Unique Oxnard Non-Profit Helps Immigrant Teens Go To CollegeAir date: February 22 & 23, 2012
Part 1
Part 2 (to come)
Unique Oxnard Non-Profit Helps Immigrant Teens Go To College
Air date: February 22 & 23, 2012
Part 1
Part 2 (to come)
Over the past 20 years, the El Centrito Family Learning Centers in Oxnard has filled a void in Ventura County. By educating immigrant families in the ways of the American education system, which can be near impossible for foreigners to navigate, the organization helps pave the way for more Latino children to go to college. El Centrito’s resources target families with children from the pre-school level to university, and a recent grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation has allowed El Centrito to expand its reach into the local high schools.
Book of the Week: Binocular Vision: New & Selected Stories by Edith Pearlman
Air date: February 17, 2012 
Edith Pearlman has been publishing her stories of fiction and non-fiction for decades, has won many awards and enjoyed much success, but few have heard of her… until now. Her latest collection of short stories, Binocular Vision, is a finalist for the National Book Award (and should have won, according to guest David Starkey). Many of her tales incorporate the experience of the Jewish diaspora around the world, but ultimately her prose examines the basic elements of simply being human. KDB’s Book of the Week is made possible by The Book Den.
How Do I Love Thee? -- Valentine's Day Poetry, read by Paul Willis
Air date: February 14, 2012
Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote this sonnet while courting her husband, Robert. Paul Willis is professor of English at Westmont College and current Poet Laureate of Santa Barbara.
Terrence Wilson Channels Gershwin
Air date: February 10, 2012
Growing up in the Bronx, Terrence Wilson says he was a bit of an oddball as he pursued classical piano, but he knew it was going to be his life. Today he plays with the world’s top orchestras, and is an accomplished recitalist as well. And now, he makes his debut with the Santa Barbara Symphony with George Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue, a piece which Terrence says he interprets differently each time he sits down at the piano. This interview was funded in part by the Organizational Development Program with funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.
Book of the Week: Come, Thief, by Jane Hirshfield
Air date: February 10, 2012
Early in her accomplished career, Jane Hirshfield earned the mantle of “The Buddhist Poet”, something she seems to have tried to shake. But here she rediscovers those tendencies and embraces the Buddhist gift of loss, in Come, Thief. Her vivid and surprising imagery runs throughout the book, and as luck would have it, Jane Hirshfield will read and speak at UCSB’s Campbell Hall on February 16 at 8PM. KDB’s Book of the Week is made possible by The Book Den.
UCSB Presents An Afternoon of French Opera and Song
Air date: February 9, 2012
Each year, UCSB’s Voice Area presents a grand concert for the public, bringing together the department’s top students and talented faculty for an afternoon of great music. And this year, Voice Area head Ben Brecher has designed a French program of ensembles, arias and duets, featuring works by Debussy, Fauré, Delius, Ravel, Offenbach, Berlioz, and the list goes on and on. 2/12, 2pm @ the Lobero Theater. This interview was funded in part by the Organizational Development Program with funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.
Canadian Sensation ‘Quartetto Gelato’ Keeps Audiences On Their Toes!
Air date: February 8, 2012
At nearly 20 years-old, Toronto-based Quartetto Gelato has been wowing audiences worldwide with its entertaining blend of music (classical, folk, gypsy, tango, you name it), dance, song, and comedy. The group’s multi-talented members are led by founder Peter DeSotto, who grew up as a violinist but ultimately found symphony work akin to “being in a straitjacket”. 2/11, 7pm @ Lobero Theater. This interview was funded in part by the Organizational Development Program with funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.
Book of the Week: The Cat’s Table, by Michael Ondaatje
Air date: February 3, 2012
When author Michael Ondaatje was eleven years old, he took a three-week journey on a ship from what is now Sri Lanka, to London. Such is the premise of his latest novel, The Cat’s Table, which he claims is entirely fictionalized beyond that basic premise. Having earned accolades for his 1993 epic novel, The English Patient, his penchant for literary adventure hasn’t waned one bit in the years since. KDB’s Book of the Week is made possible by The Book Den.
Local Heir to J.R.R. Tolkien Makes His Filmmaking Debut
Air date: February 2 & 3, 2012
Part 1
Part 2
21 year-old Nicholas Tolkien never wanted to be an author like his great grandfather. Rather, at the age of 11, when he saw the first big screen adaptation of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, he began dreaming of becoming a filmmaker. His journey to America and struggles to make movies in Los Angeles led him to Santa Barbara, where he made his latest film Masquerade, premiering at the 2012 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Screening time: 2/5, 10:20AM @ Metro 4.
Tales From The Tavern - A Documentary Portrait of the American Troubadour
Air date: January 31, 2012
For the past ten years, the Tales From The Tavern concert series in Santa Ynez, CA has been attracting some of the country’s greatest singer-songwriters, performing for equally impressive and loyal audiences. Having filmed every performance and interviewed every musician over the years, co-producer Ron Colone has woven together bits and pieces of each, resulting in a film tapestry of stories and music which will premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Screening: 2/2, 7:00PM @ Metro 4.
Just When You Thought You Knew Everything About Santa Barbara…
Air date: January 30, 2012
Santa Barbara and the Sea: 13,000 Years of Maritime History is an eye-opening journey into this community’s complex relationship to the ocean, premiering at the 2012 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Director Chris Bell sought insight from over 25 historians, scientists, fisherman, and Chumash elders. Produced by the Emmy winning CityTV, the film pieces together some of the many who, what, when, where, and why of our beautiful coastline and waters, and the industries and culture that permeate it. Screening: 1/31, 1:00PM @ SB Museum of Art.
A Young Filmmaker from Agoura Hills 3-peats at Film Festival
Air date: January 27, 2012
22 year-old Ethan Kuperberg (pictured, left, with actor Henry Winkler) is no stranger to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. But this year, for the first time, his entry will be up for competition. It’s a thirteen minute short film called “The Dining”, which is a comic parody of Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”. Armed with a strong script and a few industry connections, Ethan managed to lure the star power of both Henry Winkler and Amy Madigan to participate. Screening: 1/28, 7:40PM @ Metro 4.
Book of the Week: Blue Nights, by Joan Didion
Air date: January 27, 2012
In 2005, during the same week Joan Didion published her memoir, The Year of Magical Thinking, about the untimely passing of her husband, her 39 year-old daughter died of pancreatitis. In Blue Nights, the author explores her relationship with her daughter, examining how she might have raised her differently, if she did right by her, and how the 1-2 punch of tragedy in her life has affected her. KDB’s Book of the Week is made possible by The Book Den.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s Maestro Charles Dutoit
Air date: January 23, 2012
As a talented and celebrated conductor, Charles Dutoit has led orchestras all over the world, and as a curious citizen of the world has visited all 196 countries on the planet. So it’s not surprising that he feels right at home as the principal conductor for London's Royal Philharmonic, a group that has traveled to 30 countries in the past five years. CAMA presents the Royal Philharmonic on 1/26, 8PM @ The Granada. This interview was funded in part by the Organizational Development Program with funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.
Book of the Week: Verdi’s Shakespeare: Men of the Theater, by Gary Wills
Air date: January 20, 2012
Whether you’re an opera lover or a fan of Shakespeare, or simply interested in the artistic process, Verdi’s Shakespeare will fascinate you. How does a composer who doesn’t speak English turn iambic pentameter into Italian libretti? And did 19th century Italians even know who Shakespeare was? The story of how Giuseppe Verdi created the unlikely operatic versions of MacBeth, Falstaff, and Othello answers these questions and many more. KDB’s Book of the Week is made possible by The Book Den.
Violin Virtuoso Anne Akiko Meyers Graces the Granada
Air date: January 19, 2012
This weekend, the Santa Barbara Symphony is thrilled to welcome world reknowned Anne Akiko Meyers, who will be toting her prized $3.6 million Stradivarius violin. Born and raised in southern California, and having performed for Johnny Carson at the age of 11, Anne is well known for her versatility and mastery of not only classical music, but also jazz standards and the blues. Saturday, 8pm & Sunday, 3pm @ The Granada. This interview was funded in part by the Organizational Development Program with funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.
Book of the Week: The Swerve: How the World Became Modern, by Stephen Greenblatt
Air date: January 13, 2012
In the 1st century B.C., Roman philosopher Lucretius penned (or quilled?) the 7,400-line poem ‘On the Nature of Things’, an epic analysis of the physical matter that makes up human existence. The work was decidedly atheistic, and The Swerve tells the story of its rediscovery in 1417 at the dawn of the Renaissance, and its impact on a society that was decidedly very religious. KDB’s Book of the Week is made possible by The Book Den.
The Santa Barbara Foundation Announces 2011 Year-End Grants
Air date: January 10, 2012
As the largest grant maker in the county, the 83-year old Santa Barbara Foundation has announced its list of 58 year-end grantees receiving a total of $2.8 million. Critical issues county-wide to which the Foundation is dedicated include education, health care, the arts, and the environment. In addition, a rising demand continues for basic needs, like food and shelter. For a complete list of the Santa Barbara Foundation’s year-end grantees, CLICK HERE.
Book of the Week: A Widow’s Story: A Memoir, by Joyce Carol Oates
Air date: January 6, 2012
When Joyce Carol Oates’ husband of 47 years suddenly passed away from pneumonia in 2008, the prolific author spent much of the next six months curled up in bed, devastated. A Widow’s Story is a memoir of enduring love and excruciating loss, chronicling these six months of bewildered bereavement in which Oates reflects on her life with Raymond Smith in fascinating and illuminating raw detail. KDB’s Book of the Week is made possible by The Book Den.
A Poem for the New Year, by Paul Willis
Air date: January 2, 2012
Nothing says "New Year" like discarded, brittle, Christmas trees lying forgotten on the sidewalk. Santa Barbara Poet Laureate and Westmont College professor Paul Willis offers his poem "The Forest Primeval" to mark this annual sight that simultaneously signifies the end of one year and the beginning of another.
Book of the Week: David Starkey’s BEST of 2011 (that we missed!)
Air date: December 30, 2011
There were many great books from 2011 that David Starkey was unable to talk about on KDB, so here's just a few:
Fiction – Salvage the Bones, by Jesmyn Ward; The Empty Family: Stories, by Colm Toibin; Before I Go to Sleep: A Novel, by S.J. Watson
Non-Fiction – Jerusalem: The Biography, by Simon Sebag Montefiore; Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything, by Joshua Foer; In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin, by Erik Larson
Poetry – Money Shot, by Rae Armantrout; A Hundred Doors, by Michael Longley; Beautiful & Pointless: A Guide to Modern Poetry, by David Orr
KDB’s Book of the Week is made possible by The Book Den.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve With the Symphony, Pops Style!
Air date: December 30, 2011
In 1990, then conductor of the Santa Barbara Symphony Varujan Kojian started a New Year’s Eve tradition here that he picked up during his time studying conducting in Vienna. Complete with Viennese waltzes and popular music, the New Year’s Eve Pops concert is a staple in cities all over the world. Long-time Symphony violinist Gloria Autry was delighted when Maestro Kojian brought it to Santa Barbara. 8:30pm @ The Granada. This interview was funded in part by the Organizational Development Program with funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.
A Look Back at Santa Barbara’s 2011 Arts Scene
Air date: December 29, 2011
Santa Barbarans can be proud, once again, of how the arts in their city have thrived amid an otherwise crippling economy. With memorable visits from world class orchestras, a gang buster 75th Anniversary season at the Santa Barbara Bowl, and another strong year for visual arts, freelance writer Joe Woodard looks back at 2011 with grateful critique. (Though for the record, he wants more jazz!)
Book of the Week: A Christmas Blizzard, by Garrison Keillor
Air date: December 23, 2011
James Sparrow hates Christmas, much to the dismay of his festive wife. They are wealthy and live in the big city of Minneapolis, and plan to spend a warm and luxurious Christmas in Hawaii. But when James is summoned to his home town of Looseleaf, North Dakota to tend to a dying uncle, his world takes more than a mere turn of direction. Dickensian visitations by spirits and a clan of eccentric relatives carry James on a holiday journey of epic and life-changing proportions. KDB’s Book of the Week is made possible by The Book Den.
Santa Barbara Revels Celebrate the Winter Solstice, Bavarian Style!
Air date: December 16, 2011
The five-year old Santa Barbara Revels are the newest of ten Revel groups nationwide. Their performances revolve around nature’s evolution, and the winter solstice is the crown jewel of the Revel year. Traditional singing, dancing, story-telling, and audience participation define this unique form of entertainment, and this year’s show tells the story of the solstice as it was celebrated throughout Bavarian history. For tickets and showtimes - click The Lobero Theater. This interview was funded in part by the Organizational Development Program with funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.
Book of the Week: Calling Mr. King, by Ronald De Feo
Air date: December 16, 2011
“Mr. King” was born in upstate New York, and grew to be a world class hit man. He works for an unnamed conglomerate and must be ready at all times for his next gig. But as his work finds him in places like London, Paris, New York, and Barcelona, he begins to develop a true love for art and architecture, which repeatedly distracts him from his deadly profession. Suspense and dark comedy lace this entertaining page tuner. KDB’s Book of the Week is made possible by The Book Den.
‘Art From Scrap’ Offers Fun and Affordable Ways to Celebrate This Holiday Season
Air date: December 14, 2011
If you’re tired of your old Christmas decorations and want to liven things up but DON’T want to spend a lot of money, make your own! And Santa Barbara’s 20-year old non-profit Art From Scrap is a great place to start. With an inventory of every type of scrap material imaginable, all donated from individuals and corporations alike, they will also teach you how to become your own scrap artist. Weekly Saturday workshops are $8, 10am-noon, and open to all ages. This feature was funded in part by the Organizational Development Program with funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.
The 31st Annual KDB "Messiah" Sing-Along - Come on Down!
Air date: December 12, 2011
When George Frideric Handel staged the first performance of his choral masterpiece,"Messiah", in April of 1742, he did it to raise money for local charities. Since then the piece has taken on special meaning during the holiday season, often performed for charity not by professional singers but by the audience. Messiah sing-alongs, as they’ve become known, take place all over the world at this time of year, and KDB Radio will hold its annual event at the First Presbyterian Church to benefit the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County. 12/13 @ 7:30pm, $10. This feature was funded in part by the Organizational Development Program with funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.
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