From the intimate, jazz-infused piano motifs of “The Conversation” to the avant-garde technical precision of “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three,” David Shire has spent a storied seven-decade career masterfully balancing the collaborative service of film scoring with the singular, thematic soul of a dedicated storyteller.

Norman Connors’ lifelong rhythmic ingenuity and the mentorship of jazz icons like Miles Davis and Max Roach empowered him to develop a distinct, polyrhythmic drumming style that bridged the gap between complex jazz and melodic R&B.

Pioneering drummer Bill Curtis shares his half-century music journey, detailing how he forged The Fatback Band’s signature “greasy” funk sound, fought for independence in a notoriously exploitative industry, and accidentally helped lay the groundwork for both rap and house music.

Chicago soul powerhouse Ruby Andrews reflects on her storied career, detailing how her chart-topping hits like “Casanova, Your Playing Days Are Over” were born out of personal life experiences and brought to life with legendary Detroit musicians like the Funk Brothers.

Producer David Rubinson traces his path from directing theater at Columbia and boldly recruiting Leonard Bernstein for an Off-Broadway production into a decades-long career shaping the sound of artists like Herbie Hancock, the Pointer Sisters, and Santana—while reflecting on the philosophy of capturing live, spontaneous synergy over studio perfection.

In this installment of Liner Notes, Amanda–the PhDJ–dives into Medeski Martin & Wood’s beloved album Shack-man, a cohesive, accessible masterpiece that opened the door for many fans to appreciate the trio’s infectious grooves and experimental, funk-infused jazz sound.

In this reflective conversation, guitarist Calvin Keys charts his 65-year musical journey from sneakily practicing on his uncle’s guitar in an Omaha basement to recording seminal albums for Black Jazz Records and touring the world alongside icons like Ray Charles and Ahmad Jamal.

In this career-spanning interview, musician and producer Leroy Burgess recounts his formative years in Harlem, his evolution from the soul group Black Ivory to becoming a pioneer of dance-music architecture, and the vital, irreplaceable role of human emotion in musical creation.

Luis Gasca’s career took him from a scholarship at Berklee to sharing stages and studios with the likes of Mongo Santamaría, Janis Joplin, and Santana—a journey through jazz, Latin music, and rock and roll marked equally by triumphs and personal struggle.

Raised in Laredo, Texas, and fueled by the Golden Age of MTV, Adrian Quesada channeled his diverse musical roots into a series of genre-bending side projects and a Grammy win, eventually skyrocketing to international fame as the co-founder of Black Pumas.