“Chairman of the Block” masterfully invokes all senses to give listeners an impression of complete immersion into the narrative. The narrative begins with a personal memory from a resident of the neighborhood who tells his story of when he first met the character named in the title. Mixed in with his narration is an underscore of the Frank Sinatra song that at times overwhelms the voice-over and at other times fades into the background, mirroring what the narrator is saying.

Along with the music portion invoking the audio aspect, the narration also invokes rich, sensory language that paints a vivid picture of the scene the narrator is setting. He describes the stoop the Sinatra-wannabe is singing on, the diversity of the audience listening to him, and the physical  neighborhood in Brooklyn. At 47:14, he says, “There at the corner a woman with spiky salt and pepper hair in a leopard print vest was doing a spirited if not slightly awkward tap-dance on a piece of wood she brought out on the sidewalk.” Immediately after saying this, the sounds of tap-dancing beats are added to the crooning of Sinatra song, once again giving listeners the impression that they are there on the very sidewalk, both witnessing and hearing the quirky woman’s dance.

The personal anecdote also invokes a sense of community for the listener because the narrator goes on to say that the corner of the street is blocked off with avid listeners who come together to see the two performers who live in the same building. The thrift store nearby provides an eclectic arrangement of couches and chairs for patrons to sit on, and again the sensory language used here really allows listeners paint a vivid mental image through a solely audible medium of storytelling.

What works really well with this piece is the constant inter-weaving of storytelling and song. The entire piece is underscored by various songs Nick is singing, and the music provides evidence of just how similar his voice is to Sinatra’s. Moreover, the narration itself works really well. Ira Glass could have easily narrated a biography of Nick, however, it is made more personal through first-hand accounts and distinct voices of people who have seen the singer and been a part of the audience. It adds authenticity and builds the ethos of the narration, once again, immersing readers into the story.