Nicole Sweeney
Host, Lights OutNicole Sweeney is a Queens-born, Long Island-raised music lover. Growing up in New York with West Indian parents, she was surrounded by all types of music every day and the influence of jazz was constant.
Nicole received her B.A. in Communications from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA after taking a seven-year hiatus which originally started out as a "semester break". Going back to school as a more "seasoned adult", Nicole took her education very seriously; while working and going to school full-time, she obtained three internships with Temple Update, Good Day Philadelphia, and Temple University's public radio station, WRTI.
With jazz always being a part of her life, she quickly fell in love with the music and became very focused on her position at WRTI-FM. Shortly after the internship ended, Nicole was hired at WRTI-FM and after graduating, decided to move to Atlanta where the broadcasting industry was growing.
She was hired at WCLK-FM for a temporary Sunday shift and within months was hired for the weekly Midday shift which she held for over 6 years. Nicole grew her Midday audience by giving them a mix of classics as well as a nice dose of the "here and now" of jazz. Nicole also hosted the popular monthly "Friday Jazz at the High Museum of Art" for two years, as well as being the preferred emcee for jazz concerts at major venues such as Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, Emory University's Schwartz Center for Performing Arts and Clayton State University's Spivey Hall.
She has interviewed jazz legends such as Ahmad Jamal, McCoy Tyner, Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Benson as well as legends in the making such as Robert Glasper, Christian McBride, and Esperanza Spalding. She feels jazz music should not be put in a box and considers herself a vessel of the music, constantly quoting the Pharoah Sanders piece "The Creator Has a Master Plan" when referring to her journey within the music.
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Thursday's Art of the Story focuses on Nicole Sweeney's interview with actor, comedian and now singer Tommy Davidson (In Living Color).
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Eugenie Jones speaks with WBGO's Nicole Sweeney about her dedication to singing; a new album of original compositions that tell her story, in her own words; and the ambitious route she took to get there.
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Jane Bunnett, a soprano saxophonist and composer from Canada, joined Nicole Sweeney in conversation about Maqueque, as it began a residency at Birdland.
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For the latest installment of the WBGO Yamaha series, premiering Friday, Dec. 17, at 8 p.m. ET, pianist Matthew Whitaker performs songs from his new album, Connections, as well as a holiday standard or two.
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Nicole Sweeney's new feature on Evening Jazz explores the songs and stories behind some iconic hip-hop samples.
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Wow.I’ve woken up many nights and mornings with that one word on my mind.These past couple of months have truly been difficult for us all. I try not to…
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Rob Crocker, Sheila Anderson and Nicole Sweeney discuss highlights of the past year. Nicole Sweeney, host, Evening Jazz "Spend the Day With You" by…
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This Labor Day, WBGO presented four hours of music, recorded live at this year’s Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. We have highlights from the broadcast right…
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In his first live on-air interview, drummer Nate Smith stops by Afternoon Jazz to talk with Nicole Sweeney about being a part of the Betty Carter Jazz…
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It’s an album I have been waiting for since seeing drummer Nate Smith a decade back with Stefon Harris & Blackout. He comes from the Betty Carter Jazz…