Songs & Stories

Take 6 Still Spreads the Love After Four Decades

Show Notes: Host Steve Roby sits down with Claude McKnight, founding member of the legendary a cappella group Take 6, ahead of their four-night residency at SFJAZZ. With

Steven Bernstein’s Gumbo Homecoming

Steven Bernstein, the Berkeley-born trumpeter, composer, and bandleader, joins host Steve Roby for a wide-ranging conversation about five decades of musical exploration,

John Beasley From Invisible Piano to Unlimited Miles

Pianist, composer, and arranger John Beasley joins host Steve Roby for an in-depth discussion about his extraordinary career, his new album Invisible Piano, and an upcomi

Resilience, Roots, and the Road Ahead: A Conversation with David Weiss

Jazz trumpeter and composer David Weiss joins host Steve Roby for a wide-ranging conversation about a life built on music. From his early days in Queens, where he absorbe

Sweden's Queen of Swing Comes to SF Jazz

Show Notes: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with Swedish jazz sensation and multi-instrumentalist Gunhild Carling — a trombonist, trumpe

Marcus Shelby Celebrates Miles Davis

Episode Summary Host Steve Roby sits down with Bay Area bassist, composer, and bandleader Marcus Shelby to discuss his upcoming SF Jazz performance, a tribute to Miles D

Daniel Ho’s Many Roads to SFJAZZ

Podcast Show Notes: On this episode of Backstage Bay Area, Steve Roby speaks with Daniel Ho, a six-time Grammy-winning musician, composer, producer, and slack key guitari

Aaron Diehl Finds the Space Between

Show Notes Pianist Aaron Diehl joins Backstage Bay Area to discuss the early musical influences that shaped his voice, his deep connection to Mary Lou Williams, and his

Lynne Arriale Brings Her Trio to Oakland

Show Notes: On this episode of Backstage Bay Area, Steve Roby speaks with pianist and composer Lynne Arriale about her latest album, Being Human, and the ideas behind mus

Instant Alter Brings Future Fusion to SFJAZZ

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 ahea

Ben Wendel on Improvisation and Yoshi’s

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 Van

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

Show Notes Saxophonist, 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 D

August Lee Stevens at the Lab

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 Hen

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

Podcast Show Notes Episode Title: Vince Wilburn Jr. on Miles Davis, SFJAZZ, and the Miles Electric Band In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, Steve Roby speaks with dr

Monty Alexander Hears One Word: Music

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

Lakecia Benjamin Keeps the Flame Burnin’

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

Lenny White On Miles Davis's Lessons

Show Notes Drummer Lenny White experienced the Miles Davis story firsthand. As a teenager, Miles selected him to record Bitches Brew — not because Davis had heard him pl

Eddie Henderson Carries Miles Davis Forward

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

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

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

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

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 In