Soundcheck

Spanish singer and songwriter Victoria Canal mixes pop styles, from bangers to weighty tunes with thoughtful, often probing, occasionally flirty lyrics, which revolve around her own complicated identity. She won two of Britain’s prestigious Ivor Novello Awards, famously sang with Coldplay at last year’s Glastonbury Festival, and had released a pair of EPs that marked her as a distinctive songwriter.Her latest LP, Slowly It Dawns, sparkles with wisdom hard-learned, and allows space for heavy feelings, all with a sense of light-hearted play. Victoria Canal plays some of these songs, in-studio. Set list: 1. Vauxhall 2. Black Swan 3. 15%

The rapper and songwriter Brother Ali has been releasing his distinctive brand of hip hop since the turn of the century – music that combines pointed social commentary, nerdy music references, and the veteran producer Ant’s maximalist, often playful beats. Brother Ali’s brand new LP is called Satisfied Soul, and on it, there is wisdom, self-reflection and unflinching critique, rooted in hope and defiance. Brother Ali and Ant perform live, in-studio. Set list: 1. D.R.U.M. 2. Name Of the One 3. Handwriting Satisified Soul by Brother Ali

The band Horsegirl is three best friends from Chicago who began playing together while still in high school. But their 2022 debut album, Versions of Modern Performance, showed a band that already had a distinctive sound that showed that DIY didn’t necessarily mean simple. With two of the three musicians now attending NYU, the band has moved here to New York. Taking a break from Antigone and Oedipus, they're here to play some songs from their new album, called Phonetics On And On. Horsegirl plays in-studio. Set list: 1. Where'd You Go 2. Switch Over 3. 2468 Phonetics On and On by Horsegirl

Sam Amidon is a folk fiddler, multi-instrumentalist, and singer from New England who now lives in Old England. He's become known for his inventive and often surprising arrangements of folk songs from both sides of the Atlantic. But he’s also someone who refuses to stay in his lane. So you could call his new album, Salt River, a collection of folk songs - if your definition of folk song is broad enough. Sam Amidon and multi-instrumentalist Chris Vatalaro expand folk tunes – shape note anthems, murder ballads, traditional songs - and play in-studio. Set list: 1. Three Five 2. Golden Willow Tree 3. I'm On My Journey Home

Amayo is the Nigerian-born, Atlanta-based singer and songwriter who was the longtime front-person for the band Antibalas. Now out on his own, Amayo continues to create his own distinctive take on the Afrobeat sound pioneered in the 1970s by the legendary Fela Kuti. But Amayo’s songwriting and his live performances are also deeply affected by his longtime Kung Fu practice - he is a senior master (Sifu) of the Jow Ga Kung Fu School of martial arts. AMAYO’s new solo album is called Lion Awakes, and he and his big band play some of the high-energy tunes, in-studio. Set list: 1. Lion Awakes 2. Black Magic Sister

The South African-born, UK-based cellist Abel Selaocoe doesn’t really cross musical boundaries – he ignores them entirely. He’ll play Bach cello suites, but he also writes music that draws on the throat singing and instinctive vocalizations of his South African heritage, as well as works with electronics, cello preparations, and site-specific sound installations. And sometimes, he’ll create a performance that seems to be all of them at once. He has a new album coming called Hymns of Bantu, due on February 21. Abel Selaocoe plays some of those pieces, solo, in-studio. Abel Selaocoe appears courtesy of Warner Classics Set list: 1.Ka Bohaleng 2. Les Voix Humaines/Tsohle Tsohle 3. Dinaka

The English band Wunderhorse now have two albums under that name, although the first of them, 2022’s Cub, was essentially a solo album by vocalist and songwriter Jacob Slater. Their latest, called Midas, came out this past fall to rave reviews and is very much a portrait of a band who can capture a visceral feeling in their recorded music that is "very imperfect, very live, very raw; no frills". Slater and the band take you where “Something is coming but you don’t know what it is and you can’t stop it,” (Black Arts PR). Wunderhorse plays in-studio. Set list: 1. Midas 2. Rain 3. Teal

Richard Reed Parry is perhaps best known as the really tall, really redheaded guy playing half a dozen instruments in the Grammy-winning band Arcade Fire. But he’s also a founder of the instrumental group Bell Orchestre, and a composer of contemporary classical music. In 2018, he visited the studio with a new project called Quiet River of Dust, and it was at least partly inspired by the psychedelic folk/rock scene in Britain in the late 1960's. He and Quiet River of Dust perform some of the musical meditations, in-studio. (From the Archives.) Set list: 1. Finally Home 2. Song of Wood 3. I Was in the World (Was the World In Me?)

South African guitar virtuoso Derek Gripper plays music originally meant for the 21 stringed lute-harp, the kora, on his 6-string Segovia-styled guitar and does it so well that the world’s leading guitarists and kora players keep wondering how one even does that. His original music is informed by kora masters Toumani Diabaté, Salif Keita, Estonian minimalist composer Arvo Part, Brazilian guitarist Egberto Gismonti and German Baroque innovator, J.S. Bach. Watch out, because he’s about to collaborate with the Iraqi-American oud player and composer Rahim Alhaj. (Ed. note: just wait until the 11 or 13-strings of the oud and those maqams make it to the 6-string guitar in Gripper's hands!) For now, Gripper plays another unbelievable arrangement of a Malian kora song, as well as an original song informed by the cascading style of kora music, plus some of the second cello suite by J.S. Bach, in-studio. - Caryn Havlik Supplemental Reading: The Beauty of Everyday Things, In Search of Lost Time Set list: 1. Alla L'a Ke 2. Moss on the Mountain 3. J.S. Bach: Prelude BWV 1008 (Second Cello Suite) BALLAKÉ SISSOKO AND DEREK GRIPPER by Ballaké Sissoko and Derek Gripper Everyday Things: Bach's Second Cello Suite BWV 1008 by Derek Gripper

Hip hop and classical music come together in the hybrid chamber music of W4RP Trio. The new record, featuring the spoken word artist DJ LiKWUiD, is called Sermon of the MatriarK and it is a celebration of powerful female characters in the African diaspora. But it’s also a celebration of the ways in which artists can move freely across genre lines – and possibly, upending even your most basic assumptions about what a band is. The W4RP Trio actually has four members, who play their new songs, along with the rapper and award-winning artivist LiKWUiD, in-studio. Set list: 1. Up 2. Here's One 3. Gimme Dat, excerpt

Violinist, composer, and bandleader Jenny Scheinman is a familiar figure to jazz fans, having played for years with Bill Frisell, Allison Miller, and many others. But jazz is just one part of her music. In her own albums and in her work with musicians from Lou Reed to Lucinda Williams to Jason Moran, Scheinman incorporates a wide range of American music, including rock, folk, country, gospel, and even surf into a colorful, personal, and accessible style. Her latest album is called All Species Parade, and it brings Jenny Scheinman and her impressive band back to our studio. Set list: 1. House of Flowers 2. Ornette Goes Home 3. All Species Parade All Species Parade by Jenny Scheinman

Sax player, MC, and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin grew up playing salsa and merengue in Washington Heights. She counts jazz greats Terri Lyne Carrington, Gary Bartz, and Clark Terry among her mentors; and her list of collaborators includes Missy Elliott, Stevie Wonder, Lil Wayne, Dianne Reeves, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Brandee Younger, and Jazzmeia Horn. Benjamin is primarily known as a jazz musician, although as you might imagine she takes a pretty wide-angled view of jazz. Her latest record, the Grammy-nominated Phoenix Reimagined, is a live reworking of her 2023 album Phoenix, which earned three Grammy nominations. Sax player Lakecia Benjamin and her band play some of her latest tunes, in-studio. 1. Trane 2. Let Go 3. Mercy

Trumpeter, bandleader and composer Igmar Thomas has served as music director for Lauryn Hill, the rapper Nas, and the sax player Kamasi Washington, among many others. But for many years he has also been the leader of the Revive Big Band, a group that demonstrates just how closely related jazz and hip hop are. That band has finally released its debut album, called Like A Tree It Grows, and its starry roster includes guests like rapper Talib Kweli, soul singer Bilal, and the late jazz legend Dr. Lonnie Smith. Rooted in Black American music and combining jazz, hip hop, funk, soul, blues, and gospel, this multi-generational ensemble plays in-studio. 1. The Coming 2. R & P 3. To Kinda Lounge Around Like A Tree It Grows by Igmar Thomas’ Revive Big Band

Jarana Beat is a world music group based here in New York, whose cross cultural celebratory sound is inspired by Mexican folk and Afro-Indigenous music. Using traditional instruments and dance percussion in addition to their voices, Jarana Beat gained wider attention by playing with the star Mexican singer Lila Downs, but they’ve also released a series of their own albums over the past decade or so, bringing elements of jazz and Latin pop to their deeply rooted sounds. For this in-studio performance of their original songs, the members of the flexible ensemble in-studio are: Sinuhe Padilla- Leona / Voice; Ivan Contreras – Jarana / Voice; Felipe Fournier - Quijada de Burro & Pandero Jarocho, Voice; Lautaro Burgos - Bombo Legüero; Tania Mesa – Violin/ Voice; and Martin Rodriguez - tarima, dance percussion. Set list: 1. Jarabe Neoyorquino 2. Dolor de Aqui 3. Echapalante

The team behind the Soundcheck podcast series offers their favorite live performances from the WNYC studios this year: including Mexico City-based cellist, producer, and singer Mabe Fratti and her trio; Brazilian composer Amaro Freitas playing the piano's insides; and the soulful mambo of Cuba big band Orquesta Akokán. Plus, Norwegian punk cabaret sextet Kaizers Orchestra, Georgia singer and musician Lizz Wright, and Brooklyn-based Zelenaya with their Eastern European folk songs set to heavy metal (cough...nepotism on that last band...cough.) Also, fiery roots music for everyone by American singer-songwriter Fantastic Negrito, multi-instrumentalist Shabaka's flute-based meditative spiritual jazz, and the saucy multi-instrumentalist Joan Wasser of Joan As Police Woman at the piano. Playlist: ARTIST: Kaizers Orchestra WORK: Bøn Fra Helvete [1:01] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Oct. 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. The song appears on the album, Ompa til du dør INFO: https://kaizers.no ARTIST: Orquesta Akokán WORK: Con Licensia [5:12] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, July 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. INFO: https://www.orquestaakokan.com/ ARTIST: Fantastic Negrito WORK: Son of a Broken Man [5:02] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Oct. 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. INFO: https://www.fantasticnegrito.com/ ARTIST: Lizz Wright WORK: Sparrow [6:31] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, April 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. INFO: https://www.lizzwright.net ARTIST: Joan as Police Woman WORK: Lemons, Limes, and Orchids [5:55] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Sept. 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. INFO: https://www.joanaspolicewoman.com/ ARTIST: Shabaka WORK: I’ll Do Whatever You Want [4:46] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, May 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. INFO: https://www.shabakahutchings.com/#/ ARTIST: Mabe Fratti WORK: Kravitz [2:54] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Sept. 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. INFO: https://tinangelrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sentir-que-no-sabes ARTIST: Kaizers Orchestra WORK: Bøn Fra Helvete [1:01] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Oct. 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. The song appears on the album, Ompa til du dør INFO: https://kaizers.no/ ARTIST: Zelenaya WORK: Okro Mch’edelo [4:58] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, June 2024 SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available INFO: https://zelenaya.bandcamp.com/album/folk-songs ARTIST: Amaro Freitas WORK: Danca do Martelos [1:48] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Oct. 2024 SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available. INFO:https://amarofreitas.com

Hear favorite live performances from the WNYC studios this year including Georgia singer, musician, and record label founder Lizz Wright; the soulful mambo of Cuban big band Orquesta Akokán; and the roots music for everyone performer - American singer-songwriter Fantastic Negrito. Also, Brooklyn-based Zelenaya with their Eastern European folk songs set to heavy metal; and the multi-reed instrumentalist Shabaka (Hutchings), with his trio of harp and percussion, and his arsenal of wood flutes. Best of Soundcheck 2024, Part 1 Playlist: ARTIST: Lizz Wright WORK: Sparrow [1:01] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, April 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. INFO: https://www.lizzwright.net ARTIST: Orquesta Akokán WORK: Con Licensia [5:12] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, July 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. INFO: https://www.orquestaakokan.com/ ARTIST: Lizz Wright WORK: Sparrow [6:31] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, April 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. INFO: https://www.lizzwright.net ARTIST: Fantastic Negrito WORK: Son of a Broken Man [5:02] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Oct. 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. INFO: https://www.fantasticnegrito.com/ ARTIST: Zelenaya WORK: Okro Mch’edelo [4:58] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, June 2024 SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available INFO: https://zelenaya.bandcamp.com/album/folk-songs ARTIST: Shabaka WORK: I’ll Do Whatever You Want [4:46] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, May 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. INFO: https://www.shabakahutchings.com/#/

Hear favorite live performances from the WNYC studios this year including Mexico City-based cellist, producer, and singer Mabe Fratti; Norwegian punk cabaret sextet Kaizers Orchestra; and an intimate piano and a microphone version of the title track, "Lemons, Limes, and Orchids", from the latest record of the same name by Joan As Police Woman. Plus, Sinkane, aka Ahmed Gallab, the bandleader and songwriter who weaves the sounds of Afrobeat, disco, funk, and soul into his music for community and for shaking it; and the Brazilian pianist and composer Amaro Freitas plays the insides and outsides of our piano. Playlist ARTIST: Kaizers Orchestra WORK: Bøn Fra Helvete [1:01] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Oct. 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. The song appears on the album, Ompa til du dør INFO: https://kaizers.no/ ARTIST: Sinkane WORK: How Sweet Is Your Love [5:30] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, January 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. INFO: https://www.sinkane.com/ ARTIST: Kaizers Orchestra WORK: Bøn Fra Helvete [1:01] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Oct. 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. The song appears on the album, Ompa til du dør INFO: https://kaizers.no/ ARTIST: Mabe Fratti WORK: Kravitz [2:54] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Sept. 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. INFO: https://tinangelrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sentir-que-no-sabes ARTIST: Amaro Freitas WORK: Danca do Martelos [9:48] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Oct. 2024 SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available. INFO: https://amarofreitas.com/ ARTIST: Joan as Police Woman WORK: Lemons, Limes, and Orchids [5:55] RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Sept. 2024 SOURCE: This performance not commercially available. INFO: https://www.joanaspolicewoman.com/

New York-based drummer and educator Matt Wilson has performed with and/or played on many recordings by other musicians - Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Charlie Haden, Lee Konitz, among others - and leads ensembles of his own, but at this time of year, the thing he might be best known for is his Christmas Tree-O. And yes, he went there – putting a pun right in the band’s name. The trio, featuring multi-reed player Jeff Lederer and bassist Paul Sikivie, takes holiday tunes as a whimsical jumping off point for a variety of jazz styles, from swing to free improv. They have a new album called Tree Jazz – The Shape Of Christmas To Come, and they’re here to play their gleeful, irreverent, and sometimes nerdy takes on music of the season, in-studio. Set list: 1. Up on the Rooftop 2. Good King Wenceslas 3. Shine Your Light

The band yMusic formed as a contemporary classical chamber music ensemble, but you’re more likely to have heard them playing with people like Paul Simon, Bruce Hornsby, Emily King, and John Legend. They’re also the sextet of choice for classical composers like Caroline Shaw and Missy Mazzoli. For 16 years they’ve been gleefully obscuring the line between classical and popular music, and their latest collaboration with choreographer Kyle Abraham, the new multimedia piece called “Dear Lord Make Me Beautiful” saw the group writing and performing their own music. They play some of these originals, in-studio. Set list: 1.Running 2. Mystique 3. Zebras

Samora Pinderhughes is a singer, composer, filmmaker, and producer who has worked regularly with the rapper Common and scored several award-winning documentaries. His own works includes The Healing Project, a 10-year exploration of the prison system and the racism and violence that feeds it, which led to his official solo debut album Grief in 2022; and a new record, 8 years in the making, about love, grief, depression and forgiveness, called Venus Smiles Not In The House Of Tears. Pinderhughes was the first-ever Art for Justice + Soros Justice Fellow, is getting his Ph.D. at Harvard University, and is shaping new worlds through his art, his honesty, and his vulnerability. Samora Pinderhughes is at our piano with a small ensemble, to play tender and reflective songs from his latest, in-studio. Set list: 1. Forgive Yourself / Gatsby 2. WCID 3. Drown Venus Smiles Not in the House of Tears by Samora Pinderhughes