Kathy Geary, soprano

Now and Then - Bob Dylan's "Shadow Kingdom", John Lennon, Bert Jansch, Bobby Wood

Original air July 15, 2023 | Time 58:00

Bob Dylan released Shadow Kingdom" on June 2, 2023. It was recorded in a studio in Los Angeles in 2021. The recording features beautifully sung renditions of some of his most iconic songs. The sincerity is palpable and wonderful to hear.

Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
Most Likely You'll Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

Who can follow this wonderful performance by Dylan? I think there's something in John Lennon's demo tapes that captures the same kind of sincere performance. We hear Here We Go Again from a demo casette he did at the Dakota in Manhattan in the mid 70's. From the Beatles anthology we hear the demo of his famous "Strawberry Fields".

Bert Jansch was never as famous as either Bob or John, but he stands up next to them well. We hear the title track from his final studio album Black Swan in 2006. He sang Wild Moutain Thyme Live ad McCage's Guitar Shop i 1981. We also hear "Black Water Side" which was covered by Jimmy Page with Led Zeppelin, although Jansch was not credited for the composition.

Bobby Wood is a young singer songwriter performing here in the Catskills area. He has released an EP called Wood From a Stone and we hear his song El Paso Turnaround which was inspired by Bert Jansch.

Now and Then - New Music from Graham Nash and Paul Simon

Original air June 6, 2023 | Time 58:00

Both Graham Nash and Paul Simon have released new music on the same day May 19, 2023! What a cool coincidence.

Graham Nash - from NOW
Right Now |I Watched It All Come Down | Golden Idols | Better Life
Paul Simon - from "SEVEN PSALMS"
David Crosby - from "SKY TRAILS"
Capitol

Now and Then LIVE - Sullivan County Annual Music Festival! Kali Seastrand, Caswyn Moon, Faith Kelly

Original air May 27, 2023 | Time 58:00

The Second Annual Sullivan County Music Festival is June 4, 2023 from Noon to 8pm. I'm thrilled to have Kali Seastrand, Caswyn Moon and Faith Kelly in the studio for live performances in anticipation of this popular event. The Festival is at the Hurleyville Performing Arts Center in Hurleyville NY.

Now and Then AT HOME - Bob Dylan's book "The Philosophy of Modern Song"

Original air March 25, 2023 | Time 58:00

Bob Dylan's New Book "The Philosophy of Modern Song" contains 66 essays about 66 songwriters and their music. Many of them are from the formative years of Rock, Blues and R&B from the 1950's, a list of which I'm only familiar with a few.

We start the program with Dylan's Crossing the Rubicon from 2020's album Rough and Rowdy Ways. Then we hear Little Walter's" version of Key to the Highway by Big Bill Broonzy and George Sugar, released on Checker Records in 1958. He's the only harmonica player ever inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. You can tell how the young Dylan was strongly influenced by Little Walter when you hear the songs back to back. Then I read his essay.

He writes about Edwin Starr's version of WAR, released on Gordy Records in 1970. It's a revelation to read his assessment of this attempt to monetize the burgeoning peace movement. Dylan's earliest songs were social commentary and dealt with political issues. But much of his later work is about relationships and emotions. However in his essay on WAR he doesn't hold back with his assessments, brilliant and passionate. We hear Dylan's Masters of War and I read his essay.

The program finishes with two songs from Dylan's Rough and Rowdy Ways, "I Contain Multitudes" and "Goodbye Jimmie Reed".