Arts and Culture

Arturo O’Farrill is the son of legendary Latin jazz composer Chico O’Farrill. Like his father, he writes adventurous, imaginative compositions that incorporate a rich variety of Latin rhythms, informed by the complex harmonies and structures of European concert music.

Williams talks about his early musical studies with his father. He shares some of the lessons he learned working with Shirley Horn and Betty Carter and what it was like joining Miles Davis’ historic mid-60’s quintet.

The Brass Queens are an all-female brass band that formed in Brooklyn three years ago. This weekend, they will be making their second appearance at the Exit Zero Jazz Festival in Cape May, NJ. This segment features a conversation with co-founders Ally Chapel and Alex Harris.

WESM's Music Director Peter Solomon speaks with Festival producer Michael Kline.

Leslie Segar, better known as "Big Lez", is a living legend and a pioneer in hip-hop, dance, radio, and television.

One day, rummaging through the bins of a record store in his hometown of Syracuse, NY, clarinetist Harry Skoler came across a Charles Mingus recording called Mingus Moves. Something about that music touched him deeply.

To mark Mingus’ centennial, we are broadcasting an interview with his widow, Sue Graham Mingus. For decades, she worked tirelessly to keep Mingus’ musical legacy alive, running the Mingus Big Band, the Mingus Orchestra and Mingus Legacy through a company called Jazz Workshop, Inc. She’s now 92 years old and her son, Robert Ungaro runs the organization. When we spoke in 2003, she had just published a memoir about her marriage to Charles Mingus called Tonight at Noon.

Pianist Deanna Witkowski has written a biography called Music for the Soul that sheds new light on William’s musical and spiritual journey. Her new album, Force of Nature, compliments the book with a program of Williams’ compositions and arrangements. In this segment, she speaks with WESM producer Peter Solomon about this musical giant.

Pianist Deanna Witkowski has written a biography called Music for the Soul that sheds new light on William’s musical and spiritual journey. Her new album, Force of Nature, compliments the book with a program of Williams’ compositions and arrangements. In this segment, she speaks with WESM producer Peter Solomon about this musical giant.

There's a good chance you've heard of Jack Daniel's Whiskey. But did you know that an enslaved man by the name of Nathan "Nearest" Green probably taught Daniel the skill of whiskey making? READ MORE...