will.illinois.edu/prairiefire/episode/pf2007-05-10 WILL, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Series Episode Prairie Fire explores the sounds of Brazil with the Champaign band Desafinado; we meet a record producer who’s worked with Alison Krauss, HUM and Adrian Belew when we visit with Mark Rubel of Pogo Studio; we hear from a band that plays gritty Chicago blues and Southern-fried soul -- the Kilborn Alley blues band. Abstract Segment Champaign, Music, WILL Custom Prairie Fire Subject Headings Kilborn Alley plays a Chicago-style brand of blues in more than 150 gigs a year around central Illinois. In this segment, band members describe the emotional release of playing the blues. Members of the group say they may not look like a bunch of old blues musicians, but they have old souls. Abstract Lillie Buck Producer Julius Bolton Chief Camera - Segment Segment Champaign, Music, WILL Custom Prairie Fire Subject Headings Tim Hartin said he wanted to do a story on Mark Rubel because he is a local icon. Tim said that he has never heard a bad word about this legendary record producer who has been such an influence on the local music scene. Not only had Rubel recorded many of the most famous musicians from C-U (Alison Krauss, Adrian Belew, Hum) but he is passing on his knowledge to legions of new sound engineers. Many people at WILL have taken his audio engineering class (including me).  I remember how excited he would get on our class field trips to local nightclubs to see how the sound was set up. The process gave me a great insight into the world of audio that still comes in handy on every Prairie Fire shoot. The other amazing thing about Mark Rubel is that he is very humble. Unlike many folks in the music industry he doesn’t do a lot of self promotion. But he is proud of his studio and the music that he has recorded there … and that he recently had a chance to interview Les Paul!  My favorite part of the Prairie Fire story is when he speaks of the importance of a sound recording and how it links us to another place, person or time. Anyone who has a recording of a lost loved one can attest to the truth of his words.  ... written by Alison Davis Wood Abstract Tim Hartin Producer Segment Champaign, Music, WILL Custom Prairie Fire Subject Headings Chad Dunn, the percussionist for Champaign’s Desafinado, described the band’s mission perfectly. We were sitting in his garage that was filled with instruments, many of which he had made. On the wall was a Brazilian flag. He said, “We are all about transportation. We take people away.” That is exactly what I felt the first time I heard this seven-piece ensemble perform. Even during the coldest, darkest days of an Illinois winter Desafinado makes you feel as if you are walking a Brazilian beach or strolling the streets of Rio. I was struck that here in central Illinois you could find this music being played authentically and passionately. The members of the band have either studied music in Brazil or researched Brazilian music and culture extensively. They found each through their mutual love of bossa nova, samba and MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira).  Lead singer Simone da Silva says that as a teen she did not appreciate the music of her home country. Instead she was into American pop. But when she first came to the U.S. she missed her native culture and began checking out Brazilian music from the library. She says she chooses songs that break from the stereotypes about Brazil. “People know Brazil for Copacabana, soccer and Carnival. But there is so much more.” She sings songs that talk about Brazilian history or showcase a songwriter who faced censorship. All the band members hope their music instills an appreciation for the amazing culture and vast music scene of Brazil. But for everyone at their show, they hope an educational experience is secondary to just losing yourself in their wonderful music. You can catch the band the first Friday of every month from 5-7 p.m. at The Cowboy Monkey in downtown Champaign or check their Web site (link below) for their complete schedule. Thanks so much to Ward Gollings, Bob Henne and Tifani Moot for making our shoot of the band’s performance at the Monkey possible. Abstract Alison Davis Wood Producer WILL-TV, University of Illinois Copyright Holder Publisher ¬© 2008 University of Illinois 2007-05-10T10:14:00-06:00 2007-05-10T10:14:00-06:00 video/mp4 http://willmedia.atlas.uiuc.edu/mpeg4/pf2007-05-10.mp4 Moving Image MPEG video MPEG-4 00:28 eng pf2007-05-10.mp4 WILL Public Media, University of Illinois 2007-05-10T10:14:00-06:00 2007-05-10T10:14:00-06:00 video/x-flv http://willmedia.atlas.uiuc.edu/flash/pf2007-05-10.flv Moving Image Flash Video Flash Media 8 00:28 eng pf2007-05-10.flv WILL Public Media, University of Illinois 2007-05-10T10:14:00-06:00 2007-05-10T10:14:00-06:00 video/vnd.rn-realvideo http://willmedia.will.uiuc.edu/ramgen/pf2007-05-10.rv Moving Image 00:28:00