x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

00:26:34

Stefon Harris on Soul, Sound, and Harmony in Motion

Songs & Stories ·

2025/11/21

Episode Summary:Vibraphonist, composer, and educator Stefon Harris joins Backstage Bay Area before his November 29 double bill with trumpeter Theo Croker at SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium. Harris discusses the spiritual roots of his sound, the ideas behind his new album Sonic Creed Volume Two: Life Signs, and why he believes harmony can be felt as vividly as rhythm. He also shares how his Harmony Cloud app is transforming the way musicians hear and respond to chords in real time.About Stefon

en

00:30:23

Ben Folds on Keeping Art Alive and SFJAZZ holiday shows

Songs & Stories ·

2025/11/18

In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby interviews Ben Folds, the pianist, songwriter, and arts advocate who has spent three decades balancing sharp, story-driven pop songs with orchestral ambition. Fresh off the release of Ben Folds Live with the National Symphony Orchestra and deep into his work on the new holiday album Sleigher, Folds discusses what it means to keep art alive in a noisy, distracted culture.The conversation shifts from his years at the Kennedy Center to the details

en

00:29:02

Three Visitors Trio Debuts New Album

Songs & Stories ·

2025/11/09

Show Description: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby interviews pianist and composer Edward Simon to discuss the trio Three Visitors, a deeply collaborative project with bassist Scott Colley and drummer Brian Blade. This trio consists of three composers writing for one another, built on a long history, shared language, and deliberate listening. We talk about how the group developed from their New York connections in the 1990s, how the new album on GroundUP Music was created with

en

00:26:58

Sarah Wilson Brings Incandescence to Berkeley

Songs & Stories ·

2025/11/06

Episode DescriptionIn this episode, Steven Roby talks with Bay Area trumpeter and composer Sarah Wilson about her luminous new album Incandescence and the creative path that led her from political puppet theater to leading an all-woman horn line in a brass-forward Bay Area ensemble. Wilson explains how visual art, community-based performance, and New Orleans street energy shaped the music on Incandescence, and why she wants audiences to experience the album as one immersive arc at her upcoming

en

00:34:14

RJAM: New Visions at the Lab

Songs & Stories ·

2025/10/31

Episode SummaryExecutive Director and co‑founder of SFCM’s Roots, Jazz & American Music (RJAM) program, Jason Hainsworth, joins Steve to talk about how the Side‑By‑Side model turns the Joe Henderson Lab into a working classroom. We explore mentorship in real time, why original student music matters, and what audiences can expect from RJAM’s *Side‑By‑Side: New Visions* performance at the Lab.GuestJason Hainsworth — Executive Director & Co‑Founder, RJAM (San Francisco Conservatory of

en

00:20:10

SFJAZZ Collective: Native Dancer Preview

Songs & Stories ·

2025/10/30

Episode summaryMusic Director and saxophonist Chris Potter joins Backstage Bay Area to preview the SFJAZZ Collective’s tribute to Wayne Shorter’s Native Dancer. We talk about why this album matters, how the Collective reimagined its songs for today’s band, Potter’s personal encounter with Shorter, and what new music is on deck.What you’ll hear• Why Native Dancer remains a living blueprint for jazz–Brazilian exchange• How the Collective divided up arrangements and found fresh angles on classics like

en

00:20:59

Gerald Albright: Groove, Melody, Momentum Ahead

Songs & Stories ·

2025/10/29

Episode logline:Saxophonist—and bassist—Gerald Albright talks origin stories, the punch and polish behind “Living My Best Life,” why the title cut “Full Throttle” opens up onstage, and what listeners can expect when his band hits Oakland.About our guestA pillar of contemporary jazz with decades of touring and studio work, Gerald Albright writes and produces with a rhythm-section mindset. He came up on saxophone in South Central Los Angeles, later added bass guitar, and now releases music

en

00:20:43

Caity Gyorgy Brings Strings to Swing

Songs & Stories ·

2025/10/29

Canadian vocalist-composer Caity Gyorgy joins Steve for a conversation about craft, collaboration, and why swing still feels newly minted when the writing is sharp and the band listens hard. Known for quicksilver phrasing and original tunes that travel between club intimacy and orchestral sheen, Gyorgy traces the path from early influences to her new string-driven project and previews her San Francisco debut at the Joe Henderson Lab.What you’ll hear• How Caity discovered jazz and shaped her sound

en

00:18:37

Las Cafeteras’ Night of Living Memory

Songs & Stories ·

2025/10/27

Episode SummaryHector Flores of Las Cafeteras joins Steve to talk about Hasta La Muerte, the group’s Day of the Dead production arriving at SFJAZZ. He traces the band’s East L.A. activist roots, how son jarocho meets hip-hop and spoken word, and why participation—dancing, singing, dressing up—turns a concert into a communal ritual. Hector shares how Cocosparked a new wave of writing, why La Catrina becomes “La Santa de los Muertos,” and how a reimagined La Llorona story reframes grief as love.Hector

en

00:24:58

Between Soul and Swing: Nicolas Bearde’s Jarreau,...

Songs & Stories ·

2025/10/21

Podcast: Backstage Bay AreaHost: Steve RobyGuests: Nicolas Bearde (vocals) with special guest Tammy L. Hall (piano)Bay Area vocalist Nicolas Bearde joins Backstage Bay Area to talk about his Al Jarreau celebration at the Joe Henderson Lab. We trace his path from early R&B roots and Motown radio to a mature jazz voice shaped onstage with Bobby McFerrin—and how that journey informs a show that treats Jarreau’s music as a living language. Nicolas shares insights on two signature tracks from his

en

00:29:15

Freedom, Community, and Jazz: KCSM’s 60 Years on the Air

Songs & Stories ·

2025/10/18

Episode overviewKCSM 91.1 FM has been a lifeline for Bay Area jazz for six decades. Station Manager Dr. Robert Franklin joins Steve to talk about the station’s live-curated sound, its massive library and preservation work, and the new documentary celebrating KCSM’s history and community impact.Dr. Robert “Bob” Franklin — Station Manager, KCSM 91.1 FM; Executive Producer of KCSM: 60 Years of Broadcasting and Jazz.KCSM is one of the nation’s last full-time jazz stations. Its curator-driven

en

00:34:10

Amaro Freitas on Enchantment, Ancestry, and the...

Songs & Stories ·

2025/10/10

Backstage Bay Area – Episode with Amaro FreitasGuest: Amaro Freitas, acclaimed Brazilian jazz pianist and composerHost: Steve RobyEpisode Highlights:Introduction to Amaro Freitas, his Afro-Brazilian roots, and his unique approach to jazz piano.Amaro discusses his musical beginnings in Brazil, learning piano in church, and the influence of family and local musicians.Deep dive into Amaro’s rhythmic style, blending African, Brazilian, and jazz traditions.Influences: Amaro shares how Chick Corea and

en

00:20:01

Lines in Motion: Nicole McCabe’s Groove-Driven...

Songs & Stories ·

2025/10/08

In this episode, host Steve Roby sits down with saxophonist and composer Nicole McCabe, co-leader of the genre-blending project Dolphin Hyperspace. Nicole shares her journey from growing up in Marin County, where she was inspired by both jazz and electronic music, to collaborating with bassist/producer Logan Kane. The conversation covers her musical influences (from Cannonball Adderley to Skrillex), the creative process behind Dolphin Hyperspace, and the stories behind tracks like "Minuscule

en

00:20:58

Ivan Neville on Dumpstaphunk’s Groove for a Divided Time

Songs & Stories ·

2025/10/07

Episode Summary:In this episode, host Steve Roby sits down with Ivan Neville of Dumpstaphunk for a deep dive into the band’s New Orleans roots, their message of unity, and the making of their latest music. Ivan shares stories about the band’s evolving lineup, the inspiration behind their single “Let’s Do It,” and the enduring power of collaboration. The conversation also covers their take on Buddy Miles’ “United Nations Stomp,” the importance of social messages in their music, and what fans can

en

00:27:48

Martha Redbone Brings Congregational Soul to Miner...

Songs & Stories ·

2025/10/02

Episode SummaryOn this Backstage Bay Area episode, host Steven Roby sits down with Afro‑Indigenous singer and composer Martha Redbone to talk about her Harlan County roots, Brooklyn upbringing, and the call‑and‑response spirit she brings to the stage. We cover the stories behind her blend of Appalachian folk, gospel‑soul, blues, and jazz; the community‑minded ethos she calls “congregational music”; and what San Francisco can expect when she and her sextet turn Miner Auditorium into a Sunday‑night

en

00:23:54

Two Voices, One Room: Hervey & Mason Reframe Monk at...

Songs & Stories ·

2025/10/01

SummaryTrumpeter Anthony Hervey and pianist Sean Mason unpack the soul-and-blues core behind their duo chemistry—why a Monk program belongs in an intimate room, how Hervey’s “Du-Rag” reframes ragtime language for now, and why Mason’s “Open Your Heart” asks players and listeners to lead with emotion. We talk repertoire choices for the Joe Henderson Lab, the living-room vibe they aim for, and how spontaneity shapes their sets.Anthony Hervey — official site: anthonyherveymusic.com. ANTHONY HERVEYAlbum

en

00:33:35

Threading Folk and Jazz: Becca Stevens’ Quiet Fire

Songs & Stories ·

2025/09/26

Episode summaryGRAMMY-nominated songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Becca Stevens joins us to explore the craft of writing and arranging for intimate settings, how open tunings and guitar shapes influence her harmony, and the emotional core behind Maple to Paper — a voice-and-guitar project that values vulnerability, presence, and truth. She also speaks openly about motherhood on the road and the real-world adjustments venues and presenters can make to better support touring

en

00:49:51

Idris Ackamoor: Building a Future You Can Dance To

Songs & Stories ·

2025/09/17

Episode SummarySaxophonist, composer, and theater-maker Idris Ackamoor joins us to talk about Afrofuturism, ensemble storytelling, and why his performances are designed as communal happenings—part ritual, part dance-floor communion. We get into the craft behind his “artistic being” approach, the power of spoken word in jazz contexts, and how rhythm, memory, and movement drive his music.Idris Ackamoor is a Chicago-born, Bay Area–based bandleader and co-founder of Cultural Odyssey and The Pyramids. A

en

00:22:54

Yilian Cañizares on Roots, Ritual, and the Road to...

Songs & Stories ·

2025/09/10

Episode summaryViolinist–vocalist Yilian Cañizares joins Backstage Bay Area to talk about the musical DNA that powers her work—classical discipline, Afro-Cuban tradition, and the open-ended spirit of jazz. She reflects on the new single “Ore,” the cross-Atlantic pulse of “Habana-Bahia,” and the next chapters: a fall EP and her full-length album Vitamina Y. Along the way, Yilian opens up about freedom, ritual, collaboration, and how she wants audiences to feel when the trio takes the

en

00:12:34

Bach, Bebop & Bay Area: Paquito D'Rivera’s Jazz Odyssey

Songs & Stories ·

2025/09/09

Show Notes:On this episode of the Backstage Bay Area Podcast, host Steve Roby sits down with the legendary Paquito D'Rivera—multi-Grammy-winning saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer—for a lively conversation that bridges continents, genres, and generations.Paquito shares the inspiration behind his acclaimed album, Jazz Meets the Classics, revealing how his father’s classical roots and his own love for improvisation shaped a project that reimagines European and New World composers through a jazz

en

304 results

Similar Podcasts

Pasquale Maassen Soundcloud

Pasquale Maassen

Marian Klose

Marian Klose

sevenism

sevenism

Dean Delray"s LET THERE BE TALK

Cactus Radio Network

Word In Your Ear

Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold