Author: Liz Webb

[Get Ready] for Harmonia Brass Quintet

Liz Webb

Days after releasing their self-titled debut album, Alex Sallade and Alek Mansouri of Harmonia Brass Quintet stopped by The Music Room to speak with Liz Webb about their music, songwriting, and recording experience. Formed in 2016, Harmonia Brass Quintet is comprised of UD students and alumni Alex Sallade (french horn), Alek Mansouri (bass trombone), Cory Nunn (trumpet), Thomas Warnock (trombone), and Matthew Hubner (trumpet).

Drawing inspiration from film, T.V., and video games, Harmonia delivers a new and unique approach to traditional brass quintet repertoire. The group’s album, recorded at Ken-Del Studios in Wilmington, features both original compositions and arrangements of well-known songs. With appearances at the Calvary-Hillcrest Episcopal Church in Wilmington and UD’s 8-Bit Orchestra concert, Harmonia Brass Quintet have shared their creative and enjoyable music across the Delaware community.

From left to right: Cory Nunn, Alex Sallade, Alek Mansouri, Thomas Warnock, Matthew Hubner.

 

Check out the interview below to learn more about Harmonia Brass Quintet and to hear selections from their debut album.

 

The Interview

Harmonia Brass Quintet, Host: Liz Webb, Recorded live May 23, 2017.
22:48
43.8 MB

The Music

Artist Song Album Year
Due to copyright restrictions, the podcast contains excerpts of some of the music heard during the broadcast of the interview.
Harmonia Brass Quintet [Get Ready] Harmonia 2017
Harmonia Brass Quintet Make America Great Again Harmonia 2017
Harmonia Brass Quintet Vogel im Käfig Harmonia 2017
Harmonia Brass Quintet Throne Room Harmonia 2017

 

Strut’s Got the Jazz

Liz Webb

On this episode of The Music Room, Newark-based band Strut stopped by the WVUD Live Lounge to speak with Liz Webb and perform some original music. What started out as a jam session between a few friends developed into a Jazz/Funk Fusion five-piece, featuring bassist Chris Leich, guitarist Eric Emory, vibraphonist Ian Kurlan, trumpeter Ryan Nylander, and drummer Seth Chizeck.

With appearances at the UD Jazz Chamber Concert and WVUD’s Battle of the Bands, Strut have made a name for themselves across the UD campus. By blending elements of both jazz and funk, Strut establishes their own unique sound with a groove that is sure to get you moving.

From Left to Right: Ian Kurlan, Eric Emory, Seth Chizeck, Liz Webb, Chris Leich, and Ryan Nylander.

Listen to the interview below to learn more about Strut and to hear their performance of four funky jams in the WVUD Live Lounge.

The Interview

Strut, Host: Liz Webb, Recorded April 4, 2017, originally aired April 11, 2017.
31:35
60.6 MB

The Music

Artist Song Source
Strut  Something About Dreams WVUD Session, April 4, 2017
Strut  Le Cane Train WVUD Session, April 4, 2017
Strut  Alluvium WVUD Session, April 4, 2017
Strut  Lake Brain WVUD Session, April 4, 2017

Lake Street Dive: Soul, Spunk, & Side Ponies

Liz Webb

Lake Street Dive“Be yourself, do your thing . . . rock your side pony,” says Bridget Kearney, bassist of ’60s soul and pop rock revivalists Lake Street Dive, of the band’s 2016 release Side Pony. Side Pony, the band’s Nonesuch Record label debut, radiates playfulness and energy through its upbeat and glimmering soul-soaked tracks. Lake Street Dive expertly balances the retro with the contemporary on Side Pony by restoring and revitalizing ’60s Motown for a modern audience. On May 19, Liz Webb spoke with Bridget before the band’s stop at the World Cafe Live at the Queen in Wilmington on their Side Pony tour.

While attending the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Rachael Price (vocals), Mike “McDuck” Olsen (trumpet, guitar), Bridget Kearney (upright bass), and Mike Calabrese (drums) formed Lake Street Dive in 2004, naming the band after a street housing multiple dive bars in Olsen’s hometown of Minneapolis. The band recorded their first CD in 2006, titled in this episode…. Ten years later, their fifth studio album Side Pony would reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums, Folk Albums, and Alternative Albums charts.

SinLake Street Dive 3ce gaining widespread recognition after performing a stripped-down cover of the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” on a sidewalk in Boston (which currently has over 4 million views on YouTube), Lake Street Dive has made appearances on shows like The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Today Show as well as NPR Music’s Tiny Desk series. This fall, the group is set to continue their tour on the East Coast, with notable stops at Philadelphia’s Union Transfer and New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

While in The Music Room, Bridget spoke to Liz about the band’s songwriting process, her personal inspirations, and her experimentation with rhythm and sound on Side Pony. A skilled and innovative musician, Bridget contributes to the band’s unique sound with her intricate compositions and upright bass-playing. Listen to the interview below to hear tracks from Lake Street Dive’s newest album Side Pony and to learn more about the exceptionally talented Bridget Kearney.

The Interview

Bridget Kearney, Host: Liz Webb, Recorded May 19, 2016, originally aired May 24, 2016.
24:21
22.3 MB

The Music

Artist Song Album Year
Due to copyright restrictions, the podcast contains excerpts of the music heard during the broadcast of the interview.
Lake Street Dive Side Pony Side Pony 2016
Lake Street Dive Call Off Your Dogs Side Pony 2016
Lake Street Dive Can’t Stop Side Pony 2016
Lake Street Dive Godawful Things Side Pony 2016
Lake Street Dive Hell Yeah Side Pony 2016
Lake Street Dive Saving All My Sinning Side Pony 2016