Hip hop and classical music come together in the hybrid chamber music of W4RP Trio. The new record, featuring the spoken word artist DJ LiKWUiD, is called Sermon of the MatriarK and it is a celebration of powerful female characters in the African diaspora. But it’s also a celebration of the ways in which artists can move freely across genre lines – and possibly, upending even your most basic assumptions about what a band is. The W4RP Trio actually has four members, who play their new songs, along with the rapper and award-winning artivist LiKWUiD, in-studio.

Set list: 1. Up 2. Here's One 3. Gimme Dat, excerpt

Violinist, composer, and bandleader Jenny Scheinman is a familiar figure to jazz fans, having played for years with Bill Frisell, Allison Miller, and many others. But jazz is just one part of her music. In her own albums and in her work with musicians from Lou Reed to Lucinda Williams to Jason Moran, Scheinman incorporates a wide range of American music, including rock, folk, country, gospel, and even surf into a colorful, personal, and accessible style. Her latest album is called All Species Parade, and it brings Jenny Scheinman and her impressive band back to our studio. 

Set list: 1. House of Flowers 2. Ornette Goes Home 3. All Species Parade

All Species Parade by Jenny Scheinman

Sax player, MC, and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin grew up playing salsa and merengue in Washington Heights. She counts jazz greats Terri Lyne Carrington, Gary Bartz, and Clark Terry among her mentors; and her list of collaborators includes Missy Elliott, Stevie Wonder, Lil Wayne, Dianne Reeves, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Brandee Younger, and Jazzmeia Horn. Benjamin is primarily known as a jazz musician, although as you might imagine she takes a pretty wide-angled view of jazz. Her latest record, the Grammy-nominated Phoenix Reimagined, is a live reworking of her 2023 album Phoenix, which earned three Grammy nominations. Sax player Lakecia Benjamin and her band play some of her latest tunes, in-studio.

1. Trane 2. Let Go 3. Mercy

Phoenix Reimagined (Live) by Lakecia Benjamin

Trumpeter, bandleader and composer Igmar Thomas has served as music director for Lauryn Hill, the rapper Nas, and the sax player Kamasi Washington, among many others. But for many years he has also been the leader of the Revive Big Band, a group that demonstrates just how closely related jazz and hip hop are. That band has finally released its debut album, called Like A Tree It Grows, and its starry roster includes guests like rapper Talib Kweli, soul singer Bilal, and the late jazz legend Dr. Lonnie Smith. Rooted in Black American music and combining jazz, hip hop, funk, soul, blues, and gospel, this multi-generational ensemble plays in-studio.

1. The Coming 2. R & P 3. To Kinda Lounge Around

Like A Tree It Grows by Igmar Thomas’ Revive Big Band

Jarana Beat is a world music group based here in New York, whose cross cultural celebratory sound is inspired by Mexican folk and Afro-Indigenous music.  Using traditional instruments and dance percussion in addition to their voices, Jarana Beat gained wider attention by playing with the star Mexican singer Lila Downs, but they’ve also released a series of their own albums over the past decade or so, bringing elements of jazz and Latin pop to their deeply rooted sounds.  For this in-studio performance of their original songs, the members of the flexible ensemble in-studio are: Sinuhe Padilla- Leona / Voice; Ivan Contreras – Jarana / Voice; Felipe Fournier - Quijada de Burro & Pandero Jarocho, Voice; Lautaro Burgos - Bombo Legüero; Tania Mesa – Violin/ Voice; and Martin Rodriguez - tarima, dance percussion.

Set list: 1. Jarabe Neoyorquino 2. Dolor de Aqui 3. Echapalante

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

Hear favorite live performances from the WNYC studios this year including Georgia singer, musician, and record label founder Lizz Wright; the soulful mambo of Cuban big band Orquesta Akokán; and the roots music for everyone performer - American singer-songwriter Fantastic Negrito. Also, Brooklyn-based Zelenaya with their Eastern European folk songs set to heavy metal; and the multi-reed instrumentalist Shabaka (Hutchings), with his trio of harp and percussion, and his arsenal of wood flutes. 

Best of Soundcheck 2024, Part 1

Playlist:

ARTIST: Lizz Wright WORK: Sparrow [1:01] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, April 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.  INFO: https://www.lizzwright.net   

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

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: 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:  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/#/

Hear favorite live performances from the WNYC studios this year including Mexico City-based cellist, producer, and singer Mabe Fratti; Norwegian punk cabaret sextet Kaizers Orchestra; and an intimate piano and a microphone version of the title track, "Lemons, Limes, and Orchids", from the latest record of the same name by Joan As Police Woman. Plus, Sinkane, aka Ahmed Gallab, the bandleader and songwriter who weaves the sounds of Afrobeat, disco, funk, and soul into his music for community and for shaking it; and the Brazilian pianist and composer Amaro Freitas plays the insides and outsides of our 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 dør INFO:  https://kaizers.no/

ARTIST: Sinkane WORK: How Sweet Is Your Love [5:30] RECORDING:  Live on Soundcheck, January 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.  INFO:  https://www.sinkane.com/

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: 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: Amaro Freitas WORK: Danca do Martelos [9:48] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Oct. 2024 SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available. INFO: https://amarofreitas.com/

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/

New York-based drummer and educator Matt Wilson has performed with and/or played on many recordings by other musicians - Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Charlie Haden, Lee Konitz, among others - and leads ensembles of his own, but at this time of year, the thing he might be best known for is his Christmas Tree-O. And yes, he went there – putting a pun right in the band’s name. The trio, featuring multi-reed player Jeff Lederer and bassist Paul Sikivie, takes holiday tunes as a whimsical jumping off point for a variety of jazz styles, from swing to free improv. They have a new album called Tree Jazz – The Shape Of Christmas To Come, and they’re here to play their gleeful, irreverent, and sometimes nerdy takes on music of the season, in-studio.

Set list: 1. Up on the Rooftop 2. Good King Wenceslas 3. Shine Your Light

The band yMusic formed as a contemporary classical chamber music ensemble, but you’re more likely to have heard them playing with people like Paul Simon, Bruce Hornsby, Emily King, and John Legend. They’re also the sextet of choice for classical composers like Caroline Shaw and Missy Mazzoli. For 16 years they’ve been gleefully obscuring the line between classical and popular music, and their latest collaboration with choreographer Kyle Abraham, the new multimedia piece called “Dear Lord Make Me Beautiful” saw the group writing and performing their own music. They play some of these originals, in-studio. 

Set list: 1.Running 2. Mystique 3. Zebras