Award-winning journalist, music critic and co-creator/host of NPR’s Alt Latino, Felix Contreras has the widest range of music he adores of anyone I know. He’s an international ambassador of Latin music and art but can just as easily rhapsodize about his love for The Grateful Dead, jazz, and the Beatles and explain poetically how it all connects. Felix and I met at NPR in 2001 when Jazz Inspired was part of a show called, “Jazz Riffs” and Felix was the Executive Director of the series. Felix has been a dear friend ever since, and a tireless supporter of Jazz Inspired, so it was a treat and honor to finally have him on the show.

Max Johnson 3. Described as “an intrepid composer, architect of sound and beast of the bass…”, composer, bassist, and improviser Max Johnson is one of the most prolific music makers in the jazz, bluegrass, improvised music, and contemporary classical worlds. Johnson has released nearly 20 albums and performed over three thousand concerts internationally with artists like Anthony Braxton, Geri Allen and Mary Halvorson. This performance features Neta Raanan on Tenor Saxophone and Eliza Salem on Drums performing selections from their 2024 album I’ll See You Again. From May 1st, 2025 Daniel Peck is your host for the Max Johnson 3…Live at the Bop Stop.