Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews reissued 1957 recordings by acoustic guitarist Eddie Condon. Condon was a fine musician, and also promoted the music from the 20s to his death in the early 70s. Condon organized early recording sessions that brought black and white musicians together, promoted concerts at New York's Town Hall, and ran a famous club.
Dutch recorder player and conductor Frans Brüggen (BROO-gen). He's one of the world's preeminent recorder players. In 1981, he formed the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century which uses period instruments for its repertoire of Renaissance and Baroque music.
Musician Paul Shaffer. Shaffer is the ultimately hip leader of "The World's Most Dangerous Band," the house group on "Late Night with David Letterman." Previously, Shaffer was a session musician in New York, band leader on "Saturday Night Live," and music director for the Blues Brothers, the alter egos of Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi. Paul Shaffer has just put out his first album, called "Coast to Coast." It's a collection of tunes representative of the musical variety of the country, with legendary stars from those regions sitting in.
Music writer Peter Guralnick. His new book, "Searching For Robert Johnson," examines the brief life of perhaps the greatest blues musician of all time. In the 20s and 30s, Johnson was "King of the Delta Blues Singers," and a sensation throughout the South. Johnson died at age 27, shot to death by a jealous husband, but his music continued to be studied and copied by artists such as Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones.
Rock critic Ken Tucker looks at three new albums by by performers who are relatives of the already famous--Lenny Kravitz (Lisa Bonet's husband), Michael Penn (Sean Penn's brother), and Jason Bonham (son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham). Ken says in acting, there's no stigma in cashing in on fame by association, but rock and roll relations can have a hard time of it.
Sports writer Mike Sowell (rhymes with "powell"). Sowell's book, "The Pitch that Killed," is the true-life account of the death of Ray Chapman. Chapman was the Cleveland Indians shortstop who died after being hit in the head by a pitch thrown by New York Yankee Carl Mays. The incident occurred in late August, 1920, as the Yankees and Indians were battling for the American League pennant.
Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg looks at the influence of the word on the visual arts...starting with the Dada movement and the montage works of the 30s, up to current poster and electric sign work by Jenny Holzer.
Actor Matthew Modine. He plays an arrogant first-year medical student in the new movie, "Gross Anatomy." Modine's earlier films include "Birdy," "Full Metal Jacket," and "Married to the Mob."
T-V writer and producer Mark Frost. Frost is collaborating with director David Lynch on a new series, "Twin Peaks." Frost calls it "Payton Place meets Blue Velvet."
Poet and essayist June Jordan. In her poems and political essays, she addresses issues of racism, oppression and dispossession. She was born in Harlem and grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn. She currently teaches English at the University of California at Berkeley.
Record producer Arthur Baker. The eclectic Baker has produced or mixed for musicians as diverse as Bob Dylan, Jimmy Cliff, Cyndi Lauper, U2, and Bruce Springsteen. Now he's come out with his own album, "Merge." He's chief songwriter and plays keyboards as well as producing.
Rock and roll historian Ed Ward traces the development of the band "New Order." In 1977, a 21-year-old in Manchester, England saw the Sex Pistols and decided to form his own band. He called it "Joy Division." In the decade since, the band, now called "New Order," evolved to become one of the most influential of their time, with such hits as "True Faith" and "Bizarre Love Triangle."
Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the album, "Blue John," by organist Big John Patton. Paton cut a series of progressive jazz organ albums for Blue Note records in the 60s, then dropped out of sight for a decade, recently re-emerging on some of John Zorn's albums. Patton actually recorded "Blue John" in 1963, but it's just been released on CD and it's the only example of Patton's Blue Note work that's currently available.
Television critic David Bianculli reviews the new season of the PBS series "Trying Times." The 6 episodes this season continue "Trying Times" tradition of taking a comedic look at modern life. Among the stars this season are Stockard Channing, Sally Kirkland, Judge Reinhold, and Christopher Guest.
Dancer and choreographer Murray Louis. He's spent 40 years pioneering modern dance, and recently he merged his company with that of his mentor, Alwin Nikolais (nik-oh-lie).
