All Of It with Alison Stewart

Vivian Maier was an unknown nanny until her photographs were discovered in a Chicago storage locker in 2007. Suddenly, she rocketed to posthumous fame, as critics and viewers were blown away by the way she captured ordinary workers, women, and marginalized groups. A new biography of Maier's life dives into her early years, her time in New York, France, and Chicago, and includes over 400 of her photographs, many published for the first time. Author Ann Marks joins us to discuss her acclaimed biography, Vivian Maier Developed.

Elvis Costello's new album, The Boy Named If, will appeal especially to fans of the singer-songwriter's Attractions-era rock and roll records. Costello also recently released a Spanish-language version of his 1978 album, This Year's Model. Costello joins us for a Listening Party, and to read some short stories from the book that accompanies the new album.

Clarinettist, vocalist and composer Angel Bat Dawid released a breakthrough album in 2019 and has since been an exciting jazz artist to watch. The Chicago Tribune recently named her "Chicagoan of the Year for Jazz." Starting Friday, she'll be the artist-in-residence at NYC Winter JazzFest. Originally scheduled for in-person events, the festival will now stream online through January 22. On Monday, January 17, Dawid will premiere her new work, "Afro-Town Topics: A Mythological Afrofuturist Revue." She joins us for a preview and to reflect on her career so far.

Condé Nast Traveler articles director Lale Arikoglu helps us explore options for a weekend road trip. We also take listener suggestions. 

[REBROADCAST FROM APRIL 2, 2019] Producers Alan Elliott and Terrell Whitley join us to discuss the documentary, “Amazing Grace,” which made its theatrical release on April 5, 2019. This never-before-seen documentary follows Aretha Franklin while she recorded her live double-record of the same name in 1972. Today, January 13th, is the 50th anniversary of the recording of the album, Amazing Grace, at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

We are joined by New York Times reporter Daniel Victor, whose recent article, “Wordle Is a Love Story,” explores the creator and story behind the newest word-game sensation.

New York Times digital puzzles editor Sam Ezersky joins us to talk about the "Spelling Bee." We also ask callers about their feelings about the bee. 

Actor and SNL star Cecily Strong is starring in a new performance of the acclaimed one-woman show by Jane Wagner, "The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe." Strong joins us to discuss her performance. "The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe" is running at The Shed through February 6.

Around 400,000 new sound recordings from 1922 and earlier are now in the public domain. But what can be done with them? The Library of Congress's Citizen DJ offers one option. It collects free sound recordings in a browsable database and allows anyone to create music with them. Brian Foo, the artist and computer scientist behind the project, joins us to discuss.

Thanks to legislation passed in 2018, around 400,000 sound recordings made before 1923 are now available in the public domain. These include songs from Ethel Waters, Sophia Tucker, Al Jolson, and Fanny Brice, as well as opera and orchestral recordings from the likes of Enrico Caruso and Sergei Rachmaninoff. WNYC's John Schaefer, host of New Sounds and Soundcheck, shares some highlights.