We open this week's show with an interview with the multi-stylistic multi-instrumentalist Jherek Bischoff, a performing guest in the upcoming Ecstatic Music Festival Preview concert in The Greene Space on Wednesday, February 1.

Kung Hei Fat Choi! When I was in kindergarten, my super awesome teachers Ms. Danielson and Ms. Doane had us bring in paper bags, in which we cut holes three holes (a big one in the very bottom and two smaller ones on the sides), adorned with construction paper scales, and pulled over our heads to march down the hallway of our school as a giant, kindergartener-fueled Lunar New Year dragon. It was pretty much the best day of kindergarten.

It may sound kind of obvious, but one of the perks of working at this station is constantly being exposed to new music. This week, we are celebrating Polish music from the past 50 years or so, and I’m happy to say that aside from the heavy hitters (cough, Penderecki, Górecki, cough) this music is basically all completely new to me! Not just new, but both awesome AND new.

This is a really special week on the show. While I know you’ve become accustomed to my riffs on the providence of music written by people who are still alive, this week we get to hear about everything – from inspiration to circumstance to execution – right from the mouths of the creators. That’s right, this week I’ll be joined by a dozen or so composers who will guide us through the lion’s share of this week's programming.

Hey there, 2012, you’re looking mighty fine! Every time I cross the threshold of a new year, I cannot help but think of it as a mild miracle of time travel. Remember the first time, in grade school, a classmate bid you farewell for the weekend with the remark “see you next year?” It was mind-blowing!

TEN! NINE! EIGHT! SEVEN! SIX! Wait wait!! We’re not quite there yet!! We still have a few precious moments left of 2011, and even more pertinently, just a few more days left until the twenty eleven charitable donations deadline!! What better way to sort out your 2011 taxes than to make a tax-deductible donation to your favorite locale on the internet for all things new and wonderful, Q2 Music!