The Art of the Story

On this episode of The Art of the Story, we highlight a big year for music power couple Iqua and Adegoke Steve Colson

Lil' Jimmy Reed: 70 years of blues on the road

Jazz pianist and club owner Spike Wilner reflects on Smalls and Mezzrow not just as venues, but as living containers for a scene that’s always alive—exploring community, stewardship, and his belief that jazz, practiced with care, can be a quiet force for human connection.

NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Owens remembers sitting in with the Miles Davis Quintet when he was 15 years old, as he prepares to lead an all star band at Flushing Town Hall in honor of Davis’ centenary.

Marquis Hill brings his “Family Band” to the Village Vanguard

Celebrating George Benson on his birthday

Writer Larry Ratso Sloman was more than ready for his close-up when director Josh Safdie tapped him to make his Hollywood acting debut in Marty Supreme — and discovered that four days on a movie set can rival a lifetime at the typewriter.

Marcus Miller

Leo Sidran goes behind the scenes with his father, Ben at the Palm Springs Jazz Festival. Part personal narrative, part exploration of how natural phenomena like overtones, particles, and waves shape our ideas of beauty — and part look at how creative work actually gets made.

Before “fake news” had a name, writer Clifford Irving pulled off one of the most audacious literary hoaxes in history: a fake autobiography of Howard Hughes. In this Art of the Story, Leo Sidran revisits Irving’s remarkable tale—part scam, part self-mythology, and a strangely prophetic mirror of our media age.

Celebrating Bobby McFerrin on his birthday

Remembering Bob Power, the innovative recording engineer and producer who helped to redefine the sound of Hip Hop.

Clyde and Gracie Lawrence of the band Lawrence talk about their creative philosophy, their use of humor, their approach to honest songwriting, and how that sensibility brought them to All Out On Broadway.

For Women’s History Month, Leo Sidran reflects on the evolving role of women in jazz — from overlooked pioneers to contemporary innovators reshaping the music today. Featuring insights from Caroline Davis, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Melissa Aldana, the piece explores how representation, authorship, and canon-building continue to shape the sound of jazz.

John Pizzarelli celebrates Tony Bennett with Dear Mr. Bennett

Palladium Celebrates the Music of Wayne Shorter

On this edition of The Art of the Story, we preview MAM's African American Cultural Committee's "Art Meets Jazz" series which this year features the Brandee Younger Trio

On this episode of The Art of the Story, founder Deborah Belfatto and Newark's FIrst Lady Linda Baraka talk about the 4th annual Let's Talk Women's Health & Wellness Symposium at NJPAC

On this episode of The Art of the Story, bassist and singer-songwriter Antonio McLendon talks about his faith, the family's musical legacy and his amazing daughter Samara Joy

On this episode of The Art of the Story, jazz pianist, composer and bandleader Charu Suri talks about her 2026 Grammy-nominated album "Shayan"

On this episode of The Art of the Story, Nanny Assis and Bobby Sanabria talk about a special concert coming up at Dizzy's Club that celebrates the iconic sound of Antonio Carlos Jobim

On the episode of The Art of the Story, we preview HFAS18 with founder and CEO Dion Clarke

On this episode of The Art of the Story, Leo Sidran talks to trumpeter David Weiss of The Cookers

On this episode of The Art of the Story, we learn about the "Corona Collection" exhibit at the Louis Armstrong House Museum

On this episode of The Art of the Story, director Justin Emeka's world premiere adaptation of "A Doll's House" is set in 1950's New Jersey.