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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

00:30:12

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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00:35:02

Inside Trio Grande's Genre-Defying Sound

Songs & Stories ·

2026/02/05

What happens when you combine a London-born saxophonist, an Israeli guitarist, and a drummer who also plays bass? You get Trio Grande—a modern jazz supergroup rewriting the rules of the trio format. In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with Will Vinson to explore the band's evolution from a Paul Motian-inspired vision to a bass-heavy (not bass-less!) powerhouse featuring the incomparable Nate Wood and guitarist Gilad Hekselman. What You'll Hear:The serendipitous

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00:26:52

Greg Rahn: From Silicon Valley to Side Hustle

Songs & Stories ·

2026/01/31

Bay Area keyboardist, composer, and bandleader Greg Rahn joins host Steve Roby to discuss his fascinating musical journey and his new album Side Hustle—a deeply personal project that brings together jazz, blues, fusion, New Orleans piano traditions, Cuban rhythms, and rock. Episode Highlights:The Chick Corea Moment: At age 17, Greg received life-changing advice from jazz legend Chick Corea, who encouraged him not to limit himself to one musical lane but to study with teachers who could teach him

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00:30:09

Greg Osby on Minimalism, Mentorship, and the...

Songs & Stories ·

2026/01/28

Episode Highlights:From St. Louis to the World Stage: Greg Osby shares how growing up surrounded by live music in St. Louis bars and his mother's record distribution job shaped his non-biased appreciation for all genres of musicThe "Mad Clown Music" Revelation: A candid conversation with his sister led Osby to completely rethink his compositional approach, resulting in his 2023 album MinimalismBridging the Gap: Osby discusses his intentional shift toward accessibility—removing excess

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00:36:56

Simon Phillips on Protocol, Precision, and the Power...

Songs & Stories ·

2026/01/22

Show NotesLegendary drummer Simon Phillips joins host Steve Roby to discuss five decades of rhythmic mastery, from teenage session work in 1970s London to leading the modern jazz fusion powerhouse Protocol.In This Episode:The Early Days – Simon recalls stepping into BBC studios at 16 with long hair, patchouli oil, and a Ludwig kit, sight-reading charts for string sections while older musicians in ties looked on skeptically. He shares how growing up in his father's band prepared him for

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00:35:52

Michael League's Musical Universe Unleashed

Songs & Stories ·

2026/01/21

Five-time Grammy winner Michael League sits down with Steve Roby to discuss his groundbreaking residency at SF Jazz Center—a five-night exploration that shatters the "one-band" label and reveals the full spectrum of his creative life.Best known as the founder of Snarky Puppy, League has spent his career defying categorization. In this conversation, he opens up about why he's never been content being "Mr. Snarky Puppy," his evolution from band leader to curator and

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00:23:19

From Hendrix to Henderson: Marcus Machado's Black...

Songs & Stories ·

2026/01/19

Guest: Marcus MachadoEpisode DescriptionGuitarist Marcus Machado joins host Steve Roby to discuss his journey from childhood prodigy to genre-blurring artist. Dubbed "the next young gun" by Rolling Stone, Machado has toured and recorded with Anderson Paak, Robert Glasper, and Jon Batiste, while his film scores have appeared in award-winning documentaries, including Mr. Soul and Apollo. In this episode, he shares stories about his early influences, his approach to blending rock, funk, hip

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00:23:43

Braxton Cook's Collaborative Evolution

Songs & Stories ·

2026/01/14

Episode Description:Alto saxophonist, vocalist, and composer Braxton Cook joins host Steve Roby for an intimate conversation about his latest album Not Everyone Can Go—a deeply personal record that captures the intersection of touring life, fatherhood, and artistic evolution. In this episode, Braxton discusses:Growing up in a musically diverse household and his early connection to the saxophoneNavigating the tension between career ambition and family life with two young sonsThe collaborative spirit

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00:27:46

Ten Strings, Infinite Possibilities: Hamilton de...

Songs & Stories ·

2026/01/12

In this episode, host Steve Roby sits down with Grammy-winning Brazilian mandolin virtuoso Hamilton de Holanda to discuss his innovative approach to the 10-string bandolim, the deep connections between choro and jazz, and his upcoming SFJAZZ performance. Episode Highlights:Hamilton shares his musical upbringing in a family where instruments were his childhood toys, receiving his first mandolin as a Christmas gift at age five in 1981. He discusses the power of the trio format with drummer Big Bel and

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00:29:45

Chico Pinheiro & Vinicius Cantuária: Brazilian Guitar...

Songs & Stories ·

2026/01/09

Brazilian guitarist and composer Chico Pinheiro joins Backstage Bay Area to talk about his musical journey, his duo collaboration with Vinicius Cantuária, and the stories behind his compositions “City of Dreams” and “Estrada Real” ahead of their upcoming SFJAZZ performances.A DownBeat Rising Star guitarist, Pinheiro reflects on his early start as a working musician in São Paulo, how Jimi Hendrix first pulled him to the guitar, and why “fun” has always been central to his artistic philosophy. He also

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00:41:18

Taylor Eigsti Comes Home, Carrying the Fire Forward

Songs & Stories ·

2026/01/04

Episode Summary: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, we sit down with two-time Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Taylor Eigsti. A Menlo Park native who released his debut album at age 14, Eigsti has evolved from a local prodigy into one of the most versatile and celebrated voices in modern jazz. Fresh off his 2025 Grammy win for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album (Plot Armor), Eigsti joins us to discuss his deep Bay Area roots, the emotional architecture of his latest compositions, and

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00:24:29

Echoes & Inspirations: Melissa Aldana’s Jazz Journey

Songs & Stories ·

2025/12/30

Show Notes:In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with Grammy-nominated saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana. As the first female instrumentalist and first South American to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, Melissa shares her remarkable journey from Santiago, Chile, to the global jazz stage.Highlights:• Melissa discusses her early influences, including her family’s musical legacy and the pivotal moment she switched to tenor sax after

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331 results

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