Sunday, March 7

Trailblazing gospel singer Kirk Franklin was recently featured on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert. NPR’s Digital Media Engineer Bobby Carter, who is also a DJ, says “I cannot recall a more moving Tiny Desk home performance.”  We’ll hear more of Kirk Franklin’s latest gospel music this Sunday on Soulsations. Also, this week’s DoubleTake features the song “My Sensitivity” written and recorded by the one and only Luther Vandross. We’ll hear the original and a cover by soulful singer Ledisi. Plus, Gregory Porter encourages upliftment through his tune “Revival Song.”

What Kirk Franklin’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert from NPR Music:

Monday, March 1

It’s a Chopin birthday celebration tonight on the Night Train, with jazz reinterpretations of Chopin works from Chick Corea’s last album, pianist Chucho Valdes, and baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan in hour one, and a special in hour two devoted to Chopin jazz in a performance from singer Grazyna Auguscik and pianist Ben Lewis. Night Train also marks birthdays of bassists Carles Benevent (also with Chick Corea) and Nilson Matta, and guitarist Ralph Towner – and the latest recordings from Keith Jarrett, New Faces, Nelson Riveros, and Conrad Herwig.

Tuesday, March 2

Night Train continues the March Women’s History Month with performances from women artists doing birthday related performances. We mark the birthday of composer Kurt Weill with performances of his songs by Ella Fitzgerald, Dianne Reeves and Cassandra Wilson, of drummer Clarence Penn (on an album he did with singer Luciana Souza), and soul jazz tenor saxophonist Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis (in projects he did with organist Shirley Scott). We’ll also hear new music from pianists George Kahn and Monty Alexander, and saxophonist Cory Weeds, and we continue our on-going remembrance of Chick Corea with music he did early in his career with Cal Tjader.

Wednesday, March 3

Night Train features jazz legends tonight. We’ll hear the debut albums from Elvin Jones, Shelia Jordan and Nina Simone, along with selections from Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins with John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Betty Carter, and the Triple Treat lineup of Monty Alexander, Ray Brown and Herb Ellis.

Thursday, March 4

Night Train marks birthdays of drummer Jason Marsalis (including a special performance in hour two with the Marcus Roberts Trio with special guest Bela Fleck), world chamber jazz saxophonist Jan Garbarek, and Vivaldi (with a jazz reinterpretation from the Jacques Loussier Trio). There’s also new music from the 14 Jazz Orchestra and guitarist Diego Figueiredo.

Friday, March 5 and Sunday, March 7

It’s “New Month/New Music” time as Crossroads teams up with Global Village and Strange Currency at the beginning of every month to feature the best in new blues releases.

Among the highlights this tiJorme:

The latest from soul jazz veteran Curtis Salgado

A new acoustic set from guitarists Jorma Kaukonen and John Hurlbut

And as Crossroads kicks of the Women’s History Month feature, we’ll hear new releases from Ally Veneble, Ghalia Volt, Misty Blues (led by singer, songwriter, and cigar box guitar player Gina Coleman), Skylar Rogers, Veronica Lewis, Kat Danser, and Kirsten Thien.

Monday, March 1

Global Village remembers salsa legend Johnny Pacheco (here with the Fania All Stars) and pioneering Jamaican toaster U Roy (with one of his early classics this time). The March Women’s History Month feature begins with new music from Cape Verdean rising star Elida Almeida. And we note several world birthdays this time including singer and activist Harry Belafonte, roots reggae great Burning Spear, Brazilian bassist Nilson Matta, Cuban composer Leo Brouwer, and world chamber jazz guitarist Ralph Towner.

Tuesday, March 2

In conjunction with the Women’s History Month feature, Global Village devotes this program to women of Africa, including South African artists Miriam Makeba, the Dark City Sisters and Lorraine Klaasen (in a tribute to Makeba); Mali’s Oumou Sangare and Rokia Traore, along with a track from Les Amazones d’Afrique featuring two singers from Mali; Benin’s Angelique Kidjo; Liberian singer Sia Tolno; and a rare female group from Nigeria, the Lijadu Sisters.

Wednesday, March 3

Global Village highlights some new New Euro Folk this time, including several women artists for the March Women’s History Month feature - including fado star Mariza, singer-songwriter Lula Pena, and Italian singer Maria Mazzotta with Albanian cellist Redi Hasa. Plus Portuguese Guitar player Custodio Castelo, concertina quartet Danças Ocultas, Italian neo-folk group Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, Spanish guitarist Pipo Romero, and the Breton group ‘Ndiaz.

Thursday, March 4

In conjunction with the March Women’s History Month feature, Global Village marks the birthday of South African great Miriam Makeba, highlights music from Norwegian folklorist Agnes Buen Garnas (with world chamber jazz saxophonist Jan Garbarek, also born on this date), the ‘Queen of Salsa’ Celia Cruz (with Johnny Pacheco), and new music from Canadian-Malian artist Djely Tapa, the Star Feminine Band from Benin, and the singer Malika (from the new Zanzibara Volume 10 compilation of modern taraab music).

Friday, March 5

It’s New Month/New Music time in the Global Village. Each month, Global Village devotes an entire show to the best of recently released and forthcoming world music albums.  Among the highlights this time:

A fresh take on Neapolitan music from LaLaLa Napoli

The fifth album from South African vocal group Afrika Mamas

South Pacific island sounds from the South Pasifika Sound Project

A different approach to traditional Japanese music from guitarist Yukihiro Atsumi

The return of Malian guitarist Anansy Cisse

And a new double album from Afrobeat star Femi Kuti and his son Made Kuti

1. Raul Monsalve y Los Forajidos – Bichos (Olinda)

2. Various Artists – Putumayo Presents New Orleans Mambo (Putumayo)
3. Etienne de la Sayette – Kobugi (Muju)
4. Kosmo Sound – Antenna (Zephyrus)
5. Azmari – Sama’I (SDban)
6. Various artists – Zanzibara Volume 10 (Buda Musique)
7. Vaev – Vaev (Go Danish Folk Music)
8. Nation Beat – The Royal Chase (Nation Beat Music)
9. Okan – Espiral (Lulaworld)
10. Vusi Mahlasela – Shebeen Queen (ATO)