As part of its celebration of Black History Month, 88.5 WYSU-FM will air “Songs for the Struggle – Jazz and the Civil Rights Movement.” The program airs 10 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6 and 10 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13.
Hosted by Cleveland writer and broadcaster Dan Polletta, “Songs for the Struggle” is a two-part musical survey of the work jazz musicians created that called attention to the struggle for civil rights from the 1920s to the present.
The program provides a deep dive into these works, which range from Louis Armstrong’s “Black and Blue” to saxophonist Sonny Criss’ celebration of “the Black Apostles.” David Murray and Cassandra Wilson also tell the story of how Blacks were driven from their homes during Reconstruction.
The program explores how Duke Ellington sent up stereotypes with his musical “Jump for Joy” and how tenor saxophonist Harold Land and singer Nina Simone recorded works that reflected the changing nature of the movement in the late 1960s.
Listeners not only hear the music, but the stories behind it, including the special rules that Café Society owner Barry Josephson established in his club when Billie Holiday sang “Strange Fruit” each evening.
Listeners can tune in to 88.FM, listen on the WYSU app, or stream at wysu.org….
For more information on WYSU, contact Ed Goist at 330-941-1777, or email go***@wy**.org.
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