An Orchestrated Life
James Dixon, conductor of the University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra, is largely credited with putting Iowa on the orchestral map.

Music from the Heartland
Homegrown talent is beautifully displayed and featured at Iowa City's Artisans Gallery.

Slant 6 Mind by Greg Brown
Folksinger Greg Brown's silk-and-gravel baritone voice captivates audiences.

Ben Kieffer, host of WSUI's "Talk of Iowa Live from the Java House," is at it again. Following a successful first installment of Live Java Blend—which raised more than $10,000 for the UI's public radio stations—Kieffer, 86BA, has brewed a second collection of live acoustic tunes that will support these worthy causes and satisfy music connoisseurs.

A blend of recordings from local and national artists, the new CD features 16 original songs from performances on Kieffer's Friday morning program. The exception is Jeffrey Hedquist's "New York Times," a folk song recorded at a coffee shop in the singer's native Fairfield.

While Volume 1 highlighted Iowa artists, this follow-up draws on the talents of performers from farther afield—such as Sarah Sharp from Austin and Rachael Davis of Boston. Solo guitarists, whose styles range from bluegrass and country to pop rock and blues, dominate the CD.

Amid tales of love and heartbreak, a thread of songs reflects on the relationship between parents and their children. Kevin "B.F." Burt and Brian Joseph both share the joy and hopes of fatherhood, while Edie Carey poignantly addresses her parents' divorce in "If I Start to Cry."

The album also features humorous and lighthearted songs such as The Mike and Amy Finders Band's "Adeline," a delightful duet about the anxiety of facing the object of a teenage crush at a dance.

With such truthful offerings, Live Java Blend: Volume 2 makes a fitting soundtrack for daily living.

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	Listen to "140 Times"		Purchase the album