Episodes

With the new album August in March, three accomplished players perform modern jazz as a band of equals.

The Bristol-based songwriter on protest music, stage fright, the joy of singles, and playing Glastonbury with Kelis.

With Aquamarine, the award-winning harpist and composer channels the ocean.

Through nerdcore hip-hop, mr. master’s ambitious ‘ultra’ redefines how music gets released.

LP and Michael the show producer have a freewheeling chat about all sorts of stuff.

With his jazz octet Epic Proportions, Seabrook shreds genre apart on the album brutalovechamp.

Two musical mavericks create stunning, genre-defying electronic compositions on the new album, “--------”

As a managing director at Qobuz, Dan helps audiophiles embrace music streaming.

The Vermont-based jazz virtuoso explores the cosmos with a nine-piece ensemble.

With the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, David creates musical milestones in Newark, NJ, and beyond.

Piano, vocals, and electronic treatments combine for a sonic adventure that defies genre.

A conversation with a rising artist who deftly blends jazz, hip-hop, and neo-soul.

The acclaimed jazz pianist discusses influences, longevity, and cooking.

The Canadian sound artist and producer talks about his spacious new album, Find Yourself Lost

The Swedish born jazz-bassist and composer talks about his exciting new album, Look Inside.

The Lithuanian jazz drummer and producer opens up about his unique electronic and world music influenced sound.

This talented South African keyboardist and emcee talks about the unique blend of hip-hop, jazz, and soul found in his fantastic album Love Is Energy.

The ECM Records artist and Sting's longtime guitarist takes a seat in the Spotlight.

Today, the Spotlight shines On Lem Oppenheimer, co-founder of Easy Star Records, an independent record label specializing in pushing and expanding the boundaries of reggae music. Founded in mid-90s New York City, Easy Star first focused on raising the bar for US reggae but soon expanded to uncovering and highlighting great artists from regional scenes around the world. Their in-house band, the Easy Star All-Stars, are a touring and recording outfit that has played on some of the labe...

Today, the Spotlight shines On Monika Herzig, whose career as a jazz pianist and composer spans three decades and dozens of releases. Monika joins us to talk about the release of a reimagined set of Joni Mitchell’s music, which she arranged and features vocals interpreted by her late friend, award-winning vocalist Janiece Jaffe. To quote from the liner notes: “This album is, first and foremost, about relationships: between Janiece and Monika; between the stretch of time that gave rise to J...

Today, the Spotlight shines On an episode from about a year ago, our conversation with photographer Harold Sherrick. Harold joined Spotlight On to talk about A Pig's Tale, a book he co-authored which tells the story of the legendary bootleg record label, Trade Mark of Quality, and the adventures of its founders in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Trade Mark of Quality was really the first bootleg record label of its kind, spawning many later imitators. From the end of the '60s to the mid '7...

Today, the Spotlight shines On New York-based jazz innovators Jane Ira Bloom and Mark Helias, who join us to discuss their latest collaboration with drummer Bobby Previte, 2.3.23. I’d like to read from Mark’s notes for the album, “2.3.23 was an outgrowth of the improvisational recording project that emerged between myself and Jane Ira Bloom beginning at an early stage of the pandemic in April/May of 2020. We struggled to come to terms with the technological limitations of playing remotely ...

Today, the Spotlight shines On John Brodeur, leader of the music project, Bird Streets. John conceived of Bird Streets as his return to a band format after a long career as a solo artist. The new band point of view proved to be artistically freeing, and John joins us today to talk about Lagoon, the second Bird Streets album. Among John’s collaborators on Lagoon are Pat Sansone of Wilco, Michael Lockwood, who has worked with Aimee Man and Fiona Apple, Ed Harcourt, John Davis of Superd...

Today, the Spotlight shines On Australian jazz heavyweight Christopher Hale. Christopher has been called “one of the most unique and respected musicians in Australia” (Glam Adelaide) and an “unconventional virtuoso of the bass guitar” (The Age). His new release, Ritual Diamonds, came out on March 3 through Earshift Music. The work reimagines Korean ritual drumming and contemporary jazz, creating music that is mysterious, complex and beautiful. On it, Christopher is joined by collaborator a...