Kvc Arts

Henry Franklin, Skipper, got his start with Roy Ayers in a Latin jazz group while still in high school. He was recruited by Hugh Masekela for an album which produced "Grazing in the Grass," and took him to Woodstock as well as the Monterey Pop Festival. He's worked as a sideman with many, and has 28 (or so) albums under his own name.Onthe next KVC-Arts David Fleming speaks with Skipper about one of the most recent - one which earned him a NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Jazz record - instrumental. SUCH a great disc! We'll also hear about one that was a bit of an avant-garde piece, yet still QUITE cool to listen to. We'll touch briefly as well on his time with Stevie Wonder... but it's mostly jazz.And - jazz in this area! Skipper still lines up the musicians for Pierce Street Jazz, a free concert series at La Sierra University. A variety of types of jazz presented, with known players who are in the region (they're all OVER the place).AND more!

David Fleming speaks with Emilio Castillo, one of the founding and current members of Tower of Power. We'll get a bit of history - including a drastic change in not only their material, but their look as well, some song specific material and more.

Jonathan Karrant has been on KVC-Arts several times now, and with several upcoming performances in our region, David Fleming has re-packaged his first interview with Jonathan, serving as a wonderful introduction to a man with impeccable discs, and a phenomenal onstage delivery of story through song.

David Fleming continues his conversation with Michelle Dowd, author of Forager: Field Notes For Surviving a Family Cult - A Memoir. This is the story OF Michelle - told from her perspective... as a little girl growing into her teens. She grew up in a cult started by her grandfather, who was seen as the last prophet, and would lead them after surviving the apocalypse.More at michelledowd.org

David Fleming speaks with Michelle Dowd, author of Forager: Field Notes For Surviving a Family Cult - A Memoir. Each chapter begins with a plant you can find in the mountain wilderness, and the ways to use it for food. Each chapter then goes on to tell the story of Michelle Dowd, and the Angeles National Forest cult in which she was raised. The cult was started by her grandfather, known to all as the last prophet. He would not die, but rather live to be 500 and lead the organization through the impending apocalypse. The story is told from the perspective OF Michelle - as a 7-year-old, growing into her teenage years - when she would eventually leave.More on the book at Michelle Dowd dot org. Michelle’s on Instagram at MichelleDowdZ, there’s also MDowd.Substack.com. The books available in hardback, paperback, Kindle and Audio anywhere books are sold. All are on Amazon.

On this edition of the program David Fleming speaks with Brooks Wilson. Bobby was already in tribute bands, performing among other things, the music of Jackie Wilson – long before finding out that he was indeed Jackie Wilson’s son. Bobby will be at Vibrato Grill & Jazz March 8th with a Jackie Wilson Tribute show.vibratogrilljazz.com for more. Also, more at bobbywilsonmusic.com.

David Fleming continues his conversation with Evan J. Marshall - sometimes known as Mr. Solo Mandolin, due to his ability to play several parts of the mandolin at the same time, giving self-accompaniment. We'll hear about bluegrass, Western swing, as well as classical. AND - his take on the final movement from The William Tell Overture AKA the theme from The Lone Ranger.

Writers on the Block started off as pretty much an open mic for writers... mostly poets. It soon became mainly an online Facebook presence where people could share their works, as well as give and receive feedback. It then became a live event once again - the first Wednesday of every month at The Vault Martini Bar Redlands (which turns/turned 20 years old this year)! There's a sign up sheet starting at 8, and by 9 be ready for, well, readings and recitations. I got there as someone was reading from a short story. Many, many poems followed as we went through the signup sheet. I heard some very personal pieces, and some which were designed for a laugh. I heard some works which adhered strictly to meter and form... and others were a rant on paper. And all of which I enjoyed thoroughly.The main driving force behind Writers on the Block these days is the combination of Alfred Valdivia Jr., Jamie Lee Musser, and Jose Nevarez AKA Vill Ain. Jamie and Villain join me to talk about Writers on the Block - past and prese

Entertainment to experience… or to see!Whatever branch of service you might have served in, you may recall just how much they molded you into being a soldier, sailor, marine, etc... but they didn't do a WHOLE lot to prepare you for being a civilian once again.Enter Mil-Tree, and their program, "Tapestries of Transformation." The purpose of which is connecting veterans back to their community and reducing chronic loneliness and isolation.The culmination of the program will be a theatrical performance in the Spring, which comes together as the culmination of several workshops - drumming, writing and storytelling, acting, and movement. The workshops are coming up QUITE soon - running through February. AND - they're not JUST for veterans.More at mil-tree.org.

John Jorgenson grew up in Redlands (and while at University of Redlands, actually played clarinet with Benny Goodman conducting!!!), and at one point worked at Disneyland - playing in three different bands comprised of the same four guys. He was in The Desert Rose Band, along with Chris Hillman of the Byrds and Herb Pederson, who’s played with more people than I can name in one breath. He was also in the award-winning Hellecasters, and was invited by Elton John to be part of an 18-month tour, which turned into a 6-year stay. John Jorgenson is also one of the forerunners in the world of Gypsy Jazz.I interviewed him just over a decade ago when he was getting ready to perform in Redlands, though this was before the creation of KVC-Arts. About time I included this one! John is still touring and performing in a number of configurations. More at johnjorgenson.com

On this edition of KVC-Arts, we'll hear from Johnny A Hickman about this region of California as well as bands from the area (Cracker's roots are indeed Redlands, San Bernardino, Highland, Riverside...), another phrase or three talking about the songwriting process for Cracker, several REALLY cool tunes from Hickman's early solo release, Palmhenge - as well as the origin of that name, and yes - Cracker's breakout hit - Teen Angst.

The core of Cracker has always been Johnny A Hickman and David Lowery. Before moving to Virginia, Cracker was VERY much steeped in The Inland Empire region of Southern California (The Dangers, Camper Van Beethoven & more). So in early November when they were getting ready to wrap up their 2023 tour in Highland (a literal 10 miles from where I sit), I happily grabbed a chance for an interview. It was very much at the 11th hour, and David was teaching that day, but I was quite happy to speak with Johnny. Either one would have been wonderful. LOTS of GREAT material with both these guys!Even though there wasn't room in a KVC-Arts prior to their performance, we still spoke for just under an hour, so I could grab a snippet of the conversation to be used as a feature during Morning Edition and All Things Considered to promote their appearance and use the rest of the conversation for a KVC-Arts in the relative near future.So - taking us into the new year, it's Cracker for the next TWO KVC-Arts. Some of the items

Last year I thought I'd just pad the KVC-Arts falling on Christmas with music from someone who'd been a guest on KVC-Arts in the past... to just kind of round out the show. Then I decided there were more than enough past guests to fill and entire program. So that's what I did. And this year we're getting it again. Not a repeat of last year's program, but again it's music for the season… all from folks who’ve been guests on KVC-Arts in the past, and some who live in this region!Quite fun... and at times quite beautiful. Music from (in order): Benjiphonik, Chris Thayer, Jonathan Karrant, Kenny Vance, Peter Curtis, and Apryle Dalmacio.

Near the end of October 2023, Chris Thayer put together a poster which represents - in order - bands and projects going from great 90’s rock, to love songs and lullabies, to the blues bands - both jump swing show bands and grittier, greasier explorations. An album with a guest or two on every track, and more introspection with other releases… 20 albums over the last 29ish years.When David Fleming and Chris spoke recently about his novels - and graphic novels, they also took the time to address the poster - in order - hearing about each band or project represented.We’ll hear about Stillwater Black, Chris Thayer Band, Chris Thayer and the TCB, Depravity Brothers, The Storybook Villains, C. W. Thayer and music to accompany a haunted pumpkin patch… personal music, and music share and to celebrate…

David Fleming welcomes back Chris Thayer. Generally when Chris is on the program it's to talk about music, with many projects (always) going on. On this visit we'll hear about a couple of Novels out - "Summers, Weekends, Nights & Holidays," and "The Perfect Man." We'll also hear about a fascinating novel ABOUT to be out, some graphic novels and more.

From David Fleming: The celebration of KVC-Arts #500 continues!You've easily read something similar on a previous post or three. Every time I speak with Al Pitrelli (Music Director for, and one of the lead guitarist with, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), we're speaking about TSO's upcoming tour. Also every time, if I have 3, 5, 12 minutes left, I'll ask for a quick mention of one part or another of Al's extensive and varied career. Last time we spoke I just finally asked if we could do a NON-Trans-Siberian Orchestra at some point, to which he agreed. We not only arranged for such an interview, but it was also set to go for an extended length of time to be used for KVC-Arts #500. I was hoping for an hour... I closed at an hour and a half.Last KVC-Arts we heard primarily about Pitrelli's work with Randy Coven. Tonight we have a special one-hour edition of the program talking about music from, or his work with - get ready - Alice Cooper (where I ask if one of his most searing and soulful solos was, well, a segue), Dee

David Fleming speaks with Anoushka Shankar. The initial conversation was when she was in the area to perform, with orchestra, one of the concertos for sitar and orchestra written by her father, the late Ravi Shankar. Beyond the concerto works, we spoke about some of her other releases, as she'll be in the area quite soon in quintet form. A rather atypical grouping, though SO nice! We'll hear about this, a couple of her releases, "Rise" and "Breathing Underwater." We'll also hear about her work with Herbie Hancock, Sting, and more, as well as a VERY moving piece called "In Her Name," combining music, dance, and spoken word. Originally called "In Jyoti's Name," the piece is "in loving memory of Jyoti Singh Pandey, who was beaten and gang-raped on a bus in Delhi," leading to her death two days later. VERY powerful! Also touching lightly on Anoushka scoring one of India's first three movies ever made!

David Fleming speaks with Al Pitrelli, music director for, and one of the guitarists, with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, touring live again this year, with two performances in Ontario December 2nd. We'll hear about how, when and why TSO split into two touring groups, the story of Ghosts of Christmas Eve, Leonard Bernstein, Steve Vai - which ties in with David Lee Roth AND Alice Cooper - the latter of which ties BACK to both Bernstein and TSO...And more.

David Fleming continues his conversation with Judy Tschann, and her recent book, "Romaine Wasn't Built In a Day - The Delightful History of Food Language." This is a tossed salad of etymology, mixed with puns, history, and storytelling. This is the second part of a wonderful conversation - fascinating at SO many levels. Check out the first part at kvcrnews.org/arts, also, more at judithtschann.com

David Fleming welcomes Guitarist Ray Russell. They chat about his career and work in Jazz fusion, movie music and much more.