Susan Alcorn: Nueva Canción on Pedal Steel
01/25/24 • 40 min
Today, the Spotlight shines On the innovative pedal steel guitar player Susan Alcorn.
While Susan got her start playing in country & western bands in Texas, she has taken the pedal steel into new and uncharted territories, exploring 20th-century classical music, improvisational jazz, and various world musics.
On her latest project, CANTO, Susan explored Chilean folk music and nueva canción, which translates as “new song” and refers to an intertwined musical and leftist social movement so important to the pro-Democracy organizations throughout Latin America over the last 50 years or more.
Released back in November 2023 on Relative Pitch Records, CANTO features Alcorn’s Septeto del Sur, a new ensemble featuring a cross-generational group of musicians versed in folk and improvisational traditions.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from the album CANTO by Susan Alcorn and Septeto del Sur)
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Dig Deeper
- Listen to CANTO by Susan Alcorn and Septeto del Sur on Bandcamp or your streaming platform of choice
- Visit Susan Alcorn at susanalcorn.net and on Instagram and Bandcamp
- Mourning and Hope: A Conversation with Susan Alcorn
- A Brief History of the Nueva Canción Movement
- La Nueva Canción: The New Song Movement in South America
- Susan Alcorn Live at The Orange Show Monument - April 23, 2022
- Be sure to peruse this episode's extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com
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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today, the Spotlight shines On the innovative pedal steel guitar player Susan Alcorn.
While Susan got her start playing in country & western bands in Texas, she has taken the pedal steel into new and uncharted territories, exploring 20th-century classical music, improvisational jazz, and various world musics.
On her latest project, CANTO, Susan explored Chilean folk music and nueva canción, which translates as “new song” and refers to an intertwined musical and leftist social movement so important to the pro-Democracy organizations throughout Latin America over the last 50 years or more.
Released back in November 2023 on Relative Pitch Records, CANTO features Alcorn’s Septeto del Sur, a new ensemble featuring a cross-generational group of musicians versed in folk and improvisational traditions.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from the album CANTO by Susan Alcorn and Septeto del Sur)
------------------
Dig Deeper
- Listen to CANTO by Susan Alcorn and Septeto del Sur on Bandcamp or your streaming platform of choice
- Visit Susan Alcorn at susanalcorn.net and on Instagram and Bandcamp
- Mourning and Hope: A Conversation with Susan Alcorn
- A Brief History of the Nueva Canción Movement
- La Nueva Canción: The New Song Movement in South America
- Susan Alcorn Live at The Orange Show Monument - April 23, 2022
- Be sure to peruse this episode's extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com
------------------
• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
Kris Davis: defining jazz's vanguard
Today, the Spotlight shines On Grammy-winning pianist and composer Kris Davis.
Kris joined us in the wake of the September 2023 release of her album Live at the Village Vanguard, out on her own Pyroclastic Records label.
Live at the Village Vanguard is the second release from her band Diatom Ribbons, an adventurous quintet featuring drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, turntablist and electronic musician Val Jeanty, bassist Trevor Dunn – and new addition guitarist Julian Lage.
In addition to talking about that band and album, Kris guides us through her musical path and development while hipping us to her important work at the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from Live at the Village Vanguard by Kris Davis and Diatom Ribbons)
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Dig Deeper
- Listen to Live at the Village Vanguard by Kris Davis and Diatom Ribbons on Bandcamp or your streaming platform of choice
- Visit Kris Davis at krisdavis.net
- Visit Pyroclastic Records at pyroclasticrecords.com
- Follow Kris Davis on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (X) and Pyroclastic Records on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (X).
- Kris Davis Is A Powerhouse and A Polymath
- Kris Davis, a Pianist Fighting for Fringe Music
- Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice
- Be sure to peruse this episode's extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com
------------------
• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
Brendan Grey (Super Duty Tough Work): hip-hop's liberation through hedonism
Today, the Spotlight shines On multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator, and performer Brendan Grey of the Canadian hip-hop group Super Duty Tough Work.
In addition to his duties as MC, drummer, and band leader, Brendan has become a sought-after performance, session, and touring drummer.
We spoke back in the autumn of 2023 for a conversation that still sticks with me. I look forward to hearing what you think.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from the album Paradigm Shift by Super Duty Tough Work)
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Dig Deeper
- Visit Super Duty Tough Work at sdtw.ca
- Listen to Super Duty Tough Work's Paradigm Shift on Bandcamp or your streaming platform of choice
- Follow Super Duty Tough Work on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
- Hip-hop group Super Duty Tough Work is keeping its grind alive
- Winnipeg State of Mind – Top 100 Winnipeg Hip-Hop Songs
- Super Duty Tough Work Nominated for Polaris Prize
- S N A K E S & L A D D E R S - S L E E P I N G G I A N T S [2014]
- Style Wars
- The Importance Of The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
- Winterruption At Home 2021 featuring Super Duty Tough Work
- Be sure to peruse this episode's extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com
------------------
• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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