The Upside of Jazz

To celebrate the United States’ 250th, Joe Alterman explores the remarkable story of Louis Armstrong — how America found its voice in him, how he became one of its greatest ambassadors to the world, and why that voice continues to resonate today.

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Joe explores the important, prolific, and complicated relationship between Jewish immigrants and Black musicians — and how their intersecting stories helped give birth to the American music business and shape what Americans listened to throughout the 20th century.

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Joe shares the history of how the sounds of Jewish and Black communities came together and ended up shaping the sound of American music.

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In the first of two episodes featuring artists out of the South, Joe talks with Austin, Texas-based vocalist Sarah Sharp about sitting down and listening to multiple versions of the same song to learn how nuanced different artists' interpretations can be, the jazz scene in Austin, and her new album, "Déjà Vu."

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This week we revisit one of Sonny Rollins's final interviews recorded in October 2025, when Joe Alterman sat down for a conversation with the Saxophone Colossus himself.

Sonny Rollins passed away on May 25, 2026.

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Joe and pianist Sean Mason get together for a chat in which Sean explains why he believes the 20s are the most underrated jazz era, making the piano dance, and how Sean didn't feel like himself in the fullest sense until he started playing jazz.

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Joe and guitarist Bobby Broom talk about his latest album featuring Sonny Rollins' compositions, "Notes of Thanks," 16-year-old Broom getting his start alongside Sonny Rollins, and making a career in jazz in Chicago instead of New York City.

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Joe looks behind the serious face that jazz sometimes puts on and uncovers a world of silliness, both on and off the stage.

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Host Joe Atlerman invites Julie Benko and Jason Yeager to the show to talk about finding spirituality in music and theater, how to define Jewish music, and traditions built on questioning and listening.

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Joe Alterman and trumpeter Charles Tolliver chat about revisiting Tolliver's debut album as band leader, "Right Now... And Then," for its recent remixing and reissue, knowing he was going to be a trumpet player no matter what, and "rumbling" through improvisation. 

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Guitarist Pat Metheny joins Joe Alterman to share his thoughts on being a musician in a time of AI, how he developed his understanding of playing an instrument, and how sometimes the music finds us instead of the other way around.

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Guitarist/Vocalist John Pizzarelli and host Joe Alterman sit down to talk about Pizzarelli's career — including growing up and working alongside his father, jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli — learning not just how to play guitar but entertain, and his new Tony Bennett tribute album, "Dear Mr. Bennett."

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Joe Alterman has a conversation with guitarist Randy Johnston about improvisation (and if that's what makes jazz jazz), if there's a connection between jam bands and jazz music, and what it means to be the side man.

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Today he plays jazz, tomorrow he betrays the motherland.

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Guitarist Oliver Wood (who happens to be Joe's guitar teacher from years ago) and Joe talk about the joy of being surprised by the music you make as well as Wood's career, including touring with Tinsley Ellis, playing with King Johnson, and form The Wood Brothers with his brother Chris. 

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The relationship between Black and Jewish musicians in jazz has a long and sometimes complicated history. In this episode, saxophonist Jimmy Heath reflects on his own experiences and what he learned from a lifetime in the music.

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Joe and bassist Rufus Reid have a conversation about the role the bass plays in a band and finding chemistry with fellow musicians .

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Bassist Ron Carter joins Joe to talk about growing up with church music, his introduction into jazz, and returning to his church roots on the new album, “Sweet, Sweet Spirit.”

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