Programming Highlights

In an all-new episode, Steve Jones-D'Agostino, chief pilot of Best Rate of Climb, interviews Joe Grafton, director of development and community engagement for the American Independent Business Alliance, and Julie Theriault, executive director of Worcester Local First. They talk about how thinking - and acting - local helps top build healthy, sustainable communities.

Joe Grafton has dedicated the last decade of his life to shifting culture and paradigms to support sustainable local economies and community-based businesses. He is the founding executive director and a current board member at Somerville Local First – a leading local-business alliance –  a board member at the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts, a steering-committee  member of the New England Local Economy Network, co-chair of the Pioneer Valley Slow Money Chapter, and director and treasurer for the Together Festival, Boston's version Austin's  South By Southwest. He brings skills and experience in fund-raising, speaking, training, marketing, social media, operations and planning to AMIBA. He focuses on driving resources to the localization movement while engaging and supporting AMIBA leaders.

Julie Theriault has more than 15 years of experience in business management, in the areas of hiring, training, merchandising, inventory and payroll. From 2002 to 2007, she was manager of The Gap stores in Leominster and Montreal. From 1997 to 2002, she was store director of Birks & Sons in the Montreal area.

In the spirit of full disclosure, Steve Jones-D'Agostino is past coordinator of Worcester Local First.

'La Perfecta' - pianist and composer Eddie Palmieri's first band - aptly describes his perfect mix of driving Afro-Cuban grooves and jazz rhythms.  Palmieri takes the helm with two of his ensembles - the Eddie Palmieri Orchestra and Afro-Caribbean Jazz Octet - in this high-octane retrospective, honoring his half century of music.

Bassist Linda Oh was born in Malaysia to Chinese parents, and moved to Western Australia where she started out playing bass in rock bands. Since discovering the double bass, Oh become a steady presence on the scene whether playing with a string quartet, composing for film, or covering the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Oh brings her unique low end flavor to this set with Jon Weber.

Inquiry welcomes back COURT CARNEY, Assistant Professor of History at Stephen F. Austin State University. His latest book is a fascinating history of jazz, race and media titled CUTTIN’ UP: HOW EARLY JAZZ GOT AMERICA’S EAR. Tonight, in part two of our conversation about his book,  we talk about the jazz scene in Los Angeles in the 1920s and 30s, who were the movers and shakers, and how they figure into the larger history of jazz. We also talk about jazz in the early days of film, silents and talkies. If you are interested in the history of jazz, do not miss this show.

During the Golden Age of Hollywood, there the “Big Five” studios that included  MGM, Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Brothers. But in addition to these giants of film making, there were also a number of smaller studios. Some of these lesser studios produced fine major films like Gone With the Wind and Spellbound, while others concentrated on serials and “B” films. Each of them has a fascinating history. On this Inquiry we welcome back WHEELER WINSTON DIXON and we continue our conversation about his book DEATH OF THE MOGULS: THE END OF CLASSICAL HOLLYWOOD. Tonight we concentrate on the stories of these smaller studios like United Artists, David O. Selznick (shown here with Jennifer Jones) and Republic Pictures, the films they produced, the stars, and the unusual lives of the men who headed these studios. If you love film, do not miss this interview!.

In his new book "The Great Convergence" best selling author and respected educator Kishore Mahbubani argues that most of the great errors in foreign policy and diplomacy come from a failure to understand the perspective of other nations. This week Al speaks with Kishore Mahbubani about his views on world diplomacy. Tune in this Sunday evening at 10:30 for a very riveting discussion.

Trombone virtuoso talks about the influence his trombone-playing father Bill Allred had on him growing up and what it takes to be a great player in every setting.

Happy Birthday, Kenny Barron, born June 9, 1943

Understated but amazing, those words fit Kenny Barron’s piano and personal style. By age 20, he had left Philadelphia to work and record with Dizzy Gillespie, then Yusef Lateef, Stan Getz, the Monk-inspired quartet Sphere, and KB’s own groups including Canta Brasil. In 2010 the NEA named him a Jazz Master. We’ll celebrate his birthday with his current duo with bassist Dave Holland at the Kennedy Center, and solo Barron from last summer’s Caramoor Festival.

Banjoist Cynthia Sayer is regarded as one of the best in the world, able to perform in virtually any genre. Her accolades include the National Banjo Hall of Fame, a New York Philharmonic appearance, and performing for two US Presidents. She's played with director Woody Allen's jazz band for over ten years, and on this week's show Sayer diplays a fresh take on an old time sound.

Award-winning vocalist Karen Oberlin is one of the premier interpreters of the Great American Songbook. She's also a theater veteran whose credits include the first stage production of Rent as well as more than one hundred Off- Broadway performances of the hit show Our Sinatra. On this week's Piano Jazz, Oberlin presents an intimate set of timeless music.

As the keyboardist for the trio Medeski, Martin, & Wood, John Medeski has brought jazz & fusion to rock audiences for more than two decades. He recently began playing solo piano performances in venues world-wide. This week Medeski joins host Jon Weber to perform new pieces from his solo piano album as well as a surprising duet or two.

French singer Mina Agossi draws on opera, hip hop and jazz to create her unique approach to the Great American Songbook.