Songs & Stories

Episode Summary:
In this episode, host Steve Roby sits down with Ivan Neville of Dumpstaphunk for a deep dive into the band’s New Orleans roots, their message of unity, and the making of their latest music. Ivan shares stories about the band’s evolving lineup, the inspiration behind their single “Let’s Do It,” and the enduring power of collaboration. The conversation also covers their take on Buddy Miles’ “United Nations Stomp,” the importance of social messages in their music, and what fans can expect at their upcoming San Francisco show at Miner Auditorium.

Key Topics & Highlights:

• The current Dumpstaphunk touring lineup and each member’s contribution.
• The story and spirit behind the single “Let’s Do It,” including the late Nick Daniels II’s influence.
• The collaborative songwriting and performance process within the band.
• The significance of “United Nations Stomp” and its message of unity, featuring Marcus King.
• Balancing danceable grooves with meaningful, socially conscious lyrics.
• Teasers for the upcoming show at SF Jazz Center’s Miner Auditorium, including a special Bay Area tribute.
• How the band shapes their setlist to keep the New Orleans energy alive.

Songs Featured:

• “Let’s Do It” by Dumpstaphunk
• “United Nations Stomp” (Buddy Miles cover, featuring Marcus King)

Links & Resources:

• Dumpstaphunk Official Website: https://dumpstaphunk.com
• SF Jazz Center (Tickets & Info): https://www.sfjazz.org

Upcoming Show:
Dumpstaphunk performs Saturday, October 11th at 7:30 PM at Miner Auditorium, SF Jazz Center, San Francisco.
Get your tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org

Connect with the Show:
For more episodes and updates, follow Backstage Bay Area.

Episode Summary

On this Backstage Bay Area episode, host Steven Roby sits down with Afro‑Indigenous singer and composer Martha Redbone to talk about her Harlan County roots, Brooklyn upbringing, and the call‑and‑response spirit she brings to the stage. We cover the stories behind her blend of Appalachian folk, gospel‑soul, blues, and jazz; the community‑minded ethos she calls “congregational music”; and what San Francisco can expect when she and her sextet turn Miner Auditorium into a Sunday‑night revival.

What You’ll Hear

Martha shares how family traditions, elders’ stories, and a lifetime of listening shape her songwriting and live shows. She discusses collaborations with her husband and musical director Aaron Whitby, honors the often‑overlooked legacy of Black coal miners in Appalachia, and reflects on music as a tool for healing and togetherness. Expect singing, call‑and‑response, and a band built for groove and communion.

Guest

Guest: Martha Redbone is an award‑winning vocalist, songwriter, and composer of Cherokee/Choctaw and African American heritage. Her acclaimed projects include The Garden of Love: Songs of William Blake and original music (with Aaron Whitby) for the Broadway revival of  For colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf. She tours nationally, leads workshops, and advocates for the preservation of culture.

Links

Tickets — SFJAZZ: Martha Redbone at Miner Auditorium: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/martha-redbone/

Artist — Martha Redbone (official site): https://martharedbone.com/

Venue — SFJAZZ Center: https://www.sfjazz.org/

Podcast — Backstage Bay Area: https://backstagebayarea.com/

Call to Action

Enjoy the episode? Please follow/subscribe and share with a friend. If you’re in the Bay Area, grab tickets and join us at Miner Auditorium.

Hashtags

#MarthaRedbone #SFJAZZ #MinerAuditorium #BackstageBayArea #AmericanRoots #IndigenousPeoplesDay #LiveMusicSF #GospelSoul #Appalachia #Brooklyn

Summary

Trumpeter Anthony Hervey and pianist Sean Mason unpack the soul-and-blues core behind their duo chemistry—why a Monk program belongs in an intimate room, how Hervey’s “Du-Rag” reframes ragtime language for now, and why Mason’s “Open Your Heart” asks players and listeners to lead with emotion. We talk repertoire choices for the Joe Henderson Lab, the living-room vibe they aim for, and how spontaneity shapes their sets.

• Anthony Hervey — official site: anthonyherveymusic.com. ANTHONY HERVEY

• Album — Words From My Horn (includes “Du-Rag”): Outside In Music / Bandcamp. Outside in Music

• Sean Mason — official site: seanmasonofficial.com. The Sean Mason Store

• Album — The Southern Suite (Blue Engine Records): album page. Jazz at Lincoln Center+1

• Single — “Open Your Heart” (official studio video): YouTube. YouTube

• Anthony Hervey & Sean Mason — Joe Henderson Lab, SFJAZZ (Monk & Originals): tickets/info at SFJAZZ.org. sfjazz.org

• The duo’s “living-room” approach at the Joe Henderson Lab

• The roots of “Du-Rag”: ragtime strains, gospel color, and Hervey/Mason’s dialogue

• Why “Open Your Heart” pivots from ballad glow to spontaneous double-time

• Set-to-set variety, audience conversation, and letting the music choose the path

• Website & archives: BackstageBayArea.com. Backstage Bay Area

• YouTube channel (full episodes & clips): @BackstageBayArea. YouTube

Host/Producer: Steven Roby (Backstage Bay Area)
Music featured with permission of the artists and labels.

#BackstageBayArea #AnthonyHervey #SeanMason #SFJAZZ #JoeHendersonLab #TheloniousMonk #WordsFromMyHorn #TheSouthernSuite #JazzPodcast

Photo credit: EBAR

Episode summary

GRAMMY-nominated songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Becca Stevens joins us to explore the craft of writing and arranging for intimate settings, how open tunings and guitar shapes influence her harmony, and the emotional core behind Maple to Paper — a voice-and-guitar project that values vulnerability, presence, and truth. She also speaks openly about motherhood on the road and the real-world adjustments venues and presenters can make to better support touring parents.

What we cover

·      Early influences spanning folk, jazz, and chamber music—and how those genres converge in her songs.

·      Why open tunings invite fresh harmonic colors and lyric–melody interplay.

·      Arranging for duo/small ensemble: leaving space, shaping counter-melodies, and pacing dynamics.

·      Motherhood on tour: barriers artists face and practical changes the industry can implement now.

·      What listeners can expect from these intimate performances: storytelling, reimagined favorites, and new material.

Music in this episode

·      “Now Feels Bigger Than The Past”  from the album Maple to Paper (GroundUP Music, 2024)

·      “I’m Not Her” from the album Maple to Paper (GroundUP Music, 2024)

Links

• Artist website:

https://beccastevens.com

Show details (Bay Area)

• Event: Becca Stevens

• Where: Joe Henderson Lab at SFJAZZ Center

• When: October 14–15 (four shows, two nightly)

• Showtimes: 7:00 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.

• Tickets:

https://www.sfjazz.org/

Credits

Hosted and produced by Steve Roby for Backstage Bay Area.

Audio clips used with artist/label permission.

Tags/SEO

Becca Stevens, Maple to Paper, jazz folk, open tunings, Joe Henderson Lab, SFJAZZ, touring mothers, songwriter interview.

Episode Summary

Saxophonist, composer, and theater-maker Idris Ackamoor joins us to talk about Afrofuturism, ensemble storytelling, and why his performances are designed as communal happenings—part ritual, part dance-floor communion. We get into the craft behind his “artistic being” approach, the power of spoken word in jazz contexts, and how rhythm, memory, and movement drive his music.

Idris Ackamoor is a Chicago-born, Bay Area–based bandleader and co-founder of Cultural Odyssey and The Pyramids. A pioneering voice in Afrofuturist jazz, his work blends West African rhythmic foundations with improvisation, theater, and multimedia staging.

• How he defines an “artistic being” and turns daily practice into finished compositions

• The Pyramids as an ensemble for theater, dance, and groove—music that moves people (literally)

• Collaborating with spoken-word icons Danny Glover and Rhodessa Jones and writing for distinctive voices

• “The Grandma Cole Story”: turning family memory into melody, rhythm, and testimony

• Afrofuturism as compass: studies and travels that shaped his sound and stagecraft

• Protest music built for the body and the mind—clarity, groove, and human perspective (“Police Dem”)

• Set design like cinema: seamless transitions, projection, and audience participation

• Legacy and ownership: why preserving masters and publishing matters to the art

• “I call myself an artistic being… sometimes a melody appears on the piano, sometimes on the horn—I follow it until it grows.”

• “When you hear me play, I want you to know it’s me and no one else.”

• “This is about participation—breaking down the wall—so the audience becomes part of the experience.”

• “I get to the meat of it through the human perspective. The groove invites you in; the words ask you to stay awake.”

Host & Producer: Steve Roby — Backstage Bay Area
Guest: Idris Ackamoor
Editing/Mix: Steve Roby

• Artist: Idris Ackamoor / The Pyramids – official site, socials, and music streaming

• Cultural Odyssey – background on Ackamoor’s performing arts work

• Label: Strut Records – catalogue and archives

  Photo: Pat Mazzera

Episode summary
Violinist–vocalist Yilian Cañizares joins Backstage Bay Area to talk about the musical DNA that powers her work—classical discipline, Afro-Cuban tradition, and the open-ended spirit of jazz. She reflects on the new single “Ore,” the cross-Atlantic pulse of “Habana-Bahia,” and the next chapters: a fall EP and her full-length album Vitamina Y. Along the way, Yilian opens up about freedom, ritual, collaboration, and how she wants audiences to feel when the trio takes the stage.

Guest
Yilian Cañizares is a Havana-born, Switzerland-based artist known for fusing conservatory-level violin with Afro-diasporic rhythm and improvisation. A Montreux Jazz Festival awardee, she tours internationally with a trio featuring Childo Thomas (bass) and Inor Sotolongo (percussion).

Highlights (no timestamps)

• The meaning of “freedom” in her music: composing, improvising, and singing from an honest place.

• The backstory of “Ore”: a gift from childhood friend Yasser “El Gozo” that reconnects her to Cuban roots and the diaspora.

• Crafting “Habana-Bahia” in Salvador, Brazil: sisterhood, women’s empowerment, and the Cuba–Bahia link through Africa.

• Why the trio format (violin/voice, bass, percussion) is the perfect vehicle for spontaneity and audience connection.

• Vitamina Y: the “vitamin people” who nourish her life and the album’s goal to uplift listeners.

• The rollout plan: “Vamos Florescer!” and more singles leading to the full album release.

• What to expect live at SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab: intimate room, evolving setlists, and early previews of new material.

Music referenced in this episode (with permission)

• “Ore” (single)

• “Habana-Bahia” (title track from the 2023 project)

• “Vamos Florescer!” (from the forthcoming Vitamina Y rollout)

Quotes

• “Jazz, for me, is freedom—the freedom to express how I feel in the moment and to share my vision of the world.”

• “Every song has to come from a place of honesty, where people can know my heart a little better.”

• “We want to deliver something unique every time we play.”

Links

• Artist website: yiliancanizares.com

• Tickets: SFJAZZ.org → Joe Henderson Lab, Yilian Cañizares (Sept 25–26; 7:00 & 8:30 p.m.)

• Backstage Bay Area: BackstageBayArea.com

Credits
Host & producer: Steven Roby
Audio editing & post: Backstage Bay Area
Artwork/Photography: Frank Socha

Hashtags
#YilianCañizares #VitaminaY #BackstageBayArea #AfroCubanJazz #JazzViolin #SFJAZZ #JoeHendersonLab #HabanaBahia #Ore #BayAreaMusic

Call to action
If you enjoyed this conversation, follow Backstage Bay Area on your favorite podcast platform and leave a rating or short review—it helps more listeners discover the show.

Show Notes:
On this episode of the Backstage Bay Area Podcast, host Steve Roby sits down with the legendary Paquito D'Rivera—multi-Grammy-winning saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer—for a lively conversation that bridges continents, genres, and generations.

Paquito shares the inspiration behind his acclaimed album, Jazz Meets the Classics, revealing how his father’s classical roots and his own love for improvisation shaped a project that reimagines European and New World composers through a jazz lens. Hear how Chopin’s "Fantasia Impromptu" gets a Cuban and Brazilian twist, and why Bach might just be the original bebopper.

The episode features insights into the creative process, the art of improvisation, and the unique chemistry of Paquito’s quintet—featuring Diego Urcola (trumpet), Oscar Stagnaro (bass), Mark Walker (drums), and Alex Brown (piano). Paquito also previews his upcoming performances at the SFJAZZ Center’s Miner Auditorium, promising two nights of surprises, spontaneity, and musical magic.

Links & Resources:

• Tickets for Paquito D'Rivera at SFJAZZ: sfjazz.org
• Paquito D'Rivera’s official website: paquitodrivera.com
• More about the album: Jazz Meets the Classics

Don’t miss:

• The story behind "Fantasia Impromptu" and its journey from Chopin to Havana
• Why every live jazz show is a new adventure
• What makes performing in the Bay Area special for Paquito

Subscribe, share, and join us backstage for a masterclass in musical fusion!

Photo by: Geandy Pabon

Show Notes:

In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with acclaimed alto saxophonist Sarah Hanahan. Sarah shares her musical upbringing, the influence of jazz legends, and the story behind her debut album, "Among Giants." The conversation explores her approach to honoring jazz tradition, building stamina as a performer, and the creative process behind her original compositions.

You’ll also hear about Sarah’s upcoming performances at the Joe Henderson Lab at SFJAZZ, her dynamic quartet, and what audiences can expect from her live shows. The episode features tracks from "Among Giants," including “Resonance” and “Stardust,” and offers a behind-the-scenes look at Sarah’s passion for music and history.

Links Mentioned:

Tickets & info for Sarah Hanahan at SFJAZZ: https://www.sfjazz.org

Learn more about Sarah Hanahan and her music: https://www.sarahhan.com

Subscribe to Backstage Bay Area for more exclusive interviews and insights from the vibrant music scene!

Episode Summary:
Legendary guitarist and multimedia artist Andy Summers (The Police) joins Steve Roby on Backstage Bay Area to discuss his innovative one-man show, which focuses on live guitar, storytelling, and evocative photography. Andy shares insights into his creative process, the evolution of his performance, and the threads connecting his music, visual art, and writing.

Highlights:

• Andy’s multimedia show: A blend of live guitar, narration, and a curated sequence of his photography, creating an immersive, cinematic experience.
• The Evolution of the Show: How Technical Improvements and Growing Confidence Have Shaped His Stage Presence and Storytelling.
• Artistic connections: Andy’s thoughts on sensibility as the common thread between music, photography, and narrative.
• Behind the scenes: The technical setup and the intimate feel of performing in smaller theaters.
• Revisiting collaborations: Reflections on his work with Robert Fripp and the rediscovery of unreleased tracks.
• The Police legacy: Andy’s perspective on archival releases, box sets, and the enduring appeal of the band’s music.
• Creative process: Scoring his own images, the abstract relationship between music and photography, and the ongoing evolution of his work.
• New projects: Hints at a novel set in Japan and upcoming performances, including the San Francisco show at the Presidio Theater.

Event Info:
An Evening with Andy Summers
Saturday, September 27th, 7:30 PM
Presidio Theater, San Francisco
Tickets: presidiotheater.org
More info: andysummers.com

Thanks for listening to Backstage Bay Area!

Show Notes:

Welcome to Backstage Bay Area! In this episode, host Steve Roby sits down with Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer, and bandleader Arturo O’Farrill for a deep dive into the intersections of music, activism, and community.

About the Guest:
Arturo O’Farrill is a celebrated figure in the world of Afro-Latin jazz, founder of the nonprofit Lango, and a passionate advocate for social change through music. From his early days with the Carla Bley Band to his leadership of the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble, Arturo’s career is a testament to curiosity, integrity, and fearless creativity.

In This Episode:

• Arturo reflects on his evolving approach to the piano and ensemble leadership, emphasizing relaxation, honesty, and the importance of humor in jazz.
• The Influence of Carla Bley: Lessons in Following Your Muse, Writing with Integrity, and the Power of Laughter in Music.
• Behind the new album “Mundoagua”: honoring Carla Bley’s legacy while forging a distinct artistic voice and exploring the environmental and political themes woven into the music.
• The story and emotion behind “Blue Palestine” and how music can be a vehicle for social consciousness.
• Arturo’s upcoming opera, “Lucero,” is inspired by real-life events, tackling hate crimes, and blending avant-garde textures with South American folk traditions.
• The vision for Casa Belongó in East Harlem is to create a vibrant, inclusive space for music, art, and community belonging.
• The role of Afro-Latin traditions in contemporary jazz, and why the arts truly belong to the people.
• What to expect at Arturo’s upcoming show at the SF Jazz Center, and his philosophy on audience participation and the communal spirit of live performance.

Key Moments:

• The transformative power of relaxing at the piano
• Carla Bley’s lessons on curiosity, integrity, and humor
• The making of “Mundoagua” and its environmental message
• The opera “Lucero” and confronting social injustice through art
• Building Casa Belongó: a home for creativity and community
• The global roots and future of Afro-Latin jazz

Don’t Miss:

• Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble live at the SF Jazz Center’s Minor Auditorium, Sunday, September 28th at 7:00 PM. For tickets and info, visit sfjazz.org.
• Learn more about Arturo’s work at arturoofarrill.com.

Subscribe to Backstage Bay Area for more conversations with the artists shaping the music scene.