After Hours featuring Halie Loren, air date Jan. 26, 2022

On January 25, 2022 By Charles BinghamIn composer, Featured guest, Songwriter, VocalsLeave a comment

Join me for After Hours Alaska at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 26, on KRBD public radio in Ketchikan, Alaska, as I’m joined in conversation with jazz vocalist and former Alaskan Halie Loren.

Halie is an international, award-winning jazz singer/songwriter. This Oregon-based artist brings a fresh and original perspective to time-honored musical paths, channeling her innate understanding of connectedness across musical boundaries to forge bonds with diverse audiences in North America, Asia, and Europe.

Nature, and the natural world, has always featured significantly in Loren’s songwriting. As a child growing up in Alaska, and then as an adult in the Pacific Northwest, her wonder and gratitude for the gifts of the great outdoors have inspired a reverence and communion she brings forth in song.

Halie’s began her career as something of a prodigy at age 13, when she won a songwriting contest, gaining national attention. Before she was 19, she did a stint in Nashville, soaking up that city’s ancestry of great American songwriting. She recorded her first album at 20, and from there she was off and running, recording successive albums that garnered awards, Billboard recognition and an international following that has sent her touring around the globe, including stops in Korea, Africa, Japan, Canada and the Caribbean, to name a few locations. Her records regularly make “best of” lists, and her sublime talents as a vocalist are attested to by several albums hitting the No. 1 slot on Canadian and Japanese jazz charts.

Considering such success, it would have been understandable for Loren to toe the line and stick to the known path with her new album, From the Wild Sky. Instead she chose to take a leap of faith, forging ahead with a vision that encompassed the full complement of her compositional talents. Funding her latest efforts through fan pledges to a Kickstarter campaign, she teamed up with producer Troy Miller (Gregory Porter, Laura Mvula, Jamie Cullum) and a handful of all-star musicians, including Femi Temowo, Ben Williams, Michael Olatuja, Nathan Schram, Andrew Yee, and Becca Stevens (featured on the track “Wild Birds”).

Click this link to go to Halie’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Ron Wilkins, air date Nov. 24, 2021

On November 22, 2021 By Charles BinghamIn Band leader, educator, Euphonium, Featured guest, Low brass, Songwriter, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, VocalsLeave a comment

Join me for After Hours Alaska at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24, on KRBD public radio in Ketchikan, Alaska, as I’m joined in conversation with New York-based musician Ron Wilkins.

Ron has been performing on tenor and bass trombones, euphonium, tuba, bass trumpet, and vocals for over forty years. He has performed at the highest levels touring around the world with his own groups, as well as with other premiere artists. Ron also has an extensive background in music education.

Ron is a member of the Birdland Big Band, Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, and runs his own New York City big band, alongside trombonist Rebecca Patterson, which features their writing and includes some of New York City’s premiere musicians.

Click this link to go to Ron’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Dean Grech, air date Nov. 10, 2021

On November 8, 2021January 3, 2022 By Charles BinghamIn composer, Featured guest, Guitar, ProducerLeave a comment

Join me at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10, for After Hours Alaska on KRBD-Rainbird public radio in Ketchikan, Alaska, as I’m joined in conversation with jazz guitarist, composer boca and producer Dean Grech.

As with many artists of his caliber, Grech’s music career and his long road to success started at a young age. Grech began his devotion to music and guitar at age 7. He played his first paying gig at age 11. His dedication only increased when he took lessons from world-renowned classical guitarist, and Decca recording artist, Rey Delatorre, at the age of 14.

With the advanced technique that comes with classical training, Dean later found his niche playing jazz and emulating guitarists who would become Grech’s guide to improv in the years to come. His interest started with a gift. Grech’s jazz influence can be traced back to a friend of the family who gave him a stack of records. In that stack, Grech found “Kaleidoscope” by Johnny Smith and “Boss Guitar” by Wes Montgomery. The passion was placed. The sounds of these two guitar players haunted Grech relentlessly from that point on. Dean is extremely talented and well versed in many facets of music.

Click here to visit Dean’s personal website. Click here to listen to this episode of After Hours.

After Hours featuring Dale Curtis, air date Oct. 20, 2021

On October 20, 2021October 31, 2021 By Charles BinghamIn Featured guest, TrumpetLeave a comment

Join me at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 20, with my very special guest trumpet player and Ketchikan’s own, Dale Curtis, on After Hours Alaska on KRBD-Rainbird Radio in Ketchikan, Alaska. This show also will air from 8-10 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2, on KCAW-Raven Radio in Sitka.

I’ll be featuring his “Bridge to Nowhere” album that features his talented quintet. We will dive into his music education experience and why he thinks it’s vital for kids to have this valuable education today. We will also discuss his professional music career which he has been immersed in from many different angles.

You won’t want to miss this special edition of After Hours on KRBD in Ketchikan, which I like to call the island of unexpected artists.

Click here to visit Dale’s personal profile on Facebook.

After Hours featuring Falkner Evans, air date Aug. 18, 2021

On August 16, 2021 By Charles BinghamIn composer, Featured guest, Keyboards, PianoLeave a comment

Please join me for After Hours as I’m joined in conversation with jazz pianist/composer Falkner Evans.

This episode will air at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 18, on KRBD in Ketchikan, Alaska. This show is tentatively set to re-broadcast at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 20, on KSTK in Wrangell, and at 10 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 23, on KCAW in Sitka.

Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Falkner is a New York-based pianist with an eclectic musical background. A third cousin to iconic author William Faulkner, Evans grew up on classic 60s rock and R&B before getting hooked on jazz in high school. After touring for four years with the Grammy-winning western swing band Asleep at the Wheel, he moved to New York City in 1985.

“Evans is understated, measured and methodical. Yet his way of elaborating a thematic structure…creates its own subtle surprises. He makes you listen carefully to discover the complexities that he configures beneath his music’s attractive but subdued surface.”
— Thomas Conrad, Jazz Times

Missed the show? Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Falkner Evans, originally broadcast on Aug. 18, 2021. Click here to visit Falkner’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Douyé, air date Aug. 11, 2021

On August 10, 2021 By Charles BinghamIn Featured guest, Songwriter, VocalsLeave a comment

Join me for After Hours at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11, on KRBD of Ketchikan, Alaska, as I’m joined in conversation with Nigerian-born jazz artist Douyé. This show is tentatively set to broadcast at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 13, on KSTK in Wrangell, and will air at 10 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 16, on KCAW in Sitka.

Douyé was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and regularly spent her summers in England. She was in a church choir in Africa when she was quite young and often sang along with recordings from her father’s record collection.

Douyé also wrote poems and songs as she grew up. Early on she knew that singing was going to be her lifelong love. In her pursuit of singing, she moved to Los Angeles to attend the Musicians Institute as a vocal major.

Don’t miss this exciting soulful interview.

Missed the show? Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Douyé, originally broadcast on Aug. 11, 2021. Click here to visit Douyé’s personal website.

After Hours Special featuring Austin Hays, air date July 28, 2021

On July 28, 2021August 9, 2021 By Charles BinghamIn Arranger, composer, Drums, Featured guest, Keyboards, Piano, Producer, VocalsLeave a comment

Please accompany me for a very special edition of After Hours as I’m joined in musical conversation with Ketchikan’s own drummer, composer, arranger, producer, pianist and singer Austin Hays as we explore making music for video games, the connection between music and math, and exploring bipolar through music.

Tune into this exclusive interview at 9 p.m. on Wednesday evening, July 28, on KRBD Rainbird Radio in Ketchikan.

Born and raised in Ketchikan, Austin has been playing drums since age 5, and also has taken up piano, composing/arranging, and singing. Austin attended Cornish College of the Arts from 2008-13. He enjoys producing his own shows, and currently resides in his hometown as a private music teacher and working musician.

Missed the show? Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Austin Hays, originally broadcast on July 28, 2021. Click here to visit Austin’s Facebook page for his Austinato music studio, and click here for his SoundCloud music page.

After Hours featuring Luca Mundaca, air date March 31, 2021

On March 31, 2021 By Charles BinghamIn Brazilian jazz vocalist, Featured guest, Luca Mundaca, VocalsLeave a comment

Join me for the March 31, 2021, edition of After Hours on KRBD Rainbird Radio (and later on KSTK and KCAW Raven Radio) as I’m joined in conversation with Brazilian jazz vocalist Luca Mundaca.

A gifted singer and songwriter, Luca’s music is a glorious blend of her native Brazil with a touch of downtown New York. She mines deep melodic roots in her country’s heritage, creating musical gems that she polishes with the lightest of touches.

To her credit, Luca has won an Independent Music Award in the World Fusion category as well as placing third in the International Songwriting Competition, World Music category.

In addition to her own albums, Luca’s work has been featured on two compilations distributed by Putumayo World Music: Brazilian Lounge and Women of the World: Acoustic. Her music has been featured in movies including End of Watch, The Visitor, Kissing Paris, and television shows such as HBO series Californication, ABC show Mistresses, and Brazilian telenovela TiTiTi.

“Luca Mundaca is a classic example of a talent deserving wider recognition. Blessed with a sweetly engaging sound, impressive musicality and the rhythmic passion of heart Brazilian roots, she is a talent whose song and singing should be far more widely heard” — Don Heckman, LA Times music critic.

Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Luca Mundaca, originally broadcast on March 31, 2021. Click here to visit Luca’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Steve Hass, air date March 17, 2021

On March 17, 2021March 18, 2021 By Charles BinghamIn Drums, Drums/Percussion, Featured guestLeave a comment

Join me for the March 17, 2021, edition of After Hours on KRBD Rainbird Radio (and later on KSTK and KCAW Raven Radio) as I’m joined in conversation with jazz drummer Steve Hass.

Receiving a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Steve was inspired enough to learn every style of music he could, including checking out the music from Cuba, Africa, India, and the Middle East. Steve continues this philosophy today from jazz to hip-hop, from world to rock all the while traveling around the world offering a vast musical knowledge originality and genuine feel within every rhythm he creates.

In 2003 Steve began touring and recording with multiple Grammy winners and Atlantic recording artists, The Manhattan Transfer. He remains the first-call drummer for The Manhattan Transfer, and works with them as his schedule permits. He is the first touring drummer in the history of the band to actually record with them.

Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Steve Hass, originally broadcast on March 17, 2021. Click here to visit Steve’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Cyrille Aimée, air date March 10, 2021

On March 10, 2021March 18, 2021 By Charles BinghamIn Actor/Actress, Featured guest, VocalsLeave a comment

Join me for the March 10, 2021, edition of After Hours on KRBD Rainbird Radio (and later on KSTK and KCAW Raven Radio) as I’m joined in conversation with French jazz vocalist Cyrille Aimée.

Improvisation is not just a technique for Grammy-nominated artist Cyrille Aimée, it’s a way of life. The acclaimed vocalist ventured from singing on street corners in Europe to dazzling audiences at the world’s most prestigious jazz festivals; from sneaking out to sing in gypsy encampments in her native France to acting on Broadway; from braving the notoriously tough audiences at New York’s Apollo Theatre to being called a “rising star in the galaxy of jazz singers” by The New York Times.

Among countless accolades, Aimée won the Montreux Jazz Festival Vocal Competition and the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. As an actress, Aimée co-starred with Bernadette Peters in a Stephen Sondheim tribute at New York’s City Center which inspired her to dig deeper into Sondheim’s repertoire, resulting in her fourth and most recent album, Move On: A Sondheim Adventure. She’s shared her story via master classes, a TEDx talk, and a few addresses at the Conference on World Affairs.

Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Cyrille Aimée, originally broadcast on March 10, 2021. Click here to visit Cyrille’s personal website.