Wednesday MidDay Medley
TEN to NOON Wednesdays – Streaming at KKFI.org
90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio
Produced and Hosted by Mark Manning

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

More Local & New Releases
+ Regina Carter + Bent Knee + David George
+ Guest Producer Jesse Bartmess

1. White Girl – “We Will Never Die”
from: White Girl Vol. Two [EP] / Independent / Oct. 5, 2012
[White Girl is the brain-child of Martin Bush. He is joined on this recording by Marc Pepperman (the Republic Tigers), Nick Organ (Beautiful Bodies, Various Blonde), Skyler McClun, and Matt Epstein.]

[A new White Girl single: “Don’t Fear the Creeper” was released January 7, 2014 it features Keenan Nichols of THE ARCHITECTS for shredding some serious guitar and Ryan Bates of Waiting for Signal for bringing the awesome voiceover skills in his role as THEE CREEPER!! Proceeds from the single go to Midwest Music Foundation.]

[White Girl plays The Riot Room, Friday, March 21, with Sphinx, and Max Justus.]

2. Middle Twin – “Animate”
from: Midwestern Audio Vol. 2 – Electric Hullabaloo / Midwest Music Found. / Oct 5, 2013
[The 5-piece Electronic/Indie/Rock band is based in Lawrence, Kansas. The band is formerly known as Brain Food. The band members include: Demi Renault, Eric Davis, Isaac Flynn, Joel Martin, and Jon Fitzgerald]

[Middle Twin play an album release show, Fri, Mar 28, at The Riot Room, w/ Antennas Up, Rev Gusto.]

10:09 – Underwriting

10:10

3. Bent Knee – “Way Too Long (Live Version)”
From: New song that will be on new full length coming in July.
[Boston based 6-piece band.]

[Bent Knee Plays The Brick, Tonight, March 19 with Jorge Arana Trio and Cloudburst featuring Jeff Harshbarger & Sterling Holmann]

10:13 – Interview with Bent Knee

Critically acclaimed Boston based band, Bent Knee toured Japan in December 2013, and is putting the finishing touches on their second album, slated for release later this year. The band is currently on tour throughout April, playing The Brick, Tonight, March 19, with Jorge Arana Trio and Cloudburst featuring Jeff Harshbarger & Sterling Holmann;

Let’s introduce the band:
Courtney Swain (vocals, keys)
Ben Levin (guitar)
Vince Welch (producer, sound design)
Chris Baum (violin)
Jessica Kion (bass)
Gavin Wallace-Ailsworth (drums)

The band calls their music: Art-Rock, Alternative, Avant-Indie

Bent Knee was formed in Since its inception in 2010, the band met while in Berkeley.

The credits from their debut album. Music written by Ben Levin & Courtney Swain; Arranged by BENT KNEE; Produced by Vince Welch; Recorded by Adam Brass & Chris Ray at Mercenary Audio (Foxboro, MA) and by Adam Brass at Big T Productions (Quincy, MA) and The Record Co. Inc. (Boston, MA); Mixed by Vince Welch; Mastered by Randy Roos at Squam Sound (Ashland, NH)

Bent Knee has earned high praises from both fans and critics alike, including Deli Magazine’s New England Artist of the Month (August 2012), Best Albums of 2011 by Ryan’s Smashing Life and Olive Music, and Cover Me’s 50 Best Cover Songs of 2011.

The ensemble recently arrived home from touring Japan in December 2013.

Bent Knee is putting the finishing touches on their 2nd album, slated for release later this year.

Bent Knee Plays The Brick, Tonight, March 19, with Jorge Arana Trio and Cloudburst featuring Jeff Harshbarger & Sterling Holmann

10:26

4. Regina Carter – “I Moaned and Moaned”
from: Southern Comfort / Sony Music Masterworks / February 28, 2014
[9th solo release from acclaimed American Jazz Violinist, born in Detroit, Michigan. She received a MacArthur Fellows Program “genius grant,” in September 2006. On her new release she explores the folk tunes her paternal grandfather, a coalminer, would have heard as he toiled in Alabama – and the project expanded to include other folk tunes of the region.]

10:30 – Interview with Regina Carter

Acclaimed jazz violinist, Regina Carter, was born in Detroit, Michigan. Her new release, “Southern Comfort” (Sony Masterworks) was inspired by her exploration of the folk tunes her paternal grandfather, a coal miner, would have heard as he toiled in Alabama. This is the 9th solo release from this MacArthur Fellows Program “genius grant,” winner, and the committee stated this about Carter: “Regina Carter is a master of improvisational jazz violin. Though her work draws upon a wide range of musical influences–including Motown, Afro-Cuban, Swing, Bebop, Folk, and World–she has crafted a signature voice and style….Carter’s performances highlight the often overlooked potential of the jazz violin for its lyric, melodic, and percussive potential. Her early training as a classical musician is reflected in the fluidity, grace, and balance of her performance. Carter’s repertoire retains a firm connection with the familiar while venturing in new, unexpected directions… Through artistry with an instrument that has been defined predominantly by the classical tradition, Carter is pioneering new possibilities for the violin and for jazz.” Regina Carter plays The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Sunday, March 23, at 7:00 pm in Helzberg Hall. Info at: http://www.kauffmancenter.org.

Regina Carter’s 2006 release, “I’ll Be Seeing You: A Sentimental Journey,” featured her mother’s favorite early jazz standards. In 2010 she released “Reverse Thread” a recording celebrating the traditions of African music re-imagined for violin, accordion, bass, drams and kora. On this new album Regina was moved to explore the folk music her grandfather might have heard working in Alabama as a coal miner.

Regina Carter’s biography talks about her intention on making the past, present. Regina did hours and hours of research and digging to find field recordings, books, stories.

The song “I Moaned and Moaned” was a field recording of an early gospel quartet singing this piece, that Regina heard in your research. She was reminded of attending church with her in-laws in rural Virginia. This version, arranged by Lucas Madrazo, features a more contemporary sound of Carter’s violin intertwined with layered electric guitars. “I had kind of wanted to stay away from guitar, because when people hear violin and guitar, their minds go to Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli,” Carter said. “Now with this, it’s obviously so far away from that. Adam and Marvin are such incredible, tasteful players. They were perfect to have on this project.”

[Regina sought out distant relatives and books about the era in which her grandfather lived. From there, she went to the Library of Congress and the renowned collections of folklorists such as Alan Lomax and John Work III digging deep into their collected field recordings from Appalachia.]

“When I would hear some of these field recordings, if I heard something that touched me I put it on the list,” said Carter. “I had maybe 50 tunes that I felt strongly about, and I finally forced myself to work more on those to stop myself from collecting more.”

The 11 tracks on Southern Comfort include Carter’s interpretations of Cajun fiddle music, early gospel and coal miner’s work songs in addition to some more contemporary tunes.

Her music has transcended genre to include folk, rock, country, funk, proving the versatility of the violin, or fiddle, yet she first started playing piano at age two and her piano teacher suggested you would be happier playing violin.

Regina Carter studied classical and jazz in college, worked as a teacher, a nanny, became part of a critical all female quintet, launched a solo career while also playing with Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, Billy Joel, and Dolly Parton, Max Roach, Oliver Lake, Wynton Marsalis.

[While Regina Carter was studying classical violin at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. After graduating, in 1985 she taught strings in Detroit public schools. She moved to Europe and spent two years in Germany. working as a nanny for a German family and teaching violin on a U.S. military base. Carter returned to the U.S. she served as violinist for the all female pop-jazz quintet Straight Ahead in 1987, with Cynthia Dewberry, Gailyn Mckinney, Eilleen Orr, and Marion Hayden. In the early to mid-1990s, Branford Marsalis was quoted as saying, “They truly swing.” They released a trio of albums on the Atlantic Jazz label including their self-titled debut, Body and Soul, and Look Straight Ahead. Carter went solo before the release of their third album, Dance of the Forest Rain, and began an impressive run, establishing herself as a force in the jazz world on the violin.]

[In 1991 Regina left the band and moved to New York City. While in New York she was a relative unknown and undertook work accompanying performers such as Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, Billy Joel, and Dolly Parton. She also played with Max Roach and Oliver Lake, as well as being in the String Trio of New York. Carter worked on the albums Intermobility (1993), Octagon (1994), and Blues…? (1996) with the group.]

[While with the trio, she released her first solo CD, Regina Carter (1995). 1997 saw the release of her second solo album dedicated to her mother, entitled Something For Grace. She toured with Wynton Marsalis for the 1997 production Blood on the Fields. She then changed record companies, from Atlantic Records to Verve Music Group, which allowed her more artistic freedom and she released Rhythms of the Heart (1999).]

We went out of the interview with the song “Honky Tonkin” by Hank Williams, Regina talk about Chris Lightcap’s (her bassist) arrangement, and how it has often reminded Carter of an Ornette Coleman piece with its jagged, funky edges. “It’s fun to solo over,” Carter said.

Regina Carter’s new recording, “Southern Comfort” was release on Sony Masterworks on February 28 and is available on iTunes, amazon, and local music stores. Regina Carter plays The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Sunday, March 23, at 7:00 pm in Helzberg Hall. Info at: http://www.kauffmancenter.org.

10:42

5. Regina Carter – “Honky Tonkin’”
from: Southern Comfort / Sony Music Masterworks / February 28, 2014
[9th solo release from acclaimed American Jazz Violinist, born in Detroit, Michigan. She received a MacArthur Fellows Program “genius grant,” in September 2006. On her new release she explores the folk tunes her paternal grandfather, a coal miner, would have heard as he toiled in Alabama – and the project expanded to include other folk tunes of the region.]

10:46 – Interview with David George

David George is a busy guy. In the past year he toured with John Fogerty, played The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show, The View, he met Paul McCartney, he assembled a 5-piece band called David George & A Crooked Mile that shared the stage with The Lumineers & Jacob Dylan, performed at The Crossroads Music Festival, SXSW – MidCoast Takeover. David also performed a solo acoustic set in front of nearly 9,000 people at Kansas City’s legendary Starlight Theatre opening for Styx, REO Speedwagon and Ted Nugent. David George plays The Riot Room, Thursday, March 20, with Dead Voices, David George & A Crooked Mile, and Chris Meck & The Guilty Birds.

David played in the bands Moaning Lisa and Culture Killers, moved to L.A. In 2010 he released Love/Life, a collection of 12 songs, recorded in Burbank, California. A family emergency brought David back to KC, where he continued his solo work and recorded “Going Underground” on EP of 4 new songs and a cover of “I’m A Believer.”

Since “Going Underground,” David’s band: A Crooked Mile has evolved into a 5-piece that includes: David George – Vocals, Guitar / John Johnson – Guitar, Vocals / Ben Byard – Bass, Vocals / Christine Gross – Cello, Vocals / Giuliano Mingucci – Drums

A Crooked Mile, played SXSW for The MidCoast Takeover.

David has written and recorded several new songs for an upcoming full length release

David George plays The Riot Room, Thursday, March 20, with Dead Voices, David George & A Crooked Mile, and Chris Meck & The Guilty Birds.

10:57

6. David George & A Crooked Mile – “Shine”
from: Brand new song, first time played on radio, to be released soon / Independent / Mar. 2014

11:00 – Station ID

11:00 – Guest Producer Jesse Bartmess

Jesse Bartmess, is a music lover who attends several shows a week. He also makes his own ambient/electronic music under the moniker, Sinple. Jesse is a proud supporter of local music and local radio, especially 90.1 KKFI. During a recent 90.1 FM On Air Fund Drive Jesse donated to receive our “Guest DJ” Thank You Gift, and he joined us to play some his favorite songs of the year, so far, plus a classic ballad of love and loss.

“So much good music comes out every year, and it’s nearly impossible to keep track and hear it all.” – Jesse Bartmess

[Sinple plays Czar, March 28, on his birthday, opening for Chrissy Murderbot (from Chicago), and FSTZ]

7. Angel Olsen – “Stars”
from: Burn Your Fire For No Witness / Jagjaguwar / February 18, 2014
[American folk and indie rock singer and guitarist, who was raised in St. Louis, Missouri.[1][2] She first toured as a backing singer and guitarist with Bonnie “Prince” Billy, and The Cairo Gang.]

8. Xiu Xiu – “Stupid in the Dark”
from: Angel Guts: Red Classroom / Polyvinyl / February 4, 2014
[Avant-garde rock originally from San Jose, California. The band is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart, who has been its only constant member since its inception in 2002. As of 2009, his bandmate has been Angela Seo. The band’s name is taken from the 1998 Chinese film Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl.]

9. St. Vincent – “Prince Johnny”
from: St. Vincent / Republic Records – / Feb. 25, 2014
[Self-titled 4th studio album from multi-instrumentalists Annie Erin Clark (b. Sept. 28, 1982), known by her stage name St. Vincent. She began her music career as a member of The Polyphonic Spree and was also part of Sufjan Stevens’ touring band before forming her own band in 2006. Clark currently resides in Manhattan.]

[St. Vincent plays Lawrence, Kansas at Liberty Hall, on Monday, March 31, 8:00pm w/ Novellier]

11:15

10. Wild Beasts – “Nature Boy”
from: Present Tense / Domino Recording / February 24, 2014
[Indie rock from Kendal, England. They released their first single, “Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants”, on Bad Sneakers Records in Nov. 2006, and subsequently signed to Domino Records. They have released four acclaimed albums, Limbo, Panto in 2008, Two Dancers in 2009, Smother in 2011, and Present Tense in 2014.]

11. Temples – “Shelter Song”
from: Sun Structures / Fat Possum Records / February 11, 2014
[English psychedelic rock band, formed in Kettering, Northamptonshire in 2012, by singer-guitarist James Edward Bagshaw & bassist Thomas Edison Warmsley. They have received considerable press attention during their short existence and have been cited by Johnny Marr and Noel Gallagher as the best new band in Britain.]

12. Black Lips – “Smiling”
from: Underneath the Rainbow / Black Lips / March 17, 2014 [Formed 1999 in Dunwoody, Georgia.]

11:25 – Underwriting
11:26

13. EMA – “Satellites” (CD #13) (4:18)
from: The Future’s Void / Matador Records / April 8, 2014

14. Bradford Cox – “VHS Dream(Teenage)”
from: Teenage (Original Soundtrack) / Teenage Documentary PSC. LLC / March 11, 2014
[born May 15, 1982, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Deerhunter. He also pursues a solo career under the moniker Atlas Sound. Cox formed Deerhunter with drummer Moses Archuleta in 2001. The band has released 6 studio albums along with several singles and EPs. Atlas Sound is a name Cox has used since he was ten to refer to his own music, but his first full-length production under the name was Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel, released in 2008. Cox’s method of creating music is stream-of-consciousness, and he does not write lyrics in advance. He made his film acting debut in 2013’s Dallas Buyers Club.] [ Bradford Cox has composed the original score for the documentary Teenage, which is about the invention of the teenager and youth culture, from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. The soundtrack is out digitally on Mar. 11 via Cinereach Music, and the film is in select theaters starting Mar. 14.]

15. Beck – “Blue Moon”
from: Morning Phase / Fonograph – Capitol Records / February 25, 2013
[For the recording of Morning Phase, Beck reunited with many of the same musicians with whom he had worked on the critically acclaimed 2002 album Sea Change.]

11:40

16. Jefferson Airplane – “Coming Back to Me”
from: Surrealistic Pillow / / February 1967
[Formed in San Francisco, California in 1965. A pioneer of counterculture-era psychedelic rock, the group was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve international mainstream success. Their 1967 record Surrealistic Pillow is regarded as one of the key recordings of the “Summer of Love”. The band performed at the three most famous American rock festivals of the 1960s—Monterey (1967), Woodstock (1969) and Altamont (1969)—as well as headlining the first Isle of Wight Festival (1968). Two hits from the album “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit”, are listed in Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. Successor bands to Jefferson Airplane include Jefferson Starship and Starship; spinoffs include Hot Tuna and KBC Band. Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.]

11:49

17. The War on Drugs – “Under the Pressure”
from: Lost In The Dream / Secretly Canadian / March 18, 2014
[3rd album from band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 2005. The band consists of Adam Granduciel (vocals, guitar), David Hartley (bass, guitar), Robbie Bennett (keys, guitar) & Patrick Berkery (drums). Founded by close collaborators Granduciel & Kurt Vile, The War on Drugs released their debut studio album, Wagonwheel Blues, in 2008. Vile departed shortly after its release to focus on his solo career. The band’s 2nd studio album Slave Ambient was released in 2011 to critical acclaim and extensive touring.]

[Sinple plays Czar, March 28, on his birthday, opening for Chrissy Murderbot (from Chicago), and FSTZ]

11:59:30

18. Noel Coward – “The Party’s Over Now”
from: Noel Coward in New York / drg / 2003 [orig. 1957]

Sources for notes on tracks and interview segments come from: artist’s websites and wikipedia.org and where noted.

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Show #517