The late saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins ignited the jazz scene ever since he was a kid in the 1940s, hanging out with his mentor Thelonious Monk. We’ll revisit our conversation with the jazz master about his work with Miles and Monk among others, and his improvisatory explorations. Then, we’ll visit with New Orleans’ own jazz legend, the late Bob French, who led the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, to learn the finer points of keeping time in the Crescent City.

For Juneteenth, it’s music from the Staple Singers, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone and Bob Dylan, plus classic jazz, reggae and a new generation of singers: the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Norah Jones and  Questlove. Then, songs, rhythms and histories from the Georgia Sea Islands Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters. 

Blues…it’s a universal solvent in music. There’s blues in jazz, R & B, roots rock and soul, country, Cajun, Latin, funk, hip-hop, rock and pop… It’s everywhere! We’ll hear from all corners of the musical map including Bessie Smith, Buddy Guy, Freddy Fender and Clifton Chenier and more. Then, an hour with octogenarian electric country blues man Little Freddie King live from Marigny Studios in New Orleans. 

It’s time to give the drummer some, with late New Orleans native Earl Palmer talking about his creative percussion for Fats Domino and Little Richard sessions; and conversation with Memphis rockabilly JM Van Eaton about backing Jerry Lee Lewis; plus rhythm and time-keeping in music from Elvis and Johnny Cash to Smokey Johnson and Slim Gaillard. Then, a live set dedicated to the soul, funk and jazz of New Orleans drummer James Black with Adonis Rose and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra.