WPR: Higher Ground Interviews

Higher Ground Interview #917 - Fela Kuti

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:16:57 -0500

Jonathan talks again with Tejumola Olaniyan, the Louise Durham Mead Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin and co-editor of the West Africa Review about Fela Kuti. Olaniyan is the author of "Arrest the Music! Fela and His Rebel Art and Politics." In this intervi8ew, they discuss Fela's band, "Afrobeat" and their "endless groove" sound.

Higher Ground Interview #915 - Szymon Wozniczka

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:03:08 -0500

Jonathan Overby interviews Szymon Wozniczka about traditional Polish folk music such as mazurkas - folk dance music played in triple meter, and oberiks - a folk dance meaning "to spin", but also consisting of lifts and jumps. He is one of the founding members of the first Polish folk music news forum "Muzykant".

Higher Ground Interview #912 - Fela Kuti

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 11:39:10 -0500

Jonathan talks with Tejumola Olaniyan, the Louise Durham Mead Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin and co-editor of the West Africa Review about his book "Arrest the Music! Fela and His Rebel Art and Politics."

Higher Ground Interview #909 - Koo Nimo

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:15:38 -0500

Jonathan interviews musican, professor and ethnomusicologist Koo Nimo who recently played in concert with Atimevu Drum and Dance Ensemble in Madison's Music Hall. He is a master of West African Palm wine or Highlife guitar music. He performs regularly in Ghana and maintains a studio at his home outside of Kumasi.

Higher Ground Interview #908 - Jennifer Cutting

Sat, 3 Dec 2011 10:56:54 -0500

Jonathan talks to Jennifer Cutting, a composer, arranger, producer and instrumentalist known for her award-winning original yet traditional British & Celtic music, and for her imaginative productions. She just released her new Album "Song of Solstice" Celtic music for Midwinter.

Higher Ground Interview #906 - Kotolan

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:27:40 -0500

Jonathan interviews trombonist and songwriter Otto Granillo from the Latin and World music group KoTolan. The group is led by Japanese born accordianist and singer Junko Seki who is fluent in Japanese, English and Spanish, and sings in all three languages. Their debut album "La Tienda de Groove" was released in January.

Higher Ground Interview #898 - Dr. Richard Miller (Part 3)

Wed, 2 Nov 2011 18:01:18 -0500

Jonathan Overby continues his discussion with Dr. Richard Miller about "Moliendo Cafe" including its arrival in Japan and how various translations changed the perception of the music and how it appealed to the Japanese working class.

Higher Ground Interview #901 - Miguel Ivery on Micheline Cardoso

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:59:32 -0500

Jonathan talks to Miguel Ivery aka "DJ Seduce", founder of Afro:Baile Records, a world music label. They discuss his newest project with Brazlian bossa nova singer Micheline Cardoso including the release of her new album called Cascadura Samba.

Higher Ground Interview #899 - Nawal

Wed, 5 Oct 2011 14:56:20 -0500

Jonathan talks to international singer and songwriter Nawal, known as the "Voice of Comoros islands." She draws on traditional Comorian influences for her music and incorporates sounds from African and Arabic culture. She plays several instruments including the guitar and qanbus and sings in Comorian, Arabic, French and English. She has just release her album Embrace the Spirit.

Higher Ground Interview #898 - Dr. Richard Miller (Part 2)

Tue, 4 Oct 2011 17:59:40 -0500

Jonathan continues his discussion with Dr. Richard Miller about Moliendo Cafe or "Coffee Grinding" composed by Venezuelan Hugo Blanco in 1958 when he was just 18 years old. It's been said that there are over 800 versions of this song recorded throughout the world.

Higher Ground Interview #897 - Dr. Richard Miller (Part 1)

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:53:23 -0500

In the first of a series of discussions, Jonathan talks to Dr. Richard Miller, a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology and researcher in Asian popular music at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has traveled extensively in Asia since the mid-1990s, conducting research, teaching, and experiencing the enormous variety of music and cultures found on that continent.

Higher Ground Interview #890 - Nisos

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:56:55 -0500

Jonathan interviews clarinetist and composer Nikos Koulouris, one of the founders of the group Nisos. Their name is Greek for "island" as they shared a deep interest in traditional music coming from Greece and Turkey. They've played throughout their native Czech republic and in 2010 were invited to play at the Polish Film Festival of Zwierzinec. They recently released their first album called simply 'Nisos'.

Higher Ground Interview #889 - The Klezmatics

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:09:07 -0500

Jonathan talks to pianist and composer Roger Davidson and Trumpeter, bandleader and composer Frank London about Klezmer music. Davidson founded Soundbrush Records in 1997 and London is a member of the Klezmatics. They've recently collaborated on a new album entitled 'On the Road of Life'.

Higher Ground Interview #888 - Amina Alaoui

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:50:14 -0500

Jonathan talks to singer, songwriter and poet Amina Alaoui. She was born in Fez, Morroco and is a interpreter of Andalusian classical music. They talk about her musical background, the gharnati style of music and her newly released album Arco Iris on ECM.

Higher Ground Interview #880 - Chie Sato Roden

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:24:23 -0500

Jonathan Overby talks with pianist Chie Sato Roden, a passionate proponent of American and Japanese piano repertoire. She talks about her recently issued CD entitled 'Streetcar Journey' based on the Alex North music for the 1951 movie, Streetcar Named Desire.

Higher Ground Interview #878 - Amarpal Gaind

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:40:09 -0500

Jonathan Overby interviews music producer Amarpal Gaind about the new compilation album 'Sufis at the Cinema' and how the music of mystical Muslims became integral to the sound tracks of the Bollywood film industry.

Higher Ground Interview #876 - David Hahn

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:12:16 -0500

Jonathan talks to David Hahn, guitarist and leader of the band 'Dub is a Weapon'. They have just released their CD called Vaporized. He talks about how he directs the band like a sound mixer, creating realtime "dubs" with more and more layers of reggae with bits of funk and afrobeat - all done live on stage.

Higher Ground Interview #874 - Miguel Ivery

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:34:17 -0500

Jonathan Overby interviews Arizona native Miguel Ivery aka 'DJ Seduce' about the 3rd installment of the Sambossica series with his new release Brazil:Sambossica 3 from Afro:Baile records. The compilation includes some of the best of Brazilian music in a variety of genres.

Higher Ground Interview #872 - Iva Bittova

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:34:06 -0500

Jonathan talks to Avant-garde composer, vocalist and violinist Iva Bittova She was born in Bruntal in northern Moravia in what was then Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). Both of her parents were musicians.

Higher Ground Interview #871 - Hector Morales

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:42:16 -0500

Jonathan interviews Peruvian percussionist and composer Hector Morales, leader of the afro-Peruvian group Afrodita. The group's debut CD "Amarte" seamlessly merges Peruvian landos and festejos with afro-Cuban rumbas, Rhythm and Blues, and jazz.

Higher Ground Interview #867 - Yasmin Levy

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:36:41 -0500

Jonathan talks to the Ladino singer Yasmin Levy. "Ladino" refers to Judaeo-Spanish, a language primarily spoken among Sephardic Jews. Born in the Bakaa neighborhood in Jerusalem, her love of music was strongly influenced by her father who was a composer, cantor and head of the Ladino department at Israel's national radio station. Her latest album "Sentir" was released in January 2011.

Higher Ground Interview #863 - Angelique Kidjo

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 19:15:51 -0500

Jonathan Overby interviews Beninoise singer, songwriter and activist Angelique Kidjo. Her album "OYO" was recently nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album. Her music embraces a mixture of rhythm & blues, soul music, jazz and Beniese melodies.

Higher Ground Interview #852 - John Nimis

Thu, 4 Nov 2010 16:59:20 -0500

Jonathan Overby talks to John Nimis, a Mellon postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Humanities and Department of French and Italian at UW-Madison. His main research interest is the literature and music of Africa, with a focus on the Lingala language and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he was a Fulbright scholar.

Higher Ground Interview #830 - Paul Etch

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 16:05:50 -0500

Jonathan talks to music producer Paul Etch, the founder of Oliver Sudden Productions, a Canadian independent record label focusing on traditional music from various parts of the world. His company's catalog includes albums by players of instruments from Japan, Vietnam, Paraguay, India and China.

Higher Ground Interview #832 - Elizabeth Ayoub

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:53:10 -0500

Jonathan talks to singer and actress Elizabeth Ayoub who is promoting her new album "Oceanos y Lunas". Ayoub is of Lebanese and Venezuelan descent and performs in several different languages. She says she's influenced by artists such as Simon and Garfunkel, Barbara Streisand - and also by the Koran.

Higher Ground Interview #831 - Masauko Chipembere

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:09:36 -0500

Jonathan continues his interview with Masauko Chipembere who talks about his father, Henry Masauko Blasius Chipembere, a Malawian nationalist and pan-Africanist working for freedom from colonial rule in Malawi. Years later, Masauko's mother returned to Malawi and was the first woman elected to Parliament. Masauko talks about how African music helps to shape the pan-African idea.

Higher Ground Interview #829 - Blk Sonshine

Fri, 28 May 2010 17:37:50 -0500

Jonathan Overby interviews Masauko Chipembere, who along with Neo Muyanga, forms the group Blk Sonshine. They blend melodic and sometimes percussive acoustic guitars with hiphop, jazz and folk, along with soul from their African motherland.

Higher Ground Interview #824 - Cecilia Noel

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:33:13 -0500

Jonathan Overby interviews Cecilia Noel, a passionate and flamboyant singer and producer who has recently released a new CD called "A Gozar!" (to enjoy).

Higher Ground Interview #813 - Eric Bibb

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 13:55:20 -0500

WPR's Jonathan Overby interviews Eric Bibb, an American acoustic blues singer-songwriter based in London. Bibb has released released a new album called "Booker's Guitar" celebrating the music of Delta Guitar Master Booker White.

Higher Ground Interview #810 - Miguel Ivery

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 09:26:47 -0500

Jonathan Overby talks to Miguel Ivery aka 'DJ Seduce', founder and owner of Afro:Baile Records. Ivery talks about his new compilation album called Brasil:Sambossica 2. It continues his plan to introduce the world to the new fusion between Bossa Nova, Samba and Afro-Brazilian and other world music.

Higher Ground Interview #807 - Lars Edegran

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:30:42 -0500

Jonathan Overby talks to arranger, bandleader, talent scout, record producer, and performer Lars Edegran who founded the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra which has toured the world including the Newport Jazz Festival. He's also been nominated for an Academy Award for the soundtrack for Louis Malle's film "Pretty Baby", and for a Grammy for his orchestrations for the off-Broadway smash hit "One Mo' Time".

Higher Ground Interview #802 - Heather Rigdon

Wed, 2 Dec 2009 16:42:06 -0500

Jonathan Overby interviews jazz vocalist Heather Rigdon who was raised in Texas. Her father was an ordained Pentecostal preacher and she talks about how her strict religious upbringing effected her jazz vocals. Her debut album is entitled 'Young & Naive' and was released in 2007.

Higher Ground Interview #801 - Chantal Chamberland

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 14:57:06 -0500

Jonathan Overby interviews Canadian jazz vocalist Chantal Chamberland about the increasing attention she's receiving for her work, including her latest CD release entitled "Other Woman". She's recently been nominated as Female Vocalist of the Year by the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards.

Higher Ground Interview #800 - Jorge Gomez from Tiempo Libre

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:31:07 -0500

Jonathan Overby interviews pianist Jorge Gomez, musical director of the Latin band Tiempo Libre. They talk about the history of Afro-Cubano music and how the band was formed. Tiempo Libre has been nominated for two Grammy awards.

Higher Ground Interview #797 - Miguel Ivery

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:36:16 -0500

Jonathan interviews Miguel Ivery aka 'DJ Seduce' founder and owner of Afro:Baile Records who talks about his new album release - a compilation called "I love Bossa Nova".

Higher Ground Interview #794 - Taj Weekes

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:09:56 -0500

Jonathan talks to internationally known Reggae artist Taj Weekes who was born and raised on the island of St. Lucia. By age 18 he was playing music in Toronto and then moved to New York where he formed his band Adowa. In 2005, they released their first album "Hope & Doubt", and in 2008 their latest album called "Deidem" which won an award for "Best Reggae Album".

Higher Ground Interview #792 - Robert Figueroa

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:30:37 -0500

Jonathan Overby interviews Robert Figueroa, a well-known composer and perfomer in the salsa brava movement. Figueroa has honed his skills on stages from Puerto Rico to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he lives. He has pursued the integration of traditional Afro-Caribbean rhythms and techniques to popular music genres such as Jazz and R & B and even Hip Hop. He is the lead vocalist and composer for the original salsa project Nabori.

Higher Ground Interview #789 - Stephen Kent

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:48:13 -0500

Jonathan interviews composer and instrumentalist Stephen Kent, one of the premier Didgeridoo virtuosos in the contemporary world. Born in the England and raised in East Africa, Kent has pioneered the use of the ancient Australian Aboriginal instruments.

Higher Ground Interview #782 - Freddy Clarke

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:21:45 -0500

Jonathan talks to guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer Freddy Clarke. He is the leader of the fusion band Wobbly World based in Menlo Park with musicians and singers from Pakistan, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Morocco, Lebanon and the United States. He's been playing a unique style of flamenco/classical guitar for over 40 years.

Higher Ground Intervew #781 Juan Medrano Cotito

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:04:54 -0500

Jonathan interviews Juan Medrano Cotito, an artist of international prestige. His fine skills performing his instrument, the Peruvian Cajon, have allowed him to obtain recognition as a world class musician in genres such as Traditional, Word Music, Fusion and Electronic Music.

Higher Ground Interview #773 Carl MaultsBy

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:02:02 -0500

Jonathan Overby talks to Dr. Carl MaultsBy who is a composer, arranger, organist, and author, and who has scored sacred and secular music for concert, musical theatre, film, and television. MaultsBy has also authored books, articles, and theatre pieces on the interrelation of music, culture, and religion.

Higher Ground Interview #772 DJ Seduce

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:54:59 -0500

Jonathan interviews DJ Seduce, founder of Afro:Baile Records, a world music record label specializing in the nu-age sounds of global music. Since 2007 this Arizona native has taken his love for world beats and created his own unique sound and style, drawing on heavy influences of Africa, Brazil, Cuba, Jamaica and Western Europe.

Higher Ground Interview #759 Stefano Zenni

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:46:27 -0500

Jonathan Overby talks again to Stefano Zenni, a renowned Italian musicologist, about the relationship between the composers and musicians of Europe and African-American music. He says there's a direct link between rhythms in European and those found in African-American music.

Higher Ground Interview #756 Marissa Moorman

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:51:15 -0500

Marissa Moorman is an assistant professor of African History at Indiana University-Bloomington. Her research explores the dynamic relationship between politics and cultural practices (like music and dance) in late colonial and independent Angola. Increasingly, her work focuses on the technologies and imaginations that propel music and dance practices across and around the Atlantic.

Higher Ground Interview #755 Greg Barz

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 04:45:31 -0500

Jonathan Overby talks to Greg Barz, associate professor of ethnomusicology in the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. He is the producer of the 2007 Grammy-nominated album "Singing for Life: Songs of Hope, Healing, and HIV/AIDS in Uganda" released by Smithsonian Folkways that draws on his field recordings in East Africa of the music of HIV+ women's groups.

Higher Ground Interview #753 Navan's Sheila Shigley

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 05:25:00 -0500

Jonathan talks with Sheila Shigley, a member of the traditional Celtic singing group NAVAN featuring Shigley, Amy Curl, Paul Gorman and Elizabeth Simcock. Navan is a visionary Celtic quartet performing exclusively in the native Celtic tongues.

Higher Ground Interview #752 Stefano Zenni

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 02:17:06 -0500

Jonathan Overby interviews Stefano Zenni, the most renowned musicologist in Italy on jazz and African-American music. He is President of the Italian Society of African-American Musicology and editor of the Jazz section of the monthly Il Giornale della Musica. He has published books on Louis Armstrong, Herbie Hancock, Charles Mingus.

Higher Ground Interview #751 Yid Vicious

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:21:59 -0500

Jonathan talks to Kia Karlen about the origins of Yid Vicious. Karlen is a member of the seven-piece band which was formed in 1995 in Madison, WI in order to "ameliorate the woeful dearth of klezmer in America's otherwise pleasant heartland." Klezmer is Yiddish folk music, music for dancing and celebrating.

Higher Ground Interview #750 Wendy Hymes

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:12:19 -0500

Jonathan interviews flutist Wendy Hymes who is known to exert definitive interpretations of standard repertoire from the Baroque era to 20th-century composers. She also sets the pace in intercultural music, performing at festivals in Ghana, Nigeria and England. Her new CD, "African Art Music for Flute," features music by composers from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda.