Host Maggie LePique & Stanley Clarke discuss the new release "Last Train to Sanity," a major project featuring new music, classic jazz-fusion remakes, and a significant autobiographical book, arriving as a 2-LP/CD set with a deluxe edition containing extra goodies, including a book called Notes From The Journey, "which is a book that goes from eight years old up until today,” Clarke says. “It has as much stuff as we could fit in there." Its available to pre-order January 26 2026, with the "4EVER" band supporting. Maggie & Stanley also discuss musicians who have had a life long and meaningful influence on the Four-time Grammy Award winner. “The 4EVER band includes drummer Jeremiah Collier, Colin Cook on guitar, Emilio Modeste on tenor sax and clarinet and Jahari Stampley on piano and keyboard. Special guest appearances throughout include a thrilling bass duet with Cameroonian bassist, Armand Sabal-Lecco, a beautiful reimagining of Clarke’s piece “Tradition” with Ruslan Sirota on piano and a duet between Stanley and Salar Nader, one of the most sought-after young tabla players.”

Stanley Clarke is one of the most celebrated acoustic and electric bass players in the world. He is equally gifted as a recording artist, performer, composer, conductor, arranger, producer, and film score composer. A true pioneer in jazz and jazz-fusion, Clarke is particularly known for his ferocious bass dexterity and consummate musicality. An accomplished film and TV composer of more than 70 projects, Clarke's credits include the Academy Award®-nominated Boyz N The Hood, the Tina Turner biopic What's Love Got To Do With It, and Barbershop: The Next Cut.

Stanley remains as driven today as the teen prodigy from Philly with big dreams, and now, a lifetime of legendary accomplishments and contributions.

Stanley Clarke and the 4EVER band will be performing Thurs. January 22-Sunday January 25, 2026 at the Blue Note Los Angeles in Hollywood. 2 shows nightly at 7pm and 9:30pm

Source: https://www.bluenotejazz.com/la/shows/?calendar_view

Source: https://stanleyclarke.com/

Host Maggie LePique, a radio veteran since the 1980's at NPR in Kansas City Mo. She began her radio career in Los Angeles in the early 1990's and has worked for Pacifica station KPFK Radio in Los Angeles since 1994.

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Maggie & John C. Reilly discuss “What’s Not to Love?” Mister Romantic’s debut album out now on Eternal Magic Recordings is a collection of beloved songs from the American Songbook reimagined by Reilly and his Grammy-winning band.

“What’s Not To Love?” was recorded in 2024 in Los Angeles at Nest Recorders and was co-produced by Reilly and Davíd Garza. In addition to Garza on piano and guitar, the band also includes Gabe Witcher on violin, Sebastian Steinberg on bass, and Charles De Castro on accordion and cornet.
CREATED BY JOHN C. REILLY

“I looked at our weary world a few years ago and tried to think of a way I could spread love and empathy. I decided the most fun way to do that was through performing and singing and telling people I love them…so the emotional vaudeville show Mister Romantic was born, out of both hope and despair.”

From studying theater as a kid growing up in Chicago, to amateur clowning as a teen and studying acting at The Theatre School at DePaul University, to his Oscar-nominated role starring in the film adaptation of Chicago and beloved performance starring in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, to his TONY-nominated performance in Sam Shepard’s True West, and more, theater and music have been pillars of John’s career.

What’s Not To Love? is a collection of gorgeous renditions of songs from the Great American Songbook backed by a band of multiple GRAMMY®-winners.

On lead single “Dream” Reilly delivers a gentle, dreamy sea-side cover of the 1944 Johnny Mercer song, which has previously been recorded by Frank Sinatra and Roy Orbison.

The album was recorded in 2024 in Los Angeles at Nest Recorders and was co-produced by Reilly and Davíd Garza (Fiona Apple, Sharon Van Etten). In addition to Garza on piano and guitar, the band also includes Gabe Witcher on violin (Punch Brothers, Rosanne Cash), Sebastian Steinberg on bass (Fiona Apple, Phoebe Bridgers), and Charles De Castro on accordion and cornet (Keb’ Mo’).

The 13 tracks include a pair of Irving Berlin songs, a trio of Tom Waits songs and many songs made famous by Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford and more. Reilly and this special band reimagine and re-embrace these beloved tunes and bring them again to another generation.

About the Live Show:
Prepare to be captivated by the incomparable John C. Reilly in Mister Romantic, a vaudeville show that has already garnered critical acclaim and captured the public’s imagination. The New York Times calls the show "wryly funny, sometimes tender and sad, but always sincere" and Vanity Fair describes it as “fiercely funny” and says "John C. Reilly is one hell of a singer." Mister Romantic asks you to open your heart to the love all around you and marks a new chapter in Reilly’s acclaimed career.

Source: https://www.misterromantic.com/

Source: https://www.steppenwolf.org/tickets--events/seasons-/2025-26/mister-romantic/

Source: https://www.misterromantic.com/music

Host Maggie LePique, a radio veteran since the 1980's at NPR in Kansas City Mo. She began her radio career in Los Angeles in the early 1990's and has worked for Pacifica station KPFK Radio in Los Angeles since 1994.

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In late September 2025, UMe, in conjunction with Frank Sinatra Enterprises, announced a new exclusive double-vinyl collection from Frank Sinatra, featuring his historic collaborations with Count Basie and Duke Ellington, entitled The Giants Of Jazz. This special release includes a pair of timeless albums—It Might As Well Be Swing with Count Basie and His Orchestra and Francis A. & Edward K. with Duke Ellington—newly remastered from the archival recordings. The package includes a new gatefold jacket design that incorporates rare photographs as well as the original artwork. Comprising seminal performances from Sinatra, Basie, and Ellington, the title The Giants Of Jazz couldn’t be more apropos. Maggie & Charlie discuss each of these legendary recordings starting with 1964's It Might As Well Be Swing with Sinatra accompanied by Basie in tandem with his orchestra on ten tracks for the second time following 1962’s Sinatra-Basie, and it was Sinatra’s first studio album arranged by Quincy Jones. We discuss the magic created by Quincy Jones and the beautiful lifelong friendship which began during this musically fruitful period in Sinatra's recording career. Then secondly, we discuss the genius of Duke Ellington and how the 2 came together. Sinatra was instrumental in bringing Ellington's orchestra to his Reprise Records label, creating the opportunity for them to work together on the album Francis A. & Edward K., which was recorded on Sinatra's 52nd birthday, December 12, 1967.

CHARLES PIGNONE is a producer and writer. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Sinatra Treasures and also The Copa, The Sinatra Family Photo Album and Sinatra 100. He has produced over 50 albums including “Sinatra: Nothing But The Best” and “Ultimate Sinatra.” Charles also co-produced Seth MacFarlene's most recent album Lush Life: The Lost Sinatra Arrangements. He also co-produced the television specials “Sinatra Sings,’ HBO documentary 'Sinatra: All Or Nothing At All’ and CBS’s ‘Sinatra 100’ Grammy special. Mr. Pignone began his association with Frank Sinatra in 1984 and is the president of Frank Sinatra Enterprises.

Source: https://www.sinatra.com/ume-release-new-frank-sinatra-double-vinyl-set-the-giants-of-jazz/

Source: https://www.sinatra.com/

Host Maggie LePique, a radio veteran since the 1980's at NPR in Kansas City Mo. She began her radio career in Los Angeles in the early 1990's and has worked for Pacifica station KPFK Radio in Los Angeles since 1994.

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Legendary guitarist and primary songwriter for the iconic Rock Band The Doors discusses the 60th Anniversary of The Doors concert which took place Thurs. October 30, 2025 at the Greek Theatre with a cavalcade of special guests. Maggie & Robby discuss the early days of The Doors, meeting John Densmore and how & why the band had a transformative impact not only on popular music but on popular culture. The interview took place at KPFK studios on October 15, 2025 with host Maggie LePique

Robby Krieger held a 60th-anniversary concert for The Doors, titled "A 60th Anniversary Doors Celebration," on October 30, 2025, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. The show featured a full performance of the album Morrison Hotel and other Doors classics, with guest vocalists including Perry Farrell, Billy Idol, Steve Stevens, and Deryck Whibley. The evening also included an opening set by Tripform, featuring Pablo Manzarek. Check out some of the performances on YouTube.

Source: https://robbykrieger.com/

Source: https://thedoors.com/

Host Maggie LePique, a radio veteran since the 1980's at NPR in Kansas City Mo. She began her radio career in Los Angeles in the early 1990's and has worked for Pacifica station KPFK Radio in Los Angeles since 1994.

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One of the most remarkable and unusual box sets “Tracks II: The Lost Albums, seven previously-unheard Bruce Springsteen records have been released as a nine LP or seven CD collection. Spanning 83 songs - 74 of which have never been released in any form - Tracks II: The Lost Albums offers an unprecedented look into more than three prolific decades of Springsteen’s life and work as an artist.

Maggie's guest for this conversation is veteran Rock DJ Rita Wilde who shares her insights into the iconic Mr. Springsteen and this amazing release of his music.

Seven previously-unheard Bruce Springsteen records will be released for the first time this summer on the widely-rumored and long-anticipated “Tracks II: The Lost Albums,” coming June 27 via Sony Music. A set spanning 83 songs, "The Lost Albums" fill in rich chapters of Springsteen’s expansive career timeline — while offering invaluable insight into his life and work as an artist. “'The Lost Albums' were full records, some of them even to the point of being mixed and not released,” said Springsteen. “I’ve played this music to myself and often close friends for years now. I’m glad you’ll get a chance to finally hear them. I hope you enjoy them.”

From the lo-fi exploration of “LA Garage Sessions ’83” — serving as a crucial link between “Nebraska” and “Born in the U.S.A.” — to the drum loop and synthesizer sounds of “Streets of Philadelphia Sessions,” “The Lost Albums” offer unprecedented context into 35 prolific years (1983-2018) of Springsteen’s songwriting and home recording. “The ability to record at home whenever I wanted allowed me to go into a wide variety of different musical directions,” Springsteen explained. Throughout the set, that sonic experimentation takes the form of film soundtrack work (for a movie that was never made) on “Faithless,” country combos with pedal steel on “Somewhere North of Nashville,” richly-woven border tales on “Inyo” and orchestra-driven, mid-century noir on “Twilight Hours.” Alongside the announcement of “The Lost Albums,” a first look at the collection also arrives today with “Rain In The River” — which comes from the lost album “Perfect World,” and encapsulates that project’s arena-ready E Street flavor.

We also dedicate our time together to our mutual friend, the iconic Jim Ladd.

James William Ladd (January 17, 1948 – December 17, 2023) was an American disc jockey, radio producer and writer. He was one of the last notable remaining freeform rock DJs in United States commercial radio. We LOVE you Jim! ❤️

Host Maggie LePique, a radio veteran since the 1980's at NPR in Kansas City Mo. She began her radio career in Los Angeles in the early 1990's and has worked for Pacifica station KPFK Radio in Los Angeles since 1994.

Source: https://www.rockgodzhalloffame.com/photos/rita-wilde/

Source: https://brucespringsteen.net/news/2025/bruce-springsteens-tracks-ii-the-lost-albums-featuring-7-never-heard-full-length-records/

Source: https://www.jimladdrocks.com/

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Don Randi is a keyboard player, songwriter, arranger, bandleader and one of the most prolific session musicians in history. Don was born in New York City but raised in the Catskill Mountains where he studied classical music. He moved to Los Angeles in 1954 and, by the early 60s, Don was leading his own groups and working with a who's who of now legendary artists. Don is also the founder and owner of the long-standing L.A. nightclub the Baked Potato which he opened way back in 1970.

Denny Tedesco is a film producer known for the documentaries "Immediate Family" and "The Wrecking Crew" although Mr. Tedesco has worked on films over the years as a set director, lighting technician, grip and location producer.

Maggie, Don & Denny discuss the revolving cast of musical characters we now know as The Wrecking Crew and later we discuss the extraordinary musical legacy of Brian Wilson who passed away June 11, 2025 at the age of 82.

Brian Douglas Wilson was an American musician, songwriter, singer, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. He was born on June 20, 1942, at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, California and passed away on June 11, 2025 at the age of 82 in Beverly Hills.

Brian Wilson has been frequently called a genius for his compositions and recording techniques and is regarded as one of the most significant songwriters in popular music.

His best-known work is distinguished by high production values, complex harmonies, orchestrations and vocal layering.

In 1961, Brian began his professional career as a member of the Beach Boys, serving as the band's songwriter, producer, co-lead vocalist, bassist, keyboardist, and de facto leader. After signing with Capitol Records in 1962, he became the first pop musician credited for writing, arranging, producing, and performing his own material.

By the mid-1960s he had written or co-written more than two dozen American Top 40 hits, including the #1 hits "Surf City" (1963), "I Get Around" (1964), "Help Me, Rhonda" (1965), and "Good Vibrations" (1966). He is considered among the first music producer auteurs and one of the first rock producers to use the studio as an instrument. We dedicate the show to Brian Wilson, there will never be another so bright and so brilliant!

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Randi
Source: https://www.wreckingcrewfilm.com/
Source: https://www.brianwilson.com/
Source: https://thebeachboys.com/

Host Maggie LePique, a radio veteran since the 1980's at NPR in Kansas City Mo. She began her radio career in Los Angeles in the early 1990's and has worked for Pacifica station KPFK Radio in Los Angeles since 1994.

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Maggie speaks with legendary guitarist, songwriter and founded member of The Doors about The Doors 60th Anniversary this year (2025) and all the exciting events and releases that are happening and will be happening.

Robby Krieger is the guitarist for the legendary rock band The Doors and the songwriter behind some of the band’s biggest hits, including “Love Me Two Times,” “Touch Me,” “Love Her Madly,” and their #1 smash, “Light My Fire.” The Doors have sold over a hundred million albums worldwide, inspired a major feature film, been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy®, and been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Robby, meanwhile, has also become a Grammy®-nominated solo artist, and was listed among the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” by Rolling Stone. He is also an accomplished painter and the co-founder of the annual Medlock-Krieger Rock & Roll Golf Classic & All-Star Concert.

Source: https://robbykrieger.com/#x-content-band-3
Source: https://whiskyagogo.com/calendar/
Source: https://thedoors.com/
Source: https://www.artforacause.net/
Source: https://www.genesis-publications.com/book/9781905662883/night-divides-the-day

Host Maggie LePique, a radio veteran since the 1980's at NPR in Kansas City Mo. She began her radio career in Los Angeles in the early 1990's and has worked for Pacifica station KPFK Radio in Los Angeles since 1994.

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Michelle Coltrane and Maggie LePique discuss her Mother, Alice Coltrane and the year-long celebration currently underway that’s being called “The Year of Alice.”
This celebration spans 2024-2025 and features previously unreleased music and reissues, brand new community programming, a multimedia museum exhibit, specially curated concerts, newly choreographed ballet works and much more.
Jazz musician, composer, bandleader and spiritual and devotional leader, Alice Coltrane was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1937 to Solon and Annie McLeod, the fifth of six children. By the age of nine, she played organ during services at Mount Olive Baptist church.
In the early 60’s she began playing jazz as a professional in Detroit with her own trio and as a duo with vibist Terry Pollard.
Alice Coltrane would go on to collaborate and performed with Kenny Clarke, Kenny Burrell, Ornette Coleman, Pharaoh Sanders, Charlie Haden, Roy Haynes, Jack DeJonette, Carlos Santana and more.
Mrs Coltrane’s interest in gospel, classical, and jazz music led to the creation of her own innovative style. Her proficiency on keyboard, organ, and harp was remarkable and her artistry matured into amazing arrangements and compositions.
Her twenty recordings cover a time span from Monastic Trio (1968) to Translinear Light (2004).

Michelle discusses at length one of the events here in Southern California that is part of the Year of Alice.
Here in L.A. the exhibition Alice Coltrane, Monument Eternal at the Hammer Museum in Westwood is inspired by the life and legacy of jazz musician, composer and bandleader as well a spiritual and devotional leader, Alice Coltrane.

This exhibition is part of a larger initiative called “The Year of Alice," and in partnership with the John & Alice Coltrane Home, Impulse Records, The New York Historical Society, the Detroit Jazz Festival and more.

The exhibition presents works by contemporary American artists paired with items Coltrane’s personal archive and features a range of mediums including video, performance, and sculpture together with Coltrane’s archival hand-written correspondence, unreleased audio recordings, and rarely seen video footage.

The Year of Alice events include:
Reissues of Alice Coltrane's albums and previously unreleased music
Specially curated concerts in cities including New York, Brooklyn, Detroit, and California
A multimedia museum exhibit
Newly choreographed dance works
Community programming and an Oral History Project
Discussions about Coltrane's life and work
Partners in the celebration are:
Impulse! Records
Detroit Jazz Festival
Hammer Museum
Alonzo King LINES Ballet
The New York Historical Society
Shapeshifter Lab
Lyon & Healey Harps

Source: https://thecoltranehome.org/2024/03/16/let-the-year-of-alice-begin/
Source: https://www.alicecoltrane.com/
Source: https://hammer.ucla.edu/exhibitions/2025/alice-coltrane-monument-eternal

Host Maggie LePique, a radio veteran since the 1980's at NPR in Kansas City Mo. She began her radio career in Los Angeles in the early 1990's and has worked for Pacifica station KPFK Radio in Los Angeles since 1994.

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