Chicago based drummer, composer and producer Gustavo Costiñas is making his Art of today, today. His dynamic touch and facility behind the drum kit is matched by his skill as a composer. The music he writes and plays is committed to building empathy and understanding, and is a guiding force towards real social justice and change. He is currently playing is support of his most recent record release, entitled The Crisis Knows No Borders. He plans to record the follow-up, Kindness is Off-Brand later this year.

He will be appearing at the North Street Cabaret in Madison, Wisconsin on April 12th. Band mates are: Dave Miller - guitar, Jon Irabagon - sax, Mark Feldman - violin.

Dan Cavanagh is the relatively new Director of the Mead Witter School of Music at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where he is also Professor of Composition and Jazz Studies. He has won awards both Nationally and Internationally for his compositions. He has written music for Grammy award-winning Afro Bop Alliance, Patti LaBelle and a number of classical and jazz artists around the world. Dan has recorded several jazz records, including 5 as a leader. His most recent recording is with long-time collaborators James Miley and John Hollenbeck. He has settled in nicely to the cultural and arts scene in Madison, and will be performing solo as part of the Bluestem Jazz Piano Summit at North Street Cabaret.

Brooklyn-based guitarist, singer, composer, songwriter, Ava Mendoza speaks about her expressive, energetic, wide sonic ranged approach to the music she plays. Her impeccable technique, wizardry with the array of "stomp pedals" she deploys for her sound and the unique voice she has created on her instrument(s) explode into the visceral impact for which her playing is known to impart.

Oud player Wanees Zarour and guitar player Fareed Haque discuss the reformed Chicago Immigrant Orchestra, which represents a wide range of Chicago's immigrant community. The Orchestra feature musicians from the Far East, Western Europe, Africa and the Americas. The ensemble weaves all of the diverse musical traditions from the wide-spread homelands into warm, rich, ever-so-beautiful textures of newness and familiarity.

Leader of both large and small ensembles, improvisation, groove, feel, latin rhythms with percussion, electronics for layers, DJ-ing dance tracks of R&B, electronic, house, trance, composer, highly sought out side man, teacher, Bulls fan, beef sando aficionado... these are but a few of the things for which Quin Kirchner is known.
Quin talks about the fascinating process - the living, breathing process - of refining the score of Terrence Blanchard's opera, Champion; his favorite place to play and listen to live music, and about the band Mother Harp. 

From hardcore punk, to early-ish days of punk-funk, to the history-making realm of post-rock with Tortoise, Dan Bitney is no stranger to cool scenes, creative folks and improvisational music. Join this wide ranging conversation with this rather affable musician from Madison, Wisconsin.

Guitarist Ben Monder spends some time with us before finishing up the recording of his latest solo project, and re-embarking on the continuation of an extensive world tour with The Bad Plus.