Jazz

Foodie Musician Gathers Huge Ensemble, Releases Album

Alex Granados and Frank Stasio — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:53:07 +0000

Andy McGowan is making his mark on Durham with the restaurant Geer Street Garden, but by night, he and, sometimes, 15 of his closest friends form D-Town Brass and jam until the early hours. They’ve just released two albums, “UR” and “Golden Belt.”

North Carolina Central University Hosts Its 23rd Annual Jazz Festival

Nicole Campbell and Frank Stasio — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:55:12 +0000

North Carolina Central University became the first university in the state to offer a jazz degree in 1977. The university has since been a force on a state and national level in keeping the jazz scene alive.

The university is now throwing its 23rd annual Jazz Festival this week. Ira Wiggins, director of their jazz department, founded the festival in 1990 with hopes of creating a space for students to meet and learn from seasoned jazz musicians. This year the festival features jazz artists Carl Allen and Benny Golson. Benny Golson is a world-renowned saxophonist, composer, and producers. Ira Wiggins and Benny Golson join Host Frank Stasio to talk about the state of jazz education today, and give us a sneak peek of the festival.

How Gary Brunotte Is Bringing Jazz To Durham

Isaac-Davy Aronson and Frank Stasio — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:08:07 +0000

Organist Gary Brunotte has been playing music since he picked up an accordion at age 9. He went on to study and teach at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has been writing, arranging, performing and recording ever since.

Celebrating Coltrane

Frank Stasio and Shawn Wen — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:06:00 +0000

John Coltrane’s music blossomed during his time in Philadelphia and New York, but his roots are in High Point, NC where he played music at church and in the high school band.

The Art of Cool

Frank Stasio and Lindsay Foster Thomas — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:37:00 +0000

One year ago, a jazz advocacy program called the Art of Cool Project started having a monthly concert series at an art gallery in Durham. Today, that project has expanded to Raleigh and is living up to its mission of creating spaces for jazz artists to perform and supporting musicians financially.

Yolanda Rabun

Frank Stasio and Lindsay Foster Thomas — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:41:00 +0000

There was never any doubt that Yolanda Rabun was cut out for the spotlight. She attended a performing arts high school in Atlanta, GA where she honed her singing and acting skills. She continued to perform while attending law school where she soon learned that the courtroom is just another kind of theater.

Shine, Shine, Shine

Frank Stasio and Susan Davis — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:54:00 +0000

Jon Herington has played with Steely Dan for 11 years. His guitar stylings are masterful interpretations of the famous rock band's iconic songs. He appears with Steely Dan tonight in Durham, but first he joins host Frank Stasio in our studio to play some original compositions from his solo CD “Shine, Shine, Shine” and discuss how a guy who grew up on jazz keeps a legendary rock sound going.