On Your Radar
featuring Morley, Bluebirds of Paradise (Ari Hest & Chrissi Poland) and Mike + Ruthy of The Mammals
Landmark on Main Street • 03.23.18 • 8 PM
WFUV's John Platt returns with the 2018 Landmark On Your Radar. As always, John's musical finds are talented and eclectic performers you'll want to add to your playlist.
From Carnegie Hall to the Nomad Women's Festival in the Sahara Desert, Morley has brought her unique blend of jazz, folk, and soul to the world's stage. Be it solo with her acoustic guitar or with a full band, her message is consistent and clear; love, justice, and inspiration.
Awarded as Songwriter of the Year from ASCAP and heralded as Emerging Artist of the Year by the New York Times, Morley has penned songs for TED Women, Acumen, V-Day, Think Global School and GOAL - South Africa. Morley was the voice for Ralph Lauren's fragrance commercial "Romance". Her music has been placed on several major network television shows as well as human rights documentaries.
Mike + Ruthy (Mike Merenda & Ruthy Ungar) are hard touring folk musicians from New York's Hudson Valley. It doesn't just mean that they play square dances on old, dusty instruments (which they do), it means they write about the times we live in using sturdy roots music as their bedrock. Buckle a couple kids in the backseat (check!) and you've got something that looks a lot like the American bohemian dream.
They host their own festival (homeofthehoot.com), have postcards of encouragement from none other than the late Pete Seeger, and miles upon miles of touring under their belts supporting one of the best catalogs of original music being performed today. Their performances alternate between whisper-soft intimacy and rafter-raising hoedowns.
Their latest record, Bright As You Can, is being hailed as one of the top Americana releases of the year ("One of the year's standout Americana records" - Boston Globe) and their touring schedule reads like a who's who of today's scene ("In the vanguard of today's vibrant folk revival"- PopMatters) including appearances with Ani DiFranco, Avett Brothers, Watkins Family Hour and The B-52s.
Bluebirds of Paradise give the ever-popular guy/girl duet band a new and unique twist. Singer/songwriters Ari Hest and Chrissi Poland created this scintillating duo, an infusion of jazz, indie-folk, and pop steeped in Brazilian overtones. With enchanting vocals and romantic yet often comedic lyrical sentiments, this powerful pair draws you in quickly and leaves you wanting more.
Chrissi and Ari created Bluebirds by accident, they say. "We weren't planning on starting a band together," comments Chrissi. "Ari had a show that he asked me to open for, and it was during the holidays. We thought it would be fun to write a holiday song in a Brazilian, Jobim-inspired way. We both are big lovers of Brazilian jazz songs and melodies.
Their latest EP, In A Night, features producer Will Lee on bass, Doug Yowell on drums, Chrissi on piano, keys and vocals, and Ari on guitars and vocals. The 6 song EP was recorded at the famous Carriage House
Studios in beautiful Stamford, CT.