The Late Set

Yeah No, with Chris Speed and Jim Black

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 06:15:00 -0400

When Chris Speed formed Yeah No in the late 1990s, there was no lane for its hybrid style, which drew from both post-punk and post-bop, with shoegaze and Balkan klezmer folded into the mix. Speed, a multi-reedist, had intrepid partners in trumpeter Cuong Vu, bassist Skúli Sverrisson and drummer Jim Black — each a sonic visionary, and all committed to a shared band ideal.

Since then, the musicians have pursued other projects in far-flung locales. So it felt momentous this spring when Yeah No kicked off a reunion tour at Solar Myth under the auspices of Ars Nova Workshop, whose inaugural show the band played more than 25 years ago.

Before the performance, Speed and Black sat down for an onstage interview with Nate Chinen, whose history with the band stretches back to that era.

Chapters

00:00 — Intro
07:00 — Interview with Chris Speed and Jim Black
42:30 — “This I Dig”

Special thanks to Beau Gordon, Mark Christman and the folks at Ars Nova Workshop and Solar Myth.

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Miles Davis at 100

Tue, 26 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400

We’ve rarely seen a centennial celebration like the one that coalesced around Miles Davis: cover stories, deluxe reissues, luxury brand partnerships and tributes of every imaginable form.

Then again, we’ve rarely seen an artist like Miles — who once credibly claimed to have “changed music four or five times.”

His body of work remains a source of endless fascination. In this episode, Josh Jackson and Nate Chinen sit down to compare notes and highlights, including some of the less celebrated turns and pivots in a famously forward-thinking career.

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Monk con Clave, with Carlos Henriquez

Tue, 12 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400

For more than 25 years, bassist Carlos Henriquez has been the beating heart of the rhythm section in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, as well as other bands led by Wynton Marsalis. He’s done more than his share of swinging in those settings. But as a product of the Nuyorican community, Henriquez has also remained deeply rooted in clave — the pulse at the center of folkloric Afro-Latin music.

In this episode, he joins Josh Jackson to discuss Monk con Clave, his dynamite new album with the JALC Orchestra, featuring special guests including pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and percussionist Pedrito Martínez.

Henriquez also reflects on his formative path through jazz education, and weighs in on a timely question of succession.

Chapters

00:00 — Intro
03:05 — Interview with Carlos Henriquez
40:36 — Carlos Henriquez performs “I Mean You” (solo bass) and discusses his bass inspirations
1:00:28 — “This I Dig”

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Jazz is (Still) Dangerous, with Kresten Osgood

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:04:00 -0400

When we declare music a “universal language,” what space do we leave for regional dialects and local customs? How has jazz evolved from a uniquely American export into a music that truly knows no borders? These and other questions hang in the air as we prepare to celebrate International Jazz Day at a moment of roiling global tensions.

It feels like the right time to connect with Kresten Osgood — a Danish drummer, composer and commentator, and host of the podcast Dangerous Sounds. He joins Josh Jackson for a far-ranging conversation, sharing his perspective on the music and the mission.

Following the interview, Osgood performed a solo drum improvisation. Watch here: youtu.be/arjCn6U4QRU

Chapters

00:00 — Intro
04:30 — Interview with Kresten Osgood
43:22 — “This I Dig”

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Organic Music, with Irreversible Entanglements

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:04:00 -0400

Irreversible Entanglements can always be trusted to push revolutionary concerns to the fore. But the band puts just as much stock in community, as we’ll hear in this provocative and lively episode.

Four of the group’s five members — vocalist Camae Ayewa (aka Moor Mother), trumpeter Aquiles Navarro, saxophonist Keir Neuringer, and bassist Luke Stewart — joined Josh Jackson at The Fabric Workshop and Museum for a listening session and public discussion of Don Cherry’s 1972 album Organic Music Society, as a tie-in to the exhibition The Living Temple: The World of Moki Cherry, presented by Ars Nova Workshop.

The band also talked about Future Present Past, its knockout fifth release, and the imperative of speaking truth to power, now as ever.

The band also discusses Future Present Past, its knockout fifth release, along with the enduring imperative of speaking truth to power — now as ever.

Chapters

00:00 — Intro
04:30 — Interview with Irreversible Entanglements
46:47 — “This I Dig”

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dance! skip! hop!, with Tomeka Reid

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:02:00 -0400

Tomeka Reid finds authority in flexibility on the cello, taking full advantage of an instrument that can be earthy or ethereal, growly or sweetly serene. Her irresistible new album — dance! skip! hop! — finds her in all of these modes and more, at the helm of her long-running quartet.

During a recent visit to our studio, Reid spoke about how the album grew out of an impulse to dance. In a far-ranging conversation with Nate Chinen, she also reflects on her early cello inspirations, he impact of AACM mentors like Anthony Braxton, and her work as an educator and advocate.

Chapters

00:00 — Intro
02:35 — Interview with Tomeka Reid
40:15 — “This I Dig”

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Banjo Without Borders: Béla Fleck

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:35:00 -0400

In the hands of Béla Fleck, the banjo becomes a skeleton key — capable of unlocking almost any musical door. Among the most acclaimed artists of our era, Fleck has brought his fretboard finesse not only to bluegrass, but also to progressive fusion, chamber and orchestral works, African folk music and more.

This episode finds him in the banjo parlor at Vintage Instruments, a retail and repair shop just down Broad Street from the Kimmel Center. Fleck was in town with the Flecktones, his proudly uncategorizable flagship band, and the conversation turns to musical legacies, personal histories, and how his perspective has changed — and how it hasn’t — over the course of a nearly five-decade career.

Watch this interview: youtu.be/QQ4tlfSpl3Y

Special thanks to Vintage Instruments: vintage-instruments.com

Chapters

00:00 — Intro
06:45 — Interview with Béla Fleck
59:00 — Outro + credits

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Patternmaster, with Mark Turner

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 06:03:00 -0500

Every jazz musician strives to establish a voice. Some go further — creating a language all their own. Mark Turner is one of those artists: a tenor saxophonist with a vocabulary and syntax so personal that he’s recognizable within a single phrase.

Now 60, Turner stands as a modern master — an artist whose influence on the jazz tradition can hardly be overstated.

In this episode, we’re thrilled to talk with Turner about his new ECM quartet album, Patternmaster, along with some of the speculative fiction — and actual music — that inspired it.

We also touch on his creative habits, the shifting parameters of the jazz tradition, and the way he and his peers have left their mark (no pun intended) on the creative landscape.

Chapters

00:00 — Intro
06:57 — Interview with Mark Turner
40:05 — “This I Dig”

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Radio Repost: New Pinnacle, with Brandee Younger

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Tonight at 8 p.m., WRTI will air the latest episode of The Late Set Radio Hour featuring harpist, composer and bandleader Brandee Younger.

To get you ready for the broadcast, we’re (re)sharing our original May 2025 podcast interview with Brandee, taped live before a sold-out Solar Myth show presented by Ars Nova Workshop.

The broadcast features music spanning her 2025 release Gadabout Season and her re-imagining of Dorothy Ashby’s work on Brand New Life. Younger reflects on using the studio as a creative tool and embracing the harp’s full expressive range — from glissandos to groove.

Host Nicole Sweeney guides us through Brandee’s profound connection to Alice Coltrane, including performing on Coltrane’s harp and collaborating with Ravi Coltrane.

The episode also spotlights fellow harpist Ashley Jackson, who speaks about the spiritual resonance of Younger’s music and how these works are entering the modern harp canon.

Listen Sunday at 8 p.m. on WRTI or stream the full episode online: wrti.org

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Travel the Spaceways, with Marcus J. Moore

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Search high and low, in this world and beyond, and you won’t ever find another Sun Ra. So we’re excited about the broadcast premiere of Sun Ra: Do the Impossible, a PBS American Masters documentary that sheds new light on the inexhaustibly inventive composer-bandleader, poet-philosopher, and adopted Philadelphian.

Our own Nate Chinen is a commentator in the film — and so is our guest this episode, the author and critic Marcus J. Moore, who brings a multilayered appreciation of Sun Ra’s artistry to our conversation. Space is the Place!

Chapters:
00:00 … Intro
02:33 … Interview Marcus J. Moore
38:55 … “This I Dig”

More on Sun Ra: Do the Impossible: pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/sun-ra-do-the-impossible-documentary/37455/

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Grammys Recap / Dezron Douglas

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:25:00 -0500

How do we feel about this year’s Grammy Awards? That’s our starting point for this episode, assessing the ins and outs of “Music’s Biggest Night.”

Then it’s on to the main event: a deep-in-the-groove conversation with Dezron Douglas. Josh sat down with the tireless bassist and bandleader onstage before a recent quartet show at Solar Myth, where they premiered a batch of exciting new music.

We’ll even hear a taste of that music, as we consider Douglas as a scene stalwart and community builder — and (let’s just put it out there) a shoo-in for future Grammy glory.

Chapters:
00:00 … Intro / Grammy recap
24:10 … Interview with Dezron Douglas
1:07:08 … “This I Dig”

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Radio Repost: Michael Mayo's jazz vocals take flight

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 20:00:00 -0500

When the stars align for the 68th Grammy Awards on Feb. 1, the world's attention will mostly fall on the likes of Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and KATSEYE.

But there's a sporting chance that good fortune will fall on Michael Mayo, who's in the running for two awards: Best Jazz Performance, for his suavely assured take on “Four,” and Best Jazz Vocal Album, for his second solo release, Fly. Both nominations confirm what some of us have known for a while now: Mayo is major talent, one of the most creative and commanding singers now working in the realm of improvised music.

This interview was originally featured in a 2024 episode of The Late Set podcast, co-hosted by Greg Bryant and Nate Chinen.

Listen back to our episode of The Late Set Radio Hour featuring excerpts from this interview, and music by Michael Mayo and his collaborators: wrti.org/jazz-archive-sunday-rotation

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Four Freedoms, with Dave Douglas

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 06:31:00 -0500

Freedom and form have always found active equilibrium in the music of Dave Douglas. A trumpeter, composer and bandleader of conscientious creativity, he returns with a new release, Four Freedoms, showcasing his quartet: Marta Warelis on piano, Nick Dunston on bass and Joey Baron on drums.

The album draws inspiration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1941 address outlining what he described as four essential human freedoms. It’s a proposition worth revisiting at this moment — for a number of reasons.

Chapters

00:00 — Intro
05:44 — Interview with Dave Douglas
48:30 — “This I Dig”

Check out Dave Douglas’ podcast, A Noise From The Deep: greenleafmusic.com/podcasts

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Pass It Down, with Terell Stafford

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 06:11:00 -0500

Terell Stafford upholds a radically holistic ideal as a jazz educator. At Temple University, where he serves as Director of Jazz Studies and Chair of Instrumental Studies in the Boyer College of Music, he focuses not only on producing first-rate musicians but also on cultivating a community of listeners and advocates.

To hear him tell it, Stafford — a leading trumpeter, bandleader and administrator — is incorporating lessons learned from some of his own mentors, including Jimmy Heath. In all respects, his insights on jazz education are inspiring, with implications far beyond the classroom. As you’ll hear in this episode, they feel right on time.

Chapters

00:00 — Intro
07:19 — Interview with Terell Stafford
59:26 — “This I Dig”

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Radio Repost: Comfort and Joy with Samara Joy and Gregory Porter

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 06:21:00 -0500

Happy Holidays from The Late Set! We’re re-running our episode featuring jazz vocalists Gregory Porter and Samara Joy.

The interview comes from a The Late Set podcast called Comfort and Joy, from 2023. At the time, Christmas Wish and A Joyful Holiday had both just dropped. Former Evening Jazz host and Late Set co-host Greg Bryant and Nate Chinen connected virtually with the two artists, and were struck by their warm camaraderie — rooted in a shared foundation and a common commitment to singing their truth.

You can also watch our video interview with Samara Joy, her father Antonio McLendon, and their late grandfather Elder Goldwire McLendon here:
https://youtu.be/gByTUXyJJk0

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Holiday Gift Guide!

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 06:35:00 -0500

‘Tis the season for giving — and receiving! As a tie-in to the WRTI Holiday Gift Guide, Josh and Nate are rummaging through their stockings to talk about some of the boxed sets and other goodies that they’re most excited about this year.

Among the highlights are a pair of reissued landmarks from John Coltrane’s Impulse! discography, a boxed set focusing on the Riverside studio output of the classic Bill Evans Trio, and a 5-LP collection of oft-overlooked mid-‘60s hard bop by trumpeter Chet Baker.

This episode is for the heads, or anybody who’s shopping for one. Happy Holidaze!

Check out our full Holiday Gift Guide: wrti.org/wrti-spotlight/2025-11-28/2025-gift-guide-vinyl-apparel-and-more-for-jazz-and-classical-tastes

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Write us an email: editor@wrti.org

Speak Up and Speak Out, with Johnathan Blake

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 09:14:00 -0500

Johnathan Blake makes music as an extension of life. It’s one reason his alert and expressive drumming has lifted so many leading bands, from the Kenny Barron Quartet to the Maria Schneider Orchestra to the Kris Davis Trio.

And it’s the animating principle behind his output as a solo artist, whether he’s honoring his late father on Passage or speaking out about injustice on My Life Matters, his latest release.

Johnathan, born and raised in Philly, recently stopped by WRTI for a conversation with Josh Jackson about family legacy, musical priorities, and an artist’s obligation in trying times.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
04:51 Interview
38:32 Recap
41:45 This I Dig

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Write us an email: editor@wrti.org

Radio Repost: Deep River with Gary Bartz

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 20:00:00 -0500

To coincide with this Sunday’s Late Set Radio Hour (airing Sunday at 8 p.m. ET) we’re reposting our interview with Gary Bartz. More on The Late Set Radio Hour here: wrti.org/the-late-set-radio-hour

Gary Bartz turned 85 this fall, and has shown no signs of slowing down. In fact, he released his first studio album in more than a decade: Damage Control, a riff on classic soul from Curtis Mayfield, Earth Wind & Fire and others, played by his band Ntu.

Our interview was taped in Brooklyn during the 2024 Winter Jazzfest featuring the original Late Set hosts Nate Chinen and Greg Bryant. The conversation spans Bartz’s apprenticeship years (with everyone from Max to Mingus to Miles), his journeyman period (notably at the helm of Ntu Troop), and his master eminence as a 2024 NEA Jazz Master. The man who gave us “Music is My Sanctuary” is still out along the front line with insights to share.

More to explore:
NEA: arts.gov/honors/jazz/gary-bartz
NPR: npr.org/2022/06/23/1106723714...
KQED: kqed.org/arts/13935159/8-over-80-gary-bartz

More on the 2026 Winter Jazz Fest: winterjazzfest.com

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Write us an email: editor@wrti.org

Expand and Adapt, with Mary Halvorson

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

About Ghosts is the latest album from Mary Halvorson's Amaryllis, and on our short list for Album of the Year. Before a recent show at Solar Myth, Halvorson sat down with Josh Jackson to talk about her approach to composing for the group, her inspirations, and her fondness for mixology.

[EXCLUSIVE] Mary Halvorson’s Amaryllis live at Solar Myth

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:30:00 -0500

On the cusp of our interview with Mary Halvorson (dropping this Tuesday), The Late Set is proud to share a bonus: a live recording from Solar Myth featuring Halvorson and her band Amaryllis. They played a collection of works – mostly from their most recent record About Ghosts. But she handpicked a new, as-yet-unreleased composition called “Florid Waning” to share with you as a WRTI exclusive. Enjoy! We’ll see you back here on Tuesday.

Musicians: Mary Halvorson, guitar; Adam O’Farrill, trumpet; Jacob Garchik, trombone; Patricia Brennan, vibraphone; Nick Dunston, bass; Tomas Fujiwara, drums.

Credits: Richard Rein, recording engineer; Robby Webb, mixing engineer; Mark Christman, Ars Nova Workshop; Melissa Cusick, Nonesuch Records.

Charm City, with Brandon Woody

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Growing up in the Ramblewood area of northeast Baltimore, Brandon Woody could hardly have envisioned a future as one of the most heralded young trumpeter-bandleaders in jazz. But he dared to dream beyond what he could see — even after dropping out of college in New York. His 2025 Blue Note debut, For the Love of It All, introduces a powerfully emotive artist and a committed working band, Upendo, primed to represent their hometown. Woody sat down with The Late Set just after a set at the Exit Zero Jazz Festival, ready to open up and dig in.

Radio Repost: esperanza spalding on the magic of Milton Nascimento

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 08:17:24 -0400

We're reposting Nate Chinen’s illuminating conversation with esperanza spalding, which will be featured in the inaugural episode of The Late Set Radio Hour. Tune in on Oct. 26 — Milton Nascimento's 83rd birthday.

Bebop to Cubop, with the Curtis Brothers

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Now both in their 40s, brothers Zaccai and Luques Curtis have amassed a wealth of experience, and the mentorship of elders ranging from Jackie McLean to Eddie Palmieri to Ralph Peterson, Jr..In this lively conversation at the Exit Zero Jazz Festival, the two open up about their upbringing in Hartford, Conn.; the hidden circuitries of so-called Latin Jazz; and the industrious spark that led to Zaccai’s Grammy Award-winning album Cubop Lives!

Turnkey, with Terence Blanchard

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 07:01:14 -0400

Terence Blanchard's career has brought him to many posts, including the executive artistic director of SFJAZZ and the first Black composer at The Metropolitan opera. To each of these and beyond, he's carried his perspectives on culture and how it operates. Just before his performance at the Exit Zero Jazz Fest, Blanchard sat down with The Late Set to discuss how culture flows, and what it means to lead from a place of service.

Cool Like Dat, with Kassa Overall

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 08:07:01 -0400

Kassa Overall's smart new album, CREAM, is a celebration of 1990s hip-hop and its classic source material within the framework of small-group acoustic jazz. He joined Nate and WRTI Evening Jazz host Nicole Sweeney to talk about it before a front-to-back performance at Solar Myth.

Newk's Time: Sonny Rollins at 95

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 06:56:00 -0400

Sonny Rollins is turning 95: a great excuse to toast one of our finest living jazz artists. So in this special episode of The Late Set, Josh Jackson and Nate Chinen are joined by a handful of WRTI’s on-air hosts

Listening at the Vanguard

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 06:35:17 -0400

"Live at the Village Vanguard" is one of the most familiar phrases in the jazz discography, a marker of place and a point of pride. But why? Together we’ve logged hundreds of hours in the club, so let's talk about it. Tumble down those stairs with us and listen up!

Eyes on the Prize, with Joshua Redman

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

On his fine new Blue Note album, Words Fall Short, saxophonist Joshua Redman introduces a band full of up-and-comers, including Philly’s own Nazir Ebo. This young cohort reminded us of a conversation The Late Set had with Redman in the fall of 2023. We're sharing it again with you now.

Sound Painter, with Jaleel Shaw

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Painter of the Invisible is Jaleel Shaw's first full-band album in more than a dozen years. But it's not as if Shaw, an alto and soprano saxophonist from Philadelphia, has been slacking; as he explains in this revealing episode of The Late Set, the pause had more to do with high standards and pure convictions.

Jaleel Shaw Recorded Live at Solar Myth

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Jaleel Shaw's elegy "Tamir" is vividly rendered in this exclusive live performance at Solar Myth, available exclusively on The Late Set.

Satchmo at Home, with Ricky Riccardi

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 05:01:51 -0400

Louis Armstrong belonged to the world. But for more than half of his illustrious career, he made his home in Corona, Queens — where we recently paid a visit to the Louis Armstrong House Museum. There we sat down with Ricky Riccardi — the museum's Director of Research Collections, and a celebrated Armstrong biographer — to discuss Satchmo's life and career.

Best Jazz of 2025 (So Far)

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 07:12:27 -0400

We’ve reached the midpoint of 2025, and listened our way through well over a hundred albums. In this episode, we’re sharing half a dozen of our favorites.

Into the Amazon, with Amaro Freitas

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 06:46:19 -0400

Pianist-composer Amaro Freitas creates music with a vivid sense of place. His native Brazil pulses through his most recent album, Y'Y, which mixes jazz with Afro-Brazilian and indigenous music, and the sounds of the Amazon. Freitas discusses this and more with Josh Jackson, in a deeply searching conversation recorded backstage at New York's Winter Jazzfest earlier this year.

New Pinnacle, with Brandee Younger

Tue, 27 May 2025 13:27:37 -0400

The spiritual and the sensual find common cause in the music of harpist Brandee Younger. Before a recent show at Solar Myth, she sat down with The Late Set to talk about her instrument, her cohort, and her third Impulse! release, Gadabout Season, which finds her in exceptional form.

Run the Song, with Ben Ratliff

Mon, 12 May 2025 16:04:32 -0400

"Running and listening can illuminate each other,” argues critic Ben Ratliff in a new book, Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening. He recently sat down to talk about the book, its back story and his listening practice with friend and colleague Nate Chinen at Solar Myth.

Lost Coast, with Jenny Scheinman

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 07:58:37 -0400

Violinist Jenny Scheinman grew up along Northern California’s so-called Lost Coast, and she carries its rustic charm and mystique in her music — even when it assumes a form as elegant as the songs on All Species Parade, her recent double album. She talks with Josh Jackson about the album and other matters before a recent performance with her band at Solar Myth.

Pilgrimage, with Wadada Leo Smith and Vijay Iyer

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 10:05:52 -0400

Few events embody the act of listening and receiving quite like the Big Ears Festival. In this episode, Nate reports back from the fest, and shares an interview with two artists who performed there: trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith and pianist Vijay Iyer, who have a new duo album called Defiant Life.

Record Store Day Preview

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 07:49:47 -0400

As a kickoff to Jazz Appreciation Month, we're looking ahead to Record Store Day. There's another great haul of archival releases dropping on April 12. Two of our favorites were recorded in the same room in 1967 by two amazing trumpeters, Kenny Dorham and Freddie Hubbard.

Branches and Paths, with Renee Rosnes

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 08:13:43 -0400

Pianist Renee Rosnes has loved Brazilian music for ages, but hadn't devoted an album to it until 'Crossing Paths.' It landed in the same season as a new effort from Artemis, which she founded almost a decade ago. In this episode, Rosnes talks about both projects, and her own path from rural Canada to the heart of modern jazz.

Let Her Cook, with Endea Owens

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Bassist Endea Owens specializes in the kind of buoyant uplift that just won’t quit. You can see her putting it into practice on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, or with her band The Cookout. At the 2025 Winter Jazzfest, we talked about her TV gig, her sense of mission, and her resilient journey.

Poetry is the Process, with Aja Monet

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 06:54:00 -0500

Aja Monet has lately breathed new life into the rich exchange between spoken word poetry and jazz. We sat down with her at the 2025 Winter Jazzfest performance, to talk about poetic practice, political necessity, and musical imperatives. Don’t miss some deep truths from one of our most committed truth-tellers.

Grammy Recap, with Natalie Weiner

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 09:38:50 -0500

What was up with the jazz field at this year’s Grammy Awards? A big win by a legend who died three years ago? Two major awards for a Christmas release? Here to talk it all down with Nate is the esteemed critic Natalie Weiner. You won’t find a more swinging recap of Music’s Biggest Night.

Recovery, with John Clayton

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 11:17:58 -0500

Bassist and bandleader John Clayton was in New York to receive an award when he learned that the Eaton wildfire had destroyed his home of 40 years, along with his daughter’s home and many others. He lost everything, including irreplaceable heirloom instruments. But as he tells The Late Set, speaking from temporary living quarters in L.A., he is focused on what lies ahead, and the overwhelming love and support that has flowed in from all corners.

New Year's Resolutions, with the McLendons

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 10:18:27 -0500

For our first episode of 2025, Nate and Josh talk through a few New Year’s resolutions. And we’re sharing one of our favorite interviews in recent memory: a sit-down with Samara Joy, her father and her grandfather at Mother Bethel AME Church.

Year in Review, with Immanuel Wilkins

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500

We're looking back at the stories, themes and other highlights from a jam-packed year — including Blues Blood, an album by our guest, alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins.

Behold the Mayo

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 10:50:06 -0500

The jazz vocal tradition is always evolving, but rarely does that notion feel truer than in the output of Michael Mayo, who stopped by our studio to talk about his dynamic second album, Fly.

Thanksgiving Mailbag Special

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 07:25:59 -0500

As Thanksgiving rolls around, it’s a good time to ask: what are we grateful for? Here at The Late Set, our first answer is you, our listener. So we decided to spend this holiday episode answering your questions.

Adjust Brightness with Bilal

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:02:01 -0500

“I’m a jazz musician first, I feel,” says Bilal. Maybe this comes as news to the many admirers who know him as an ethereal singer with a shape-shifting R&B profile, or as one of the original catalysts for neo-soul. On a compelling new album, Adjust Brightness — his first studio release in almost a decade — Bilal explores a galactic sweep of sound, making genre distinctions feel all the more irrelevant to any conversation.

Forces of Nature, with Jack DeJohnette

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 08:16:54 -0400

“Dreams do come true.” That’s how Greg sums up this episode, as he and Nate talk with master drummer Jack DeJohnette about an incredible recording made in the spring of 1966. Featuring a ferocious quartet co-led by pianist McCoy Tyner and tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, it captures each of those giants at a turning point in his career. Blue Note Records will release this album, Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs’, on Nov. 22.

Nine Lives, with Chris Coles and Sean Jones

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 08:37:01 -0400

WRTI’s Josh Jackson subs in for Greg, talking with Nate about their rich experience at the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival. Their guests are saxophonist Chris Coles and trumpeter Sean Jones, who had just performed a powerful suite titled Nine Lives. Coles composed the suite in response to a 2015 church shooting in Charleston. This conversation touches on the power of grace, the call to forgiveness — and a quietly thriving jazz scene in Akron, Ohio.Submit your questions and voice memos for our Mailbag episode here: editor@wrti.org

Catch Fire, with Isaiah Collier

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 09:09:26 -0400

Urgency is a currency for Isaiah Collier, an ambitious young saxophonist from the South Side of Chicago. During a recent visit to Philly, he sat down with us to talk about stirring emotions, channeling energies, and his problem with the term “spiritual jazz.”

Fall Preview, with Nubya Garcia

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 10:33:14 -0400

Feel that rumble underfoot? It might be the stampeding onrush of new music this fall. This episode, we’re throwing a spotlight on the most anticipated albums among them — including 'Odyssey,' by tenor saxophonist Nubya Garcia.

Creative Dancer: esperanza spalding

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 12:21:18 -0400

For esperanza spalding, the iconic Brazilian troubadour Milton Nascimento exerts a magical influence. So it makes sense that she describes their luminous new album, Milton + esperanza, as the realization of a dream.

Rise and Shine: Julius Rodriguez

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 07:25:01 -0400

What should the omnivorous young jazz mainstream sound like today? One beguiling answer can be found in the music of Julius Rodriguez, a brilliant multi-instrumentalist who just released Evergreen, his second album for Verve, which synthesizes elements of jazz, R&B, gospel, funk, even electro-pop.

Remembering Ron Miles, with Bill Frisell and Rudy Royston

Tue, 21 May 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Cornetist Ron Miles left us too soon — but also left a lot to remember him by. Two of his closest friends, guitarist Bill Frisell and drummer Rudy Royston, do just that in this episode, which follows the release of a gorgeous archival album, Old Main Chapel.

Search for the New Landmark

Fri, 03 May 2024 16:56:26 -0400

Trumpet great Lee Morgan now has a historical marker in West Philly, at the site of his final hometown gig. We were there for the ceremony, so we could bring you this report.

Breathe Open: Shabaka

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 07:40:28 -0400

When Shabaka hung up his tenor saxophone in favor of bamboo flutes, the world reacted with a mix of admiration and puzzlement. In this episode, we talk with him about his remarkable new album, Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace, and the challenge of making such a decisive pivot.

The Seeker: Melissa Aldana

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 07:00:02 -0400

In this episode of The Late Set, tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana talks about absorbing influences, and her path to a personal sound. And she reflects on the process of refinement that can be heard on her captivating new album, Echoes of the Inner Prophet.

Deep River: Gary Bartz

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 10:21:06 -0500

Ahead of his induction as an NEA Jazz Master, alto saxophonist Gary Bartz joins us on The Late Set to share some profound musical insights.

BONUS: I Hear a Rhapsody

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Marcus Roberts was recently in town to perform Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' with The Philadelphia Orchestra, and he stopped by our studio to talk about it. In this bonus episode of The Late Set, we feature that interview along with our own thoughts about the 'Rhapsody,' which can still inspire heated debate.

Deeds, Not Words

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0500

For a Max Roach centenary, there's no better guest than Nasheet Waits.

Our Year in the Rearview

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 07:13:47 -0500

For our final episode of 2023, we’re talking about the albums we can’t let go. One of them was Rivers in Our Veins, by drummer and composer Allison Miller, who joins us in conversation.

Comfort and Joy

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 06:05:00 -0500

The holidays are upon us, and so are the holiday tunes. Who better to join us than a pair of sublime vocalists with soulful new Christmas albums, Gregory Porter and Samara Joy?

Eyes on the Prize

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 07:05:00 -0400

What does it mean to pick a winner in jazz? We're considering that question in this episode of The Late Set — with an assist from Joshua Redman, whose career got off to a big start when he won the Thelonious Monk Jazz Saxophone Competition precisely 30 years ago.

The Philly Sound

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

On the first episode of The Late Set, hosts Greg Bryant and Nate Chinen compare notes on Philadelphia's jazz legacy and state of play — with some help from an absolute authority, pianist Orrin Evans.

The Late Set: Trailer

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 15:37:02 -0400

Jazz is a conversation — and that’s what The Late Set is all about.