The Checkout

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Voted "Best Jazz Podcast" in the JazzTimes Critics' Poll for four consecutive years, The Checkout champions the music we call jazz — along the trend lines and on its outer edges. Hosted, produced and curated by Simon Rentner, the show focuses on the compelling personal narratives behind today's most exciting artists.

Simon Rentner


    • Feb 18, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 44m AVG DURATION
    • 28 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Checkout

    The Checkout x Jazz Night in America: Top 5 Collabs

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2022 69:30


    Mark Guiliana, Randy Weston, Herbie Hancock, Robert Glasper, Abdullah Ibrahim, and Kamasi Washington are the artists featured in this retrospective podcast celebrating the top Jazz Night In America and The Checkout productions over the years.

    Angel Bat Dawid leads a fearless expedition to 'Afro Town' at Winter Jazzfest

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 50:47


    Winter Jazzfest artist-in-residence Angel Bat Dawid premieres 'Afro-Town Topics: A Mythological Afrofuturist Revue,' and talks about it on The Checkout with Simon Rentner.

    Vijay Iyer shares lessons in stillness for our turbulent time

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2022 40:05


    As his trio settles in for a week at The Village Vanguard, pianist and composer Vijay Iyer stops by The Checkout to share insights, and a glimmer of hope.

    Cory Henry walks back the timeline to his 'First Steps,' with a new concert recording

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2022 64:46


    On The Checkout, keyboardist Cory Henry pinpoints the album that marks his rite of passage as an artist.

    Michael Bourne in his element at the Montreal Jazz Festival, with Diana Krall and more

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2022 26:57


    Michael Bourne interviews Diana Krall and tells stories of Charlie Haden, Dave Brubeck, and Tony Bennett at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

    When Booker T. Jones met Robert Randolph, at a session hosted by Michael Bourne

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 36:15


    In 2003, legendary organist Booker T. Jones and pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph met for the first time at WBGO. That studio performance comes to light again as we celebrate the retirement of our own legendary jazz jock, Michael Bourne.

    From Rat Pack to J Dilla: José James Serves a Holiday Vibe

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2021 48:37


    On The Checkout, José James explains why it's finally time for him to release a holiday recording, featuring his takes on Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Donny Hathaway.

    Dave Douglas and Joe Lovano aim for the stratosphere on Sound Prints' 'Other Worlds'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 44:03


    Jazz United host Nate Chinen talks with the members of Sound Prints, including its co-leaders trumpeter Dave Douglas and saxophonist Joe Lovano, for a lively conversation about their latest recording, Other Worlds.

    Rachel Eckroth, a most mysterious pianist and singer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2021 40:10


    Pianist and singer/songwriter Rachel Eckroth is a musical shapeshifter of the highest order. She speaks with The Checkout's Simon Rentner about her latest recording, 'The Garden.'

    Everybody Should 'Really Care' About Melanie Charles

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2021 42:01


    Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Melanie Charles joins The Checkout to talk about 'Y'all Don't Really Care About Black Women,' her major-label debut.

    Nate Smith flips an awkward youth into a skyward path on 'Kinfolk 2: See the Birds'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2021 49:27


    Drummer and composer Nate Smith taps into his unique autobiography on his latest album, Kinfolk 2: See The Birds. On this episode of The Checkout, he talks about growing up in Chesapeake, Va., with an unorthodox taste for hard rock.

    BADBADNOTGOOD, a band beloved in hip-hop circles, rediscovers its jazz voice

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2021 33:42


    'Talk Memory' is BadBadNotGood's first album in five years. Bassist Chester Hansen and saxophonist Leland Whitty join The Checkout's Simon Rentner to talk about it.

    Switch on your senses: Steph Richards sniffs out the possibilities

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2021 48:05


    The Checkout catches up with trumpeter and composer Steph Richards, who unleashes our sense of sound and smell on her latest recordings Supersense and Zephyr.

    Hiromi finds the bright side, with fast fingers, on 'Silver Lining Suite'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2021 28:30


    While the music industry was mostly dormant, Hiromi was busy collaborating with a string quartet, writing new music for her Silver Lining Suite, and performing at the Tokyo Olympics.

    Checkout Sesh (Almost Lost): Knower's Genevieve Artadi & Nay Flutist Faris Ishaq

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2021 49:17


    Genevieve Artadi talks about her creative partnership with Louis Cole and Faris Ishaq proclaims he's the world's first Nay flute jazz artist.

    Mndsgn's 'Rare Pleasure' Dials Up a '70s Fusion Vibe

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2021 34:24


    The electronic artist Mndsgn draws from crossover jazz of the 1970s and '80s on his latest album, 'Rare Pleasure.'

    9 Horses: A Chamber Trio Scales Up with 'Omegah'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2021 49:12


    Joe Brent (mandolin) and Sara Caswell (violin) unleash the full potential of their chamber jazz group 9 Horses on their new recording, 'Omegah'

    Staunchly Original: Marking 20 Years of Pi Recordings

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2021 50:12


    For the last 20 years, Pi Recordings has been a home and haven to the avant-garde, including first-wave members of the AACM. The Checkout catches up with label co-founders Seth Rosner and Yulun Wang, who say the mission is ongoing.

    Honoring Frank Kimbrough with a Sprawling Tribute

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2021 41:43


    The Checkout discusses 'KIMBROUGH,' an extravagant tribute to an underrated artist, who left us at the end of 2020.

    Hiatus Kaiyote Is Back With A Grand Howl (and Crooning Bats) on The Checkout

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2021 37:46


    Bassist Paul Bender and keyboardist Simon Mavin speak with Simon Rentner on The Checkout about Hiatus Kaiyote's new album, 'Mood Valiant.'

    Michael Mayo Opens Up About 'Bones,' a Sterling Debut and a Radiant Song of Himself

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2021 52:43


    As we come to the end of Pride Month, The Checkout checks in with Michael Mayo, who talks about embracing his bisexual identity and expressing himself fully on 'Bones,' his Mack Avenue debut.

    Watch A "Telematics" Concert Live: Mark Dresser, Michael Dessen and Myra Melford

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2021 31:49


    Watch three improvising masters — Mark Dresser (double bass), Michael Dessen (trombone) and Myra Melford (piano) — perform a telematic concert on The Checkout Live.

    With 'Zero Grasses,' Jen Shyu Forges Grief into Revelation

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2021 60:47


    On The Checkout, singer and composer Jen Shyu discusses her creative process, her family heritage, and how a personal loss informed Zero Grasses: Ritual for the Losses.

    Jazz Enters the Crypto Market: The Checkout Explores NFTs

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2021 52:40


    The Checkout documents jazz's first NFT drop, and poses some pressing questions about cryptocurrency in the arts space — with Greg Spero, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Oran Etkin and others.

    With 'Black to the Future,' Sons of Kemet Offer a Provocation, and a Salve

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2021 30:15


    Shabaka Hutchings and Theon Cross stop by The Checkout to discuss Sons of Kemet's powerful new album, 'Black to the Future.'

    Tony Allen, Late Progenitor of Afrobeat, Should Also Be Remembered as a Jazz Master

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2021 36:13


    For International Jazz Day, The Checkout features Michael Veal and Joe Armon-Jones in a tribute to Afrobeat drumming legend Tony Allen, one year after his passing.

    The Melancholy Ecstasy of Alfa Mist

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2021 35:46


    On The Checkout, British producer, rapper and pianist Alfa Mist talks about his journey from beat-maker to jazz musician.

    Making the Best of a Bonkers Year, with Béla Fleck, Thana Alexa, Brad Mehldau and More

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2021 65:37


    Last March, the jazz capital of the world became a ghost town. The Checkout attempts to bring some joy as we look back on a certifiably frightening year, with highlights from Nduduzo Mahkatini, Thana Alexa, Brad Mehldau, Dan Tepfer and more.

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