NYC Radio Live

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...

George Wein was one of the most influential producers in the history of American music.  Founder of the Newport Jazz Festival, Newport Folk Festival, and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, he lived a life amongst the greatest musicians of our time.  He wasn't a bad pianist and singer either! We share a coversation I recorded sometime between 2005-2010 at his home in Manhattan, where he told s...

We chat with Joe Westerlund about his life changing experiences with Milford Graves, his early work with Megafaun, and the inspiration of the music of the ituri Rainforest on all of his work. Make sure to check out his latest albums Curiosities from the Drift.  Grotto a trumpet/drums duo with Trever Hagen and  Setting S/T a trio with Jaime Fennelly and Nathan Bowles, to be released on Thrill Jocke...

Booker Stardrum whimsically co-founded SML with bassist Anna Butterss, synthesist Jeremiah Chiu, saxophonist Josh Johnson and guitarist Gregory Uhlmann. Their recent releases How You Been and Small, Medium, Large have squarely placed them as one of the most exciting groups in improvised music/jazz today.   A literal heir of the legacy of Harry Parch and his parents, floutist Stefani Starin musicia...

John Scofield is one of the great guitarists of out time.  The multi-Grammy award winning musician, has played with countless legends like Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Miles Davis, Billy Cobham, Charles Mingus, Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock, Mavis Staples, Charlie Haden, Phil Lesh, Dave Holland, Medeski, Martin and Wood...and on and on! John shares his story of how he got here and what he learned a...

One of the great percussionists of our time, the 2024 Grammy Award-winninga "Kanjira King," began a decades long mentorship with Zakir Hussain in 1990. He tells us one of the first things Zakir did was open his ears to artists like Weather Report, Frank Zappa, and Miles Davis. Don't miss his story about how Zakir tricked him into auditioning for John McLaughlin and Shakti!

Béla Fleck is a 19 time Grammy award winning artist.  He is recognized as the musician who has expanded the possibilities of his instrument, the banjo, and he keeps pushing own limits creatively. Béla is coming to NYC to celebrate his collaborator, the great Zakir Hussain at Carnegie Hall on March 6th.  

In this special conversation with the reknowned Sarod maestro, Alam Khan, we dig deep into what he learned form his father Ali Akbar Khan, family legends about his grandfather Allauddin Khan and what to expect at the upcoming concert at Carnegie Hall.   Alam will be at Carnegie on March 8th, 2026 celebrating the great tabla maestro as part of the  Zakir Hussain Eternal: Celebrating 75 Years of Gen...

A 2011 in-studio musical interview with Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar—torchbearer of an unbroken, 20-generation Dhrupad lineage dating back to the 15th century. 

This is an exclusive interview with the greatest living master of the bansuri, Hariprasad Chaurasia.  David Ellenbogen and Chaurasia's Senior disciple Jay Gandhi join the maestro at his Vrindaban Gurukul, in Mumbai.    This episode was originally broadcast in 2018 

This was an incredible opportunity to sit down with a living legend: Reggie Workman!!! In 1961, Workman joined the John Coltrane Quartet, replacing Steve Davis. He was present for the saxophonist's Live at the Village Vanguard sessions, and also recorded with a second bassist (Art Davis) on the 1961 albums, Olé Coltrane and Africa/Brass. Workman recorded frequently through the 1960s and performed...

North Americas largest Balkan Music festival is coming up this weekend! There is nothing like the Zlatne Uste Golden Fest and there is nobody like Matt Moran, both fixtures of New York's global music scene. Vibraphone and percussion virtuoso Matt Moran is most widely known for his ensemble Slavic Soul Party who played their first performance at the Golden Fest over 2 decades ago. We chat with Matt...

With roots playing with artists like Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings,  Antibalas, The Roots, David Byrne, Amy Winehouse, and Quincy Jones, saxaphone player Cochema is no stranger to the groove.  His hypnotic new album, Ancestros Futuros is the third in a trinity of recordings he composed and arranged and was picked as at to  NYC Radio Live Top 10 Album of the Year.   Cochema has some exciting shows...