This is part of a series looking at pressing coronavirus questions of the week. We'd like to hear what you're curious about. Email us at goatsandsoda@npr.org with the subject line: "Weekly Coronavirus Questions." More than 76,000 people in the U.S. have died because of COVID-19, and there have been 1.27 million confirmed cases across the country — and nearly 4 million worldwide. Though the virus continues to spread and sicken people, some states and countries are starting to reopen businesses and lift stay-at-home requirements. This week, we look at some of your questions as summer nears and restrictions are eased. Is it safe to swim in pools or lakes? Does the virus spread through the water? People are asking whether they should be concerned about being exposed to the coronavirus while swimming. Experts say water needn't be a cause for concern. The CDC says there is no evidence the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas or water

A great musician never forgets the early life lessons that shaped them. Chris Collins, Artistic Director of The Detroit Jazz Festival has never forgotten and now carries on the Detroit jazz tradition of teaching and mentoring the next generations of jazz musicians. Chris talked with me this morning about what mentoring and creating music with aspiring players means to him.

Today would have been the great pianist Art Tatum's 108th birthday. WEMU celebrated his birth in 1909 with Dr. Imelda Hunt, author Does A Genius? - A Tribute To Art Tatum. Dr. Hunt is a new faculty member of the Department of Africology and African Studies at Eastern Michigan University. She brings a deep understanding of African-Americans in the midwest including her hometown of Toledo, Ohio - also Art Tatum's hometown. Dr. Hunt's research revealed Art Tatum's neighborhood, the legendary department stores, dance halls, and nightclubs where he performed and details about his loving and supportive family. Dr. Hunt also shared how the experience of listening to Art Tatum's brilliant music inspired her to write many poems, two of which she shared in conversation. Enjoy the genius of Art Tatum and a heartfelt appreciation from Dr. Imelda Hunt.

The first Roots Music Project of 2018 is a special one! Host Jeremy Baldwin welcomes Ann Arbor's own Americana band Corndaddy to the WEMU studios for a live interview and performance!

Connecticut four-year colleges cost more and have lower rates of completion than their national peers. That’s the finding of a report to be released Tuesday by an affiliate of a national public education advocacy organization.

Long Island’s high school graduation rate increased slightly in 2019. That’s according to data from the state Education Department.

The GOP has flipped two of the five Connecticut General Assembly seats left vacant by Democratic incumbents who resigned to take jobs in Governor Ned Lamont’s new administration.

Democrats who want to increase the capital gains tax in Connecticut say there’s no evidence it would lead to the wealthy fleeing the state.

Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit SCOTT SIMON, HOST: Cheers rolled through Wrigley Field Tuesday night. The Cubs lost that night to the Pittsburgh Pirates, though they've clinched a playoff spot. Another drama unfolded above right center field. Photographer Will Byington was rolling as a large rat kept trying to leap from the shallow fencing, just above the fabled outfield, onto a wall into a small patch of grass next to the bleachers. Cubs fans, who, to be blunt, have cheered on quite a few rats over the years, clapped and shouted as the rat jumped once but missed, then twice but fell short, kind of like the Cubs always used to. Then finally, jumped a third time and... (SOUNDBITE OF CHEERING) SIMON: All right. The video of his leap was soon winging around the Internet. A number of people have commented that Wrigley Rat had to jump several times because he looks especially well-fed Well, Rick Bayless has a green chiles taco stand in the right field seats. Wrigley Rat may just need

'The Scotts' has helped the ex-boyfriend of Kylie Jenner in joining an elite club of stars who have landed multiple No. 1 entrances, including Mariah Carey, Drake and Justin Bieber.

Starring in the skit for 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon', The Rolling Stones frontman gets onboard to support a non-profit providing for children in need during the coronavirus pandemic.

The two late-night show hosts respond to Donald Trump's ridicule, saying the president should focus on the coronavirus pandemic instead of television ratings.

Fans are given the chance to be eaten by a dinosaur in the upcoming 'Jurassic World' movie in exchange for donations to Covid-19 relief efforts amid the ongoing pandemic.

Tina Knowles-Lawson, the mother of the 'Formation' singer, looks forward to seeing her grandchildren in person again after being kept away because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Taking fans along with him in a journey for an at-home trim by Katherine Schwarzenegger, the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' star shares a series of photos of his before and after looks.

Victory in Europe sparked scenes of delirium across Britain as people flooded on to the streets to toast the downfall of Hitler’s regime.

Anniversary for Worcestershire networking group.

Artworks celebrate Stirchley’s history and point to the making of new prosperity : January – April 2012

Join the people of Stirchley in a celebratory walk and laying of floral tributes commemorating the life of a once vibrant street.

A Solihull woman celebrated her 50th birthday with a world record breaking marathon row in aid of national organisation The Brain Tumour Charity.

This week, The Blues Kitchen hosts Nathaniel Rateliff. 

Nathaniel plays an exclusive version of ‘A Song For You’ originally written & recorded by Leon Russell.

There’s also tracks from Sea Level, Son House, Parliament, The Texas Gentlemen, Green Leaf Rustlers & The Grateful Dead.

For the full interview with Nathaniel Rateliff, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/BluesKitchenTV

Be sure to check out:

The Blues Chronicles

Bush Hall - London
Thurs 27th 2020
Fri 28th Feb 2020
https://theblueschronicles.com/events/

When you've caught up with the podcast, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/BluesKitchenTV

Email the show: radio@theblueskitchen.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, Mixcloud, Acast & many more…

Imagine a 30 foot high Ariel towering above Propero - that’s what you get in this groundbreaking performance, says Richard Lutz

This episode of the Cipher, we bring you a talk with Brian Brater, co-founder of Rawkus Records. Rawkus was perhaps the single most important underground record label of the 90s, putting out singles and albums featuring artists like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Company Flow, Pharoahe Monch, Big L, Common, Eminem, and more

Brater tells us about the ups, downs, hits, misses, and the couple big ones that got away. So lace up your Timbs, grab your backpack, and join us as we talk to Brater about hip-hop’s last real golden age

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/54/ for full show notes and comments.

This is episode 200, and features a return from Kevin Coval. However, since it is our 200th, our producer Josh got Kevin, who’s also a big fan of the show, to turn the tables without us knowing and interview the show’s host Shawn. So if you’ll excuse a little self indulgence here’s the episode 200 with Kevin Coval, Shawn Setaro AND Josh Kross.

Kevin is a poet and educator who is the artistic director of Young Chicago Authors, and the author and editor of a whole bunch of great books. The latest of these is A People’s History of Chicago. The book, true to its title, covers the entire history of the city, while focusing on the experiences and victories of its working people and those struggling for justice. The book’s foreward is by a young artist who has learned a lot from Coval, Chance the Rapper.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/200/ for full show notes and comments.

Skyzoo is a fantastic Brooklyn rapper whose sophisticated lyrics and ear for soulful beats has long made him one of our favorites. Longtime listeners will no doubt remember that he’s been a guest on the show twice before. But this is different.

Sky approached us last month with the idea of having an in-depth conversation to tease out the themes and ideas in his awesome new record. In Celebration of Us, easily his most topical project to date, deals with police violence, gentrification, discrimination, validation, and ultimately what it means to be, as Sky is, a black man raising a black boy in America today.

He wanted to have the talk at a place near to his heart, so we met at Mike’s Coffee Shop. Mike’s is a Brooklyn diner that has been a staple of the rapper’s life since childhood, and remains one now that he has a child — his newborn son Miles — of his own.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/231/ for full show notes and comments.

Birmingham conference aims to improve arts access for disabled youngsters.

Will Mapplebeck, a Tyneside political commentator, reports on the outflow from the election.

Richard Lutz is dragged into the world of Restoration noir at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Richard Lutz chews his pew over Hot Rats at Birmingham Town Hall.

A two week celebration of theatre will highlight the best of West Midlands’ creativity this March.

Operation Black Vote unveiled Birmingham’s new generation of civic leaders at a media launch of their Civic Leadership Programme last week.

Wondering about Christmas presents already? Get some ideas here.

Festival marks thirtieth birthday of community group.

£40 million HSBC UK funding will improve university facilities and student support.

Kings Heath Walk of Fame honour for cycling legend.

Birmingham celebrates 550th birth anniversary of founder of Sikh faith.

Lichfield date marks one hundred years of Bach in the city.

Charity challenge aims to help local community work.

Businesses in the region are being encouraged to find out more about the importance of the growing digital economy at a free event taking place at Coventry University in January.

Milestone marked by new productions.

Light to shine on historical Smethwick landmark - with a little help from its friends.

The data could get worse, which “should be expected as the lockdown continues to get prolonged,” CMIE chief said. “Initially, a lockdown only hurts the most vulnerable labor that is informally employed in unorganized sectors. Gradually, it starts hitting the more secure jobs. Startups have announced lay-offs and industry associations have warned of job losses.”

It further said that although 2020 is a lost year, in terms of trade, India can think long-term and build relations so that it can occupy the space vacated by China.

Major retail chains including Viveks, Shahs, Girias, Vasanth and Co are among the signatories of the letter, which fears job losses might start impacting one lakh of families, besides a steep drop in direct and indirect tax revenues to the state.

Audified has released its new audio effect VocalMint Saturator, an easy-to-use single knob vocal saturator with powerful processing hidden under the hood. Most one-knobs do one thing and one thing only: they linearly mix in a certain effect to your track. However, VocalMint runs the track through its virtual signal chain and tunes multiple parameters […]

The post VocalMint Saturator by Audified delivers streamlined, simple, one-knob vocal saturation appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Sugar Bytes has released an iPad version of its Looperator 16-step sample slicer and creative multi-fX sequencer. The wide range of effects, its quick and intuitive interface and extensive randomization make it easy to design subtle rhythmic enhancements or impressive effect pyrotechnics. Looperator chops up your audio and turns it into something new. In the […]

The post Sugar Bytes launches Looperator slicer & multi-fx sequencer for iPad appeared first on rekkerd.org.

W.A. Production has released its new audio plugin Punchy Worm, a one-knob punch and saturation effect with a dancing worm. At W.A. Production they’re serious about music and over the last few years, they’ve created many top-quality plugins with finely tuned controls and pro studio features. But sometimes they just like to go a bit […]

The post Punchy Worm one-knob punch & saturation plugin by W.A. Production appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Plugin Boutique has launched a sale on Sonarworks Reference 4, offering 20% the sound calibration software for a limited time. Reference 4 removes unwanted coloration from studio speakers and headphones. Sonarworks is on a mission to ensure everybody hears sound the way it was meant to be. Across all devices. Calibrate sound on your current […]

The post Get 20% off Sonarworks Reference 4 sound calibration software appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Denise has launched its new audio plugin God Mode, introducing a new push-pull technology that gives you full control over what frequencies to saturate and distort. God Mode features a node EQ graph and linear phase filters that allow for unlimited options to shape the coloration of your sound. The God Mode makes use of […]

The post Color your sound with Denise’s God Mode saturation effect plugin appeared first on rekkerd.org.