Roy Hargrove - a life in service to music w Frank Lacy, Justin Robinson, Evan Sherman and Funmi Ononaiye

Special guest DJ Funmi Ononaiye brought friends Frank Lacy, Justin Robinson and Evan Sherman to the show to pay tribute to a great musician and dear friend.
The music community suffered a devastating loss with the transition of Roy Hargrove.
The relationship Roy had with music was so vibrant and crackled with so much energy and feeling that it is hard to believe he is not with us anymore.
Roy did leave us with the great gift of his music, however and we spent the show celebrating his music and his life.
Long live Roy Hargrove!
”Roy Anthony Hargrove, one of the most respected and loved musicians in the New York City community and the world at large, was a trailblazing multiple Grammy Award winning trumpeter. He was known just as intensely for his brimming fire and fury as he was for his gorgeous, signature balladry. Over and over, his sound attested to and sanctified his deep love for music. His unselfish timbre covered the waterfront of every musical landscape. Owning his music, his sound, Roy inspired generations of musicians. He was a game changer.”
Quoted from Jazz at Lincoln Center

Soulful Vocalist Fonda Rae Gets Over With Us!

Fonda Rae’s most iconic record may be “Over Like A Fat Rat” but that is just scratching the surface of this illustrious vocalist’s and multi-instrumentalist’s career.
We were thrilled to have her in the studio to discuss her many collaborations (Patrick Adams, Kid Creole to name a few) and got a chance to premiere some fresh new music from new collaborators like DJ Polo. Fonda is an amazing artist with an infectious personality and her business partner brought us some saltfish and ackee so it was a winning night all around for us!

P-FUNK MOB - Detroit Rising!

Greg Fitz, Gabe Gonzalez & Stozo the Clown from the 

Parliament / Funkadelic Family celebrate "Detroit Rising" with us

The D is in the house (and Jersey too for that matter) as we celebrate the newest offering from P-Funk family "Detroit Rising"!

Greg Fitz (Van McKoy, Quazar, Bootsy's Rubber Band, Musical Director for Bernie Worell) and Stozo the Clown (illustrator and art director for P-Funk, Fred Wesley, James Brown) join us for the funk, the whole funk and nothing but the funk! 

Also joining from the Motor City - Gabe Gonzalez (P-Funk drummer) and musical director of Detroit Rising, an unprecedented project created by universally respected musicians, including current and original members of the archetypal funk band Parliament-Funkadelic, along with a selection of world class talent from across the country, musicians old and new. 

Tune into the conversation with these gifted artists as we get deep in the cut about the meaning and makers of some of the legends of funk. 

You can also check the video below and cop your very own sea foam green vinyl here.  


 

Inside the Evolutionary Jazz Mind of Brian Jackson

The "Music Behind the Message" Brian Jackson is responsible for some of the most moving and profound  political and social albums of the 70's along with his partner Gil Scott-Heron. It was truly a pleasure and treat to have this gracious man in the studio taking us on a musical stroll through his life.

Widely regarded as one of the early architects of the neo-soul era, Brian Jackson's enduring sound is capturing the hearts and souls of yet another generation. Today, Brian is not only a respected jazz artist but also a frequent collaborator with emerging artists who carry on the Tradition of inspiring and informing the masses through conscious music. 

The Tradition started in 1970 when the Brooklyn-born producer, composer, and musician Jackson began writing songs with another prodigy, 20-year-old Lincoln University classmate and poet Gil Scott- Heron.

Jackson remembers his first encounter with Gil, "He had this way with words and I thought to myself, 'People have to hear this stuff.' What I had to offer was the music and I figured if we can take his words and make this tribal knowledge rhythmic and musical, we can draw people to hear it."

The Foreign Exchange - Future Legends Spotlight

Yes we get our old school on here but we dearly appreciate all things of a groovalicious nature. WE LOVE THIS BAND!!! The art is high caliber, the sound is deliciously soulful. Caught up with Nicolay and Phonte for a few minutes of lovely conversation after a recent show. Enjoy the vibes and support independent music by heading over to The Foreign Exchange website.

DJ Spinna Takes us on a Musical Stroll down Memory Lane!

DJ Spinna is a perpetual blur of motion on trains, planes and probably even bicycles on a singular mission to bring joyously funky music to the world. This prolific DJ / Producer behind the signature parties Wonder- Full (tribute to Stevie Wonder) and Soul Slam (Michael Jackson vs Prince) slowed down for a couple hours in the WBAI studios with us to talk abut the music that influenced him as a child growing up in funk-tastic Brooklyn and play us some heavy tunes from his childhood. Join us for two hours of talk, laughs and GREAT TUNES!!!

pops who started it all by having a great record collection!!! 

Beginnings.... guess where allowance money went??

For the love of music - a dj's dj and consummate collector!

BreakBeat Lou celebrates 30 years of Ultimate Breaks & Beats on the Sweet Spot!

August was hot in the studio as we welcomed DJ, Producer and co-creator (with Lenny Roberts) of the seminal music compilation series "Ultimate Breaks and Beats" Breakbeat Lou to the Sweet Spot! 

Check out our exclusive two hour intimate chat with Lou above on Mixcloud and below downloadable on Soundcloud as we discuss his long legacy in music and take a stroll through the foundation days of hip hop, house and new developments in celebration of thirty years of one of the understated but key players in modern musical history. 

Also head over to Breakbeat Lou's page here to keep up to date on all the great #UBB celebrations throughout the year! 

Thanks for Listening! 

Mr. Roy Ayers - the King of Good Vibes!

Wow and WOW! We were BLESSED to take a two hour musical journey with the King of Good Vibes himself, jazz funk pioneer the LEGENDARY Mr. Roy Ayers!
Roy's disposition is just as sunny, warm and wonderful as his music and he brought true sunshine of the spirit to the WBAI studios!
Truly, he is a fountain of musical inspiration and had us all on cloud 9! 
The power of Roy's artistry has spanned decades and musical genres and influenced countless numbers of musicians leading him to become one of the most sampled artists of all time. 
Non stop touring at 75 years young this man is a testament to the power of music to keep you young! 

Check his tour schedule at www.royayers.com and elevate your vibration with the wonderful sensation that is this man's gift!