Take a journey with host Leslie Stoval each week connecting with the landscape of our community via thoughtful interviews and soulful stories from those that contribute to our local lives, alongside the vibrant melodies of jazz music.

Stephen Phillip Harvey Octet. Stephen Phillip Harvey’s works sit squarely at the intersection of popular culture and jazz. In his latest Octet project, Stephen explores the elements on a composition he calls Elemental. The Stephen Phillip Harvey Octet performs this suite of six original compositions to bring his original interpretation of these elements and the balance they create. Fusing modern harmonies, driving vamps, and a myriad of textures, Harvey brings these forces of nature to aural landscape. Daniel Peck is your host for this June 16th, 2023 performance of the Stephen Phillip Harvey Octet - Live at the Bop Stop.

This episode features music from the Rance Allen Singers (pictured), Danniebelle Hall, Mighty Indiana Travelers, Donny Hathaway, Angelic Gospel Singers, Blind Willie Johnson, and others.

Mabuhay: Welcome to Little Manila in Queens. For AAPI Heritage Month, we bring you an encore of our 2023 episode "Seeing Signs." With help from the Queens Memory Podcast, we'll learn about “Little Manila,” a Filipino neighborhood dating back to the 1970s that still struggles to find its political footing. We also hear from Filipino care workers about their experiences battling COVID 19. This episode first aired on Making Contact in May 2023.

Dr. John Calloway, curator of Buffalo Soldiers in the Philippine American War: A Crisis of Conscience, an ongoing multidisciplinary performance project examining the experiences of Black soldiers and Filipino natives during the Philippine-American War of 1899–1902. Telling both a historical and personal narrative through live music, spoken word, poetry, and visual elements, the piece considers the moral dilemma that Black soldiers faced in their charge to help subjugate Filipino people while at the same time being marginalized themselves. It also depicts the Filipino narrative of resistance to the American intervention as well as the complex interpersonal relationships between African American soldiers and the Filipino population. Dr. John Calloway is a nationally recognized multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger who has simultaneously had a dual career in education for over 35 years. Known for his prolific work in Jazz, Latin American and other Global music styles, John has performed with such internationally known jazz musicians as Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Musselwhite, Arturo Sandoval, Israel “Cachao” Lopez, Max Roach, Pete Escovedo, and in the SF Bay Area, with Kulintang Arts, Jesus Diaz, Mark Levine, John Santos, Marcus Shelby and Wayne Wallace.

Mark Lakeman founder of the City Repair Project with a background in Architecture and Planning, discusses the concept of urban placemaking and the importance of creating sustainable public places. He shares stories of projects his organization has done, such as transforming street intersections into public squares and building outdoor learning environments. Mark emphasizes the need for individuals to take action and not wait for permission to make positive changes in their communities. He encourages people to challenge the dominant paradigms and care for everyone around them, ultimately creating a culture of resilience and collaboration. ● Urban placemaking involves creating public spaces that foster community interaction and connection. ● Transforming street intersections into public squares can have a positive impact on public health and reduce crime rates. ● Sustainable public places are those that promote resilience, community engagement, and a sense of belonging. ● Individuals should take action and not wait for permission to make positive changes in their communities. ● Challenging the dominant paradigms and caring for everyone around us can lead to a culture of resilience and collaboration.

Take a journey with host Leslie Stoval each week connecting with the landscape of our community via thoughtful interviews and soulful stories from those that contribute to our local lives, alongside the vibrant melodies of jazz music.

Canadian Jazz Collective. Driven by the cause of the development and showcasing of uniquely Canadian Jazz compositions, the Canadian Jazz Collective features a dozen JUNO Awards across the group – and another nomination for their 2023 album SEPTOLOGY. This performance is the first US appearance from the full collective and it features Kirk MacDonald on Saxophone, Derrick Gardner on Trumpet, Virgina MacDonald on Clarinet, Lorne Lofsky on Guitar, Brian Dickinson on Piano, Neil Swainson on Bass and Bernd Reiter on Drums. Daniel Peck is your host for this March 22nd, 2024 performance, which is the American debut of the Canadian Jazz Collective – Live at the Bop Stop.

This edition features songs about mothers by artists such as the Five Blind Boys of Alabama (pictured), Angelic Choir feat. Delores "Bootsy" Roberts, Staple Singers, Supreme Councilors, Violinaires, John P. Kee, and others.

The Healing Project: An Abolitionist Story. Composer, pianist, and vocalist Samora Pinderhughes tells us about The Healing Project. The Healing Project, a fundamentally abolitionist project, explores the structures of systemic racism and the prison industrial complex. The Healing Project takes action towards abolition with forms such as musical songs, films, an exhibition, community gatherings, live performances, and a digital library of audio interviews. At the center of the project are the intergenerational voices of people across the country, including folks incarcerated in prisons and detention centers. Their stories, experiences, and ideas serve as the foundation for The Healing Project’s vision for societal transformation.