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PODCAST

Songs & Stories

Backstage Bay Area

Backstage Bay Area is an exclusive podcast that explores San Francisco’s jazz music scene in depth. It features intimate interviews with emerging and established artists. The program also offers a unique glimpse into the artists" creative processes, inspirations, and upcoming projects.

music music interviews

All Episodes

00:43:01

Instant Alter Brings Future Fusion to SFJAZZ

Songs & Stories ·

2026/04/12

Show Notes:On this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby speaks with vocalist, composer, poet, and multidisciplinary artist Natasha Agrama of Instant Alter ahead of the band’s Sunday, April 19, appearance at SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab.Agrama discusses the origins of Instant Alter, the meaning behind the band’s “future fusion” sound, and the stripped-down core concept that defines the group’s distinctive voice: saxophone, bass, drums, and vocals, with no traditional harmonic instrument. She

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00:34:36

Ben Wendel on Improvisation and Yoshi’s

Songs & Stories ·

2026/04/09

Show Notes In this episode, host Steve Roby sits down with saxophonist, composer, and producer Ben Wendell — one of modern jazz's most distinctive voices. Born in Vancouver, raised in Los Angeles, and now based in Brooklyn, Ben has built a wide-ranging career as a bandleader, collaborator, and composer. A founding member of Knee Body, he has also worked alongside Bill Frisell, Terrence Blanchard, Gerald Clayton, Taylor Eigsti, and many others.Ben shares the story of how he fell in love with the

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00:34:40

T.K. Blue Brings Randy Weston's African Rhythms to...

Songs & Stories ·

2026/04/06

Show NotesSaxophonist, composer, and educator TK Blue joins host Steve Roby to celebrate one of jazz's great live traditions — the music and legacy of NEA Jazz Master Dr. Randy Weston, recorded on what would have been Weston's 100th birthday: April 6th, 2025.TK Blue was Weston's longtime musical director and arranger, performing with him for nearly 40 years alongside legends like Don Cherry, Miriam Makeba, Archie Shepp, and Pharaoh Sanders. In this conversation, TK shares his musical

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00:28:02

August Lee Stevens at the Lab

Songs & Stories ·

2026/03/30

Show Notes:On this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby talks with Bay Area singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist August Lee Stevens ahead of her Joe Henderson Lab run at SFJAZZ. The conversation traces her musical roots, the blend of folk, soul, and jazz in her work, and the writing process behind two featured songs, “Tell Me” and “Citrus.” Steve and August talk about growing up in the Bay Area, how family and place shaped her sound, and how songs begin for her—sometimes as a

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00:37:43

Vince Wilburn Jr. on Miles Davis, SFJAZZ, and the...

Songs & Stories ·

2026/03/24

Podcast Show NotesEpisode Title:Vince Wilburn Jr. on Miles Davis, SFJAZZ, and the Miles Electric BandIn this episode of Backstage Bay Area, Steve Roby speaks with drummer, producer, and Miles Davis estate co-manager Vince Wilburn Jr. about the final night of SFJAZZ’s Miles Davis centennial celebration and the larger vision behind the four-part series.Wilburn, who performed and recorded with his uncle during Miles Davis’s later years, reflects on how the SFJAZZ tribute came together, why the

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00:30:34

Monty Alexander Hears One Word: Music

Songs & Stories ·

2026/03/23

Show Notes:On this episode of Backstage Bay Area, Steve Roby talks with pianist Monty Alexander ahead of his upcoming SFJAZZ performance.In the conversation, Alexander reflects on his musical roots in Kingston, Jamaica, where he grew up hearing popular songs, blues, semi-classical music, radio hits, and Caribbean rhythms as part of one shared musical world. He talks about learning by ear, discovering the piano as a child, and seeing Louis Armstrong live at a young age — a moment that helped set his

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00:15:47

Lakecia Benjamin Keeps the Flame Burnin’

Songs & Stories ·

2026/03/17

Show Notes:On this episode of Backstage Bay Area, Steve Roby talks with acclaimed alto saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin about her upcoming album We Dream and the energy behind her new single “Flamekeeper.”Lakecia discusses the meaning behind We Dream, why she wanted the album to feel communal, and how hope, purpose, and positivity shaped the project. She also talks about “Flamekeeper,” the new single featuring Hiromi and Chris Potter, and explains how those artists elevated the

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00:27:21

Lenny White On Miles Davis's Lessons

Songs & Stories ·

2026/03/15

Show NotesDrummer Lenny White experienced the Miles Davis story firsthand. As a teenager, Miles selected him to record Bitches Brew — not because Davis had heard him play, but based solely on word of mouth. That decision reveals a lot about how Miles worked. In this conversation, Lenny explains the philosophy behind Miles's legendary leadership style: how he used metaphor instead of instructions, space instead of clutter, and intuition instead of explanation. From the famous "be the salt in

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00:23:28

Eddie Henderson Carries Miles Davis Forward

Songs & Stories ·

2026/03/14

In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby interviews Dr. Eddie Henderson — a trumpet master, bandleader, and one of the few remaining links to Miles Davis's world. Born in San Francisco, Henderson's musical career started at 17 when Miles Davis stayed at his parents' house (his stepfather was Miles' doctor), introduced him to the legendary quintet, and ignited a lifelong love for jazz.Henderson shares remarkable personal stories: witnessing the Kind of Blue repertoire

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00:24:09

Javon Jackson: From Dylan’s Poetry to Miles’ Precision

Songs & Stories ·

2026/03/13

Show Notes:Host Steve Roby sits down with celebrated saxophonist Javon Jackson to explore two landmark projects: his new album Jackson Plays Dylan — a jazz reimagining of Bob Dylan's songbook — and his upcoming live tribute to Miles Davis's Kind of Blue at SF Jazz. Episode Highlights:Discovering Bob Dylan through jazz — How Art Blakey's attorney first introduced Javon to Dylan's catalog in his twenties, and why he heard the songs as jazz-friendly love poetry rather than folk or rock

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00:23:37

Flying High, Still Soaring: A Celebration of Jazz's...

Songs & Stories ·

2026/03/03

In this special episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with Suzanne Wadowski, founder and executive director of Jazz at the Ballroom and the Songbook Ink label, and Champian Fulton, pianist, vocalist, and musical director, to discuss their upcoming concert and new album celebrating the legendary female vocalists of the swing era and 1950s jazz. Episode Highlights:• The origins of Jazz at the Ballroom, which began as an intimate salon series in Suzanne's Hillsborough home—once

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00:30:12

From Sideman to Spotlight: Roger Glenn's 50-Year...

Songs & Stories ·

2026/02/21

After five decades as jazz's best-kept secret, multi-instrumentalist Roger Glenn steps into the spotlight with his first solo album in 50 years. In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with the son of jazz royalty to discuss Latin jazz, life lessons from legends, and why 2025 was finally the right time to share his story. Episode HighlightsGrowing Up in Jazz Royalty: Roger shares stories of his father, Tyree Glenn, and the legendary musicians who shaped his musical

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00:30:29

Jack West on Innovation, Invention, and the “Acoustic...

Songs & Stories ·

2026/02/19

Guest: Jack West In this episode, host Steve Roby welcomes guitarist, composer, and inventor Jack West, whose unique sound NPR once described as "a whole new sub-genre of jazz." After more than two decades away from the recording studio, Jack returns with two major projects: the stunning new album Guitars on Life (a duet collaboration with Walter Strauss) and Essential Curvature, a retrospective compilation of his best work from the 1990s and 2000s. Episode Highlights: Jack discusses his

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00:34:27

Lisa Mezzacappa and the Art of "Tight Looseness"

Songs & Stories ·

2026/02/18

Show Notes:Bassist and composer Lisa Mezzacappa joins host Steve Roby to discuss her latest project, the flexible ensemble Lisa Mezzacappa Five-ish, and their new album Otherworldly. For over two decades, Lisa has been a cornerstone of the Bay Area's experimental jazz scene, crafting adventurous music inspired by speculative fiction, cosmic landscapes, and the art of spontaneous collaboration. In this episode, Lisa reveals how her sextet (yes, it's called Five-ish) came together, blending

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00:27:03

Sarah McKenzie: A Love Letter to San Francisco

Songs & Stories ·

2026/02/17

The "breezy technical style" and "lyrical sense of swing" that have made Sarah McKenzie a global jazz fixture are returning to Northern California this March. Although her upcoming tour dates stay just outside the San Francisco city limits, the "Paris of the West" remains the emotional anchor of her latest creative chapter.Sarah McKenzie will be performing live this March, and the tour includes March 18th at Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz, March 20th at the Lesher

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00:29:47

Omar Sosa: "SFJAZZ is the Best Place on the Planet to...

Songs & Stories ·

2026/02/17

The visionary pianist and SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director returns for a multi-night residency that fuses Afro-Cuban roots with global sounds, which he calls the ultimate "Temple of Jazz."Show Highlights: A Week of Musical EvolutionSosa’s residency at SFJAZZ offers an insight into his diverse musical pursuits across four distinct nights.Thursday, Mar 5: Sosa joins the Stanford Jazz Orchestra to perform music from the album Es:Sensual.Friday, Mar 6: Following an Open Soundcheck, Sosa

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00:27:24

Oscar Peñas: From Barcelona to Brooklyn – A Journey...

Songs & Stories ·

2026/02/14

Episode Description:Guitarist, composer, and bandleader Oscar Peñas joins host Steve Roby to discuss his musical journey from classical guitar in Barcelona to the vibrant jazz scene of Brooklyn. Originally from Spain and based in New York since 2007, Peñas brings a unique voice to contemporary jazz—one that blends American jazz language with Spanish heritage and classical roots.In this intimate conversation, Oscar shares stories about discovering jazz through cassette tapes in the late '80s, the

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00:23:46

Tyreek McDole: Jazz's Rising Voice on "Open Up Your...

Songs & Stories ·

2026/02/12

SHOW NOTES: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with Haitian American jazz vocalist Tyreek McDole to discuss his meteoric rise in the jazz world, his chart-topping debut album, and his philosophy that music is a tool for healing and collective dreaming. In This Episode: • Early Recognition: How winning the Outstanding Vocalist Award from Wynton Marsalis at age 18 and the 2023 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition launched Tyreek's career • "Open Up

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00:23:41

Cleo Reed on Ancestry, Hustlin', and Reimagining...

Songs & Stories ·

2026/02/11

Brooklyn-based songwriter, sculptor, and instrument builder Cleo Reed joins host Steve Roby to discuss their ambitious double album Cuntry, a project that blurs the lines between American folk traditions and dystopian electronic soundscapes. Named one of Pitchfork's 21 breakout artists to watch, Reed explores themes of ancestry, labor, capitalism, and black history through a deeply personal lens.In This EpisodeRoots and Origins: How Cleo Reed honors their great-grandmother and blues bassist

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00:27:53

Delfeayo Marsalis on Street Rhythms and the Spirit of...

Songs & Stories ·

2026/02/10

In this episode, host Steve Roby sits down with acclaimed trombonist, producer, and educator Delfeayo Marsalis. A 2011 NEA Jazz Master and a member of New Orleans' legendary musical first family, Marsalis has earned a reputation as a "merchant of joy" and as a vital ambassador for the Crescent City's culture. Delfeayo shares stories from his childhood in Kendall, Louisiana, where he shared a room with his father, Ellis, while his brothers, Branford and Wynton, shared another. He explains how his

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