Sundays: at 2 pm on News Stations, at 6 pm on Classical Stations
June 05: Chris Young
Chris Young was the 2006 winner of the TV series Nashville Star and is earning a spot among today’s top country voices. In 2010 he was nominated for Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. On this episode of Song Travels, host Michael Feinstein talks with Young about the array of musical influences that led to his career as a singer and songwriter. With guitarist Kevin Collier, Young brings his rich voice to a set of original songs and old favorites, including his rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.”
June 12: Emily King
Grammy-nominated vocalist and songwriter Emily King is the daughter of internationally known jazz duo Marion Cowings and Kim Kalesti, and her musical journey has taken her far. She’s toured with John Legend and Sara Bareilles, and she’s released duets with José James and Taylor McFerrin. On this edition of Song Travels, King performs her original songs “Distance” and “Georgia.” Host Michael Feinstein joins on the piano for a rendition of “I Wish You Love.”
June 19: Curtis Stigers
Saxophonist, vocalist and songwriter Curtis Stigers wrote the Emmy-nominated theme song for the TV show Sons of Anarchy. Throughout his career, he’s been straddling genres and reinventing jazz and modern standards. On this Song Travels, Stigers joins host Michael Feinstein to discuss his journey to become a songwriter. Stigers performs his original “You’ve Got the Fever,” and Feinstein joins him for a duet of the standard “You Are Too Beautiful.”
June 26: José James
Singer and songwriter José James draws his musical inspiration from hip-hop and indie rock in addition to jazz and R&B. He’s toured extensively and has gained a following with his acclaimed 2013 album, No Beginning No End, and his 2014 release, While You Were Sleeping. On this episode of Song Travels, James remembers Billie Holiday, who was born 101 years ago this past April, and performs her classics “Lover Man” and “God Bless the Child.”
July 03: Ginny Mancini
Ginny Mancini performed with Mel Tormé and the Mel Tones before marrying fellow musician, composer, and conductor Henry Mancini, who passed away in 1994. He would have been 92 this April. This week, Song Travels remembers Henry Mancini as Ginny share stories of their life together, her career, and Henry’s remarkable contributions to American film, television, and song.
July 10: Justin Kauflin
Jazz pianist Justin Kauflin attended William Paterson University, where he formed a friendship with his mentor, the late Clark Terry. Justin, who lost his vision at age eleven, connected with the trumpeter, who was dealing with his own vision loss. Their journey together was chronicled in the documentary Keep on Keepin’ On. He went to work with Quincy Jones, and his 2015 album, Dedication, topped the jazz charts. On this episode, which received a 2016 Gabriel Award, Kauflin remembers his mentor with “For Clark.”
July 17: Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor is best known for her sensational 1978 hit, “I Will Survive,” which won the only Grammy ever awarded for Best Disco Recording. The World Music Awards honored her with a Legend Award in 2002, and Gaynor was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2005. On this Song Travels, Gaynor shares her 2012 single “All the Man That I Need” and performs standards with host Michael Feinstein. Live performances include renditions of “My Funny Valentine” and “Without a Song.”
July 24: Hunter Hayes
Rising country star Hunter Hayes performed at age four with Hank Williams Jr. and was the front man of his first band at age five He's now a versatile instrumentalist, writer, producer and performer with hits like “Storm Warning” and “Somebody’s Heartbreak.” His self-titled debut album was acknowledged with three Grammy nominations. On this Song Travels, Hayes talks about his musical roots in Cajun Louisiana as well as the stories that inspired him to write his many love songs.
July 31: Barbara Carroll
Jazz pianist Barbara Carroll is regarded as New York’s first lady of jazz piano. Her career has spanned seven decades and includes everything from appearances on Broadway to performances in concert halls worldwide, as well as a remarkable 24-year run at Bemelman’s Bar in the Carlyle Hotel. On this Song Travels, Carroll performs “No Moon at All” and joins host Feinstein for “Isn’t It a Pity.” This episode won an Award of Distinction in the 22nd Annual Communicator Awards.
August 07: Dee Dee Bridgewater
Grammy-winning singer and actress Dee Dee Bridgewater embodied the late Billie Holiday in the starring role of Lady Day in 2013. In addition to that performance and her Tony-winning role in The Wiz (1975), Bridgewater has appeared in shows such as Sophisticated Ladies and Cabaret. This week, she talks with host Feinstein about her experience playing Billie Holiday and performs a few of Holiday’s signature songs, including “God Bless the Child” and “Good Morning Heartache.”
August 14: Sheldon Harnick
Pulitzer Prize-winning lyricist Sheldon Harnick has been a pillar of Broadway for more than 50 years. After showing promise in writing review songs, Harnick teamed up with composer Jerry Bock to write musicals. Their musical Fiorello! won a Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1959. They went on to write hit shows, including Fiddler on the Roof and The Rothschilds. On this episode of Song Travels, Harnick takes listeners on a musical journey through his career’s stories and songs.
August 21: Sam Friend
Sam Friend and his band the New Orleans Swamp Donkeys play jazz, blues, and originals, drawing on the sound of grassroots jazz combos from a century ago. In this edition of Song Travels, Friend joins host Michael Feinstein to discuss his transition from New York trio musician to New Orleans bandleader. He shares his love of traditional “jass” with a rendition of “Sweet Lorraine” on six-string banjo.
August 28: Nellie McKay
Performer, composer, and actress Nellie McKay brings a comedic flair to her stage shows, including Nellie with a Z, in which she plays a cabaret veteran three times her age! Her music has also been featured on the television series Weeds, Grey’s Anatomy, and Boardwalk Empire. On this Song Travels, McKay and host Feinstein team up for “Pennies from Heaven” and “The Nearness of You,” and she performs her original “Beneath the Underdog.”
September 04: Liza Minnelli
Born into Hollywood royalty, Liza Minelli made her own name on the stage and screen. Her role in the 1972 film version of the Broadway musical Cabaret made her an international sensation and won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. She continues to wow audiences with her iconic presence and powerful voice. Minnelli joins her good friend and Song Travels host Michael Feinstein for a discussion of her life and the evolution of her approach to song.
September 11: Matt Munisteri
Guitarist, vocalist, and composer Matt Munisteri has uncovered much of the forgotten jazz and swing from the early 20th century. His album Still Runnin’ Round in the Wilderness explores the “lost” compositions of American singer/songwriter Willard Robison. Munisteri and Feinstein share tunes that, while forsaken by the past, are certainly worth remembering.
September 18: Gregory Porter
Jazz vocalist Gregory Porter had a breakout year in 2012. His album Be Good topped many “Best of” lists and was named iTunes Jazz Album of the Year. In 2014, Porter won a Grammy Award for his third album, Liquid Spirit, and NPR Music has called him “the next great male jazz singer.” On this Song Travels, Porter tells host Feinstein about his gospel roots and his musical upbringing. Porter is joined by Chip Crawford and Aaron James for a set that features songs from Liquid Spirit.
September 25: Ricki Lee Jones
Multiple Grammy Award-winning vocalist and songwriter Rickie Lee Jones has been pushing down musical boundaries for more than four decades with her hauntingly beautiful voice. She has carved her own unique path, collaborating with artists from Alison Kraus to Dr. John. On this Song Travels, Jones employs her sultry voice to perform some of the standards that have inspired her along the way.
