Nov 3rd, 2008 · Rock music may give the electric guitar fire, but avant-garde jazz musicians often re-think the instrument beyond its basic, melody- and rhythm-based functions. Here are five musicians who eschew standard conventions and instead approach the guitar as a device of pure sound.
Sep 24th, 2008 · With this live version of "Wonderwall," Mehldau reduces Oasis' most famous song to a post-bop stride-piano exercise. The melody, condensed into its most basic elements, rhythmically attacks in short bursts, set over sturdy bass patterns and broken drum grooves.
Sep 18th, 2008 · Jesse Harris came to prominence when pop-jazz singer Norah Jones enjoyed a breakthrough hit with his song "Don't Know Why." Along with having a knack for melody, Harris also sports his own distinctive voice. He performs selections from his seventh studio album, Feel, during his visit to Mountain Stage.
Sep 17th, 2008 · Like many other parts of the country, North Carolina has seen an influx of Spanish-speaking immigrants. The transition hasn't always been smooth. But now, Charlotte's rock en Español musicians and fans are counting on rock's tried-and-true secret weapon — three chords and a great melody — to inspire a change.
Jul 11th, 2008 · The veteran vocalist has a gift for putting the right words to a melody. She wrote some lyrics for her new CD, Distances, and she blends a poem by an Italian filmmaker with music by eccentric French composer Erik Satie.
Jun 2nd, 2008 · The summer of 1958 was the season of bossa nova. Fifty years ago, a movement of melody, harmony, lyrics, and rhythm sent a fresh wave of sound throughout Brazil. In the years to follow, a small group of idealistic musicians would write some of the most enduring melodies in music history.
May 4th, 2008 · Rock stars have been known to try crazy things with a guitar. Kaki King doesn't light hers on fire, but she does pick the string of the guitar with both hands, while slapping the body in time. On her new CD, Dreaming of Revenge, she displays a new melodic sensibility with her own voice.
Apr 28th, 2008 · Gardot didn't start her musical career out of a grand artistic vision. While riding her bicycle, she was hit by the driver of a Jeep making an illegal turn. Hospitalized for months, Gardot used music for recovery therapy, at doctors' suggestion.