2026.01.05 Jay Rodriguez on Jim Pepper - 3 of 3

2026.01.05 Jay Rodriguez on Jim Pepper - 3 of 3

Author: Small Media Large February 15, 2026 Duration: 1:04:04
Meet me at Edge City.  Isn't that place where worlds collide the only one where new ideas are ever generated?  Saxophonist Jim Pepper knew all about these cultural collisions. His band Free Spirits was arguably the first to combine rock and jazz elements, and his oft-covered song Witchitai-To is perhaps the only hit to feature an authentic Native American chant in the history of the Billboard pop charts (we sure can't think of another one; can you?).  Yes, this man changed the world, at least twice!   This spirit of discovery and of sharing culture is what this episode of Deep Focus is all about.  Fellow multi-reedman Jay Rodriguez knows.  You know him as a founding member of Groove Collective, but this three-time Grammy nominee has also played with everyone from Prince to Stevie Wonder, Celia Cruz to Gil Evans.  He's one of the cats.    Jay Rodriguez joins host Mitch Goldman in the studios of WKCR to explore the soul and the legacy of Jim Pepper through live, unreleased recordings from the archives.  Deep Focus this Monday (Jan 5) from 6p to 9p NYC time on WKCR 89.9FM, WKCR-HD, or wkcr.org.   Or join us when it goes up on the Deep Focus podcast on your favorite podcasting app or at https://mitchgoldman.podbean.com/.  Subscribe right now to get notifications when new episodes are posted.  Just like WKCR, it's ad-free, all free, totally non-commercial.  We won't even ask for your contact info.  Learn more about Deep Focus at https://mitchgoldman.com/about-deep-focus/ or join us onInstagram @deep_focus_podcast.  Photo credit: publishing info not available.   #WKCR #DeepFocus #JimPepper #JayRodriguez #GrooveCollective #JazzRadio #JazzPodcast #JazzInterview #MitchGoldman   Deep Focus is a production of Small Media Large. 

Mitch Goldman, from Small Media Large, sits down with a different working musician each week for Deep Focus. The premise is beautifully simple yet endlessly revealing: together, they dive into rare archival recordings-bootlegs, demo tapes, lost studio sessions-of an artist the guest deeply admires. This isn't a standard interview format. Instead, you're listening in on a shared, intimate listening session between two knowledgeable fans. The conversation flows from technical dissection of a guitar tone to personal stories about how a particular live bootleg soundtracked a pivotal life moment. You'll hear the crackle of a vintage tape as Mitch and his guest pause, rewind, and marvel at a forgotten vocal take or an experimental arrangement that never made the official album. This podcast lives in the spaces between the famous tracks, uncovering the raw, unpolished moments that often reveal an artist's true process and passion. It’s for anyone who believes the magic isn't just in the finished product, but in the journey of how it got there. Each episode of Deep Focus feels like being invited into a private club where the sole entry fee is a genuine love for music's hidden corners.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Deep Focus
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