Results for "Cassandra Wilson"

Cassandra Wilson

Born: December 4, 1955

The voice is more visual than audible; shaded, iridescent, tangible, substantial. It seems to flow effortlessly. Read any of the dozen or so biographies on Cassandra Wilson and you’ll discover some basics: born and reared in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s and 70s by musician and educator parents.

Classically trained on piano from age 6 until the age of 13, she also received further musical instruction as a clarinetist for the concert and marching bands of secondary school. During the 70s, she could be found performing Joni Mitchell songs behind an acoustic guitar, or singing with a blues band in Little Rock, Arkansas,  infront of a large funk band in Jackson, or in the company of long-time friends in an all-girls ensemble. In the eighties, Cassandra moved to New Orleans where she performed with local luminaries Earl Turbinton and Ellis Marsalis. After a year, she relocated to East Orange, New Jersey where she made a decision to take her chances on the New York jazz scene. After a stint as the main vocalist with Steve Coleman’s M-Base Collective, Cassandra began recording on her own.

New Releases and Avant Classics

by Jon Greenbaum
October 11, 2026

How many new releases are highlighted? Eight. What else? Jazz from the past century--stuff that pushed the tradition a bit and stuff that pushed the tradition a lot.Playlist Cassandra Wilson “Electromagnolia" from Days Aweigh (JMT) 0h 0m 0s Lester Bowie “Sardegna Amore" from The 5th Power (Black Saint) 0h 4m 40s Ishamel Reed “Rhythm ...

Camila Nebbia, Satoko Fujii & Cassandra Wilson

by Maurice Hogue
October 5, 2026

This episode is a mixed bag of new and almost new music from new releases. There's a definite Berlin, Germany connection to two of the featured albums--that city is now home base for Argentinian saxophonist Camila Nebbia who continues to march through the free jazz world with abandon. Her newest release, Limbo , introduces her new ...

Chad Fowler / Eri Yamamoto: Polkadots & Moonbeams

by Mark Corroto
September 29, 2026

Some of the finest duo recordings give the listener the sensation of eavesdropping on an intimate encounter. The recordings of Tony Bennett and Bill Evans come to mind, as does the music of Billie Holiday and Lester Young. Polkadots & Moonbeams, by pianist Eri Yamamoto and saxophonist Chad Fowler, creates that same feeling. Although recorded in ...

Mike Jones, George Benson, Dawn Lambeth, Ayumi Tanaka, Brittany Pitt, Matthew Wilson's Good Trouble & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
September 21, 2026

This broadcast includes new music from Mike Jones, George Benson, Dawn Lambeth, Ayumi Tanaka, Brittany Pitt, Matthew Wilson's Good Trouble, with birthday shoutouts to Doris Tauber (Them There Eyes, Drinkin' Again) Champian Fulton, Marcus Goldhaber, Christie Dashiell, Lorraine Feather, among others. Happy listening and please support the artists you hear--see them live, buy their music so ...

Cassandra Wilson: Iconic Memories - Part 3

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 16, 2026

A musical remembrance of Cassandra Wilson and a voice that made even experimental music sound sensual and tangible, and turned old tunes into something modern, when not futuristic. Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Harriet Tubman, Cassandra Wilson “Bow Legged Man" Black Sun Live at BRIC House ...

Andy Sheppard, Jonathan Karrant, Eva Cassidy, Wadada Leo Smith

by Cheryl K.
September 17, 2026

During this week's two-hour program of jazz and improvised music--pianists/composers Senri Oe, Kelly Green, and Sullivan Fortner; saxophonists Andy Sheppard and Linda Sikhakhane; vocalists Jonathan Karrant, Eva Cassidy, and Brigitte Fontaine; guitarist Aaron Quinn's Sunchoke; and the duo David / David.Playlist Rare Silk “Storm" from American Eyes (Palo Alto) 5:33 Senri Oe “Pure Scars" ...

Cassandra Wilson Tribute (RIP); New Music from Joey DeFrancesco, Doug Webb, and Others

by David W. Daniels
September 15, 2026

Additional music in the show includes new music from Sullivan Fortner, Stella Cole, and More. Recognizing this week's jazz musician birthdays with music from Sonny Rollins, Brian Lynch, Hiram Bullock, and others.Playlist Cassandra Wilson} &#147;Autumn Nocturne" from <em> Blue Skies </em> (JMT) 00:00 </li> <li> {{m: Steve Coleman “Soul Melange" from Sine Die (Pangaea) ...

Cassandra Wilson: Iconic Memories - Part 2

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 15, 2026

On one record, Cassandra Wilson could sound like the deepest Mississippi blues singer; on another, she could be immersed in the most advanced rhythmic ideas of M-Base; and then she could walk into an R&B session with Luther Vandross or The Roots and sound completely at home. This playlist only scratches the surface of that extraordinary ...

Cassandra Wilson: Iconic Memories - Part 1

by Ludovico Granvassu
September 14, 2026

A retrospective built around the adventurous spirit that ran through Cassandra Wilson's music, from her formative years in the M-Base orbit to her later work at the crossroads of jazz, blues, soul, R&B and beyond.Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Cassandra Wilson “Run the VooDoo Down" Traveling ...