Tracy Bonham | Masts Of Manhatta

I wondered about the title of Tracy Bonham's new album "Masts Of Manhatta". Intriguing, strong, mysterious. Come to find out that it's taken from a phrase from Walt Whitman's poem "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry." "Cross from shore to shore, countless crowds of passengers. Stand up, tall masts of Manhattan! Stand up, beautiful hills of Brooklyn." One of the many unexpected pleasures of encountering Tracy Bonham again -going back to read Walt Whitman again!

It's been five years and a lot of life changes since Bonham's last CD. She got married, got certified as a yoga teacher, moved to Woodstock and now splits her time between her home there and Brooklyn.

Smokey Hormel from Brooklyn's Smokey's Roundup is on guitars with his bass player, Tim Luntsel and drummer Andy Borger, providing the roots backbone to the album. Tchad Blake mixed it.

The record holds together beautifully, with Bonham's sense of humor and strength as a singer and player (violins, Fender Rhodes, guitar, piano, claves, spaghetti pot, cardboard box) filling the tracks. All the years of playing -her early classical training in her native Eugene, Oregon, her time in the early '90's at Berklee and playing in Boston, and her subsequent, short-lived dominance on the alternative scene in the mid 90's all serve her well and make the release one of the best of the late summer, early fall season.

Listen...

Mavis Staples | You Are Not Alone

I go through a process as I listen to an album for the first time. Because of the volume of music I listen to every week, it's rather quick, but a process nonetheless. Even with a legendary musician like Mavis Staples, one I am so ready to accept absolutely, it takes a certain amount of time before an album kicks in, takes hold. And that moment when it does, the moment when I'm swept away is my favorite part of the music listening routine.

As I made my way through "You Are Not Alone" the new CD from Chicago's Mavis Staples, I asked myself "Do I like this?" and "Am I going to get blown away?" I experienced a slow build, and by the time I circled through a few times, I was sold. The song choices are inspired, and include a few written by her dad the late "Pops" Staples, a couple by the album's producer, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy (love the title track written by Jeff!), and one from Randy Newman, "Losing You", another killer song choice. Mavis has so much depth as a singer and what I realized was happening with the slow build was that I was traveling inside her sound, with all of it's subtlety and breadth of experience. And all at once, I got to the center and found what I was hoping for, what she was going for.

Listen to clips from the CD here.

Lou Reed at mvyradio October 1997

It was a Sunday morning about 11 when Lou Reed came to the station in October of 1997. He was on the island to play a gig at The Hot Tin Roof. Several staffers showed up to get a glimpse, and a rooster was in a tree near the building. Lou was delighted with the rooster, and with the fact that a cool, independent radio station existed on the Vineyard.

We settled in and started our conversation, and I was amazed at how relaxed, open and forthcoming Lou was. We talked about what he listened to as a kid, his vocal style, his guitar playing and his home, New York City. The thirty or so minutes I spent with him was definitely one of the highlights of my career.

Listen to the interview here .

Robert Randolph | We Walk This Road

Robert Randolph started playing pedal steel guitar when he was 15, but he had been witness to the "Sacred Steel" since he was a child at The House Of God Church. By the time he stared playing, he had already learned from the great players in the church that there is only one way to play, and that's with feeling. At 19, he heard Stevie Ray Vaughn and he was on his way to a career combining gospel, roots and rock into a unique style that caught the attention of Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, B.B. King, and most recently T Bone Burnett.

Robert was lookng for a producer that could connect him more deeply to his roots -the blues and gospel that were already part of his music. He found T Bone Burnett. T Bone produced "We Walk This Road" and yet again serves as teacher, facilitator, benefactor and all-around musical guru to yet another musician and musical project.

See Robert Randolph and The Family Band at Rhythm & Roots Labor Day Weekend. Get a deal on tickets to the festival with a donation to Friends of mvyradio.

I spoke with Robert Randolph this week. Click here


Check out clips from "We Walk This Road"

Guggenhiem Grotto | The Universe Is Laughing

The Guggenheim Grotto have made another outstanding album called "The Universe Is Laughing". Kevin May and Mike Lynch are top songwriters and they deliver their music with absolute perfection.

Listen tonight (repeats Sunday 8/15 at 9 PM ET) as I feature several tracks from the cd on Uncharted Waters at 9 PM ET. www.mvyradio.com

Sample the album

Remembering Jerry Garcia with Jer Bear

Jer Bear, the host of mvyradio's Shakedown Stream sat in with me yesterday to mark the 15th Anniversary of Jerry Garcia's passing. I wanted to post the conversation here in case you didn't hear it. Jer brought in some Jerry tunes to play -a newly released version of "Friend Of The Devil" from Let it Rock on Rhino Records, "Russian Lullaby" an Irving Berlin song that Jerry Garcia does on Compliments (also on Rhino) and "So Many Roads", a song recorded on July 9, 1995, exactly one month before Jerry died.

Listen to the interview here

Jer continues his Jerry tribute today (Tuesday, August 10) at 5 PM ET on mvyradio's Shakedown Stream

Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain & Edgar Myer | At Naukabout in Falmouth

I spoke with Bela Fleck the other day in advance of his appearance at Naukabout in Falmouth today (Saturday August 7th). Check out what he has to say about hearing the banjo for the first time on The Beverly Hillbillies, being a student of music in every situation, and being involved in so many once in a lifetime career events. Click here

Find out about Naukabout

New Lee Ritenour, Guggenheim Grotto, Richard Thomson

Love this photo on the cover of Lee Ritenour's new cd! There is a lot of light inside any instrument that is just waiting to be released.

That's exactly what happens on this album, with some of the world's greatest guitarists joining Ritenour for outstanding and inspired performances. John Scofield, Keb Mo', Taj Mahal, Mike Stern, B.B. King, Joe Bonamassa all contribute. Listen for a few songs from the record tonight at 9 PM ET on Uncharted Waters, the new music show I host on mvyradio.

You'll also hear new Guggenheim Grotto, Richard Thompson, Paula Cole and J.J. Grey and Mofro featuring Toots Hibbert.

Newport Folk Festival | Positive Vibration

It's Monday morning following Newport Folk and we're all feeling the musical love that was filling the air all weekend long at Fort Adams State Park, and on Friday night at The Tennis Hall Of Fame. You couldn't ask for better weather and all festival goers know that the warm and sunny totally trumps sweltering and steamy or rainy and muddy.

There were so many amazing musical performances that it's a challenge to pick the highlights. There were some sets that totally knocked me out. Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings was the absolute top for me, and I bet for many others. The place went wild during her set! I couldn't stop dancing as I watched from the back of the field in front of the main stage. At one point I found myself jumping up and down. It's been awhile since that happened.

Andrew Bird, John Prine, Brandi Carlile, Horse Feathers, Dawes, Swell Season and Levon Helm were my other favorites, but EVERYBODY was great and once again the folks at Newport Folk outdid themselves on all fronts. The quality of the artist line-up, the sound, and the overall experience of being at the festival was absolutely top notch and that's what Newport delivers year after year. Listen to music from the festival here.

Steve Martin | Tim O'Brien |Sarah Jarosz| and more!

I was looking at Steve Martin's website and in "The Martin Mirror", his "electric newspaper" he writes "Breaking News: Steve Martin's Tour Rider Leaked". A tour rider, if you don't know, is the part of an artist contract that stipulates all of the details of what an artist expects at an appearance. Because of the specificity and sometimes excessive requirements, tour riders are ripe for this kind of treatment. Under "Buffet" "Tray of Iceberg Lettuce. Important Note: Iceberg must come from Scandinavia, Canada or Russian Arctic. Artists do not like taste of Antarctic Icebergs." And this "Artist Relations: Venue must have Bela Fleck on speed dial, in case Steve's feeling lazy". Funny guy, Steve Martin. His humor is on display in everything he does and his banjo playing is such a joyful addition to what he offers us.

Steve Martin is appearing tonight at The International Tennis Hall Of Fame in Newport, RI to kick off the Newport Folk Festival. Tim O'Brien and Sarah Jarosz open. We'll see you there and all weekend in Newport! If you can't make it to the festival, join us online at www.mvyradio.com. Listen to mvy today at 12:20 and at 9 ET for a musical preview of the festival.

Tom Tom Club on mvyradio Summer of 2003

Tina Weymouth, Chris Franz and their son Kid Ginseng came to the mvyradio studio in July, 2003 for an interview before a gig at the Atlantic Connection in Oak Bluffs. They talked about Talking Heads, The Ramones, radio and Jaws. Check out the conversation today at 12:30 as I celebrate 25 years at mvy.

Listen to the entire interview

What's New/Essential mvy Today

Just opened the mvyradio mail and put the new Ferraby Lionheart in the CD player- love the first track "Holdin' Me Back" and will send it out on the air and web today on What's New For Lunch at 12:20. I'll also play some Carlos Santana to celebrate his birthday on mvyradio's Essential mvy. www.mvyradio.com