Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Live Studio Session: Omaha Diner - Just Playin’ The Hits

    

The group Omaha Diner is made up of four of the most gifted and adventurous musicians in jazz: drummer Bobby Previte, trumpeter Steven Bernstein, guitarist Charlie Hunter and saxophonist, Skerik.  

Along with the almost scary level of talent, the other thing that makes Omaha Diner unique is their musical repertoire.  They won’t even think about playing a song unless it has reached #1 on the Billboard Pop Music chart.

That’s right, Omaha Diner is a jazz band that plays only pop music. But boy, do they turn that pop music inside out.  

In this KPLU Studio Session hosted by Abe Beeson, they gave us versions of songs by Macklemore, Guns N’ Roses and Beyonce. You will be amazed — and amused — by what they’ve done to them. It’s an incredible performance.

Set List:

  1. Thrift Shop (Macklemore)
  2. Sweet Child O' Mine (Guns N' Roses)
  3. Single Ladies (Beyoncé)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYz4a4H4Xds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHIxbKmkiI4

http://youtu.be/F2X6CA4jMmQ?list=PL7612AD7C5FE466FA

You can also find our Studio Sessions available as a video podcast in iTunes.

Abe grew up in Western Washington, a third generation Seattle/Tacoma kid. It was as a student at Pacific Lutheran University that Abe landed his first job at KNKX, editing and producing audio for news stories. It was a Christmas Day shift no one else wanted that gave Abe his first on-air experience which led to overnights, then Saturday afternoons, and started hosting Evening Jazz in 1998.