NYC Radio Live

George Wein remembers Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis and the birth of Newport Jazz

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 stories of the Duke, Pops, Monk, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, LesterYoung, Billie Holiday and much more.

Joe Westerlund reflects on Megafaun, Milford Graves, and the Ituri Rainforest

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 Jockey on April 24th.

Booker Stardrum talks SML, Harry Parch, and the rhythm of raindrops

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 musician/composer/instrument creator Dean Drummond Booker has been releasing his own creative output of music including his latest Close-up On The Outside, Rafting/Tall Grass (with Photay) and 2021's Crater.

John Scofield talks Miles Davis, Mingus, Phil Lesh, and the groove

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 along the way from creating magic with all these legends. 

V. Selvaganesh talks Zakir Hussain, John McLaughlin, and Shakti

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

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.  

Alam Khan

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 Genius concert.This interview was recorded in February 6, 2026

Wasifuddin Dagar

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

Hariprasad Chaurasia #287

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 

Reggie Workman talks John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Lee Morgan and more

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 with such icons as Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Thelonious Monk, Max Roach, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Eric Dolphy, Gigi Gryce, Booker Little, Roy Haynes, Wayne Shorter, Red Garland, James Moody, Abbey Lincoln, Alice Coltrane, Booker Ervin, Horace Silver, Benny Golson, Cedar Walton, Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, Curtis Fuller, Yusef Lateef, Pharoah Sanders, Herbie Mann, Archie Shepp, Clifford Jordan, Bobby Hutcherson, Sonny Fortune, Billy Harper, and David Murray.
 
This episode was originally broadcast in 2019 in support of the "A Love Supreme with Reggie Workman" performance as part of the Wall to Wall: John Coltrane Event.  

Matt Moran

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 about his journey and inspirations from Balkan music to Duke Ellington and the ingredients that make Golden Fest such a joyful celebration.
 
40th Golden Festival!
 
January 16-17, 2026
Friday: 7:00 pm – 12:30 am
Saturday: 5:30 pm – 2:00 am
The Marquee Astoria (formerly Astoria World Manor)
25-22 Astoria Blvd, Astoria, NY
https://goldenfest.org/

Cochemea

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 coming up soon Here is our conversation. 

Daniel Freedman- Saha Gnawa

NYC Radio Live's 2025 Album of the Year was the self-titled Saha Gnawa, an inspiring project that combines tradtional Morrocan trance music (embodied by co-founder Maâlem Hassan Ben Jaafar) alongside amazing jazz/contemporary musicians such as Jason Lindner, Guilherme Monteiro, and Gilad Hekselman.
The result is incredible! 
We have a great conversation Saha Ganawa's co-founder Daniel Freedman about the magic of groove, trance, and capturing this fresh, electric sound. 
 
Here is the full lineup of the album/ensemble:Maâlem Hassan Ben Jaafar // guembri, vocalsDaniel Freedman // drums, percussion,Amino Belyamani // qraqebs, backing vocalsDavid Lizmi // qraqebs, backing vocalsAhmed Jeriouda // qraqebs, backing vocalsNaoufal Atiq // backing vocalsJason Lindner // keyboards, synthesizersGuilherme Monteiro // guitarGustavo DiDalva // percussionGilad Hekselman // guitar (A1, A2, A3, A4, B4)Roman Diaz // congas (A2, B2, B4)Nels Cline // guitar (A1, A3)Abraham Rodriguez Jr. // vocals, (B2)Gilmar Gomes // percussion (B2)Donny McCaslin // tenor saxophone (B4)
Photo Credit: Justin Lane

At home: Paul Winter on the Solstice – Podcast 125

This episode was originally broadcast on December 16, 2014.Happy Winter Solstice!Seven-time Grammy® winner Paul Winter has a body of work that chronicles his wide-ranging experiences in the musical traditions and natural environments of the Earth.  The saxophonist, composer and bandleader founded Living Music as the recording context for his ensemble, the Paul Winter Consort, and his community of colleagues, which includes some of the world’s finest jazz, world, and classical musicians, along with notable voices from the great symphony of wildlife. It was a blast when he came by my apartment,  played some instruments,  hung out and talked about the big event coming up:  His 35th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration.