The Sauce with Dawn Burns

Join host Dawn Burns on The Sauce for a conversation with Peruvian multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator Lucia Sarmiento. Based in Minneapolis, Lucia has become a vibrant force on the city's music scene and has toured nationally with international pop star Pitbull on saxophone and guitar. Influenced by her South American roots, jazz, and '80s fusion, Lucia creates music that reflec...

Join host Dawn Burns on *The Sauce* for a conversation with acclaimed saxophonist and composer Tim Cunningham. After starring in both football and music at Michigan State University, Cunningham turned down a free agent opportunity with the Dallas Cowboys to follow his passion for the saxophone. That decision launched a remarkable career blending smooth jazz and soulful R&B. He has shared the s...

Join host Dawn Burns on *The Sauce* for a conversation with Polish bassist and composer Kinga Głyk, one of contemporary jazz’s most exciting young voices. Born in 1997, Kinga began performing at age 12 with her family’s Głyk P.I.K Trio. Blending funk, fusion, and modern jazz grooves, her dynamic electric bass style continues to redefine the instrument’s role in contemporary music.

Join host Dawn Burns on *The Sauce* for a conversation with legendary DJ and producer **Terminator X**, the original DJ and founding member of the groundbreaking hip-hop group Public Enemy. Known as the "Silent Assassin," Terminator X helped shape the group's signature sound with his innovative turntablism and unforgettable scratching on classics like *Rebel Without a Pause*. He also r...

Join host Dawn Burns on The Sauce for a conversation and electrifying live performance from Toronzo Cannon & The Chicago Way, joined by The Jack Whittle Trio, recorded at The Acorn in Three Oaks, Michigan. A leading voice in contemporary blues, Toronzo Cannon is celebrated for his deeply personal songwriting, fiery guitar playing, and soulful vocals. Drawing inspiration from legends such as Mu...

Join host Dawn Burns on *The Sauce* for a conversation recorded in 2022.with acclaimed jazz pianist, composer, educator, and radio host Billy Foster. With a career spanning more than 35 years, Foster has performed with jazz greats including Art Farmer, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, and Ernie Watts. A longtime educator at Valparaiso University and Indiana University Northwest, he has helped shape gener...

Join host Dawn Burns on “The Sauce” for a conversation with Jean-Philippe Rio-Py — known worldwide as RIOPY. RIOPY’s far-reaching music has surpassed 1.3 billion streams and filled concert halls across Europe, North America and Asia — but behind the success is a deeper story of recovery. Be Love was born from a profoundly personal battle: the fight to recover when illness nearly silenced him. For...

Join host Dawn Burns on *The Sauce* for a conversation with rising saxophonist, composer, and producer Kobie Dozier. Raised in Los Angeles and shaped by the rich Leimert Park music community, Kobie studied with legendary saxophonist Ricky Washington and was inspired by jazz mentor Reggie Andrews. A graduate of The New School, Kobie is building momentum with his genre-blending sound rooted in jazz,...

Join host Dawn Burns on The Sauce for a conversation with Chicago-based guitarist, arranger, composer, and educator Joshua Achiron. Blending jazz and classical traditions, Joshua studied at the Eastman School of Music and earned his master’s degree from the Berklee Global Jazz Institute under Danilo Pérez, Joe Lovano, and John Patitucci. In 2024, Joshua received the prestigious Luminarts Jazz Fell...

Join host Dawn Burns on The Sauce for an inspiring performance by JazzReach’s acclaimed Metta Quintet. Dedicated to advancing jazz through innovative educational programming and community engagement, JazzReach brings world-class artistry to audiences of all ages. This special performance was recorded live at The Acorn in Three Oaks, capturing the energy, creativity, and spirit that make live jazz...

Join host Dawn Burns on *The Sauce* for an inspiring conversation with Mark Adams, a pioneering keyboardist and composer who helped define the neo-soul sound. A longtime collaborator of Roy Ayers, Mark spent 25 years as his music director. Following Roy’s passing in March 2025, Mark set out to honor his legacy by forming the Neo-Soul All Stars and recording “This Is Neo Soul”, a tribute album. In...

Join host Dawn Burns on *The Sauce* for a powerful conversation with Buddy Red, an Atlanta-based Southern blues artist known for his soulful sound and electrifying performances. A gifted vocalist and guitarist, Buddy channels the spirit of classic influences while crafting a style entirely his own. With roots in a legendary entertainment family, he’s forging his own path—earning recognition for hi...

Join host Dawn Burns on The Sauce for a captivating conversation with Paris Jo, an independent fashion designer and photographer based in the Michiana area. Known for her bespoke bridal and evening gowns, Paris blends romance, history, and storytelling into every piece, creating designs rich with emotion, movement, and timeless beauty. A Purdue University graduate with over a decade in design and...

Join host Dawn Burns on The Sauce for a conversation with Chicago-based, cross-genre artist Russoul. Blending soul, house, techno, gospel, R&B, and electronica, Russoul shares his journey from winning Chicago Idol to working with Ye and opening for legends like Erykah Badu, Chaka Khan, and Stevie Wonder. Tune in as he reflects on his musical evolution, creative process, and the lasting influen...

Join host Dawn Burns on The Sauce for a dynamic conversation with Nicholas Payton—a Grammy Award–winning multi-instrumentalist, composer, and cultural innovator. A leading voice in American music, Payton defies genre, blending tradition with what he calls “postmodern New Orleans music.” In this episode, he reflects on his 2022 album Couch Sessions, featuring bassist Buster Williams and drummer Len...

Join host Dawn Burns on The Sauce as she sits down with artist Craig Kilgore, whose work transforms everyday landscapes into meditations on memory, myth, and the human mark on the land. Raised in the post-industrial Midwest, Craig developed an eye for the quiet beauty—and underlying tension—hidden in overlooked places. This spring, he takes that perspective on the road with a series of pop-up exhi...

Join host Dawn Burns on The Sauce for an inspiring conversation with bassist, composer, and cultural advocate Brandon Meeks. A cornerstone of the Midwest creative music scene for over two decades, Meeks is known for his warm tone, deep groove, and fluid movement across jazz, hip-hop, soul, and experimental sounds. Born in Gary and based in Indianapolis, he’s collaborated with artists from Don Chea...

Join host Dawn Burns on The Sauce. On this episode, she sits down with the fiercely original Andy James, an artist who refuses to be boxed in. Rooted in jazz and inspired by legends like Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughan, and Ella Fitzgerald, her sound blends soulful depth with fearless exploration. Her album Happy People fused jazz with flamenco influences from her dance career, while her latest release...

Join host Dawn Burns on The Sauce for a conversation with Ernie Paniccioli—an icon and the preeminent visual historian of Hip Hop. Long before the culture became a global movement, Ernie was there with his camera, documenting its earliest moments in New York City. For more than fifty years, he has captured pioneers like Grandmaster Flash, Queen Latifah, Nas, Chuck D of Public Enemy, and The Notori...

Join host Dawn Burns on The Sauce. In this episode, Dawn sits down with Cheryl “Salt” James—iconic rapper, songwriter, and producer, best known as a founding member of the Grammy-winning, pioneering hip-hop duo Salt-N-Pepa. Formed in 1985 with Sandra “Pepa” Denton, the group became one of the first successful all-female rap acts, delivering classic hits like “Push It.”

Join host Dawn Burns on The Sauce for a compelling conversation with Lauren Lee, a forward-thinking vocalist, pianist, and composer based in New York City. Originally from the St. Louis, Missouri, metro area, Lauren began her creative music journey as a teenager in the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, an experience that launched her search for a truly original sound. Lauren is the creator of "Vocal...

Join host Dawn Burns on *The Sauce* for a dynamic conversation with Makia, a performing artist and songwriter from Chicago’s historic Englewood neighborhood. Makia has energized audiences across the Midwest—from college campuses and house parties to major Chicago stages including Reggie’s Rock Club, Estate Nightclub, Collaboraction Theatre Company, and Schubas. His reach extends nationally, with p...

Join host Dawn Burns on *The Sauce* for an inspiring conversation with acclaimed saxophonist Jazmin Ghent. An international smooth jazz and gospel artist, Jazmin is a 2019 NAACP Image Award winner and a six-time Billboard Top 5 performer, with her #1 hit “Kickin’ It Up” leading the way.  An accomplished educator and dynamic performer, she has captivated audiences across the U.S., Europe, and Austr...

Join host Dawn Burns on *The Sauce* for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Marvin Curtis and Deana “Dezha” Moore of Equity in the Arts. This innovative program is dedicated to ensuring all South Bend residents have access to the Morris Performing Arts Center—and to the arts beyond its walls. Learn how Equity in the Arts has launched impactful initiatives, including the South Bend High School Music...

Join host Dawn Burns on The Sauce for a compelling conversation with acclaimed trumpeter Marques Carroll. Drawing national attention since 1996, Marques has shared the stage with legends including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Christian McBride, Wynton Marsalis, and Aretha Franklin. Born into a musical family in St. Louis, he discovered his passion at age eight and developed a rich, versatile musical voice...