The WICN Blog
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To read more from Doug Hall, view Doug’s archive or visit https://artsparksmusic.com.
It’s difficult to overstate the importance of Duke Ellington’s influence: as seminal orchestral band leader; compositional genius; and his depth of musical contribution to jazz, modernizing without precedent, and his extensive legacy of recordings. In his own words, Ellington expressed that jazz was “beyond category” and renowned music critic, novelist, and literary scholar Albert Murray […]
Did you miss one of your favorite shows? Want to hear it again? You can get it all here, on demand!
The voice as an instrument, particularly in jazz, is a fascinating vehicle for musical expression. In the category of female vocalists there are the established legends – think Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Billie Holiday. They each have a different style and treatment of their personal interpretations of a jazz standard, original composition, or covering […]
The image of a Spanish flamenco dancer with intensive emotion, swirling with castanets clicking and boots stomping, driving a rhythm against a dance floor, is hard to separate from the accompanying band that delivers the syncopation. The flamenco dancer is intertwined with the fast strumming on Toque (guitar) and the spirited Cantaor (flamenco vocalist) telling […]
As the driving rhythm and dance-based sound of Afro-Cuban music was being introduced to the U.S. in the late ‘40s by Cuban bandleaders, most notably Machito and his Latin orchestra, a refinement of musical genre was evolving. With styles incorporating Afro-Cuban, Cubop, (a form of Latin jazz), and salsa music, (a dance-based genre with heavy […]
Wednesdays at Noon, November 9th, 16th, 30th & December 7thFree Admission Mechanics Hall321 Main Street, Worcester, MA, 01608; 508-752-5608Broadcast live on WICN 90.5 FM and streaming at wicn.org For over 35 years, Mechanics Hall and WICN have been proud to provide quality live performances free to the general public! Every concert begins at noon and […]
Virtual events are part of the new normal for every business and nonprofit organization. WICN is here to help you to create a successful virtual event at an affordable price! From seminars and virtual auctions to streaming concerts and one-on-one interviews, our Studio 50 performance space is an ideal setting. We offer affordable half and […]
The voice, tone, phrasing–in effect, the signature sound of the sax has distinguished a number of artists. Wayne Shorter, now 89 years old, has been a profound force of interpretation on the tenor saxophone; on the soprano saxophone, there is no greater master. He has remained at the forefront of influence with his instrument and […]
As many musically divergent roads can lead to a professional career in jazz, veteran vocalist, pianist, multi-instrumentalist, Grammy-award nominee, and winner Catherine Russell, has followed her own path. With an established bloodline of famed musicianship from both parents, Luis Russell and Carline Ray, she was surrounded and influenced by a wide range of music, from […]