Today's feature comes straight of KUNM's air when improvisational pianist Thollem McDonas visited with Mark Weber on "All That Jazz."
McDonas brought his electric keyboard up to the Studio, but Mark decided to surprise him by wheeling in our upright spinnet from Studio A, an instrument McDonas described as "wild."
These excerpts come from the March 17 edition of "All That Jazz."
Keep up with the artist and his many projects at www.thollem.com.
Carol Boss welcomed the Merlettes into studio A for a live performance and interview on afternoon freeform. The Merlettes is an all-girl, Merle Haggard-inspired honky tonk band also featuring the music of Loretta Lynn, Kitty Wells and Tammy Wynette as well as original songs from Kristina Jacobsen. What a great way to begin Women's History month!
Keep up with the Merlettes and all of Kristina Jacobsens musical endeavors at http://kristinajacobsenmusic.com
Claudio Toulousse in performance and interview from KUNM's Studio A
On today's feature we catch up with jazz guitarist/songwriter Claudio Toulousse, an artist whose development spans New Mexico, New Orleans and Colombia, where his roots lay. The performance includes original songs from an ongoing project that involves releasing a full album one song at a time.
Albuquerque trio Floozy released their second album "His Name Is Fabio" while we were reconstructing studios last year, but with new videos coming out and the outdoor music season upon us it seemed high time to bring them back into Studio A.
Recorded on February 13, 2016, Floozy are: Bronson Elliott: lead vocals, guitar, accordion Tanya Nunez: upright bass, vocals, banjo, narration Lauren Addario: drum kit
Kristina Jacobsen has made a name for herself locally with The Merlettes and UNM's honky-tonk band, but to celebrate the release of "Three Roses" she arrived in full songwriter mode. In this excerpt of a longer session, Jacobsen plays her originals and talks about the appeal of classic Country to a classical musician with roots in three different countries.
(Part 2 with additional content added on 22 Feb 2016.)
Recorded on January 20, 2016 in Studio A by Roman Garcia the band are:
Live music and chat with Cali Shaw and Band in Studio A.
This session re-unites songwriter Cali Shaw with the all-star crew that played on his second album "Under the Olive Tree." The vibe was so exceptional in the studio that night we decided to run it almost unedited.
Recorded in Studio A on January 21, 2016 The Cali Shaw band are:
Cali Shaw: vocals, acoustic guitar Alex Maryol: electric guitar Dan Spanogle: bass, vocals Josh English: drum kit Nick Baker: vibraphone, accordion, bongos Muni Kulasinghe: violin Meredith Wilder: vocals
Music and chat with David Berkeley and band in Studio A
Singer/songwriter writer David Berkeley has appeared on KUNM a number of times, and while we've asked him about his work as a prose writer we've never gotten a chance to hear how his prose projects inform his songs and vice versa. Until now.
For this session David brought his band of "Santa Fe champions" along with the just-released story collection The Free Brontosaurus to give us a taste of this project in its natural environment.
Recorded on January 30, 2016 the performers are: David Berkeley: vocals, acoustic guitar, readings Ben Wright: electric guitar, harmony vocals Josh Martin: electric bass, harmony vocals Paul Feathericci: drums, percussion
Since her debut CD release at age 18 Meredith Wilder has become one of the most high-profile musicians in Albuquerque's Americana scene.
Splitting time between the trio Wildewood and half a dozen other projects, Wilder has continued with her own song-writing and brought us songs from her second solo album, the just-released "The Coming of the Night." Included here are songs which emerged from an on-line writers group Wilder frequents.
Recorded January 18, 2016 by Roman Garcia with Marshall Broyles the band are:
Meredith Wilder: guitar, lead vocal Colin Baillio: upright bass Sage Harrington: harmony vocals
Keep track of Meredith Wilder and the other two members of Wildewood and all their far-flung projects at www.wildewoodmusic.com.
On January 13, 2016 we opened Studio C up for a visit from neo-traditionalists Lone Piñon. The trio has appeared at the Albuquerque Folk Festival, ¡Globalquerque! and local venues in both Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
As their debut CD "Trio Nuevo Mexicano" rolls out, the group brought folkloric and classic songs from both Mexico and Northern NM and spoke about the very different roads that brought them to embrace these traditions.
Interviews and performances with 5 Star Motelles, live in Studio A.
It's been a long time since "Ear to the Ground" featured an all-the-way-live performance on a Saturday night. This Studio Session features Albuquerque's 5 Star Motelles live on-air from Studio A on November 21, 2015 in a mix of retro originals & updated girl group classics from their self-titled LP.
Music and conversation with Justin Evan Thompson, Gabrielle Louise, and others.
This feature captures Albuquerque's Justin Evan Thompson & band in Studio A on November 5, 2015. To celebrate the release of his debut CD as a solo artist, Thompson brought us some of the players who helped make the album "Hymns for a Manchild," including the Colorado-based singer-songwriter Gabrielle Louise.
Justin Evan Thompson: vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica Gabrielle Louise: vocals, acoustic guitar Paul Hunton: electric guitar John McMillan: bass
Engineered by Roman Garcia. Special thanks to Jalila Arthur & Jefferson White
Clark Andrew Libbey performance and interview from Studio A at KUNM.
In this week's feature rocker Clark Andrew Libbey steps away from ensembles (Broken Fables, The Shacks, Bellamah, etc) to give us a solo acoustic taste of his new album "Food Or Cash" along with some newly-written songs. In the interview, he discusses the need for working musicians to develop a business plan.
Clark Andrew Libbey: vocals and guitar
Recorded in Studio A, October 30, 2015 by Roman Garcia.
Keep up with Clark Andrew Libbey on Reverbnation or Facebook.
On September 25th and 26th KUNM Production Director Roman Garcia and team headed to the National Hispanic Cultural Center in the Barelas neighborhood of Albuquerque for the 11th Annual Globalquerque! Festival of World Music and Culture.
The five-hour live broadcast could not include full performances, and a few artists were left out entirely.
Not to worry, we still recorded everything from all three stages, so browse the audio files below (categorized by stage they performed on), click, and enjoy!
Albuquerque's SummerFest series came to Nob Hill on July 18 for a full day open air extravaganza that concluded with a seasonal downpour. KUNM's Roman Garcia and Eli Willard were on site to record the Main Stage performers:
Mystic Vic Blues Band NuMethods Alex Maryol Band Honey House Leni Stern African Quartet Roomful of Blues
Final mix/editing by Eli Willard. Special thanks to John from Audio Excellence.
This week's feature spotlights Albuquerque's Sol de la Noche in a mix of Diego Manrique originals and classics from Colombia, Cuba & beyond. At any particular time this group can perform as anything from a duo to an 11-piece band. For this performance Sol de la Noche were:
Diego Manrique: vocals, guitar Gabriela Garza: vocals, percussion, melodica Diego Flores, bass Oscar Gamboa: percussion Jose Chicas: trumpet
Recorded in Studio A by Roman Garcia with Marshall Broyles.
Carol Boss visited with Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill when they came through town on her show "Afternoon Freeform" on 89.9 KUNM. They chatted a bit and played three of their lovely irished-tinged songs for fiddle and guitar.
This week we feature the Albuquerque duo BaBa playing early Jazz tunes from the new CD "Rosetta" plus originals. In the interview they talk about making the most of stripped-down orchestration and the presiding influence of silent film icon Buster Keaton on their own tunes.
Recorded in Studio C on June 19, BaBa are: Steven Robert Allen: banjo, vocal Mark Weaver: tuba
Engineered by Matthew Finch Videographer: Jefferson White
Kito Peters performing in Studio A. Full session audio.
Until now, award-winning Santa Fe songwriter Kito Peters had been joining us as a solo performer for "Ear to the Ground." For this week's feature he brings multi-instrumentalist (and co-producer) John Kurzweg to perform songs from the new CD "Design Flaw."
As usual, Peters unveils some brand new songs destined for the next album. Recorded by Roman Garcia in Studio A, January 15, 2015.
Kito Peters: lead vocal. rhythm guitar John Kurzweg: lead guitar, vocals
We've also included one solo song from last year's Studio C session.
The MilTones Brass Band Pt 1: Performance and interview
Part 2 of The MilTones Performance and Interview:
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The MilTones Pt 2: Performance and interview
In this two-part feature we catch The Mil-Tones Brass Band as they prepare to record their debut album.
Drawn from musicians across the state, The Mil-Tones bring the New Orleans brass sound to a wide array of styles, offering new arrangements of Jazz tunes as well as Rock covers and daring originals.
Recorded in Studio A on May 27, 2015, for this performance The Mil-Tones were:
Milton Villarrubia III: drum kit, band leader Jeremy Bleich: electric guitar JQ Whitcomb: trumpet Dan Pearlman: cornet Ryan Finn: trombone Mark Weaver: tuba Dan Barton: tenor sax Matt Briggs: tenor & baritone sax Paul Bossert: sousaphone Ben Wright: sousaphone Elliot Ryan: percussion
Studio engineering and post-production by Roman Garcia with Marshall Broyles Video production: Jefferson White
Find The Mil-Tones on Facebook; a larger web presence will be rolling out soon.
David and Ben play and chat with Matthew Finch in Studio C.
On May 30 Santa Fe musicians David Berkeley & Ben Wright stopped into Studio C for an impromptu session on their way to an evening show at Albuquerque's Westside Marble Brewery. Some exciting May weather had pressed their schedule tight & so the session was all single takes of songs from Berkeley's last and forthcoming albums.
David Berkeley: vocal, acoustic guitar Ben Wright: electric guitar, vocals
This week's featured performers are the Albuquerque duo The Khans, playing work from their debut CD "Meta Tribal Rite XI" and talking about how they each found a stylistic home in the musical traditions of the Mid-East.
For this performance The Khans are:
Erik Teixera: oud Frank Bramlitt: darbuka.
Recorded in Studio C on May 6, 2015 by Matthew Finch Videographer: Jefferson White
Keep up with the Khans & learn of their plans to expand the project at www.505khans.com.
Interview with and performances by Eileen & The In-Betweens
On May 6, 2015, the Albuquerque 7-piece Eileen & the In-Betweens made their Studio A debut, playing songs from "Everything Is Alive," Eileen's second album, but her first to be written and recorded in New Mexico.
For this performance Eileen & the In-Betweens are:
Interview and music with Ottmar Liebert in Studio C.
This week features an informal Studio C visit from Santa Fe guitarist/composer Ottmar Liebert. Just returned from a European tour, Liebert and his trio Luna Negra were preparing to reunite with the New Mexico Philharmonic for an April 4th performance at Popejoy Hall.
In addition to two brief pieces from Studio C, this feature contains cuts from Liebert's most recent releases "Bare Wood" and "Three-Oh-Five".
The Joseph General Band live in Studio A, with interview.
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Part 2 of the interview and performance of the Joseph General Band.
Tonight we feature 9-piece powerhouse The Joseph General Band. To celebrate the release of their first live in-studio recording this squad of seasoned and versatile players decided to give us an extended set of their Reggae originals live in Studio A.
For this performance The Joseph General Band are: Joseph General: lead vocals Carlo Johnson: guitar John Williams: keyboards Jerome "Scoobie" Obichon: drums Billy Lorne: percussion John Zamora: guitar Delmone Taylor: tenor sax Lydia Garcia: vocals
Engineered by Eli Willard with Steve Nery Post-production by Roman Garcia
The Lymbs performing live in Studio A. Full session audio.
This session features Albuquerque rock duo The Lymbs playing songs from the new ep "Moon," their third record in three years. Recorded on February 26, 2015, The Lymbs are:
Gage Bickerstaff: vocals, guitar, keyboards Jeff Bell: drums, keyboards Andrew Raymond: fifth Beatle
Session engineer: Ethan Stein with Kevin Kissiel and Nicole Candelaria Post production: Roman Garcia Videographer: Jefferson White
To keep up with The Lymbs both locally and on tour start here: www.thelymbs.com.
Michael Anthony and Paul Gonzalez live in the Control Room on Afternoon Freeform. Music and interview.
Guitarist Michael Anthony is one of the most storied Jazz musicians in New Mexico and a frequent guest on KUNM's "All That Jazz" program. In this session, Monday host Paul Gonzalez sets the sound board, brings out his trumpet, fits it with a Harmon mute and plays impromptu duets with Anthony.
The set includes a Gonzalez original dedicated to Anthony and excerpts of their live on-air conversation. Personel for this session:
Electric guitar: Michael Anthony Trumpet: Paul Gonzalez
Sound engineer: Paul Gonzalez Videographer: Jefferson White
Claire Lynch Band live in Studio A. Full session audio.
This session features The Claire Lynch Band in live performance from our own Studio A on "Friday Freeform" February 27, 2015.
A nationally-recognized Bluegrass performer and songwriter since her work with the Front Porch String Band in the 80s, Lynch launched her own band in 2005. The past decade has seen her and the group rise to the top tier of Bluegrass artists while her own compositions transcended the form, appearing on a wide range of others' albums.
The quartet drove through the snow to make it to KUNM and dedicated the song "Snow Day" to the historic storm that followed them into town.
The Claire Lynch Band are Claire Lynch, Mark Schatz, Jarrod Walker & Bryan McDowell.
Roman Garcia engineered the session live from Studio A with production assistance from Steve Nery and Eli Willard. Jefferson White, videographer. Harry Norton was the live host.
