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“A Blue Melody-A Shuffle Beat”
Part of the series “Blues Journey,” produced for ArtsEdge at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Musicologist Kip Lornell of George Washington University explains that Blues musicians accompanied their own signing on an acoustic guitar, piano, or harmonica as fans ate, drank and danced away their woes. Sometimes musicians played the guitar by sliding a knife or a glass bottle over it’s strings. Listen here
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“Got Them Blues: A History”
Part of the series “Blues Journey,” produced for ArtsEdge at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Musicologist Kip Lornell of George Washington University explains that as black slaves toiled in the fields, they often sang to communicate with each other and pass the time. In songs called field hollers and work songs, one person would call out lyrics and the group would respond in unison. This call-and-response pattern was modified by blues musicians — instead of waiting for a response, they answered their own calls. Listen here
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“Billy Taylor – Unsung Jazz Players 2 of 2”
Part of the series “Jazz In DC,” produced for ArtsEdge at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. There are many great jazz players you have never heard of because these people chose to stay put — working in the post office and elsewhere — in Washington, DC. Billy Taylor and Frank Wess talk about some of the best Jazz Players you never heard. Those discussed include pianist John Malachi, guitarist Biddy Fleet, and a trumpet player named “Georgetown” who, despite persistent requests by Duke Ellington to join his band, refused to leave Washington. They also talk about Washington native Billy Eckstine whose career was ruined at its height when he was publicly kissed by a white woman. Listen here
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“Billy Taylor – Unsung Jazz Players 1 of 2”
Part of the series “Jazz In DC,” produced for ArtsEdge at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. There are many great jazz players you have never heard of because these people chose to stay put — working in the post office and elsewhere — in Washington, DC. Billy Taylor and Frank Wess talk about some of the best Jazz Players you never heard. Those discussed include band leader Tommy Miles and pianist Norma Shepard. Listen here
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“Billy Taylor – Mary and James Reese Europe”
Part of the series “Jazz In DC,” produced for ArtsEdge at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Jazz legends Billy Taylor and Frank Wess talk about their teacher Mary Reese Europe, the sister of James Reese Europe, who brought jazz to France in WWI. Listen here
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Billy Taylor – Jazz Teachers, Jazz Masters”
Part of the series “Jazz In DC,” produced for ArtsEdge at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Billy Taylor and Duke Ellington both had the same music teacher; Henry Grant. In the days of segregation in Washington DC, Mr. Grant taught in the black public high schools. Billy and Sax-player Fran Wess (another student of Henry Grant) talk about Mr. Grant and about his impact on jazz. |
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“Billy Taylor – Growing Up”
Part of the series “Jazz In DC,” produced for ArtsEdge at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Jazz legends Billy Taylor and Frank Wess talk about the upsides and down-sides of being African-American in the segregated Washington, DC of their childhood. |
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“Billy Taylor – Fats Waller”
Part of the series “Jazz In DC,” produced for ArtsEdge at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. DC jazz legends Billy Taylor and Frank Wess share memories of DC’s Lincoln Theater — going there as kids and then playing there as adults. Billy talks about the first time he saw his idol Fats Waller coming out of the Lincoln and how the affected the rest of Billy life. |
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“Zydeco – Geno Delafose”
Part of the series “Gulf Coast Highway,” produced for ArtsEdge at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. With the help of Zydeco musician Geno Delafose, Charles Chamberlain of the Louisiana State Museum explains Zydeco music. |
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“Texas Troubadour – Nanci Griffith”
Part of the series “Gulf Coast Highway,” produced for ArtsEdge at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Nanci Griffith and her music explain the Texas Troubadour tradition. |
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