The Late Set

Emmet Cohen makes music for the people. That isn’t to say he panders or dumbs it down. Cohen is simply a pianist who puts connection at the center of his performance ethic, whether he’s burning down the bandstand, lighting up a livestream or laying it down in the studio.




He has also made a point of seeking out his jazz elders and welcoming younger fans into the fold, all with a spirit of upbeat discovery. There’s a reason DownBeat’s July cover story bears the headline “Emmet Cohen: Messenger of Joy.”




Cohen recently came through Philadelphia with his tour Miles and Coltrane at 100 and stopped by WRTI for a lively chat. Along with saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, he also performed the title suite from his new album, Universal Truth.




Watch the performance of the “Universal Truth” suite:

youtu.be/3O-9LYjxj88





Watch our interview with Emmet Cohen:

youtu.be/N-Cps3TDKvI




Chapters


00:00 — Intro

02:05 — Miles & Coltrane at 100

05:12 — The Rise of Emmet's Place

12:10 — Building a Worldwide Jazz Community

16:25 — Reaching New Audiences

22:08 — Emmet Cohen on AI

24:22 — Why Young People Are Finding Jazz

29:50 — The Meaning of Universal Truth

33:00 — Live Piano Performance: “Eternal Glimpse”

34:10 — Writing Music Inspired by Miles & Coltrane

37:40 — Legacy, Mentorship and What Lasts

40:35 — Becoming the “Vibe Provider”

42:42 — Josh & Nate React

44:44 — “This I Dig”

50:47 — Credits





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When Chris Speed formed Yeah No in the late 1990s, there was no lane for its hybrid style, which drew from both post-punk and post-bop, with shoegaze and Balkan klezmer folded into the mix. Speed, a multi-reedist, had intrepid partners in trumpeter Cuong Vu, bassist Skúli Sverrisson and drummer Jim Black — each a sonic visionary, and all committed to a shared band ideal.




Since then, the musicians have pursued other projects in far-flung locales. So it felt momentous this spring when Yeah No kicked off a reunion tour at Solar Myth under the auspices of Ars Nova Workshop, whose inaugural show the band played more than 25 years ago.




Before the performance, Speed and Black sat down for an onstage interview with Nate Chinen, whose history with the band stretches back to that era.



Chapters


00:00 — Intro

07:00 — Interview with Chris Speed and Jim Black

42:30 — “This I Dig”




Special thanks to Beau Gordon, Mark Christman and the folks at Ars Nova Workshop and Solar Myth.




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We’ve rarely seen a centennial celebration like the one that coalesced around Miles Davis: cover stories,
deluxe reissues, luxury brand partnerships and tributes of every imaginable form.




Then again, we’ve rarely seen an artist like Miles — who once credibly claimed to have “changed music four or five times.”




His body of work remains a source of endless fascination. In this episode, Josh Jackson and Nate Chinen sit down to compare notes and highlights,
including some of the less celebrated turns and pivots in a famously forward-thinking career.




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For more than 25 years, bassist Carlos Henriquez has been the beating heart of the rhythm section in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra,
as well as other bands led by Wynton Marsalis. He’s done more than his share of swinging in those settings.
But as a product of the Nuyorican community, Henriquez has also remained deeply rooted in clave —
the pulse at the center of folkloric Afro-Latin music.




In this episode, he joins Josh Jackson to discuss Monk con Clave, his dynamite new album with the JALC Orchestra,
featuring special guests including pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and percussionist Pedrito Martínez.




Henriquez also reflects on his formative path through jazz education,
and weighs in on a timely question of succession.



Chapters


00:00 — Intro

03:05 — Interview with Carlos Henriquez

40:36 — Carlos Henriquez performs “I Mean You” (solo bass) and discusses his bass inspirations

1:00:28 — “This I Dig”




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When we declare music a “universal language,” what space do we leave for regional dialects and local customs?
How has jazz evolved from a uniquely American export into a music that truly knows no borders?
These and other questions hang in the air as we prepare to celebrate International Jazz Day at a moment of roiling global tensions.




It feels like the right time to connect with Kresten Osgood — a Danish drummer, composer and commentator,
and host of the podcast Dangerous Sounds. He joins Josh Jackson for a far-ranging conversation,
sharing his perspective on the music and the mission.




Following the interview, Osgood performed a solo drum improvisation. Watch here:

youtu.be/arjCn6U4QRU




Chapters


00:00 — Intro

04:30 — Interview with Kresten Osgood

43:22 — “This I Dig”




Want to support The Late Set?
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wrti.org/donate





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Write us an email:
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