The Imagination Asks Questions — Inside Giacomo Pedicini's Hard Boiled
The Neapolitan bassist and composer discusses how volcanic landscapes, artistic heritage, and the conscious abandonment of structure shaped his daring latest album.
ETHEL's Dorothy Lawson — From Downtown Streets to Uptown Symphonies
The co-founder of string quartet ETHEL discusses Carnegie Hall, Ron Carter, and why classical music needs to shed its sacred robes and return to its role as cultural glue. Her journey through New York City's musical landscape mirrors the evolution of contemporary classical music itself.
Verse Into Music — Jamie Baum's Fluent Jazz
A conversation with the renowned flutist about her latest album, 'What Times Are These,' and the creative process of reimagining verses from Adrienne Rich, Tracy K. Smith, and others through contemporary jazz.
Needle Drops
A cosmic journey through the latest, most compelling underground releases reveals unexpected collaborations and sonic discoveries, including Wolf Eyes meeting Anthony Braxton and Animal Collective's Geologist transforming Instagram clips into experimental gold.
Cry for Revolution — The Transformative Pedal Steel of Susan Alcorn
From her roots in country music to her embrace of avant-garde experimentation, Susan Alcorn transformed the pedal steel guitar into a voice of revolution and possibility. Her passing leaves behind a legacy that changed how we think about the instrument's role in modern music.
A Whisper to a Scream — The Clarinet Languages of Anat Cohen
Born in Tel Aviv and shaped by Brazilian choro, Anat Cohen has turned the clarinet into an instrument of possibility. Whether leading her acclaimed Tentet or exploring intimate spaces with Quartetinho, she creates music where different cultures dance together in perfect time.
From Barcelona to the Bayou — Marina Albero's Musical Migration
Born into Barcelona's cultural resistance, Marina Albero carried music across continents before finding an unexpected home in the jazz scenes of Seattle and New Orleans. She documents her wanderings on 'A Nomad of Sound,' an album that transforms migration into melody.
The New-Age Vibes of Greg Davis's 'Full Spectrum' Series
The experimental musician discusses his long-running ambient project, the beauty hidden in dollar-bin records, and why making peace with a slower creative pace yields his most thoughtful work.
Needle Drops
Musical paths cross in surprising ways this week—classical training meets electronic innovation, everyday objects transform into instruments, and a beloved album emerges from obscurity with its forward-thinking vision intact.
Jonathon Grasse and the Enduring Echo of Eric Dolphy
The biography 'Jazz Revolutionary' illuminates the complex world of Eric Dolphy through meticulous research and fresh interviews. Grasse discusses his decade-long quest to understand one of jazz's most enigmatic voices.
Needle Drops
From Alex Ross's expansive classical music history to Justin Walter's Lynchian trumpet notes, this week's picks traverse genres and decades with unexpected connections and revelations.
Lisa Pegher's Digital Reboot for Classical Percussion
Through projects like 'Circuits & Skins' and A.I.RE, Pegher demonstrates how classical percussion can speak to modern audiences. Her instruments become both timekeeper and time machine, connecting orchestra halls to electronic festivals.