Top 10 Live Performances of 2009 on MBE

Top 10 Performances of 2009
On Morning Becomes Eclectic

It's never easy picking favorites, and near impossible in the case of choosing just ten performances from the outstanding slate of live guests this past year on Morning Becomes Eclectic. So many great memories, from a rainy Monday session with Andrew Bird to the frenetic world beat of Portugal's Buraka Som Sistema. Tori Amos pouring herself over the piano as she channeled her music, or Elbow's folksy storytelling and song made lasting impressions. I'll never forget speaking with Yusuf (formerly Cat Stevens) about Islam and popular music, or sitting with Malian couple Amadou & Mariam discussing how blindness has helped sharpen their musical acumen. It is truly amazing to consider all of the talent we have welcomed into the basement studios of KCRW.

Looking back, I'm proudest of the overall range of talent we feature. For example, one week last month featured Brazilian troupe Forro in the Dark, Norwegian Electronic duo Royksopp, and Country music icon Rosanne Cash in the span of just a few days. We cover a lot of ground musically, and it's a good thing. Of course, it takes a village here to make these things happen, so a special thanks to Ariana Morgenstern, who books the bands, our stellar Engineers Ray Guarna and Mario Diaz for making it all sound so good, Robert LaFond for web video footage, and the studio volunteers and record labels for their continued support. I'm looking forward to another terrific year of live music on KCRW, a regular feature on MBE that is a rare platform for both established artists and emerging talent from all corners of the globe - thank you for your listenership and support!

-- Jason Bentley, Music Director