Pianist, composer, and arranger John Beasley joins host Steve Roby for an in-depth discussion about his extraordinary career, his new album Invisible Piano, and an upcoming all-star Miles Davis centennial tribute concert in San Francisco.

Beasley explores his musical roots — from a household full of musicians to early influences like The Beatles, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, and Quincy Jones — and reflects on his journey through jazz, film, television, and large ensemble composition.

He talks about how a trip to a Stuttgart art gallery, and the surrealist paintings of Max Ernst inspired the creative process behind Invisible Piano, recorded with Germany's SWR Big Band. The album includes five original compositions and two new arrangements, such as a deeply personal rendition of James Taylor's "Fire and Rain."

John also previews ‘Unlimited Miles: Miles Davis at 100,’ an all-star jazz centennial celebration at the Presidio Theater in San Francisco on May 14, featuring Kurt Rosenwinkel, Mark Turner, Sean Jones, Terry Gully, and Ben Williams.

Music featured in this episode:

• “Fire and Rain” — arranged and performed by John Beasley (from Invisible Piano)
• “Invisible Piano” (title track) — John Beasley with the SWR Big Band (from Invisible Piano)

Music provided by John Beasley and used with his permission.

Links:

• John Beasley: johnbeasleymusic.com
• Tickets for Unlimited Miles at the Presidio Theater (May 14th): presidiotheatre.org/shows
• Backstage Bay Area: backstagebayarea.com

Jazz trumpeter and composer David Weiss joins host Steve Roby for a wide-ranging conversation about a life built on music. From his early days in Queens, where he absorbed hard rock, fusion, and European avant-garde sounds, to leading some of contemporary jazz's most distinctive ensembles, Weiss reflects on the organic path that brought him to where he is today.

We dig into his latest album, Auteur (Origin Records) — a title he half-jokingly suggests should end with a question mark — and explore what it means to maintain a recognizable musical identity across multiple projects. David shares the stories behind two tracks from the album: "Resilience," a tribute to pianist George Cables, and "The Other Side of the Mountain," inspired by Ron Carter's reflections on perseverance and a Martin Luther King speech on the long arc of progress.

David also opens up about The Cookers — his hard-bop supergroup approaching its 20th year — the recent Kennedy Center cancellation amid the current political climate, and the challenge of keeping a band together when the musicians you love most are in their 80s and still outplaying everyone in the room.

The conversation ends with a look ahead to the David Weiss Sextet's upcoming five-city West Coast tour, featuring two sets at SF Jazz's Joe Henderson Lab in San Francisco.

Songs Featured in This Episode:

“Resilience” — David Weiss Sextet (Auteur, Origin Records)

“The Other Side of the Mountain” — David Weiss Sextet (Auteur, Origin Records)

*Both songs are from the album Auteur and were provided by the artist and used with their permission.

Show Details

🎷 Backstage Bay Area

Host: Steve Roby

Upcoming Show:

David Weiss Sextet

📍 SF Jazz – Joe Henderson Lab, San Francisco, CA

📅 Sunday, May 17th

🕕 Two sets: 6:00 PM & 7:30 PM

🎟 Tickets: sfjazz.org

Pro tip: Open seating — arrive early for the best seats.

David Weiss Sextet Members:

EJ Strickland | Myron Walden | David Bryant | Eric Wheeler | Ben Solomon | David Weiss

Album: Auteur — Out now on Origin Records

Show Notes:

In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with Swedish jazz sensation and multi-instrumentalist Gunhild Carling — a trombonist, trumpeter, flautist, harpist, bagpipe player, tap dancer, and bandleader. Known as "Sweden's Queen of Swing," Gunhild brings an infectious, high-energy blend of classic New Orleans jazz and vintage swing, earning her over 80 million social media views and fans worldwide.

We talk with Gunhild from New Orleans, where she's in the middle of a residency on Bourbon Street during Jazz Fest. She shares how she grew up in a deeply musical family in Sweden, what it means to power music with feeling, and how she approaches choosing the right instrument to tell a song's story. She also reflects on her time living in the Bay Area during the pandemic — and how it inspired some of her most personal songwriting, including a love letter to San Francisco.

Topics covered:

• Growing up in a musical family in Sweden and finding her voice at age 15
• The philosophy behind her multi-instrument performances and the influence of Rahsaan Roland Kirk
• What "Jazz is My Lifestyle" means as a personal and artistic statement
• Writing I'll Wait for You in San Francisco during the pandemic lockdown in the Bay Area
• Her upcoming shows at SFJAZZ's Joe Henderson Lab — May 23 & 24 — and what audiences can expect, including new songs, tap dancing, and bagpipes

Music featured in this episode:

• "Jazz is My Lifestyle" — Gunhild Carling
• "I'll Wait for You in San Francisco" — Gunhild Carling

Music provided by the artist and used with her permission. Both tracks are from the album Jazz is My Lifestyle, available now.

Upcoming Shows — Gunhild Carling at SFJAZZ Joe Henderson Lab 📅Friday, May 23 — Shows at 7:00 PM & 8:30 PM 📅 Saturday, May 24 — Shows at 6:00 PM & 7:30 PM

Joe Henderson Lab is open seating — arrive early for a front-row spot!

🎟 Tickets and info: SFJAZZ.org 🌐 More on Gunhild Carling, including tour dates and music: gunhildcarling.net

Backstage Bay Area is hosted by Steve Roby.