HOMEGROWN MUSIC LISTINGS

March 2006

Mar. 7 Rick Sirota. Allentown area singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rick Sirota has been appearing on Homegrown Music since the early 1980s as a member of different groups over the years. After being the long-time "sideman," a few years ago, Sirota began performing his own music, with thoughtful lyrics and appealing vocals. He returns to Homegrown Music with a new collection of songs, accompanied by percussionist Mark Davis and flute player Ken Levin.

Mar. 8 A Homegrown Jazz Special with DAVID LIEBMAN & BOBBY AVEY. Homegrown Music presents one of our more distinctive and compelling segments in some time. World-renowned, and Grammy-nominated jazz saxophonist David Liebman has had a lengthy and fascinating career which included a three-year stint with Miles Davis in the early 1980s, as well as over 80 albums to his name. The Stroudsburg, PA resident collaborates with teen-aged jazz piano prodigy Bobby Avey, who was a member of the COTA Cats student Big Band at the Delaware Water Gap Jazz Festival, composing and arranging for the big band. Inspired by a trip to Vienna in which Liebman worked with a composer arranger who created jazz arrangements of classical pieces, Liebman and Avey create some fascinating soprano sax/piano treatments of works by composers including Mahler, Shubert, Schumann, Chopin, Brahms and others rarely taken up by jazz musicians. (Note: Start time 7:00 PM during WVIA's All That Jazz.)

David Liebman and Bobby Avey in the studio at WVIA

Mar. 14 Regional Artist Performances from the First Annual WVIA Celtic Festival. In August 2005, WVIA presented a Celtic Festival in Sunbury. The all-day event included performances by regional artists as well as Irish guitar virtuoso John Doyle. Just in time for St. Patrick's Week, Homegrown Music will present highlights from the festival with performances by Homegrown Music veterans bagpiper Leo Schott, and the band Black Bear Crossing, as well as Celtic storyteller Fiona Powell. Doyle's set will be heard March 15 at 9:00 PM. (Note: Start time for March 14 segment: 8:30 PM)

Mar. 21 Lester Hirsh. Singer-songwriter and guitarist Lester Hirsh is a long-time Northeastern Pennsylvanian, but spent several years in New Hampshire. Hirsh has returned to the WVIA area, and in the wake of a recent instrumental CD release, Hirsh makes his second appearance on Homegrown Music with a new collection of original music, both instrumental and vocal.

Mar. 28 A Homegrown Music Archive Special: BLUE SPARKS. During the 1980s, Blue Sparks was one of the region's most popular bands, known for their infectious music and energetic stage antics. The group put in three Homegrown Music sessions before they officially broke up (for the first time) at the end of the 1980s. This encore features music from each of these sessions.

Mar. 29 A Homegrown Jazz Special with THE BILL GOODWIN QUARTET. Grammy-winning drummer Bill Goodwin, known for his many years with the Phil Woods Group, and his work as an acclaimed producer, has assembled a quartet of fine young jazz musicians, including saxophonist Adam Niewood, a veteran of several recent HGM segments, along with pianist Frank LoCastro and bassist Matt Brewer. The band makes its recording debut on this edition of the program. (Note: Start time 7:00 PM, during WVIA's All That Jazz.)

Contact Series Producer: