Our Back Pages: WBGO’s Best Jazz Stories of 2022

Yes, WBGO is a radio station, a great radio station. But it also hosts a website that not only streams its broadcast, but also offers up podcasts and a plethora of stories about the music, the musicians and the scene. As we wrap up 2022, we thought we’d offer a look back at some of our favorite stories during the past year, perhaps some of which you may have missed. As you can see, many of our hosts contributed a wide variety of interviews and conversations to bring you closer to the music. We hope you enjoy this sampling of what we covered in the jazz community in 2022. We can promise you that we have even more in store for 2023.

Dee Dee Bridgewater and Tulani Bridgewater-Kowalski tell Lezlie Harrison why they created The Woodshed Network, their mentoring program for women in jazz

Brigitte Lacombe

Doug Doyle talks with writer and humorist Fran Leibowitz about her affinity for jazz

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Tomas Ovalle c/o Monterey Jazz Festival

Chucho Valdés talks with Bobby Sanabria about his “La Creación” suite

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courtesy of Caterina Di Perri

Ashley Kahn on jazz artists living abroad

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courtesy of WYES

In a conversation with Felix Hernandez, Irma Thomas reflects on her soulful career

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Mark Farrell

Janis Siegel tells Gary Walker all about the origin and evolution of The Manhattan Transfer

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R. Andrew Lepley

Russell Malone reflects on the legacy of fellow guitarist Pat Martino

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Charles Mingus performing at the 1962 Newport Jazz Festival.

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Lee Tanner

Nate Chinen on Charles Mingus as a social and political activist

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Jonathan Chimene

Dayramir Gonzalez’s concert and interview as part of the Yamaha Concert Series

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Helen Sung writes about the life and legacy of Sue Mingus

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Meredith Truax

Jazz Night in America features breakout vocal jazz star Samara Joy in an episode of their Youngbloods series

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c/o the artist

Singer-songwriter Amos Lee channeled Chet Baker on his latest album,My Ideal: A Tribute to Chet Baker Sings

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Thyrone Thommy talks with Jamara Wakefield about his jazz-themed film for Netflix Learn to Swim

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Steven Sussman

Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Jazz Competition winner Lucía Gutiérrez Rebolloso talks with Gary Walker before she took the top prize

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Chris Tobin

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WBGO

Leo Sidran interviews Cyrille Aimee in an episode of The Third Story podcast

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Atsuhiko Kawabata

Lee Mergner’s conversation with Aidan Levy, author of Saxophone Colossus, The Life and Music of Sonny Rollins

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Rye Vasque

Raul Midon speaks with Sheila Anderson about his album of duets with 12 other guitarists

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Vincent Herring on the legacy of John Coltrane

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The story behind Oscar Peterson’s “Hymn to Freedom” and its recent remake

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William Gottlieb

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The Library Of Congress

Lew Tabackin on the legacy of Coleman Hawkins

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Randy Brecker’s remembrance of saxophonist Ronnie Cuber

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David Vance

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CNN

Pat Prescott speaks with Dionne Warwick about her long and storied career

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c/o the artist

Judy Carmichael of Jazz Inspired on the art of interviewing

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Rahima Tacuma

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Courtesy of Artist

Bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma reflects on his journey from rural North Carolina

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Jamara Wakefield reflects on Billie Holiday’s version of “I’m a Fool to Want You”

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courtesy of the artist

Jane Bunnett talks with Nicole Sweeney about the Cuban jazz group Maqueque