The Jazzyfatnastees are
an alternative soul-pop outfit. The
group began in the early 1990's as
a quartet but eventually emerged as a duo
with singer-songwriters Mercedes Martinez
and Tracey Moore. Tracey and Martinez have
just completed their third album "The
Tortoise and the Hare." The
pair may be best known for creating Black
Lily, a weekly performance series for
women in music at the Five Spot in Philadelphia. The
series ended in 2005 but they are now resurrecting
it every second Sunday, Upstairs @ World
Cafe Live starting June 10.
Listen: MP3
file
Brian McTear is steeped in Philadelphia's independent music scene. As co-owner of Miner Street Recordings he has produced records for several acts. His client list includes the A-Sides, Matt Pond PA, BC Camplight and Mazarin. He also fronts his own band called Bitter Bitter Weeks. They are due out with their third album this month.
Listen: MP3 file
Val Shively is the proprietor
of R&B records in Upper Darby. Val
stocks all manner of music - he has over
4 million 45 singles - but his
specialty is obscure vinyl from the 1950's. While
other people search for hits, Val Shively
claims to "get off on" finding
and selling "misses," songs
from talented vocal groups that never quite
made it.
Listen:
MP3 file
Evan Solot began his professional
career as a jazz trumpeter. He toured
with Bette Midler, Burt Bacharach and Frank
Sinatra. He also performed in the orchestra
of several Broadway shows. These days
Evan Solot is a composer and arranger. He
wrote the underscore for the documentary Standing
in the Shadows of Motown. He also orchestrated
the current NBC Nightly News theme. Solot
is the Chair of the Composition Department
at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Listen: MP3 file
DJ Cash Money began djing in the 1980's. He
won the DJ World Championships in 1988 and
is credited with the invention of the "transformer
scratch" - a popular technique
among dj's. He was the first
DJ to be inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of
Fame (1998).
Listen: MP3 file
Ira Tucker
of the Dixie Hummingbirds - The gospel singers
the Dixie Hummingbirds got their start in South Carolina in the 1930's. They relocated to Philadelphia in 1942. Obviously the group has seen some personnel changes in its lengthy history. The longest standing member is Ira Tucker. He
joined the group when he was barely a teen. Some music observors suggest Ira Tucker's performance style was the inspiration for secular musicians like James Brown and Jackie
Wilson.
Listen: MP3 file
James Poyser has become a go-to producer and songwriter for leading Soul performers including Mariah Carey, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and D'angelo. He is also a keyboard player, who has performed with Roy Hargrove and as a member of the Soulquarians.
Listen: MP3
file
Next Up:
Andrea Clearfield is a pianist and composer. But
she is best known as the founder, host and
producer of The
Salon, a monthly performance
series she holds in her Center City home. Now
in its 21st year The Salon gives musicians
from all genres the opportunity to perform
new work in a relaxed setting.
Listen: MP3 file
Produced by: Tracey Tannenbaum
Tracey has been working in public radio for
fifteen years with local and national production
credits that include two of Philadelphia's
best radio shows, "Fresh Air" and "World
Cafe". Tracey has reported
on arts and culture for WXPN and created several
series including "Musicians on the
Record", "Women Making Music" and "A
Musician's Life". She has
taught radio programming and production in
Romania, and closer to home here in Philadephia. |
