First Listen is an NPR series that brings live performances of great artists, both old and new. Check here regularly for exciting performances by many of todays most creative and influential performers.

You may hear some of your favorites, you may hear soemthing completely new, but it will always be a First Listen!

THE SAINT PAUL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Live Tonight: The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra's Jazz Band Composer, 5 p.m. ET
When soprano Dawn Upshaw asked Maria Schneider to compose a piece for her to sing with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Schneider told her that was crazy. Schneider is one of the most respected composers in jazz, the leader of her own New York-based big band for almost two decades and the recipient of two Grammys. But she had compelling reasons to deny Upshaw's request.

"Initially I was just terrified," Schneider said, "because I've never written anything for classical orchestra at that point. I'd never written for classical soprano. I was just dumbfounded. The other part that was scary was writing for words."

"I was just in love with Maria's music," Upshaw said. "She's an extraordinary human being. Her joy, her warmth — you hear all those things in her music. I loved being surrounded by her music when I listened to it. I felt better."

Program

THE SAINT PAUL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Igor Stravinsky: Concerto in D for Strings

Maria Schneider: Carlos Drummond de Andrade Stories
for soprano and chamber orchestra
SPCO Commission
Maria Schneider, conductor
Dawn Upshaw, soprano

Béla Bartók: Five Hungarian Folk Songs
(arranged by Richard Tognetti)
Dawn Upshaw, soprano
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 104 "London"

Upcoming shows
(all are LIVE at 5:00 PM PST)

May 13: Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
May 14: Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2
Carolyn Wonderland at The Palms
Rushad Eggleston at the Freight and Salvage
Hand Me Down at Gaia’s Garden
Solid Air at Lagunitas TapRoom
Tony Gibson at Murphy’s Irish Pub

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3
Carolyn Wonderland at The Last Day Saloon
Dave Alvin at the Freight and Salvage
Gator Beat at HopMonk
Sylvia Herold and the Rhythm Bugs at the Clendenen House Concert. For information email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Amy Wigton at Rancho Nicasio
Youngblood and Co. at the French Garden Bistro
Jimbo Trout at Lagunitas TapRoom
Foxes in the Henhouse at Aqus Café

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4
Cheap Suit Serenaders at the Freight and Salvage
Blame Sally at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center
Steve Pile Band at HopMonk
Frogsong House Concerts presents Trent Yaconelli. For information and reservations call 707-664-9653
David Brouillette at Aqus Café
Phil Lawrence Band with David LaFlamme at the French Garden Bistro
David Thom Band at Lagunitas TapRoom
The Wild Catahoulas at Monroe Hall
Andrew Freeman at Murphy’s Irish Pub
California Honey Drops and Arann Harris and the Farm Band at The Palms
Foxes in the Henhouse at the Petaluma Library

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5
Gerald Edery at the Freight and Salvage
Paul Knight, Eric Thompson, Jody Stecher, Tom Rozum and Paul Shelaski at the Station House Café

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6
The Jayhawks plus Abigail Washburn with Kai Welch at the Mystic Theater
Gretchen Peters at the Freight and Salvage

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8
Paul Thorn and Ruthie Foster at the Napa Valley Opera House

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9
Gretchen Peters at The Palms
Larry Hanks and Deborah Robins at the Freight and Salvage
Goodnight, Texas at Lagunitas TapRoom
Ruthie Foster and Paul Thorn at the Great American Music Hall
Marianne Aya Omac with Guest Appearance Joan Baez at the Mystic Theater

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Los Lonely Boys, acoustic at the Uptown Theater
The Bee Eaters at the Freight and Salvage
Lucinda Williams at the Fillmore
Laura Cortese and the Acoustic String Project at the Booster House Concerts. For information and reservations, call 707.539.2441 or email Howard at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Jake Shimabukuro at the Napa Valley Opera House
Stefanie Keys at Rancho Nicasio
Haute Flash Quartet at the French Garden Bistro
Sage at Lagunitas TapRoom
Solid Air at A’Roma Roasters
Andy Irvine at Studio E. For information call 707-823-5316

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Stairwell Sisters at the Freight and Salvage
Houston Jones and Suzie Glaze and the Hilonesome Band at The Palms
It’s a Beautiful Day and the Pulsators at the Mystic Theater
Sweethearts of the Radio, a benefit for KWMR at the Dance Palace with Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum, Eric and Suzy Thompson, Misner and Smith and Steve and Karen Tamborski
Hot Buttered Rum at the River Theatre in Guerneville
Highway Poets CD Release Party at The Hopmonk Tavern featuring Highway Poets, The Easy Leaves, Sally Haggard, Timothy O'Neil Band, Graham Lindsey, and James Hunnicut
Dave Hamilton at Aqus Café
Larry Carlin at Murphy’s Irish Pub

COMING UP
Fred Eaglesmith at Studio E on Thursday, February 16. For details see www.northbaylive.com