Found It

The final portion of this week’s proGram made it easy to spot these things with the sounds as a guide:

Smoke ‘Em Up- Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio
Gibberish- Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio
Hippie Twist- Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio

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In Our Time- Victor Gould
Minority- Victor Gould
Dear Ralph- Victor Gould

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Eberhard- Lyle Mays
~~~
Nardis- Marc Johnson
***pre-recorded conversation with Mr. Marc Johnson***
Samurai Fly- Marc Johnson
Whorled Whirled World- Marc Johnson

Up In At It

The middle portion of the proGram knew where to look but it was the how to go there that was just right:

Olivia Benson- Brandee Younger Ft. Ron Carter
Armando’s Rhumba- Jenny Klukken

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Moses on the Cross- Carlos Henriquez
Boro Of Fire- Carlos Henriquez
Calypso Trisha- Benn Clatworthy System 6
The Skipper Meets the Pharoah- Benn Clatworthy System 6

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Go Happy Lucky- Andrew Cyrille Quartet
Home Cookin’- Leon Lee Dorsey Ft. Manuel Valera & Mike Clark
Chillin’- Leon Lee Dorsey Ft. Manuel Valera & Mike Clark

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The Smudge- Joe Alterman (live)

Starting Points

The first part of this week’s proGram had a door to open…into somewhere:

Walkin’ On Bourbon Street- Ericson Holt
Freedom March / For John Lewis- Band of Other Brothers
Right Now Blues- Band of Other Brothers

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Duality- Brian Jackson, Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge
So & So & So and So- David Ornette Cherry

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In Walked Bud- Kenny Shanker Ft. Mike Eckroth/Daisuke Abe/Yoshi Waki & Brian Fishler
Soldiers of the Fields / Soldats des Champs- Kenny Garrett
The Eternal Triangle- Tom Cohen

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Apalachicola- Chuck Owen & The Jazz Surge Ft. Sara Caswell/Corey Christiansen & Tom Brantley

Closer Look Still

The second hour of the open schedule gap fill-in’in proGram took a closer and different looksee:

Emaali- Rachel Magoola
Serubonera- Rachel Magoola

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December Poems- Guy Buttery Ft. Mohd. Amjad Khan & Mudassir Khan
Kya Baat- Guy Buttery Ft. Mohd. Amjad Khan & Mudassir Khan
Sweetest- Katayoun Goudarzi, Shujaat Khan, Shaho Andalibi, Shariq Mustafa

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New Arrival- Leon Lee Dorsey Ft. Manuel Valera & Mike Clark
Freedom Jazz Dance- Leon Lee Dorsey Ft. Manuel Valera & Mike Clark
Hey Chick- Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trios
Townhouse- Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trios
Old School- Dan Siegel

This Is One Of Those

Did a little open schedule gap fill-in’ in proGram. The sounds of this, I think were that?

Cataliz- Immersion & Scanner
Flux- KUNZITE
Waimalien- KUNZITE
Elements- DJ Revolution & Planet Asia

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When We Move- Common Ft. Black Thought & Seun Kuti
Felabration- Mister T.

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Space Station- Pachyman
Sunlight- Fortunate Youth
Unusual Times- Dubbest Ft. Elliot Martin

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Hermitage- Eric Hilton
Forming Star- Eric Hilton
Mesta- Oceanvs Orientalis & İlhan Erşahin
Keep Coming Back (Azam Ali Remix)- Cheb i Sabbah Ft. Peter Murphy

Overpass By Marc Johnson

Marc Johnson was born in Nebraska in 1953, and he grew up in Texas. By age 19, he was working professionally with the Fort Worth Symphony, and while at North Texas State University, he played & recorded with fellow student Lyle Mays. After graduating he toured & recorded with Woody Herman, before becoming, at the age of 25, the bassist with the Bill Evans Trio, following in the footsteps of masterful players including Scott La Faro, Gary Peacock and Eddie Gomez. Mr. Johnson’s many recording credits since then include discs with Michael Brecker, Bob Brookmeyer, Gary Burton, Jack DeJohnette, Eliane Elias, Peter Erskine, Bill Frisell, Stan Getz, Joe Lovano, Lyle Mays, Pat Metheny, Ben Monder, Paul Motian, Enrico Pieranunzi, & Wolfgang Muthspiel, among other visionaries. His first ECM recordings were with his own Bass Desires quartet, who released 2 important albums, Bass Desires & Second Sight. The bassist subsequently recorded for the label as a member of John Abercrombie’s trio and appears on the guitarist’s discs including Cat’n’Mouse & Class Trip. He has also contributed to ECM albums by guitarist Ralph Towner (Lost and Found), pianist John Taylor (Rosslyn), saxophonist Charles Lloyd (Lift Every Voice) and bandoneón master Dino Saluzzi (Cité de la Musique). Leader dates have included Shades of Jade and Swept Away – both featuring Eliane Elias, Joe Lovano, & Joey Baron, with John Scofield also appearing on Shades. Overpass, recorded in January and February 2018 at Nacena Studios, in São Paulo, was produced by Marc & Eliane Elias and is set to be released on 8/27 on ECM Records. With Overpass, recorded in Brazil in 2018, Mr. Johnson makes a decisive & intriguing contribution to ECM’s solo bass recordings. It is an album that takes note of that tradition and Marc has said that Dave Holland’s Emerald Tears was among the solo recordings that fired his imagination almost half a century ago and builds upon it in a personal & imaginative way.

I had the opportunity to catch up with Mr. Johnson about some of the ins and outs of the new album, Overpass. We dissect a couple of the tunes to get that feeling of being inside the music, as well as the process by which the album was put toGether. A Solo double bass album, this music while some may be familiar by name, provides me, as a listener and a sharer a chance to see/hear….feel the same differently. I invite you into that same feeling by checking out our conversation, but also by finding the tunes on this album, that do the same for you.

The Ones Who Do

The final part of this week’s proGram had so much going on within the time frames:

Patient Boy- Dragondeer
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Alejandro Escovedo- Backyard Tire Fire
Early Morning Rain- David Ferguson
Tokyo Dream Time- Tim Motzer
Wiyathul (Longing For Place)- Gurrumul
Can’t Let Go- Robert Plant & Alison Kraus

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What’s on My Mind- Johnny Tucker and The Allstars Ft. Kid Ramos
Guilty of a Good Time- Altered Five Blues Band
In the Name of No Good- Altered Five Blues Band

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That Kind of Love- Tito Jackson Ft. Grady Champion & Kenny Neal
***pre-recorded conversation with Mr. Tito Jackson***
Under Your Spell- Tito Jackson Ft. Joe Bonamassa
Wheels Keep Turning- Tito Jackson Ft. Kenny Neal

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greenarrowradio promo- Kate From Lung
Opium Eyes- The Speed Of Sound
Zombie Century- The Speed Of Sound

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Keep On Growing- Tedeschi Trucks Band Ft. Trey Anastasio (live at LOCKN)

The Smoker Set

Well, this part of the proGram lives up to the title “The Smoker”:

Fall In Love Again- Alanna Royale
Survivor- Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Window Seat- Hot Mustard
A Brighter Day- The New Mastersounds W/Adryon de León
Pizza Pie- Let Your Hair Down

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Mi Conga Es De Akokan- Orquesta Akokán
Olá!- Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 w/BBC National Orchestra Of Wales

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Yes- Prince
***pre-recorded conversation with Liv Warfield of New Power Generation***
Stand Up And B Strong- Prince
1000 Light Years From Here- Prince

Feel It- Joon Moon Ft. Liv Warfield
Modal B- Joon Moon Ft. Liv Warfield

Home Of The Bees

The first part of this week’s proGram kept things in and out of the hive:

Stop That Train- U-Roy Ft. Rygin King
Champion Sound- Pachyman
Roots Train- Pachyman
Equal Rights- Kingston Express Ft. Ranking Joe

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Accidental Badman- JonQuan & Associates Ft. Carlton Livingston
It’s Your World (I Grade Dub)- The Archives Ft. Puma Ptah & Brian Jackson
Revolution Disguised As Change (I Grade Dub)- The Archives Ft. Mutabaruka & Puma Ptah
Kite Zo A- Lakou Mizik & Joseph Ray

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Fire On The Mountain- Dave McMurray
Franklin’s Tower- Dave McMurray

Liv Warfield Is All That And More


Liv Warfield began building her legend, in of all places, Portland, Oregon. Despite having no formal background in singing, she gained the respect of local superstars and became an icon in her own right. While she takes cues from musical influences like Nina Simone, Etta James, Sade, Tina Turner, & Mary J. Blige, Liv has carved out a style all her own, which can best be described as “alternative soul with a lil’ bit of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” In 2006, she self-released her debut album “Embrace Me.” By 2009, she caught the eye of the one-and-only Prince and ultimately joined his group the “New Power Generation.”

imaGe used w/permission from LiV

After touring for several years & soaking up as much knowledge as she could from the ultimate music mentor, Liv made her big splash on the national scene in 2014, 1st as a featured artist for Vh1’s “You Oughta Know” campaign, and then with the release of her major label debut album “The Unexpected,” which was executive produced by Prince. What followed were show-stopping performances on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” and “The Arsenio Hall Show;” a 2014 Soul Train Music Award & nominations for two others; a BET Best New Artist Award nomination; & high-profile cosigns from Lionel Richie, Cindy Lauper, & Nancy Wilson of HEART. That same year, Warfield’s performance closing out Essence Fest was hailed as one of the most memorable after shows at the New Orleans House of Blues. In 2015, the accolades only kept growing, w/Liv and the NPG Hornz being named one of the top 10 bands to see at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. It’s no wonder she has left celebrities like Letterman declaring it’s time to “cancel show business!”

Fast forward a little closer to this moment today and the release of Prince’s Welcome 2 America certainly reminded me of just how much Liv has been instrumental in bringing a special joy to my ear, my heart and my radio proGram. I had the true pleasure of catching up with Liv about the music of Welcome 2 America being released out to the world, working with Prince and the trust & education that comes with it. We spend some time talking about the great new and fresh-feeling music being released very very soon with Joon Moon and how yet another music page is being turned with this effort. I am a true believer that Liv can turn as many musical pages as as can be held in the library. There are stores we share, there is some poetic waxin’ and of course there is the “So…how did you come to the attention of Prince?” was definitely run through. Although, Liv Warfield may be synonymous with the work she has done with a true one-of-a-kind, there is a reason this visionary of life’s art chose her to be on the “team”. Because of this unique dubbing by a king, I am not one to keep this chat only abut the music. Liv and I talk about the person, not just the powerhouse of an artist that she is and I think when you are done getting to know her, you’ll see why I believe now is the time for all of us to Liv better!

Connect with Liv:
Tweet
Facebook
IG
Youtube

Peeking In

The final episode of the Summer’s spin off THE YELLOW LIGHT saw what you were doing and provided this soundtrack:

Every Knee Shall Bow- U-Roy Ft. Big Youth & Mick Jones
Land Back- The Halluci Nation Ft. Boogey The Beat & Northern Voice
Collaboration ≠ Appropriation- The Halluci Nation Ft. Tanya Tagaq

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Discognized (Deep Dub Version Alt Break)- Mr. Confuse & Ferry Ultra
Naked- TOKiMONSTA Ft. Channel Tres
America The Beautiful (original version w/Guitar)- Kameelah Waheed
Unclustered- Immersion
Ripples- Immersion

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Home Is Where the Hatred Is (I Grade Dub Mix)- The Archives Ft. Puma Ptah
Must Be Something (I Grade Dub Mix)- The Archives Ft. Puma Ptah & Brian Jackson
The Resolution With Not Be Televised- The Archives (I Grade Dub Mix) Ft. Mateo Monk & Kenyatta Hill

Under Tito Jackson’s Spell

Tito Jackson has spent his entire life tempting music lovers w/soulful harmonies interwoven w/curvaceous rhythms as a member of Motown’s greatest discovery, The Jackson 5, and presently as a multi-faceted solo artist. His unyielding passion for blues, R&B, pop, and other music forms is the secret to his boundless energy & unique achievements in the ever-changing & at times heartless business. In 1962, before the Jackson 5 & the Jacksons, Tito performed in a local group called The Jackson Brothers. After competing & winning local talent shows in and around Gary, the precocious brothers were victorious again on the most prestigious amateur stage of all — Manhattan’s Apollo Theater. In that same year Tito & his brothers made their first studio recording, titled “Big Boy.” Not only did it turn out to be a local hit, but it set the stage for a partnership with Motown Records and appearances on the top-rated Ed Sullivan Show, American Bandstand, Soul Train, & later, their own primetime television series in 1976, on CBS. In addition to this, Tito and his brothers’ soaring popularity with America’s youth was so captivating that they were captioned in a Saturday morning, ABC TV animation series. Tito and his brothers signed with Epic Records and officially came under a new name, The Jacksons, in 1976. In 1978 he co-wrote the songs “Everybody,” “Destiny,” and “Push Away” for his new record label. As the group The Jackson’s, including Tito, they self-produced the Destiny album. Later, for the Victory album Tito produced, wrote, and sang on “We Can Change The World,” which was featured on their popular Victory Tour. A father of three men (Taj, Taryll, and TJ), known to the music world as 3T, Tito works closely with his sons. This is consistent with the fine direction that he received from his loving mother Katherine & his caring father Joe. In addition to working with sisters Janet, Rebbie, & La Toya, Tito has worked with countless fine musicians, singers, and producers. One of the performing highlights of the remarkable career of Tito Jackson is the unforgettable reunion performance on one of histories most watched television specials, Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever (1983). The show signaled a pivotal point in his dazzling career and an auspicious focus on likely the greatest performer to ever grace a stage, Michael Jackson. In 1997 Tito and his brothers were ceremonially honored as inductees of the well-respected Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In September 2001, nearly 17 years after their last performance together, all 6 Jackson brothers reunited for 2 performances at Madison Square Garden for a 30th anniversary special commemorating Michael’s solo career. Tito’s initial success with the recording masterpieces “I Want You Back,” “Never Can Say Goodbye”, “I’ll Be There,” (best selling single in Motown’s history), and other mega-hits is the start of an amazing journey thru modern musical immortality. Tito also rocks the world through various riveting live shows with his brothers, his own band & the BB King Blues Band. His brother Michael had this to say about him, “Tito is very quiet and soft, but can be really strong when necessary. He’s always there when we need him and manages to project an inner calm which is vital within a family unit”. Those statements have proven to be consistently true through the ups and downs of the exciting but rigorous show business lifestyle. As an international artist, Tito has garnered great respect from peers & fans alike. His emphasis on fairness & loyalty in the music business community is a hallmark of his selfless style. This legend’s mark on music history & the rich legacy that he established is one that has stood the test of time and is one that will flourish for as long as there is a song to sing!

I had the complete honor to sit down and chat it up with this living legend, Hall Of Famer and a true gentleman, Mr. Tito Jackson. Mr. Jackson and I spent time discussing his new release “Under Your Spell” on Gulf Coast Records. We get into a few of the tracks and how the amazing lineup of accompanying artists added their “them” to the project. We talk about the lead single “Love One Another” and moreover, the video for this anthemesque tune that reminds us all about this simple thing…and its the list of the who Mr. Jackson has in the video to help get that message out. Of course, no good chat with a one and only member of the most influential family in pop music/culture goes on without some stories of the then and how it got all of us to the now, toGether. I am honored to have had the chance to do my little part to help spread this message and hope you’ll dig into the album and this conversation to see what’s what (and even a hint of what’s possibly next…did someone say Sly Stone?).

Getting Warmer

The final part of the proGram might have found the spot:

Africa, One Of A Kind- Angelique Kidjo Ft. Mr Eazi & Salif Keita
Omon Oba- Angelique Kidjo Ft. Zeynab & Lionel Loueke
Winter In America- The Archives Ft. Puma Ptah & Brian Jackson
Who’ll Pay Reparations On My Soul?- The Archives Ft. Puma Ptah & Mustafa Akbar
A Toast to the People- The Archives Ft. Raheem DeVaughn
Macumba De Marea- Quantic & Nidia Góngora

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The Real Royal Turkey- Besarabia
Quin enrenou- Fenya Rai
One- Shujaat Husain Khan, Katayoun Goudarzi, Shaho Andalibi, Shariq Mustafa

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Prelude- Adi Meyerson Ft. Eden Girma
Ancestors Are Calling- David Ornette Cherry
Ethiopian Sunshower- Brian Jackson, Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge
Baba Ibeji- Brian Jackson, Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge

Seeking

The middle portion of the proGram is still out there checking for more of those goodness grooves:

Running Game (Son Of A Slave Master)- Prince
Check The Record- Prince
Break The Bough- Yola

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America The Beautiful (North Street West Vocal RMX)- Kameelah Waheed
Up All Night (North Street West Dub)- King Brasstards Ft. Lisa Miller & Gary Davis
I Got Soul (Mogul Remix)- Cliff Beach
Discognized (Deeb Dub Version)- Mr. Confuse & Ferry Ultra

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Purple Haze- 2B3
Crazy Fingers- Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
Bumper Crop Of Strange- Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
Dove’s Army Of Love- Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey

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STATE OF THE UNION 444 || BLK2THEFUTURE- Theo Croker FT. WYCLEF JEAN

Searching

The first part of the proGram had it’s buzzers-a-buzzin for you:

Coming Up Tough- Chubby and The Gang
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Get Up- Andrew Paul
The Junkman- The Delevantes
I Felt it To- Bette Smith
Soul Stripper- Lea McIntosh

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greenarrowradio promo- Jeff Taylor of Altered 5 Blues Band
Holler If You Hear Me- Altered Five Blues Band
All In The Family Blues- Tito Jackson Ft. Eddie Levert & Kenny Neal
You’re Gonna Push Me Too Far- Tito Jackson

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Little Birdie- Izo FitzRoy
Don’t Throw Me To the Lions- Mo’ Gigs Ft. Pugs Atomz
Fondle Rock- The Poets of Rhythm
Survival Of The Freshest- The Poets of Rhythm
With a Bit Kurkuma- YORK Ft. Yane Singh
Avalanche!- Shinji

Jazzy Worm Drop

This week’s episode of THE YELLOW LIGHT, was gonna keep the mouthy ones happy:

Bopstacle Course- Gerry Gibbs
The Fat Man- Gerry Gibbs
Hardly- Billy Test Trio

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Strummin’ While Nawlins Swims- Dennis Mitcheltree
Tune For Tai- Dennis Mitcheltree
Fungii Mama- Roy Hargrove & Mulgrew Miller (live)
O.W. (encore)- Roy Hargrove & Mulgrew Miller (live)

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Adroitness, Part II- Kevin Sun
Cheroot- Kevin Sun
Talck-overseed-nete- Kevin Sun
Young Muhammad- Brian Jackson Adrian Younge Ali Shaheed Muhammad

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Jenny (Perfect Little Rows)- Selina Albright

Flippin’ The Day

The final portion of this week’s proGram took it, flipped it and made it fit right into the plan:

Foxey Lady- 2B3
Julia (rehearsal)- Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
Songs Of The Viper- Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey (live)
Oklahoma Stomp- Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey (live)

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Apple Blossom Dew- Elements
Kingston Bolero- Emanuele Della Valle
Bun It- Kenya Eugene
Rock & Groove- Drumwise Ft. The Steppas & Fiji
Soulshine- Roots of Creation

Greener Lines

The mid-section of tis week’s proGram added a hint of tint and tilt to the scope:

Rock Me Baby- Tito Jackson Ft. George Benson & Claudette King
Love One Another- Tito Jackson Ft. Stevie Wonder, Bobby Rush & Marlon Jackson

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I’m a Sinner- Bette Smith Ft. Jimbo Mathus
***pre-recorded conversation with Bette Smith***
Signs And Wonder- Bette Smith Ft. Luther Dickinson
Human- Bette Smith
~~
Is That You?- Tim Reynolds & Michael Sokolowski
Glow Worm- Photon
Estimated Prophet- Dave McMurray

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Basic Goodness- Danny Mayer
Born 2 Die- Prince
Same Page, Different Book- Prince
BF Holiday- Let Your Hair Down

On That Wire

The first portion of this week’s proGram looked to the line for some questions:

Strasbourg / St. Denis- Tray Wellington
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Unpacking my Feelings- alexalone
The Stories That Speak- Great North Star
King Blame- FHANG
Servin’ Somebody- Handsome Jack
Black Days- El Perro

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Short Bed Blues- The Delevantes
What I’m Thinking- Grant Swift

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greenarrowradio promo- Tiffany Pollack & Co
Notorious Woman- Elizabeth Hangan
The Fire Is Coming- Lea McIntosh
All Night Long, All Night Wrong- Johnny Tucker Ft. Kid Ramos and The Allstars

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Living Today- Alastair Greene
***pre-recorded conversation with Alastair Greene***
Back At The Poor House- Alastair Greene
The New World Blues- Alastair Greene

The Good The Bad The Bette

Wild rock & soul singer Bette Smith traces elements of her life-affirming new album “The Good, The Bad and The Bette” to her childhood in rough Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Musically, it connects to the gospel music she heard in church and the soul music on the corners. This injection of soul music and gospel into rock & roll powered a breakout in 2017’s “Jetlagger,” which received raves from NPR, Paste, American Songwriter, Billboard, MOJO, and a feature in the New York Times. Not just a critics’ darling, the album rose to #1 on the Roots Music Report chart and topped off a banner year with a celebrated appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival. For this latest release, out now on Ruf Records, the Brooklyn, NY native enlisted Drive-By Truckers’ Matt Patton and engineer/drummer Bronson Tew as producers at Dial Back Sound in Water Valley, MS; Patton has previously helmed projects by Jimbo Mathus and the Dexateens as well as contributed to albums with Dom Flemons, Seratones, and Candi Staton. He played bass on “Jetlagger,” which was produced by Jimbo Mathus and the two found a kinship and shared vision. She says, “When I called on my producer Matthew Robert Patton, I told him that I wanted a southern rock soul/Aretha Franklin/’I once was lost but now I’m found’ theme.” He in turn enlisted guests North Mississippi Allstar Luther Dickinson (guitar on “Signs and Wonders”) and fellow DBT member Patterson Hood (vocals on “Everybody Needs Love”) to join him on the new album.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Bette about the upcoming event at the High Noon Saloon on August 15th. We really get into how the people at the reason Bette brings it out on the road. She hopes to get to know the folks who feel the music, feel the stories and just feels it. We spend time walking, almost dancing though some of the tracks on the album, where they came from and how they piece toGether that almost diary feel to this record. This album has many angels to it, the soulfulness one would come to expect, the bluesiness one needs and that rockin’ feel that one might have been hoping for. Seriously now, if you like to allow your body, mind AND soul to be moved, Bette is your guide. Bette also takes a little about the artists she might think round out a set along with her new music and to me, I am think an extended set of Bette Smith is just what the doctor ordered.