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, September 12, 2018

Krystle Warren +
Jim Andrews & Patrick Sprehe of Bullseye Records
+ Jesse Kates of The Sexy Accident

10:00

1. “It’s Showtime Folks”
from: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to All That Jazz / Casablanca / December 20, 1979
[WMM’s theme song]

2. Angélique Kidjo – “Born Under Punches”
from: Remain In Light / Kravenworks / June 8, 2018
[Angélique Kidjo has partnered with producer Jeff Bhasker (Rihanna, Kanye West, Harry Styles, Bruno Mars, Drake, Jay-Z) to create Remain In Light – a new project that finds the Benin-born artist reclaiming rock for Africa, bringing Talking Heads’ landmark 1980 album full circle. The record is a track-by-track re-imagination of the original, considered to be one of the greatest albums of the ’80s and deeply influenced by music from West Africa, notably Fela Kuti’s afrobeat. With her version of Remain In Light, Angélique celebrates the genius of Talking Heads, Brian Eno and the touchstones that made the original so revered and injects it with her euphoric singing, explosive percussion, horn orchestrations, and select lyrics performed in languages from her home country. Remain In Light features appearances by Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend, Blood Orange, Tony Allen, Antibalas Horns, Angélique’s longtime guitarist Dominic James, and Magatte Sow (percussionist for the ‘Black Panther’ film score). Visual artist Kerry James Marshall created the album artwork. On May 5, 2017, Kidjo presented her “Remain In Light” concert at Carnegie Hall. Her sold out performance was a reinvention of the iconic album by the rock band Talking Heads. The concert included special guest Nona Hendryx, Lionel Loueke, Antibalas, Jason Lindner and an unplanned duet with David Byrne on the song “Once In A Lifetime”. Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo, known as Angélique Kidjo (born July 14, 1960), is a Grammy Award-winning Beninese singer-songwriter, actress and activist, noted for her diverse musical influences and creative music videos. Time magazine has called her “Africa’s premier diva”. The BBC has included Kidjo in its list of the African continent’s 50 most iconic figures. The Guardian has listed her as one of its Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in the World and Kidjo is the first woman to be listed among “The 40 Most Powerful Celebrities In Africa” by Forbes magazine. The Daily Telegraph in London described her as “The undisputed queen of African music” during the 2012 Olympic Games River of Music Festival. In March 2013, NPR, National Public Radio in America, called her “Africa’s greatest living diva”. Kidjo is listed among the “2014 Most Influential Africans” by New African magazine and Jeune Afrique. Forbes Afrique put Kidjo on the cover of their “100 most influential women” issue in 2015. On June 6, 2013, Kidjo was elected vice-president of the Confédération Internationale des Sociétés d´Auteurs et Compositeurs (CISAC). She now resides in New York City, where she is an occasional contributor to the New York Times. Kidjo has received Honorary Doctorates from Yale University, Berklee College of Music and Middlebury College. She is the 2018 Harvard University Jazz Master In Residence. Her musical influences include the Afropop, Caribbean zouk, Congolese rumba, jazz, gospel, and Latin styles; as well as her childhood idols Bella Bellow, James Brown, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Miriam Makeba and Carlos Santana. She has recorded George Gershwin’s “Summertime”, Ravel’s Boléro, Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child” and the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter”, and has collaborated with Dave Matthews and the Dave Matthews Band, Kelly Price, Alicia Keys, Branford Marsalis, Ziggy Marley, Philip Glass, Peter Gabriel, Bono, Carlos Santana, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Josh Groban, Dr John, the Kronos Quartet and Cassandra Wilson. Kidjo’s hit songs include “Agolo”, “We We”, “Adouma”, “Wombo Lombo”, “Afirika”, “Batonga”, and her version of “Malaika”. Her album Logozo is ranked number 37 in the Greatest Dance Albums of All Time list compiled by Vice Magazine’s Thump web site. Kidjo is fluent in five languages: Fon, French, Yorùbá, Gen (Mina), and English. She sings in all of them, and she also has her own personal language, which includes words that serve as song titles such as “Batonga”. “Malaika” is a song sung in the Swahili language. Kidjo often utilizes Benin’s traditional Zilin vocal technique and jazz vocalese. Kidjo is the recipient of the 2015 Crystal Award given by the World Economic Forum of Davos in Switzerland and has received the Ambassador Of Conscience Award from Amnesty International in 2016 She also is included in the exhibits at the National Museum of African American History that officially opened on Sept. 24, 2016 on the National Mall.]

3. Broken Heart Syndrome – “Submarine Sandwich”
from: Submarine Sandwich (Single track) / Matthew Roth / (Unreleased)
[A “Demo” version of this song is available at http://www.brokenheartsyndrome.bandcamp.com for $666.00. A Kansas City based 4-piece supergroup of sorts, formed in 2017 with members of The Rainmakers, Schwervon!, The Quivers, and Liverpool. Pat Tomek on drums, Matt Roth on guitar & vocals, Todd Granthem on keyboards & vocals, and Dave Tanner on bass & vocals.]

[Matthew Roth plays Broken Heart Syndrome songs solo for Nan’s Birthday Showtime Spectacular! with Nan + The One Nite Stands, Saturday September 15, at 9:00 PM, at The Brick, 1727 McGee St, KCMO. Also featuring Breaka Dawn! And the fabulous Ailecia Ruscin DJing between sets.]

4. Momma’s Boy – “Love That Way (Demo)”
from: “Love That Way (Demo)” – Single / Independent / June 26, 2018
[Momma’s Boy, is an Indie Surf Pop 4-piece band from KCMO, formed December 2015, and made up of former members of Rev Gusto: Peter Beatty on guitar & vocals, Shaun Crowley on guitar & vocals, Quinn Hernandez on drums, and Jared Bajkowski on bass & vocals. Their debut EP Liquid Courage was released February 25, 2017. Self-recorded in the Momma’s Boy band practice attic. Mixed by Jared Bajkowski, and mastered by Ross Brown. We will be releasing a series of these demos over the next few months. The track features Peter Beatty on vocals. ]

[Momma’s Boy plays Jackpot Music Hall, 943 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, on Friday, September 28, at 9:00 PM with Colly, and Wild Eye]

[Momma’s Boy plays Californos, 4124 Pennsylvania Ave, KCMO, on Saturday, September 29 at 8:00 PM with Big Step, Lava Dreams, and Shadow Year.]

10:15 – Underwriting

5. Miki P – “Broken Hearted People”
from: Dome of Swallows / Miki P/ September 1, 2018
[Debut full length album from Miki P containing 10 original songs. Kansas City, Missouri Miki P. She started playing guitar in middle school,. She taught herself to play the drums, while listening to Mitch Mitchell, Keith Moon and Ringo Starr. As a teen she played drums for various groups including the band American Slim. She wrote songs for their first full-length album Irreplaceable in the Spring of 2017, followed by a single “Queen of Hearts” released April 11, 2018. She also plays ukulele & piano, teaching herself how to play both the instruments and using them frequently in all projects she is involved in. She has played Middle of the Map Fest, Royal’s Kaufman Stadium, the Record Bar, Uptown Theater, Arrowhead Stadium, Nelson Atkins Museum, the Crossroads Music Festival and the SXSW Music Festival. More info at: http://www.mikipmusic.com]

[Miki P plays an Album Release Show, Friday, September 14, at 8:00 PM, at The Rino, 314 Armour Rd, North Kansas City, with Special Showcase beforehand featuring: Alisön Hawkins, Adee Dancy, Kelly Hunt, Jo MacKenzie, Courtney Ann Hall, Ivy Roots, and Mason Blaize Cline.]

6. Jo MacKenzie – “Stuck”
from: “Stuck’ – Single / Jo Mackenzie/ September 1, 2018
[One of 5 new singles released this year from Kansas City based 15 year old singer songwriter Jo MacKenzie.]

[Jo Mackenzie plays in the special showcase opening for Miki P’s Album Release Show, Friday, September 14, at 8:00 PM, at The Rino, 314 Armour Rd, North Kansas City, with Special Showcase beforehand featuring: Alisön Hawkins, Adee Dancy, Kelly Hunt, Jo MacKenzie, Courtney Ann Hall, Ivy Roots, and Mason Blaize Cline.]

10:23

7. Extrapedestrian – “MMMS”
from: Polyonymous / Extrapedestrian / June 30, 2013
[Multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter/improviser who makes home studio recordings. seeking to strike that magic balance between accessibility and wild exploration. Influenced by prog rock, experimental indie, heavily improvised jazzish, synth-based pop/rock.]

8. The Sexy Accident – “You’ve Got to Ride Your Bicycle Ha Ha Ha”
from: Chamcakes Babypagne / The Sexy Accident / September 8, 2018
[This track was flipped by Akkilles. Chamcakes Babypagne is a selection of songs from The Sexy Accident’s sixth full-length album, Champagne Babycakes, re-imagined and reconstructed by Steve Fisk, namelessnumberheadman, Akkilles and many talented guest musicians. All songs written by Jesse Kates / Halaster Music [ASCAP] except You’ve Got To Ride Your Bicycle Ha Ha Ha by Jonas Kates. Mastering by Mike Nolte at Eureka. The Sexy Accident is a pop band from Kansas City. They’ve released over 70 songs on six albums and four EPs. Their September 23, 2016 album, Chanpagne Babycakes included 12 songs produced by Seattle legend Steve Fisk, and a game deck of 45 cards designed by Gavin Snider. The current line up consist of: Jesse Kates on guitar & vocals, Ramone Hall on drums, Jamie Lin on vocals, Pete Marten on bass, and Ryan Leip on keys.]

10:31 – Interview with Jesse Kates

The Sexy Accident is a pop band from Kansas City. The Sexy Accident have released over 70 songs on six albums and four EPs. The Sexy Accident doesn’t do normal, their 2014 album “Lavender 3” was released as a 9” x 9” square, 48-page, cloth-covered, foil-stamped hardback book. Their 2016 recording Champagne Babycakes, the band’s 6th full length record, was released as a “card game.” The band’s latest release, Chamcakes Babypagne is a selection of songs from The Sexy Accident’s Champagne Babycakes, re-imagined and reconstructed by Steve Fisk, namelessnumberheadman, Akkilles and many talented guest musicians.

With us on the phone is the songwriter and lead singer for the band, Jesse Kates, thanks for being with us today on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

We just heard You’ve Got To Ride Your Bicycle Ha Ha Ha written by Jonas Kates, Jesse’s then 5-year old son. The song was “flipped” by Akkilles (David Bennett)

Chamcakes Babypagne contains six songs from The Sexy Accident’s 2018 release: Champagne Babycakes, re-imagined and reconstructed. Mastered by Mike Nolte at Eureka.

The Sexy Accident’s Champagne Babycakes original release included 12 songs, produced by Seattle legend Steven Henry Fisk, and a game deck of 45 cards designed by artist/musician Gavin Snider.

The KC based band includes: Jesse Kates on guitar & vocals, Ramone Hall on drums, Jamie Lin on vocals, (Pete Marten) Eric Knight on bass, and Ryan Leip on keys.

The Sexy Accident have released over 70 songs on six albums and three EPs. More information at: http://www.sexyaccident.com

Champagne Babycakes, as a card game!
objective: finish the album. Build a lineup and play songs. Dodge amp failures, soccer leagues and day jobs to outscore your opponents!

Each copy of Champagne Babycakes includes:
A game deck of 45 cards designed by Gavin Snider
Totally intelligible instructions by human bandleader Jesse Kates
Twelve playful, punchy songs produced by Seattle legend Steve Fisk
Liner notes with complete lyrics
You’ll also get a hi-resolution download of the songs (or mp3s if you prefer.)

On September 23, 2017 The Sexy Accident released, Live at Holy Cow EP – Performed by The Sexy Accident on September 23, 2016, with Jesse Kates on vocals & guitar, Ramone Hall on drums, Jamie Lin on vocals, Pete Marten on bass, and Ryan Leip on keyboards. Recorded by Josh Williams. Songs selected from Champagne Babycakes, Lavender 3 and Ninja Ninja Fight Darth Vader. Cover art curated by Carly Lewandowski of How Very Vintage from objects found at Holy Cow.

Jesse Kates, thanks for being with us today on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

10:45

9. The Sexy Accident – “Sneaky [Steve Fisk Gotta Sift Seasoning Mix]”
from: Chamcakes Babypagne / The Sexy Accident / September 8, 2018
[Chamcakes Babypagne is a selection of songs from The Sexy Accident’s sixth full-length album, Champagne Babycakes, re-imagined and reconstructed by Steve Fisk, namelessnumberheadman, Akkilles and many talented guest musicians. All songs written by Jesse Kates / Halaster Music [ASCAP] except You’ve Got To Ride Your Bicycle Ha Ha Ha by Jonas Kates. Mastering by Mike Nolte at Eureka.The Sexy Accident is a pop band from Kansas City. They’ve released over 70 songs on six albums and four EPs. Their September 23, 2016 album, Chanpagne Babycakes included 12 songs produced by Seattle legend Steve Fisk, and a game deck of 45 cards designed by Gavin Snider. The current line up consist of: Jesse Kates on guitar & vocals, Ramone Hall on drums, Jamie Lin on vocals, Pete Marten on bass, and Ryan Leip on keys.]

10. The Creighton Organization featuring: Jimmy Dykes -“Goin To New Orleans”
from: I Heard It On 18th Street II: No Foolin’ We Schoolin’ / David Ford / 2009
[The Creighton Organization is a Jazz band form Kansas City, Missouri with dave Breighton on keys]

[The Creighton Organization plays The Ship, 1217 Union, KCMO – TONIGHT, Sept. 12, at 8:00 PM]

11. Gillian Welch – “Elvis Presley Blues”
from: Revelator / Acony Records / July 31, 2001
[3rd full length album by Gillian Welch. All songs were written by Welch together with David Rawlings and were recorded in Nashville, Tennessee.]

[Gillian Welch plays The Folly Theatre, Friday, September 14]

11:00 – Station ID

12. Calvin Arsenia – “Cantaloupe”
from: Cantaloupe / Bullseye Records / September 15, 2018 (KC Release)
[The first release on Bullseye Records. Calvin Arsenia who came home to KC in 2014 after living in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has released the EPs, Moments, Prose, and last year’s full length debut, Catastrophe. This year he released the EP Caviar to special guests who attended his Wickstock West show in West Bottoms. Standing at 6 foot 6 inches, Arsenia’s powerful vocals span a 3.5 octave range, while playing piano, banjo, guitar & harp. Calvin has played Folk Alliance International, KC Fringe Fest, Apocalypse Meow, The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, The Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts, Middle of the Map Fest., The Folly Theatre. Last year he undertook a three month US/European Outlyre Tour where he has played San Francisco, Portland, Vancouver, NYC, Boston, Edinburgh, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Switzerland, Lyon and Paris.]

[Calvin Arsenia plays an Album Release Show for Cantaloupe, at The Gem Theatre, 1615 East 18th Street, KCMO, Sat., Sept. 15 w/ special guest Krystle Warren & others, presented by Bullseye Records.]

11:05 – Interview with Jim Andrews & Patrick Sprehe of Bullseye Records

Jim Andrews & Patrick Sprehe of Bullseye Records share details on their new record label, Bullseye Records, and their first release: Calvin Arsenia’s Cantaloupe. James Andrews has worked in the publishing business since 1999 and is now part-owner of Andrews McMeel Universal. Patrick Sprehe has been a teacher for 25 years, first serving with the Peace Corps in Kazakhstan, and then moving on to Raleigh, NC; Oakland, CA; and Tokyo, Japan. He spent the past 13 years teaching at Academie Lafayette. Bullseye Records’ mission is to illuminate the amazing collection of musical talent in Kansas City and solidify its place in the national discussion about sonic art. Bullseye Records presents an Album Release Show for Calvin Arsenia’s Cantaloupe, at The Gem Theatre, 1615 East 18th Street, KCMO, Saturday, September 15, at 7:00PM. More info at: http://www.bullseyerecords.com

Jim Andrews & Patrick Sprehe, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Notes from: http://www.bullseyerecords.com:

Beginning with a friendship back in high school, two young men discovered a mutual passion for all things music. Countless hours were spent at Ron Rooks’ Music Exchange in Westport arguing over who had first dibs on a prized promotional album, and buying records based solely on intriguing album covers. A few doors down, they could be found at Penny Lane chuckling over one of LeRoi’s “Riding With The King” album reviews in KC Pitch that doled out his infamous “Fly Me” mark of shame. Further treks south took them to Peaches Records to fill the wooden peach crates with the latest releases, with pit stops at Exile Records to score used new wave, punk, and blues cassettes, while drooling over the cheap concert t-shirts unavailable anywhere else in the States.

College came and even though they went their separate ways, they found the time to meet at Anne Winter’s Recycled Sounds to trade in their old tapes for bootleg compact discs. Regular road trips were taken to Love Garden in Lawrence to look for rare vinyl, extended remixes and Japanese imports. Their thirst was insatiable. This led to a new appreciation of local artists to be found at a seemingly endless supply of venues: The Homestead Grays at The Bottleneck or Jazzhaus in Lawrence, The Bon Ton Soul Accordion Band at Kiki’s Bon Ton Maison or The Hurricane, or The Sin City Disciples at Davey’s Uptown or The Shadow to name a few. And let’s not forget the late, great granddaddy of them all, The Grand Emporium, that was practically a 2nd home during those years.

More time passed and both of the young men moved away from their families in Kansas City for some time in search of their dreams. Mix tapes and CDs were sent across states and continents. Music and home were never far from their minds though, and they both eventually returned. James Andrews has worked in the publishing business since 1999 and is now part-owner of Andrews McMeel Universal. Patrick Sprehe has been a teacher for 25 years, first serving with the Peace Corps in Kazakhstan, and then moving on to Raleigh, NC; Oakland, CA; and Tokyo, Japan. He spent the past 13 years teaching at Academie Lafayette.

As both men approached 50, their discussions about music led to the decision to make a difference in the Kansas City music community. Not being musicians themselves, both James and Patrick wanted to find a way to give back some of the joy they had felt over the years while finding a way to share the rich, storied musical heritage of Kansas City with the rest of the world. The variety of musical genres found in KC is enormous, and lines are blurred constantly as artists collaborate and create a unique sound which can only be described as Kansas City. Kansas City is truly at the geographical center of America, and they believe it is also at the center of the musical universe.

Bullseye Records’ mission is to illuminate the amazing collection of musical talent in Kansas City and solidify its place in the national discussion about sonic art.

Bullseye Records presents an Album Release Show for Calvin Arsenia’s Cantaloupe, at The Gem Theatre, 1615 East 18th Street, KCMO, Saturday, September 15, at 7:00PM. More info at: http://www.bullseyerecords.com

11:15

13. Calvin Arsenia – “Headlights”
from: Cantaloupe / Bullseye Records / September 15, 2018 (KC Release)
[First single from upcoming full length album from Calvin Arsenia. The first release on Bullseye Records. Calvin Arsenia who came home to KC in 2014 after living in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has released the EPs, Moments, Prose, and last year’s full length debut, Catastrophe. This year he released the EP Caviar to special guests who attended his Wickstock West show in West Bottoms. Standing at 6 foot 6 inches, Arsenia’s powerful vocals span a 3.5 octave range, while playing piano, banjo, guitar & harp. Calvin has played Folk Alliance International, KC Fringe Fest, Apocalypse Meow, The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, The Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts, Middle of the Map Fest., The Folly Theatre. Last year he undertook a three month US/European Outlyre Tour where he has played San Francisco, Portland, Vancouver, NYC, Boston, Edinburgh, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Switzerland, Lyon and Paris.]

[Calvin Arsenia plays an Album Release Show for Cantaloupe, at The Gem Theatre, 1615 East 18th Street, KCMO, Sat., Sept. 15 w/ special guest Krystle Warren & others, presented by Bullseye Records.]

11:19 – Interview with Jim Andrews & Patrick Sprehe of Bullseye Record

Jim Andrews & Patrick Sprehe of Bullseye Records share details on their new record label, Bullseye Records, and their first release: Calvin Arsenia’s Cantaloupe. Bullseye Records presents an Album Release Show for Calvin Arsenia’s Cantaloupe, at The Gem Theatre, 1615 East 18th Street, KCMO, Saturday, September 15, at 7:00PM. More info at: http://www.bullseyerecords.com

Jim Andrews & Patrick Sprehe, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Calvin Arsenia Cantaloupe Album Release Show

Saturday, September 15, at 7 PM

The Gem Theater, 1615 E 18th St, Kansas City, Missouri 64108

Following his partnership with Kansas City record label Bullseye Records, Calvin Arsenia will unveil his sophomore release, Cantaloupe, with a live performance at the Gem Theater in the historic 18th and Vine jazz district on September 15th, 2018.

Taking place two weeks prior to the international launch of the record, the event gives Kansas City friends and supporters an intimate, first listen to Arsenia’s much-anticipated follow up to his 2017 debut album, Catastrophe.

The Kansas City native has gathered a mighty cast of musicians spanning the local jazz, classical, folk and punk communities to immerse you in sonic bliss for a one-night only performance (Let’s not forget Catastrophe!).

Laying the foundation for Arsenia’s electric harp and silky voice will be percussionist Simon Huntley, the Sextet’s Robert Castillo on bass, jazz pianist Charles Williams, and electronic musician and producer J Ashley Miller. Also featured will be a 6-piece string ensemble with Tina Bilberry and Carmen Dieker on violin, Alyssa Bell on viola, Ezgi Karakus and Eman Chalshotori on cello, and Rick Willoughby on upright bass. Flanking the other side of the stage will be a brass-wind ensemble featuring bassoonist Rachel Lovelace and Billy Winston on soprano sax and flute. Joining Calvin on vocals will be Jessica Paige and Ashley Jean Rippeto.

Jim Andrews & Patrick Sprehe, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Bullseye Records presents an Album Release Show for Calvin Arsenia’s Cantaloupe, at The Gem Theatre, 1615 East 18th Street, KCMO, Saturday, September 15, at 7:00PM. More info at: http://www.bullseyerecords.com

11:29 – Underwriting

9. Krystle Warren – “Thanks and Praise”
from: Three The Hard Way / Parlour Door Music / August 18, 2017
[Produced by Krystle Warren and Ben Kane (D’Angelo, Emily King, PJ Morton). Recorded, engineered, and mixed by Ben Kane. Written & performed by Krystle Warren. Mixed at The Garden, Brooklyn. Mastered & cut by Alex DeTurk at Masterdisk. Last year in Krystle Warren premiered this song and her other new songs from this album at the Middle of the Map Fest in a packed room at Californos in Westport and later at The Polsky Theatre for the Performing Arts Series of Johnsons County Community College. For this record Krystle decided to play every instrument and vocals & back up vocals, “playing bass, drums, lap steel, piano, guitar, and vocals directly to analog tape. She and Ben Kane recorded in Villetaneuse, France, a small town on the outskirts of Paris in a vintage 70s era studio that offered just the right, rich sound to suggest the musical foundation for the record, and to do justice to the duo’s carefully balanced arrangements.” On the radio show last year Krystle shared inspirations for this record, early gospel recordings, that crossed over into Jazz from Pharoah Sanders, Edwin Hawkins, and The Swan Silvertones. Originally from KC, Krystle learned to play the guitar by listening to Rubber Soul & Revolver from The Beatles. Krystle graduated from Paseo Arts Academy in 2001 and began her musical career in collaborating with area jazz and pop musicians. After living in San Francisco and NYC, Krystle was signed to a French label, Because Music, and moved to Paris to release “Circles” in 2009. Krystle played French and British television programs, including Later with Jools Holland, garnering critical acclaim and traveling all over the world with Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave, Norah Jones, and Joan As Police Woman. Krystle created, Parlour Door Music, to release “Love Songs: A Time You May Embrace” a recording from a 13-day session in Brooklyn, where she recorded 24 songs live with 28 musicians including her band, The Faculty, alongside choirs, horn and string sections.]

[Krystle Warren plays in Calvin Arsenia’s special Album Release Show for his new album Cantaloupe, at The Gem Theatre, 1615 East 18th Street, KCMO, on Saturday, September 15 with special guest Krystle Warren and others, presented by Bullseye Records.]

11:35 – Interview with Krystle Warren

Krystle Warren began her musical career in Kansas City in 2001 collaborating with area jazz and pop musicians. After living in San Francisco and NYC, Krystle was signed to a French label – Because Music, and moved to Paris to release “Circles” in 2009. Krystle played “Later with Jools Holland,” garnering critical acclaim and traveling all over the world with Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave, Norah Jones, and Joan As Police Woman. Krystle created, Parlour Door Music to release her double album: “Love Songs,” from a 13-day session in Brooklyn, where she recorded 24 songs live with 28 musicians including her band, The Faculty. Krystle released, Three The Hard Way last year, co-producing by Ben Kane (D’Angelo). Three The Hard Way was #1 on WMM’s 117 Best Recordings of 2017. Krystle Warren plays Calvin Arsenia’s Album Release Show for Cantaloupe, at The Gem Theatre, Saturday, September, 15.

Krystle Warren, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Notes from “Three The Hard Way”

Kansas City-born, Paris-based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and powerhouse vocalist Krystle Warren’s Three the Hard Way is an elegantly bare testament to the complex resonances of Black music and to the traditions of incisive commentary and spiritual seeking that have often walked with them. These are songs of earth and soul, of poetic protest and potent grooves.

Warren speaks boldly, going far beyond glib pop posturing on civil rights, empowerment, and personal commitment. She witnesses an apocalypse of brutal revelation, the depth of injustice, and anxiety smothered in the slick surface of today’s words and deeds. The deep past underpins and warps the frenetic present, when Biblical devotion becomes a hot love affair (“Nae-Nae and Ruthie,” a blues-inflected reframing of the Old Testament story) and when questions of faith and doubt (“I Hope He Comes Back”) resolve in the eternity of a single tree, toughing it out in the middle of a city (“Learn to Bend”).

For Warren, this was familiar territory, yet she had never worked so explicitly with these musical influences in her earlier, singer-songwriter work, music that caught the ear of Rufus Wainwright. (Warren toured with Wainwright’s band and opened for him.) “When [longtime friend and Grammy Award winning producer, engineer Ben Kane and I began talking about this project, I immediately started thinking gospel,” a sound that bursts through tracks like “Move!” “I grew up Southern Baptist, with an incredible choir at church. I started listening to old recordings of various gospel choirs… I began learning the language again. It’s always been a part of me.”

Warren and Kane (D’Angelo, Emily King, PJ Morton) worked in dialog to find just the right sound. “It was very clear that this would be the album to do together,” Warren notes. “We pared it down to two minds, navigating through and figuring out what we wanted to say.”

The instrumental voices speak in a language taut and lean. Gospel, early R&B, and raw blues couple with the lush intelligence of artists like Nina Simone and Pharoah Sanders. They form the bedrock for Warren’s sometime provocative, sometimes tender commentary on injustice’s persistence, religious estrangement, and profound relationship. “Historically, the blues and the black church have provided soulful responses to suffering and oppression,” Kane says. “Krystle is using this musical language to reflect on our modern-day pain and madness.”

As Warren and Kane explored this language, they started with “Thanks and Praise,” where tight bass and guitar bounce beneath layer upon layer of Warren’s rich, sinuous voice. “That was the starting point,” adds Kane. “The song really tilted the direction of where we could go with this album. It’s an important departure from that folk world Krystle has been exploring for the majority of her career.”

With Kane as a sounding board, Warren was encouraged to move into new places, playing bass, drums, lap steel, piano, guitar, and vocals directly to analog tape. She and Kane recorded in Villetaneuse, France, a small town on the outskirts of Paris in a vintage 70s era studio that offered just the right, rich sound to suggest the musical foundation for the record, and to do justice to the duo’s carefully balanced arrangements.

Some of these arrangements open up into ecstatic choruses and irresistible grooves. Some stay stark, startling. Take “Red Clay,” Warren’s shiver-inducing homage to those who suffered one of America’s most shameful eruptions of racial hatred, the Tulsa Massacre of 1921, also known as the Massacre of Black Wall Street, in which a prosperous Black community came under merciless attack.

“I started thinking about those early gospel songs. In deciding to play with the minimal sound of a simple guitar and voices – very work song, early gospel, I knew that the subject had to match it,” explains Warren. “The massacre in Tulsa is something that a lot of people aren’t aware of. I felt it was time to write a song about this awful thing that had happened, to write from the perspective of someone who had lived it, endured it.”

Gospel’s abiding devotion to the elevated moments, the cornerstone of the spirit, also resounds in Warren’s songs, but not without wry questions. “I’m not passing judgement, though I myself have doubts and concerns when it comes to organized religion,” Warren muses. “I wanted to start a conversation about spirituality. To loosen the binds of organized religion and flip some ideas on their heads. Essentially, I wanted to challenge, without being too rough. It may be a shove, but it’s a loving shove. “

credits:

Produced by Krystle Warren and Ben Kane
Recorded, engineered, and mixed by Ben Kane
Written and performed by Krystle Warren, except where noted
Assistant engineer, tape operator: Manuel Aragon
Assistant mixing engineer: Jackie Sanchez
Technical services provided by Ricky Begin
Mixed at The Garden, Brooklyn
Mastered and cut by Alex DeTurk at Masterdisk
Album cover art: Kyra Termini
________________________________________________________________________________

The Video for “If Memory Serves Me Well” was Directed by: Emmanuel Noyon
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“Warren’s voice is an extraordinary instrument, murmuring with tenderness at times, growling with intensity at others. It vividly recalls Nina Simone in its depth and smokiness, as well as John Martyn and (Jeff) Buckley in terms of virtuosic variety.”
– The Guardian

“… there’s Krystle Warren. You should really give her a listen. You won’t believe what you’re hearing – she’s amazing.” – kd lang
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Krystle releases her music as a solo artist and with her band The Faculty, and she also is the voice for other collaborative projects with the bands: Joon Moon, and Hercules and Love Affair.

Joon Moon is the meeting of House producer Julien Decoret, drummer Raphael Chassin and American expat and singer/song writer extraordinaire Krystle Warren. After ten years of touring the world playing double bass with Marc Collin’s Nouvelle Vague ensemble, alongside excursions into house music on the Yellow Productions Art of Disco compilations, not to mention co-producing Florent Marchet’s Bamby Galaxy album, it was time for songwriter/producer/renaissance man Julien Decoret to dedicate his heart and soul to a new challenge. With Raphaël Chassin, (Hugh Coltman, Vanessa Paradis, Pauline Croze) on drums, helping out with the production and arrangements, and Sébastien Trouvé as sound engineer, Decoret set out on his retromodern Joon Moon mission, laying out the contours of a world where trip-hop, jazz, soul and electronic music live side by side, sharing their joys and sorrows. The only missing element was that one last bit of magic, a voice that could take the project to ever-loftier heights. Enter Krystle Warren. She had worked with Rufus Wainwright, and Scritti Politti’s Green Gartside, and had made forays into house music herself by providing vocals to two cuts off Hercules and Love Affair’s, The Feast of the Broken Heart. That’s not even mentioning her own band, Krystle Warren and The Faculty – and its three albums – which display her impressive grasp of soul music, folk, blues…With Tiger, the band’s social concerns are brought to the forefront. A timely piece from a Franco-American band about the need to question authority and the power structure of society. Tiger sees its tension build up like an onimous populist, and turns into defiance. Art and love in a movement towards emancipatio

Hercules & Love Affair is a dance music project created by American DJ Andy Butler in 2004. Consisting of a rotating cast of performers and musicians, the band work within the genres of house music, disco, techno and nu-disco. Originally based in New York City, now based in Ghent, Belgium, Hercules and Love Affair were founded following Butler’s collaboration with Anohni to produce the song “Blind”, which was a hit single. Initially signing to DFA Records, for their eponymous 2008 debut album, the band went on to record two more albums for Moshi Moshi, Blue Songs (2011) and The Feast of the Broken Heart (2014). Their fourth album Omnion was released in September 2017 by Atlantic Records.
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In August Krystle performed in a BBC Proms special at Albert Hall, performing the music of Hercules and Love Affair with the Heritage Orchestra.
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http://www.krystlewarren.com
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Krystle Warren plays in Calvin Arsenia’s special Album Release Show for his new album Cantaloupe, at The Gem Theatre, 1615 East 18th Street, KCMO, on Saturday, September 15 with special guest Krystle Warren and others, presented by Bullseye Records.
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On Saturday, October 6, at 8:00 pm, Krystle Warren performs at OPERA – GD THEATRE MASSENET , Jardin des Plantes Opéra Théâtre de St Etienne 42000 ST ETIENNE with a performance called: Bowie Symphonic – Creation Mondiale Rhino Jazz Festival
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Krystle Warren, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

11:56

15. Krystle Warren & The Faculty – “You Can Take Me With You”
from: Love Songs: A Time You May Embrace / Parlour Door Music / April 9, 2012 [UK]
[Krystle Warren’s double album: Love Songs – A Time You May Embrace & Love Songs – A Time to Refrain from Embracing came from a 13 day recording session in Brooklyn, where she recorded the 24 songs live with 28 musicians including her band, The Faculty, alongside choirs, horn and string sections. Krystle wrote the songs, and produced the vinyl release. Originally from Kansas City, Krystle learned to play the guitar by listening to Rubber Soul & Revolver from The Beatles. Krystle graduated from Paseo Arts Academy in 2001 and began her musical career collaborating with area jazz and pop musicians. After living in San Francisco and NYC, Krystle was signed to a French label, Because Music, and moved to Paris to release “Circles” in 2009. Krystle played French and British television programs, including Later with Jools Holland, garnering critical acclaim and traveling all over the world with Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave, Norah Jones, and Joan As Police Woman. Krystle created, Parlour Door Music, to release “Love Songs.” Krystle release her last album, Three The Hard Way on Parlour Door Music on August 18, 2017. Produced by Krystle Warren and Ben Kane (D’Angelo, Emily King, PJ Morton). Recorded, engineered, and mixed by Ben Kane. Written & performed by Krystle Warren. For this record Krystle decided to play every instrument and vocals & back up vocals, “playing bass, drums, lap steel, piano, guitar, and vocals directly to analog tape. She and Ben Kane recorded in Villetaneuse, France, a small town on the outskirts of Paris in a vintage 70s era studio that offered just the right, rich sound to suggest the musical foundation for the record, and to do justice to the duo’s carefully balanced arrangements.” Three The Hard Way was #1 on WMM’s 117 Best Recordings of 2017.]

[Krystle Warren plays Calvin Arsenia’s Album Release Show for Cantaloupe, at The Gem Theatre, 1615 East 18th Street, KCMO, Sat., Sept. 15 w/ special guests, presented by Bullseye Records.]

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

Next week on Wednesday September 19, Stephonne Singleton joins us to share music and details form his new record: Caged Bird Sings Songs About Red Beard

Our Script/Playlist is a “cut and paste” of information.
Sources for notes: artist’s websites, bios, wikipedia.org

Wednesday MidDay Medley in on the web:
http://www.kkfi.org,
http://www.WednesdayMidDayMedley.org,
http://www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM

Show #751