Jazz

The astonishing life and music of Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, the Ethiopian nun who has died at 99

March 29, 2023Music

Her exquisite piano compositions drew fans to the Jerusalem monastery where she lived after fleeing Ethiopia, in a stunning fourth act to her life.

‘It was a social revolution’: The Turkish Embassy’s surprising role in desegregating DC jazz

March 28, 2019

Maria Schneider: in progress

October 31, 2018Music

Space is the place

October 18, 2018

Stephane Wrembel on Django Reinhardt

September 12, 2018Music

South African trumpeter and musician Hugh Masekela performs on May 13, 2012.

From the archives: An interview with the late Hugh Masekela

January 23, 2018Music

The legendary South African jazz musician and anti-apartheid activist Hugh Masekela died Jan. 23 in Johannesburg. He was 78.

Remembering Argentine jazz great Gato Barbieri

April 4, 2016Music

Gato Barbieri was one cool cat, and it wasn’t just the trademark fedora. He earned his nickname while sneaking in and out of nightclubs around Buenos Aires when he was a kid. He went on to be regarded as a master saxophonist and band leader. The World’s Host Marco Werman has an appreciation.

New Orleans trumpet player Travis "Trumpet Black" Hill helped link New Orleans to the many jazz fans and musicians of Japan.

In New Orleans, Marco explores Japan’s jazz links to the Big Easy

May 22, 2015Music

PRI’s The World host Marco Werman is in the middle of a two-week, cross-country writing residency aboard Amtrak trains. His first stop was in New Orleans, where he heard about the death of famed trumpet player Travis “Trumpet Black” Hill and was reminded of how Japan and New Orleans are linked by a love of jazz

Jim Reeves on the Grand Ole Opry, September 3, 1960.

Why American country legend Jim Reeves endures … in Nigeria

March 22, 2015Culture

Nashville moved toward Reeves’ sound in the 1960s, then moved on. Africa’s most populous nation remains in his corner.

JuJu is made up of Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara, the band's founding members.

The music of JuJu is where West African tradition meets English punk

November 6, 2014Music

The genre “world music” is hard to define: It covers a broad range of styles and is constantly evolving. Take, for instance, the Gambian-English band JuJu — they derive equal inspiration from traditional West African music as they do from classic punk.