When I was back in college and entertaining a career in radio, I had the opportunity to intern for John Schaefer at WNYC. It only lasted a few weeks, but I can remember it like it was yesterday: riding a rickety elevator up to the 25th floor of the Municipal Building, finding John and his then-assistant Margaret Juntwait half-hidden by a pile of CD's that looked like they were about to topple over. Whatever they were doing, it looked like they were having a blast.
It's hard to believe, but John's been on the air in New York for 30 years now. In that time, he's hosted nearly 3,300 episodes of his signature program, New Sounds, another 1,000 episodes of his daytime series, Soundcheck, and hundreds of live performances under the New Sounds Live umbrella. It is no exaggeration to say that John has had a bigger impact on the music of New York – and, by extension, the country – than any other person. And, not just contemporary music: John's tastes run the gamut, from classical and contemporary, to world music and indie rock.
So, it was fitting that his colleagues pay tribute to John last night with a concert of live music in the WNYC Greene Space. Hosted by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo – who, with her outsized, ebullient personality, was the perfect pick for MC – the show was a microcosm of John's listening life.
After an opening performance by guitarist Scott Johnson of his composition "John Somebody," Kidjo was joined by John's first-ever New Sounds guest, Laurie Anderson, who performed an early work with a mouth amplifier that made her voice sound like a violin. Kidjo herself then sang a traditional African song, lighting up the room by coaxing us all to sing along.
In the evening's most innovative pairing, pianist Simone Dinnerstein - who used to give John's daughter piano lessons – accompanied the sunny singer-songwriter Tift Merritt on two songs: one by Merritt (with guitar) and one by Schubert (without.) Contemporary string quartet Ethel were engaging as always, ripping out a plugged-in performance of a minimalist new music piece.
Finally, John himself took the stage, telling us that on all of his year-end "Best-of" lists, he named only two albums: one by PJ Harvey, and the other by the relatively obscure Brooklyn-based We Are Augustines ("Rise Ye Sunken Ships.") With that, the band came on stage for an abbreviated set that included "Book of James" and "Headlong". Billy McCarthy's searing, seemingly out-of-control vocals were like a cross between Dave Matthews, Tom Waits and The National's Matt Erdinger. In other words: extraordinary. (You can listen to "Headlong" here.)
I'll leave the final word to Steve Reich, who appeared onstage to provide the evening's most heartfelt – and accurate – tribute:
"If you want to hear the latest in experimental music, listen to John. If you want to hear the latest indie band from the depths of Brooklyn, listen to John. If you want to hear an indie band from the depths of India, listen to John. John Schaefer runs, hands down, the best music show on the planet."
The concert will be broadcast on Soundcheck on Dec. 15; more info online. (More photos below and on the photo page.)
WNYC President Laura Walker
Laurie Anderson and Angelique Kidjo
Angelique Kidjo
Simone Dinnerstein and Tift Merritt
Steve Reich
Ethel
John Schaefer
We Are Augustines
Billy McCarthy, We Are Augustines
John Schaefer, Meredith Monk and other guests
Absolutely great post. Via the radio and the computer, John has been my second greatest music teacher after my father. My best tale is when John had Steve Reich on the weekend show with the premier of the Desert Music, I had my cassette recorder on to “steal” the music. Afterward, I realized that I could buy the music; but the interview was priceless. I wrote to John(snail mail in those days)to ask if a transcript was available. He wrote back not with a transcript, but rather with the date that the program would be repeated, and told me to have my cassette recorder ready. I still have that interview, now in digital form. Of course, I bought the music, and a ton more of Steve’s music. New Sounds was and is still responsible for bringing to the public great stuff. Nadia Sirota over on Q2 comes close to John, but, he has no equal.
Absolutely great post. Via the radio and the computer, John has been my second greatest music teacher after my father. My best tale is when John had Steve Reich on the weekend show with the premier of the Desert Music, I had my cassette recorder on to “steal” the music. Afterward, I realized that I could buy the music; but the interview was priceless. I wrote to John(snail mail in those days)to ask if a transcript was available. He wrote back not with a transcript, but rather with the date that the program would be repeated, and told me to have my cassette recorder ready. I still have that interview, now in digital form. Of course, I bought the music, and a ton more of Steve’s music. New Sounds was and is still responsible for bringing to the public great stuff. Nadia Sirota over on Q2 comes close to John, but, he has no equal.
Absolutely great post. Via the radio and the computer, John has been my second greatest music teacher after my father. My best tale is when John had Steve Reich on the weekend show with the premier of the Desert Music, I had my cassette recorder on to “steal” the music. Afterward, I realized that I could buy the music; but the interview was priceless. I wrote to John(snail mail in those days)to ask if a transcript was available. He wrote back not with a transcript, but rather with the date that the program would be repeated, and told me to have my cassette recorder ready. I still have that interview, now in digital form. Of course, I bought the music, and a ton more of Steve’s music. New Sounds was and is still responsible for bringing to the public great stuff. Nadia Sirota over on Q2 comes close to John, but, he has no equal.
Absolutely great post. Via the radio and the computer, John has been my second greatest music teacher after my father. My best tale is when John had Steve Reich on the weekend show with the premier of the Desert Music, I had my cassette recorder on to “steal” the music. Afterward, I realized that I could buy the music; but the interview was priceless. I wrote to John(snail mail in those days)to ask if a transcript was available. He wrote back not with a transcript, but rather with the date that the program would be repeated, and told me to have my cassette recorder ready. I still have that interview, now in digital form. Of course, I bought the music, and a ton more of Steve’s music. New Sounds was and is still responsible for bringing to the public great stuff. Nadia Sirota over on Q2 comes close to John, but, he has no equal.
Absolutely great post. Via the radio and the computer, John has been my second greatest music teacher after my father. My best tale is when John had Steve Reich on the weekend show with the premier of the Desert Music, I had my cassette recorder on to “steal” the music. Afterward, I realized that I could buy the music; but the interview was priceless. I wrote to John(snail mail in those days)to ask if a transcript was available. He wrote back not with a transcript, but rather with the date that the program would be repeated, and told me to have my cassette recorder ready. I still have that interview, now in digital form. Of course, I bought the music, and a ton more of Steve’s music. New Sounds was and is still responsible for bringing to the public great stuff. Nadia Sirota over on Q2 comes close to John, but, he has no equal.
Absolutely great post. Via the radio and the computer, John has been my second greatest music teacher after my father. My best tale is when John had Steve Reich on the weekend show with the premier of the Desert Music, I had my cassette recorder on to “steal” the music. Afterward, I realized that I could buy the music; but the interview was priceless. I wrote to John(snail mail in those days)to ask if a transcript was available. He wrote back not with a transcript, but rather with the date that the program would be repeated, and told me to have my cassette recorder ready. I still have that interview, now in digital form. Of course, I bought the music, and a ton more of Steve’s music. New Sounds was and is still responsible for bringing to the public great stuff. Nadia Sirota over on Q2 comes close to John, but, he has no equal.
Thanks, Richard – great story! Love Nadia, too, but John’s been keeping the light on a whole lot longer.
Thanks, Richard – great story! Love Nadia, too, but John’s been keeping the light on a whole lot longer.
Thanks, Richard – great story! Love Nadia, too, but John’s been keeping the light on a whole lot longer.
Thanks, Richard – great story! Love Nadia, too, but John’s been keeping the light on a whole lot longer.
Thanks, Richard – great story! Love Nadia, too, but John’s been keeping the light on a whole lot longer.
Thanks, Richard – great story! Love Nadia, too, but John’s been keeping the light on a whole lot longer.