soulshowmike.org Posts

Five years ago, long after Stef Chatman had left TSS, and before George T. became an established WYEP host, the three of us came together to honor Prince. Stef dialed in to the WYEP production room, and George and I recorded a three-way conversation that wove through topics and musical selections. The 4/23/16 presentation was a mix of live broadcast and the pre-produced pieces.

With the intensity of the event, I forgot to initiate the archive recording until 15 minutes in. The original archive posted on Mixcloud has had that gap all of these years, but I’ve now replaced it with a full 3-hour splice of WYEP archive tape and my own. It was time to get this done for the 2021 anniversary of The Purple. It is also poignant, of course, because it revives memories of Stef’s great energy.

Enjoy.

On The Soul Show on WYEP this afternoon, it’s time for some more songs for our times. Marley’s “Johnny Was,” Khris Royal’s “Song for Trayvon” and others will set the tone in the second half of Hour 2.

A-Money & The Downtown City has a new single, and I’ll continue the track-by-track dive into Afro Yaqui’s acclaimed 2021 release. Also, more from George Heid’s sophomore album. That’s all on Three Rivers at Three, 1500 Eastern.

I’ll highlight the birthdays of Robeson and Hancock. Herbie turned 81. We did a big tribute last year, but every landmark for him is special.

The City Paper featured my monthly Soulshowmike’s Album Picks this week. The editor asked if I had any interesting ties to offer for the annual Marijuana issue. Of course there was a story to tell. The story on TSS will weave from Neil Young to The Isley Brothers. I think you’ll enjoy.

The syndicated edition of The Soul Show is chock full of new music this week: Esperanza Spalding, Zo!, Gramps Morgan and Hiatus Kaiyote. Check out the broadcast grid to find a good time to air or stream.

WTJX US Virgin Islands was the first station to pick up the syndicated Soul Show. Next week, their daily morning show Analyze This will interview me. The host is a former member of the VI Legislature and a St. Croix schoolmate. Check it out.

On Saturday’s WYEP episode of The Soul Show, I’ll pay tribute to BB Dickerson, founding member of the acts War and Lowrider Band. His bandmate and uncle, Howard Scott, will tell about the bassist’s contributions to the music.

MLK’s birthday is always celebrated. April 4th, the anniversary of his young death, must also be recognized. There is music from Marcus Lewis Big Band and Gil Scott-Heron.

WYEP is recognizing National Siblings Day, and The Soul Show will have some fun with that theme. I planned to sprinkle some brother/sister acts into the mix, but got carried away (of course).

Brian Edwards and Geenpool represent Pittsburgh artists in the Three Rivers at Three segment. Also, MG’s alum Steve Cropper will get a spin of his 2021 release.

The syndicated edition of TSS on the African American Public Radio Consortium follows the style and shape of the original WYEP show, but provides an entirely different playlist each week. Afro Yaqui Music Collective and Jon Lucien represent two of the cities that broadcast the AAPRC show. Other highlights: I’ll play Valerie June with Carla Thomas, Chicago Soul Jazz Collective, Carla with Otis Redding, Raja Kasis of Antibalas, Speech Debelle, Amp Fiddler covering Jimi, Ashford & Simpson.

The archives for all recent broadcasts are posted in the Archives for your on-demand enjoyment.

The Soul Show on Saturday afternoon returns to “regular” programming after eight weekends of BHM and WHM. In case you missed any, the archives are available for your on-demand pleasure.

That was then, and this is now. On Three Rivers at Three, I’ll debut Kenny Stockard’s new single and Afro Yaqui Music Collective’s 2021 “Maroon Futures.” Also, Jon Batiste’s full “We Are” release has dropped, so now we can go beyond the introductory single. We’ll celebrate a Marvin Gaye birthday.

The syndicated edition of TSS on WTJX and Rhode Island Public Radio will present a brand new Teri Tobin track and something from Spirit Finger called “Inside.” I’ll play a 2021 release from Angelo Moore of Fishbone. It’s a bit more peace-and-love than some of his other solo material with The Brand New Step. In fact, it reminds me of Cameo’s late-career socially conscious work.

Then there’s a beautifully dark and vivid gangland story told by Ghostface Killah and Adrian Younge. I’ll play consecutive tracks from “12 Reasons To Die.” I call this Black Gotham. It’s crazy.

Representing southern NE, Tavares is on tap for the WTJX listeners.

2021 WHM programming on The Soul Show wrapped up on March 27th. We covered four themes this year, but there’s plenty more. I bundled some archived shows for your on-demand enjoyment.

The Soul Show on Weekend 4 of WHM carries the theme “Wood, Brass & Steel.” It’s all about women on instruments, like Brandee Younger on harp and Sister Rosetta Tharpe on electric guitar (long before Hendrix). Weekends 1-3 went like this:

Check out these shows on-demand in Archives.

Today we’ll also pay tribute to the great Paul Jackson, Jr., co-founder of the Headhunters. The self-titled release, performed with Hancock, Maupin and Summers, became the best-selling jazz album of all time. I’ll play a track from that and another from the post-Hancock era. It’s one where Jackson plays bass and sings.

On the “other” Soul Show, airing on WTJX and other national stations during the coming week, I have a lot of new music to present. “Jazz Is Dead 6,” this time a Younge/Muhammad collaboration with Gary Bartz, was made available in late March. Marlon McClain sent both his latest and that of his niece, vocalist Whitney McClain. There’s also new Tim Bowman and Angelo Moore. Perhaps the most intriguing new entry is a Valerie June duet with fellow Memphian and Stax queen Carla Thomas.

On top of all of that, there will be the ongoing presentation of the classics. There’s everything from Stevie Wonder to Mandrill to The Outlaw Gang.

On WYEP, The Soul Show’s theme for Weekend 3 of WHM is “Bloodlines.” We’ll feature women and members of their musical families, like Akina Adderley and her grandfather, Nat Sr.; Taka Boom/Chaka Khan; and the Hathaways. Toshi Reagon, daughter of Sweet Honey in the Rock’s founder, is also part of the presentation. If you’d like some background, check out my 2019 interview with her.

I’ll play more music from Gayelynn McKinney, daughter of the great jazz musician Harold. I selected her album ‘Zoot Suit Funk’ as a March album pick in my Pittsburgh City Paper column.

On Saturday night, the syndicated edition of TSS will feature a bit of new music. IZY of Australia has an album named ‘Irene’ that is already feeling like a 2021 Top Ten candidate. I’ll dig deeper into ‘Nocturne Unplugged’ by David Walters. Lenora Zenzalai Helms’ ‘Love of Big Band’ release will get a play – it was also written up in my City Paper column. New music from Str4ta, a Brit-funk side project by Bluey of Incognito, will be introduced. Midnite represents the Virgin Islands; Jeffrey Osborne & L.T.D., Providence; and Leaky Faucet, the city of Pittsburgh.

Why would I replace the longstanding Booker T. theme with Shirley Scott? Because it’s the annual ADW on TSS during WHM on WYEP. Shirley from Philly was the Queen of the Hammond B3, and we’ll start with a fine track from her Soul Saxes album of 1969. All Day Women started a few years ago on The Soul Show. It’s always one of the weekly themes during Women’s History Month. By the way, thanks to all of you who provided great topics to cover during the rest of the month.

ADW covers historical figures like Dakota Staton, Phoebe Snow and Phyllis Hyman, but we also feature the contemporary and new. Listen out for electrofunkster Dawn Richard, reggae’s Reemah and the elevating Lakecia Benjamin. Today is the membership campaign, so I use the usual narration time to ask for your financial support. Don’t worry, though – I didn’t replace any of the normal 32-38 tracks with extra chat. The show will be its usual music-packed self.

On tonight’s nationally syndicated edition of The Soul Show, we begin the tribute to Neville Livingston, better known as Bunny Wailer. He and two others created the most important reggae group of all time. Representing some of the cities where TSS is aired, we have Afi Scruggs (PhD grad of Providence’s Brown University), Royce of Pittsburgh and Odyssey of the Virgin Islands. There’s new music from Samm Crenshaw, Rochelle Jordan and Hemai. Classic Garnet Mimms, with the Warwicks in background vocals. Afrofunk from One World Tribe. Fusion from Larry Coryell and Jaco Pastorius. Rocking Living Color, and Ndegeocello/Reagon covering Eric Burdon.

See you soon.