In the Spring of 2018, pianist Chris Pattishall played a solo lunchtime set that included some of his favorite tunes from Atlanta-born Jazz pianist/ arranger/composer Mary Lou Williams and Harlem Stride Piano Master Willie The Lion Smith. Active a both a pianist and composer, Chris Pattishall holds an ASCAP Young Jazz Composer’s Award, and participated…
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Savannah Music Festival LIVE is a weekly radio series produced for Georgia Public Broadcasting, which is now in its 16th season. The show has been licensed to public radio stations across the country and is available to stream online anytime. GPB Radio's weekly statewide broadcasts are on Sunday nights at 8 p.m. and WUGA on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 9 p.m
Savannah Music Festival 1640 – The Alt / Teada
On this episode we listen to selections from a co-bill of Irish bands from our 2023 festival, The Alt and Teada.
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1201- Seamus Egan Project
Multi-instrumentalist Seamus Egan has been a force in the Irish Traditional music scene since his beginnings as a teen prodigy. With his newly-formed Seamus Egan Project- featuring Moira Smiley on accordion, banjo and vocals, Owen Marshall on mandolin, Yann Falquet on guitar, and Joe Phillips on bass- they go back to the further reaches of…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1152- David Finckel, Wu Han, Philip Setzer Play Mendelssohn
As arguably the greatest child prodigy the history of Western music has ever known, Felix Mendelssohn produced works of extraordinary mastery throughout his entire life. His chamber music works, including the piano trios and cello sonata, continue to be favorites of musicians and audiences everywhere. In this recording from the Spring of 2012, cellist David…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1150- Dreamers’ Circus
Dreamers’ Circus- made up of Nikolaj Busk on piano and accordion, Rune Tonsgaard Sorensen on violin and Ale Carr on cittern- is a driving force in Nordic Folk music drawing inspiration from the deep folk traditions of Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, The Faroe Islands and Greenland. The trio’s adventurous approach, coupled with their outstanding musicianship, that…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1146 – Georgia Soul & Blues
To launch the Savannah Music Festival’s 30th season, we produced a concert entitled Georgia Soul & Blues in November of 2018 at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts. The bill featured soul man and Georgia Music hall of famer William Bell, whose Stax Records debut was released some 57 years earlier, alongside the 22-year old…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1143 – Sam Reider and the Human Hands
Sam Reider and the Human Hands are a Brooklyn-based collective of jazz and bluegrass musicians, led by San Francisco born pianist/accordionist/composer Sam Reider. On this episode of savannah music festival live we listen to the 2018 festival debut performance by Sam Reider and the Human Hands, which consisted of Reider on accordion and piano, Alex…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1134 – Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings
On April 2nd, 2017, Daniel Hope & Friends featuring Edgar Meyer and the Dover Quartet gave a stirring performance of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings in C Major, Opus 48. Hear it, along with Mozart’s Divertimento for Strings in D Major, K. 136, on this episode of Savannah Music Festival LIVE.
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1133 – LAU
The innovative British trio LAU has been at the forefront of the new folk boom in the UK since their formation in 2004. Consisting of master fiddler Aidan O’Rourke from Oban, accordion innovator Martin Green from East Anglia, England, and guitarist-singer Kris Drever from Orkney, LAU’s traditional music foundation is woven throughout inventive compositions. Hear…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1128 – The Hallelujah Train
In the spring of 2012, we produced an event that blended the power of southern gospel music with modern Americana called The Hallelujah Train, featuring Shreveport’s Zion Baptist Mass Choir led by Pastor Brady Blade, Sr. along with his sons Brady Jr. and Brian. The band was an all-star cast of American musicians, including Greg…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1126 – Molsky’s Mountain Drifters
In this episode, we listen to highlights from the SMF debut of Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, an old-time trio consisting of Bruce Molsky on fiddle and vocals, Alison de Groot on clawhammer banjo, and Stash Wyslouch on guitar and vocals.
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1122 – Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn
In the spring of 2018, Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn returned to the Savannah Music Festival to play this stirring set of Appalachian murder ballads, gospel, chamber, bluegrass and blues. After a day-of-show rehearsal, they also welcomed members of the Zurich Chamber Orchestra to the stage for two songs.
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1120 – Tim O’Brien & Lúnasa
In 2017, Lúnasa and Tim O’Brien joined forces to embark on a transatlantic musical expedition, exploring the interplay and mutual influences at the heart of American and Irish traditional music. In this episode, we listen to highlights from a concert featuring Tim O’Brien and Lúnasa at the 2018 savannah music festival.
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1119 – Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms
Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms are one half of the acclaimed old-time group the Foghorn Stringband. As a duo, they delve into the honky-tonk and classic country sounds of pre-war dance halls, with exceptional musicianship and earnest delivery. In this episode, we listen to a 2017 performance given by Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms at…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1117 – António Zambujo
Portugal’s António Zambujo has been a leading voice in the resurrection of male fado singers. A nearly 200 year-old tradition, this expressive style of Portuguese song is associated with pubs, cafes and restaurants, and is often deeply melancholic. While Zambujo can deftly project the sorrow and longing of fado music, his performances are balanced with…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1111 – Sam Reider & the Human Hands
Sam Reider and the Human Hands are a Brooklyn-based collective of jazz and bluegrass musicians who made their SMF debut in the spring of 2018 on a co-bill with Mike Block & Sandeep Das. The San Francisco born accordionist-pianist-composer Sam Reider leads this ensemble in a performance of music from their most recent release, Too…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1110 – Etienne Charles’ Gullah Roots
In 2018, Trinidadian jazz trumpeter and composer Etienne Charles was commissioned by Rob Gibson for the Savannah Music Festival to compose a work that explored the Afro-Caribbean connections to Gullah music and the Gullah connections to American music. In this episode, we listen to the premiere of that work, live from the 2018 Savannah Music…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1103 – Terell Stafford Plays Lee Morgan, Part Two
Trumpeter Lee Morgan was an American jazz musician known mainly as one of the key hard bop players of the 1960s. Morgan came to prominence in his late teens after recording with saxophonist John Coltrane and drummer Art Blakey before launching his own solo career. Trumpeter Terell Stafford was only six years old when Lee…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1102 – Terell Stafford Plays Lee Morgan
Trumpeter Lee Morgan was an American jazz musician known mainly as one of the key hard bop players of the 1960s. Morgan came to prominence in his late teens after recording with saxophonist John Coltrane and drummer Art Blakey before launching his own solo career. Trumpeter Terell Stafford was only six years old when Lee…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1101 – Väsen and the Danish String Quartet
Nordic folk music includes a number of traditions from Northern Europe, especially the Scandinavian countries. In this episode, we listen to highlights from a 2016 SMF program called “When the Danes Met the Swedes” – combining the Swedish trio Väsen with the Danish String Quartet on a unique double bill.
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1052 – Julian Lage Trio 2018
Julian Lage is the sort of musician who makes every gesture feel both easeful and essential. The 30 year-old guitarist was a prodigy before he was 10, and has performed and taught at SMF in a wide variety of projects over the past decade. In this episode, we listen to Lage’s trio, featuring Jorge Roeder…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1050 – Yekwon Sunwoo
Gold medalist of the 15th Van Cliburn International piano competition, 28 year-old pianist Yekwon Sunwoo is a powerful and virtuosic performer, who, in his own words, “strives to reach for the truth and pure beauty in music.” In this episode, we listen to his SMF debut in a recital given during the 2018 festival at…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1049 – Tommy Emmanuel
In the spring of 2018, Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel made his Savannah debut at our festival, where he wowed the crowd with two completely different solo sets. Emmanuel’s playing incorporates a multitude of musical influences and styles, including jazz, blues, bluegrass, folk and rock, with the finger-style playing he absorbed from mentor Chet Atkins at…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1048 – Marc-André Hamelin 2018
Pianist Marc-André Hamelin is known worldwide for his unrivaled blend of consummate musicianship and brilliant technique in the great works of the established repertoire. This episode features highlights from his 2018 recital at the Savannah Music Festival.
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1047 – Stewart Goodyear – Part Nine
Many pianists have played all 32 Beethoven sonatas over their career, and some have even played all of them over the course of a season in a concert hall. But almost no one has ever attempted to play all 32 of them in one day, spread across three concerts. This is the ninth installment of…
Savannah Music Festival 1040 – Stewart Goodyear – Part Eight
Many pianists have played all 32 Beethoven sonatas over their career, and some have even played all of them over the course of a season in a concert hall. But almost no one has ever attempted to play all 32 of them in one day, spread across three concerts. This is the eighth installment of…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1038 – Stewart Goodyear – Part Seven
Many pianists have played all 32 Beethoven sonatas over their career, and some have even played all of them over the course of a season in a concert hall. But almost no one has ever attempted to play all 32 of them in one day, spread across three concerts. This is the seventh installment of…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1036 – Stewart Goodyear – Part Six
Many pianists have played all 32 Beethoven sonatas over their career, and some have even played all of them over the course of a season in a concert hall. But almost no one has ever attempted to play all 32 of them in one day, spread across three concerts. This is the sixth installment of…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1037 – Chouk Bwa Libéte
The music of Haiti combines a wide range of influences drawn from the many people who have settled on the island of Hispaniola. It reflects French, African rhythms, Spanish elements and others. “Rasin” is a musical style that began in the 1970s when musicians started combining elements of traditional Haitian vodou ceremonial and folkloric music…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1035 – Earls of Leicester 2017
The music of Flatt & Scruggs has been given new life by dobro player Jerry Douglas’ award-winning ensemble the Earls of Leicester. In this episode, we listen to the Earls’ second SMF performance, given in 2017 at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts.
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1032 – Stewart Goodyear – Part Five
Many pianists have played all 32 Beethoven sonatas over their career, and some have even played all of them over the course of a season in a concert hall. But almost no one has ever attempted to play all 32 of them in one day, spread across three concerts. This is the fifth installment of…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1031 – Sanam Marvi
With compelling interpretations that draw deeply from one of the worlds great music traditions, Sanam Marvi is Pakistan’s young and brilliant vocal interpreter of South Asian spiritual, folk and classical poetry. A vocal warrior for peace, this contemporary daughter of interior sindh believes that there is comfort to be found in the wisdom of Sufis…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1030 – Cooder White Skaggs
Individually, Ry Cooder, Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White are acclaimed veterans of the roots music scene. But when they decided to join forces in concert as Cooder-White-Skaggs, they became an Americana supergroup steeped in traditional roots music. In this episode, we listen to their 2017 Savannah Music Festival performance at the Lucas Theatre for the…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1027 – Stewart Goodyear – Part Four
Many pianists have played all 32 Beethoven sonatas over the course of their career, and some have played all of them over the course of a season in a concert hall. But almost no one has ever attempted to play all 32 in one day. In this episode, we listen to excerpts from Stewart Goodyear’s…
Savannah Music Festival LIVE 1026 – Marcus Printup Youngbloods
For those who care deeply about jazz music and hope for future generations to keep the music alive and well, they recognize that to ensure the torch gets passed, there must be writing, education and performance continually made available to young audiences. Trumpeter Marcus Printup not only adheres to this philosophy, but he also believes…
Savannah Music Festival 1024 – Stewart Goodyear – Part Three
Many pianists have played all 32 Beethoven sonatas over the course of their career, and some have played all of them over the course of a season in a concert hall. But almost no one has ever attempted to play all 32 in one day. In this episode, we listen to excerpts from Stewart Goodyear’s…