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The Empress of the Blues

By Mary Foster Conklin | A Broad Spectrum
May 26, 2019
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This broadcast opens with a celebration of the music of

Bessie Smith

vocals
1894 - 1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Bessie Smith, the Empress of the Blues, in honor of her birthday, with new releases from saxophonist

Melissa Aldana

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Melissa Aldana, vocalists

Emma Larsson

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Emma Larsson,

Marc Jordan

guitar and vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Marc Jordan,

Joanna Wallfisch

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Joanna Wallfisch and

Claire Martin

vocals
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Claire Martin, plus more birthday shout outs to Dusty Springfield and

Carline Ray

" data-original-title="" title="">Carline Ray (member of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm and mother of

Catherine Russell

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Catherine Russell).

Playlist

Jen Hodge
" data-original-title="" title="">Jen Hodge "Chocolate Magic Mushrooms" from All's Fair in Love and Jazz (Self released) 00:00
Kat Gang
vocals
b.1980
" data-original-title="" title="">Kat Gang "The Sweet Life" from Come Closer (NKR Records) 05:12
The Hot Sardines
band / ensemble / orchestra
" data-original-title="" title="">The Hot Sardines "French Fries & Champagne" from French Fries & Champagne (Decca) 07:49
Carline Ray (feat. Catherine Russell) "Land Beyond the River" from Vocal Sides (Self released) 10:47
Host speaks 13:18
Vic Dickenson
trombone
b.1906
" data-original-title="" title="">Vic Dickenson "Long Old Road" from Plays Bessie Smith: Trombone Cholly (Gazelle Records) 16:34
Meschiya Lake
vocals
" data-original-title="" title="">Meschiya Lake & the Little Big Horns "'Lectric Chair Blues" from Bad Kids Club (Continental Records Services) 22:37
Dinah Washington
vocals
1924 - 1963
" data-original-title="" title="">Dinah Washington "You've Been a Good Ole Wagon" from Back to the Blues (Roulette Record ) 26:35
Bessie Smith "Don't Cry Baby" from Empress of the Blues Vol. 2 1929-1933 (JSP Records) 30:25
Host speaks 33:35
Amina Claudine Myers
piano
b.1942
" data-original-title="" title="">Amina Claudine Myers "Wasted Life Blues" from Salutes Bessie Smith (Leo Records) 35:29
LaVern Baker
vocals
1929 - 1997
" data-original-title="" title="">LaVern Baker "Back Water Blues" from Atlantic Jazz: Best of the 50s (Rhino Atlantic) 42:22
Aretha Franklin
vocals
1942 - 2018
" data-original-title="" title="">Aretha Franklin "Muddy Water" from Yeah!! (Sony Music) 47:04
Host speaks 49:31
Five Play
band / ensemble / orchestra
" data-original-title="" title="">Five Play "The Time Being" from Live at the Fire House (5Play2019) 52:26
Roxy Coss
saxophone, tenor
b.1986
" data-original-title="" title="">Roxy Coss "Nevertheless, She Persisted" from The Future Is Female (Posi-Tone) 59:55
Betty Carter
vocals
1929 - 1998
" data-original-title="" title="">Betty Carter "30 Years" from The Music Never Stops (Blue Engine Records) 1:06:08
Dena DeRose
piano and vocals
b.1966
" data-original-title="" title="">Dena DeRose "Clockwise" from United (HighNote) 1:10:44
Host speaks 1:18:06
Leala Cyr
" data-original-title="" title="">Leala Cyr "Canyon View" from First Instinct (Self released) 1:20:18
Judy Wexler
vocals
" data-original-title="" title="">Judy Wexler "Beautiful Love/Gorgeous Creature" from Easy On the Heart (Rhombus) 1:26:53
Emma Larsson &
Xavier Davis
piano
" data-original-title="" title="">Xavier Davis "Naima's Love Song" from The Makings (Dav Lar Music) 1:30:55
Host speaks 1:36:13
Melissa Aldana "Elsewhere" from Visions (Motema) 1:38:35
The Manhattan Transfer
vocals
" data-original-title="" title="">The Manhattan Transfer "Sing Joy Spring" from Vocalese (Rhino Atlantic) 1:44:30
Host speaks 1:51:39
Samantha Boshnack
trumpet
b.1981
" data-original-title="" title="">Samantha Boshnack "Choro" from Live in Santa Monica (Orenda Records) 1:53:22
Cecilia Sanchietti
" data-original-title="" title="">Cecilia Sanchietti "Hang Gliding" from La Terza Via (Blujazz) 2:00:20
Nora York
vocals
" data-original-title="" title="">Nora York &
Maria Schneider
composer / conductor
" data-original-title="" title="">Maria Schneider "The Grail" from Alchemy (Self released) 2:06:02
Julia Dollison
vocals
b.1972
" data-original-title="" title="">Julia Dollison &
Kerry Marsh
vocals
" data-original-title="" title="">Kerry Marsh "Journey Home" from Vertical Voices: The Music of Maria Schneider (ArtistShare) 2:10:24
Host speaks 2:19:24
Ellen Rowe
piano
" data-original-title="" title="">Ellen Rowe "The Guardians" from Momentum—Portraits of Women in Motion (Smokin Sleddog Records) 2:22:17
Celia Berk
vocals
" data-original-title="" title="">Celia Berk "You Can't Rush Spring" from You Can't Rush Spring (Self released) 2:28:02
Dusty Springfield "The Windmills of Your Mind" from Dusty In Memphis (Atlantic) 2:31:24
Host speaks 2:35:14
Blossom Dearie
piano and vocals
1926 - 2009
" data-original-title="" title="">Blossom Dearie "A Paris" from Blossom's Own Treasures (Daffodil Records) 2:37:46
Peter Campbell
vocals
" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Campbell "The Sun Died" from Loving You: Celebrating Shirley Horn (Self released) 2:40:59
Kavita Shah
vocals
" data-original-title="" title="">Kavita Shah &
Francois Moutin
bass
" data-original-title="" title="">Francois Moutin "La Vie En Rose" from Interplay (Dot Time) 2:45:32
Cecile McLorin Salvant
vocals
b.1989
" data-original-title="" title="">Cecile McLorin Salvant "Le Mal de Vivre" from For One To Love (Mack Avenue) 2:49:15
Host speaks 2:55:22
Lioness "Mocha Spice" from Pride & Joy (Posi-Tone) 2:57:05
Pete Malinverni
piano
" data-original-title="" title="">Pete Malinverni "Eili, Eili" from Heaven (Saranac Records) 3:01:04Time Marker
Candace Reyes "Live In the Moment" from Your Way (Self released) 3:06:48
Host speaks 3:14:09
Mimi Fox
guitar
" data-original-title="" title="">Mimi Fox "Textures of Loving" from This Bird Still Flies (Origin) 3:15:09
Sara Serpa
vocals
b.1979
" data-original-title="" title="">Sara Serpa &
André Matos
guitar
" data-original-title="" title="">Andr�� Matos "Programa" from All the Dreams (Sunnyside) 3:21:02
Joanna Wallfisch "Far Away From Any Place Called Home" from Far Away From Any Place Called Home (Self released) 3:23:25
Host speaks 3:28:04
Rufus Wainwright
vocals
b.1973
" data-original-title="" title="">Rufus Wainwright "All I Want" from Joni 75-A Birthday Celebration (Decca) 3:29:56
Alicia Olatuja
vocals
" data-original-title="" title="">Alicia Olatuja "Cherokee Louise" from Intuition: Songs From the Minds of Women (Resilience) 3:33:44
Marc Jordan "Both Sides Now" from Both Sides (Linus Entertainment) 3:39:27
Claire Martin "You Dream Flat Tires" from Believin' It (Linn Records) 3:45:02
Host speaks 3:49:12
Naomi Moon Siegel
trombone
b.1984
" data-original-title="" title="">Naomi Moon Siegel "Jaam Rek" from Live at Ear Shot (Slow & Steady) 3:53:00

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