The team behind the Soundcheck podcast series offers their favorite live performances from the WNYC studios this year: including Mexico City-based cellist, producer, and singer Mabe Fratti and her trio; Brazilian composer Amaro Freitas playing the piano's insides; and the soulful mambo of Cuba big band Orquesta Akokán. Plus, Norwegian punk cabaret sextet Kaizers Orchestra, Georgia singer and musician Lizz Wright, and Brooklyn-based Zelenaya with their Eastern European folk songs set to heavy metal (cough...nepotism on that last band...cough.)

Also, fiery roots music for everyone by American singer-songwriter Fantastic Negrito, multi-instrumentalist Shabaka's flute-based meditative spiritual jazz, and the saucy multi-instrumentalist Joan Wasser of Joan As Police Woman at the piano.

Playlist:

ARTIST: Kaizers Orchestra WORK: Bøn Fra Helvete [1:01] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Oct. 2024 SOURCE:  This performance not commercially available. The song appears on the album, Ompa til du dørINFO:  https://kaizers.no

ARTIST: Orquesta Akokán WORK: Con Licensia [5:12] RECORDING:  Live on Soundcheck, July 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.  INFO:  https://www.orquestaakokan.com/

ARTIST: Fantastic Negrito WORK: Son of a Broken Man [5:02] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Oct. 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. INFO: https://www.fantasticnegrito.com/

ARTIST: Lizz Wright WORK: Sparrow [6:31] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, April 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.  INFO: https://www.lizzwright.net   

ARTIST: Joan as Police Woman WORK:  Lemons, Limes, and Orchids [5:55] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Sept. 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.  INFO: https://www.joanaspolicewoman.com/  

ARTIST:  Shabaka WORK: I’ll Do Whatever You Want [4:46] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, May 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.  INFO: https://www.shabakahutchings.com/#/

ARTIST: Mabe Fratti WORK: Kravitz  [2:54] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Sept. 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.  INFO:  https://tinangelrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sentir-que-no-sabes

ARTIST: Kaizers Orchestra WORK: Bøn Fra Helvete [1:01] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Oct. 2024 SOURCE:  This performance not commercially available. The song appears on the album, Ompa til du dør  INFO:  https://kaizers.no/

ARTIST: Zelenaya WORK: Okro Mch’edelo [4:58] RECORDING:  Live on Soundcheck, June 2024 SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available INFO: https://zelenaya.bandcamp.com/album/folk-songs

ARTIST: Amaro Freitas WORK: Danca do Martelos [1:48] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Oct. 2024 SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available. INFO:https://amarofreitas.com