WEAA

Tell Me More with Michel Martin: Weekday’s 11am -12noon

Bold, honest, engaging, Tell Me More is a new interview show from NPR News. Host Michel Martin welcomes guests to a safe place for difficult conversations and invites us to listen in. From international newsmakers to everyday people, from spiritual leaders to foreign correspondents, Tell Me More strives to reveal whole stories from many, different perspectives.

“Tell Me More is a gathering place for dialogue about the important issues facing the country,” says Martin. “But we also talk about the challenges and opportunities we all face living in a fast-paced, complex society.”

When a story emerges in the news, Tell Me More asks “Are we getting the truth? Is that real?” The show digs in to pursue stories and ideas that uncover, explain, and portray experiences and people that are rarely given voice yet speak to how we live.

“Tell Me More lets me bring together two longtime passions,” says Martin, “the intimacy and warmth you experience with powerful radio, and the lively, sharp debate about things going on in the world that I enjoy having with friends of diverse backgrounds.”

About Michel Martin
Martin brings award-winning skills to Tell Me More, her first hosting role. She spent 15 years at ABC News as a correspondent for Nightline and other programs and specials, including a critically acclaimed AIDS documentary and the ongoing series America in Black and White. Prior to joining ABC, Martin covered state and local politics for the Washington Post and was White House correspondent for the Wall Street Journal.

Christian McBride

Hey Family! You know, one thing I’ve always loved about our WEAA listeners since day one is their wide musical pallet. Since the beginning, WEAA has played Straight Ahead Jazz, Contemporary Jazz and a taste of R&B, in which we’ve now expanded into an occasional Neo Soul tune. This month we will highlight an artist who’s played in all of these genres. I’d argue to say that he’s the most in demand bassist of the last 20 years. I’m talking about someone who is no stranger to Baltimore; Philly native, Grammy award winning bassist and all around cool cat, Christian McBride. Christian returns to the Mack Ave label for another go round as he presents “People Music”.

It’s been about 4 years since he’s gotten his acoustic quintet Inside Straight together.  The core of the group features saxophonist Steve Wilson, Baltimore’s rising star and label mate; vibraphonist Warren Wolf, pianist Peter Martin and drummer Carl Allen who all play on six of the album's eight original compositions. Christian contributes half of the repertoire for the project but also felt it was important to highlight the writing of his band mates.

I love getting inside the mind of Christian McBride! This is what he shares about this new release: “Sometimes jazz musicians can get too caught up in their own heads; they get so serious and so caught up in their creativity that they're not bringing the people in. So I figure the best way to communicate is to let the people navigate where you should go.” For that reason, McBride calls “People Music” his personal mantra as a musician.

Christian is truly a bilingual artist that takes all he’s learned across the genres and presents it in a way that truly brings you into his experience. People Music is a high-energy project with some great straight ahead playing. Tune into WEAA all month long to hear selections from this release and for your chance to win Christian McBride & Inside Straight: People Music as it’s our CD of the Month.

Marcellus Shepard
Program Director
WEAA-FM

>> CD of the Month Archives

Eric Alexander

Recently on my syndicated show, the Cool Jazz Countdown, I was reviewing a piece of work by saxophonist Ian Hendrickson-Smith. His latest release features nothing but ballads. I stated that I didn’t think that the CD would stay in the top ten past Valentine’s Day. I was off by a week with my prediction. Since that time, I’ve looked at a couple of new CD’s out there and have found that they’re quite a few cats out there playing full releases of ballads. One of which comes from the hardest working tenor saxophonist in the land, Eric Alexander, with his presentation of “Touching”.

For years, Eric’s Highnote offerings have been fine bop and hard bop releases. However, this go round, Eric goes down the lane that many a strong leader before him has as he presents this 8 track offering of ballads. “Touching” puts him in the company of his usual suspects of Harold Mabern on piano, John Webber on Bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums.  Collectively these seasoned vets render their heartfelt interpretations to these ballads that feature tunes such as; Central Park West, Gone to Soon, The September of My Years and The Way She Makes me Feel.

Fifty-one minutes of fine straight ahead playing is what awaits you on a release that’s name truly is fitting to the music presented, “Touching”. Eric Alexander has outdone himself once again as he tells the story in his playing! Tune in all month long to hear various tunes from this CD as well as for your chance to win it here on WEAA-FM.

>> CD of the Month Archives

Shirley Scott—The Queen of the Organ

The “Queen of the Organ” also known as Shirley Scott was born on March 14, 1934 and was called back home in the same month of March in 2002. Born in the City of Brotherly Love, Scott was greatly inspired by fellow organist, Jimmy Smith. The young musician began her music career in high school with the piano and trumpet before reaching her greatest achievements on the organ. Around the mid 1950’s, Scott was playing the piano in Philadelphia’s popping club scene. It wasn’t until a city club owner needed her to fill in for an organist that her affinity for the bulky instrument began.

The young artist took a direct liking to the organ almost automatically producing a sound unlike anyone else’s. Her style of playing was very aggressive. It was described as arguably the most graceful sound to ever come out of an organ. Scott’s unique sound came about through integrating her gospel background with bebop harmonies and blues melodies.

Towards the end of the 1950’s, linking up with saxophonist Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis proved to be a very promising music venture for the queen. The music that Scott and Davis made together gave them both plenty of acknowledgements throughout the jazz community. The duo’s 1958 hit, “In the Kitchen” was said to be one of the main reasons her popularity began to soar. From 1961 to 1971, Shirley Scott was married to legendary tenor saxophonist, Stanley Turrentine. Together, the two made some of their finest music for various record labels.

In the 80’s, Ms. Shirley Scott began teaching jazz history at Cheyney University and directing her church’s music department. She was also the music director for Bill Cosby’s short lived television show, “Bet Your Life” of 1992. Throughout her life, Scott has always been honored for her many contributions to the jazz community.  Last year, those accomplishments were recognized when a scholarship for the musically inclined students at Cheyney University was named in her honor. The “Queen of the Organ” is gone but will never be forgotten due to her amazing, countless contributions to the jazz community. WEAA honors Shirley Scott as our Jazzmaster of the Month for March. Tune in all month long to hear various selections from her.