Paradigms

Dan Jacobson grew up in Denver, Colorado, with his mothers parents close by, both survivors of the Holocaust in Europe during WWII. Dan’s grandfather Steve was born in a small village in Romania before the war, but the war came and his life was profoundly affected.  He is one of 2 family members to have survived the concentration camps, and he escaped from Auschwitz days before the liberation in 1945. In 2006 Dan went with his grandfather, his parents and his sister, to the village in Romania, Deda Bistra, and he filmed the journey, spent 2 years editing the footage, and in 2009 released the movie Looking For Roots, Finding Flowers which has just been made available to the public on YouTube!

Dan talks about how his grandfather’s stories were part of his childhood, the Jewish commandment to remember and where that comes from, what it was like to make the film and how he sees it now. Paradigms offers Dan’s story, with music and audio excerpts from the film, as well as some other musical selections, including Dan with his band Roomtones.

The atrocities of WWII stand out, but since WWII the US alone has killed over 20 million people in war. Add to that all the other wars in the last 75 years and it becomes clear that humanity is engaged in an ongoing holocaust of violence and cruelty. Perhaps we can learn from Dan’s film, which is part of one family’s story, out of many millions of stories.

• Radio version of this episode (59:51 minutes)

Music by: my bloody valentine, Roomtones, Ancuta Anghel, Klezmer Conservatory Band, Smiley, London Festival Orchestra – Danielle Dechenne & Ferdinand Lang, Cantor Josef Rosenblatt, and Naftule Brandwein.

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Grimaldo del Solar and Sylvia Falcón, both from Peru, have come together to create PUNKU, the eponymously titled debut of their collaboration.  The music blends traditional Andean rhythms, instruments, and melodies, with contemporary electronica and Rock/Rap styles, creating a powerful fusion.

Drawing from ancestral  musical DNA, and using technology to capture and recreate magical musical moments from jam sessions and composing intensives, this music may stir the listeners sense of their own ancestral expressions.

Peru was hard hit by Covid.  This record was made during the height of the pandemic, so the artists are creating in that context. Peru is a very diverse country, with its own political turmoil, but no school shootings, gun violence occurs less than it does in the United States.  Perhaps we in the US can learn something from Peru?

• Celebrating the centenary of Yma Sumac

Music by: PUNKU

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Dean Cycon is the founder of Dean’s Beans, whose mission statement is a model for ethical, socially responsible, Earth friendly business practices. After 30 profitable years working with an ethical business model, Dean is retiring and turning the company into an Employee Owned Co-operative.

Dean returns to Paradigms after 13 years. He has a lot to share about how Dean’s Beans has grown, and about how their business model differs from the prevailing models; how they became a carbon negative venture (sequestering more carbon than they put out), how profits have been donated to local schools in Western Massachusetts to feed hungry children, and also to help refugees in Ukraine.  Dean is an example of someone who has high ethical standards and who walks their talk. He’s also a lot of fun to talk with.  He is currently writing a second book to follow up his 2007 Javatrekker: Dispatches from the World of Fair Trade Coffee.

In light of the recent ruling by the illegitimate “SCOTUS” enabling pollution to be unregulated, the need for ethical Earth Friendly business practices has never been greater.

Music by: Craig Chaquico, The Eagles, Aditya Prakash Ensemble, Fantomaticos, Stanley Clarke, and Bonnie Raitt.

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Hannah Baiardi returns to Paradigms to share her new record Magic, a sumptuous feast of jazz keyboard and vocals, all original songs, that will smooth out your day.

Hannah has the gift of creating songs and musical compositions that embody the path of the seeker, someone on an intentional journey of learning and experiencing the interconnectedness of everything.

This episode of Paradigms is being broadcast just days after The Supreme Court of the United States, which includes 4 “Justices” who committed perjury during their confirmation hearings, has attempted to roll the clock backwards by ruling that women do not have the right to bodily autonomy, that guns belong in the street, and they are threatening to do away with marriage equality and the right to contraception. Listen for Baruch’s commentary at the end of the episode.

Music by: Hannah Baiardi

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Peter Yarrow is one of our better angels.  He’s been a voice of conscience, peacemaking, love and decency, for three quarters of a century!  Peter, Paul (Stookey) & Mary (Travers) gave voice to generations of children and adults around the world with music that uplifted, fed our imaginations, and always always called for us to be our better selves.

Peter has been sharing music with survivors of school shootings since the Sandy Hook massacre in Newtown, CT in 2012.  Spending time, making music, singing with people, being part of healing for individuals and for our collective trauma, Peter has been steadfast in his passion for peace and equity.

The shooting in Uvalde, TX inspired Peter to rework a familiar peace anthem, here is the video for Where Have All Our Children Gone?

• Bill Moyers with Francine Wheeler and Peter Yarrow

Music by: Peter Yarrow, Peter Paul & Mary, and Pete Seeger

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Bart Moore has just released his second album Graveyards Wind & War a compilation of original songs. His first record is Curse of Los Lunas.

Bart is a storyteller.  His songs explore real stories and offer windows into human lives and experiences, which we can learn from.

Bart is from Michigan, where he lives and performs. Once a punk/grunge rocker in the San Francisco Bay area, eventually Bart moved back to his native Michigan and “went acoustic” to save his hearing.  Now he’s following the bardish tradition of playing small venues and telling stories with haunting music. Inspired by other musicians and storytellers, Bart wants your attention!

Music by: Bart Moore

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Mike Stevens has been playing harmonica since he was a child. He’s played with world class musicians and has graced the stage of The Grand Ole Opry.  His playing is virtuoso.  The harmonica may seem a humble instrument, but Mike makes powerful music with it. Breathe In The World, Breathe Out Music is a collection of original tunes, with a few familiar songs for good measure.  The band is excellent, and Mike’s arranging and composing are inspired.

Mike shares personal stories of discovery and humanity which are inspiring and moving and true. Mike’s travels and musical adventures, his sense of being part of the whole and in service, are reminders of the caring and action humans are capable of.

We’ll be listening to music from the new record.

Music by: Mike Stevens

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Edith Letner, Yacouba Sissoko, and Banning Eyre, are Voyagers, a trio playing fusion music with facets of Jazz, various African, Folk, and other musical traditions. Each has achieved mastery with their instruments, and continues to learn and explore. Together they bring us Chasing Light, an album of original and traditional tunes which bring light into the space, into your mind, into the world, something we need right now. This is dancing music!

The conversation with Banning and Edith goes from how Voyagers came to be, to the new record and how it was made, and some observations about life on Earth. Yacouba was unable to be on the call, but he was present in spirit through the music.

Music by: Voyagers

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Loreena McKennitt returns to Paradigms after 4 years to talk about the 30th anniversary of her breakthrough record The Visit. Loreena is about to launch a Canadian Tour where she will be performing the album in its entirety along with colleagues Caroline Lavelle on cello, Hugh Marsh on violin, and Brian Hughes on guitar. With just one date in each province, this tour is extra special!

Loreena tells some of her origin story as an artist, and shares a spirited conversation about creativity, technology, cosmology, and more.

Loreena is sustained by nature, a lover of animals, and a very thoughtful person who is concerned with the state of humanity. Her music draws from rich traditions and Loreena’s own creativity, creating space for reflection, feeling, and appreciation.

We’ll be listening to selections from The Visit.

Music by: Loreena McKennitt

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Chris Butcher is a trombonist, recording engineer, and more, and Holly Devon is a writer artist philosopher.  Along with Sabertooth Swing band leader Romain Beauxis, and other artists, they have just released a new album Delta Bound which is a recounting and feeling-through some of the history of New Orleans.

Guest artists include Sister Helen Prejean, Bruce ‘Sunpie’ Barnes, Jeffery Broussard, Cedric Watson, Paul Chéene, The Daiquiri Queens, Zachary Richard, Kid Chocolate, Daiquiri René Jones, and Big Queen Mary Kay of the Original Wild Tchoupitoulas, who contribute thoughtful spoken word essays, readings of works by Sidney Bechet and Frank Stanford and excerpts from Spanish soldier Luis Hernandez de Biedma.

“What’s so important about this album is that it’s showing the continuity of the story of New Orleans. There are all these different time periods that are filtering through, but the place is the constant that binds it all together. It’s the making of the reality that we’re all living through in New Orleans right now. And there’s been no break. Delta Bound asks, ‘Can we all face this violent history and can we all face the truth of it?’ With the power of art, you get a chance to actually touch the depths of this music and you can’t do that if you’re not willing to face that reality.” – Holly Devon

Music by: Sabertooth Swing & Guests

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