July 22, 2007 The Hipster is Very Hip
The Martin Eagle Trio celebrates the release of a new CD, The Hipster. I was pleased to have them share their wonderful music. Over the course of my two-hour radio show, they played live in the studio half the time and for the rest, I played songs from their CD. The Martin Eagle Trio consists of Martin Eagle on keyboard, always humming and sometimes singing. Martin lives in Bahama - just outside of Durham. He is joined by Peter Innocenti from Knightsville, NC on bass and Joe Izzo from Durham on drums. Joe, unfortunately, was out of town and unable to join us for the show.

Martin Eagle is a veteran jazz performer and composer. He hails from Brooklyn, and then spent many years in Los Angeles as a performer and composer. He eventually landed in Durham and has formed several groups over the years. He has played with some of the greatest jazz musicians and is full of wonderful performing stories. He's worked with Don Ellis and Rahsoon Roland Kirk, and shared the rhythm section with the likes of Ornette Coleman. He's performed at the original Birdland, the Lighthouse, and Carnegie Recital Hall. We are blessed to have Martin settled into the rich NC jazz scene.

Peter Innocenti also comes from the NY area and came to the NC area just a few years ago. He studied bass at the William Paterson College of New Jersey where he moved from electric to the upright bass. He played in the NYC jazz music scene for over 25 years and worked with performers such as Eddie Allen, Sarah Jane Cion and Bobby Watson. Peter and Martin met at a jazz jam shortly after he arrived in NC. They hit it off immediately and have played together since then.

Joe Izzo on drums also played in the NYC jazz world for several years and has been playing in NC for over ten. He has a degree from the NC Central University's Jazz Studies Program. I look forward to having Joe with Martin and Peter next time they join me for my show.

Playlist from the Hipster CD by the Martin Eagle Trio

• If Not for You
• Autumn Waltz
• Always You
• If I Were the One
• Can You Imagine
• Hipster
• Everything that rises

I started the show with my theme song, I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free, performed by Nina Simone (b. Tryon, NC) and ended with the same song as performed by the composer, Billy Taylor (b. Greenville, NC).

Melva's Musings on Jazz can be heard each Sunday night from 7:00 - 9:00 EST. Broadcast from the studios of WCOM in the musically-gifted town of Carrboro, you can hear us locally on your radio dial at 103.5 fm. The station is community-powered and a 100 Watts of Wonder. You can listen in anywhere in the world by going to your computer and typing in the URL of www.communityradio.coop and once on the WCOM homepage, clicking the button in the upper righthand corner for web broadcast. You can call into the show at 919 929-9601. Please join me to enjoy and celebrate the music and musicians of the NC jazz scene.

July 8, 2007 Celebrating NC Jazz Musicians
It's been a long time since I've been without guests on my show. I missed the fun of meeting new musicians and hearing their music, but enjoyed having the evening to share some of my favorite jazz music with a special focus on that produced by NC jazz musicians. This painting is by jazz musician and artist, John Fayson.

I marked what would have been the 100th birthday this July 14th of legendary jazz singer and song writer, Bus Brown. Bus hailed from Baltimore but following the trail of Brother Yusuf Salim, he came to Durham and provided great inspiration for many a new jazz musician rising up in the area. Bus passed away this February. There was a great jazz jam in his honor on July 14th in Durham, and to mark his birthday and to celebrate the life and works of Brother Yusuf.

Play list

• Nina Simone (b. Tryon, NC); Anthology CD; I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free
• Solomon Burke; Don't Give Up on Me CD; None of Us are Free
• Leonard Cohen; More of the Best of Leonard Cohen CD; Waltz & Democracy
• Yusuf Salim (lives Durham, NC); Yusuf Sings Yusuf CD; A Hymm for Us All
• Charlie Haden & Hank Jones; Steal Away CD; Wade in the Water & We Shall Overcome
• Frankie Alexander (lives Durham, NC); Mad About the Words CD; Porgy & Bess
• Dave Youngman (lives Raleigh, NC); Usual Suspects CD; Song for My Father & My Funny Valentine
• Bus Brown (lived Durham, NC); The Story Teller album; Freedom & Money
• Nina Simone; Anthology CD; Mississippi Goddamm
• Bus Brown; Story Teller album; The Switch is On
• Martin Eagle (lives Durham, NC) Trio; The Hipster CD; If Not for You
• Adia Ledbetter (lives Durham, NC); First Take CD; Route 66
• Nnenna Freelon; Heritage CD; Bewitched
• Cesario Evora; Sao Vicente CD; Tiempo Y Silencio
• Mary Lou Williams (died in Durham, NC); My Mama Pinned a Rose on Me CD; The Blues
• Alan Neese (lives Greensboro, NC); Omen Seeker; Blue & Silver
• Billy Taylor (born Greenville, NC) Trio; Music Keeps Us Young CD; I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free