Barbican Contemporary Music

We speak to the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra player about the King of Swing – Benny Goodman – and his 1938 Carnegie Hall gig which put Jazz on the main stage for the first time, and arguably changed the course of musical history. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

We speak to the Mercury-nominated former singer from the Young Disciples about her Cage Street Memorial project, which tells her family history through song; a story of multi-culturalism and triumph against the odds. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Taking over our podcast for this episode is Leanne from Worldwide FM, looking at the role music played in Jean-Michel Basquiat’s life and art. Basquiat immersed himself in the avant-garde scene in downtown New York in the late 70’s/early 80’s. This was the post punk, post Studio 54 New York - where the clubs were more than just places to drink and dance. And perhaps there is no one that epitomises this era more than Jean-Michel Basquiat. Artist, poet, musician - he embodied the raw, no holds barred creativity of this short period of history. The Gold Griot was produced, written and presented by Leanne Wright. Edited by George Haskell. Special thanks to Fred Brathwaite, Justin Strauss, Francesco Martinelli, Shabaka Hutchings and everyone else involved in the making of this story. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

We speak to Mat Schulz - the Artistic Director of one of the world's most forward-thinking music festivals, Unsound - about how and why he programmes the shows he does, ahead of Unsound coming to the Barbican this December.Photo by Daniel Nettheim For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

We catch up with Surya Botofasina, a pianist who grew up in Alice Coltrane’s LA-based Ashram, about his life growing up with Alice and bringing her special brand of spiritual music to the world. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

‘It’s very hard to try to describe and put into a small soundbite what Joe Zawinul was. For me, he’s the entire musical world.’We speak to the conductor about the Jazz keyboardist and composer Joe Zawinul – who he worked with before the latter’s untimely passing – ahead of conducting his Stories of the Danube with the BBC Concert Orchestra. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

We speak to Moondog’s old friend Stefan Lakatos and contemporary Javanese composer Iwan Gunawan about their upcoming project, which sees them transform the Viking of Sixth Avenue’s unique music into Gamelan compositions. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

We take a trip to Richmond, Virginia in search of Spacebomb Records – Matthew E White’s record label who take an innovative approach to creating records. It’s all ahead of their one-night-only revue here this month... More info: http://bit.ly/2g7jSQN For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

The producer, composer and all-round sonic adventurer talks about his latest project exploring the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, ahead of bringing the show here in October. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Ahead of their audio collaboration (alongside the producer Actress) which takes inspiration from Steve Reich’s work to mark Indian Independence, Jack Barnett - one-half of These New Puritans – and the Indian producer Sandunes talk us through the project. Find out more : http://bit.ly/2vSNI5l For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

This week’s podcast – spanning both the Cinema and Contemporary Music programme – delves into the musical world of the cult director’s compelling cinematic oeuvre, from whiskey-soaked Tom Waits to John Lurie’s No Wave Sax. Ahead of the Jim Jarmusch Revisited show here in September 2017 (http://bit.ly/2g7X2v9), we talk to musical fans including Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos, David Coulter, Camille O’Sullivan, Mulatu Astatke, Jolie Holland and also to the journalist Karen Krizanovich. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Ahead of our Julius Eastman Memorial Dinner gig with Jace Clayton (AKA DJ/Rupture) we look into the saga of this most interesting of composers – a minimalist master and contemporary of Feldman and Cage – who died destitute and with many of his scores lost. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Following the release of his autobiographical 50 Song Memoir (with a song dedicated to each year of his life so far) and the live performance coming up in September, the idiosyncratic singer-songwriter talks to us about his music and his process. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

‘I’m always a creative soul, looking for the next thing…’ In one of his favourite ever interviews, Ben speaks to the double Mercury-nominated singer and songwriter Laura Mvula about her life, music and the upcoming show here with the London Symphony Orchestra. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

We spoke to the ex-Cocteau Twin about Bella Union, the record label he co-founded 20 years ago and still runs today and who’s nurtured the likes of Fleet Foxes, Dirty Three, Beach House and many more. We’re throwing the label a 20th birthday party this July, with gigs featuring Ezra Furman and Mercury Rev with Royal Northern Sinfonia. Find out more: http://bit.ly/2tJaib8 For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

We speak to the legendary techno producer/composer, the founder of Underground Resistance, a recent recipient of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and probably one of the most influential electronic musicians of all time. Jeff takes up residency at the Barbican in June 2017, with From Here to There – a series of live music, film and dance experiences looking at themes of sci-fi: http://bit.ly/2rJidIB For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

The Northumbrian folk group unearth the wistful work of Molly Drake – Nick’s mother – who wrote and recorded a series of poems and songs on a tape set-up in the family home, which the group have re-worked and recorded. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Originally taking place in Santiago de Cuba last year, Manana//Cuba festival married traditional Afro-Cuban sounds with forward-thinking electronics. We spoke to festival co-founder Harry Follett as well as Cuban/Iranian act Ariwo and UK-based electronic duo Soundspecies about how they plan to bring the atmosphere of Santiago to the Barbican Hall on 26 May. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Ahead of playing his music live for the first time ever, here at the Barbican in May 2017, we spoke to the legendary producer and DJ about his musical upbringing, performing live and the Simpsons. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

We delve into the four-hour minimalist masterpiece – one of the undoubted milestones of contemporary classical music – with three of the first musicians outside the Philip Glass Ensemble whom the composer has permitted to perform the piece: Bedroom Community pianist and organist James McVinnie, composer Timo Andres and pianist Eliza McCarthy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy