The song "Bewildered" was a hit in 1938, a hit again in 1948 (for 2 different artists!), and still being recorded at least into the '70s.  It's not exactly a standard, but it was certainly a song with some staying power.  On today's Lucky Old Souls, you'll hear many different versions of it, including Mildred Bailey's, Amos Milburn's, Billy Eckstine's, and two by James Brown.  Also: Feldie will connect the dots between Eric Dolphy and Etta Jones and share some R&B hits from 1949.  Plenty of surprises, too.

Be sure to tune in next week as well, when drummer/record collector/scholar Timothy Hayes joins Feldie to share his memories of Atlanta's legendary Royal Peacock, where everyone from Ray Charles to the Four Tops performed.

Full playlist for today's show here as it unfolds... 

Music from Mary Lou Williams, Amos Milburn, Leon Thomas, Lionel Loueke, and many more on today's Lucky Old Souls. 

And, in the second of hour of the show, Feldie will talk to drummer Rob Henderson, who leads the Sunday night jam session at LaRose Social Club, around the corner from the G-town Radio studio at 5531 Germantown Ave. 

Remember to keep up with Lucky Old Souls by visiting luckyoldsouls.com and following @luckyoldsouls on Twitter.

Full playlist for today's show here as it happens: 

Another Tuesday afternoon, another 2 hours of great music on Lucky Old Souls... Feldie honors drummer Ed Thigpen and the great vocalist Teddy Pendergrass, both of whom passed away last week.  Also: several tracks from tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin, more music from the Loma Records label, and more from drummer Art Taylor, author of the seminal book of musician-to-musician interviews Notes And Tones.

In honor of yesterday's Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, why not read Dr. King's thoughts on jazz music?  

Full playlist for today's show here as it unfolds:

After a week off, Feldie's back with another great edition of Lucky Old Souls: Some mid-'60s tracks from Loma Records, the LA-based R&B subsidiary of Warner Records and lots of Art Taylor, one of the great modern jazz drummers and author of the seminal book of musician interviews Notes And Tones.  Listening to A.T. will also give us a chance to hear from Monk, Bud Powell, Trane, Jackie McLean, and others. 

Plenty more great music too...

Full playlist for today's show here as it unfolds: 

Lucky Old Souls will return to G-town Radio next Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 2 p.m., with the usual mix of jazz, rhythm & blues, and more.

The next concert in the Lucky Old Souls @ Moonstone series is this Friday and features veteran Philly pianist Alfie Pollitt and guitarist Ben "Bananas" O'Neill, who was recently nominated for a Grammy for a collaboration with R&B singer Eric Roberson.

Lucky Old Souls @ Moonstone
Jazz and more... the 2nd Friday of each month

 
Friday, January 8, 2010

ALFIE POLLITT, solo piano

O’NEILL/MICELI
Ben “Bananas” O’Neill, guitar
Tony Miceli, vibraphone
performing music by Ellington & Strayhorn


Moonstone Arts Center (formerly Robin's Books)
110 S. 13th St., 2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA
$10 at the door / $8 in advance / BYOB
Doors: 8:30 p.m. Show: 9 p.m. sharp

Lucky Old Souls @ Moonstone is a monthly event, showcasing some of Philadelphia’s most creative musicians in a laid-back, BYOB venue that combines the intimacy of a club with a concert hall's respect for the music.

More at www.luckyoldsouls.com.
 

Lucky Old Souls is a unique mix of jazz, rhythm & blues, soul music, and more.  Today, Feldie will bring you a whole lot of Stevie Wonder--because Stevie was somehow omitted from last week's "great pop songs" show.  Lots more great music too...

You can learn more about Lucky Old Souls by visiting luckyoldsouls.com, following Lucky Old Souls on Twitter, or joining the Lucky Old Souls Facebook group. 

Full playlist for today's show here as it unfolds: 

What makes a great pop song great?  Feldie and guest co-host Ben O'Neill will shed a little light on that question on today's Lucky Old Souls.  They've each picked 10-15 of their favorite pop songs to share on the radio.  They haven't discussed it much, and neither knows what the other is going to play.  It's Lucky Old Souls, though, so expect it to be a little different from what you might have in mind, and expect it to go pretty far back in time.  Hopefully, it will get you thinking a little bit, but, at the very least, you'll enjoy some great music.

Ben (aka Bananas) is a talented guitarist and songwriter with a wide range of experience and accomplishments.  After studying jazz guitar at The University of the Arts, he went on to a career of touring and studio work with R&B and hip hop artists including Musiq Soulchild, Erykah Badu, and Common.  Ben has also worked with independent R&B singer Eric Roberson and was just nominated for a Grammy for one of their collaborations.  Now he's focused on his job playing gospel music and his rock band The MLMs, who celebrate the release of their new EP at World Cafe Live on December 26th.  Ben will be returning to jazz briefly when he performs Ellington & Strayhorn music with vibraphonist Tony Miceli at the next Lucky Old Souls @ Moonstone show, on January 8th.  

Full playlist for today's show here as it unfolds:

On today's Lucky Old Souls, Feldie takes you on a chronological tour of the music of Ivory Joe Hunter (1914-1974), one of the greats of the rhythm & blues era.  Like Ray Charles, his music incorporated the influences of jump blues, jazz, and country.  Ivory Joe is best known for his 1956 hit "Since I Met You, Baby," but he'd already been making records for over a decade when that song came out.  His very first recording, 1945's "Blues At Sunrise" was a #3 hit.  Ivory Joe played the piano, wrote almost all of his own songs, and had a wonderful voice (somewhere between a blues shouter and Nat King Cole).  Like so many of the rhythm & blues stars of his era, Ivory Joe recorded with some great instrumentalists, including guitarist Mickey Baker, tenor saxophonist Budd Johnson, and several members of the Ellington orchestra.

The show will close with some more under-appreciated R&B music--Sugar Pie DeSanto's classic early '60s records for the Chess label and Little Willie John's 1966 David Axelrod-produced Capitol session.

And tune in next week, when Feldie is joined in the studio by guitarist/singer/songwriter Ben "Bananas" O'Neill (of the MLMs).  The two will be sharing some of their favorite "pop" songs (loosely defined) of all time.

Full playlist for today's show here as it unfolds:

Rhythm & blues and jazz, together on the radio... Today: Amos Milburn, some James Brown you might not have heard before, clarinet legend Tony Scott, '50s Lonnie Johnson, and much more.  It's Lucky Old Souls, with your host Feldie.

For some great live music, be sure to check out the next Lucky Old Souls @ Moonstone show, this Friday night.  It features a brand new suite by a veteran Philly jazz pianist & educator, a performance of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 featuring a member of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and solo guitar music by Astor Piazolla--all in a relaxed, BYOB atmosphere.  Visit the Facebook event page for more details.

Full playlist for today's show here as it unfolds: