Our Common Life: Folk Song from the Front Porch to the Concert Hall (U Illinois Press, 2026) by Stephen Wade is part memoir, part meditation on American culture, and part historical narrative of folk music. Wade centers this book around individual musicians and songs that provide a specificity to his discussion that is different from a typical historical sur ... Show More
Oct 1
Cool Heat: Anita O'Day and Her Dangerous Jazz Life with James Gavin (Equinox, 2026)
How did Anita O'Day-the legendary jazz singer who, along with Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, and Stan Getz, led the so-called "cool school" of modern jazz-define cool?"That means doing everything that you like to do and getting away with it, you dig?"Her traits included ... Show More
57m 14s
Sep 20
Joe Jackson, "Kahlil Joseph and the Audiovisual Atlantic: Music, Modernity, Transmedia Art" (Bloomsbury, 2024)
Kahlil Joseph has collaborated with musicians FKA twigs, Flying Lotus, Sampha and Shabazz Palaces among many others. He has directed numerous films, music videos and advertisements across Africa, America and Europe. The award-winning filmmaker's disruptive style – which frequentl ... Show More
1h 11m
Sep 11
Christopher Freeburg, "Soul: A Brief History of Black Cultural Life" (Yale UP, 2026)
Today’s guest, Christopher Freeburg, is the author of Soul: A Brief History of Black Cultural Life (Yale University Press, 2026). This book explores the US history of black cultural life as a history of soul – a spiritual lived practice rooted in communally fostered music, religi ... Show More
49m 19s
May 2018
Questlove's Secrets of Musical Creation
The Roots' Questlove, author of the new book Creative Quest, breaks down a dazzling list of musical influences, from Michael Jackson to Meg White, in a wide-ranging interview with host Brian Hiatt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
40m 25s
Nov 2022
Two books examine how we listen to music and why it resonates with us
The two books in today's episode explore how we construct meaning from the music we listen to. First, record producer Susan Rogers talks to WBUR's Robin Young about her book, This Is What It Sounds Like, which breaks down the science behind what draws different types of listeners ... Show More
20m 24s
Aug 2022
The Robust Return of Beyoncé
A deep dive on “Renaissance,” her relationship to queer music communities and her framing of authorship. Guests: Joe Coscarelli, Wesley Morris, Jon Pareles and Salamishah Tillet. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via ... Show More
56m 28s