Kyle Long

Listen to an interview with Indianapolis rapper, guitarist, and songwriter Foosie, joined by his musical collaborator, keyboardist and producer Aiden Christopher. They join host Kyle Long to discuss the making of the new album, All-American Ghetto Gospel.

Echoes of Indiana Avenue is launching a new series celebrating the Legends of Naptown Funk, beginning with The Presidents, a pioneering Indiana Avenue R&B band that helped lay the groundwork for Indianapolis’ distinctive funk sound. We’ll revisit the group’s Indiana Avenue performances, hear stories from Indianapolis historians and musicians, and explore the colorful career of Baby Leon, one of Naptown’s most unforgettable entertainers.

Hear an interview with Eric Salazar, clarinetist, composer, and founding member of Forward Motion, an Indianapolis-based chamber ensemble celebrating its tenth anniversary. Since 2016, Forward Motion has commissioned, premiered, and recorded dozens of new works by local and nationally recognized composers, creating opportunities for musicians to explore new territory in chamber music.

Hear an interview with the banjo innovator and 19-time Grammy Award winner Béla Fleck. He emerged from the progressive bluegrass scene in the early 1980s as a member of New Grass Revival. Béla Fleck joins host Kyle Long to discuss the late Zakir Hussain, composing a piece for banjo and string quartet to celebrate Clowes Hall’s 50th anniversary, and his experience performing with Bill Monroe.

Hear the final episode in our three-part series celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sarah McLawler, an Indianapolis vocalist and Hammond organist who became one of the pioneering women of jazz. We’ll share rare, unreleased recordings of Sarah performing with her husband, violinist Richard Otto, at Carnegie Hall in 1975. We’ll also feature music from “Under My Hat,” Sarah’s final album, released in 2010.

Hear a conversation with La Vida Arcana, an Indiana-based instrumental trio blending Latin rock with punk, metal and musical influences from West Africa. The group features guitarist Zeke Rodriguez, bassist Lu Figueroa, and drummer and percussionist Abe Rodriguez. Their music combines heavy guitar riffs and propulsive rhythms with themes of magic, mysticism and the supernatural.

Kyle Long speaks with acclaimed alto saxophonist, composer and educator, Rudresh Mahanthappa, who is widely recognized as one of the leading voices in contemporary jazz. On November 3, he brings his Hero Trio to the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis. The group reimagines music by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and Keith Jarrett, alongside interpretations of songs by Johnny Cash and Stevie Wonder.

Hear the second episode in our three-part series celebrating the 100th anniversary of Sarah McLawler’s birth. An Indianapolis vocalist and Hammond organist, McLawler was a pioneer among women in jazz. We’ll hear recordings from her early work on the Hammond organ, including collaborations with saxophonist Georgie Auld and with her husband, violinist Richard Otto.

Indianapolis-raised siblings TJ and Teresa Reynolds discuss Lineage, their first full-length album together. TJ is a hip-hop artist and producer, while Teresa is a singer and songwriter who has performed internationally with disco legend Gloria Gaynor. Blending hip-hop and R&B, Lineage explores themes of family and musical heritage. Cultural Manifesto host Kyle Long recently spoke with them about their collaboration and the making of the album.

Listen to an interview with Hector Flores of Las Cafeteras. The East Los Angeles group blends son jarocho, an Afro-Mexican folk tradition, with hip-hop, rock and cumbia. Flores joins host Kyle Long to discuss Hasta La Muerte, a multimedia theatrical production inspired by Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), coming to the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts on October 29.