Crackin' the Vault
Centrum | Peter McCracken
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Crackin the Vault features musical nuggets from the last five decades of Centrum programming, including Country Blues, Fiddle Tunes, Voice Works, Slide and Steel, and one-time shows from the 90s. More than 55 National Heritage Fellows have participated in Centrum programming, and we’ll be broadcasting some of their finest performances. Hosted by Peter McCracken
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
May 14, 2021
Remembering John Dee Holeman, and John Hartford
Remembering John Dee Holeman
who passed last week at the age of 92
Never before heard cuts from John Dee at a house party in 1991
… and a John Hartford retrospective from 1999
This is a special day, the 10th birthday of KPTZ, and coincidentally the birthday of Larry Stein. Hope you tune in.
Crackin’ the Vault will go on hiatus for the summer, this will be the last show for a while (though we will play a rerun next week). Thank you dear listeners, we hope you’ve enjoyed these shows. They’ll still be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
See you soon I hope – enjoy every sandwich!
Peter
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May 7, 2021
Best and Weirdest Gigs
Strange and Wondrous Gigs
Gregg Miller and The Lips go head-to-head with the Mafia, and…?
George Rezendes’ Dream Gig comes true, but how?
Del Rey – the good, the bad, and the ugly, from Amsterdam to Texas
The Original Foghorn String band represents all of American music - in Borneo!
… and some pickin’ from Jerry Ricks
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
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Apr 23, 2021
Run the Entire River, the Mighty Mississippi
Floating Down the Mississippi
From the headwaters in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, some music from every state we pass
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Apr 16, 2021
Mariachi with Don Esteban Hernandez
Don Esteban Hernandez and Mariachi Los Galleros de Pedro Rey
A look and a listen to some of the six generations of the Hernandez dynasty, from the middle of the 19th century until today and some Balkan, blues, and banjo
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Apr 9, 2021
Musicians from Port Townsend
A look at the eclectic and creative musicians in our town, featuring:
George Rezendes * George Radebaugh * The Delta Rays
Simon Lynge * Janna Marit
Murphy and Marckx * Those Darn Accordions
Bobbie Nikles * The Jack Dwyer Band
Abakis * Micaela Kingslight
Bertram Levy and Kirk Sutphin * Neville Pearsall
Danny Barnes * Jonathan Doyle * LA Jones * David Grisman
and The Blue Crows
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Apr 2, 2021
Accordions Rule!
Featuring:
Joseba Tapia
Dwight Lamb
Joshua Horowitz
Raynald Ouellet
Smokey McKeen
Chrissie Marshall
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Mar 26, 2021
The First Fiddle Tunes 1977 - March 26
1977 Fiddle Tunes Festival, the first one
Featuring:
Benny Thomasson * Mark Graham
Kenny Hall * Hank Bradley * Larry Hanks
Jerry Gallaher * Nancy Katz * Tony Marcus
Marty Somberg * Ann Hansen * Scott Nygaard
and The Gypsy Gyppo String Band
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
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Mar 12, 2021
Let's Celebrate St. Patrick's Day
Éirinn go Brách - Irish musical delights
Get ready for St. Patrick’s Day with selections from:
Liz Carroll and John Doyle
Martin Mulhaire, Seamus Connolly, Seamus Egan
Liz and Yvonne Kane, with Django Amerson
Martin Hayes
And a short moment of reflection for Vesta Johnson, who passed away last week.
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Mar 5, 2021
Denmark Makes Me Happy
Danish Music with Morten Alfred Høirup and Mia Guldhammer,
A conversation with Morten and Mia
And selections from Ruthie Dornfeld, Kristian Bugge, Sonnich Lydom, and Jamie Fox
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Feb 26, 2021
The Gu-Achi Fiddlers, and Manmay Lakay
The Gu-Achi Fiddlers, and Manmay Lakay
Music from hot places:
the Tohono O’odham from Arizona, led by Elliot Johnson
and Manmay Lakay from St. Lucia, led by Augustin “Charley” Julian
And thoughts from Jeanie McLerie and Ken Keppeler
For a sobering and heart-breaking video about the wall built through the middle of the Tohono O’odham reservation (19 minutes):
https://emergencemagazine.org/story/border-nation/
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Feb 19, 2021
Singers of Note
Singers of Note
Singers from many Centrum programs, lots of duets, including:
The Brain Marshall Family Band,
Laurel Bliss and Cliff Perry
Jody Stecher and Kate Brislin, Pharis and Jason Romero,
Mary Sherhart, Alice Gerrard,
Julie Fowlis,
Shaye Cohn and Erika Lewis, the Lonesome Doves,
Morten Alfred Høirup and Mia Guldhammer,
Riley Baugus,
and the Birmingham Sunlights
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Feb 12, 2021
Every Month is Black History Month
Every Month is Black History Month
Let’s retire Black History Month and incorporate Black history into every year-round history curriculum nationwide.
In the meantime, we’ll listen to some Black musicians who have participated in Centrum programs.
Including:
The Carolina Chocolate Drops, with Joe Thompson
Jerron Paxton and Phil Wiggins
Howard Armstrong
Boo Hanks and Dom Flemons
Lynn August
The Creole Cowboys
and a little bit of Etta Baker
Rhiannon Giddens has been loading one awesome post per day this month on her Facebook page, about Black history in general, highly recommended:
https://www.facebook.com/RhiannonGiddensMusic/
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Feb 5, 2021
New Mexican fiddlers and players
Cleofes Ortiz
Fiddlers from Northern New Mexico are all but gone.
We’ll spend some time talking with Ken Keppeler and Jeanie McLerie
about Cleofes and Tonie Apodaca, and the disappearance of culture.
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Jan 29, 2021
Honoring Pedro Dimas
Don Pedro Dimas
El Maestro, the dean of Purepecha fiddlers, passed last week, and we’ll spend some time listening to his music and telling some stories, and remembering him.
… and a conversation with Zaidee Stavely about his life and legacy.
For a look at Mirando al Lago (it’s worth it), Don Pedro’s orchestra, with dancers wearing regalia that he designed, dancing his choreography - tune in to the Quarantine Happy hour on Sunday, January 31, at 5:30pm PST.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/quarantinehappyhourmusic
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Jan 22, 2021
Voice Works 2015 and a chat with The Bobs
The Bobs!
How they started, how they got their name, and a chat with Matthew Stull, founding member and selections from a Voice Works concert in 2015.
Including:
* The Thundering Cannonballs;
* Moira Smiley;
* Elizabeth Laprelle;
* Eli West;
* Cedric Watson;
* The Peña-Govea Family – Miguel, Susan, Rene, and Cecilia;
* and some of the Bobs early hits
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Jan 15, 2021
Voice Works 2015 and a Chat with Cathy Jordan
A chat with Cathy Jordan, lead singer with Dervish, and how Reeb Willms came to know her. And selections from a Voice Works concert in 2015.
Including:
A look back at Christine Balfa’s triangle record;
Cedric Watson;
The Peña-Govea Family – Miguel, Susan, Rene, and Cecilia – with a corrido and a polka;
Joel Savoy, Kelli Jones, Reeb Willms, Caleb Klauder;
Cathy Jordan herself, with Mark Simos and Moira Smiley;
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Jan 8, 2021
Remembering John Morton
Alas, John passed way too soon, on January 2.
We'll take an (inadequate) listen to some of the music John loved, vintage jazz, choro, and Italian dance music.
With:
* a few cuts of John on clarinet and bass clarinet;
* some of the source material for the Italian music that John played, including
* Tony Flores and his family and his connection to Port Townsend;
* Ricardo Tunzi;
* Paul Rangell and Emily Abbink;
* Irene Herrmann and Paul Hostetter
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Jan 1, 2021
Songs About Drinking
Songs About Drinking (and other mood-altering substances), wishes for 2021, and a conversation with Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms about what it was like to be a touring band in 2020 and what it might look like going forward.
With:
* Neville Pearsall
* The Whiskey Spitters
* Steve James
* Tex Jackson and the Panhandlers
* Richie Stearns
* Tiny Moore
* Bearcat Wildcat
* Eric and Suzy Thompson
* Caleb and Reeb
* Bill Kirchen
* Outlaw Social (featuring Pharis Romero)
* Martin, Bogan, and Armstrong
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Dec 19, 2020
Unusual Christmas Music
New Christmas Music from Louisiana, and a chat with Chas Justus about his recent Yuletide Project
With:
* Dirk Powell, fret-free
* The Roches
* Red Simpson
* The Stony Point Quartet (Dudley Connell, David McLaughlin, Linda Lay, and Bill Lux)
* Bill Kirchen
* The Silent Knights, featuring Brody Douglas Hunt
* Chas Justus
* Blake Miller and Amelia Biere
* Jamie Lynn Fontenot and Miriam McCracken
* Megan Constantin and Kelli Jones
* Corey Porche and Bird
* Courtney Granger (my favorite living male singer)
* Johnny Paycheck
… and a few others
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Dec 11, 2020
Klezmer Music
Klezmer Music, Thoughts from Alicia Svigals about celebrating Hanukkah, Seven-Day Weddings, and Inviting Itzhak Perlman to Fiddle Tunes
With:
* Alicia Svigals, Patrick Farrell, Lauren Brody
* Cookie Segelstein, Margot Leverett, Don Weeda, and Mark Rubin
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Dec 4, 2020
Dance Music from Quebec
With:
* De Temps Antan - Andre Brunet, Pierre Luc-Dupuis, and Eric Beaudry;
* Genticorum - Pascal Gemme, Yann Falquet, and Alexandre de Grosbois-Garand.
* Kevin Desrosiers with the mighty Lisa Ornstein
….. and a big band update from the McBeebee Twins leading off the show.
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Nov 30, 2020
Gospel Music at Centrum
You’ll hear:
Ross Brown with George Reynolds
Mark Graham and Sandy Silva
Marley’s Ghost
Pete Sutherland
The Neolithic Broadcasters
Sheila Kay Adams
Scott Nygaard, Jerry Gallaher, and Jack Link
Lightnin Wells
Ethel Caffie Austin
And another episode of itmightabeen, featuring Abner Jay.
Most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Nov 20, 2020
1988 Fiddle Tunes Choice Cuts
With a spotlight on the Heartbeats
and a short chat with Tara Nevins
You’ll hear:
* Jimmy and Nancy Borsdorf
* Molly Tenenbaum and Mark Graham
* Tony Marcus
* Evo and Jemmy Bluestein
* The Hillbillies from Mars
* Eileen Ivers and Mick Moloney
* Ralph Blizard and the New Southern Ramblers
* And the Heartbeats – Tara Nevins, Rose Sinclair, Beverly Smith, and June Drucker
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Nov 13, 2020
The 1994 Port Townsend Country Blues Festival Part 2
Selections from the Country Blues festival featuring all 12 faculty members, including six National Heritage Fellows.
* John Cephas and Phil Wiggins
* Rich and Maureen DelGrosso
* Orville Johnson
* Jack Owens
* Mary Flower
* John Jackson
* Suzy Thompson
* John Dee Holeman
* Steve James
* Howard Armstrong
* Del Rey
* John Miller
Lagniappe of the week: look here for a video of John Dee Holeman and Algia Mae Hinton buck dancing.
https://www.facebook.com/ptcentrum
If you can’t hear it live - most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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Nov 6, 2020
The 1994 Port Townsend Country Blues Festival
If you like country blues, this is your meat. Selections from all 12 faculty members, including six National Heritage Fellows.
Featuring:
* John Cephas and Phil Wiggins
* Rich and Maureen DelGrosso
* Orville Johnson
* Jack Owens
* Mary Flower
* John Jackson
* Suzy Thompson
* John Dee Holeman
* Steve James
* Howard Armstrong
* Del Rey
* John Miller
Lagniappe of the week: attached is an example of Howard Armstrong’s handwriting.
Most Crackin the Vault shows will be available on the Centrum podcast channel:
https://centrum.org/artists-in-place/crackin-the-vault-2/
Thanks for listening, have fun!
Peter
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