Arts Feb 18 Jazz musician Terence Blanchard on the hardest thing about composing for film Jazz musician and composer Terence Blanchard has six Grammy Awards, but this year, he's received his first Oscar nomination, for his original score in the 2018 film “BlacKkKlansman.” Jeffrey Brown sits down with Blanchard, who grew up in New Orleans,…
Arts Feb 15 Oscar nominee Regina King says 'Beale Street' a reminder of black resilience Set in New York City in the 1970s, “If Beale Street Could Talk” is the film adaptation of a James Baldwin novel about Tish and Fonny, a devoted young couple almost torn apart by racism and wrongful imprisonment. Jeffrey Brown…
Arts Feb 04 At Washington's Arena Stage, a dramatic interpretation of Vladimir Putin's rise A new play showing at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., chronicles the rise of a young Vladimir Putin to power in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union. "Kleptocracy," written by Kenneth Lin, offers a glimpse into Putin’s…
Arts Jan 09 After her own rape, author says victims of sexual violence are more than 'broken beings' After being gang-raped as a teenager in Mumbai, Sohaila Abulali broke taboos around sexual assault by speaking out publicly about her experience. Jeffrey Brown spoke with Abulali about her new book, "What We Talk About When We Talk About Rape,"…
Arts Jan 04 Through music, Vijay Gupta brings healing community to LA's Skid Row Vijay Gupta is a Juilliard-trained violinist who's been using music as a way to connect with L.A.’s homeless and incarcerated and promote healing. A movement that began with one Skid Row occupant has now evolved into a group of 80…
Arts Aug 16 Remembering Aretha Franklin, the soulful voice of our time A legend is gone. Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul,” died Thursday at age 76 in Detroit from pancreatic cancer. One of the best-selling musical artists of all times, she defined a generation of music with countless hits like “Think”…
Arts Aug 01 'American history is a crazy-quilt experience': Monticello descendants talk ancestry and race In a long-anticipated move, signage, tours and public statements at Thomas Jefferson's historical Monticello estate now indicate without a doubt that Jefferson fathered the six children of enslaved woman Sally Hemings, and offer new insight into their lives. Jeffrey Brown…
Arts Jul 13 Lost recordings uncover John Coltrane's timeless talent The lost recordings of jazz titan John Coltrane have been rediscovered and shared with the world. Jeffrey Brown visits the jazz great’s recording studio where the mystery began to take a listen to "Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album,"…
Arts Dec 21 The best gift ever, according to 13 writers, musicians and podcasters Jonathan Franzen, Renee Fleming, Ken Burns and others share the best gift they've ever received.
Arts Oct 23 What Tom Hanks has to say about the Weinstein scandal "The dam has burst here in a big way, and it is not just the halls of places like Harvey Weinstein’s office," he said.