want to STRONGLY encourage all DJs to play songs from at least three New Release albums during their shows.  We want to encourage the music promoters to keep sending us free music.  Free music is good.  We like free music!  It's easy; just turn your chairs around and look at the wall behind you.  Deal?

Until next time...

Notes from the Music Director 11-7-11

Greetings, everyone!

It's close to quittin' time, so without further ado, here's the latest and greatest:

World Music aficionados, give Adanowsky a listen.  He's a multi-lingual, multi-cultural performer of world pop music, much beloved in Mexican Indie rock circles.  Not all world music needs to be played on congas by people in tribal dress!

Jazzers, definitely check out Christian McBride's "Conversations with Christian" album.  This superlative jazz bass player has put together a great album of jazz.  The style of each number depends on who he's conversing with.  Also, the newest crop of Christmas jazz is beginning to come down the pipelines for you to think about for the holidays.  Check out the gentle arrangements by pianist Geri Allen.

For something different, Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser have been making tsunamis on YouTube, and we are proud to offer their album 2Cellos here at KRZA.  Michael Jackson on cello?  Don't diss it until you try it!

Finally, Latin DJs, Corina Bartra's "Cielo Sandunguero" features her wonderful voice and passionate singing with a big ensemble.

Thanks, all, and until next time...

Notes from the Music Director 10-31-11

Happy Halloween, everyone!  Here are some of the latest additions to the KRZA music library; look for them on the shelves behind your chair in the studio:

Latin:
 - Bio Ritmo "La Verdad" is great Salsa with an electronic twist.  Prick up your ears to this sound!
 - Vadim Brunell has put out a lovely album of solo guitar.
 - For something different, try the David Murray Cuban Ensemble playing Nat King Cole.

Jazz:
 - Sonny Rollins's latest, Road Shows Vol. 2 is here!
 - Sophie Milman: This gal is only in her 20's, but has one of the best feels for jazz vocals that I've heard since Ella. And believer me, I'm hard to please!
 - Self-taught French jazzer Chris Joss has layered a new album, "No Play No Work".  Check it out!
 - Oscar Peterson's "Unmistakable" has be re-released.  Sublime!

World:
 - Joni Haastrup's "Wake Up Your Mind" is well worth a listen!  Also, check out "El Rego"


Singer/Songwriter:
 - Driftwood Fire is a top-drawer band from Boulder.
 - Jill Cohn has performed in the KRZA studios, as has Katya Chorover.  Make sure to support music performed locally!


Rock:
 - 9Tomorrows is a laid-back indie rock band with some reggae flavor.  I've been playing it on Monday Morning Mix-Up when subbing; one of my favorites of the new releases.

 - Wide Mouth Mason is a great blues-rock band.  If you wanna get down and dirty, this is the album for you!

 - Coldplay's newest, "Mylo Xyloto" is out, and on the shelf!  Enjoy!


Alternative:

 - Bjork's latest, "Biophilia" is on the top shelf of the new releases.

Until next time...

Notes from the Music Director 9-30-2011

Greetings again!

Okay, almost caught up with previewing, and you'll find the latest crop of new library additions to the LEFT of each genre on the New Release shelf.

Here are the highlights:

ACOUSTIC: Tori Amos is back with her heavily-Classically-influenced album "Night of Hunters".  It's on the Deutche Grammophon label, which makes it "officially" Classical...but it's all Tori, so don't let the label fool you.

ROCK: Former Sparta band member Jim Ward has put together a two-disc set composed of "Quiet in the Valley" and "The Electric Six" to liven up your mix-up show.

BLUEGRASS: The latest New Cuts compilation is up there, along with a couple of other good albums, but what jumped out at me was a Hip-Hop album called "Gangstagrass" which is...you guessed it...hip-hop rhyming over banjos and slide guitars!  If you feel like doing something quirky just to shake things up a bit, I dare you to add this to your show.  Just look straight UP on the New Release shelf--Hip-Hop has orange and black tape on the spine.

LATIN:  Check out Bio Ritmo La Verdad; straight-ahead, danceable tunes from our neighbors to the south, but with some interesting sampled sounds to catch your ear.

JAZZ: The Headhunters, the first jazz/fusion group to go Platinum in the early 70's with the help of Herbie Hancock, are celebrating their Platinumimity (uh, is that a word?) with a new album called, yes, "Platinum"!  You're going to hear funk, jazz, and hip-hop on this album.  Yes, hip-hop...they even recorded a track with Snoop Dogg.  Thoroughly enjoyable!

All that and more on the shelves behind you in the studio, so don't forget to look when you're putting together your show!

Thanks, all, and until next time...

Catie