Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'david was'

Why Cheap Stores Insist On Horrible 'Musak'

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

The playlist at the 99 Cent store is so bad surely Satan must have devised it, says musical contributor David Was. He reflects on the purpose of piped in store music.

How To Crash A Christmas Bash

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

Music contributor David Was has perfected the art of attending holiday parties — even ones he wasn't invited to. Was offers up his tips on how to crash a Christmas bash.

When Overqualified Jazz Musicians Go Rocker

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Music reviewer David Was takes a look at a new documentary about the The Wrecking Crew. They were the lesser known musicians responsible for hit songs from famous bands like The Beach Boys and the Monkees in 1960s and 1970s.

Smiling Over Irma Thomas

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Music critic David Was is all smiles over After The Rain, the new CD by veteran R&B singer Irma Thomas. It features duets with an all-star roster of piano players including Dr. John, Ellis Marsalis and Norah Jones.

String Theory: Reviewing 'Party Intellectuals'

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:27:00 EDT

Marc Ribot has established a reputation as a guitar original — someone who crosses genres to create good music. Reviewer David Was shares his thoughts on Party Intellectuals, the debut recording from Ribot's band Ceramic Dog.

Was Back on Tour, Late in Life

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:03:00 EDT

Eighties absurdo-disco band Was Not Was has a new album. David Was shares some of his thoughts about embarking on a rock and roll odyssey at a time when he should be figuring out how to stretch his Social Security check.

Singing Wi-Fi Radio's Praises

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:42:00 EST

David Was has been taking a radio to bed with him for years. But his new Wi-Fi radio, which transmits music from French, Algerian, and Indian stations, has him singing the praises of infinite choice.

The Best of the Consumer Electronics Show

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST

Plasma screens just keep getting bigger and gadgets just keep getting smaller at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Day to Day contributor David Was discusses his most exciting finds at the convention.

Music Industry Announces Grammy Nominees

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:23:00 EST

Kanye West, Amy Winehouse and Foo Fighters are among the leading nominees for this year's 50th annual Grammy Awards. Musician and Day to Day contributor David Was is a little cynical about the golden anniversary of the awards.

Music Is the Perfect Gift for the Oddball on Your List

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 14:10:00 EST

Most everyone has oddball relatives who are impossible to shop for, and many of us have children and senior citizens on our holiday shopping lists. Musician and Day to Day contributor David Was suggests some musical gifts to delight younger and older ears.

'Blinded' Star Thomas Dolby Is Back

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 13:14:00 EST

Thomas Dolby, the 1980s British pop star best known for his hit "She Blinded Me with Science," is back and on tour. Our resident musician, David Was, recently caught his show. He thought it was alright, but admits his opinion might be colored by a negative personal experience he had with Dolby two decades ago.

Lawsuit Is Latest in Long Line of Music Spats

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EST

A member of the British pop group Procol Harem is suing his bandmates for not getting royalties from the band's one hit, "Whiter Shade of Pale." Musician and Day to Day contributor David Was explains that the disagreement is part of a long history of disputes over who gets credit in popular music.

Playing the Violin the Way Bach Heard It

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 15:10:00 EDT

Musician and Day to Day contributor David Was reviews a new album of classic music written by Johann Sebastian Bach, recorded by violinist John Holloway on a Baroque-style instrument with traditional gut strings. The results sound much the way the great composer may have actually heard the instrument in his day.

An '80s Story Dripping with Name-Dropping

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 13:00:00 EDT

Musician and Day to Day contributor David Was shares an anecdote about his part as a producer recording a song, and drops a bunch of big names while he's at it -- including Ozzy Ozborne, Kim Basinger, Bob Dylan and Madonna.

Diana Krall: 'From This Moment On'

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 09:33:00 EDT

Jazz pianist and singer Diana Krall has become a favorite of jazz fans and critics worldwide. But musician and Day to Day contributor David Was finds her latest album less than satisfying.

Geri Allen's 'Timeless Portraits and Dreams'

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 13:00:00 EDT

Detroit-born jazz pianist and singer Geri Allen says she owes as much to Motown as she does to jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie and Bill Evans for the inspirations for her sound. Her latest album is Timeless Portraits and Dreams -- musician and Day to Day contributor David Was has a review.

'The Living Legend' of Mexican Ranchera Music

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 13:00:00 EDT

The man hailed as Mexico's greatest Ranchera singer, Vicente Fernandez, has a new retrospective collection hitting stores shelves on Tuesday. It's called The Living Legend. Musician and Day to Day contributor David Was has a review.

Armenian Chamber Choir: 'Ars Poetica'

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:00:00 EDT

A new classical CD called Ars Poetica features the Armenian Chamber Choir singing compositions by composer Tigran Mansurian. Musician and Day to Day contributor David Was offers a review.

Bill Miller, Sinatra's Longtime Accompanist

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:00:00 EDT

Musician Bill Miller, Frank Sinatra's accompanist and musical collaborator for decades, died earlier this month. Musician and Day to Day contributor David Was offers a remembrance of Miller's decades-long career and influential piano style.

Pink Floyd Co-Founder Syd Barrett Dies

Tue, 11 Jul 2006 13:52:00 EDT

Syd Barrett, co-founder of the influential British rock 'n' roll group Pink Floyd, has died. Musician and Day to Day contributor David Was of the group Was (Not Was) offers a remembrance of the talented but troubled Barrett, who struggled with mental illness and drug addiction and left Pink Floyd before the group hit it big.

A Lot to Learn from 'Judy at Carnegie Hall'

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 13:00:00 EDT

Singer and entertainer Rufus Wainwright will perform at Carnegie Hall on Wednesday in tribute to Judy Garland's legendary performance there in 1961. Musician and Day to Day contributor David Was listened again to the album recorded at that performance 45 years ago, Judy at Carnegie Hall, and says today's artists have a lot to learn from Garland.

An Appreciation: William Gottlieb, Jazz Photographer

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 13:00:00 EDT

Musician and Day to Day contributor David Was looks back at the life of photographer William Gottlieb, who died Sunday. His images captured some of the greatest jazz artists of the bebop era during the 1940s.

Tracing the History of a Song: 'It's All In the Game'

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 13:00:00 EDT

The song "It's All in the Game," currently featured on Barry Manilow's new CD, has an interesting pedigree: It was written by Calvin Coolidge's vice president, Charles Dawes, and has been recorded by a number of top musicians ever since. Musician and Day to Day contributor David Was traces the interesting history of a popular song.

Surprises at L.A.'s Minimalist Jukebox Festival

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 16:06:30 EST

A festival called Minimalist Jukebox, highlighting the musical form of Minimalism, is currently underway in Los Angeles. Musician and Day to Day contributor David Was reviews the festival and says those who think of Minimalist music as formless, shallow and boring might be surprised.

Pat Martino's Amazing Jazz Comeback

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 15:43:33 EST

Jazz musician Pat Martino lost almost all memory of his family and his career after suffering a brain aneurysm in the 1970s. But he was able to reverse much of that loss by studying his old recordings and re-learning to play the guitar. He performs this weekend in New York City -- musician and Day to Day contributor David Was profiles Martino and his amazing comeback.