Music

With Signs Of Life, singer Rondi Charleston breathes new life into jazz classics and shares highly personal yet universal reflections on life. During Women’s History Month we are focusing on women of jazz and blues past and present. Rondi Charleston’s Signs Of Life is one of the most powerful and personal discs to be premiered this March.

One of the pleasures of working with the talented team of WEMU music hosts is discovering what the weekly consensus of the “most-played” recording will be. Each Sweet 16 list topper reveals another aspect of the WEMU variety. During the week of March 4th through the 10th, the most played recording was Ciudad De Los Reyes by Gabriel Alegría and his Afro-Peruvian Sextet. 

Bryan Ferry, leader of the 1980s musical art rock sensation, Roxy Music, is also a brilliant musical historian. With the new CD The Jazz Age he has merged his two passions. He took Roxy Music favorites such as "Love Is The Drug", "The Bogus Man" and "Slave To Love" and orchestrated them for a 1920s style acoustic big jazz band. 

With Water And Air, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt re-affirms his dedication to modern black music. Over the years he has absorbed the foundations of jazz: call-and-response, pacing, drama, interplay and tension and release.  It is especially that final principle that operates throughout Air and Water.

"This music isn't about a change in the direction as much as it's about strengthening my commitment to my art at present." - Jeremy Pelt.

In 2001 bassist Robert Hurst assembled some of his best musical friends for a recording session that is no longer hiding on a hard drive. 

It is undeniable: siblings sound great together making music whether sisters, brothers or both.  Some legendary examples are The Carter Family, The Haden Family, Phil & Buddy Guy, The Avett Brothers, The Isley Brothers, The Andrews Sisters, The Jackson 5, The Everly Brothers, The Louvin Brothers, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Katia & Marielle Labèque, The Allman Brothers, The Clayton Brothers and The Pointer Sisters. 

WEMU 89.1 FM and Sesi Motors present the 5:01 First Friday Series dedicated to the memory of the late Dr. Jan Winkelman.

Robert Hurst  plays @ Rush Street, Friday, May 3rd  5:01 pm to 7 pm (map below)  

World renowned jazz bassist, educator at the University of Michigan, former band member for The TonightShow, multiple Grammy Award winner, and Detroit native Robert Hurst performs at the final Sesi Motors/WEMU 5:01 show for this season. The show is at Rush Street, 314 S. Main Street in Ann Arbor, Friday May 3rd 5-7 p.m. Admission is free.

Long Tall Marcia Ball is beloved in the blues world and by WEMU listeners, so when we received a new disc by newcomer Long Tall Deb, we had to see if she could live up the name like Ms. Ball.  Long Tall Deb Landolt is worthy of the name and our attention.