Soundcheck

The New Interpreters of Standards

Tuesday, September 23, 2003

In recent years the American popular songbook has enjoyed a healthy renaissance as a new generation of listeners and musicians have discovered its timeless sophistication and interpretive depth. On this edition of Soundcheck we welcome New Orleans singer Aaron Neville, long known for his piano-pounding R&B and percussion-fueled funk, but who has released his first album of standards in which he interprets the ballads of Cole Porter and the Gershwins. Also on the program, we’re joined by music critic Ken Smith, who gives us a preview of a recital by violinist Anne Akiko Meyers. Rounding out the hour, Erik Ochsner, music director of the SONOS Chamber Orchestra discusses the young ensemble's growing presence on New York's music scene and its dedication to the music of Finland.

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