From bebop to hip-hop: Gary Bartz’s sound shapes many eras. Gary Bartz shares stories from his sixty-plus-year career, covering everything from bebop to hip-hop. Hear a heartfelt conversation between the legendary saxophonist and host Christian McBride.

Rahsaan Roland Kirk: The Mercury/Limelight Recordings, 1961-1965, Part 2. The great multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk at his very finest, and joined by the likes of Horace Parlan, Jaki Byard, Richard Davis, Elvin Jones, and more.

Native American jazz singer, Julia Keefe first came to Jazz Inspired in 2019, two days after receiving her master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music. Now, seven years later, Julia has created her own path, celebrating her heritage by creating the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band, one of the only jazz big bands comprised exclusively of Native and Indigenous people. With this band and her smaller ensembles, Julia has opened for Tony Bennett, Esperanza Spalding and two weeks after we recorded this show, Julia would open for one of her longtime heroes, Bonnie Raitt.

Jamey Haddad Quartet Featuring John Shannon, Chris Coles and Peter Slavov. Jamey Haddad holds a singular position in the world of jazz and contemporary music. His musical voice transcends styles and trends, and the universal quality of his playing has attracted many international collaborations with artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Paul Simon, and Sting. Fresh off of a tour with Paul Simon, Jamey returned to Cleveland for a sold out two-night stand that features Peter Slavov on Bass, Northeast Ohio mainstay Chris Coles on Saxophones, Jamey on Percussion and Pittsburgh Guitarist John Shannon. From May 31st, 2025 Daniel Peck is your host for the Jamey Haddad Quartet…. Live at the Bop Stop.

Chuck Berry, Part 3 - 1958. Chuck Berry has been called the "Father of Rock n' Roll" and with good reason. He took the blues of T-Bone Walker and B.B. King, the guitar riffs of Carl Hogan and mixed it with the fiddle and Western Swing music of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys. Then he rolled it all into one big sonic blast. Rhythm & Blues become Rock n' Roll when Chuck Berry began writing songs aimed at teenagers, finally granting them their own music. The final part of a 3-part feature on Chuck Berry's early career. This week, Matt The Cat focuses on Berry's recorded and released output during the pivotal year of 1958. He began the year with a bang and the #1 R&B tune "Sweet Little Sixteen." 1958 was also the year that gave us "Reelin' and Rockin'," "Johnny B. Goode," "Around and Around" and "Carol." Just like in the first parts of this series, this week's program is packed with some fantastic and seldom-heard instrumentals, showcasing Chuck Berry's true guitar chops. So, dig this final "Juke In The Back" treatment of the legendary "Shakespeare Of Rock n' Roll," Chuck Berry.

In 2024, singer-songwriter Nicole Zuraitis took home the Grammy for Best Vocal Jazz Album with a record of entirely self-written songs, practically unheard of in the jazz world. Now she's back with her most ambitious project yet: THE DEVIL I KNEW, a 20-track five-part jazz epic. On this episode, Nicole walks us through the personal story behind the record through standards, originals, and spoken word, revealing a candid artist with something to say.

Coming Soon

Tamir Hendelman. Pianist Tamir Hendelman and vocalist Tierney Sutton’s CD Spring honors the season that Tierney views as a metaphor for hope and renewal, a perfect focus for our unsettling times. Tamir and Tierney have enjoyed a long musical partnership, and creating Spring was an opportunity to celebrate their collaboration and enjoy the creative freedom and flexibility a duo affords. I talked to Tamir Hendelman from Tierney’s alma mater, Wesleyan University, before their teaching activities that day and their performance that night.

Aanya Sengupta. One of the rising stars of jazz, New Delhi native Aanya Sengupta heads off to Julliard but not before a Northeast Ohio farewell performance. The two-time DownBeat Student Award winner finished 2025 as the vocalist chair for the Oberlin College Sonny Rollins Jazz Ensemble. Featuring Aanya on Vocals, Wilson Woods on Piano, Ahmed McLemore on Bass and Paul Samuels on Drums, and from June 8th, 2025 Daniel Peck is your host for the Aanya Sengupta Quartet…Live at the Bop Stop.

Nate Smith and Kinfolk with strings. This Newport Jazz Festival weekend, we're spotlighting newly named Artistic Director Nate Smith — hear his sextet Kinfolk join forces with members of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra for a one-of-a-kind concert at the Crosstown Theater in Memphis.