'Ranger In My Heart' documentary debuts Thursday

91.7 KAXE presents the debut of a new, hour-long audio documentary that tries to answer the question, “What does it mean to be an Iron Ranger?”  Award-winning producer Milt Lee visits with young folks and old-timers, retired miners and rock musicians, born-and-bred Rangers and “packsackers” to seek the essence of this special and significant region.

Ranger in My Heart debuts Thurs., Feb. 24, at 8 a.m. with additional broadcasts Fri., Feb. 25 at 6 p.m., Sat., Feb. 26 at noon, and Sun., Feb. 27 at 8 p.m.  KAXE is heard across the Range at 91.7 FM, in Bemidji at 105.3 FM, and in Brainerd at 89.9 FM.  The program will also be streamed live and archived at kaxe.org on the Culturology page.

Milt Lee

Milt Lee is a radio and film producer who grew up in southeastern South Dakota. His wife, Jamie, grew up on the Iron Range. Like most husbands, Milt had always wondered what made Jamie tick. At the same time, KAXE’s parent organization Northern Community Radio was interested in a documentary project about the Iron Range. The convergence of these two interests is the inspiration for Ranger in My Heart.

Milt takes an outsider’s look at the history, people, natural environment, attitudes, and culture of the Iron Range.  The documentary weaves together interviews, music and sounds gathered around the Range.  His interviews include local history sources like Dan Bergan and Aaron Brown as well as prominent area musicians like Matt Ray, Rich Mattson, and Aurora Baer.  A musician himself, Milt finds that he can interpret something about the soul of a people through the music they’re making.

Milt Lee has been producing documentaries for public radio since 1992.  With his writer and wife, Jamie Lee, they have done over 70 long form documentaries. Winners of 6 Golden Reels, the Lees continue to explore the inner workings of grassroots people leading regular lives and discovering the true wealth of America.

I'm Gonna Run Away and Join Kazyak

by Doug MacRostie

A couple months ago, three young guys came strolling into the KAXE studios with a new CD they'd just recorded and produced. Introducing themselves as Kazyak they left a copy of "A Beautiful Brontosaurus" and continued on their trip from visiting family in Northern MN to the Twin Cities.

They struck me as being very friendly and down to Earth, and also very passionate and proud of the music they'd produced. The cover artwork was great and I put the CD in right after they left and loved it instantly. The first song, "Join the Band" kicks it off perfect and it just builds and grows from there - one of my favs is the 11+ minute "Don't Let's Be Silly". It's folk music at it's core, with elements of jazz, soul, rock and jam.

I remembered them mentioning they would be back in the area in Sept. and invited them to come to the studios to talk about their music, and I am very excited to have Jed, Peter and Danny in-studio this week on Centerstage MN. We'll talk about their lives and their music, and they'll be performing some acoustic tunes - and while the CD is based mostly around electric instrumentation, the scaled-down acoustic set-up only makes their 3 part harmonies shine even brighter. They've got a bunch of gigs in Northern MN and beyond, so check out their schedule!

Talking with them, they'll go from some lighthearted humor to something profound in the blink of an eye - which is also represented in their music. Many different styles, influences, emotions, thoughts and ideas all coming together as one thing: Kazyak.

Next week KAXE Volunteer Producer Charlie Pulkrabek talks with Alicia Corbett, and we'll hear a live recording of The Limns - so we'll also hear a song from each of them this week.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls, and on KMSU in Mankato. Sometimes heard on KFAI in Minneapolis & St. Paul and WTIP in Grand Marais. Often featured on MNartists.org.