Gypsy Jazz and Great Expectations

Posted at 6:00 AM on May 30, 2009 by Dale Connelly (9 Comments)

This week on Radio Heartland on MPR news stations, the legacy of guitarist Django Reinhardt is heard every day in the gypsy jazz that he made popular. The upper Midwest and Minnesota represent a hotbed for this engaging style of music. A new ensemble has just recorded a debut album. Gypsy Mania visits the studio in our first hour.

James Hersch is a singer who wanted to re-invigorate his writing by making a commitment to come up with one new song every week for an entire year, no matter what.
This is the sort of wild, ambitious and totally unsustainable promise that any normal person might make and keep for about a month before tiring and giving up, but James Hersch is made of sterner stuff.
How's he doing? We'll find out in hour two, along with a nod to Benny Goodman, who was born 100 years ago today.

Gypsy Jazz and Great Expectations, tonight on Radio Heartland.

---

Comments (9)

Ahhh, Saturday!

This sounds like a great show, I hope I can stay awake for it!

Cheers,

Posted by Mark | May 30, 2009 8:23 AM

---

Welcome back to Leisure World, Mark.
Now you remember what the weekend is all about!
I hope you had an excellent first four days of your new job.
I recommend an afternoon nap, especially on Saturday, for all working people. It will make your weekend seem even longer, and open up all sorts of interesting possibilities for Saturday night.

Posted by Dale Connelly | May 30, 2009 9:08 AM

---

Greetings! This definitely sounds like an interesting show. They played a piece on the classical station this morning with Benny Goodman on the clarinet performing a classical piece he had commissioned (I think). Cool stuff!

I'll be sure to take Dale's advice and have a nap after karate classes this afternoon.

Posted by Joanne in Big Lake | May 30, 2009 10:17 AM

---

Wait till you hear the first Benny Goodman piece we're playing in the second hour tonight. It'll knock your socks off!

Posted by Mike Pengra | May 30, 2009 12:01 PM

---

Thanks for the tip-off, Mike! I'll be ready with my dancing shoes on in my pajamas. But I better get my bath first -- still sore muscles from karate ...

Posted by Joanne in Big Lake | May 30, 2009 7:18 PM

---

James: Is there some Bly in you? Very nice stuff... and thank you.

Posted by Steve | May 30, 2009 10:40 PM

---

Really great show tonight, Dale and Mike. Definitely loved that Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall piece. Prairie Home Companion was in St. Louis, MO tonight and Dan Choinard(?) and the Shoe Band were burning up the keyboards with great swing/honky tonk/rhythm and blues that had me dancing, so Benny Goodman was a nice followup to that.

Also, I did not realize Minnesota was a "hotbed" for Gypsy Jazz music -- always something new to learn and hear on RH.

I did not get the recommenced nap, so I need to turn in pretty soon here. Great night!

Posted by Joanne in Big Lake | May 30, 2009 10:43 PM

---

whoooa -- but not before I hear all of "Sing, Sing, Sing" -- definitely one of my faves! Who can resist Gene Krupa's driving drum solos? There ought to be a law about playing this before bedtime -- I won't get to sleep now!

Posted by Joanne in Big Lake | May 30, 2009 10:55 PM

---

Sleep not Big Lake. Whooa that! Thanks Gene and Benny and Dale!

Posted by Steve | May 30, 2009 11:07 PM

---