World Cafe

At Berklee College of Music, the Music Inclusion EnseAs part of World Cafe’s Sense of Place Boston series, revisit a conversation with singer-songwriter Ellis Paul. The Boston folk musician spoke with World Cafe’s former host David Dye in 1999 about writing and recording Translucent Soul, Paul’s break-up record about redemption, faith and renewal.mble is empowering young musicians with disabilities. For World Cafe’s Sense of Place Boston series, hear a conversation with co-founder Adrian Anantawan, in which he talks about how the ensemble unites disabled and non-disabled musicians. Plus, the world-class violinist, born without a right hand, shares how his own experience has shaped his philosophy as a musician and an activist.

Boston is a college town and wherever you find a lot of students, you can usually find lots of fledgling bands. At Northeastern University, a group of undergrads are working to take those artists to the next level, signing them to the student-run Green Line Records. On the next edition of World Cafe’s Sense of Place Boston series, hear from Green Line Records president and the head of A&R about how they are helping break new artists and listen to some of the new music the label just finished recording this Fall.

In 2019, the Pixies classic album Doolittle turned 30 years old, and the band stopped by World Cafe to play a song from Doolittle as well as music from what was then their latest album, Beneath the Eyrie. On the next World Cafe, lead singer Black Francis shares stories about recording in upstate New York, a run-in he had with a deer, and listening to early Pixies demos from when the band was first starting out.

At Berklee College of Music, the Music Inclusion Ensemble is empowering young musicians with disabilities. For World Cafe’s Sense of Place Boston series, hear a conversation with co-founder Adrian Anantawan, in which he talks about how the ensemble unites disabled and non-disabled musicians. Plus, the world-class violinist, born without a right hand, shares how his own experience has shaped his philosophy as a musician and an activist.

The Boston Red Sox may be the main attraction at Fenway Park, the oldest MLB stadium in the country, but there’s another performance going on during game day. In another dispatch from World Cafe’s Sense of Place Boston series, you’ll meet Josh Kantor, the organist at Fenway Park since 2003. Kantor explains how he got the job, how he fields song requests, and why it helps to know the ins and outs of baseball. PLUS, what songs come to mind when you think about Boston? WUMB’s Albert O, host of Afternoons with Albert O., shares the essentials.

Wally’s Jazz Cafe is a tiny live room, sitting among a sea of brick row homes in Boston. Founder Joseph Walcott launched the business in 1947, wanting to create a place where Black folks could enjoy jazz alongside Whites – his was the first integrated club – and where students could play alongside more experienced musicians. His great grandson, Frank Poindexter, runs the club alongside his mother and brothers and joins World Cafe to discuss how they have kept Joseph Walcott’s dream going.

For 3 decades, Jonatha Brooke has followed her own path as a singer songwriter – first in the duo The Story and then as a solo artist – and it all began in Boston. She has penned a number of albums, an off Broadway one woman show and at the time of her 2019 visit to World Cafe, an EP called Imposter. She reveals the advice she would have given her younger self in an encore edition of World Cafe.

Nestled in an alley in Cambridge’s Harvard Square, there’s a music venue that’s been a sanctuary for folk musicians and fans for over 60 years. On the next World Cafe, as part of the Sense of Place Boston series, visit Club Passim, the intimate venue where Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Bob Dylan and many more legends have graced the stage. Managing director Matt Smith shares the story of Club Passim and how the venue has worked to expand the traditional definition of folk music.

Allison Russell won her first Grammy for “Eve Was Black”, a song from her outstanding sophomore solo album, The Returner. On the next World Cafe, Russell talks about why the record is focused on the present, what Americana means to her, and how her daughter challenged her to write some “bangers” on The Returner.

Billy Strings’ latest album answered the prayers of bluegrass fans worldwide. Highway Prayers is one of the best bluegrass records of the modern era. Strings joins us to talk about making the album, working with Kanye West and Fiona Apple producer Jon Brion, and tells the tale of a highly unusual traffic stop. It’s Billy Strings on the next World Cafe.