Archives for May 2017

KUT Weekend – May 19, 2017

How Austin is using trees to fight the heat. Uber and Lyft are set to return to Austin any day now. And how to navigate the many places in Austin to eat the Vietnamese sandwich bánh mì. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!

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Texas Standard: May 19, 2017

A police pension crisis creating big problems in Dallas. Now has a solution that appears to make all sides happy, we’ll explore. Also legislation being pushed by Texas Republicans could benefit Democrats, so why do Dems oppose it? We’ll check it out. And a new music festival in San Antonio that may be the first like it anywhere… how “Good Vibrations” is reaching an otherwise under-served audience. Plus it’s Friday so that means we’ll hear from the Typewriter Rodeo and wrap up the week in Texas Politics. All that and more today on the Standard:

Back To The Nest

College commencements are taking place across Texas over the next few weeks. That was the inspiration for this week’s Typewriter Rodeo poem.

Sidney Bechet

Sidney Bechet was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. He was one of the first important soloists in jazz and was perhaps the first notable jazz saxophonist.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe, discusses the transitional music stylings of Sidney Bechet, using his legacy as a model for how we can open ourselves up to unhinged expression and set a legacy of our own.

Larry Coryell

Larry Coryell was an American jazz guitarist known as the “Godfather of Fusion”.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe, uses the complex fusion of Larry Coryell’s music to reflect on our own sense of contradicting feeling and give us the courage to face and exist in these many worlds simultaneously.

Jason Marsalis

Jason Marsalis is an American jazz drummer and member of the Marsalis family of musicians. He worked as a sideman in mainstream jazz, funk, and jazz fusion groups, as well as with esteemed pianist, Marcus Roberts.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe, uses Jason Marsalis’ freedom in self-expression to encourage us not to compromise the many facets of our identity.

James Moody

James Moody was an American jazz saxophone and flute player, playing predominantly in the bebop and hard bop styles.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe, talks about how the versatility of James Moody can teach us to embrace the complexity of human nature.

Herbie Mann

Herbie Mann was an American jazz player, most noted for being among the first jazz musicians to specialize on the flute as an important early practitioner of world music.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe, uses the life and music of Herbie Mann to emphasize the need for sharing and creating together in a world that is yearning for transformation.

Booker Little, Jr.

Booker Little, Jr., was an American Jazz trumpeter and composer, performing with John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy until his early death at the age of 23.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe, uses the music and legacy of Booker Little to remind us of the fragility of life and the importance of having courage to face each day as a new and open door, an opportunity of immeasurable value.

V&B: JFK and Vietnam – What We Know & Why It Matters

KUT’s Rebecca McInroy hosts the eminent economist James K. Galbraith, and retired U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, historian, and author of JFK and Vietnam, Dr. John Newman. What was Oswald’s relationship with the CIA? What role did Eisenhower play in the assassination of John F. Kennedy? And what do we know and still need to know about this moment in our nation’s dark past?

Texas Standard: May 18, 2017

Special prosecutor. While the country is abuzz over an investigation in Washington a case involving a lawmaker in Texas is also moving forward, we’ll explore. Plus there are still almost two weeks left in the Texas Legislative Session but talks of the double-S word: “Special Session”, are looking serious. We’ll tell you why. And one big issue before lawmakers has been changes to the Texas Foster Care System. Where those proposals stand now, it’s part of our ongoing exploration of the system’s challenges. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

This Song: The Strumbellas

The Strumbellas aren’t afraid to make music that pulls from folk, rock, pop and country. Hear singer Simon Ward, guitar player Jon Hembrey and drummer Jeremy Drury explain how a Ryan Adams’ song, an Offspring record and a sped up version of Twisted Sisters’ “Burn in Hell” led to the band’s creation and sound.

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 Check out the Strumbella’s Tour Dates

Listen to Songs from Episode 84 of This Song

 

Texas Standard: May 17, 2017

What did he know and when did he know it? That’s so 1973. Today’s question: did president Trump attempt to obstruct justice? We’ll explore. Also: it’s been two years since the biker shootout in Waco, more than a hundred 70 arrested and charged, but not a single opening argument yet. What’s the explanation? We’ll take a look. And a laptop ban said to be in the works for travelers coming to the US from Europe. Does a laptop ban make sense? Also teen pregnancies hit a record low nationwide, but not here. Why Texas is bucking the trend. Also police chiefs claim there’s less crime in so-called sanctuary cities. But is that a fact? All those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Ornette Coleman

Ornette Coleman was an American jazz saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter, and composer, and was one of the major innovators of the free jazz movement of the 1960s, a term he invented with the name of his 1961 album.

In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian, Neil Blumofe, uses the improvisatory style of Ornette Coleman to teach how surrendering to chaos can bring a profound sense of presence, satisfaction, and freedom in life.

Three Texas Pride Stories

I’ve been sad lately noticing how the oral tradition seems to be dying. Twenty years ago friends would often come up to me on the street and say, “Hey, I got a story for you.” But now they just come up to me and hold out their phone and say, “Seen this?” And laugh. Not the same.

Today I thought I’d do what I can to fight this trend. I’m going tell you three short stories – or jokes – that showcase our Texas pride. You can even pass them on, if you think them worthy.

The first one I heard from my father when I was about 10. It was my first exposure to this genre – and I loved it. It went like this:

“A man from Kentucky was talking to a Texan and bragging about all the gold they had in Fort Knox. The Kentuckian said, “You know we have enough gold in Fort Knox to build a wall of solid gold, six foot high, all the way around Texas?”

The Texan said, “Is that so? Tell you what, you go ahead and build your wall – and if we like – we’ll buy it.”

The next story comes from John Gunther’s book, “Inside U.S.A.” You remember Gunther, who was famous for the quote, “If a man’s from Texas, he’ll tell you. If he’s not, why embarrass him by asking?”

Gunther says that a man from Boston was visiting a friend in Texas. The Bostonian was tired from traveling and went to bed early. As he pulled back the blankets, he was shocked to find a 12-inch lobster waiting for him. Rather than let the Texan get the better of him with this practical joke, he picked up the lobster and took it into the living room where his friend was reading the paper.

He held up the lobster and said, “You sure do have big bed bugs in Texas.”

The Texan peered up over the paper, squinted at the lobster and said, “Well, must be a young ’un.”

The last story, truly a Texas classic from the 60s, concerns a prideful Texan who died and went to Heaven. Saint Peter was giving him an orientation tour of Heaven, to get him acquainted with beauties of the place.

He first showed him some snow-covered peaks reminiscent of the Swiss Alps, and the Texan said, “Well, they are nice if you like your mountains all covered in snow that way. I like mine with a light dusting now and then and otherwise hot and dry like we have ‘em in Big Bend.”

Next, Saint Peter took him by the elbow and flew him up to a peak overlooking a gorgeous mountain river. He said, “You ever seen a more beautiful blue than that?” The Texan said, “No, but you want to see the most beautiful turquoise river ever, you need to see the Devil’s River in West Texas. Sorry to mention him, but that is the name of it. And don’t get me started on the Guadalupe for beauty and beer that was…”

Saint Peter interrupted him and pointed to the Alpine forest waving in the gentle mountain breeze before them. The Texan said, “Impressive, but nothing can steal my heart away from the Piney Woods of East Texas. You ever seen the Big Thicket?”

Exasperated, Saint Peter flew the Texan over to the very edge of Heaven and had him look over the side. Far, far below there was dense fire, and smoke as far as he could see. Saint Peter said, in an almost threatening tone, “What do you think of that?”

The Texan said, “That is impressive and clearly out of control, but I tell you what, we got some ol’ boys down in Houston who can put that out for ya.”

Texas Standard: May 16, 2017

Spy satellite photos made public plus a disturbing allegation against Syria that raises the specter of war crimes, we’ll explore. Plus reporting on the border has always been a challenge, but now it’s deadlier than ever, and some fear a shadow of silence spreading over Mexico. We’ll explain. Also Texas set to become the first state to test a new policy permitting states to withhold funds from groups like Planned Parenthood. And police seizures of personal assets: cars, money, you name it, without proving any underlying crime. A new push in Texas to end what critics call highway robbery. And how do you lose 46 million dollars? A newspaper helps Texas’ biggest city find lost money. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: May 15, 2017

A Texas Senator on the shortlist for FBI Director. But getting confirmation may not be easy, we’ll explore. Plus a strange connection between a Texas Health official and Trump’s revised travel ban has led to a resignation. We’ll tell you why. And the same sand that makes part of south-central Texas so great for growing strawberries also makes it perfect for mining… but residents aren’t pleased. Plus the shocking way some Texas schools have been dealing with students who can’t pay for lunches and an effort to change that. All of that and more on today’s Texas Standard: