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Larry Mizell, Jr. plays tunes that help us get through Covid afternoons

caption: Larry Mizell Jr, KEXP’s director of editorial and DJ for the afternoon show with Larry Mizell Jr.
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Larry Mizell Jr, KEXP’s director of editorial and DJ for the afternoon show with Larry Mizell Jr.
Courtesy of KEXP

For the last nine months, the global pandemic has been tough. Today, we're going to hear some music that might bring you joy. Larry Mizell, Jr. is the afternoon host at KEXP here in Seattle. He brought in three songs to share.

Before we got to the first track, Larry talked about how he sees his role in bringing people a little bit of joy on the radio every afternoon.

People are telling me every day how the music I'm playing is helping them get through their day. It really means everything, because I'm thinking about how to get people through that afternoon. But I need it as much as anybody. I'm speaking to everybody that's listening. I'm speaking to myself. I'm trying to mix a little medicine for everybody.


The following songs and notes are from Larry’s interview with KUOW’s Kim Malcolm:

"Ruby, My Dear" by Thelonious Monk:

I played this song not too long ago and got a big response. There is a new album from Thelonious Sphere Monk. He did a concert at a high school, Palo Alto High, put on by a high school senior. It was recorded by the janitor at the high school. Those recordings sat in that high school senior’s closet for 50 years, and just got released recently. It's a fantastic performance, his interpretation of it, in that kind of wonderful, controlled chaos, shambling Monk manner.


"Free" by Sault

This album has been getting a lot of burn at the station and with me. It’s the latest album from a very mysterious group out of the UK called Sault. It's their second untitled record, though they are subtitled. This one is subtitled Rise. Just really funky, percussive, motivating, soulful music. The last record had a lot of really heavy stuff. It really had to do with the protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd. This one is a lot more just joy in it. I think that was a wonderful counterbalance to that last very heavy record. There's a song on it called Free that when I play it, it makes me feel just that.


"Let's Take It All the Way" by Sly Fox

I really try to find some things that are familiar to people, but that they haven't heard for a long time. I found a track from what would definitely be called a one-hit-wonder, a group called Sly Fox. They put out a song in 1985 called "Let's Take It All the Way." It was kind of like an awesome, New Wave, Funk, Pop thing.

Listen to the interview by clicking the play button above.

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