12/21/11 Episode – Exotic Sound in Jazz and Popular Music from the 20s, 30s and 40s

This week we take a deliberate side track and explore the influence of Latin America and other “exotic” places into the sound of the 20s, 30s and 40s. Dance bands and cabaret productions of that era often incorporated songs with an exotic sound – in particular rhumba, cha cha cha and other Cuban styles. Joining us for this episode is a special guest – Emily Kopley. We even play some Bing Crosby – but not the type you’d hear at the mall around this time of the year. And a slightly irreverent (and perhaps insensitive by today’s standards) but highly comical song by Maurice Chevalier.

Download 12/21/11 podcast (click “save as”)
View Playlist – 12/21/11

12/07/11 Episode – Cabaret Music in pre-war Germany

This week we attempt an exploration of pre-war cabaret music in Germany – I say “attempt” because the topic is vast and I can only scrap the surface (and anything more would require serious preparation or having an expert in the studio). Anyway, this is a topic that speaks to me for various reasons. Cabaret was a flourishing institution in the Weimar Republik and got shut down as soon as the Nazis came to power. A lot of artists – those who had experienced the exhilarating freedom of expression in Berlin and Munich during the late 20’s – fled Germany in 1933 or 1934, including many Jewish artists. This episode will try to present some of those artists and songs that are associated with that era – including the Comedian Harmonists, Marlene Dietrich and songs by Kurt Weill.

Download 12/07/11 podcast (click “save as”)
View Playlist – 12/07/11