NYC Radio Live

The roots of rock and roll began in the 1930s, when jazz musicians looked for venues to play beyond the reach of mob-controlled clubs in the North. A promoter laundering his numbers-running revenue expanded this network of jook joints, barns, taverns, and luxurious clubs across the South, creating the Chitlin' Circuit that would bring the world Little Richard, Louis Jordan, James Brown, B.B. King and even Jimi Hendrix.

The story is...

A 2016 interview and live performance with one of the great families of rhythm led by Grammy Award winner and Shakti percussionist T.H. Vikku Vanyakram, his son Selvaganesh (who would also win a Grammy with Shakti) and grandson Swamnithan Selvaganesh.   Recorded at the East Indian Music Academy, this is a legendary lineup: T.H. Vikku Vanyakram, ghatam;  Uma Shankar, ghatam; Selva Ganesh, kanjira and konokol; Swaminat...

John Medeski is one of the most versatile pianists and keyboard players of our time.  Already gigging with world class musicians like Jaco Pastorius in High School and connecting with greats like Billy Higgins, Dewey Redman and Bob Moses in college, he landed in the adventurous downtown New York scene of in the 1990.  That fertile artistic environment is where he connected with and formed the the exploratory groove t...

Drummer and composer Ra Kalam Bob Moses has had an extraordinary career working with just about everybody.  Here's a partial list: Pat Metheny, Charles Mingus, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jim, Larry Coryell, Dave Liebman, Gary Burton, Keith Jarrett,  Herbie Hancock, Jack DeJohnette, Jaco Pastorius,  Michael Brecker,  Sheila Jordan, Bobby McFerrin,  Bill Frisell, John Scofield,  Dave Holland, Charlie Haden, H...

5 AM set of the 24 hour Ragas Live Festival at Pioneer Works 10.23.22

Kroba (saxophone and analog synth)

Originally broadcast on WKCR-FM

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Ragas Live Festival

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The Ragas Live Festival was born out of these increasingly ambitious radio shows, and began in the WKCR studio in 2012 when 50 musicians volunteered to play continuous sets for 24 ho...

After "the end of the world" in the 1930s, the greatest patron of art in the world became the United States Governement.  The impact of this would surprise anyone who digs into the history.  

John P. Murphy takes us on a wild ride of New Deal art and the surprising twists and turns that would end up ushering in a new dawn of culture in the United Sates.  John P. Murphy is a Curator of Prints and Drawings at The...

Today Hariprasad Chaurasia, the greatest maestro of the bansuri, the bamboo flute, turns 88.  We celebrate by sharing our 2018 interview with Pd. Chaurasia conducted at his home/gurukul in Bombay.  We also chat with Jay Gandhi, his senior disciple, and an unbelievable musician himself, who shares his insights on the life and music of his guru.  

WKCR will be playing the music of Hariprasad Chaurasia for 12 cont...

Dr. Mu Qian is an ethnomusicologist, music producer, performing arts curator, and writer.  He's traveled to places few others have and shares his recordings from Western China, South East Asia, and beyond.  

You can learn more about Mu and his research on the music of the Dong people in this article he wrote for Simithsonian Magazine Mu has curated world music concerts in Asia, Europe, and North America. He recorded...

Cosmas Magaya was one of the masters of the Shona Mbira, the magical trance music of Zimbabwe.   Recorded in 2011, originally our 15th episode of NYC Radio Live, he sprinkled our conversation with musical examples and performances.   Cosmas was featured on the classic album the Soul of the Mbira (1978) in and played a big role in the research in the accompanying books as well.  He co-author a book called...

Today is Miles Davis' centenial and we celebrate by sharing interviews with Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, and George Wein, all who worked closely with Miles.  Jack DeJohnette joined Miles in 1968 and appeared on classic albums like Bitches Brew, On the Corner, A Tribute to Jack Johnson, Big Fun, and Live Evil. Our interview was recoreded in 2010. John Scofield worked with Miles for several years in the 1980's documented in a...

Jeremiah Chiu is a synthesist and visual artist.  He brings his unique organic/electronic aesthetic to the experimental supergroup SML and a series of beautiful solo and collaborative albums on the International Anthem label.   We chat about his Chicago roots, his creative process, and saying something rather than everything.

Subscribe to the NYC Radio Live podcast for access to over 400 live performances and inter...

In 1939, a group of children aged 10-16 would sneak out of an institute for the blind in Taledega, Alabama and sing for the Lord - and for donations.  These Blind Boys of Alabama would go on to become one of the most celebrated gospel groups of all time, winning 6 Grammy awards and working with the biggest names in music.  Current lead singer Ricky McKinnie and author Preston Lauterbach, who co-wrote Spirit of the Centur...

Two time Grammy Award winning bansuri maestro Rakesh Chaurasia and tabla pheonom Salar Nader, are two of the most outstanding musicians of their generation. Both child prodigies, Rakesh began his studies with his uncle, Hariprasad Chaurasia at 4 years and Salar began his studies with Zakir Hussain at the age 7.   Rakesh toured the world with Zakir Hussain, Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer and won those Grammys for their album "...

Judith Owen is a vocalist, bandleader, podcaster, and champion of jazz divas who have not yet been given their proper due, like her heroes Nellie Lutcher and Julia Lee.  We caught up with Judith on her way to bring her J.O. Big Band to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (April 30) and a date with her Gentlemen Callers at the Cutting Room in New York City (May 7).  

Photo: Steve Rapport photography 

Su...

10:30AM set of the 24 hour Ragas Live Festival at Pioneer Works 10.19.24

Gamelan Dharma Swara is one of the leading Balinese gamelan and dance groups in the United States.

Catch them live at the next Second Sundays: May 2026 at Pioneer Works

4pm-5.30pm

Subscribe to the NYC Radio Live podcast for access to over 400 live performances and interviews!

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Ragas Live Fes...

Stanley Jordan is one of the most original and unique guitarists of our time.  In August of 2012 he swung by the WKCR-FM studio DJ'd, performed a solo set, talked music and philosophy, performed live and jammed with all of us including the great guitarist from Mali and Niger, Abdoulaye Alhassane.

It was an amazing opportunity to spend time with a creative force who approaches music, science, and life in his own way.  ...