JAZZ FROM LINCOLN CENTER: CASSANDRA WILSON:
TRAVELING MILES (RADIO)
Summary
One in this series of jazz music programs, hosted by Ed Bradley, featuring live performances and commentary by established and emerging artists. This program, broadcast from Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, features vocalist Cassandra Wilson performing songs from the repertoire of Miles Davis. Bradley opens the program with remarks on Wilson's interpretation of Davis's music, and Wilson describes Davis as a "singer who happened to play the trumpet." Bradley and Wilson then introduce her first selection, "There's a Boat Dat's Leaving Soon for New York," from George and Ira Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess," featuring guitarist Adam Rogers, bassist Dave Holland, pianist Eric Lewis, and Marvin Sewell on dobro. Next, cellist Akua Dixon comments on Wilson's sense of rhythm, and Dixon's jazz string group, Quintet Indigo, accompanies Wilson on the song "It Never Entered My Mind," with violin solos by Regina Carter. Bradley discusses the importance of Davis's album "Kind of Blue," and Wilson prefaces its song "Freddie Freeloader," with an explanation of bassist Dave Holland's novel arrangement. Performers include percussionists Mino Cinelu and Jeffrey Haynes, violinist Regina Carter and bassist Dave Holland. Next, Bradley gives a brief overview of Wilson's singing career, and discusses both Davis's and Wilson's experimentation with different genres of music. Wilson sings two songs notably interpreted by Miles Davis: Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," arranged by Onaje Allan Gumbs with Adam Rogers on guitar and Cecilia Smith on vibraphone, and Thelonious Monk's " 'Round Midnight," with pianist Rodney Kendrick and bassist Dave Holland. Finally, Bradley remarks on Davis's controversial use of electric bass and synthesizer, and Wilson comments on the value of the electric guitar in lending a country blues feeling to jazz. Wilson then sings "Tutu," for which she wrote the original lyrics, composed by Davis's arranger, Marcus Miller.
Details
- NETWORK: NPR National Public Radio
- DATE: March 2, 1998
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:03
- COLOR/B&W: N/A
- CATALOG ID: R:17059
- GENRE: Radio - Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Jazz; Music, popular (songs, etc.)
- SERIES RUN: NPR - Radio series, 1994-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rob Gibson … Executive Producer, Director
- Steve Rathe … Senior Producer
- Paul Chuffo … Associate Producer
- Joseph Hooper … Writer
- Miles Davis … Composer
- George Gershwin … Composer
- Cyndi Lauper … Composer
- Marcus Miller … Composer
- Thelonious Monk … Composer
- Onaje Allan Gumbs … Conductor
- Ira Gershwin … Librettist
- Cassandra Wilson … Singer
- Quintet Indigo … Music Group
- Ellison Arttison … Instrumentalist, Cellist
- Regina Carter … Instrumentalist, Violinist
- Rick Centalonza … Instrumentalist, English Horn
- Vincent Chancey … Instrumentalist, French Horn
- Mino Cinelu … Instrumentalist, Percussionist
- Akua Dixon … Instrumentalist, Cellist
- Stefon Harris … Instrumentalist, Vibraphone, Marimba
- Jeffrey Haynes … Instrumentalist, Percussionist
- Dave Holland … Instrumentalist, Bassist
- Rodney Kendrick … Instrumentalist, Pianist
- Ron Lawrence … Instrumentalist, Viola
- Eric Lewis … Instrumentalist, Pianist
- Lonnie Plaxico … Instrumentalist, Bassist
- Marlene Rice … Instrumentalist, Violinist
- Adam Rogers … Instrumentalist, Guitarist
- Marvin Sewell … Instrumentalist, Guitarist
- Cecilia Smith … Instrumentalist, Vibraphonist, Marimba
- Perry Wilson … Instrumentalist, Drummer
- Nioka Workman … Instrumentalist, Cellist
- Ed Bradley … Host