CMCI Lecturer Dr. Harvey G. Cohen‘s new book Duke Ellington’s America (University of Chicago Press), currently in its second printing, has been receiving attention lately on the airwaves in the United States, from coast to coast.
This Friday, 20 August 2010, at 6PM London time, Cohen will be interviewed about his book on “Metro Connection,” a program broadcast on National Public Radio’s affiliate in Washington, D.C., WAMU-FM. The program can be heard live or archived (after its broadcast) at this site
On Sunday, 8 August, Cohen discussed his book for 30 minutes on Austin, Texas radio station KAZI’s Book Review programme, hosted by Hopeton Lewis. Unfortunately, no link exists for the program. Cohen will be in Austin in late September to participate in an international conference concerning Cold War Cultures: Indisciplinary and Transnational Perspectives, and was invited by the station to guest-DJ one of their jazz programs when he’s in town. More details on this when it’s confirmed.
On Sunday, 18 July 2010, Cohen appeared for a 40-minute interview on New Day Jazz, a weekly jazz radio programme on KDVS, a college radio station at the University of California at Davis. The program features more than an hour of surprising Ellington music chosen by host Justin Desmangles, including a lot of material from the late 1940s, a period usually overlooked, which provides for some nice easy summer listening. The link for the podcast is here
On Wednesday 14 July, Cohen was interviewed about his new book on the Soundcheck show on WNYC-FM, New York City’s flagship National Public radio station. Unfortunately, no link exists for the program.
Cohen’s 45-minute appearance appearance on Radio Open Source on 6 July, which airs on Public Radio International stations in the United States, has probably been his favourite on American radio so far, because of the creative production by show host Christopher Lydon. For example, at one point, Cohen reads from some of Duke Ellington’s writings about African American history, while Ellington’s music inspired by that history plays beneath him. You can hear the entire broadcast here.
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