June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month, and so timed to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Greenwich Village. We stand in support of the LGBTQIA+ community — and celebrates the vital work of musicians in its ranks, who have often had to fight to carve out a space.
WBGO has a longstanding commitment to celebrating LGBTQ artists, all year round. It extends to Jazz Night in America profiles of Gary Burton, Fred Hersch and Andy Bey, interviews with artists like Aaron Myers, and video shorts like this one, featuring Allison Miller.
Miller has played several times in our studio, as a leader or a member of a band. With pianist Carmen Staaf, she performed the last WBGO Yamaha Salon before the pandemic lockdown in 2020; here is the full concert, emceed by Nate Chinen.
Our coverage this month kicks off with a nod to Billy Strayhorn — courtesy of Charles Lloyd, who kicks off his Trios of Trios campaign with a sensitive reading of "Blood Count." Stay tuned for more spotlight artists in Take Five — including drummer, composer and vocalist Bryan Carter, whose I Believe chronicles a journey to self-acceptance, among other things. Carter will present "Jazz at Pride: NYC" at Jazz at Lincoln Center on June 27.
See WBGO's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion statement for more information.