Programming Archive

Tony Bennett talks about his long career, early inspirations, iconic sessions with Bill Evans and his recent Grammy-winning “Duets II” CD with an all-star cast: Lady Gaga, Michael Bublé, Amy Winehouse, John Mayer, k.d. lang, Aretha Franklin, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Queen Latifah, Norah Jones, Josh Groban, Natalie Cole, Andrea Bocelli, Faith Hill, Alejandro Sanz, Carrie Underwood, and Mariah Carey. Tony and his collaborators received the Grammy for “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album” as well as the Grammy for “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” for his duet, “Body and Soul” with Amy Winehouse.

Three modern interpreters of song offer distinctive moods at the House of Swing – Karrin Allyson provides a versatile expressiveness; rising star Sachal Vasandani delivers a cool sophistication, and Detroit native Carla Cook brings her blues style.

In an all-new episode, Steve D'Agostino, chief pilot of Best Rate of Climb, interviews Tim McGourthy (shown, left), chief development officer of the City of Worcester, and Craig Blais (shown, right), executive director of the Worcester Business Development Corp. They talk about the proposed Theater District for downtown Worcester.

This January 23, there was a packed house at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester, for a public hearing on a draft plan by the WBDC and the City of Worcester for a Theater District in downtown Worcester. And no, despite certain news-media obsession with it, the draft plan does not call for an indoor skating rink on part of the Salem Street parking lot that serves the main branch of Worcester Public Library.

However, the draft plan for the Theater District does call for a "building envelope" there, to contain some sort of public-purpose building or buildings, to, along with other attractions such as food trucks, draw more pedestrian traffic to the area. And, if the market demand, infrastructure capacity and development financing are there, the "building envelope" space could contain an indoor skating rink.

In addition, the draft plan calls for a parking garage on the parking lot along Portland Street that had been used for Telegram & Gazette parking and which, along with the former T&G buildings, the WBDC now owns. That parking lot is only one block away from the library.

As Women's History month ends and Public Radio Month begins, we’re showcasing live performances by some of New England’s leading women in music.  Be sure to catch Colors of Jazz when host Bonnie Johnson welcomes guests Women of the World, a Boston-based collective of musicians; 16-year-old award winning jazz vocalist Claire Dickson; and Worcester’s Native Soulstress Sunta Jones.

Women of the World help celebrate diversity in music bringing their global groove to the airwaves. In a collaborative that represents women from various countries together in “one voice", the ensemble brings multiculturalism, creativity, and music to another level. The band, comprised of ten women vocalists and instrumentalists, just released a new CD entitled Koloro... We'll hear the combined voices of Ayumi Ueda from Japan & founder of the group; Annette Phlip from India; Giorgia Renosto from Italy; Deborah Pierre from USA/Haiti; and Negah Santos from Brazil.   http://womenoftheworldmusic.com

Claire Dickson is inspired by her own musical family and the reminiscent style of Ella Fitzgerald. The Boston-based jazz singer made her first appearance as a soloist at the age of three. By age twelve, Miss Dickson became serious about singing and since then has won numerous awards including Downbeat Magazine's Student Jazz Awards for High School Jazz Vocalist (2012) and Blues and Pop Vocalist (2012). Bringing curiosity and a signature “scat” to her musical voice, Claire's youthful and innovative spirit is being “played” all over the jazz world with her first CD, Scattin’ Doll.   www.clairedicksonmusic.com

Sunta Jones has been a part of Worcester's music scene for the last 10+ years, lending her talent to several bands and projects in and around the city. She is currently writing and recording an original, smooth soul CD with KFingers of KTP Productions. Striving to bring “positive vibrations”, when she’s not in the studio, the band leader can be heard at different community events around the city. Most recently Ms. Jones performed as Billie Holiday at the Worcester Public Library's Renaissance Fair in honor of their Big Read event. Often combining her solo voice with drums, Sunta demonstrates “one love” for the music through her strong a cappella and vocalese.