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Artwork for Songs & Stories

Songs & Stories

Backstage Bay Area
Jazz
SFJAZZ
Sweetwater Music Hall
Jazz Music
SF Jazz
San Francisco
Music
California
Bay Area Music Scene
Miles Davis
Songwriting
Joe Henderson Lab
Funk
Grateful Dead
New York City
Covid-19
Rock and Roll
Yellowwood Junction
Blues
Gospel Music

Backstage Bay Area is an exclusive podcast that explores San Francisco’s jazz music scene in depth. It features intimate interviews with emerging and established artists. The program also offers a unique glimpse into the artists' creative processes, inspirations, and upcoming projects.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes331Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music InterviewsMusic

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Artwork for Songs & Stories

Latest Episodes

Pianist, composer, and arranger John Beasley joins host Steve Roby for an in-depth discussion about his extraordinary career, his new album Invisible Piano, and an upcoming all-star Miles Davis centennial tribute concert in San Francisco.

Beasley ex... more

Jazz trumpeter and composer David Weiss joins host Steve Roby for a wide-ranging conversation about a life built on music. From his early days in Queens, where he absorbed hard rock, fusion, and European avant-garde sounds, to leading some of contemp... more

Show Notes:

In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with Swedish jazz sensation and multi-instrumentalist Gunhild Carling — a trombonist, trumpeter, flautist, harpist, bagpipe player, tap dancer, and bandleader. Known as "Sw... more

Episode Summary

Host Steve Roby sits down with Bay Area bassist, composer, and bandleader Marcus Shelby to discuss his upcoming SF Jazz performance, a tribute to Miles Davis's landmark 1949–50 sessions, later released as Birth of the Cool. Marcus re... more

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Recent Guests

John Beasley
Pianist, composer, arranger
Independent artist / SWR Big Band collaboration (Invisible Piano)
Episode: John Beasley From Invisible Piano to Unlimited Miles
David Weiss
Trumpeter and composer; leader of the David Weiss Sextet
David Weiss Sextet
Episode: Resilience, Roots, and the Road Ahead: A Conversation with David Weiss
Gunhild Carling
Swedish Jazz Sensation and multi-instrumentalist; bandleader
Self-described as Sweden's Queen of Swing
Episode: Sweden's Queen of Swing Comes to SF Jazz
Marcus Shelby
Bassist, composer, and bandleader
Marcus Shelby New Orchestra
Episode: Marcus Shelby Celebrates Miles Davis
Aaron Diehl
Pianist blending jazz and classical repertoire
Episode: Aaron Diehl Finds the Space Between
Lynne Arriale
Pianist and composer, guest on the show
Independent artist
Episode: Lynne Arriale Brings Her Trio to Oakland
Natasha Agrama
Composer, poet, vocalist for Instant Alter
Instant Alter
Episode: Instant Alter Brings Future Fusion to SFJAZZ
Ben Wendell
Saxophonist, composer and producer
Musician, Knee Body member
Episode: Ben Wendel on Improvisation and Yoshi’s
TK Blue
Saxophonist, composer, and educator; longtime member of Randy Weston's African Rhythms Ensemble
Randy Weston's African Rhythms Ensemble
Episode: T.K. Blue Brings Randy Weston's African Rhythms to SFJAZZ

Host

Steve Roby
Host of Backstage Bay Area

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 12 ratings
  • Great Interviews. Wide Range of Music.

    No matter where he lands—Hawaii, Denver, San Francisco—Steve Roby brings his deep knowledge of music and in-depth interview skills to the music scene. Always a delight to listen to this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    logelson
    United States2 years ago
  • Good yet lacking

    This podcast is excellent for info on the music scene on Big Island… Unfortunately the host absolutely needs to go and bring in someone with energy and character… Listening to the host reminds me of listening to my phone talk to me…

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    THCbuddy
    United States5 years ago
  • A great 30-minute show that features talented entertainers from the "Big" island of Hawaii.

    Podchaser
    5
    BigIslandMusicMagazine
    6 years ago
  • Queen of the Universe

    Steve is a great interviewer. I love hearing the diverse talent on The Big Island. The interviews aer engrossing and give a rare look into the artists.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    laurenbroido
    United States6 years ago
  • Great show!

    The best place to find out about everything happening in music on the Big Island of Hawaii and beyond. Steve Roby is a great host with a real passion for music, he has a great array of artists on the show from various genres, and his radio voice is easy to listen to. Highly recommend Songs and Stories!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    erikkarma
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host brings deep knowledge of music and interview skills to the music scene, always a delight to listen to.
Steve Roby is a great interviewer with a passion for music and a easy radio voice.
The interviews are engrossing and give a rare look into the artists.
Listeners praise the show's breadth of artists and clear love for the Bay Area music scene.
Fans note the show helps discover new music from Hawaii to San Francisco.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Sweden's Queen of Swing Comes to SF Jazz
Q: What excites you most about performing in SFJAZZ's Joe Henderson Lab?
She looks forward to intimate, varied sets across two nights with different configurations and a final, energetic tap-dance closer, plus a sense of close audience connection in a smaller space.
Instant Alter Brings Future Fusion to SFJAZZ
Q: What does Instant Alter sound like in your own words?
It's a future fusion rooted in jazz, with a stripped-down concept of drums, bass, sax, and voice that creates a full harmony without traditional harmonic instruments, while letting the core energy of the song shine through.
Lynne Arriale Brings Her Trio to Oakland
Q: What can audiences look forward to at the Oakland concert?
Arriale describes performing selections from Being Human along with new pieces, sharing the stage with the trio, and debuting some new tunes; she emphasizes the spontaneity and the universal language of jazz that lets different musicians connect.
Aaron Diehl Finds the Space Between
Q: What can fans expect from your SFJAZZ show in terms of repertoire and direction?
Diehl teases a varied set with original pieces from his albums, new short works, and prelude selections by Sir Roland Hanna, aiming for a performance that leaves listeners with personal value, peace, and a sense of serenity.
Aaron Diehl Finds the Space Between
Q: What do you enjoy about playing in SFJAZZ's Miner Auditorium, and who will be on stage with you?
He emphasizes clarity and intimacy in the hall, and confirms David Wong on bass and Aaron Kimmel on drums as the core rhythm section for the Miner Auditorium performance, highlighting their listening and empathetic playing.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About Songs & Stories

What is Songs & Stories about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program consistently centers on the Bay Area jazz scene, featuring intimate conversations with a mix of emerging and established artists. Episodes highlight personal journeys, creative processes, and upcoming projects, with frequent deep dives into performance history, mentorship, and the evolving jazz landscape in venues and institutions. A standout aspect is the strong SFJAZZ and Miles Davis lineage present across many guests, creating a through-line between traditional jazz roots and contemporary experimentation. Listeners are likely drawn to in-depth artist stories, live-performance context, and behind-the-scenes insights into touring, collaborations, and programming choices.

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Which podcasts are similar to Songs & Stories?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Songs & Stories:

1. The Daily

How many episodes of Songs & Stories are there?

Songs & Stories launched 6 years ago and published 331 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Songs & Stories?

Recent guests on Songs & Stories include:

1. John Beasley
2. David Weiss
3. Gunhild Carling
4. Marcus Shelby
5. Aaron Diehl
6. Lynne Arriale
7. Natasha Agrama
8. Ben Wendell

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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