Amplify With Lara Downes : NPR

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Countertenor John Holiday isn't trying to make you love him

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June 27, 2024 • The versatile singer, who emphasizes self-acceptance, says his mission is to be a bridge from the classical community to pop, jazz and R&B. And if you’re not a fan, that’s okay.

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Brittney Spencer brings her culture to country music

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May 30, 2024 • The rising young singer-songwriter, who tours with Willie Nelson and sings on Beyoncé's latest album, is making a name for herself in a new era of more inclusive country music.

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Moments of Enlightenment with Broadway's Brian Stokes Mitchell

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April 25, 2024 • The acclaimed singer and actor explains how the arts have that rare ability to change minds, give hope and connect people.

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The genre-busting world of keyboardist Robert Glasper

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December 12, 2023 • From the storied Blue Note club in New York, the five-time Grammy-winner talks about the diverse audiences his eclectic music attracts and how he's reshaping the idea of musical genres.

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The curious mind — and hard work — of bassist Christian McBride

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November 16, 2023 • The Grammy-winning bassist, bandleader and broadcaster talks about his love for music, family ties in the jazz world, and the thrill of sitting in with Wynton Marsalis as a teenager.

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How Corinne Bailey Rae and Theaster Gates are preserving Black culture

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October 17, 2023 • On her album, Black Rainbows, Bailey Rae was inspired by the art, books and magazines at the Stony Island Arts Bank, a repository for Black history on Chicago's South Side, created by Gates.

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Allison Russell finds transformative musical power in community

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September 11, 2023 • With help from a sisterhood of musicians, the Canadian singer-songwriter and activist has triumphed over trauma to become a distinguished figure on the Americana scene.

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Linguist John McWhorter views American music through a wide lens

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August 3, 2023 • The Columbia University professor and New York Times columnist traces the intersecting lines of race and music in American history.

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Samora Pinderhughes promotes healing one day at a time

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July 6, 2023 • The multidisciplinary artist addresses systems of oppression by collecting and sharing stories through music, film and visual art.

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Pianist Gerald Clayton's open-hearted dialog across genres

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June 6, 2023 • The thoughtful pianist with a jazz pedigree talks about blurring the boundaries between jazz and classical, the pitfalls of music education, and harmonious rides in elevators.

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Chef Kwame Onwuachi wants everyone to have a seat at his table

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May 5, 2023 • Every dish tells a story for the award-winning New York chef, who creates menus inspired by his Nigerian, creole and South Bronx roots.

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Jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard's unexpected path into the opera house

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April 14, 2023 • The five-time Grammy winner has mounted two operas at the Metropolitan Opera, which until 2021 had never staged a work by a Black composer. Hear him discuss the future of opera with Lara Downes.

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Jessie Montgomery, composing from a place of self-honor

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March 1, 2023 • Watch Lara Downes' conversation with the composer-in-residence of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra about balancing her roots, her craft and the shifting field of classical music.

Lara Downes' season 3 of 'Amplify' launches with a theme of renaissance

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Lara Downes' season 3 of 'Amplify' launches with a theme of renaissance

February 2, 2023 • NPR's Leila Fadel talks to pianist Lara Downes about her interview series Amplify, which examines how Black artists today might find themselves in a new cultural renaissance.

Lara Downes' season 3 of 'Amplify' launches with a theme of renaissance

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Jazz singer Samara Joy embraces the past while making music for the future

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February 2, 2023 • Watch Lara Downes' conversation with the 23-year-old, Grammy-nominated sensation about balancing the demands of a surging career and the women artists who paved the way.

Your Music Saved My Life: Ledisi Talks With Lara Downes

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Your Music Saved My Life: Ledisi Talks With Lara Downes

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August 28, 2021 • The versatile and impassioned singer was ready to throw in the towel until she heard a message in a Nina Simone song that told her, "You're going be fine. I understand how you feel. Keep going."

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Identity And Dance: Camille A. Brown Talks With Lara Downes

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August 14, 2021 • The groundbreaking choreographer, who is also the first Black director at the Metropolitan Opera, says she found self-expression through dance.

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Pandemic Lessons: Elaine Welteroth And Jonathan Singletary Talk With Lara Downes

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July 31, 2021 • The creative couple, who married in 2020, thrive on gratitude, community and the new approaches they've taken in the wake of the pandemic.

We Should Tell Stories Of Black Joy: Will Liverman Talks With Lara Downes

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We Should Tell Stories Of Black Joy: Will Liverman Talks With Lara Downes

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July 17, 2021 • The rising young baritone, searching for diversity in the opera house, tries on his composer hat by putting a Black spin on Rossini's The Barber of Seville.

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Shaking Up The Classical Canon: Randall Goosby Talks With Lara Downes

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July 3, 2021 • The rising young violinist discovers his musical roots and questions the traditional borderlines of the repertoire.

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You Have To Fight For The Vision: Wynton Marsalis Talks With Lara Downes

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June 19, 2021 • The musical polymath offers ideas on everything from Russian satellites and hip-hop, to Bach and football, and how they shape the musical education of America.

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The Alchemy Of Words And Music: Tayari Jones Talks With Lara Downes

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June 5, 2021 • The best-selling novelist shares tips for good writing and the stories behind some of the most meaningful music in her life, from Rossini to the O'Jays.

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What Is Activism? Carl Hancock Rux Talks With Lara Downes

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May 8, 2021 • The poet and playwright wrestles with the idea of being an activist in America today in its various forms, meanings and misunderstandings.

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Busting Myths And Building Resiliency: Esperanza Spalding Talks With Lara Downes

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April 24, 2021 • The self-described "athletically creative" bassist, vocalist and composer searches for origins and originality while writing an opera with jazz giant Wayne Shorter.