WKCR FM New York

Good evening. In the past I’ve mentioned that I program for WKCR FM New York, Columbia’s very own student run radio station. It’s a fantastic institution built on strong values and a desire to put “the alternative” out on the airwaves. I program for jazz, new music and maybe latin soon. This week I am actually on air for a ridiculous amount of shows.

If you desire to hear me program some sweet ambient and avant garde sounds, tune in Monday night / Tuesday morning from 1-5am EST for Transfigured night, a new music show. I’ll probably be spinning some free jazz and definitely some quiet static-y weird sounds. Maybe some Terry Riley too just to pay tribute to my hometown (I’m from San Francisco).

Maybe you’re more of a jazz cat. That’s ok, I often am one myself. If you desire to just fall back on a bed of sweet 2-5-1  chord progressions and smooooth sax tune in Wednesday morning from 5-8am EST. There’s truly no telling what kind of fabulous things are coming your way, but the forecast tells us there’s a strong chance of some Stan Getz.

There’s more! Lena! That’s crazy! I know. Tune in Saturday night (2/11) / Sunday morning from 1-6am EST to hear me on this week’s Jazz Till Dawn. Watch the sunrise with me and listen to some cool jazz.

TUNE IN: on the dial at 89.9FM New York and online.

I hope all of you get more sleep this week than I’m about to.

Spread love and jazzzzzzzz.

~NEW PINEGROVE~

Hi lovely people. Sorry I’ve been quiet lately. Things have been so damn busy! I’m back in New York from SF and starting classes etc. This weekend I was in D.C. for the women’s march with my mother, aunt and cousin. It was so so special to be there with them to witness history being made by BADASS women.

Pinegrove celebrated the march and is participating in the resistance by donating the proceeds from Elsewhere, a new live album, to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The fact that it’s so well meaning and inspiring is really eclipsed by the tracks themselves. Each track feels fully re-imagined live in stunningly beautiful and markedly emotional ways. Nandi’s background vocals are more prevalent on certain tracks adding richness and a brighter color, and Evan tests out a variety of different vocal styles and harmonies on nearly all the tracks. All the songs go slightly harder live but in a notably different way than most bands play more energetic versions of songs live. Pinegrove’s live tracks hit much higher registers (vocals and instruments) packing them with emotional honesty and rawness not always heard on the recorded versions (listen to the version of Size of the Moon and you will get it). Also, often times you hear the whole band joined in a near campfire-esque group signing style that works nicely with Evan’s lyrics about loneliness and friends you love and that weird balance. Nandi often strays from the group singing stunning harmonies.

And somehow these songs, all RECORDED LIVE, have absolutely amazing sound quality.

Spread love and Evan’s lyrics please.

join the women’s resistance here: https://www.womensmarch.com 

listen to Pinegrove’s live album / purchase it for charity here: https://pinegrove.bandcamp.com

Hexual Ceiling

The first few tracks released from singer-songwriter Caroline Getz and band members Grant Hiura (keys) and Nate Charnas (bass) are absolutely stunning. Filled with soul and jazz-y love, each track is warm with the timbre of Getz’s voice and complemented beautifully by virtuosic and interesting keyboard work from Hiura and cool bass lines from Charnas.

“Winter is Warm,” “Own Desires,” and “Eliana” showcase different singing styles from Getz, and each track feels distinct from the other while all being equally beautiful (although “Own Desires” may be my personal favorite off the ep). “Still of Night” artfully closes the ep with slow drawn out notes and emotional high notes sung by Getz. Subtle and beautiful accompaniment from Hiura and Charnas lets the vocals shine through.

Hexual Ceiling performed not too long ago at a NODAPL / ACLU benefit show Rare Candy organized. Live, Getz’s vocal performance was extremely impressive and no less virtuosic than on the recordings, and Hiura’s masterful work on the keys was even more apparent. Hexual Ceiling was magnetic and the whole crowd was drawn in close by the warm music and Getz’s friendly presence.

Your New Wednesday Morning Routine

Hi lovely people! I have some very exciting news to share with you. Starting on the 25th of this month I will be spinning sweet sweet jazz tunes for you from 5-8:20am every other Wednesday. Tune in to WKCR at 89.9FM New York or online at wkcr.org. To be clear I’ll be spinning from 5-8am EASTERN time. So to all my Californians (likely most off you reading this) I’ll be programming from 2-5:20am. Please don’t be awake at such an hour on my account, but perhaps if you find yourself sleepless and up late or awake early you can tune in. I’m really looking forward to gracing the airwaves with exciting and beautiful jazz music, and I hope you’ll tune in to witness it!

It’s Raining In San Francisco

I just got home from the islands, and it is raining very hard out. Drought no more.

Buckets of rain
Buckets of tears
Got all them buckets comin’ out of my ears
Buckets of moonbeams in my hand
I got all the love, honey baby
You can stand

I been meek
And hard like an oak
I seen pretty people disappear like smoke
Friends will arrive, friends will disappear
If you want me, honey baby
I’ll be here

Like your smile
And your fingertips
Like the way that you move your lips
I like the cool way you look at me
Everything about you is bringing me
Misery

Little red wagon
Little red bike
I ain’t no monkey but I know what I like
I like the way you love me strong and slow
I’m takin’ you with me, honey baby
When I go

Life is sad
Life is a bust
All ya can do is do what you must
You do what you must do and ya do it well
I’ll do it for you, honey baby
Can’t you tell?

-Dylan

HAPPY N E W YEAR

SALES is wonderful . . . this song is wonderful . . . please enjoy with a glass of champagne.

2016 wasn’t so wonderful for the world. I started college and graduated from SFUHS which was wonderful, but I can’t help but focus on the election of a fascist to the highest office of the US govt. For all the upsetting things that happened in 2016 (pulse, Aleppo, Trump, the many many shootings of unarmed young black men by cops, the many many other shootings of innocent people by people who shouldn’t have guns . . .) there are actions we can take to try and be better personally and also to better the world. Give to the ACLU or Planned Parenthood, call your congressperson about issues you think are important, stay informed and read quality journalism (this blog does not count), and above all treat others with kindness and love one another.

During Pinegrove’s show at Irving Plaza Evan talked about how their songs are principally about love and how he’s hopeful that each person singing along to his lyrics follows their message and lives a life of love not hate. On a slightly different but related note, music is always what heals me when I’m hurting. When things become overwhelming and shitty put on a record. And do what Evan said. Learn to be better from the music you listen to. Listen to the lyrics, think critically. Hopefully sometimes reading this blog and listening to the content I share with you makes you feel and live a little bit better.

I’m sending you absolutely all my love for the New Year. Let’s make it great, we have the power don’t forget it!

The Last Waltz: Reviewed

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lob_nylan's avatarthe bassline

Directed by concert-filming genius Martin Scorsese The Last Waltz is a lively and emotional look into The Band’s farewell show at Winterland in San Francisco. And what a show it was. Bill Graham, San Francisco legend, booked the show and brought together many of music’s finest to perform together. He also allegedly is the reason the show was filmed. Dylan protested the filming of the final few numbers, but Graham frustratedly exclaimed, “This is history! We’re filming.” Basically thank god for Bill Graham. And thank god for Scorsese who has the unique ability to rig up a concert hall with enough cameras to make the show come alive on screen. He brings a unique dynamism to concert films (see my review on Scorsese’s Rolling Stones documentary Shine a Light). Like in Shine a Light, the film is primarily concert footage interspersed with some interviews with members of…

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