Best Vijay Iyer Podcasts (2024)

1
Vijay Iyer: Jazz Virtuoso and Classical Composer 37:54

7d ago37:54

37:54

An interview with renowned jazz pianist, composer, innovator, and MacArthur Fellow Vijay Iyer. In this podcast, Vijay Iyer discusses his debut orchestral album "Vijay Iyer: Trouble," his classical music roots, and his dynamic journey through various musical genres. From his early violin lessons to his groundbreaking work in jazz and contemporary cl…

1
August 20, 2024 Rhythms of Resilience: Bril Barrett on Tap, Tradition, and Resistance 30:23

4h ago30:23

30:23

A conversation with 2024 NEA Heritage Fellow Bril Barrett, a Chicago tap dancer and educator. Barrett discusses his early exposure to the arts through his grandmother’s encouragement, which led him to fall in love with tap dance at a young age. He recounts his journey from learning under Carlton Smith at a community center to meeting his mentor Ayr…

1
Healing Through Storytelling: Dr. David Fakunle on Arts, Culture, and Public Health 34:16

2h ago34:16

34:16

Today, we revisit my 2023 conversation with Dr. David Fakunle, a storyteller, scholar, and public health expert whose work embodies the healing potential of the arts. Dr. Fakunle’ s own story from a boy in Baltimore to a leader in public health and cultural advocacy is deeply rooted in his belief that storytelling and creativity are essential to in…

1
July 30, 2024 32:36

24d ago32:36

32:36

We’re marking Disability Pride Month by revisiting my 2022 interview with Dr. Joel Snyder, a pioneering force in the field of audio description. Dr. Snyder delves into the origins and evolution of audio description, a crucial service that makes visual media accessible to those who are blind or have low vision. He shares his journey from theater and…

1
Episode #36 - Norma Winstone & Kit Downes: Outpost of Dreams 23:14

19d ago23:14

23:14

In the 36th episode of the ECM podcast, the legendary singer Norma Winstone joins us to talk about her new duo album "Outpost of Dreams", recorded in duo with pianist Kit Downes.Norma talks about her incredible career, her history with ECM and the collaboration with Kit Downes.By ECM Records GmbH

1
"The Waters": A Conversation with Bonnie Jo Campbell 32:37

21d ago32:37

32:37

Bonnie Jo Campbell discusses her novel, "The Waters," its fictional setting in Southwest Michigan, and the focus on the intricate dynamics within a family of women living in a swamp: Hermine, the herbalist grandmother; her restless daughter, Rose Thorn; and Rosie’s mathematically gifted daughter, Dorothy. Campbell discusses how the landscape shapes…

1
Creating Conversations Through Art: The Vision of Charleston's Gaillard Center 31:00

28d ago31:00

31:00

A conversation with Lissa Frenkel, the CEO of the Gaillard Center in Charleston, South Carolina. Lissa shares the story of the Gaillard Center, a multidisciplinary cultural hub--whose renovation was completed in 2015 under the guidance of National Medal of Arts recipient Mayor Joe Riley-- that has since become a cornerstone of the Charleston arts c…

1
Joanie Madden: The Whistleblower of Irish Music 36:15

1M ago36:15

36:15

An in-depth interview with 2021 National Heritage Fellow Joanie Madden, the legendary Irish musician and leader of Cherish the Ladies. In this podcast, Joanie recounts her early life in the Bronx, New York, where she was born to Irish immigrant parents from County Galway and County Clare and shares how her father, an All-Ireland Champion accordion …

1
Revisiting Lin-Manuel Miranda and "Hamilton" 29:01

1M ago29:01

29:01

This July 4th, let's revisit Lin-Manuel Miranda and his revolutionary musical "Hamilton."By National Endowment for the Arts

1
Episode #35 - Oded Tzur: My Prophet 24:44

2M ago24:44

24:44

In the 35th episode of the ECM podcast we're joined by saxophonist Oded Tzur, whose third recording for the label features an altered version of his quartet, with Nitai Hershkovits on piano, Petros Klampanis on bass and new arrival Cyrano Almeida on drums. "My Prophet" was recorded at Studios La Buissonne, in Southern France, and produced by Manfre…

1
Embracing Queerness in Ballet: A Conversation with Adriana Pierce 30:59

2M ago30:59

30:59

A conversation with Adriana Pierce, a trailblazing dancer, choreographer, and director, who is reshaping the ballet world through her initiative, Queer the Ballet. Pierce discusses her early dance experiences and how her passion for dance led her to notable positions at the New York City Ballet and Miami City Ballet, where she spent seven years hon…

1
Celebrating African American History and Heritage with Pat Johnson 31:36

2M ago31:36

31:36

Community Activist, Organizer and 2024 National Heritage Fellow Pat Johnson, a pillar of the Pocahontas, Arkansas community, shares her work preserving local history and fostering community fellowship through the Eddie Mae Herron Center. She founded the Center in the very building where she once attended a segregated one-room school, transforming i…

1
June 11, 2024 36:13

2M ago36:13

36:13

Curator Tyler Blackwell Discusses the Innovative Initiatives that Make the Speed a Community HubBy National Endowment for the Arts

1
June 4, 2024 32:28

2M ago32:28

32:28

This week's podcast is a heartfelt remembrance of blues harmonica master and 2017 National Heritage Fellow Phil Wiggins, who passed away last month. Phil Wiggins was celebrated for his extraordinary skill and soulful music, deeply rooted in the Piedmont blues tradition. In this interview, he shared his journey from his early days in Washington, D.C…

1
May 28, 2024 32:40

3M ago32:40

32:40

Director of Education and Violin/Viola Teaching Artist at the Paterson Music Project (PMP) Shanna Lin gives us the program's history: it’s an El Sistema-inspired program established in 2013 with 32 second graders and now serves over 500 students from 25 schools in Paterson, N.J. PMP offers after-school programs four days a week and on Saturdays, in…

1
Lillian Faderman: The Emotional Truth of "My Mother's Wars" 29:13

3M ago29:13

29:13

We’re celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month by revisiting my interview with LGBT and ethnic scholar and author Lillian Faderman who discusses her book "My Mother's Wars." The book is a reconstructed narrative that explores the life of Faderman's mother, a Jewish immigrant in the United States, navigating the complexities of love, survival, and…

1
Theater Unmasked: Challenges and Possibilities 40:18

3M ago40:18

40:18

President of Actors' Equity Kate Shindle and the NEA Director of Theater & Musical Theater Greg Reiner discuss the current challenges, strategic innovations, and the evolving landscape of American theater. Kate provides an overview of the history and evolving mission of Actors' Equity in safeguarding actors and stage managers. While Greg discusses …

1
Staging Stories: Psalmayene 24 on Directing Across Time 32:38

3M ago32:38

32:38

Playwright and director Psalmayene 24 discusses his career trajectory from his unique approach to theater, his recent direction of the world premiere of Tempestuous Rising at Arena Stage and his upcoming projects, including his current direction of Metamorphosis at the Folger Theatre. We talk about his journey from dance to theater, first as an act…

1
Bridging Cultures: A Conversation with Diana Abu-Jaber 39:26

4M ago39:26

39:26

We’re closing out Arab-American Heritage Month with author Diana Abu-Jaber who discusses growing up with an Irish-American mother and a Jordanian father who never felt at home in the US, the lively tensions between cultures, and the centrality of this to her writing. We discuss her two memoirs, "The Language of Baklava" and "Life Without a Recipe."…

1
Episode #34 - Fred Hersch: Silent, Listening 24:08

4M ago24:08

24:08

In the 34th episode of the ECM podcast we're joined by pianist Fred Hersch, whose solo-debut for ECM Records, "Silent, Listening", was recorded in Lugano, in 2023 and produced by Manfred Eicher.In the conversation, Fred talks about the close collaboration with Manfred Eicher, the serendipity of life and how special this album is to him.…

1
Leslie Sainz: A New Voice in Contemporary Poetry 39:51

4M ago39:51

39:51

We’re celebrating National Poetry Month with 2021 NEA Literature Fellow, poet Leslie Sainz who discusses her debut poetry collection, "Have You Been Long Enough at Table." Sainz reads from her collection and talks about its major themes including the ambiguity, displacement, and impact of cultural heritage as a daughter of Cuban immigrants. She dis…

1
Suzan-Lori Parks Shows Up! 38:00

4M ago38:00

38:00

MacArthur Fellow and 2002 Pulitzer-Prize Winner in Drama for “Topdog/Underdog, ” Suzan-Lori Parks tells us about her current play ”Sally and Tom”* now having its NY premier at the Public Theater. It’s a play within a play about Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson and combines Parks’ love of American history and theater. We discuss the play's explora…

1
Bassist and 2017 NEA Jazz Master Dave Holland talks about his life in jazz 28:51

5M ago28:51

28:51

As we’re gearing up for the 2024 NEA Jazz Masters’ tribute concert, we are revisiting my conversation with 2017 NEA Jazz Master Bassist Dave Holland. From his roots in the English working class to becoming an admired figure in the jazz world, Holland shares his musical journey, marked by a deep passion for the bass, a transformative stint with Mile…

1
Episode #33 - Arve Henriksen & Harmen Fraanje: Touch of Time 33:40

5M ago33:40

33:40

In the 33rd episode of the ECM podcast we're joined by Arve Henriksen and Harmen Fraanje, whose duo debut "Touch of Time" presents the musicians in both freely improvised forms and carefully wrought themes, picking up and finishing each other's phrases. They talk about their approach to improvising, how "Touch of Time" presents exactly where they m…

1
Harmonies of Heritage: The Willard Jenkins Odyssey in Jazz Advocacy 52:24

5M ago52:24

52:24

We’re taking a deep dive with Willard Jenkins into his life in jazz. Willard discusses his early exposure to jazz in Pittsburgh and Cleveland, crediting his parents' record collection for his initial fascination with the genre, and the profound impact local jazz scenes and radio had on his musical journey. Willard recounts his transformative colleg…

1
A Special Edition of Art Works: Talking across disciplines with the Chair of the NEA and the Director of the Census Bureau 32:13

5M ago32:13

32:13

In this special edition of Art Works, Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson and U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Santos have a far-ranging discussion that explores the intersection of arts, culture, and statistical science. Moderated by the NEA’s Director of Research and Analysis Sunil Iyengar, the two agency head…

1
The Harmonic Convergence of Amina Claudine Myers 37:23

5M ago37:23

37:23

In this podcast, Amina Claudine Myers discusses her journey from the gospel choirs of Arkansas to becoming a 2024 NEA Jazz Master, highlighting her significant contributions to jazz, gospel, and blues. We discuss her early life in Blackwell, Arkansas, and Dallas, Texas, sharing stories of how family and church planted the seeds of her future in mus…

1
Building Bridges Through Children's Literature 31:22

5M ago31:22

31:22

Co-founder Kirsten Cappy introduces us to I'm Your Neighbor Books—which aims to build communities where immigrants are welcomed and feel a sense of belonging by sharing diverse immigration stories in children’s literature—and explains the collaborative roots of the organization among leaders from immigrant communities, authors, illustrators, educat…

1
It's complicated: a conversation with author and 2020 NEA Literature Fellow Danielle Evans 30:18

6M ago30:18

30:18

2020 NEA Literature Fellow Danielle Evans is author of two collections of stories Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self and The Office of Historical Corrections, published ten years apart and to great acclaim. Today, we’re revisiting my 2021 interview with Danielle. In this podcast, we explore her intricate narratives that weave through the theme…

1
Meet Tap Dancer and National Heritage Fellow Reginald "Reggio the Hoofer" McLaughlin 36:28

6M ago36:28

36:28

We’re revisiting my conversation with the 2021 National Heritage Fellow, Reginald “Reggio The Hoofer” McLaughlin, a master tap dancer whose feet tell stories of tradition, perseverance, and cultural heritage. In this podcast, Reggio discusses his childhood love for tap dancing sparked at community centers in Chicago, his transition from a successfu…

1
Meet Saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master Gary Bartz 59:00

6M ago59:00

59:00

In this tuneful podcast, 2024 NEA Jazz Master Saxophonist Gary Bartz talks about his life and career, touching on his roots, influences, collaborations, and the philosophical underpinnings that have guided his artistic journey. Born in Baltimore in 1940, Gary's musical journey began in a segregated America, where he found music to be a universal la…

1
Episode #32 - Vijay Iyer Trio: Compassion 23:59

6M ago23:59

23:59

In the 32nd episode of the ECM podcast we're once again joined by Vijay Iyer, whose new album "Compassion" is the pianist's second outing with his trio of Linda May Han Oh on bass and drummer Tyshawn Sorey and was co-produced with Manfred Eicher. Vijay talks about the state of the world, the bond created when making music in collaboration with othe…

1
Celebrate Black History Month: Isabel Wilkerson discusses the Great Migration and American Culure 30:45

6M ago30:45

30:45

In honor of Black History month, we’re revisiting this 2011 conversation with author and 2015 National Humanities Medalist Isabel Wilkerson In this tuneful podcast, Wilkerson discusses her acclaimed book "The Warmth of Other Suns," exploring the profound impact of the Great Migration on American culture. This migration saw six million African Ameri…

1
Director/writer Cord Jefferson talks about "American Fiction" 31:27

7M ago31:27

31:27

Screenwriter and Director Cord Jefferson discusses his critically acclaimed film, “American Fiction” which is a satirical exploration of popular culture’s often narrow and limiting representation of Black people. We catch up with director/writer Cord Jefferson whose film ”American Fiction” has been nominated for five academy awards (Best Picture, B…

1
Episode #31 - Matthieu Bordenave: The Blue Land 15:14

7M ago15:14

15:14

In the 31st episode of the ECM Podcast we're joined by the French Saxophonist Matthieu Bordenave, whose second leader-date for ECM, "The Blue Land" features a quartet with Florian Weber on piano, bassist Patrice Moret and new addition James Maddren on drums. The album was produced by Manfred Eicher.Matthieu talks about the inspirations behind the m…

1
“From Heritage to Health:” Bringing the diverse cultures of everyday life to medical care. 27:56

7M ago27:56

27:56

Steve Zeitlin, founder and executive director of City Lore, and Phyllis Zimmer, founder and president of the Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation, discuss their joint project "From Heritage to Health" (H2H). Funded partly by the National Endowment for the Arts, this initiative aims to integrate storytelling and the arts into healthcare, particu…

1
Meet American Routes creator and host Nick Spitzer 38:54

7M ago38:54

38:54

In this podcast, folklife presenter, educator, host and producer of “American Routes,, and 2023 National Heritage Fellow Nick Spitzer discusses his multifaceted career, his upbringing, and his understanding of cultural innovation in America. We talk about his life-long passion for radio and his discovery and embrace of American vernacular culture, …

1
Celebrating 1984 NEA Jazz Master Max Roach’s Centenary 35:30

7M ago35:30

35:30

In today’s podcast, filmmakers Sam Pollard and Ben Shapiro discuss their film “Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes.” In our conversation, they place Max Roach within the context of American culture, emphasizing his legendary status as a drummer, a composer, and a significant figure in Black consciousness and activism. Sam Pollard shares his 40 year jo…

1
Paula Abreu discusses her comprehensive approach to cultural curation at the McCarter Theatre Center 31:20

8M ago31:20

31:20

A conversation with Director of Presented Programming at the McCarter Theatre Center Paula Abreu halfway through her first season on the job! Abreu took over from her predecessor Bill Lockwood who ran the program for 60 (yes, 60) years. We discuss the balance between honoring his legacy and introducing her own vision, some history about the McCarte…

1
Exploring the New Horizons of the Folger Shakespeare Theatre with Karen Ann Daniels 30:19

8M ago30:19

30:19

Karen Ann Daniels explores her dual roles at the Folger Shakespeare Library as the Director of Programming and Artistic Director at the Folger Theatre, and her innovative approach to programming and audience engagement in the evolving landscape of theater post-pandemic. Daniels discusses her arrival at the Folger during a period of significant chan…

1
Episode #30 - Nils Økland & Sigbjørn Apeland: Glimmer 37:12

8M ago37:12

37:12

In the 30th episode of the ECM Podcast we're joined by Nils Økland & Sigbjørn Apeland, whose second duo recording with ECM, Glimmer, showcases their special musical chemistry in a trans-idiomatic context. On the album the violinist and harmonium player equally draw from traditional folks songs and contemporary music.Nils and Sigbjørn talk about the…

1
Brandon Victor Dixon--talks about performing in Alicia Keys's "Hells Kitchen" 29:50

8M ago29:50

29:50

A conversation with singer, actor, and producer Brandon Victor Dixon. We talk about his role in Alicia Keys’s play “Hell’s Kitchen” currently at the Public Theater, collaborating with Keys and the other performers in the play, what goes into creating a role in theater, his stepping into the role of Burr in “Hamilton” and the challenges that brought…

1
Filmmaker Irene Taylor Brodsky--Deafness in Three Movements 32:14

9M ago32:14

32:14

In this 2019 podcast, filmmaker Irene Taylor Brodsky discusses her project "Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements," and her commitment to making films accessible to differently-abled audiences. We talk about her first feature documentary, "Hear and Now," which won the Audience Award at Sundance in 2007 and explored her deaf parents’ experie…

1
Revisiting Director and Playwright Randy Reinholz(Choctaw)-- 29:50

9M ago29:50

29:50

We’re marking the end of Indigenous Peoples Month by revisiting my 2018 interview with Randy Reinholz (Choctaw), the producing artistic director and Founder of Native Voices at the Autry a Los Angeles theater company that produces new work by Indigenous playwrights. For almost 30 years, Native Voices at the Autry has been providing opportunities an…

1
Episode #29 - Nitai Hershkovits: Call on the old wise 20:36

9M ago20:36

20:36

In the 29th episode of the ECM Podcast we're joined by pianist Nitai Hershkovits, whose leader-debut for ECM Records is an impressive piano-solo album, recorded in Lugano and produced by Manfred Eicher.In our conversation, Nitai talks about his inspirations, the old wise ones in his life, the recording of this album and the magic of music.…

1
“Where there’s flavor, there’s history:” A Look at New Orleans food Culture with Zella Palmer 31:30

9M ago31:30

31:30

Dr. Zella Palmer is a professor, food historian, author and filmmaker and serves as the Chair and Director of the Dillard University Ray Charles Program in African American Material Culture in New Orleans, Louisiana. In this podcast, she discusses the Ray Charles program, the importance of material culture, especially to African Americans and other…

1
Author Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee) champions Native Voices 40:20

9M ago40:20

40:20

Today, we are celebrating Indigenous Peoples Month with an interview with author Cynthia Leitich Smith. A member of the Muscogee (Creek) nation, Smith is a bestselling, award-winning children’s-YA writer and the author-curator of the Native-centered Heartdrum imprint at HarperCollins Children’s Books. She also is the 2024 Southern Mississippi Medal…

1
Episode #28 - Sinikka Langeland: Wind And Sun 23:36

9M ago23:36

23:36

In the 29th episode of the ECM Podcast Sinikka Langeland joins us to talk about her new album "Wind And Sun", featuring a Norwegian cast of ECM-stalwarts including trumpeter Mathias Eick, saxophonist Trygve Seim, bassist Mats Eilertsen and Thomas Strønen on drums. Sinikka talks about nature, sounds and poetry.…

1
Marking Veterans Day: Revisiting Sebastian Junger 31:07

10M ago31:07

31:07

To mark Veteran’s Day, we’re revisiting our2017 interview with author Sebastian Junger a journalist deeply engaged with war and the people who fight in them. As a contributing editor for Vanity Fair, he’s covered international stories including the war in Afghanistan, a region and subject he’s returned to over the course of his career. In this podc…

1
Novelist Isabel Cañas delivers gothic horror with a twist 39:11

10M ago39:11

39:11

We're marking Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos with a conversation with Mexican American author Isabel Cañas. She employs gothic frameworks and tropes with historical detail in her novels—a combination as terrifying as it is informative. In this podcast, we discuss her books The Hacienda which is frightening haunted house mystery set in Mexico soon…

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Vijay Iyer Podcasts

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