Tune in to KRTS Marfa this evening for another great night of music.
At 8 PM, it's a special edition of Old Timey. On this evening's show, host Rachel Osier Lindley will feature recordings of Sacred Harp singing from 1920-1950. Scared Harp singing is a religious choral tradition that has its roots in 1800's America. Sometimes called the first truly original American music, it almost died out in the mid-twentieth century except in small pockets of the deep South and East Texas. In the last few years Sacred Harp music has experienced something of a revival as people discover the stark, haunting, and joyful melodies of the Sacred Harp. Marfa resident and real-live Sacred Harp singer Ryan P. Young will co-host and share stories from his experiences at modern Sacred Harp conventions.
Then, from 9-11 PM, it's Jazz on KRTS. At 9 PM, Geography of Jazz , hosted by Dave Leonnig, visits the Sooner state of Oklahoma, and the 46th state in the union has a rich jazz heritage from early swing to the advance guard of 21st century jazz. Musicians featured include Vocalist Lee Wiley, reed players Pee Wee Russell, Don Byas and Sam Rivers, Pianist Jay McShann had bassists Lynn Seaton and Cecil McBee.
And at 10 PM, KRTS takes our traditional look at musicians who took their final bow in 2011, and the list is not incredibly long, but it is rich and musical. From traditional swing to big band jazz, bebop, post-bop and the jazz avant garde, these musicians made their mark. Included in this year's farewell are vocalist Barbara Lea, reed players Sam Rivers and Frank Foster, pianists George Shearing and Ray Bryant, Brass players Snooky Young and Bob Brookmeyer, drummers Paul Motian and Joe Morello, and lyricist Fran Landesman.