Every week, CKUA’s hosts submit their songs for our weekly House Blend playlist. Take a look at this week’s picks: an exciting new release, a beloved classic or just an old personal favourite. We mix it all together to create a sonic concoction that’ll help kick off your week. Check out what’s on this week’s playlist.
The Picks
Leo Cripps: Simi, “Small Ting”
Nigerian superstar, Simi, continues to put out very impressive songs blending the sounds of Afro-pop and R&B.
Lionel Rault: Bon Iver, “Hey, Ma”
Bon Iver is back with its first new recorded music in three years. There is some talk of a full album in the works. Here’s a little taste-teaser of things to come!
Orest Soltykevych: Orion Weiss, “Goyescas, Op. 11: I. Los Requiebros”
Enrique Granados was a Catalan composer and pianist. He is best known for his solo piano collection of songs called Goyescas. These works were inspired by the art of the Spanish painter Francisco Goya. The suite is made up of six works divided into two books, and Granados completed them in 1911. This is one of the works.
Kodi Hutchinson: Shuffle Demons, “All About The Hang”
Shuffle Demons, one of Canada’s most energetic and loved jazz groups, are celebrating 35 years performing together. They are playing all four Alberta Jazz Fests in June: Calgary on June 12, Lethbridge on June 15, Edmonton on June 22 and Medicine Hat on June 26.
Baba: Oktopus, “Honga”
Sometimes something just jumps at you, then you can simply drop everything and ‘Honga’. Oktopus will be at the Canmore Folk Festival for 2019.
Lisa Wilton: Kishi Bashi, “Summer of ’42”
I heard this song a few months back and was instantly struck by its earnest beauty and passion. Kishi Bashi is a Seattle-based musician and composer of Japanese descent. “Summer of ’42” was inspired by the more than 100,000 Japanese-Americans who were sent to internment camps during World War II. It sounds depressing, but “Summer of ’42” celebrates the love that endures in spite of hardship. The lush instrumentation, which features some dramatic strings arrangements, gives it a cinematic feel.
Bob Chelmick: Tony Levin, “Places to Go”
King Crimson’s front-man still loves his synth washes, but a funky bass line drives this playful number from his 2006 solo release, Resonator. The lyrics match the playfulness.
Roy Forbes: Leon Redbone with Dr. John, “Frosty The Snowman”
We lost a couple of good ones this past week with the deaths of Leon Redbone and Dr John. Here is a rollicking duet between the two of them from Leon’s essential 1987 LP: Christmas Island. The fellas really do find some magic in that old silk hat they found, easing our sense of loss. Hope this puts a smile on your face, even if it is a few months before Christmas.
Dianne Donovan: Tara Kannangara, “Sound The Alarm”
Ms. Kannangara is a double threat, at least. This Chilliwack, B.C. musician sings and plays trumpet. I really like the edge —freeness — of this particular tune. You can hear her live when she appears at Jazz YYC on Sunday, June 16th!