The Late Set

By Nate Chinen, Josh Jackson

Jazz is a conversation — and that’s what The Late Set is all about. Nate Chinen and Josh Jackson convene every two weeks for straight talk and in-depth interviews with featured guests. Just like a han... more

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FAQs about The Late Set:

How many episodes does The Late Set have?

The podcast currently has 67 episodes available.

The Late Set episodes:

November 25, 2025 Speak Up and Speak Out, with Johnathan Blake
Johnathan Blake makes music as an extension of life. It’s one reason his alert
and expressive drumming has lifted so many leading bands, from the Kenny Barron
Quartet to the Maria Schneider Orchestra to the Kris Davis Trio.
And it’s the animating principle behind his output as a solo artist, whether
he’s honoring his late father on Passage or speaking out about
injustice on My Life Matters, his latest release.
Johnathan, born and raised in Philly, recently stopped by WRTI for a
conversation with Josh Jackson about family legacy, musical priorities,
and an artist’s obligation in trying times.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
04:51 Interview
38:32 Recap
41:45 This I Dig
Want to support The Late Set? Become a WRTI member:
wrti.org/donate
Follow us on Instagram
Subscribe on YouTube
Write us an email: [email protected]
...more
50min
November 24, 2025 Radio Repost: Deep River with Gary Bartz
To coincide with this Sunday’s Late Set Radio Hour (airing Sunday at 8 p.m. ET) we’re reposting our interview with Gary Bartz. More on The Late Set Radio Hour here: wrti.org/the-late-set-radio-hour
Gary Bartz turned 85 this fall, and has shown no signs of slowing down. In fact, he released his first studio album in more than a decade: Damage Control, a riff on classic soul from Curtis Mayfield, Earth Wind & Fire and others, played by his band Ntu.
Our interview was taped in Brooklyn during the 2024 Winter Jazzfest featuring the original Late Set hosts Nate Chinen and Greg Bryant. The conversation spans Bartz’s apprenticeship years (with everyone from Max to Mingus to Miles), his journeyman period (notably at the helm of Ntu Troop), and his master eminence as a 2024 NEA Jazz Master. The man who gave us “Music is My Sanctuary” is still out along the front line with insights to share.
More to explore:
NEA: arts.gov/honors/jazz/gary-bartz
NPR: npr.org/2022/06/23/1106723714...
KQED: kqed.org/arts/13935159/8-over-80-gary-bartz
More on the 2026 Winter Jazz Fest: winterjazzfest.com
Want to support The Late Set? Become a WRTI member: wrti.org/donate
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wrtimusic
Subscribe to our YouTube: youtube.com/@WRTImusic
Write us an email: [email protected]
...more
31min
November 11, 2025 Expand and Adapt, with Mary Halvorson
About Ghosts is the latest album from Mary Halvorson's Amaryllis, and on our short list for Album of the Year. Before a recent show at Solar Myth, Halvorson sat down with Josh Jackson to talk about her approach to composing for the group, her inspirations, and her fondness for mixology.
...more
49min
November 07, 2025 [EXCLUSIVE] Mary Halvorson’s Amaryllis live at Solar Myth
On the cusp of our interview with Mary Halvorson (dropping this Tuesday), The Late Set is proud to share a bonus: a live recording from Solar Myth featuring Halvorson and her band Amaryllis. They played a collection of works – mostly from their most recent record About Ghosts. But she handpicked a new, as-yet-unreleased composition called “Florid Waning” to share with you as a WRTI exclusive. Enjoy! We’ll see you back here on Tuesday.

Musicians: Mary Halvorson, guitar; Adam O’Farrill, trumpet; Jacob Garchik, trombone; Patricia Brennan, vibraphone; Nick Dunston, bass; Tomas Fujiwara, drums.

Credits: Richard Rein, recording engineer; Robby Webb, mixing engineer; Mark Christman, Ars Nova Workshop; Melissa Cusick, Nonesuch Records.
...more
9min
October 28, 2025 Charm City, with Brandon Woody
Growing up in the Ramblewood area of northeast Baltimore, Brandon Woody could hardly have envisioned a future as one of the most heralded young trumpeter-bandleaders in jazz. But he dared to dream beyond what he could see — even after dropping out of college in New York. His 2025 Blue Note debut, For the Love of It All, introduces a powerfully emotive artist and a committed working band, Upendo, primed to represent their hometown. Woody sat down with The Late Set just after a set at the Exit Zero Jazz Festival, ready to open up and dig in.
...more
45min
October 24, 2025 Radio Repost: esperanza spalding on the magic of Milton Nascimento
We're reposting Nate Chinen’s illuminating conversation with esperanza spalding, which will be featured in the inaugural episode of The Late Set Radio Hour. Tune in on Oct. 26 — Milton Nascimento's 83rd birthday.
...more
43min
October 14, 2025 Bebop to Cubop, with the Curtis Brothers
Now both in their 40s, brothers Zaccai and Luques Curtis have amassed a wealth of experience, and the mentorship of elders ranging from Jackie McLean to Eddie Palmieri to Ralph Peterson, Jr..In this lively conversation at the Exit Zero Jazz Festival, the two open up about their upbringing in Hartford, Conn.; the hidden circuitries of so-called Latin Jazz; and the industrious spark that led to Zaccai’s Grammy Award-winning album Cubop Lives!
...more
43min
September 30, 2025 Turnkey, with Terence Blanchard
Terence Blanchard's career has brought him to many posts, including the executive artistic director of SFJAZZ and the first Black composer at The Metropolitan opera. To each of these and beyond, he's carried his perspectives on culture and how it operates. Just before his performance at the Exit Zero Jazz Fest, Blanchard sat down with The Late Set to discuss how culture flows, and what it means to lead from a place of service.
...more
47min
September 16, 2025 Cool Like Dat, with Kassa Overall
Kassa Overall's smart new album, CREAM, is a celebration of 1990s hip-hop and its classic source material within the framework of small-group acoustic jazz. He joined Nate and WRTI Evening Jazz host Nicole Sweeney to talk about it before a front-to-back performance at Solar Myth.
...more
52min
September 02, 2025 Newk's Time: Sonny Rollins at 95
Sonny Rollins is turning 95: a great excuse to toast one of our finest living jazz artists. So in this special episode of The Late Set, Josh Jackson and Nate Chinen are joined by a handful of WRTI’s on-air hosts
...more
58min

FAQs about The Late Set:

How many episodes does The Late Set have?

The podcast currently has 67 episodes available.

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