December 17, 2024 Andy Statman: Master of Many Musical Traditions
To mark the rare convergence of Christmas and Chanukah, we’re revisiting a conversation with one of the nation’s most extraordinary musicians 2012 National Heritage Fellow Andy Statman. A virtuoso clarinetist, mandolin player, and composer, Statman has defied musical boundaries throughout his career. Starting with his early love for bluegrass and mentorship under David Grisman, Statman later embraced jazz before diving into the klezmer music of his Jewish heritage.This podcast weaves together the strands of Statman’s multifaceted career. He reflects on his journey from bluegrass jams in Washington Square Park to collaborations with jazz legends like Richard Grando. Statman shares how he revived klezmer music with the guidance of 1984 National Heritage Fellow Dave Tarras, his inspirations across genres, and his passion for creating music that connects deeply to tradition while pushing artistic boundaries. Featuring excerpts from his rich discography, including Jewish Klezmer Music and Old Brooklyn, this episode is a celebration of music’s ability to unite cultures and generations. We are taking a two week break for the holidays. But we’ll back on January 7. We wish all of you the happiest of holidays.
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December 10, 2024
Opera is being transformed into a more inclusive and innovative art form, and Opera Praktikos (OPrak) is one of the companies leading this movement. Co-founded by librettist Marianna Mott Newirth and opera journalist Greg Moomjy, OPrak is New York City’s first disability-forward opera company, committed to breaking down barriers for artists and audiences. Today, a conversation with Marianna Mott Newirth and mezzo-soprano Hailey McAvoy, who has cerebral palsy and stars in OPrak’s upcoming production, There Will Be Cake. Marianna and Hailey share how OPrak fosters disability creativity, from accessible venues to innovative productions. They discuss how embracing accessibility not only removes obstacles but enriches the art form itself, creating a more collaborative and exciting opera world for everyone, and the inspiration behind There Will Be Cake, a joyful pairing of two opera monologues celebrating food, humor, and community, all served up with a side of cake.
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Revisiting Author of Interior Chinatown Charles Yu
Today we revisit our 2020 interview with Charles Yu, whose novel Interior Chinatown received the National Book Award for fiction and has been recently adapted into a Hulu series by Yu who is also the showrunner. A novel told in the format of a screenplay, Interior Chinatown follows Willis Wu, a bit player in a TV procedural, as he wrestles with his dreams, identity, and the limitations imposed by a world of rigid racial roles. In our conversation, Yu reflects on growing up with limited and stereotypical representations of Asian-Americans on screen and how those experiences shaped his incisive and inventive novel. He shares his journey from lawyer to writer and the creative process behind the book, the interplay of humor and serious themes in his work, his reflections on the rise of anti-Asian sentiment, and the transformative power of storytelling. In this special reposting of our conversation with Charles Yu, we revisit his insightful, funny, and deeply moving exploration of Asian-American identity and representation in popular culture.
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Exploring American Routes: A Conversation with Nick Spitzer
In this special Thanksgiving episode of Art Works, we’re revisiting our interview with Nick Spitzer, folklorist, radio host, and the 2023 Bess Lomax Hawes National Heritage Fellow. Nick discusses his path from college radio to producing the award-winning American Routes, a program that has spent 25 years exploring the intersections of Cajun, Creole, jazz, blues, gospel, and more. He shares stories of cultural discovery, the concept of creolization, and his commitment to bringing traditional and vernacular arts to national audiences. Nick reflects on his formative experiences—from fieldwork in Louisiana to curating programs for the Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival—and the profound impact of mentors like Bess Lomax Hawes. (Don’t miss the special Thanksgiving episode of American Routes celebrating the 2024 National Heritage Fellows!)
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November 19, 2024 Celebrating Jazz Giants: Roy Haynes and Lou Donaldson
Last week, the music world lost two titans of jazz: drummer Roy Haynes and saxophonist Lou Donaldson, both NEA Jazz Masters who reshaped the genre with their artistry. This special episode of Art Works pays tribute to their immense contributions through archival interviews and timeless performances. From Roy Haynes' crisp, innovative drumming that defined the evolution of jazz over seven decades to Lou Donaldson's soulful alto saxophone that bridged bebop and groove, we celebrate their remarkable journeys.Roy Haynes reflects on his first big break with Luis Russell, playing at the legendary Savoy Ballroom, and his unforgettable collaborations with jazz icons like Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Sarah Vaughan. Lou Donaldson, known as "Sweet Poppa Lou," shares insights on his trailblazing recordings for Blue Note, the rise of bebop, and his dynamic partnership with Jimmy Smith that popularized the organ-sax sound. Featuring selections from their iconic tracks—including “Green Chimneys,” “Blues Walk,” and “Alligator Bogaloo”—this episode highlights the lives and music of two artists whose impact will resonate for generations.
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