Frontline World: Requiem airs March 27 on PBS

Just scored a very poignant installment of Frontline World. It pays tribute to reporters from across the globe who have been killed, jailed, or exiled for daring to speak the truth to the powers-that-be. Last year, 2006, was one of the deadliest years on record for journalists, and most did not die in combat. They were deliberately targeted, hunted down, and murdered, often in their homes or offices, for investigating corruption, crime, or human rights abuses. Margarita Dragon of Rain Media did an amazing job putting this story together--it moved me to tears.

Frontline: Return of the Taliban airs October 3 on PBS

Just finished scoring and performing the music to "Return of the Taliban," a thought-provoking episode of the PBS award-winning documentary series "Frontline." It airs Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 9PM EST (but check your local listings). This show reports on the ongoing hunt for Bin Laden and other "high value targets" in Afghanistan and Pakistan since 9/11. The footage is remarkable as well--rare and compelling images that you won't see on any other TV news program.

20/20: State of the Union airs June 30 on ABC

June 2006

Scored and performed the music to "State of the Union," a special episode of 20/20 on ABC hosted by George Stephanopoulos. It airs Friday, June 30 at 10 PM.

New Music

May 2006

I've put three new tunes that I'm considering for my next album on my home page: "Black Ice," "What's Past Is Past" and "Scorcher." They're in various degrees of completion, but I'm kinda digging the new vibe (especially in the backing tracks), and I hope you do too.

Hayley Westenra

February 2006

On the road for the month of February on a North American tour backing up a truly amazing singer from New Zealand named Hayley Westenra We're opening for Il Divo (the "popera" sensation created by Simon Cowell). We're plating great halls, including Radio City Music Hall in NYC and the Gibson (formerly Universal) Amphitheater in LA. Also hockey arenas in Canada--the Air Canada Centre in Toronto and the Bell Centre in Montreal. Every show is already sold out, and Il Divo's new record just debuted at #1--so it's a very cool experience.

The band is slamming! Jeff Franzel (a great keyboard player and songwriter who has written for Josh Groban and Clay Aiken, among many others) is the musical director, and my good friends (and bandmates) Robert Greenfield (bass & vocals) and Dave Halpern (drums) comprise the kick-ass, yet sensitive, rhythm section. I'm honored to be in such great musical company.

Radio City Music Hall, Feb. 2006
L to R: Jeff Franzel, Askold, Hayley Westenra, Robert Greenfield, Dave Halpern.
Photo: Ani Buk

Telling the Truth: The Best in Broadcast Journalism

January 2006

Scored the opening theme and end credits to "Telling the Truth: The Best in Broadcast Journalism," a one-hour documentary hosted by Michel Martin, which tracks the winners of this year's Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards as they continue to work on stories around the world, from Sri Lanka to Toronto and San Francisco to Paris. Weaving together candid interviews with award-winning footage, "Telling the Truth" examines six duPont Award-winning news programs.

"Telling the Truth: The Best in Broadcast Journalism" premieres nationally Tuesday, January 24 on PBS, and in New York City on WNET (Channel 13), Thursday, January 26 at 10:00 PM.

FRONTLINE: The Storm

November 2005

Just finished scoring the music to the new Frontline episode titled "The Storm."


Frontline (PBS) 9pm Nov 22nd.


It's another very powerful show--on top of some heartbreaking footage (I kept thinking--how can this happen here?), it also includes interviews with former FEMA director Michael Brown (his first TV interview since his resignation), Mayor Ray Nagin, Governor Kathleen Blanco and many others--and tries to make sense on how everything unfolded as terribly as it did.

"The Storm" airs this Tuesday, November 22 at 9 PM on PBS (check local listings)--I hope you can check it out, as Frontline is one of the few untainted "news" shows remaining on TV.

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!