The Sounds of Brazil!: Saturdays, 10 pm - midnight
The Smooth Jazz Sunday Brunch: 9 am - 2 pm (beginning June 15th, 2008)
Personality Contacts
Want to learn more about Brazilian jazz? I publish a free newsletter. Visit my website - connectbrazil dot com!
Personality Bio
Many of you also know me as the host of The Sounds of Brazil. My first trip to Brazil was in 1987 - to Rio de Janeiro, and as vacations go, it was a life-changing experience. I returned home with lots of memories and suitcases filled Brazilian albums. A few years (and several return trips) later, the 'Brazilian bug' had really bitten and I started my radio show, The Sounds of Brazil. If you haven’t heard it yet – please check it out sometime – I think you’ll love it!
Here’s a little bit more about me:
Born in: Saint Paul, MN
What’s in my mp3 player: Diana Krall, Grover Washington, Jr., Boney James, Bebel Gilberto, Rick Braun, Marcos Ariel, Luciana Souza, Charles Earland, Zizi Possi, Singers Unlimited with Oscar Peterson, Nick Colionne, Maynard Ferguson.
Currently reading: ‘The Looming Tower' by Lawrence Wright.
Favorite New Smooth Jazz song: I like Al Green's 'Stay With Me (By The Sea)'.
Favorite Smooth Jazz memory: Sitting in with Torcuato Mariano at his studio in Rio de Janeiro during a late-night recording session for ‘Ocean Way’.
Hobbies: Cooking (Italian), learning Portuguese (forever…) and following open-wheel racing – Champ Car and Formula One.
Desert Island Disc: What? Just one? It would have to be the ‘Getz/Gilberto’ album by Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto. Hands down.
You might be surprised to know that: I very nearly became a jazz saxophonist after finishing my college days.
Favorite Place in Rio: On a side street, just a few blocks off the beach in the middle of Copacabana, you’ll find a little café restaurant called Caravel. They make the best pizzas. Be careful with the molho de pimenta – its really spicy, but good. And don’t freak out when you see Brazilians putting catsup on their slices!
Smooth Jazz is: Unique. And very cool!
Personality Links
I publish an e-letter on Brazilian jazz called 'The Weekender' and its free! You might even win a Brazilian CD. Sign up at Connectbrazil.com..
This Saturday Night at 10 on The Sounds of Brazil!
Wednesday 07-02-2008 9:05am CT
We’re counting down the final few days to the kick off of our year-long celebration for Bossa Nova’s 50th anniversary, so what better way to enjoy the long holiday weekend than with a star-spangled salute to Sergio Mendes?
Every song in this week’s show includes at least one former band member, songwriter, musical director, arranger or special guest affiliated with Sergio Mendes at some point in his career. With an RSVP list that reads like a musical 'who's who' for the hemisphere, this is a not-to-be-missed occasion, with several surprises in store. Don't miss it!
A cool breeze in Summer, and a warm wind when the weather turns cold - that's The Sounds of Brazil! Saturday nights at 10! Don’t miss it!
This Week On The Smooth Jazz Sunday Brunch!
Wednesday 07-02-2008 8:52am CT
Our long holiday weekend means plenty of time to kick back and enjoy life and this week, the Smooth Jazz Sunday Brunch will entertain with the music of one of the true musical legends of our time when we get together this Sunday morning at 9:00– singer and guitarist George Benson. With dozens of hit songs and eight Grammy awards, there's no doubt that Benson is one of the most versatile performers on the jazz scene today. In fact, his 'Breezin' album broke all the rules on its way to becoming the best selling jazz record - ever! That's a mark that would stand until Kenny G's rise to fame. You're invited to join me as I serve up generous helpings of his best – and our favorite – songs!
A Great Honor
Thursday 05-29-2008 10:57am CT
Although Rick O'Dell and I have been talking about the possibility of this announcement for a few weeks now, Robert Feder's column in today's (May 29th, 2008) column in the Chicago Sun-Times has 'let the cat out of bag', and both the cat and I couldn't be happier - or more excited!
Beginning Father's Day, Sunday June 15th, I'll be taking over as host of The Smooth Jazz Sunday Brunch here at WNUA FM. As I write these words, it seems to me that the phrase 'taking over' isn't the right way to describe it - Rick O'Dell has hosted this show for 21 years, beginning in 1987 at WCLR. It brought him to WNUA two years later and along the way The Sunday Brunch has helped to shape the essence of Smooth Jazz for all of us here in Chicago. It’s his baby, and when Rick asked me to continue this tradition - well, let me just say that I feel very blessed and privileged.
Here's Rick, from the Sun Times story: "For 21 years, it was an enormously fun and fulfilling project -- a seed which sprouted into a career in smooth jazz that I could never have imagined," he said. "How often does one get a chance to be in on the absolute ground floor of a new concept in radio and see it through to its fruition years down the road?"
My Brazilian guitar buddy Torcuato Mariano is already working on a new theme song for the show from his Rio de Janeiro studio, so I hope that you'll plan to join me for my Sunday Brunch debut on June 15th. 9:00 am. And if you have a favorite quote, words of wisdom or advice that your dad has passed along, why not share them with us as part of our special Father's Day contest? Just type keyword DAD for details.
And finally, thanks to Robert Feder for recounting the history of The Smooth Jazz Sunday Brunch. It reminds me yet again of how special and wonderful WNUA is as a radio station - how it fulfills our musical lives in so many ways. This is the station that has nurtured my dream, The Sounds of Brazil for 16 years and counting. And now this, too.
A Great Honor.
Concerts & Events for June!
Saturday 06-14-2008 5:42pm CT
Here's a handy guide to what's happening around town this month. Make the most of our hard-earned summer, Enjoy the music!
June 18th - WNUA’s ‘Jazz In The Park’ kicks off at Park Grill, Chicago, IL
June 21st – Boney James at Country Club Hills Theater, Country Club HillsIL
June 21st – Ramsey Lewis & Dave Brubeck at Ravinia, Highland Park, IL
June 22nd – Dianne Reeves & Manhattan Transfer at Ravinia, Highland Park, IL
June 23rd – Guitars & Saxes at Navy Pier’s Skyline Stage, Chicago, IL
June 27th – Boz Scaggs at Ravinia, Highland Park, IL
June 28th – Stevie Wonder at Taste of Chicago, IL
She knows why:
Monday 05-12-2008 9:29am CT
During a recent interview with a South African newspaper, singer Norah Jones waxed rhapsodically about how she wished she were swimming in the ocean off Brazil. "We did shows in Brazil and I remember how beautiful the beaches were," she told the newspaper.
© 2008