The Late Set

By Nate Chinen, Josh JacksonMusic Music Interviews

The Late Set episodes

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.
49 min
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.
9 min
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.
45 min
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.
43 min
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!
43 min
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.
47 min
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.
52 min
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
58 min
August 19, 2025 Listening at the Vanguard
"Live at the Village Vanguard" is one of the most familiar phrases in the jazz discography, a marker of place and a point of pride. But why? Together we’ve logged hundreds of hours in the club, so let's talk about it. Tumble down those stairs with us and listen up!
1 hr 2 min
August 05, 2025 Eyes on the Prize, with Joshua Redman
On his fine new Blue Note album, Words Fall Short, saxophonist Joshua Redman introduces a band full of up-and-comers, including Philly’s own Nazir Ebo. This young cohort reminded us of a conversation The Late Set had with Redman in the fall of 2023. We're sharing it again with you now.
33 min

About The Late Set

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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…