Roy Ayers was a visionary composer, musician, bandleader, vibraphonist, and vocalist. He forged a powerful and unique blend of jazz, funk, R&B, rap, and soul that was all his own. His music was brilliant, sounded amazing, and grooved like crazy. He died at the age of 84 in March of 2025.

This Friday, March 28th, The Bad Plus will take the stage at the Treefort Music Festival, bringing their dynamic and boundary-pushing sound to eager fans. Get your tickets now for what promises to be an electrifying performance.

For this episode of Don’t Call it Jazz, I am honored to present the live recording from the debut performance of my new composition, “Voluntary Breath” a concerto for orchestra and solo saxophone. The piece was premiered by the Great Falls Symphony, based in Great Falls, Montana, under the direction of Grant Harville.

I am very excited to welcome my wonderful music department colleague Jenna McLean back on the show, to talk about and check out her new album, For Your Love.

Director Camile Thomsen and cast member Norm Schroeder, who plays Big Daddy, speak with McKenzie about the season opener, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and other happenings that are going on at the Warehouse, including upcoming auditions and capital campaigns for needed upgrades.

Artistic Director and Conductor for the Idaho State Civic Symphony, Dr. Nell Flanders, and the winner of the ISU Concerto Competition, Cortnie Hulse, join KISU’s Jamon Anderson to talk about the ISCS performance on February 21st. The evening will include works by Sibelius, Beethoven, and Gordeli.

This episode of Don’t Call it Jazz will provide a full preview of the upcoming ISU Jazz Fest, happening on Friday February 7th and Saturday February 8th featuring the wonderful musician, world-percussionist and drummer Randy Gloss coming from Los Angeles.

The last few weeks have been so sad for me and my family, as we watch helplessly from our home in Idaho, the devastation from the wildfires in Los Angeles. My wife and I lived in Northern Altadena for many years while we were down there, and our old neighborhood is completely gone. Obliterated in the blink of an eye by a brutally violent wildfire.

Dean Kandi Turley-Ames talks with ISU alumnus Stuart Summers and Professor Karen Hartman about crisis communication, Stuart’s experiences at ISU, and his insights on proactive engagement in high-stakes situations.

McKenzie Young visits with Sarah Rick and Konner Witfield to learn about Black Rock & Sage(BR&S), ISU’s journal of creative works published annually by ISU’s Department of English and Philosophy with assistance from the Art, Music, and Theatre/Dance Departments.