Tune in to Experience Talks, our weekly “Radio Magazine for the Experienced Listener,” on Sundays at 5:30 PM PDT on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles, 98.7 FM Santa Barbara, 99.5 China Lake, 93.7 N. San Diego, streaming live online, and now syndicated on up to 100 Pacifica Network stations! Experience Talks is produced by the non-profit EngAGE, Inc.
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SUNDAY 4/14 @ 5:30 PDT
MELANIE FUTORIAN
Host: JOHN SEMPER JR.
MELANIE FUTORIAN is the author of Don Alias: Stories of a Legendary Percussionist. The book recounts the journey of the musician from his childhood in the 1950s playing in the streets of Harlem to recording the groundbreaking Miles Davis album, Bitches Brew.
Alias performed on hundreds of recordings and was best known for his associations with Davis and saxophonist David Sanborn, though he also performed or recorded with the group Weather Report, singer Joni Mitchell, pianist Herbie Hancock, the Brecker Brothers, Jaco Pastorius, Pat Metheny, Nina Simone, and many others. Melanie was Don’s life partner for eight years, travelling with him as he performed around the world until his death in 2006.
Melanie’s career as a writer includes not only this book, but also her regular column in the Italian jazz magazine, Jazzespresso, which is translated into four languages. In addition, Melanie is an accomplished dancer and choreographer, having studied with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and performed with Ballet Theatre of Boston and other companies. Her photography of jazz performers has been featured in magazine publications and on record albums, including the Jazz Tango cover for Grammy winner Pablo Ziegler.
Learn more at her website.
