Ginger Radio Hour

[Video by N. Chuk]

Show Notes July 2, 2024

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Theme: Greene County Wanderer.

It's that time of year when a peacock known as the Greene County Wanderer makes his way around the Catskills looking for a friend and mate. We recently saw him in Cairo and called the authorities to see if someone was missing a peacock — turns out there's a decade-long story here. Sherry from Dog Control filled us in. Plus, songs for all the lonely birds and people out there.

Playlist:

Little Jimmy Scott “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” Album: The Best of Little Jimmy Scott 2012

Dionne Warwick “Walk On By” Album: Make Way for Dionne Warwick 1964

Gilbert O'Sullivan “Alone Again (Naturally)” Album: Alone Again (Naturally) 1972

Depeche Mode “Enjoy the Silence” Album: Violator 1990

Roy Orbison “Crying” Album: The Essential Roy Orbison 2006

Prince “Still Waiting” Album: Prince 1979

PJ Harvey & Ben Waters “Lonely Avenue” 2011

Nina Simone “I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good” Album: Nina Simone Sings Ellington 2015

Nick Drake “Fly” Album: Bryter Layter 1971

Show Notes June 18, 2024

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Theme: News from the meadow.

Leslie T. Sharpe is a naturalist, writer, and good friend. She joined the show live from the Great Western Catskills to tell us all about the critters in her meadow and program on “Animal Adaptations” at John Burroughs Woodchuck Lodge in July. Her 2017 book, The Quarry Fox and Other Critters of the Wild Catskills, became an instant classic.

Playlist:

Still House Plants “no sleep deep risk” Album: If I don't make it, I love u 2024

André 3000 “Ninety Three 'Til Infinity And Beyoncé” Album: New Blue Sun 2023

Low with tomandandy “Half Light” Album: Music from the Motion Picture The Mothman Prophecies 2002

Keith Jarrett “C.P.E. Bach: Württemberg Sonatas feat. Sonata 4 in B-Flat Major” Album: C.P.E. Bach: Württemberg Sonatas 2023

Show Notes May 21, 2024

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Theme: Coverage.

An all-music session focusing on tremendous covers of songs by Prince, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, John Prine, and more.

Playlist:

Richard Thompson “Kiss” Album: 1000 Years of Popular Music 2003

Dump (James McNew) “1999” Album: That Skinny Motherfucker With The High Voice? 2015

Nina Simone “You Better Know It”

Rafael Toral “Take The Train” Album: Spectral Evolution 2024

Jeff & Laura “Ambulance Blues” Album: Still Young 2019

Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris “After the Gold Rush” Album: Trio II 1999

Björk “The Boho Dance” Album: A Tribute to Joni Mitchell 2007

Björk “Like Someone in Love” Album: Debut 1993

John Cale “She Doesn't Live Here Anymore” Album: Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo 2004

Johnny Cash “Hurt” Album: American IV: The Man Comes Around 2002

Justin Vernon “Bruised Orange (Chan of Sorrow)” Album: Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine 2016

Show Notes May 7, 2024

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Theme: Forage flow.

Master forager Tama Matsuoka Wong has just published Into the Weeds: How to Garden Like a Forager. The book is definitely a field guide for how to forage and identify local plants, but it's also a meditation and manual for a life well-lived. Our conversation focuses on plants, food, the "middle ground", wandering, and pawpaws. 

Playlist:

The Children's Hour “Dance With Me” Album: Going Home 2024

Makaya McCraven “Sunset” Album: Deciphering The Message 2021

Sam Gendel/Sam Wilkes "Sweet Fire" Album: The Doober 2024

Jeff & Laura "After the Gold Rush" Album: Still Young 2019

Neil Young "Love Earth" Album: World Record 2022

John Prine "Sour Grapes" Album: Diamonds in the Rough 1972

John Prine "Summer's End" Album: The Tree Of Forgiveness 2018

Alice Coltrane "Er Ra" Album: The Ecstatic Music Of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda 2017

Lou Reed "Hudson River Wind" Album: Hudson River Wind Meditations 2007

Being Dead "Last Living Buffalo" Album: When Horses Would Run 2023

Jessica Pratt "Life Is" Album: Here in the Pitch 2024

Show Notes April 16, 2024

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Theme: Shoesies.

Musician and artist Michael Hurley is a legend. He calls the songs he plays "jazz-hyped blues and country and western music." And that music — his singing and playing — are truly singular. We have a conversation about music-making, songwriting, Bo Diddley, and more.

Hurley playlist:

Knocko the Monk

When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano

I Like My Wine

Michigan Water Blues

Jocko's Lament

Hoot Owls

The Begger's Terms

Se Fue en la Noche

Blondes and Redheads

Hurley influences (featured):

Lead Belly “Midnight Special”

Show Notes April 2, 2024

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Theme: Covers.

Playlist:

Beyoncé “Jolene”

The White Stripes "Jolene"

Pedal Steel Noah "Just Like Heaven"

Johnny Cash with Nick Cave "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"

Karen O & Willie Nelson "Under Pressure"

Nina Simone “Sign O' The Times"

Montys Loco “Paisley Park”

Holly Humberstone “I Would Die 4 U"

Meshell Ndegeocello "Sometimes It Snows In April"

Sophie Zelmani “Most Of The Time"

Caetano Veloso “Jokerman"

Show Notes March 19, 2024

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Theme: Spring equinox.

The spring (aka vernal) equinox occurred at 11:06 pm ET on March 19th. This is music to mark the occasion when night and day are roughly the same. 

Playlist (Day):

Cowboy Sadness “Willow” Album: Selected Jambient Works, Vol. 1 2024

The Children's Hour “Rainbow” Album: Going Home 2024

Sea Lions “Beautiful Day” Album: Lets Groove 2009

Four Tet “So Blue” Album: Three 2024

Being Dead “Daydream” Album: When Horses Would Run 2023

Low "Sunshine" Album: I Could Live In Hope 1994

Interlude:

John Coltrane "Equinox" Album: Coltrane's Sound 1964

Playlist (Night):

Bob Dylan “On A Night Like This” Album: Planet Waves 1974

Michael Hurley "Se Fue en la Noche" Album: The Time of the Foxgloves 2021

PJ Harvey "Lwonesome Tonight" Album: I Inside the Old Year Dying 2023

The Replacements with Tom Waits “We Know The Night” Album: Dead Man's Pop 2019

Gil Scott-Heron & Makaya McCraven “Where Did the Night Go” Album: We're New Again: A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven 2020

Show Notes March 5, 2024

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Theme: Water is everywhere.

A recent Supreme Court ruling has huge implications for wetlands across the country. So I talked about water and beavers with writer Leila Philip. She wrote the definitive book about the beaver and its role in shaping the Hudson Valley and North America — Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America. 

Playlist:

Michael Hurley “Little Blue River” Album: The Time of the Foxgloves 2021

Florist “Duet for Guitar and Rain” Album: Florist 2022

Helado Negro “Colores Del Mar” Album: PHASOR 2024

Mariah Carey “Thirsty” Album: Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse 2014

Benjamin Clementine “Riverman (Live on BBC2)” Album: At Least For Now 2016

Bob Dylan "Watching the River Flow" Album: Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume II 1971

Leon Russell "Watching the River Flow" Album: Tangled Up in Blues: Songs of Bob Dylan 1994

Jackie Rae Daniels “Watching the River Flow” Album: Dreams Don't Decay: Jackie Rae Daniels Plays Bob Dylan 2022

Show Notes February 20, 2024

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Theme: American songbook.

Featuring a conversation with Maria Manhattan, host of The Hudson Café, about radio and community. Plus: a tribute to Bob Chuk and his music.

Playlist:

Nina Simone “Solitude”

Willie Nelson "Someone To Watch Over Me"

Sam Sadigursky featuring Nathan Koci “Three Arrows”

Dinah Washington "TV Is The Thing This Year"

Eugenia Marzant featuring JImmy Scatuccio “Derecho de Mujer”

Bob Chuk with a medley on the accordion

Bob Chuk on the organ

Tosca Tango Orchestra “Lastima Grande”

Show Notes February 6, 2024

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Theme: "Serving the humanities."

Musician and artist Lonnie Holley turned 74 in February — he's been making art and music for 5 decades now. Here's part two of my conversation with him about music, teaching and tools, space, and art. Plus, a world premiere remix collab with musician, journalist, writer, and podcaster Manny Fidel.

Lonnie Holley Pt. 2 Playlist:

“I Am A Part Of The Wonder” Album: Oh Me Oh My 2023

“There Was Always Water” Album: MITH 2018

“Earth Will Be There” Album: Oh Me Oh My 2023

“How Far Is Spaced-Out?” Album: MITH 2018

"Manny x Lonnie" Music and production by Manny Fidel 2024

“Kindness Will Follow Your Tears” Album: Oh Me Oh My 2023

Show Notes January 16, 2024

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Theme: Improvisational creativity.

Musician and artist Lonnie Holley has devoted his life to improvisational creativity. And his newest album, "Oh Me Oh My," is testament to that vision. Our conversation focused on his art, music, teaching, and Mother Universe.

Lonnie Holley Playlist:

“Oh Me Oh My” Album: Oh Me Oh My 2023

“Sometimes I Wanna Dance” Album: MITH 2018

“Six Space Shuttles and 144,000 Elephants” Album: Keeping A Record Of It 2013

"Here I Stand Knocking at Your Door” Album: Just Before Music 2012

“I Can't Hush” Album: Oh Me Oh My 2023

“None Of Us Have But A Little While” Album: Oh Me Oh My 2023

“Future Children” Album: Oh Me Oh My 2023

Show Notes January 2, 2024

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Theme: Vinyl extravaganza.

Playlist:

The Beach Boys “Pet Sounds” Album: Pet Sounds 1966

Madlib “Slim's Return” Album: Shades of Blue 2003

Ry Cooder & Manuel Galbán "Mambo Sinuendo” Album: Mambo Sinuendo 2003

Leni Okehu and His Surfboarders Album: Hawaiian Holiday 1959

Wah Wah Watson "Bubbles" Album: Elementary 1976

Asoka "1975" Album: Asoka 1971

Keith Jarrett "Starbright" Album: Facing You 1972

Duke Ellington "Laying On Mellow" Album: Duke Ellington’s 70th Birthday Concert (Recorded Live in England) 1969

Alice Coltrane "Gospel Trane" Album: A Monastic Trio 1968

Billie Holiday "Good Morning Heartache" Album: 16 Classic Tracks 1982

Richie Havens “Just Like A Woman” Album: Mixed Bag 1968

Prince & The Revolution "Paisley Park" Album: Around The World In A Day 1985

Fugees “Ready Or Not” Album: The Score 1996

[Playlist from Radiant Point radio show.]

Show Notes December 19, 2023

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Theme: Best songs of 2023.

Nick and Lysa host Radiant Point on WGXC 90.7 FM — it's a monthly show featuring two hours of new music across all genres. They're musicians, partners, friends and a lot of fun. We hung out in the studio together as they ran through their top songs from this year. 

Playlist:

Yo La Tengo “This Stupid World”

Tengger “PANAPTU”

Clarissa Bitar & Nabil Bitar "Nasak"

Chief Adjuah “Blood Calls Blood”

Night Court “Little Darkness”

Home Front “Faded State"

Etran de L'Aïr "Nak Deranine"

Noname "namesake"

[A thank you note sent to the Beacon Prison Books Project.]

Show Notes December 5, 2023

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Theme: Books.

The Beacon Prison Books Project gets free books to incarcerated people across New York. The project was founded and bloomed at Binnacle Books in Beacon in 2019 and has since mailed out 3,000+ books. Cofounder Mark Trecka and Michal Mart, one of the lead organizers of the project, talk about the program and how anyone can donate and help. Hudson Valley partners include Blackbird Infoshop, Half Moon Books, Oblong Books, Rough Draft Bar & Books, and World's End Comics.

Playlist:

Sufjan Stevens “A Running Start” Album: Javelin 2023

SQÜRL & Marc Ribot "Garden of Glass Flowers” Album: Silver Haze 2023

Jaimie Branch "birds of paradise" Album: FLY or DIE II: bird dogs of paradise 2023

Björk and Rosalía “Oral” 2023

Janelle Monáe feat. Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 "Float" 2023

Lonnie Holley & Sharon Van Etten "None Of Us Have But A Little While" Album: Oh Me Oh My 2023

Four Tet "Three Drums" 2023

Temps “fitinthiscostume” Album: AFTER PARTY EP 2023

Aesop Rock “On Failure" Album: Integrated Tech Solutions 2023

Show Notes November 21, 2023

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Theme: Seeds.

Nkoula Badila works with the earth and the community in and around Hudson, NY. She founded Grow Black Hudson a few years ago and still works at it day-to-day, with a focus on food and people. Badila and I talk about growing your own food, the Hudson Valley, making community, and her art and music.

Playlist:

Obongjayar “Still Sun” Album: Which Way is Forward? 2020

Lady Moon & the Eclipse “Le Petit Prince, Pt. 1” Album: Journey to the Cosmic Soul 2020

Lady Moon & the Eclipse “Shine” Album: Journey to the Cosmic Soul 2020

Lady Moon & the Eclipse “Spiritual” Album: Journey to the Cosmic Soul 2020

Nkodia “NSCORPIO” Album: NZODIAK 2022

Nkodia “NARIES” Album: NZODIAK 2022

Show Notes November 7, 2023

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Theme: Fox and Bear.

Miriam Körner is an illustrator and author of the new book Fox and Bear. It's a modern fable about progress, production, the natural world, and quiet reflection. Körner talks about the dynamic and intricate dioramas she created to build out the world of Fox and Bear as well as the essential existential questions her book raises. Plus, broadcaster, producer, and voiceover actor Philip Grant reads an excerpt from the book.

Playlist:

Björk “Overture” Album: Selmasongs: Music from the Motion Picture "Dancer in the Dark" 2009

Björk "New World" Album: Selmasongs: Music from the Motion Picture "Dancer in the Dark" 2009

amaarae "Reckless & Sweet" Album: Fountain Baby 2023

Primus “Hello Wonkites” Album: Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble 2014

Hiroshi Yoshimura “Green shower” Album: Surround 1986

Neil Young "Love Earth" Album: World Record 2022

Lonnie Holley & Bon Iver “Kindness Will Follow Your Tears” Album: Oh Me Oh My 2023

Show Notes October 17, 2023

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Theme: eteam.

Artist duo eteam (Franzy Lamprecht and Hajoe Moderegger) have a new video installation Our Non-Understanding of Everything at CREATE gallery in Catskill. The exhibit "invites us to consider the emotional and rational relationships we have with our personal tech devices." Franzy and Hajoe chat with me and media theorist Natasha Chuk about art-making, collaboration, and working with animals and insects in the wild. 

Playlist:

Sufjan Stevens “Everything That Rises” Album: Javelin 2023

Blonde Redhead “Via Savona” Album: Sit Down for Dinner 2023

Hiroshi Yoshimura “Time after time” Album: Surround 1986

Hiroshi Yoshimura “Something blue” Album: Surround 1986