The Jazz Podcast

• Sarah Wilson - Incandescence

  Community spirit has been a constant in the work of composer and trumpet player Sarah Wilson, whose experiences and inspirations have ranged from socially conscious puppet theater to brass band and New Orleans traditions to her own illuminating style of jazz. When musicians are truly inspired and connected with one another, Wilson describes, time seems to stand still for artist and listener alike.“Time just evaporates,” Wilson says, “and you’re completely immersed in feeling the euphoria and joy of being in this creative moment. You forget everything else that is happening in space and time, while paradoxically the music is moving through time.”During a 2023 artist residency in Krems, Austria, the Bay Area-based Wilson experienced a similar epiphany when she encountered the paintings of Viennese artist Thomas Reinhold. One of the founding figures of German “New Painting” or “Junge Wilde,” Reinhold’s large- scale work combines architectural planning with the chance effects of time. Wilson’s reaction to the paintings inspired the music on Incandescence, the joy-fueled new album by her sextet Brass Tonic.Out July 18, 2025 via Wilson’s own Brass Tonic Records and co-produced by Wilson and Grammy Award-winning producer Hans Wendl, Incandescence was commissioned by InterMusic SF’s Musical Grant Program. It draws equal inspiration from Reinhold’s bold, multi-hued abstracts and from the street- level, community-spirited traditions of brass band, marching and New Orleans parade music. In Brass Tonic, Wilson combines an all-woman horn frontline – herself, alto saxophonist Kasey Knudsen, and trombonist Mara Fox – with the buoyant rhythm section of guitarist John Schott, bassist Lisa Mezzacappa, and, for this recording, drummers Jon Arkin and Tim Bulkley.Support the show

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• Ribbons: Volume 1 - Sara Colman and Rebecca Nash

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• Harben Kay - The World I Live In

  Harben Kay joins the show to chat about the release of their highly anticipated new album, The World I Live In (Sulis Records, October 3rd 2025). This album represents a deeply personal exploration of identity, transformation, and the way change influences creativity. Written over the past three years, during a time of frequent moves between London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, The World I Live In reflects the shifts in Harben’s life and the profound impact they had on the music. Inspired by the work of renowned writer Bernardine Evaristo, particularly her book Manifesto, Harben delves into how the process of moving, both physically and mentally, can shape creativity. “There has been a lot of change in my life over the past few years, and this album reflects that,” says Harben. “It’s about how change shapes who we are and influences the music we create.”Support the show

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• Huw V Williams

  Long time friend of the show Huw joins the show to tell us about his incredible new music. His new single 05/05/21 with his band Di-Cysgodion is out today and we celebrate by listening to the track and diving into all the musical details. He's also promoting and performing at concerts at the London Jazz Festival at the London Welsh centre and we hear about all his exciting plans and ideas for the festival. Support the show

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• Spike Mason

  Spike has played saxophone for over 40 years, with many musicians, in Australia, the USA, the UK, Canada, Ireland, Greece, Singapore, Italy, The Czech Republic, Holland, Turkiye, and New Zealand.He's performed at countless festivals and clubs, from stadium stages to people's kitchens, with both famous and unknown musicians, in front of very large and very small crowds. He's also been a recording session musician for many diverse artists, helping them make their music a reality, by performing, composing, arranging, and producing on over 250 albums, including soundtracks for film and television. Spike spent many years studying too and have been awarded a Masters of Music In Jazz Performance, a Bachelor of Music, a Bachelor of Education, and an Associate Diploma of Jazz Studies, and a Graduate Diploma in Research.Support the show

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