Tapestry

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WBHM Interviews

November 6, 2008...

• Marina Piccinini solos with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra
• Branford Marsalis brings a classical Brasilian beat to Birmingham
• Claire Lynch: a bluegrass musician with her own set of priorities
• Birmingham Festival Theatre presents Rabbit Hole
• Birmingham indie-punk band Teen Getaway

She's widely recognized as one of the world's leading flute virtuosos. Marina Piccinini has been in demand as both a recitalist and orchestral soloist in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. This weekend, Piccinini performs with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. She spoke with WBHM's Michael Krall.

Marina Piccinini interview...

Grammy award-winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis was born into a distinguished family of New Orleans jazz musicians. And since his professional debut more than two decades ago, he's crisscrossed musical lines to perform with jazz greats such as Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, rock legends such as the Greatful Dead and Sting, and countless symphony orchestras. He's a musical emissary - having traveled the world to introduce audiences to jazz. He brings his show to Birmingham this weekend. Earlier this week, WBHM's Tanya Ott caught up with Marsalis - not surprisingly - on his cell phone outside LaGuardia airport.

Branford Marsalis interview...

Jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis performs the music of Heitor Villa-Lobos with the Philharmonic Brasileria - Sunday night at the Alys Stephens Center.

Her folks hail from upstate New York but Claire Lynch considers herself an Alabama girl. During her formative years as a journeyman musician, Lynch retained Hazel Green, Alabama as her safe harbor -- where she could rest and retreat before hitting the road again with the Front Porch String Band. Later, as a solo artist, she would make the two hour drive to Nashville to record her own material or back stars up Linda Ronstadt and Emmy Lou Harris and then return home to look after her children. Now, she's on the road again, opening for the likes of Ralph Stanley. And while she's missed opportunities to make a bigger musical name for herself, she has no regrets when it comes to her priorities.

Claire Lynch interview...

The Claire Lynch Band opens for Ralph Stanley Friday night, Nov. 14th, at the Alys Stephens Center.

Family figured prominently in Claire Lynch's career decisions - and family takes center stage in a new drama at Birmingham Festival Theatre. Rabbit Hole is a Pulitzer prize winning drama from American playwright David Lindsay-Abaire. Lindsay-Abaire is known for such quirky, freewheeling off-Broadway comedies as Fuddy Meers, but actress Charla Cochran tells WBHM's Tanya Ott that Rabbit Hole is a complete departure.

BFT presents Rabbit Hole...

Rabbit Hole runs through this weekend at Birmingham Festival Theatre.

Birmingham indie/punk band Teen Getaway describe their sound as "Bubblegum Skronk tighter than a corset's strap." Now just what does that mean? Well, it's noisy, energetic and dissonant...yet sometimes dreamy and ethereal. Singers Jim Fahy and Janet Simpson balance all this through blending often intertwining vocal harmonies. The band just released their first EP Nighthawks on their own Hits and Missives imprint. Here's the song Pulp. (AUDIO MONTAGE)

Tapestry is produced by Tanya Ott and Michael Krall with help this week from Coleman Lipsey. Next week on the program, Halloween may be over, but we've got a ghost story about cats that will raise the hair on your back. I'm Greg Bass, and we'll see you next week.