January 21, 2007 Italian Jazz Comes to Carrboro North Carolina
This week I had a special treat on my radio show (Melva's Musings on Jazz) with a visit by a studio full of Italian jazz musicians, sharing their wonderful music, live in the studio with a full crowd there to enjoy it. My radio show is on WCOM 103.5 fm; the Hundred Watts of Wonder station. We are low power but high octane. You can hear my show any where in the world by going to the WCOM website and clicking on the button in the upper right-hand corner and that will get you to my show - in live time on Sunday night from 7:00 - 9:00 EST.

Joining me in the studio this week, and for a full weekend of great jazz, was Fabio Rigamonti on bass and from Milano, Italy; Tony Galiani on bass and from Carrboro, NC; Paolo Frigerio on drums (more on that) and also from Milano; and Marco Nardelli on alto and soprano sax and flute, from Rome, and now residing in Raleigh, NC. The weekend of Italian, plus much much more, jazz jaming was organized by Mietek Glinkowski, who earlier in the weekend joined the musicians on electric violin and Vitar. Unfortunately, at the last minute Mietek had to dash off to Florida so missed being on the show.

Normally my show features the musicians and music of North Carolina. But after hearing about Fabio for several years, it was a thrill to finally meet him and get to hear a weekend of his music.
I thank Paolo for rising to the occasion and playing the multiple drums I was able to borrow from different friends, including the metal strainer from my kitchen. Thanks Catharine and Mariana for lending the drums.
Many people came by the studio to hear the music and Eli brought a plate full of home-baked chocolate goodies - yummy and thanks, Eli. And once again Chris Frank (jazz piano player and multi-talented musicians with the Red Clay Ramblers) and his daughter, Molly, gave me great assistance in the studio - getting everything set up and functioning for the musicians, helping with techno problems, recording the show, and assuring good quality.

I look forward to the return of my newfound Italian friends. They visited ole Carrboro via Los Angeles.

Playlist

• Nina Simone (b. Tryon, NC); Anthology CD; Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

Playlist of Music Played by the Band in the Studio

• Blue Bossu
• Equinox by John Coltrane
• Improv as inspired by Jean Pierre
• Blue Monk
• Foot Prints by Wayne Shorter
• Afro Blue

Playlist of Music Played After the Band Left

• John Coltrane (b. Hamlet, NC); Like Someone in Love
• Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson & Anika Nona Rose; Dreamgirls CD; Dreamgirls as requested by Molly and sung and danced by Molly, Eli, and Melva
• Miles Davis; The Best of Miles Davis CD; Well You Needn't
• John Coltrane; My Favorite Things
• John Coltrane: Lushlife CD; I Hear a Rhapsody
• Marcia Ball (playing in Carrboro last week); Presumed Innocent CD; You Make Me Happy
• Natalie Cole; Unforgetable CD; Unforgetable and singing with her dad
• Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong; Ella and Louis Again CD; Don't Be That Way
• Sawyer-Goldberg (Durham-based jazz group who will be guests on my show next week); Jazzadelia CD; Black Orpheus
• Frankie Alexander (Durham-based jazz singer) & Scott Warner (lived 10 years in Chapel Hill, jazz piano player, performer and teacher); Like Someone in Love

I want to thank the following for coming by the studio to hear the great live music: Laura and Nell, Eli, Chris, Molly, Noah, Mariana, Cameron, Meg, Erin, Heather, Myra, and Paolo Lopes (a Brazilian guitar player)

Feb. 11th will be a big jazzy day in Carrboro. I hope you can join me. From 1:30-3:30, I will be hosting a jazz CD Release Party, and also a concert, for Frankie Alexander at the Carrboro ArtsCenter. We will serve wine and food. Frankie will sing songs from her new CD, Mad About the Words, and she will be joined by all the musicians who played on the CD. Please join us. Then later that evening from 7:00-9:00, at the WCOM studio (on the corner of N Greensboro St. and Weaver St. in downtown Carrboro), I will celebrate with friends the 2nd anniversary of my radio show, Melva's Musings on Jazz. Please come by to say hi (on the air), and have some cake and bubbly stuff and enjoy the music of Chris Frank, playing jazz favorite live in the studio. It will be great fun. If you can't be there in person, please call in your greetings at 919 929-2690.

Ciao.

January 14, 2007 A Drum Major for Justice

In honor of the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., I dedicated my radio show to his speeches, and songs that I felt were complementary to the mood of the speeches. My radio show, Melva's Musings on Jazz, is broadcast from the studios of WCOM in Carrboro, NC; every Sunday night from 7:00 - 9:00 EST. You can hear us on the web any where in the world by going to the WCOM website and clicking on the button in the upper right-hand corner. We are a 100 watts of wonder local power radio station that can be heard, albeit low power, at 103 fm in the Carrboro/Chapel Hill area. Our phone number is 919 929-9601 and I accept calls during my show - asking for requests, questions, or just to say 'hi'. I like to push the 'community' side of community radio and often have a good crowd in the studio with me - people who stop by to say hello, drop off a brownie, or to listen to the music provided by my jazz guests. For this I am thankful.

My show features the music of NC jazz musicians and their music - those of our past and those of our present. Please join me in person, on the radio, or on the internet.

Playlist

• Nina Simone (b. Tryon, NC); Anthology CD; I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to Be Free, Billy Taylor song (b. Greenville, NC) and theme song for my show
• Martin Luther King, Jr.; In Search of Freedom CD; I Have a Dream
• Nina Simone; Anthology CD; Why? The King of Love is Dead
• Martin Luther King, Jr.; In Search of Freedom CD; A Preacher Leading His Flock
• Alvin Alley; Retrospective of 10 Years of Dance CD; Wade in the Water
• Solomon Burke; Don't Give Up on Me CD; None of Us are Free
• Charles Haden & Hank Jones; Steal Away CD; We Shall Overcome
• Mary Lou Williams & Cynthia Tyson; My Mama Pinned a Rose on Me CD; The Blues
• Martin Luther King, Jr.; In Search of Freedom CD; Dr. King's Entrance into Civil Rights
• James Brown; 20 All Time Greatest Hits CD; Say it Loud, I'm Black & I'm Proud
• Charles Lloyd; Lift Every Voice CD; Lift Every Voice
• Elvis Presley; Elvis Gospel CD; Take My Hand Precious Lord & Run
• Charles Haden & Hank Jones: Steal Away CD; Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
• Nina Simone; Anthology CD; Mississippi God Damm
• Brother Yusuf Salim (lives Durham, NC); Yusuf Sings Yusuf CD; A Hymm for Us All
• Nina Simone; Anthology CD; Strange Fruit
• Charles Haden & Hank Jones; Steal Away CD; Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
• Martin Luther King, Jr.; In Search of Freedom CD; I Have a Dream
• Chuck Brown & Eva Cassidy; The Other Side CD; Over the Rainbow
• Nina Simone; Anthology CD; To Be Young Gifted and Black

I wish you all a good weekend and hope that you spent time reflecting on the life and works of Martin Luther King, Jr. I want to thank Roco (Sat. morning DJ on WCOM of the Music Hall show) for coming by and being on the air with me and to Liza, who stopped by the studio with brownies for me and Roco to thank us for the wonderful show. I thank her and small moments like this help keep me on the air and loving what I am doing.

January 7, 2007 From Ragtime to Kimbrough Time to Honoring the Two Kings Time (JB & Elvis that is)

On my radio show, Melva's Musings on Jazz, this week I had two guests in the studio with me - Nancy Lowther and Stan Lowe. Even though we were on the radio, Nancy came in a beautiful performing outfit with lots of glittery jewels. And Stan had a deep Elvis-like voice that was great when he sang - Can't Help Falling in Love. My show is live every Sunday from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. EST and features the music and musicians with NC roots. In the area of Carrboro and Chapel Hill, NC, you can hear me on the dial at 103.5 fm. And on the internet, you can catch my show any where in the world by going to the WCOM website and clicking on the upper righthand button for web-broadcast. You can also call in a request at 919 929-9601. Please join me for a fun and entertaining time.

Playlist

• Nancy Lowther from Cary, NC on piano; Special Passions CD; Leola, Ragtime Dance, Maple Leaf Rag & Solace
• Nancy Lowther on piano and Stan Lowe from Anger, NC on synthesizer; Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy & Fly Me to the Moon
  
• Nancy Lowther on piano and Stan Lowe singing and playing guitar; Can't Help Falling in Love
• Nancy Lowther singing and on piano with Stan singing and on guitar; Under the Boardwalk
• Professor Longhair; Rum & Coke CD; Jambalaya
• Scott Warner, lived in Chapel Hill, jazz pianist, performer, teacher; Wild Man Blues CD
• Jelly Roll Morton; Promotional Sampler CD; Mister Jelly Lord
• Elvis; 30 #1 Hits CD; All Shook Up
• James Brown; 20 All Time Greatest Hits CD; I Feel Good & I'm Black and I'm Proud
• Madison Smartt Bell & Wyn Cooper; Forty Words for Fear CD; On 8 Mile
• UNC Jazz Band, Chapel Hill, NC; From One to Another CD; Softly As in a Morning Sunrise
• Brad Mahldau Trio; Day is Done CD; Martha My Dear
• Wilson, Kimbrough (b. Roxboro, NC), Wind and Katie Bull on vocals; Love Spook CD; Favorite Things
• Thelonius Monk (b. Rocky Mount, NC) and John Coltrane (b. Hamlet, NC); Complete Riverside Recordings CD; Monk's Mood & Epistrophy
• Sarah Vaughn, playing with Dizzy Gillespie (h.s. in Laurenburg, NC); Embracable You CD; Scat Blues

Happy Birthday Elvis - Jan. 8th
Good night and good bye to James Brown. I will miss you and your wonderful music!