Milestones: Celebrating the Culture | Deep Dive Conversations with Angélika Beener

On the next special edition episode of Milestones: Celebrating the Culture podcast, host Angélika Beener commemorates 100 years of Miles Davis with two masters of their craft whose work helped carry Davis’s legacy across generations — award-winning trumpeter and composer and the sound behind the Miles Davis biopic, Miles Ahead Keyon Harrold, and legendary hip-hop producer Easy Mo Bee, the architect behind Davis's final album.

By the 1970s, the legendary pianist-composer Ahmad Jamal had embarked on an exciting new phase in his illustrious seven-decade career. This period included the release of Jamal Plays Jamal, a bold project with intricate orchestration and most notably, all original compositions. On the 50th anniversary of this under-explored yet thoroughly magical album, we're joined by the exceptional pianist, composer, and Harvard professor, Vijay Iyer. We explore the album’s spiritual depth, its brilliant textures, and its impact on the canon of hip hop thru legends like J Dilla, De La Soul and Jay-Z. We also reflect on the pivotal role of the artist during times of uncertainty and possibility.

In the world of music, few names resonate quite like that of Steely Dan. Their third album, Pretzel Logic, released in the winter of 1974, is often cited by critics as one of their finest works, marking a significant evolution in their musical journey. On this episode of Milestones, in celebration of its 50th anniversary, we delve into this landmark album with star guitarist Isaiah Sharkey, one of the most gifted modern guitarists of our time, whose admiration for Steely Dan runs deep.

The family of iconic drummer Max Roach discusses his legacy, contributions to music and culture, and the initiative to co-name a street in Brooklyn in his honor. Roach's five children generously share precious memories, their vision for preserving his legacy, and the importance of respecting and understanding the craftsmanship and excellence their father brought to his art. They also emphasize the need for future generations to learn and build upon his contributions.

Pianist, composer, educator and advocate Bertha Hope-Booker, joins us to discuss her fascinating musical journey -- including her recording career and her legacy and preservation work. With a career spanning over six decades, we take a deep dive into the early years that brought her from Los Angeles to New York City, the keys to developing her own sound, the best advice she received from Philly Joe Jones and Johnny Griffin, and her thoughts on being an inspiration to women in jazz.

Legendary pianist, composer, arranger, and contemporary jazz giant Bob James joins Milestones as we delve into his experimental CTI debut, One, for its 50th anniversary. A groundbreaking amalgamation of jazz, funk, classical and orchestral elements produced hits like “Night On Bald Mountain,” “Feel Like Making Love,” and the classic that would later shape hip hop –  but almost never happened – “Nautilus.” We discuss his beginnings, working with legends like Quincy Jones and Sarah Vaughan, the impact of Creed Taylor, and his pioneering use of the Fender Rhodes piano. James shares stories behind his famous tracks, his classic contribution to the TV show 'Taxi,' and his thoughts on the evolving nature of jazz. We also highlight his cross-genre collaborations and his influence in hip-hop through the extensive sampling of his music.

In Part Two of our special Isley Brothers celebration, award winning vocalist, instrumentalist, producer, composer, and cultural historian TL Cross is back to help unpack the genius of The Isley Brothers' 1973 classic 3+3. On its 50th anniversary, we delve into the pivotal album that transformed the Isleys from a group to one of the greatest bands of the 20th century, with the official addition of younger brothers Ernie and Marvin and brother-in-law Chris Jasper. With songs like "That Lady," which hints at a future rock guitar icon in Ernie Isley and "Summer Breeze," which broadened the breadth of what could be called black music and offered a master class in reinterpretation, 3+3 is an album deserving of deep reflection and reverence. 

It's Hip Hop's 50th birthday! On the latest episode of Milestones, black media legend Ralph McDaniels joins to discuss the legacy of his pioneering television program, Video Music Box. Celebrating a milestone of its own this year, Video Music Box became one of the most important shows in music video history, as it illuminated a budding genre called hip hop, and centered black youth culture overall at a time when it was not a consideration in mainstream media. Debuting in 1983, Video Music Box stands as the longest running music video program in history.

GRAMMY® award-winning trumpeter, composer, arranger, producer, vocalist, and activist Keyon Harrold joins Milestones to discuss Donald Byrd's groundbreaking masterpiece Black Byrd, released 50 years ago this year. The NEA Jazz Master whose work has profoundly impacted generations that followed through his stylistic pioneering of R&B infused jazz, helped birth an entirely new era of black music while experiencing breakthrough commercial success after two decades of being one of the greatest hard bop players of his time. 

GRAMMY-nominated musicians Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke discuss their brand new, long awaited album and how their journey through friendship, decades of collaboration and unprecedented times brought the stunning project to life. We also discuss their mutual mentor Herbie Hancock in celebration of the 50th anniversary of his groundbreaking funk-meets-jazz album, Head Hunters.