Joey Alexander’s new album ‘Origin’ was featured as the second album on NPR’s May 20th edition of New Music Friday. Here’s what they had to say:

“He has always been phenomenal…” — Christina Lee for NPR Music

“…it’s a true coming of age for Joey. It’s such a mature sound…” — Christina Lee for NPR Music

“…what we’re hearing right now, ‘Remembering,’ there’s just such a sense of pensiveness about it that feels really different from the past albums that he’s put out. I feel like he’s really putting himself more and more into his sound.” — Christina Lee for NPR Music

“I think ’Summer Rising’ is going to be another one for playlists for the summer.” — Christina Lee for NPR Music

“I can’t believe this is his first record of all original material, because it is so beautifully conceived and so completely realized. As you say, if he wants the record to lift people, it really does take you to a wonderful place.” — Robin Hilton for NPR Music

Hear the full feature on NPR

Joey Alexander on TKA

Halfway through Bill Charlap’s early set at Birdland on Friday night, the great pianist played, “You’re All the World to Me.” He then picked up the mic, turned around to face the crowd, and marveled at the way Fred Astaire introduced the song in the 1951 movie musical “Royal Wedding.” 

This is the classic number in which the legendary song-and-dance man literally defies gravity by strutting, whirling, tapping, and pirouetting all over the walls and ceiling of a room. Astaire, Mr. Charlap explained, used a devilishly clever bit of “practical effects” to achieve this feat of movie magic. 

After hearing this pianist and his amazing Trio for 25 years now, I still can’t figure how he does it — how Mr. Charlap makes his own magic happen.

“You’re All the World to Me,” which composer Burton Lane had repurposed from an earlier song by virtue of a new lyric by Alan Jay Lerner, is also a highpoint of Mr. Charlap’s latest album, “Street of Dreams.” Mr. Charlap starts slowly, tentatively, with the verse, rendering it in a hesitating, probing fashion as if he were looking for an answer, or seeking a pathway. His confidence increases when he arrives at the melody — it’s like he’s now found his musical compass — and by the time he completes a full chorus of the tune, he is ready to improvise and tear down the highway with gusto. 

More literally, he starts defying gravity in his own way, even as Astaire did, teleporting across the globe. He’s playing the tune but is driven by the lyric, which moves from “Paris in April and May” and then to “New York on a silvery day” in just two lines, and next, just as swiftly, transports us to the Swiss Alps and Loch Lomond before we’re even 16 bars into it.

Could it be that this mixing of moods — using tempo as an indicator — is a key part of Mr. Charlap’s magical musical toolkit? He faked us out several times at Birdland, as in the opener, which began with the bouncy intro to “Squeeze Me (But Don’t Tease Me),” with rumbling bass notes, but then followed with an understated reading of “What Is this Thing Called Love?” It was swinging but spare, with lots of open spaces along the way. 

Read the full article on The New York Sun

Bill Charlap on TKA

Taylor Rae’s recent from NPR’s Mountain Stage will be broadcast to over 280 NPR stations starting this Friday, May 13th, 2022. See below for local airtimes and stations.

Singer/songwriter Taylor Rae walks through life projecting a calm self-awareness. And, while there is an aura of purposeful intent in every stride she takes, every note she sings and every chord she plays, there is also a sense of natural ease in every action. This is some still water – and it runs deep.

It all began in California with Taylor Rae Vencill’s birth in Santa Cruz. Raised in nearby Ben Lomond, her eclectic musical journey initially took her from the Central Coast to Los Angeles. Taylor played legendary venues Moe’s Alley, Kuumbwa Jazz, the Catalyst and Hotel Cafe, and earned spots at popular area festivals, including DIO Fest (Boulder Creek) and Redwood Mountain Faire (Felton).

In 2017, Taylor won Santa Cruz NEXTies Musician of the Year Award and the next year she struck out for Texas, landing in the musical wonderland of Austin. Since then, Taylor has performed at the legendary Austin nightspot Stubb’s second stage, Nashville’s renowned Bluebird Café, Lexington’s The Lyric Theatre and the Asheville, NC Isis Music Hall. She has shared the stage with a variety of artists including Brandy Clark, The Stone Foxes, Kristian Bush and Reggae musician Mike Love.

Check local airtimes and stations on NPR

Taylor Rae on TKA