-
Dr. Angela M. Wellman is an award-winning musician, scholar, educator, and activist. As a third-generation musician, Wellman has performed with many noted musicians, such as the McCoy Tyner Big Band, Joe Williams, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. She is a recipient of multiple local and national awards, including the City of Oakland's “Cultural Key to the City,” the Jazz Journalists Association’s Jazz Hero Award, the Arhoolie Award, and the 2020 Caffie M. Greene Community Building Award from UPSurge! NY, the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Study Fellowship, the 2021 Alameda County Arts Leadership Award, and the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Beacon Award from the International Women’s Brass Conference. Dr Wellman is also recipient of the 2023 Icons Among Us Award from the Black Joy Parade and an inductee in Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame-2023 Dr Wellman is the founding director of the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music in Oakland which provides music education for people in urban areas and is unique in serving predominantly black and brown youth. OPC is part of a broader agenda to build a national network of Public Conservatories with a unified teaching philosophy and teaching practices that engender equity, belonging, and empathy through music. In 2005, since she founded Oakland Public Conservatory, OPC has delivered masterclasses, performances, workshops, and community events by local and international artists. Dr Wellman has spent her whole life in music as a professional trombonist, teacher, and music education activist, focusing on ensuring that African American students have access to high-caliber music instruction. -
Chess Records, Pt. 6 - 1955 takes a close look at all the significant Chess and Checker releases from 1955. Little Walter scores another R&B #1 and the biggest record of his career with "My Babe," while the Moonglows show that they have staying power when "Most Of All" makes the R&B top 5. On March 2, 1955, Ellas McDaniel lays down a hambone beat, calls himself Bo Diddley and the Rock n' Roll Revolution is on its way. Then this new music is cemented in July when Chess releases Chuck Berry's first record, "Maybellene" and in August it hits #1 and stays there through the fall.
-
Chess Records Part 7 finishes up 1955 with a few stragglers and kicks off 1956 with a bang! This was the year of Chuck Berry as he charted 4 singles (5 songs) and we present them in a special Chuck Berry Hits Collage to demonstrate his chart prowess. 1956 was also a solid year for Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf as each released career classics like "Trouble No More" (Muddy) and "Smoke Stack Lighning" (Wolf). We are introduced to future legends, Bobby Charles with "Later, Alligator," Billy Stewart with "Billy's Blues Pt. 2" and the Four Tops' "Could It Be You." The Moonglows continue to surge while the Flamingos finally score their first of many hits after years of trying on other Chicago Labels. -
Myra Melford (ENCORE). Pianist and composer Myra Melford draws inspiration from literature, architecture, and visual art—finding creative sparks in the works of James Joyce, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Joan Miró. This episode explores the many facets of her artistry, from the egalitarian interplay of Trio M (with bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Matt Wilson) to the boundless expression of her Snowy Egret quintet. We’ll also hear Melford in a Big Band setting, joining forces with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. -
On Part 3 of a 3 part special, Making Records with Shirley Horn, we tell the story of the albums the great vocalist-pianist made for Verve between 1987 and 1998. And on this episode we’ll feature the Grammy-nominated albums “Light Out Of Darkness”, “The Main Ingredient” and “Loving You’’. And the Grammy-winning “I Remember Miles”. -
As part of our 25th anniversary celebration, we re-visit my conversation with the late Blossom Dearie who delighted audiences with her tasty piano playing, hip vocal interpretations and sly humor. Blossom talks about her inspirations and favorite younger musicians. -
Chess Records Part 8 spends more time in 1956 as it was a very fruitful year for Chess. Paul Gayten was working full time for the company as a New Orleans talent scout and producer and he's the reason Clarence "Frog Man" Henry's "Ain't Got No Home" was issued on Chess' Argo subsidiary. That was a huge crossover hit in early 1957. The Blues was still strong at the end of '56 and into '57 with stellar releases from Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson II and Little Walter. Leonard Chess continued to ramp up vocal group releases and scored more hits with the Moonglows, but also added Lee Andrews & The Hearts, The Ravens and the Pastels to the Chess roster. We wind down our special series on Chess with part 8 as R&B and Rock n' Roll start to become synonymous in 1957. Chess continued to release groundbreaking hit records well into the 1960s from Etta James, Buddy Guy, The Ramsey Lewis Trio, Ahmad Jamal, Chuck Berry, Fontella Bass and their roster of classic Blues artists. Leonard and Phil sold Chess to GRT in early 1969, but the Chess magic can still be felt today and we hope you felt it during this series on this influential label. -
Justin Tyson (NEW!) On this very special episode, drummer Justin Tyson — who has lit the scene ablaze with his work alongside the likes of Robert Glasper and esperanza spalding — shares his top five drum heroes and the tracks that got him hooked. Plus, the seasoned sideman shares tracks and stories from The Paper Doors, his debut record as a leader filled with trippy symbolism and tales of the mystical.
