Author: justin

Luis Gasca’s career took him from a scholarship at Berklee to sharing stages and studios with the likes of Mongo Santamaría, Janis Joplin, and Santana—a journey through jazz, Latin music, and rock and roll marked equally by triumphs and personal struggle.

Raised in Laredo, Texas, and fueled by the Golden Age of MTV, Adrian Quesada channeled his diverse musical roots into a series of genre-bending side projects and a Grammy win, eventually skyrocketing to international fame as the co-founder of Black Pumas.

Darryl “DMC” McDaniels on the comic-book roots of his artistic alter ego, the sacrifices behind Run-D.M.C.’s rise, and why authenticity outlasts every trend the industry tries to sell.

From their origins as The Loved Ones in the mid-60s to their transformation into 1984 Love Machine, keyboardist Raphael Iaccarino shares a bit of the band’s history, local roots in the Davenport, Iowa music scene, and the story behind their cult-classic soul/funk 45.

Stix Hooper on the discipline of the pocket, the evolution of jazz-funk, and why true musicianship transcends the marketing-driven trends of the modern era.

Drummer Mel Brown chronicles his journey—spanning from childhood efforts with makeshift sticks to his iconic Motown tenure and a lifelong commitment to mentoring Portland’s jazz community—while detailing the philosophy that defines his signature rhythm.

In this installment of Liner Notes, award-winning drummer and composer Agneya talks his upcoming debut album, AGNEYA, a globally inspired rhythmic journey that bridges cultural boundaries and connects communities through a vibrant synthesis of jazz, folk, and experimental traditions.

Legendary Impressions vocalist Fred Cash, the group’s final surviving member, recounts a lifetime of music that transformed personal struggles into timeless anthems—a journey that began with him sneaking out to perform in Chattanooga nightclubs and eventually led to him shaping the very sound of soul alongside Curtis Mayfield.

Whether exploring the limits of genre or embracing the freedom of eclectic collaboration, Brian Jackson has spent his career relentlessly chasing the singular “shape” of sound.

A fearless pioneer of R&B and a precursor to the raw honesty of hip-hop, Millie Jackson candidly discusses her accidental rise to stardom, the power of self-management, and her unapologetic commitment to “real talk” and dual perspectives in music.