The Chicago Symphony Orchestra comes to Urbana on Saturday with an exciting program of music by Mahler, Shostakovich and John Adams. On the Friday edition of "Live and Local," I'll talk with James Smelser, a member of the orchestra's horn section, about auditions, conductors and more. And we'll hear about A Steady Rain, a new play at the Station Theatre in Urbana.
The outstanding percussion ensembles at Millikin University will give their annual "Milliween" concerts this weekend. I'll talk with their director, Brian Justison, on the Thursday edition of "Live and Local" and share some samples of their work. And we'll hear from singer-songwriter Hannah Frank, whose Chicago-based trio comes to Bloomington on Saturday.
At the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan, America's swingin' sweethearts, Pete Bartel and Keely Stevens, reunite for a live television special re-living their illustrious musical career, and they'll join us for the Wednesday edition of "Live and Local." I'll also talk with visiting violinist Mihai Craioveanu, who plays Schumann in Bloomington on Saturday.
Western listeners may know the music of bamboo flutist Ronu Majumdar through his collaborations with Ry Cooder, George Harrison and Bela Fleck. But folks from India likely know him on his own illustrious terms. Pandit Majumdar and tabla player Ramdas Palsule will play in concert Wednesday night in Normal, and they'll be my guests on the Tuesday edition of "Live and Local.
Bruno Nettl is emeritus professor at the University of Illinois and one of our most lauded scholars in the field of ethnomusicology. He has a new book out called Nettl's Elephant, a narrative on the evolution and state of the field, ranging from Native American to Mediterranean to Middle Eastern music. He will be my guest on the Monday edition of "Live and Local.
Irish fiddler Randal Bays was born in Indiana, not Ireland, and now lives in Seattle. He will play in Urbana on Sunday with guitarist Davey Mathias on the Piper's Hut Series. Randal will be my guest on the Friday edition of "Live and Local." We'll also hear a preview of a pre-Halloween vocal recital called "Songs and Dances of Death," live in our studio.
Tim Eriksen's "northern roots" Americana sound embraces old New England murder ballads, "shape-note" gospel and haunted originals, alongside Southern Appalachian and Irish songs. The singer and multi-instrumentalist will perform at the Spurlock Museum in Urbana Thursday evening, and he'll be my guest on the Thursday edition of "Live and Local."
This Saturday, an Austrian piano duo will give a lecture-performance at the University of Illinois called "Mahler at the Piano"-referring to Gustav Mahler, the great symphonist, song composer and conductor. On the Wednesday edition of "Live and Local," I'll talk with the Fernandes-Markovic duo. We'll also have a preview of Sunday's Halloween concert by the Illinois Brass Quintet.
The Teflons are three powerful-voiced females and two instrument-wielding guys who blend country, doo-wop, swing, Hawaiian and rare originals. They'll travel from Chicago to Urbana next Saturday to play at the Independent Media Center and give two workshops. Their leader, Barbara Silverman, will be my guest on the Monday edition of "Live and Local.
Russel Brazzel is Music Director of the Springfield Classical Guitar Society and teaches at Illinois College and Lincoln Land Community College. He will give a solo recital at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Springfield Saturday night, and he'll play for us live on the Friday edition of "Live and Local." (In the video from his visit, he performs "Hommage à Tàrrega" by Joaquin Turina.)
