Airwaves

by Brian Goslow

We frequently complain about the lack of venues for area and visiting musicians. Thanks to the hosts of New Traditions, heard from 6 to 9 a.m. weekdays on WCUW (91.3 FM), and its late-afternoon counterpart, In the Tradition, performers on the coffeehouse and acoustic nightclub circuit are a known commodity.

Richard Fox, host of Tuesday's New Traditions, sounds as if he spends every available moment in those entertainment outlets. "I try to get out as much as I can. To support independent music, you have to support the venues and the artists. We're blessed to have the choice of venues we have in this area."

Each one of Fox's programs feature an in-studio guest who normally hangs out and performs between 7:30 and 9 a.m. In advance of artists' appearances, he has them prepare a set of music that includes their influences, current favorites, and friends to give the audience a feel for where they're coming from musically.

The July 22 New Traditions will feature two upcoming acts. Leslie Ellis, who just released her debut, Standing at the Moment (Working Jane), will be appearing next weekend on the new-artist stage at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. "She's a mixture of acoustic and upbeat electric folk." Glenn MacPherson, a Kerrville new-folk contest finalist, "is a working man's poet from the South Bay of San Francisco" who recently released Mr. Fix-It-Man (Tall Cedar Music). "There's a voice of wisdom in his music."

Upcoming weeks will feature visits by Annie Gallup ("really special and writing songs like no one else is these days") on July 29, Jim Infantino (August 5), and Janet Feld (August 12).

FAITH SOLOWAY IS one artist Fox sees heading for the stars. "She's a fine woman and a fine songwriter. We had a great response when we had her in the studio last year. People wanted to hear more." Now they can, with the release of Training Wheels (Lyric Moon). "She really can't miss."

Robert Earl Keen's Picnic (Arista/Austin) also has him excited. "There's truly not a bad cut on the CD." He's gone Down Under for a self-title debut by the Velvet Janes (Passionfruit Produce). "They're a great band out of West Perth, Australia." The four-song EP features strong vocal harmonies accompanied by nice sax playing and bongos.

He's ever enthralled with harpist Deborah Henson-Conant. "If you've never seen her, go out and do it. She really is a unique performer and a whole lot of fun." He's been rediscovering her Budapest (Unity) CD. Laurie Z is another fave. "She's a New Age jazz classical pianist out in Southern California. She's planning to make a swing out in New England, hopefully soon." Fox has been playing "Invisibility" and "In the Monterey Mist" from Roots (Zebra Productions).

Other new releases currently spotlighted by Fox include Dar Williams's End of the Summer (Razor and Tie), Mary Chapin Carpenter's State of the Heart (Columbia), Maria Sangiolo's Follow Your Own Road (Signature Sounds), and Sarah Greene's Never Been So (Monk Music).

Fox helps his audience expand their artistic horizons by creatively integrating his favorite new jazz recordings, including Cercie Miller's Dedication (Stash) and Arturo Sandoval's Dream Come True (GRP), and some poetry, including selections by Tim Mason and Patricia Smith from Boston Not Austin II (Black Wolf/EFR). "The spoken-word scene in Massachusetts is very exciting. It's wonderful to see it performed instead of just seeing it sitting on the page."

Web surfers can visit Fox's information-filled website, which includes features on the rest of the New Traditions line-up, at http://foxy.com.