NYC Radio Live

Gabriel Akhmad Marin is a multi-instumental virtuoso, pioneer of the fretless guitar and a master of ancient Eastern string traditions.  Most well known for his band Consider the Source, this weekend he is bringing a new project, the Gabriel Akhmad Marin Qalb Ensemble, for a special sunrise set. From the jazz clubs of New York City to the vibrant cultural hubs of Istanbul, Gabriel’s work is a seam...

Sami Abu Shumays is one of the leading Arab violinists in the US, and a vocalist. In this episode, he shares the story of Umm Kulthum, the legendary voice of Egypt and the Arab world. Sami will bring A Tribute to Umm Kulthum – Gholobt Asaleh fi Ruhi to the Ragas Live Festival 2026, featuring Zahra AlZubaidi, Zafer Tawil, Mohamed Salah, Sami Abu Shumays, and The Umm Kulthum Workshop.  

Grammy Award winning pianist Kevin Hays has a new album out on the new label AHT Records, Live at the Stone   We hang out with Kevin and fellow keyboard legend Craig Taborn before they take the stage at The Jazz Gallery.  Kevin has worked with countless legends like Sonny Rollins, Roy Haynes, Joe Henderson, Joshua Redman, Chris Potter, and Kurt Rosenwinkel. Brad Mehldau, Lionel Loueke and Steve Ga...

Mustafa Abu Muhammad's family have been practitioners of the ecstatic, Sufi musical tradition of Qawwali for 800 years.  His uncle and his father lead the most popular Qawwali party in Pakistan, Fareed Ayaz & Abu Muhammad Qawwal, of which Mustafa is a member and he is the leader of Mustafa Abu Muhammad Qawwal currently touring the United States.  In this interview, Mustafa shares the fascinati...

Smokey Hormel and Charlie Burnham have played with countless legends of music, like Johnny Cash, James "Blood" Ulmer, Tom Waits, Norah Jones, Cassandra Wilson, Beck, Adele, Justin Timberlake, to name a few. They are also the nucleus of Smokey's Roundup , the eclectic Western Swing band that has been holding it down on Wednesdays at Sunny's Bar, in Red Hook, Brooklyn for over 2 decades.  If you're...

Born in Iran in 1979, Ehsan Matoori is one of the leading Santoor virtuosos of today. Ehsan discusses the long and deep history, dating back thousands of years, of Persian music and poetry, his own journey, and his exciting new project, The Rite of Strings, whose debut album, Dust and the Moon will be released August 28th by Bright Shiny Things . For a deeper dive into Persian Music, here are a fe...

The roots of rock and roll began in the 1930s, when jazz musicians looked for venues to play beyond the reach of mob-controlled clubs in the North. A promoter laundering his numbers-running revenue expanded this network of jook joints, barns, taverns, and luxurious clubs across the South, creating the Chitlin' Circuit that would bring the world Little Richard, Louis Jordan, James Brown, B.B. King...

A 2016 interview and live performance with one of the great families of rhythm led by Grammy Award winner and Shakti percussionist T.H. Vikku Vanyakram, his son Selvaganesh (who would also win a Grammy with Shakti) and grandson Swamnithan Selvaganesh.   Recorded at the East Indian Music Academy, this is a legendary lineup: T.H. Vikku Vanyakram, ghatam;  Uma Shankar, ghatam; Selva Ganesh, kanjira a...

John Medeski is one of the most versatile pianists and keyboard players of our time.  Already gigging with world class musicians like Jaco Pastorius in High School and connecting with greats like Billy Higgins, Dewey Redman and Bob Moses in college, he landed in the adventurous downtown New York scene of in the 1990.  That fertile artistic environment is where he connected with and formed the the...

This is Anand Avirmed and Mari Tanka's set performed live at the 2025 Ragas Live Festival on October 18–19, 2025, at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn, New York.   Anand's set featured traditional Mongolian throat singing (Khoomei) and playing the Morin Khuur (horsehead fiddle), along with Mari Tanaka creating acoustic drones.    Audio: Mixed and Mastered by Parag Deshpande

Drummer and composer Ra Kalam Bob Moses has had an extraordinary career working with just about everybody.  Here's a partial list: Pat Metheny, Charles Mingus, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jim, Larry Coryell, Dave Liebman, Gary Burton, Keith Jarrett,  Herbie Hancock, Jack DeJohnette, Jaco Pastorius,  Michael Brecker,  Sheila Jordan, Bobby McFerrin,  Bill Frisell, John Scofield,  Dave Holland, Charlie Hade...

5 AM set of the 24 hour Ragas Live Festival at Pioneer Works 10.23.22 Kroba (saxophone and analog synth)   Originally broadcast on WKCR-FM Be the first to hear the latest updates! Join our email list Ragas Live Festival ( https://ragaslive.com/sign-up ) The Ragas Live Festival was born out of these increasingly ambitious radio shows, and began in the WKCR studio in 2012 when 50 musicians volunteer...

After "the end of the world" in the 1930s, the greatest patron of art in the world became the United States Governement.  The impact of this would surprise anyone who digs into the history.   John P. Murphy takes us on a wild ride of New Deal art and the surprising twists and turns that would end up ushering in a new dawn of culture in the United Sates.  John P. Murphy is a Curator of Prints and D...

Today Hariprasad Chaurasia, the greatest maestro of the bansuri, the bamboo flute, turns 88.  We celebrate by sharing our 2018 interview with Pd. Chaurasia conducted at his home/gurukul in Bombay.  We also chat with Jay Gandhi, his senior disciple, and an unbelievable musician himself, who shares his insights on the life and music of his guru.   WKCR will be playing the music of Hariprasad Chauras...

Dr. Mu Qian is an ethnomusicologist, music producer, performing arts curator, and writer.  He's traveled to places few others have and shares his recordings from Western China, South East Asia, and beyond.   You can learn more about Mu and his research on the music of the Dong people in this article he wrote for Simithsonian Magazine Mu has curated world music concerts in Asia, Europe, and North A...

Cosmas Magaya was one of the masters of the Shona Mbira, the magical trance music of Zimbabwe.   Recorded in 2011, originally our 15th episode of NYC Radio Live, he sprinkled our conversation with musical examples and performances.   Cosmas was featured on the classic album the Soul of the Mbira (1978) in and played a big role in the research in the accompanying books as well.  He co-author a book...

Tony Trischka has been called 'the father of modern bluegrass' though he claims here there are 'many fathers and a few mothers.' Either way he expanded the range of the banjo like few others.   Photo by Gregory Heisler

Billy Martin (a.k.a. illy B), is a genre-bending drummer, composer and visual artist known for his work with Medeski Martin & Wood, John Lurie’s Lounge Lizards, and others.  We chat about his early days connecting with folks like Bob Moses, Jaco Pastorius and the percussion training that made him such an original drummer. 

Today is Miles Davis' centenial and we celebrate by sharing interviews with Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, and George Wein, all who worked closely with Miles.  Jack DeJohnette joined Miles in 1968 and appeared on classic albums like Bitches Brew, On the Corner, A Tribute to Jack Johnson, Big Fun, and Live Evil. Our interview was recoreded in 2010. John Scofield worked with Miles for several years...

Jeremiah Chiu is a synthesist and visual artist.  He brings his unique organic/electronic aesthetic to the experimental supergroup SML and a series of beautiful solo and collaborative albums on the International Anthem label.   We chat about his Chicago roots, his creative process, and saying something rather than everything.   Subscribe to the NYC Radio Live podcast for access to over 400 live pe...

In 1939, a group of children aged 10-16 would sneak out of an institute for the blind in Taledega, Alabama and sing for the Lord - and for donations.  These Blind Boys of Alabama would go on to become one of the most celebrated gospel groups of all time, winning 6 Grammy awards and working with the biggest names in music.  Current lead singer Ricky McKinnie and author Preston Lauterbach, who co-wr...

Two time Grammy Award winning bansuri maestro Rakesh Chaurasia and tabla pheonom Salar Nader, are two of the most outstanding musicians of their generation. Both child prodigies, Rakesh began his studies with his uncle, Hariprasad Chaurasia at 4 years and Salar began his studies with Zakir Hussain at the age 7.   Rakesh toured the world with Zakir Hussain, Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer and won those...

Judith Owen is a vocalist, bandleader, podcaster, and champion of jazz divas who have not yet been given their proper due, like her heroes Nellie Lutcher and Julia Lee.  We caught up with Judith on her way to bring her J.O. Big Band to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (April 30) and a date with her Gentlemen Callers at the Cutting Room in New York City (May 7).   Photo: Steve Rapport pho...

10:30AM set of the 24 hour Ragas Live Festival at Pioneer Works 10.19.24 Gamelan Dharma Swara is one of the leading Balinese gamelan and dance groups in the United States.   Catch them live at the next Second Sundays: May 2026 at Pioneer Works Sunday, May 10, 2026 4pm-5.30pm   Subscribe to the NYC Radio Live podcast for access to over 400 live performances and interviews! NYC Radio Live Home https...

Stanley Jordan is one of the most original and unique guitarists of our time.  In August of 2012 he swung by the WKCR-FM studio DJ'd, performed a solo set, talked music and philosophy, performed live and jammed with all of us including the great guitarist from Mali and Niger, Abdoulaye Alhassane. It was an amazing opportunity to spend time with a creative force who approaches music, science, and l...