Savannah Music Festival

Airs, Thursday, February 16 at 8:00 p.m.  In 2009, brothers Jeff and John Clayton brought their band to the Savannah Music Festival to perform and to participate in Swing Central, SMF's annual high school jazz band workshop and competition. They were joined on stage by John's son, pianist Gerald Clayton, trumpeter Terrell Stafford and drummer Obed Calvaire. Part one of this two-hour radio show features the Clayton Brothers live in the Charles H. Morris Center. One of the most soulful, fiery and fun-loving jazz bands of our time, the Claytons assert their imagination in contexts that are neither mysterious nor exotic.

Airs Thursday, February 2 at 8:00 p.m.  Afro-Portuguese fado sensation Mariza put on what many are calling the "concert of the year" at the Savannah Music Festival. Tune in for a program featuring her Georgia debut. Fado, which translated means "destiny" or "fate," is a musical genre that can be traced from the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. In popular belief, fado is a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics. The music is usually linked to the Portuguese word "saudade," which has no match in English but could be understood as nostalgia felt while missing someone. The origins of fado are a mixture of African slave rhythms, the traditions of Portuguese sailors, and the influence of Arabic music.

Airs Thursday, January 26 at 8:00 p.m.  An original production of the Savannah Music Festival, Battle Royale put two rhythm sections on stage (Marcus Roberts Trio and the Clayton Brothers), inviting various instrumentalists to the stage throughout the night for a good-natured cutting contest. The tradition of instrumental competition on the bandstand in jazz goes back to the origins of the music. By the early 1930s, such competitive on-stage battles became known as "cutting contests," and they almost always produced some terrific entertainment for the audience in attendance.

Airs Thursday, January 19 at 8:00 p.m. When the discussion of contemporary American acoustic music arises, several different genres come to mind. If the ingredients of the genre include well-crafted songs, vivid arrangements, instrumental virtuosity, splendid improvisation, complete vocal harmony, as well as a mandolin, a banjo, and a dobro, well, the window gets narrowed down. One group that embodies all of these traits is The Infamous Stringdusters. Listen to the talented young newgrass ensemble The Infamous Stringdusters on this episode of SMF Live, featuring selections culled from their two shows at the Savannah Music Festival in Charles H. Morris Center. 

Airs Thursday, January 12 at 8:00 p.m.   Performers include Sam Bush, Mike Marshall, Don Stiernberg, the David Grisman Quintet, Jerry Douglas, Bob Seeley, the Bucky Pizzarelli Trio, Daniel Hope, Tony Williamson and Sebastian Knauer.

In music, the term "Americana" generally refers to a subset of American music that is perhaps best defined as "classic" American music, ranging in style from roots-based bluegrass to alternative country, gospel, blues, zydeco, jazz and other native forms. In this episode, we listen to an array of musical Americana selections recorded at the Savannah Music Festival between 2004 and 2008.