Milestones: Celebrating the Culture | Deep Dive Conversations with Angélika Beener

On the next special edition episode of Milestones: Celebrating the Culture podcast, host Angélika Beener commemorates 100 years of Miles Davis with two masters of their craft whose work helped carry Davis’s legacy across generations — award-winning trumpeter and composer and the sound behind the Miles Davis biopic, Miles Ahead Keyon Harrold, and legendary hip-hop producer Easy Mo Bee, the architect behind Davis's final album.

On the latest episode of Milestones: Celebrating the Culture, acclaimed trumpeter Jeremy Pelt joins host Angélika Beener for a conversation that bridges generations of jazz artistry. Pelt convenes a multi-generational ensemble of jazz voices, honoring a defining tradition of the music: the artist as a witness to, and shaper of the times. With his latest album, With Our Community Will Not Be Erased, Pelt offers a deeply felt statement grounded in love, resilience, and collective spirit, reminding us that jazz remains as much about community as it is about individual expression.
The conversation also marks the 60th anniversary of Speak No Evil, the 1966 masterpiece by Wayne Shorter that stands as one of the defining works of post-bop music. Featuring an extraordinary quintet of Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Ron Carter, and Elvin Jones, the album blends haunting lyricism with daring harmonic exploration. Separated by six decades, these two recordings are explored in equal measure as we continue to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Jazz Appreciation Month. 

On this episode of Milestones: Celebrating the Culture, host Angélika Beener sits down with pianist, composer, and producer Nat Adderley Jr.

For four decades, Adderley served as musical director and arranger for Luther Vandross, helping shape one of the most enduring catalogs in contemporary R&B. His musicianship can be heard across generations of recordings, reflecting a career that spans more than 50 years.

Last fall, he released his debut album as a leader, Took So Long, a critically acclaimed project that continues to sit among the top albums on the jazz charts. After decades of contributing to landmark recordings for others, the album marks a defining moment in his own artistic journey.

In this conversation, Adderley discusses his career, creative process, musical influences, and what it means to step into the spotlight at this stage of his journey.

Jazz, in particular, has played a central role in this lineage. From John Coltrane’s “Alabama,” to Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln’s We Insist! Freedom Now Suite, from Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddamn” to Charles Mingus’ “Fables of Faubus,” jazz has always spoken truth to power. That tradition continues today, ascontemporary jazz musicians compose artistic eulogies for Oscar Grant III, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, and George Floyd; celebrate the nation’s first Black president; and reaffirm that “Black Is Beautiful,” more than 60 years after the phrase became a unifying call within the Black PowerMovement. Jazz also chronicled the life and journey of Dr. King in real time, beginning with his emergence as a young preacher and activist in the early 1950s, and has continued to honor his legacy in the decades since his life was cut short. On thisspecial episode of Milestones, we explore the role jazz played inadvancing King’s philosophy and celebrating his extraordinary impact as one of the most consequential leaders in American history with NEA Jazz Master and four-time GRAMMY-winning artist and educator Terri Lyne Carrington, GRAMMY-winning bassist and vocalist Ben Williams, and GRAMMY-nominated pianist and curator Orrin Evans. Together, with host Angélika Beener, they reflect on pieces like Herbie Hancock’s 1969 “I Have a Dream,” and more, examining their cultural impact and role in the musical evolution of jazz. Hip-hop historians T.L. Cross and WBGO’s own Stevan Smith also join the conversation,shedding new light on “King Holiday,” the 1986 hip-hop and R&B anthem that united an ensemble of rising stars—from New Edition and Run-DMC to Whitney Houston and Stephanie Mills. With the late Dexter Scott King at the helm, Kurtis Blow was tasked with assembling a collective to create an anthem for thenext generation – one that would honor Dr. King’s legacy and serve as the soundtrack for the inaugural MLK holiday celebration, 40 years ago. The iconic scholar, author, global thought leader and visionary Dr. Angela Davis joins as a very special guest, offering remarkable insights on this milestone anniversary.  

By the 1970s, the legendary pianist-composer Ahmad Jamal had embarked on an exciting new phase in his illustrious seven-decade career. This period included the release of Jamal Plays Jamal, a bold project with intricate orchestration and most notably, all original compositions. On the 50th anniversary of this under-explored yet thoroughly magical album, we're joined by the exceptional pianist, composer, and Harvard professor, Vijay Iyer. We explore the album’s spiritual depth, its brilliant textures, and its impact on the canon of hip hop thru legends like J Dilla, De La Soul and Jay-Z. We also reflect on the pivotal role of the artist during times of uncertainty and possibility.

In the world of music, few names resonate quite like that of Steely Dan. Their third album, Pretzel Logic, released in the winter of 1974, is often cited by critics as one of their finest works, marking a significant evolution in their musical journey. On this episode of Milestones, in celebration of its 50th anniversary, we delve into this landmark album with star guitarist Isaiah Sharkey, one of the most gifted modern guitarists of our time, whose admiration for Steely Dan runs deep.

For this in depth conversation with Milestones: Celebrating the Culture, celebrated trumpeter Jeremy Pelt returns to discuss the monumental legacy of Lee Morgan and his groundbreaking 1964 album The Sidewinder. Pelt shares his personal journey with Morgan's music, insights on the unique sounds of some of our favorite legends, and the elements that made The Sidewinder a crossover hit. The discussion also explores Morgan's role in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, the challenges and triumphs of creating iconic jazz records, and the significance of developing a working band. We discuss Morgan's broader discography, influential sideman work, and how The Sidewinder shaped jazz and popular music culture. The conversation touches on the enduring recognition of Morgan's music, including the recent inclusion of The Sidewinder in the National Recording Registry.

The family of iconic drummer Max Roach discusses his legacy, contributions to music and culture, and the initiative to co-name a street in Brooklyn in his honor. Roach's five children generously share precious memories, their vision for preserving his legacy, and the importance of respecting and understanding the craftsmanship and excellence their father brought to his art. They also emphasize the need for future generations to learn and build upon his contributions.

Pianist, composer, educator and advocate Bertha Hope-Booker, joins us to discuss her fascinating musical

Legendary pianist, composer, arranger, and contemporary jazz giant Bob James joins Milestones as we delve into his experimental CTI debut, One, for its 50th anniversary. A groundbreaking amalgamation of jazz, funk, classical and