Scarecrow Arms Included

The final part of this week’s proGram took pieces with it.

A Feather is Not a Bird- Caleb Wheeler Curtis Ft. Sean Conly & Michael Sarin
Introspection- Caleb Wheeler Curtis Ft. Eric Revis & Justin Faulkner
Beginnings- Nick Adema
Fracture- Nick Adema
Day One- Jon Wirtz


Turnaround- Jerry Caringi Ft. Michael Massaro

Day By Day- Samara Joy

Yeah Man- Sun Ra (Live at The Left Bank, July 23, 1978)
Big John’s Special- Sun Ra (Live at The Left Bank, July 23, 1978)
il cosmo… the return- The Adventures of Anacleto
new journey..rebirth..repeat- The Adventures of Anacleto
silent disco- The Adventures of Anacleto Ft. nicholas

Not Cutting Off

The middle part of the proGram was prepared to pan upwards.

Water Suite (Thirst) [Kassa Overall Remix]- Sly5thAve
Greensleeves- Whatitdo Archive Group
Wild Man- Whatitdo Archive Group
Fire in the Disco- Adrian Younge


I’ve Got Rhythm- Steven Feifke Ft. Bryan Carter & Dan Chmielinski
Hot Pot!- Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (live)
Afreaka- Roy Hargrove’s Crisol


Ofafrii- Out Of/Into Ft. Gerald Clayton, Immanuel Wilkins, Joel Ross, Kendrick Scott & Matt Brewer
Radical- Out Of/Into Ft. Gerald Clayton, Immanuel Wilkins, Joel Ross, Kendrick Scott & Matt Brewer
Ender’s Game- The Fury (live)
Jimbo- The Fury (live)


Capetown Swag- Omer Lesham

Chippin’ Into The Light

The first part of this week’s proGram had one piece to an entire puzzle ready.

From DC to Daylight (Absolution Mix)- Tulipomania
Why I Sing The Blues- B.B. King (Live at the 1977 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival)


Politics Don Expose Them- Femi Kuti
World Wide Love DUB- Kumar & The 18th Parallel
Clean Up Your House- Kumar & The 18th Parallel
Fill My Cup- Iotosh Ft. Protoje


Kişisel İsa (Personal Jesus)- Al-Qasar Ft. Sibel
Bissaha Tlaqayna- Al-Qasar Ft. Mariam Hamrouni
Pelkkä persevä neitsyt- Pauanne, Karoliina Kantelinen & Helena Lahelma


Kanawa- Ivan Mazuze
Bongile- Ivan Mazuze
Quddam rasd- Andres Belmonte Ft. Efrén López, Omran Adrah, Ales Cesarini & David Gadea
Jota de veremar del regne animal- Coloma Bertran

Tia Wood: Native American Heritage Month

Tia Wood followed her heart from the Rez to the city of Angels to make her musical dreams come true. Her powerful, soulful voice carries the spirit of her people’s songs that have echoed from her homelands since time immemorial, and the musical roots of her family tree run deep. She began singing as soon as she could talk, inspired and nurtured by her parents, siblings, and her dual Plains Cree and Coast Salish heritage. Wood believes it was inevitable that she’s now blazing her own trail as a solo artist.

A Celebration of Native American Heritage Month on the Millennium stage.

Different Stroke Of Colors

The final part of this week’s proGram took the norm and added some tint.

Hot House/What Is This Thing Called Love?- Emily Remler (Live at the 4 Queens, Las Vegas, 5/28/1984)
Tenor Madness- Emily Remler (Live at the 4 Queens, Las Vegas, May 28, 1984


Nossa Cor- Adrian Younge Ft. Samantha Schmütz
***pre-recorded conversation with Adrian Younge***
Run- Adrian Younge Ft. ALA.NI


Mandingue Suite- JB Moundele
Kalabankora- JB Moundele
Ada Sweet- Oaagaada Oag
Suite Tuli / Part III- Oaagaada Oag
Audrey- Roy Hargrove’s Crisol


Flyways- Aaron Parks
610 Loop- Walter Smith III
24- Walter Smith III

Linear Labs: São Paulo & Adrian Younge

Adrian Younge is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, composer, & orchestrator who has produced for entertainment greats such as Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar & Wu Tang Clan. In 2007, Younge relinquished his position as a professor of law to find himself at the center of the Black Dynamite phenomenon. He served as the film’s editor/composer. Hailed as a modern blaxploitation masterpiece, the soundtrack was listed in the top 10 best soundtracks of the year by the LA Times. In 2011, Younge created the album, ‘Something About April’, showcasing a dark mix of psychedelic soul & cinematic instrumentals. In 2013, the project was sampled twice by Timbaland for Jay-Z’s Magna Carta… Holy Grail, solidifying Younge as a new sound in hip hop. His work has also been sampled by various artists including No I.D., DJ Premier, Schoolboy Q, and more. Younge owns/operates Linear Labs, a recording studio/label which reflects his dedication to the art of analog recording, utilizing analog tape & live instrumentation exclusively. Under the label, he’s produced projects for artists such as Ghostface Killah, Souls of Mischief, & The Delfonics. In 2017, Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest) formed the band, The Midnight Hour. In addition to musical releases & touring, they’ve teamed to score a myriad of television/film projects: Marvel’s Luke Cage (Netflix), Raising Kanan (Starz), The Equalizer (CBS), Reasonable Doubt (Hulu), Run This Town (2019), Washington Black (2023), Boogie (2021), and Bitchin’, The Sound and Fury of Rick James (2021). Younge has also scored Black Dynamite (2009), Black Dynamite animated series (2012), California King (2023), The Big Payback (2023), Queens (ABC), All Rise (OWN), & Human Footprint (PBS). In 2019, Younge, Muhammad, Andrew Lojero & Adam Block created Jazz Is Dead (JID): a multimedia company specializing in the production of live concerts, studio albums, television & film. JID concerts have earned an ever-growing fanbase through national/international tours. Under the label, Younge & Muhammad have produced albums w/their musical heroes including luminaires such as Roy Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith, Gary Bartz, Jean Carne, Marcos Valle & Tony Allen. In February 2021, Younge released the seminal album, ‘The American Negro’, his most important work to date. This project, in tandem with his Amazon original podcast, ‘Invisible Blackness’ and short film ‘TAN’, provides an unapologetic critique on the evolution of racism in America. The podcast features conversations with guests such as Chuck D, Roy Choi, Dr. Melina Abdullah, Wayne Brady & Mahershala Ali. For Adrian, the message is more important than the music. The many projects continue today as he is working on JID30’s and we are just searing up JID20’s. In between, there is more going on over at Linear Labs: São Paulo. São Paulo sparks a new golden era of musical genius defined by the maestro Adrian Younge, encapsulating what he’s learned in building the first era of Linear Labs and its successor label Jazz Is Dead. Linear Labs: São Paulo marks the evolution of this journey. Step into an extraordinary psychedelic and soulful experience with Adrian Younge presents Linear Labs: São Paulo: a compilation of new songs showcasing the musical brilliance of Adrian Younge with artists from around the world. Essentially, the album features one unreleased song from an array of forthcoming albums Younge has produced for Linear Labs, including Something About April III, the tertiary installment of Younge’s masterwork trilogy, and a new blaxploitation adventure from hip hop legend Snoop Dogg, entitled ‘Don’t Cry For the Devil’. Also included on this preview is Brazilian actress/ singer Samantha Schmütz, Middle-Eastern singer Liraz, London-based jazz vocalist ALA.NI, afro-futuristic soul singer Bilal and a bonus song with Stereolab’s Lætitia Sadier.

I had the pleasure of catching up with friend of the proGram, Mr. Adrian Younge shortly after ‘Adrian Younge presents Linear Labs: São Paulo‘ dropped and even before we got into how that all took shape, and color, we just did a routine check in with each other since last we spoke. It is always one of my objectives to try and get listeners to ‘feel’ the way the artists, these PEOPLE, feel as they go through the artistic explorations and expressions. The global reach of many of his projects is always something that catches my ear – but on this compilation, this peek into the future, I really took off in flight with it. We talk about how then then gets mixed with the now and sometimes the future gets created, on analog even. I feel a connection with this cat, so the support is brotherly for me and I truly believe he will continue to unlock and open new doorways into sonic adventures that seem familiar yet, there’s a welcoming newness to that rare groove…and it may just be Adrian Younge.

Can’t Look Sometimes

The middle part of this week’s proGram could not keep focused on ahead.

Take The Green Line- Bruce Katz Band (Live)
***pre-recorded conversation with Bruce Katz***


I Need My Baby- B.B. King (Live at the 1977 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival)
Have Faith- B.B. King (Live at the 1977 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival)
Egyptian Princess- Pyletribe Ft. Eric Gales & Artimus Pyle
Down Don’t Bother Me- Jim Stephens Ft. BoyWonder
Baby What You Want Me To Do- Jim Stephens Ft. Ariel Skye, Ivan Neville, Eddie Christmas & Reggie Scanlan


Psicolimite (Perverse Flute)- Gianfranco Reverberi
Psicolimite- Gianfranco Reverberi
For QnD- Leon Raum
G’Z UP- Denzel Curry Ft. 2 Chainz & Mike Dimes


I Believe In Miracles- Dubmones Ft. Earl 16
John Crazy- Beres Hammond

Bruce Katz Band Live

Bruce Katz is a legendary keyboardist (Hammond B3 & Piano) who has released 12 albums as a leader and has appeared on over 75 other CDs with the likes of John Hammond, Delbert McClinton, Ronnie Earl, Little Milton, Butch Trucks, Duke Robillard, David “Fathead” Newman, and countless others. He has also had a strong musical connection with the Allman Brothers Band, and was a member of Gregg Allman’s band for 6 years, Jamoe’s Jasssz Band (2010-2015), Butch Trucks’ Freight Train Band & Les Brers (2015-2017). Bruce also occasionally toured with the Allman Brothers as well. Of course he has been nominated and received many accolades in his illustrious career. He is a unique player/composer who combines Blues & American Roots music with elements of jazz, and improvisational rock music that creates a signature sound that is all is own. Bruce was an Associate Professor at the Berklee College of Music for 14 years (1996-2010), teaching Harmony, Hammond organ labs, Blues History & Private Piano Instruction. Bruce began playing piano at age 5 and has a lengthy background in classical piano. After hearing a Bessie Smith record when he was 10, he started teaching himself blues and early jazz on the piano. He then heard boogie-woogie & swing music and continued his musical journey into more aspects of jazz and American roots music. Bruce attended Berklee College of Music in the mid-1970s, studying Composition & Performance. For the next 15 years, he performed with many of the leading musicians in New England, and played “on the road” for long stretches of time. In the early 1980s, Bruce played with Big Mama Thornton on her East Coast tours and this experience revived his desire to play Blues Music as a primary focus. After a particularly long stint of touring in the late ’80s with Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, he decided to come off the road and enrolled at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he earned a Master’s degree in Jazz Performance and studied with Geri Allen, Paul Bley, Cecil McBee, & George Russell. It was during this time that he conceived of and started writing music that became the Bruce Katz Band. In 1992, he met Ronnie Earl, who soon invited him to join his band, The Broadcasters. During his nearly 5-year stint with Earl, he toured the world and performed on 6 albums, writing & co- writing many of the tunes, such as “The Colour of Love,” “Ice Cream Man,” & “Hippology.” The album “Grateful Heart” (Bullseye) won the Downbeat Critics Poll for Best Blues Album of 1996. Also in 1992, Katz debuted his 1st solo album, “Crescent Crawl”, on the AudioQuest label. He released “Transformation” the following year. Just before the release of “Mississippi Moan” in 1997, his 3rd solo album, he left the Broadcasters to concentrate on a solo career. At that point, the Bruce Katz Band began touring the U.S. & Europe, and has been his ongoing focus, in addition to his many other projects. In these years, Bruce played with Duke Robillard (2001-02), John Hammond (2005 – 2014, Gregg Allman (2007-13), Delbert McClinton (2011-2014) and many other high profile roots, blues, & rock performers, while continuing to tour and record with his own band. His albums have consistently appeared high on the national & international radio play charts and have garnered critical & popular acclaim, still to this very day.

I had the pleasure of catching up with Bruce ahead of the December 10th event in Madison at the Red Rooster. We got into what soeone could expect from this trio in the live setting and het introduced to his bandmates, Aaron Lieberman & Liviu Pop. He leaves us pretty well informed on the who and what of it all. The music will range from blues to rock and root but there will be moments where we go for an unknown ride, unknown to the entire room. I look forward to this ride. We dive into the latest release from his own label, Dancing Rooster Records, ‘Back In Boston Live’ and hear how the plan took shape and how they ended up selecting the tracks they did – this album, which dropped this Summer, will certainly give an idea of what to expect form the trio live. When I asked if there was anyone making a name for themselves today he’d like to receive a call from to play with, he could not think of anyone off the top of mind, but this led to great stories (more stories) of how he landed the Delbert McClinton job, Gregg Allman being head over heels for a chance to meet Ringo Starr and Gregg not letting Roger Daltrey on stage (say what?) during a Michael J. Fox fundraising event! During some of the story time of the past, we get to know some of the things he learned from the many collabs and bandmates over the years. This is a classic convo with a classic guy.

Hawking On The Stoop

The first part of this week’s program was more than hanGing around.

Second Hand Smoke- Paul Kahn
Time Intangible- The Sympathies


Crazy Love- LOVECOLOR
Wolf Like Me- Bartees Strange + Anjimile + Kara Jackson
People Are Small/Rapture- L’Rain + Voices from the NYC Trans Oral History Project


Ways- Hunger Anthem
(Call Me) Bartleby- The Downstrokes
Take the Hint- The Prozacs


Bassconstruct 3 aka Pale Drops 3- Dirk Bruinsma
Off Houston- Angling Ft. Zeena Parkins, Chris Cochrane, George Cartwright & Fred Chalenor
Sasayaki- Volapük
La Tijera- LA LOM


Last Thing In Sight- Reckoners
Love Moves Slow- Eddie 9V
The Only Thing- Marcus Trummer
(Feels Like) Things Are Comin’ Our Way- Charles Wigg Walker

An Extra Two Part 2

The second and final part of the open-schedule fill-in proGramming for this Autumn. Water colors included.

Sports- Aaron Parks
Point of Many Returns- Walter Smith III
A Brief Madness- Walter Smith III
Sweet Tooth- Jason Robinson
Enos- Jason Robinson
Particle Accelerator- Randy Hoexter


Isotope- McCoy Tyner & Joe Henderson Ft. Henry Grimes & Jack DeJohnette (Live at Slugs’)
Cisco- Emily Remler (Live at the 4 Queens, Las Vegas, September 19, 1988)
Skidoo- Bill Evans (Norway 1970: The Kongsberg Concert w/Eddie Gomez & Marty Morrell)
Gloria Step- Bill Evans (Norway 1970: The Kongsberg Concert w/Eddie Gomez & Marty Morrell)
Space Travelin’ Blues- Sun Ra (Live at the Left Bank, July 23, 1978)
We Travel the Spaceways- Sun Ra (Live at the Left Bank, July 23, 1978)


Life Of Ludwig- Jon Batiste
Waldstein Wobble- Jon Batiste
All I Have Left Is My Words- HUW & Richard X Bennett
No Sleep- HUW & Richard X Bennett Ft. Matt Parker


Dessner: Nocturne- Dream House Quartet
月光: Moonlight- Kojiro Umezaki & Hub New Music

An Extra Two Part 1

Did a Thanks for giving jazzing open schedule proGram to keep the motor running and the paths unknown. Here’s the 1st parts.

Backgammon- Richard X Bennett
High Point of the Hang- Brian Lynch
Throwback Moves- Ryan Keberle & Catharsis
Inspiration Opus #1- Joe Fonda Ft. Wadada Leo Smith, Satoko Fujii, Tiziano Tononi
Changes- Ken Serio Quartet Ft. Ron Carter, Tomoko Ohno & Dave Mullen
Frenzy- Michael Mayo


Y-Axis- Nick Adema Ft. Noah Preminger
Heideggerdashian- Kevin Sun
Yellow Magic (Tong Poo)- Kevin Sun
Chrystal Lake Bluu- T.K. Blue
Royal Bluu- T.K. Blue
Three Visitors- Scott Colley, Edward Simon & Brian Blade
Stretching the Sinews- Rich Halley 4


Nobodies- Ziv Ravitz, Leo Genovese & Greg Ward Ft. Matthew Stevens
Full Cream- Ziv Ravitz, Leo Genovese & Greg Ward Ft. Matthew Stevens
Embrace The Contridictions- Spinifex
The Details- Stan Harrison Ft. Michael Gregory Jackson
Willamina- Aaron Parks
Sports- Aaron Parks

An Extra One Pt.2

The second half of an open schedule jazz-thanG fillin’ in.

Sky Bluu, Pt. 2- T. K. Blue
Chessman’s Delight- T. K. Blue
Chin ChinPuelche- Elsa Nilsson Ft. Santiago Leibson


Port of Spain- Jeremy Ledbetter Trio
Flight- Jeremy Ledbetter Trio
Vini Non- Godwin Louis
Pwoblèm Yo- Godwin Louis


Borderlands- Entre Amigos
Hey George- Dwayne Clemons (Live)
Mariwô- Juan Megna Group


AI Apocalypse- Jason Yeager & Jason Anick
The Telecasters- Brian Landrus
Lush Life- Brian Landrus

An Extra One Pt.1

Did an open schedule fill-in today in the morning and this is the first half or so.

Far East Western- Kevin Sun
Batman- Wayne Alpern
Lady Madonna- Wayne Alpern
Cupcakes One- The Bad Plus
Deep Water Sharks- The Bad Plus


Eastern Parkway- NIKARA presents Black Wall Street
Solor Plexus- NIKARA presents Black Wall Street
Back Bay Shuffle- Terry Gibbs Dream Band
Let’s Dance- Terry Gibbs Dream Band


Friday: A Ghostly Vision- Mauricio Morales Ft. Jongkuk Kim/Horace Bray/Luca Mendoza/Ido Meshulam/Edmar Colon
Thumper- Chris Greene Quartet


Shine- Greg Satterthwaite

Washed In Thru

The final part of the proGram this week went into the tub together to wash it all off.

Descendant of a Greek God- Montao Ft. Napoleon Da Legend & Sa-Roc
***pre-recorded conversation with Sa-Roc***
Amazing Grace- Sa-Roc
The Rebirth- Sa-Roc Ft. MF DOOM

Rules Of The Game- Adrian Younge Ft. Snoop Dogg
We Will Overcome- Jimmy Stephens Ft. Cee Knowledge, Silent Knight, E​-​Hos, Hezekiah, Lori LaPatka, Edward Lee, Big Sam Williams, Ariel Skye


Kelly’s Blues- Oscar Peterson (Live in Munich, 1994)
No Problem- Peter Bernstein
your memory (interlude)- Immanuel Wilkins
MOSHPIT- Immanuel Wilkins


Freaks- Peter Evans Ft. Petter Eldh & Jim Black
Perdido- Day Dream Trio (live)
Silky- Art Baden Ft. Joe Locke, Jay Anderson & Jeff “Tain” Watts


Wave of Change- Miguel Zenón
Two Sides Of The Coin- Dafnis Prieto Sí o Sí Quartet
Far East Western (Prelude)- Kevin Sun

Shapes of Thangs

The middle part of this week’s proGram presented with more shape than most.

Lirinho No Frevo- Alvorada
Meet Me Halfway- DEKEL
Two Face People- Max Romeo
Shame And Scandal- Max Romeo


Reaction- Zé Nigro
Andarilha das Galáxias- Zé Nigro Ft. Souto MC
Zone No.6- The Drive
Saduva- Gibson Kente
L’oubli Mauve- The Bongo Hop Ft. Laurène Pierre-Magnani


Nothing But Love (Art of Tones Remix)- Cosmo Klein & The Campers
Downtown Love- Inkswel & Andre Espeut Ft. Abstract Rude
Untrue- Flevans


Cascade- Küf Knotz & Christine Elise
Deep Cuts- Brother Ali

What Grew This?

The first part of this week’s proGram had some new tastes to the palette.

Joanne- Loose Cattle Ft. Lucinda Williams
Lone Man- Caroline Cotto Ft. Slim Jim Phantom


NAS- Tony D
Racing- Hot Rod Red
What’s Your Name- Hot Rod Red


Who Is It?- Talking Heads (Live at CBGB, NY-10/10/1977) [2024 Remaster]
Psycho Killer- Talking Heads (Live at CBGB, NY-10/10/1977) [2024 Remaster]


Snake Skin- Cantrips
Le reggae du lycée- Michel Jonasz
Psicolimite (Perverse Sex)- Gianfranco Reverberi
Strip- Gianfranco Reverberi


Y entonces donde irá?- Romperayo
Que Guayabito, no?- Romperayo
En Mis Sueños- Miramar

Inside The Flow of Sa-Roc

Sa-Roc grew up in Southeast D.C., at the height of the crack era, with neighborhoods plagued by poverty & disaffection. Her early experiences shaped her understanding of the world around her, deepened her emotional sensitivity and cemented a social consciousness that would later feature heavily within her work. She was born three-months premature and didn’t make a sound during the first fourteen months of her life. This struggle to find a voice, both literally and creatively, would later be critical in shaping her lyrical expression. Sa-Roc is arguably one of the most vibrant MCs in the world today. Her crisp articulation, fiery delivery, and her elevated & insightful lyricism has often placed her within the same conversation of some of Hip Hop’s most notable artists. There was no lack of early influences; she was raised by an artist father and an avid reader for a mother who would expose their young children to black writers, musicians & performers. She was raised on everything from the syncopated rhythms of hometown Go-Go acts like the Rare Essence & the Backyard band, to the prophetic poetry of Gil Scott Heron & Nikki Giovanni. It was the work of writers like these and more that helped Sa-Roc foster a love for language & writing and while still young, she began to pen her own poetry & short stories. She attended the Sankofa Institute, a Pan African centered school where her writing, social & creative expression was nurtured by Hasinatu Camara, an educator & civil rights activist. Camara would introduce Sa-Roc to close friends like Kwame Ture (f.k.a. Stokely Carmichael) MutaBaruka, and Haile Gerima. It was through these personal encounters that she began to see how artistic expression could be used as a tool to educate, inspire, & create change, a set of principles that she continues to live by. Sa-Roc was on the verge of graduating from Howard University as a biology major but decided to leave college and, D.C. for Atlanta. It was in THE ATL where she was introduced to famed DJ & producer, Sol Messiah. Inspired by one of the acts he was working with, Sa-Roc decided to record some of her poetry & rhymes to his beats. The result was her first EP, Astral Chronicles which dropped in 2008. She quickly began to gain recognition within the cultural & activist community in Atlanta, performing at social justice & political prisoner fundraisers, and other community based events. Still the full breadth of her artistic expression didn’t arrive until later that year when a surprise introduction at a Mutulu Shakur benefit concert thrusted her on stage for the very first time. Sa-Roc had finally found the full range of her voice and there was no looking back. Her powerful performances, metaphysical lyrics, and skills as an emcee, quickly caught the attention of the independent Hip Hop community in Atlanta. In an effort to maximize her momentum, as well as continually sharpen her skills, Sa-Roc & Sol Messiah continued to release a strong series of collaborative projects between 2008-2014. She also performed at the historic Zulu Nation 40th anniversary event, a performance which led to her gaining the attention of some of Hip Hop’s most respected pioneers. Sa-Roc was making waves as an emcee with notable stage presence and a prolific output — by 2014 she had dropped a stunning 8 projects in 6 years. Black Thought even pulled her on stage at A3C to perform an acapella verse. This led to several opportunities to open for The Roots as well as future creative collaborations w/Black Thought. She has opened for the likes of Common, Jay Electronica, and has shared the stage with legends such as Rakim, De La Soul, & Talib Kweli. She continued to write prolifically & tour with her peers/colleagues. In addition to her music career, Sa-Roc is a health and wellness advocate and public speaker, having led Hip Hop workshops and lectures both nationally and internationally. She is also an ambassador for Hip Hop is Green, an organization that uses the power and influence of Hip Hop music and culture to expose and educate underserved communities about the benefits of plant-based eating. Her Rhymesayers debut album, ‘The Sharecropper’s Daughter’, the title of which pays homage to her father’s experience growing up sharecropping tobacco, is in Sa-Roc’s own words “a sonic reflection on the generational inheritance of trauma and triumph that shapes our humanity and influences the way we see the world.” At a time where people all around the globe are calling for social change, Sa-Roc is an MC whose energy & conscious lyrics are here to shake up the rap game and remind us all that Hip Hop was always about giving a voice to the people.

I had the privilege of catching up with Sa-Roc ahead to her event in Madison on December 5th at the Union Theater’s Play Circle. The Union is going to change the landscape a little in this setting to make it more of a club vibe as part of the Black Box Sessions celebration of Hip Hop. We get deep into what an intimate gathering together will be like, and what the hope is for all of us in attendance when we walk away from this experience. We get a chance to learn more insightful observations from her latest single, ‘Amazing Grace’ and where this lies in the heart & ears of those who tune in. I could not forget to thank her for the full body experience that is ‘The Sharecropper’s Daughter’ and just how relevant it feels today – so we tap into the possible reasons why that could be. And no convo with her could feel complete without sharing in the energy and collaborative execution between her and Sol Messiah. Word cannot describe how excited I am for my mind’s mind to be a part of this event (and the idea that there’s a new album in the works get dropped on us to).

Madison McFerrin – Impactful Connections

Independent artist & musician Madison McFerrin has come into her own. McFerrin holds a fruitful & robust solo career w/3 self-produced EPs and numerous performances & curatorships across the country & internationally. McFerrin’s distinct vocal and meticulously layered stylings of a ‘Capella & self-harmonizing culminate in work that blends the genres of R&B, pop, soul & jazz, all with a sense of softness. Her genre-bending work has led to Questlove dubbing her early sound “soul-appella!! The throughline of McFerrin’s work is independence and she is often looking towards a kind of inner liberation. Whether she is writing about understanding one’s intuition & inner beauty or the cyclical violence of anti-Blackness & sexism, McFerrin explores how to get free and how to care for oneself along the way. Her works live at the intersection of artistry & community building. She often looks back and honors a Black music canon while creating her own unique style, utilizing her voice as a central instrument and drawing upon lifelong inspirations like Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Erykah Badu, Pharell, Missy Elliot, & the Spice Girls. She is in community with other artists, cultural workers, & activists, and has been able to prioritize the work of women and POC in her curatorial tenures at venues like C’mon Everybody, the WNYC Greene Space, and the BRIC Jazz festival. The result of McFerrin’s work is an enduring commitment to finding ways to think better, express ourselves honestly, and nurture a sense of possibility. Born in San Francisco as the youngest sibling and only girl of 3, Madison grew up and lived across the U.S. throughout her adolescence and into early adulthood. As a young child, her earliest & fondest memories were singing & performing at impromptu home concerts and climbing trees, finding a sense of home & safety as she moved physical homes. Her lineage is also strongly rooted in music and performance. Her earliest influence in her home was her father, Bobby McFerrin a 10-time Grammy® winning world renowned vocalist and classical conductor. Madison McFerrin’s older brother, producer, Taylor McFerrin, was also a musical influence drawing her attention to the nuances of Timbaland’s production and exposing her to a wide range of sounds from Brazil to Brooklyn. All of these influences grow from her grandparents’ rich musical legacy, which includes her grandfather’s historic contract with the Metropolitan Opera and grandmother’s sought-after guidance as an award-winning vocal coach. From this, music and performance became a home of its own for her.

This event was held on 11/16 as part of Impactful Connections, our partnership with the District of Columbia Public Libraries and held on the Millennium Stage.

Narrowed Views

The final part of the proGram wanted to remind us to keep widening your views.

CODA for Tabla and Blues Harmoinca- Corky Siegel Ft. Kaylan Pathak

Blue Jay- Neta Raanan
Alba- Bruno Canfora
Sognando Roma- Bruno Canfora


Kickin’ Your Ass- Ludivine Issambourg
The Bear- Ludivine Issambourg


Cherokee (Phil Baxter Version)- Charlie Parker (live)
Request Denied!- Leslie Pintchik Ft. Scott Hardy, Michael Sarin & Satoshi Takeishi
MMC- Christian Sands
Ain’t That the Same- Christian Sands


Not My Blues- Jeff Rupert Ft. Kenny Barron, Peter Washington & Joe Farnsworth
The Gypsy- Philip Weberndoerfer Ft. Dayna Stephens, Richard Mikel & Peter Traunmueller