Host Ayana Contreras visits Makaya McCraven at his home in Rogers Park, Chicago, just a few months after the release of his critically-acclaimed 2022 album In These Times, and just a few days ahead of his trip to perform at the New York City Winter Jazz Festival. Makaya reflects on the reception of In These Times while revisiting the concepts, intentions, growth, and changes the work encompassed along his 10-year journey of creating it.
This episode supported in part by Strictly Discs, an independent record store located in Madison, Wisconsin.
Ayana sits with Alex Chavez, Jaime Garza, and Daniel Villarreal of Dos Santos at IARCHQ, as they discuss the making of their album 'City of Mirrors', their innovative embrace of musical traditions, and the multi-dimensionality of Latinidad in Chicago.
This episode supported in part by Breakaway Records, an independent record store in Austin, Texas.
Ayana has an in-person conversation with composer/trumpeter jaimie branch at IARCHQ in Chicago. In between jaimie's trumpetourettes they talk about FLY or DIE, their new LIVE album, their previous albums I and II, plus capitalist letters, chameleons, the making of visual scores, the perks of getting older, and "The Music." This episode supported is in part by The Record Shop in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
Produced and hosted by Ayana Contreras, this podcast colors the context of albums released by Chicago-born record label International Anthem, featuring in-depth interviews with the artists.
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