PODCAST · music
Songs & Stories
by Big Island Music Magazine
Host Steve Roby speaks with Hawai’i island’s top musicians about the stories behind their favorite songs and creative writing process. Songs and Stories is produced by Big Island Music Magazine with new episodes available every Thursday.
Episodes
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Take 6 Still Spreads the Love After Four Decades
Show Notes: Host Steve Roby sits down with Claude McKnight, founding member of the legendary a cappella group Take 6, ahead of their four-night residency at SFJAZZ. With 10 Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards, and a spot in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Take 6 has spent more than four decades…
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Steven Bernstein’s Gumbo Homecoming
Steven Bernstein, the Berkeley-born trumpeter, composer, and bandleader, joins host Steve Roby for a wide-ranging conversation about five decades of musical exploration, his upcoming SFJAZZ residency, and two new companion albums that reimagine the same music through entirely different sonic...
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John Beasley From Invisible Piano to Unlimited Miles
Pianist, composer, and arranger John Beasley joins host Steve Roby for an in-depth discussion about his extraordinary career, his new album Invisible Piano, and an upcoming all-star Miles Davis centennial tribute concert in San Francisco. Beasley explores his musical roots — from a household full...
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Resilience, Roots, and the Road Ahead: A Conversation with David Weiss
Jazz trumpeter and composer David Weiss joins host Steve Roby for a wide-ranging conversation about a life built on music. From his early days in Queens, where he absorbed hard rock, fusion, and European avant-garde sounds, to leading some of contemporary jazz's most distinctive ensembles, Weiss...
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Sweden's Queen of Swing Comes to SF Jazz
Show Notes: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with Swedish jazz sensation and multi-instrumentalist Gunhild Carling — a trombonist, trumpeter, flautist, harpist, bagpipe player, tap dancer, and bandleader. Known as "Sweden's Queen of Swing," Gunhild brings an...
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Marcus Shelby Celebrates Miles Davis
Episode Summary Host Steve Roby sits down with Bay Area bassist, composer, and bandleader Marcus Shelby to discuss his upcoming SF Jazz performance, a tribute to Miles Davis's landmark 1949–50 sessions, later released as Birth of the Cool. Marcus reflects on his journey with the music, the genius...
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Daniel Ho’s Many Roads to SFJAZZ
Podcast Show Notes: On this episode of Backstage Bay Area, Steve Roby speaks with Daniel Ho, a six-time Grammy-winning musician, composer, producer, and slack key guitarist, ahead of his upcoming appearance at SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab. In the conversation, Ho reflects on his musical roots in...
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Aaron Diehl Finds the Space Between
Show Notes Pianist Aaron Diehl joins Backstage Bay Area to discuss the early musical influences that shaped his voice, his deep connection to Mary Lou Williams, and his work bringing her Zodiac Suite back into focus. He also reflects on trio interplay, the role of patience in improvisation, and...
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Lynne Arriale Brings Her Trio to Oakland
Show Notes: On this episode of Backstage Bay Area, Steve Roby speaks with pianist and composer Lynne Arriale about her latest album, Being Human, and the ideas behind music shaped by hope, resilience, and shared human feeling. Arriale reflects on her early musical path, from playing songs by ear…
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Instant Alter Brings Future Fusion to SFJAZZ
Show Notes: On this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby speaks with vocalist, composer, poet, and multidisciplinary artist Natasha Agrama of Instant Alter ahead of the band’s Sunday, April 19, appearance at SFJAZZ’s Joe Henderson Lab. Agrama discusses the origins of Instant Alter, the...
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Ben Wendel on Improvisation and Yoshi’s
Show Notes In this episode, host Steve Roby sits down with saxophonist, composer, and producer Ben Wendell — one of modern jazz's most distinctive voices. Born in Vancouver, raised in Los Angeles, and now based in Brooklyn, Ben has built a wide-ranging career as a bandleader, collaborator, and...
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T.K. Blue Brings Randy Weston's African Rhythms to SFJAZZ
Show Notes Saxophonist, composer, and educator TK Blue joins host Steve Roby to celebrate one of jazz's great live traditions — the music and legacy of NEA Jazz Master Dr. Randy Weston, recorded on what would have been Weston's 100th birthday: April 6th, 2025. TK Blue was Weston's longtime…
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August Lee Stevens at the Lab
Show Notes: On this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby talks with Bay Area singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist August Lee Stevens ahead of her Joe Henderson Lab run at SFJAZZ. The conversation traces her musical roots, the blend of folk, soul, and jazz in her work, and the...
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Vince Wilburn Jr. on Miles Davis, SFJAZZ, and the Miles Electric Band
Podcast Show Notes Episode Title: Vince Wilburn Jr. on Miles Davis, SFJAZZ, and the Miles Electric Band In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, Steve Roby speaks with drummer, producer, and Miles Davis estate co-manager Vince Wilburn Jr. about the final night of SFJAZZ’s Miles Davis centennial...
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Monty Alexander Hears One Word: Music
Show Notes: On this episode of Backstage Bay Area, Steve Roby talks with pianist Monty Alexander ahead of his upcoming SFJAZZ performance. In the conversation, Alexander reflects on his musical roots in Kingston, Jamaica, where he grew up hearing popular songs, blues, semi-classical music, radio...
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Lakecia Benjamin Keeps the Flame Burnin’
Show Notes: On this episode of Backstage Bay Area, Steve Roby talks with acclaimed alto saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin about her upcoming album We Dream and the energy behind her new single “Flamekeeper.” Lakecia discusses the meaning behind We Dream, why she wanted the...
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Lenny White On Miles Davis's Lessons
Show Notes Drummer Lenny White experienced the Miles Davis story firsthand. As a teenager, Miles selected him to record Bitches Brew — not because Davis had heard him play, but based solely on word of mouth. That decision reveals a lot about how Miles worked. In this conversation, Lenny explains...
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Eddie Henderson Carries Miles Davis Forward
In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby interviews Dr. Eddie Henderson — a trumpet master, bandleader, and one of the few remaining links to Miles Davis's world. Born in San Francisco, Henderson's musical career started at 17 when Miles Davis stayed at his parents' house (his...
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Javon Jackson: From Dylan’s Poetry to Miles’ Precision
Show Notes: Host Steve Roby sits down with celebrated saxophonist Javon Jackson to explore two landmark projects: his new album Jackson Plays Dylan — a jazz reimagining of Bob Dylan's songbook — and his upcoming live tribute to Miles Davis's Kind of Blue at SF Jazz. Episode Highlights…
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Flying High, Still Soaring: A Celebration of Jazz's Leading Ladies
In this special episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with Suzanne Wadowski, founder and executive director of Jazz at the Ballroom and the Songbook Ink label, and Champian Fulton, pianist, vocalist, and musical director, to discuss their upcoming concert and new album...
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From Sideman to Spotlight: Roger Glenn's 50-Year Journey to "My Latin Heart"
After five decades as jazz's best-kept secret, multi-instrumentalist Roger Glenn steps into the spotlight with his first solo album in 50 years. In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with the son of jazz royalty to discuss Latin jazz, life lessons from legends, and why...
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Jack West on Innovation, Invention, and the “Acoustic Spank"
Guest: Jack West In this episode, host Steve Roby welcomes guitarist, composer, and inventor Jack West, whose unique sound NPR once described as "a whole new sub-genre of jazz." After more than two decades away from the recording studio, Jack returns with two major projects: the stunning new…
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Lisa Mezzacappa and the Art of "Tight Looseness"
Show Notes: Bassist and composer Lisa Mezzacappa joins host Steve Roby to discuss her latest project, the flexible ensemble Lisa Mezzacappa Five-ish, and their new album Otherworldly. For over two decades, Lisa has been a cornerstone of the Bay Area's experimental jazz scene, crafting adventurous...
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Sarah McKenzie: A Love Letter to San Francisco
The "breezy technical style" and "lyrical sense of swing" that have made Sarah McKenzie a global jazz fixture are returning to Northern California this March. Although her upcoming tour dates stay just outside the San Francisco city limits, the "Paris of the West" remains the emotional anchor of...
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Omar Sosa: "SFJAZZ is the Best Place on the Planet to Play Jazz"
The visionary pianist and SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director returns for a multi-night residency that fuses Afro-Cuban roots with global sounds, which he calls the ultimate "Temple of Jazz." Show Highlights: A Week of Musical Evolution Sosa’s residency at SFJAZZ offers an insight into his diverse...
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Oscar Peñas: From Barcelona to Brooklyn – A Journey Through Jazz, Tradition, and Spontaneity
Episode Description: Guitarist, composer, and bandleader Oscar Peñas joins host Steve Roby to discuss his musical journey from classical guitar in Barcelona to the vibrant jazz scene of Brooklyn. Originally from Spain and based in New York since 2007, Peñas brings a unique voice to contemporary...
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Tyreek McDole: Jazz's Rising Voice on "Open Up Your Senses" and SFJAZZ Shows
SHOW NOTES: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with Haitian American jazz vocalist Tyreek McDole to discuss his meteoric rise in the jazz world, his chart-topping debut album, and his philosophy that music is a tool for healing and collective dreaming. In This…
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Cleo Reed on Ancestry, Hustlin', and Reimagining Black Folk Tradition
Brooklyn-based songwriter, sculptor, and instrument builder Cleo Reed joins host Steve Roby to discuss their ambitious double album Cuntry, a project that blurs the lines between American folk traditions and dystopian electronic soundscapes. Named one of Pitchfork's 21 breakout artists to watch,...
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Delfeayo Marsalis on Street Rhythms and the Spirit of Mardi Gras
In this episode, host Steve Roby sits down with acclaimed trombonist, producer, and educator Delfeayo Marsalis. A 2011 NEA Jazz Master and a member of New Orleans' legendary musical first family, Marsalis has earned a reputation as a "merchant of joy" and as a vital ambassador for the Crescent...
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Inside Trio Grande's Genre-Defying Sound
What happens when you combine a London-born saxophonist, an Israeli guitarist, and a drummer who also plays bass? You get Trio Grande—a modern jazz supergroup rewriting the rules of the trio format. In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with Will Vinson to explore the...
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Greg Rahn: From Silicon Valley to Side Hustle
Bay Area keyboardist, composer, and bandleader Greg Rahn joins host Steve Roby to discuss his fascinating musical journey and his new album Side Hustle—a deeply personal project that brings together jazz, blues, fusion, New Orleans piano traditions, Cuban rhythms, and rock. Episode Highlights…
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Greg Osby on Minimalism, Mentorship, and the Evolution of Modern Jazz
Episode Highlights: From St. Louis to the World Stage: Greg Osby shares how growing up surrounded by live music in St. Louis bars and his mother's record distribution job shaped his non-biased appreciation for all genres of music The "Mad Clown Music" Revelation: A candid conversation with his...
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Simon Phillips on Protocol, Precision, and the Power of the Hang
Show Notes Legendary drummer Simon Phillips joins host Steve Roby to discuss five decades of rhythmic mastery, from teenage session work in 1970s London to leading the modern jazz fusion powerhouse Protocol. In This Episode: The Early Days – Simon recalls stepping into BBC studios at 16 with long...
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Michael League's Musical Universe Unleashed
Five-time Grammy winner Michael League sits down with Steve Roby to discuss his groundbreaking residency at SF Jazz Center—a five-night exploration that shatters the "one-band" label and reveals the full spectrum of his creative life. Best known as the founder of Snarky Puppy, League has spent…
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From Hendrix to Henderson: Marcus Machado's Black Psychedelic Funk Journey
Guest: Marcus Machado Episode Description Guitarist Marcus Machado joins host Steve Roby to discuss his journey from childhood prodigy to genre-blurring artist. Dubbed "the next young gun" by Rolling Stone, Machado has toured and recorded with Anderson Paak, Robert Glasper, and Jon Batiste, while...
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Braxton Cook's Collaborative Evolution
Episode Description: Alto saxophonist, vocalist, and composer Braxton Cook joins host Steve Roby for an intimate conversation about his latest album Not Everyone Can Go—a deeply personal record that captures the intersection of touring life, fatherhood, and artistic evolution. In this episode,...
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Ten Strings, Infinite Possibilities: Hamilton de Holanda's Choro Revolution
In this episode, host Steve Roby sits down with Grammy-winning Brazilian mandolin virtuoso Hamilton de Holanda to discuss his innovative approach to the 10-string bandolim, the deep connections between choro and jazz, and his upcoming SFJAZZ performance. Episode Highlights: Hamilton shares his...
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Chico Pinheiro & Vinicius Cantuária: Brazilian Guitar Dialogues
Brazilian guitarist and composer Chico Pinheiro joins Backstage Bay Area to talk about his musical journey, his duo collaboration with Vinicius Cantuária, and the stories behind his compositions “City of Dreams” and “Estrada Real” ahead of their upcoming SFJAZZ performances. A DownBeat Rising…
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Taylor Eigsti Comes Home, Carrying the Fire Forward
Episode Summary: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, we sit down with two-time Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Taylor Eigsti. A Menlo Park native who released his debut album at age 14, Eigsti has evolved from a local prodigy into one of the most versatile and celebrated voices in...
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Echoes & Inspirations: Melissa Aldana’s Jazz Journey
Show Notes: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with Grammy-nominated saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana. As the first female instrumentalist and first South American to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, Melissa shares her…
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Sasha Berliner at SFJAZZ: A Homecoming That Charts the Future of the Vibraphone
Episode: Sasha Berliner at SFJAZZ — Recontextualizing the Vibraphone In this episode, we welcome San Francisco native Sasha Berliner, a vibraphonist, composer, and producer whose work serves as a spectral map of contemporary music. Berliner has emerged as a primary voice in the New York scene by...
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Adam Shulman: A Charlie Brown Christmas & Beyond
Episode Summary In this festive episode, Steve Roby chats with acclaimed pianist, composer, and educator Adam Shulman, a key figure in the San Francisco jazz scene since 2002. Known for his work as a sideman with artists like Paula West, Stefon Harris, and Miguel Zenón, as well as for his own...
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Michael Mayo: Grammy Nominations, "Fly" (Deluxe), and the Architecture of Voice
Episode Summary: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with vocalist and composer Michael Mayo to discuss his whirlwind year. Fresh off two Grammy nominations—Best Jazz Vocal Album for Fly and Best Jazz Performance for "Four"—Michael opens up about the surreal moment he...
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Sachal Vasandani: Best Life Now, Stripped Back
Episode Description: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steven Roby sits down with vocalist and songwriter Sachal Vasandani. Known for a voice that critics call "transfixing," Sachal has collaborated with everyone from Wynton Marsalis to Bobby McFerrin. Sachal discusses his latest…
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The Klezmatics: 40 Years of Revolutionary Joy
Episode Description: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steven Roby sits down with Frank London, trumpeter and founding member of the Grammy Award-winning band The Klezmatics. For four decades, The Klezmatics have been the world’s leading voice in blending traditional Yiddish roots with...
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Anat Cohen’s Musical Evolution & 50th Birthday Celebration
Episode Summary: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, Steven Roby sits down with Grammy-nominated clarinetist and saxophonist Anat Cohen. Known for her expressive virtuosity and infectious charisma, Anat is bringing a massive milestone celebration to San Francisco. We discuss her upcoming "50th...
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Mads Tolling: Nordic Folklore Meets American Jazz
Episode Summary: This week on Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby welcomes two-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Mads Tolling. Known for his work with the Turtle Island Quartet, Stanley Clarke, and Bob Weir, Mads is shifting gears this season to share a piece of his Danish childhood in San...
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Stefon Harris on Soul, Sound, and Harmony in Motion
Episode Summary: Vibraphonist, composer, and educator Stefon Harris joins Backstage Bay Area before his November 29 double bill with trumpeter Theo Croker at SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium. Harris discusses the spiritual roots of his sound, the ideas behind his new album Sonic Creed Volume Two: Life...
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Ben Folds on Keeping Art Alive and SFJAZZ holiday shows
In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby interviews Ben Folds, the pianist, songwriter, and arts advocate who has spent three decades balancing sharp, story-driven pop songs with orchestral ambition. Fresh off the release of Ben Folds Live with the National Symphony Orchestra and…
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Three Visitors Trio Debuts New Album
Show Description: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby interviews pianist and composer Edward Simon to discuss the trio Three Visitors, a deeply collaborative project with bassist Scott Colley and drummer Brian Blade. This trio consists of three composers writing for one…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Host Steve Roby speaks with Hawai’i island’s top musicians about the stories behind their favorite songs and creative writing process. Songs and Stories is produced by Big Island Music Magazine with new episodes available every Thursday.
HOSTED BY
Big Island Music Magazine
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Songs & Stories have?
Songs & Stories currently has 113 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Songs & Stories about?
Host Steve Roby speaks with Hawai’i island’s top musicians about the stories behind their favorite songs and creative writing process. Songs and Stories is produced by Big Island Music Magazine with new episodes available every Thursday.
How often does Songs & Stories release new episodes?
Songs & Stories publishes regularly with 113 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Songs & Stories?
You can listen to Songs & Stories on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Songs & Stories?
Songs & Stories is created and hosted by Big Island Music Magazine.
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