Celebrate the extraordinary career of Herbie Hancock, one of the greatest living legends of American music. Over the course of his remarkable career, he has collaborated with some of Indiana Avenue’s greatest jazz artists, including the Indianapolis-born icons Wes Montgomery, J.J. Johnson, and Freddie Hubbard. Join host Rodney Stepp as Herbie Hancock reflects on his work with these legendary musicians.

Join host Rodney Stepp in celebrating one of Indianapolis's most accomplished and underappreciated vocalists and legends of Naptown soul music, Alfonzo Surrett.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we'll spotlight the music of Fred Monroe, an unsung Naptown saxophonist who spent more than five decades performing on the Indianapolis jazz scene.

This is the last of our three-part series celebrating the music of the late Indianapolis percussionist Cecil Hunt, whose conga playing helped define the sound of the legendary Naptown soul-jazz group Funk Inc. Hear selections from Hunt's last recording sessions with Funk Inc., along with previously unheard live performances recorded in Indianapolis during the 1980s.

This is the second of our three-part series celebrating the music of the late Cecil Hunt — an Indianapolis-born percussionist whose conga drums helped define the sound of the legendary Naptown soul-jazz group Funk Inc. On this week’s edition, we’ll focus on the Funk Inc. albums “Hangin’ Out” and “Superfunk.”

Join us for the next three weeks as we celebrate the music of the late Cecil Hunt — an Indianapolis-born percussionist whose conga drums helped define the sound of the legendary Naptown soul-jazz group Funk Inc. Enjoy classic Funk Inc. recordings and never-before-heard live recordings of Cecil Hunt performing in Naptown during the 1980s.

Decades before Juneteenth became widely observed across Indiana, the Avenue was already celebrating freedom through music. Explore the history of a 1953 landmark concert on Indiana Avenue, one of the first Juneteenth celebrations in Indianapolis.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we remember the legendary Naptown funk vocalist Kevin “Flash” Ferrell, who died on May 30, 2026. Flash performed with some of Indianapolis’s most influential funk bands, including Rhythm Machine, Redd Hott, and Manchild. Hear music from across his career, along with reflections on his legacy from former Manchild manager Sid Johnson.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll pay tribute to the legendary jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins. He died on May 25th, 2026, at the age of 95. Explore Rollins’ collaborations with the jazz masters of Indiana Avenue and trace the connections between his work and the musicians who helped define the sound of Naptown jazz.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, meet the show's host, Rodney Stepp — a legendary Indianapolis keyboardist and bandleader. We'll hear music from his recent Small Studio Session performance for WFYI, along with a conversation between Stepp and Echoes producer Kyle Long. They discuss his deep roots in the Indianapolis music scene and his years touring the world with The Spinners.