Auntie Beeb knows music

An escape during this dreary season is as close as your PC. Thanks to the internet, we have access to thousands of radio stations worldwide. One that’s particularly near and dear to me is BBC 2, the station born from the demise of the ’60s renegade radio stations depicted in the recent film Pirate Radio.

BBC 2 is a pop music station all right, but one that embraces all genres of pop music. You may hear Frank Sinatra one minute, Kraftwerk the next. By day, the station is not unlike typical American Top 40 stations, mixing current hits and oldies with DJs and “chat” features. I find the British drive-time traffic reports quite amusing (remember, Britain is six hours ahead of Milwaukee time). But there’s more to BBC 2-much more.

What makes BBC 2 an absolute delight for me is the plethora of live concerts and documentary programs regularly broadcast on BBC 2. Over the past few months, I’ve heard concerts featuring Dame Shirley Bassey, including an incredible performance with the BBC Orchestra. Richard Hawley sang a song with her that he composed for Bassey. The very next day I heard an electrifying performance by Smokey Robinson before a rabid audience of Motown-crazy Brits. I also heard a fantastic ABBA tribute from London’s Hyde Park that featured the cream of British pop along with a special appearance by Benny Andersson and his band.

Above all, though, it’s the “docs” that really do it for me. In the past several months, some of the radio documentaries I listened to were:

The Man Machine: The Kraftwerk Story

Jarvis Cocker of Pulp narrates this great 60-minute documentary about the history of the great German band and the Krautrock movement. It brilliantly shows their profound influence on current pop music, including great comments from Afrika Bambaataa among many others. A great story comes from Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who recalled writing a letter (in German) to Kraftwerk seeking permission to sample a riff from “Computer Love” for one of Coldplay’s songs.

Super Bad, Super Cool

Blaxploitation film star Pam Grier narrates the hour-long documentary about music from legends Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, and Bobby Womack, among many others, who were an essential element of these movies’ success and of their influence on contemporary filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino. As BBC notes, the unfortunately named genre, “blaxploitation,” embodies films that emerged in the ’70s featuring all-black casts, great soul, R&B, and jazzy soundtracks.

The Beatles: Here, There, and Everywhere

London-based American music journalist Paul Gambaccini, host of his own Saturday afternoon BBC 2 show featuring current pop, narrates this great two-hour program about how the Beatles created their musical magic. The music is enhanced with great comments from the likes of super-producer Rick Rubin, Jeff Lynne of ELO, Tom Petty, and Heart’s Nancy Wilson. One particularly great story comes from Brian Wilson who recalls his ecstatic reaction the first time he heard George Harrison’s sitar on “Norwegian Wood.”

Monty Python’s Wonderful World of Sound

Celebrating the great comedy troupe’s 40th anniversary, this documentary focuses on their classic comedy albums. It shows how Python succeeded in translating their manic humor to vinyl in the days before home video existed. Comments from all the Pythons, except John Cleese and the late Graham Chapman, are featured, as well as insights about Python music from cohort, and ex-Bonzo Dog Band member, Neil Innes.

Brass Britain

Celebrating one of Britain’s most beloved musical institutions-prominently featured in the Ewan McGregor movie Brassed Off-this four-part series chronicles the history of the British brass band. It also brilliantly describes national brass band competitions, followed with as much fervor in the UK as American Idol is followed here. It also shows how these bands helped unite the British in times of national crisis.

These documentaries can be heard anytime via podcast, but there is a catch. They are available for only one week after their original broadcast, so you must check regularly to see what’s currently available. The website is bbc.co.uk/radio2/programmes/formats/documentaries. BBC 2’s homepage is bbc.co.uk/radio2 to access all station programming and program schedules. Since BBC is public broadcasting, the programs are presented commercial-free.

NOW HEAR THESE

Paul Cebar, One Little Light On

Most people know veteran Milwaukee musician Paul Cebar as the front man for Paul Cebar and Tomorrow Sound (formerly Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans). But for those lucky enough to see him perform solo opening for acts like Nick Lowe have seen a different Cebar-a balladeer accompanied only by his acoustic guitar. This is what you get on his new CD. Mostly composed of originals sprinkled with choice covers, including musical cohort John Sieger’s “I Painted Your Face,” which serves as the album’s closing track), this CD perfectly captures the essence of the solo Cebar and is a most welcome addition to Paul’s recorded catalog.

CD available at cdbaby.com.

The Exotics, Lost Album

Keeping alive the spirit of great instrumental bands like the Ventures, the Exotics were a mainstay of the Milwaukee music scene in the 90s. After a too-lengthy hiatus, the band returned in 2009, capped by an appearance on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion radio show and the release of this CD.

Presented in “Surfonic sound,” the album is comprised of tracks recorded for a 90s release but never released. It wound up being shelved until now. I say, better late than never! Featuring mostly band originals plus some nifty covers (the Ventures’ “Lonely Girl” along with Herb Alpert & the TJB’s “Whipped Cream,” best known as the theme from the old Dating Game TV series), this cool disc will help get your party started.

You can get the CD at Bay View’s own Rush Mor Records.

‘S Wonderful: The Music of George Gershwin, Marvin Hamlisch and the Milwaukee Symphony Pops and pianist Kevin Cole, Feb. 5-7, Marcus Center

Last season MSO Pops conductor Hamlisch presented a tribute to legendary American composer Richard Rodgers that was one of the year’s great musical highlights. Now, the award-winning composer turns his attention to another American musical icon, George Gershwin, for a program not to be missed. Along with a generous serving of Gershwin standards like “Embraceable You” and “Summertime,” pianist Cole is also scheduled to join in on the festivities. Is a performance of the immortal Rhapsody in Blue in the cards?

Tickets and info available at mso.org, or call Luther, Al or Mike at (414) 291-7605.

Sound Opinions Live, February 19, Pabst Theatre

Chicago rock journalists Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot host the long-running nationally syndicated radio program Sound Opinions, heard locally on RadioMilwaukee 88.9 FM. They are to pop music what Siskel and Ebert were to movies, providing thoughtful discourse and interviews about the current music scene. The duo brings their show to the Pabst for a special Milwaukee presentation, in which they’ll discuss rock music in the movies, featuring film clips interspersed throughout the evening. Tickets are $10, about the price of most first-run flicks these days, and this show is likely to be more enjoyable.

Tickets and info available at pabsttheatre.org or call (414) 286-3663.

Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with violinist Frank Almond, guest conductor Nicholas McGegan and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, February 18-21, Marcus Center

How’s this for an unbeatable combination: MSO’s popular concertmaster Almond as soloist with conductor McGegan, one of the MSO’s most popular guest conductors ever with both musicians and audiences, and the magnificent MSO performing one of the most beloved works in the classical oeuvre? Throw in Schubert’s 4th Symphony, and you have the makings of the one of the best classical music evenings this year. And make sure you attend either the “conversations” performance on the 18th or the pre-concert talk beginning an hour before the other performances during which the witty English conductor McGegan will be holding court.

Tickets and info available at mso.org or call (414) 291-7605.

Various Artists, Hope for Haiti Now

In case you missed the telethon event on January 22nd, or would like to get the musical performances from the program, they are now available for download by going to iTunes.com/Haiti. You can get the entire collection for $7.99. While all the performances are great, particular standouts include Stevie Wonder’s emotional take on “Bridge Over Troubled Water;” equally emotional renditions of “I’ll Stand by You” by Shakira and “Let It Be” by Jennifer Hudson; Sting’s driving acoustic take on the Police classic “Driven to Tears” featuring Chris Botti on trumpet; John Legend’s charged rendition of “Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child;” Madonna’s “Like A Prayer” complete with gospel choir; and the new song “Stranded” featuring Jay-Z, Rhianna, Bono, and the Edge. Also included are songs from Coldplay and Dave Matthews teaming up with Neil Young, among many others. I’d say that was well worth the price. And by the way, all proceeds from download sales will be given to Haitian relief.