Daily doses of Our Native Daughters tracks, particularly "Polly Ann's Song" and "Firewater." Svend Asmussen's rendition of Abel Baer's "June Night" sounds so smooth, warm and tasty to my ears these days. Ani DiFranco's "Do or Die" keeps me steady in a groove. Love the colors/textures of Reza Vali's "Ashoob (Calligraphy No. 14)" for string quartet. For nostalgia and strings lines that bounce and talk, Brooke Benton and Dinah Washington's "Baby You Got What It Takes."
—Violinist Gwen Laster performed at President Obama's Inaugural Neighborhood Ball and has worked with Aretha Franklin, the Sun Ra Arkestra, Tyler the Creator, Gladys Knight, Andrea Bocelli, and others. She is a member of New Muse 4tet, whose album Blue Lotus is out now on her Muffymarie label.
