A Toast to The Arts

T Bear - The Way of the World Album

This episode of Big Blend Radio features T Bear, a distinctive singer, talented keyboard player, and songwriter, who discusses his music, touring, and latest solo album "The Way of the World" that's out now through Quarto Valley Records.
T Bear has made his mark as a solo performer and collaborator with many iconic artists — Crosby Stills and Nash, The Blues Brothers, Robby Krieger of The Doors, Edgar Winter, Billy Squier, Cher, as well as Gene Simmons and Peter Criss of Kiss, to name just a few, while also releasing several noteworthy solo albums over the years. Most recently he has been touring the world with acclaimed blues guitarist Walter Trout as a member of Walter’s band.
T Bear's album "The Way of The World," was written and recorded as the world emerged from the pandemic. Produced by long-time Grammy®-winning collaborators drummer Tony Braunagel (who has performed, toured, and recorded with a host of big names over the years including Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, BB King and many many others) and former Wings guitarist Laurence Juber, the horn-driven excursions of his previous album, "Fresh Bear Tracks," were stripped-down to a small group sound, recorded mostly in home studio environments. Augmenting this core trio was a selection of bass players, including the legendary Reggie McBride, Hutch Hutchinson (Bonnie Raitt) and John Mayall-alumnus Ricky Cortez.
The Way of The World boasts a stunning set of twelve original songs, written and/or co-written by T Bear. Musically, the album is a stirring and infectious melodic mix of blues, rock n roll, Americana, and roots music accented by some occasional touches of tasty soul, jazz, Latin, and funk textures. More at: https://www.tbear.rocks/ 

Singer-Songwriter Ted Brown - Solstice Canyon Loop Album

Best known as longtime guitarist, vocalist and collaborator in the Greg Johnson Band, Ted Brown has released his third studio album "Solstice Canyon Loop." Hear all about it on this episode of Big Blend Radio, along with some banter about his move from New Zealand to the US, his music career and songwriting, and some conversation on music history.
The album “Solstice Canyon Loop” is a reminiscence of a journey. From Ted’s crazy, dangerous troubled twenties in his hometown of AK New Zealand, to his restoration to sanity in Los Angeles CA. He was able to start again in the U.S. and had time to really pause and reflect on this during the lockdown months of the pandemic. Plus, Ted really got in touch with the memory of some of those who never made it.
Calling on members of his 70’s Country cover band, The Electric Fields, Ted assembled some of his favorite L.A. guys to play on the record. Notably, Dusty Wakeman on Bass (Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, Buck Owens), Mark Hart on Keys (Crowded House, Supertramp), Joel Martin on Guitar (Grateful to the Core, Pearl), Tim Walker on Pedal Steel (Glen Campbell, Jimmy Webb, The White Buffalo) and CalArts Alum and musician extraordinaire Rob Anderson on Drums. Ben King, Ted’s Greg Johnson bandmate, added sweet harmonies from his studio in NZ. 
More at http://www.tedbrownsongs.net/

Filmmaker Jennifer Takaki - Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio features filmmaker Jennifer Takaki who discusses the making of the documentary, "Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story," and how photographer Corky Lee influenced her work. For 50 years, Chinese American photographer Corky Lee documented the celebrations, struggles, and daily lives of Asian American Pacific Islanders with epic focus. Determined to push mainstream media to include AAPI culture in the visual record of American history, Lee produced an astonishing archive of nearly a million compelling photographs. His work takes on new urgency with the alarming rise in anti-Asian attacks during the Covid pandemic. Jennifer Takaki’s intimate portrait reveals the triumphs and tragedies of the man behind the lens. Learn more at: https://photographicjustice.com/The film will have a nationwide US television release, premiering Monday, May 13 at 10/9C on PBS (check local listings) and on PBS apps to follow. More at: https://www.pbs.org/show/photographic-justice-the-corky-lee-story/ Filmmaker Jennifer Takaki is a fourth generation Japanese American from Colorado. She began her career in journalism at a Denver TV station and later moved to Hong Kong to work with Encore International. In Hong Kong she produced English-based news programming broadcast in China, India, and the Middle East via Rupert Murdoch’s STAR-TV. In New York, she produced and directed “Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story” which premiered at DOC NYC and was supported by the Ford Foundation and The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM). She was awarded the prestigious Better Angels Lavine Fellowship in 2023. 

Author Jennifer Moorhead - Broken Bayou

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Wednesday "Books & Authors" Show with Books Forward features Louisiana author, writer, and filmmaker Jennifer Moorhead, who discusses her novel, "Broken Bayou."
In this debut thriller, a troubled child psychologist returns to a small Louisiana town to protect her secrets but winds up having to protect her life.
More: https://www.jennifermoorhead.com/
Published by Thomas & Mercer and out on July 1, 2024, "Broken Bayou" available for pre-order on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/wph65pyp
For more about Books Forward, visit https://booksforward.com/

Rick San Nicolas - Master of Hawaiian Featherwork of Old Hawai‘i

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show features Rick Makanaaloha Kia'imeaokekanaka San Nicolas (Kanaka Maoli) who returned for the fifth time as the National Parks Arts Foundation artist-in-residence at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. 
Recognized as Ke Kumu Hulu Nui, meaning "Master of Hawaiian Featherwork of Old Hawai‘i," San Nicolas is dedicated to preserving and perpetuating this art form. Through his expertise and passion, he ensures that the traditions of feather lei making continue for generations to come. San Nicolas draws inspiration directly from the landscape of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, feeling a deep connection to the environment and its historical significance. He finds inspiration in the ancient Hawaiian featherwork tradition, particularly in the regalia worn by Hawaiian Royalty and warriors.
This year Rick travels to Washington D.C. to present his featherwork for inclusion in the collection of the Museum of the Department of Interior as well as having it on display in the office of Secretary Deborah Haaland (Laguna Pueblo). He is also a consulting advisor in historical featherwork on the upcoming TV Series "Chief of War," starring Jason Momoa. More at: https://www.hawaiianfeathers.com/  
Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation's unique artist residency programs in parks across the country at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ 

Guitarist Michael Kessler - “Gravel Road” Album

Guitarist Michael Kessler joins Big Blend Radio for a fun conversation about his music and new album "Gravel Road," the Wisconsin music scene, plus, being a Horologist (a person that makes or repairs watches or clocks).
Kessler worked with Milwaukee producer/musician/engineer Gary Tanin at Daystorm Music to take on the full-length album "Gravel Road." Primarily a solo affair with guest musicians, Kessler recruited Georgia Rae to add fiddle while Tanin enlisted Chicken Wire Empire’s Ernest Brusubardis IV (fiddle) and Joe Vent on Bass.
On "Gravel Road," Kessler draws influence from Bluegrass, Country, Rock, Funk, and Blues resulting in an acoustic melting pot.  The album is out now in all digital outlets.

Poet Lauren Martin - Night of the Hawk

This episode of Big Blend Radio celebrates Earth Month and National Poetry Month with Lauren Martin who discusses her book, "Night of the Hawk: Poems" which will be out on May 14, 2024 through She Writes Press. 
A powerful and wise poetry collection on shamanism, feminism, and disability, "Night of the Hawk" tells untold stories of the marginalized. Inspired by the Lauren's own experiences as an aging woman living with chronic illness, the poems in this collection will inspire readers to seek compassion and kindness in an often inhospitable world. 
LAUREN MARTIN is a psychotherapist, poet, and a devoted Ìyânífá. She lives in Oakland, California. Lauren studied poetry at Sarah Lawrence College. She spent years writing without submitting her work due to a long shamanic journey, which led her to both Ifá, and to the writing of this collection of poems. More at: https://www.laurenmartin.net/ 

Joey Stuckey - Guitars, Jazz and Poetry

This episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND Celebrates April being International Guitar Month, Jazz Apprecation Month, and National Poetry Month.
Special guest is Joey Stuckey, Music Ambassador of Macon, Georgia "The Southern Rock Capital of the World. Joey, who co-hosts the Big Daily Blend podcast every 4th Sunday, is an award-winning blind guitarist, songwriter, singer, composer, producer, and sound engineer. More: https://www.joeystuckey.com/ 
BIG BLEND RADIO EXTRAS: * International Guitar & Jazz Music Playlist on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2wd3886f * Poet Seaborn Jones on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2cre7den