Podcast Episodes

"At Town Hall" – Nina Simone

Season 13 Episode 15

At Town Hall captures a pivotal moment in Nina Simone's story, when she left behind her dream of being a concert pianist and embraced her identity as an indefinable and remarkable talent.

At Town Hall…

Published on 11 hours ago

"Thriller" – Michael Jackson

Season 13 Episode 14

In 1981, Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones set out on one of the most ambitious projects in pop music history: an album where every song was a hit. The result was Thriller. The record-breaking, chart-…

Published on 1 week ago

"Voodoo" – D'Angelo

Season 13 Episode 13

In light of D'Angelo's passing, we're replaying our episode on Voodoo from June 2025. This Grammy-winning, genre-defying album changed the sound of R&B, soul, and hip-hop forever. And it has seriousl…

Published on 2 weeks ago

The Jazz Samples That Built Hip Hop

Season 13 Episode 12

Hip hop wouldn’t sound the same without jazz. From A Tribe Called Quest to PinkPantheress, jazz provides the groove behind of some of the most iconic tracks of the genre.

Diallo Riddle and Luxxury of …

Published on 3 weeks ago

"Hard Groove" – The RH Factor

Season 13 Episode 11

The RH Factor’s Hard Groove might sound uncontroversial to modern ears, but in the early 2000s it was revolutionary. With this record, Roy Hargrove broke away from the straight-ahead jazz revival of …

Published on 4 weeks ago

"Blue" – Joni Mitchell

Season 13 Episode 10

Joni Mitchell’s Blue, a folk masterpiece, has inspired jazz musicians since its release in 1971. Is it because she sings like a horn player? Her improvisational melodies? Her unconventional chord str…

Published on 1 month ago

"A Love Supreme" — John Coltrane

Season 13 Episode 9

John Coltrane's A Love Supreme: Some call it the greatest album of the 20th century. Others say it isn't even Coltrane's best album ... of 1965. 

No matter where you think it sits in the jazz music ca…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

Why Jazz Musicians Love Hip Hop (ft. Switched On Pop)

Season 13 Episode 8

We're talking jazz influences in hip hop today with Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding from Switched On Pop. We dig into tracks from Kendrick Lamar (there's that TPAB acronym!), Common, Cautious Clay and…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

"Innervisions" — Stevie Wonder

Season 13 Episode 7

We’re diving back into Stevie Wonder with Innervisions, right in the heart of his classic period from 1972 to 1976. There’s something magical about this stretch of music history, and Innervisions sta…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

"Someday My Prince Will Come" — Miles Davis Quartet

Season 13 Episode 6

There is no more important relationship in this era of music than that of Miles Davis and John Coltrane; two masters ever-present in the musical and cultural landscape. Someday My Prince Will Come ma…

Published on 2 months ago