Following the deaths of Prince and David Bowie, Brooke reflects on a difficult year that inspired her to return to music after believing she had left that chapter of her life behind.

She introduces AOA, a Minneapolis-based musical collective that recorded a powerful interpretation of David Bowie's "I'm Afraid of Americans," created in support of the Standing Rock movement and opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Brooke discusses the musicians behind the project, the remarkable creativity of the Minneapolis music community, her personal reaction to Prince's passing, and the importance of artists speaking out about issues that matter to them.

The conversation also explores her writing project In Praise of Men, her musical history with Lollipop and Glean, and her longstanding relationship with Joe Kelley's radio program, which premiered several of her recordings.

Originally broadcast in 2016, this interview captures an unforgettable moment in Minneapolis music history.

Hosted by Joe Kelley

Musicians Reveal: Beyond

Discover more interviews and rare radio archives at https://musiciansreveal.com

One of the most distinctive voices in contemporary jazz, Carter has expanded the expressive possibilities of the violin through her adventurous musicianship, improvisational approach and ability to connect jazz with a wide range of musical traditions.

Revisit this archival conversation with an extraordinary artist whose creativity and musical vision have helped redefine the role of the violin in modern jazz.

Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley has been celebrating musicians and their stories since 1982, featuring conversations with influential artists across jazz, funk, soul, blues, rock and beyond.

Explore more interviews and archival recordings at www.musiciansreveal.com.

In this fascinating archival conversation, de Wilde discusses his deep admiration for jazz icon Thelonious Monk, the unexpected circumstances that led him to write a biography of Monk, and the creative journey behind his New Monk Trio recording.

De Wilde shares insights into reimagining Monk's classic compositions, including "'Round Midnight," and discusses his musical collaborators, the art of improvisation, and the importance of sound and rhythm.

The conversation also explores his formative years in the New York jazz scene during the 1980s, his experiences at the Montreal Jazz Festival, collaborations with Ray Lema, and the vibrant multicultural music scene in Paris.

A thoughtful conversation about jazz history, creativity, musical individuality, and the enduring genius of Thelonious Monk.

From the archives of Upper Room with Joe Kelley on WVOF 88.5 FM.

Presented by Musicians Reveal: Beyond with Joe Kelley, celebrating extraordinary musicians and conversations from more than four decades of music broadcasting.

Ray discusses his album Wisdom and explains how he builds his recordings one instrument at a time from his home studio. He talks about his longtime love of the 12-string guitar, growing up with The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and blues, and the influence of artists including Todd Rundgren and Prince.

Gilman also reflects on Minnesota's music scene, performing as an independent artist, balancing original songs with live gigs, family, and the lessons he's learned over decades in the business.

Plus, Ray offers some practical advice for young musicians trying to build a career and stay focused on the music.

Originally recorded in 2024.

Musicians Reveal: Beyond with Joe Kelley — conversations with musicians and creative artists across genres.

Tuck Andress and Patti Cathcart discuss their album A Gift of Love, which grew from their strong following in Japan before reaching audiences in the United States. They talk about choosing and reinventing classic songs, preparing for live performances, recording and producing together, and building a musical partnership that has lasted for decades.

Tuck also discusses his approach to guitar, why he has little interest in collecting instruments, and the Gibson L-5 that traveled with him on roughly 1,200 flights. Patti shares her perspective as a producer and arranger and how she continues to challenge Tuck musically.

The conversation also explores their decision to become independent artists, retain ownership of their masters, their longtime connection with audiences in Japan, and the story of how Tuck and Patti first met in 1978.

Originally recorded in 2004 for the Upper Room with Joe Kelley on WVOF 88.5 FM.

From the Musicians Reveal archives.

Hosted by Joe Kelley.

Brown discusses working with Marcus Miller and the importance of capturing musicians playing live in the studio. He also tells the story of recording in Minneapolis with Ricky Peterson and Michael Bland, whom Brown calls “phenomenal.” transcript-1790792508276 transcript-1790792508276

The conversation reaches back to Brown's years with Vital Information alongside Mike Stern, his experience at Berklee, and his collaborations with Bernard Wright and Lalah Hathaway. Brown also discusses the wide range of music that shaped him, from The Beatles and Ray Charles to funk, blues and jazz. transcript-1790792508276 transcript-1790792508276

Originally recorded in 2005 for Upper Room with Joe Kelley on WVOF 88.5 FM.

Wooten began playing bass as a child and was performing professionally with his brothers by age five. Before finishing high school, he had already shared stages with artists including Curtis Mayfield, The Temptations, WAR, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Stephanie Mills and Ramsey Lewis.

Victor discusses his musical journey, his groundbreaking work as a founding member of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, his solo career, and the philosophy and musicianship that have made him one of the most influential bass players of his generation.

Originally aired in 2005 on Upper Room with Joe Kelley.

Musicians Reveal: Beyond features conversations with extraordinary musicians from across jazz, rock, blues, world music and beyond.

Rainiere shares the remarkable story of walking away from singing for 20 years before an unexpected opportunity with Legends in Concert launched her professional performing career at age 42. She discusses building Forever Donna, assembling her band, creating the show's costumes and performing Donna Summer classics for audiences around the world. Pasted text

Rainiere also talks about performing on the Ultimate Disco Cruise, meeting The Jacksons and other music legends, singing with Joe Esposito, tackling the demanding “MacArthur Park,” and winning over some of Donna Summer's most devoted fans. Pasted text Pasted text

Hosted by Joe Kelley on Musicians Reveal: Beyond.

Moss traces his journey from sneaking into Chicago blues clubs as a young musician to playing bass and guitar alongside some of the genre’s greats. He recalls working with Jimmy Dawkins, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Jimmie Rogers, and explains what he learned from the veteran musicians who helped shape his approach to the blues.

Nick also discusses leading the Flip Tops, his album Got a New Plan, life on the road, his love of Gibson guitars, learning by ear, becoming a bandleader and the responsibility of carrying the Chicago blues tradition forward.

Originally recorded in 2001 for Upper Room with Joe Kelley on WVOF 88.5 FM in Fairfield, Connecticut.

From the Musicians Reveal: Beyond archives.

Mercurio recalls moving to New Orleans, discovering the city’s legendary music scene and forming Galactic with guitarist Jeff Raines. He discusses his bass influences, including Bootsy Collins and James Brown bassist Bernard Odum, and shares the story of meeting Bootsy at Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival.

Robert also talks about Galactic becoming stewards of the legendary Tipitina’s, his memories of first experiencing the venue as a college student, and the responsibility of helping preserve an important part of New Orleans music culture.

The conversation also explores Galactic’s collaboration with Irma Thomas on Audience With the Queen, recording with the Soul Queen of New Orleans, the powerful “Lady Liberty,” Galactic’s studio, touring, producing and the band’s determination to keep evolving. Audience With the Queen was released in 2025 and produced by Mercurio and Ben Ellman. Galactic

Hosted by Joe Kelley.

Musicians Reveal: Beyond features conversations with musicians and artists from funk, jazz, blues, rock, soul and beyond, along with selections from the Joe Kelley radio archives.

For video interviews and more, find Musicians Reveal: Beyond on YouTube.

Tammaro discusses “Triumph,” featuring saxophonist Michael Lington, his first release following his illness and a song carrying special meaning for his return to music. He also reflects on the treatment and recovery period and the support of his wife, Layla.

The conversation goes deeper into Funkee Boy's musical life: growing up on Earth, Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, Stevie Wonder, Prince, The Time and Kool & the Gang; his R&B and smooth-jazz roots; songwriting and producing for other artists; creating a compelling live show; and his upcoming Life Sign project.

Tammaro also shares how attending a Los Angeles songwriting conference unexpectedly changed his life when he met his future wife, Layla, and discusses how the two collaborate creatively.

Originally recorded for Upper Room with Joe Kelley on WVOF 88.5 FM in Fairfield, Connecticut in 2017, this archival conversation is now presented as part of Musicians Reveal: Beyond.

Musicians Reveal: Beyond explores conversations with musicians, songwriters, producers and creative artists across jazz, blues, rock, R&B and beyond.

Recorded around the release of the John Scofield Band's Überjam, the conversation explores the collaborative approach behind the album and Scofield's ability to move naturally between jazz, funk, R&B and improvisational music.

Scofield talks about assembling the band with rhythm guitarist Avi Bortnick, bassist Jesse Murphy and drummer Adam Deitch, along with contributions from John Medeski and Karl Denson. He explains how ideas developed organically during jams and soundchecks and why musical chemistry matters more to him than a traditional audition.

Scofield also looks back on performing at Gathering of the Vibes at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, discusses touring and the Montreal Jazz Festival, and shares a great piece of Connecticut history: playing live on the radio with his band the Skylarks in a 1966 WICC talent showcase.

For guitar players, Scofield discusses his longtime Ibanez AS200, Matchless amp, Mesa/Boogie amps and touring pedalboard.

Überjam was released by Verve in January 2002. Scofield's official discography credits Avi Bortnick, Jesse Murphy and Adam Deitch as the core band, with John Medeski and Karl Denson appearing on the record.

Originally recorded in 2002 for Upper Room with Joe Kelley on WVOF 88.5 FM at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

This conversation is preserved as part of the Musicians Reveal: Beyond Radio Archives.

For video interviews and more archival conversations, find Musicians Reveal: Beyond on YouTube.

Loescher traces an unconventional musical journey that began with professional gigs as a teenager in San Diego and eventually led to work as a transcriptionist and arranger for Tom Waits. After studying at Berklee College of Music, he headed to Europe, where he helped establish a jazz education program in Czechoslovakia before developing his own career as a performing musician.

Shawn discusses the story behind the Loescher Trio album Distance: Collector's Edition, originally recorded in Czechoslovakia and released in Europe before being remastered and reissued with additional material.

The conversation explores his approach to composition and improvisation, including “The Mass Waltz,” which grew from a work commissioned for the European Sacred Music Festival. Shawn explains how he incorporated traditional contrapuntal writing into an unconventional setting for saxophone, bass, drums and reader.

He also reflects on the changing music business and how emerging Internet technology was giving independent musicians a more direct connection with listeners while reducing some of the traditional power of major record companies.

Shawn talks about making Montreal his home, the city's deep jazz tradition and the musical freedom he found working in a trio format. He also shares the unlikely story of becoming musical director for acclaimed jazz vocalist Mark Murphy and the songwriting relationship that followed.

It's a revealing look at the life of a working jazz musician whose path took him from California and Boston to Eastern Europe and Montreal — while continually searching for new ways to compose, collaborate and express himself.

Originally recorded in 2001 for The Upper Room with Joe Kelley on WVOF 88.5 FM.

A video presentation of this radio archive is also available on the Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley YouTube channel.

Musicians Reveal: Beyond with Joe Kelley features revealing conversations with acclaimed musicians and artists from jazz, blues, rock, folk, singer-songwriter traditions and beyond — drawn from Joe Kelley's decades of interviews and music broadcasting.

Touring behind her album Promised Land, Dar reflects on life on the road, songwriting, creativity and the experiences that continued to shape her music.

Dar takes Joe inside Pete Seeger’s remarkable 90th birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden. She recalls being invited by Seeger’s grandson Tao, rehearsing backstage with Billy Bragg and seeing Bruce Springsteen arrive before a night that brought together generations of musicians and fans. For Dar, the significance of the event became clearest when she walked onstage and experienced the audience singing together.

She also discusses Promised Land and her interpretation of Fountains of Wayne’s “Troubled Times,” explaining why the song’s mixture of humor, vulnerability and optimism appealed to her.

The conversation explores the changing relationship between musicians and their audiences, the emerging world of social media, and Dar’s need to balance technology with the quiet and focus required for songwriting. She also reflects on her years at Wesleyan University and how those experiences influenced her view of education, creativity and the wider world.

Dar also explains the inspiration behind “Buzzer,” a song influenced by Stanley Milgram’s famous obedience experiments and her later thoughts about power, authority and why people find themselves in positions of obedience.

Originally recorded for The Upper Room with Joe Kelley on WVOF 88.5 FM.

A video presentation of this radio archive is also available on the Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley YouTube channel.

Musicians Reveal: Beyond with Joe Kelley features revealing conversations with acclaimed musicians and artists from jazz, blues, rock, folk, singer-songwriter traditions and beyond — drawn from Joe Kelley’s decades of interviews and music broadcasting.

Grady looks back on the enormous influence of David Sanborn and recalls meeting his musical hero as a young college student. Rather than rushing off after his concert, Sanborn spent time talking with Grady about music and encouraged the ambitious young saxophonist to be patient with his career.

Grady also shares the remarkable path that eventually connected him with Ricky Peterson and Paul Peterson. A longtime fan of Prince and The Family, Grady remembers recognizing “St. Paul” backstage at a David Sanborn concert years before he would eventually collaborate with members of the Peterson family.

That connection comes full circle with “Night Music,” which grew from one of Paul Peterson's Funk Friday sessions. Grady explains how the track was reshaped and developed with an impressive group of musicians including Paul Peterson, Ricky Peterson, Lenny Castro and Carl Burnett.

The conversation also covers working with Jeff Lorber, sitting in with The Beach Boys on “Kokomo,” advice from Tony Bennett that influenced Grady's approach to playing saxophone, his Concrete Jungle EP and the importance of collaboration, improvisation and developing an individual sound.

Grady also reflects on the changing music business, his longtime band, performing original music and why the spontaneous moments onstage can be some of the most rewarding parts of being a musician.

Originally recorded for Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley.

Watch the video presentation of this interview on the Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley YouTube channel.

Musicians Reveal: Beyond with Joe Kelley features revealing conversations with acclaimed musicians and artists from jazz, blues, rock, soul and beyond — drawn from Joe Kelley's decades of interviews and music broadcasting.

Mystic tells the unforgettable story of receiving his first guitar from a man he didn't realize was famous — Grateful Dead legend Jerry Garcia. Years later, Mystic finally discovered the identity of the musician who had shown such kindness to him as a young performer.

He also takes Joe inside his long relationship with Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth and explains how he became a frontman with Tom Tom Club. Mystic recalls his early encounters with an extraordinary circle of musicians and shares a hilarious story involving Keith Emerson and Ringo Starr.

The conversation explores the creation of Talking Dreads, Mystic's reggae reinterpretation of Talking Heads music. He explains how Chris and Tina immediately supported the concept, how Seymour Stein encouraged the project, and why Mystic traveled to Jamaica to record with seasoned Jamaican musicians including Sly & Robbie, Ernest Ranglin, Dean Fraser and others. He also discusses bringing B-52's singer Cindy Wilson into the project.

Mystic reflects on Tom Tom Club, Talking Heads, Jamaica, reggae, his musical influences, performing at NPR's Tiny Desk, the importance of collaboration between artists and the experiences that have shaped his distinctive musical journey.

Originally recorded for Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley.

A video presentation of this radio archive is also available on the Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley YouTube channel.

Musicians Reveal: Beyond with Joe Kelley features revealing conversations with acclaimed musicians and artists from jazz, blues, rock, soul and beyond — drawn from Joe Kelley's decades of interviews and music broadcasting.

Victor takes listeners inside the making of Yin-Yang, explaining how he approached its instrumental and vocal sides and experimented with recording techniques that pushed his music in unexpected directions.

He also tells the story of collaborating with funk legend Bootsy Collins on “What Crime Is It?,” a spontaneous session that grew out of a groove Victor developed with drummer J.D. Blair. Victor discusses working with Béla Fleck & the Flecktones, Jeff Coffin and Carter Beauford, as well as the musical connection he shares with his brothers and the extraordinary community of musicians surrounding him.

The conversation reaches back to Victor's childhood, including seeing James Brown perform live, and explores influences ranging from Stevie Wonder and Larry Graham to Prince, Morris Day and the Minneapolis sound.

Throughout the interview, Victor shares his thoughts on experimentation, recognition, originality and why being yourself can be more important than deliberately trying to break musical rules.

Originally recorded for Joe Kelley's WVOF radio program Upper Room with Joe Kelley

A video presentation of this radio archive is also available on the Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley YouTube channel.

Musicians Reveal: Beyond with Joe Kelley features revealing conversations with acclaimed musicians and artists from jazz, blues, rock, soul and beyond — drawn from Joe Kelley's decades of interviews and music broadcasting.

Stephen looks back on meeting Weird Al in 1981 and the band's journey from its earliest days to major tours and sold-out arenas. He shares stories from more than four decades of recording and performing together, discusses the musicianship behind the parodies, and explains what he's learned from studying the bass parts of countless classic songs.

The conversation also explores Stephen's own music and compositions, his years writing music for PBS, his early experiences with electronic music and composer John Cage, and his fascination with the relationship between rhythm and harmony.

Stephen also discusses his solo work, the album Off Bass, his creative life at Muse Ranch, and the preparation that goes into performing a demanding two-hour Weird Al show.

From MTV and musical parody to composition, bass, creativity and the science of rhythm, this is a wide-ranging conversation with a musician whose career extends far beyond any single genre.

Watch the full video interview on YouTube:

Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley — Stephen Jay

Musicians Reveal: Beyond with Joe Kelley features revealing conversations with acclaimed musicians and artists from jazz, blues, rock, soul and beyond — drawn from Joe Kelley's decades of interviews and music broadcasting.

Paul shares the hilarious story of Michael Jackson calling his family home — only to have Paul's mother hang up because she didn't believe it was really Michael. He looks back on recording with Michael and The Jacksons, including his contributions to Thriller and “Beat It,” and explains what it was like working inside Quincy Jones' legendary studio environment.

The conversation spans Paul's work with Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston, his years on American Idol, sessions with George Benson and Steely Dan, and his later work with Daft Punk and The Weeknd. Paul also discusses George Duke, Patrice Rushen, Jazz Funk Soul, his approach to being a great session musician, and the preparation that has sustained his career for decades.

It's an inside look at the craft, musicianship and stories behind a remarkable body of work.

Musicians Reveal: Beyond with Joe Kelley features revealing conversations with acclaimed musicians and artists from jazz, blues, rock, soul and beyond — drawing from Joe Kelley's decades of interviews and music broadcasting.

Watch the full video interview on YouTube: Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley — Paul Jackson Jr.

In this archival conversation with Joe Kelley, Daniels discusses his Live and Unplugged CD benefiting the Purple Rose Theatre, his years of songwriting and guitar playing, the challenge of performing alone with an acoustic guitar, and the vintage instruments he takes onstage.

Daniels also shares stories from his acting career, including working with Robin Williams and Woody Allen, and explains why he and his family chose Michigan over Hollywood even as his career continued to grow.

It’s a revealing conversation about music, acting, family, creativity and building a life beyond the expectations of show business.

Originally recorded for The Upper Room with Joe Kelley on WVOF 88.5 FM.

From the archives of Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley.