It’s the final Saturday Spring for 2025. George Henderson makes the trek into the studio to talk about his new feature A Song From Insane Times and the legend that is Andrew Fagan is our Demo God. fyi The lovely Rachel Ashby is doing The Saturday Spring for January. Karyn is back February 7th.
On his first Jazz Show for 2026, after opening with a classic mid-70's ECM opus from guitarist Ralph Towner, Def Jim offers a feast of Free Jazz and free-ish jazz to delight the auditory senses of those with open ears and perhaps a little courage. From seminal mid-80's works by legendary Detroit pioneers Griot Galaxy and friends (incidentally featured in the December 2025 edition of UK magazine The Wire) through drummer Gerry Hemingway's 90's European Quintet, an outstanding mid-noughties live cut from the second incarnation of David Liebman & Richie Beirach vehicle Quest to new and recent releases from veteran Chicago reedsman Henry Threadgill, Shaman-guitarist Tisziji Munoz and piano visionary Matthew Shipp, this Show has a tilt at freedom in all its guises. And then there's the tracks in between... all in all, true nourishment indeed for intrepid musical souls.
Dr José Derraik from the Liggins Institute tells Hannah about his research into how events in early life can set a person up to be susceptible to certain diseases. Thanks to the University of Auckland.
This week Sam takes a look at New York hip hop duo Gang Starr's seminal second album "Step in the Arena". Released in 1991, this album set Gang Starr up as one the leading groups within the hardcore hip hop scene of the early 90s.
Last week Auckland mayor Phil Goff announced he is setting up a special task force to look into Auckland's housing shortage. Goff says the task force aims to get the most up-to-date information from the key players in the sector in order to address problems such as unaffordable homes, high rents and homelessness. He says local and central government must work together to address Auckland's housing crisis otherwise the issues associated with it will get worse. Reporter Sam Smith spoke to Goff about the new task force.
This week we discussed Anne McCahon's life and art. An exhibition of McCahon's work, called "A table of One's Own", is on at Te Uru Waitakere now. The curator Linda Tyler was on the show, and we mulled over the array of paintings, childrens book illustrations, stage sets, pottery and fashion that McCahon produced, and that is on display in Titirangi.
Zahra Lari is a competitive figure skater from the United Arab Emirates who has represented her country in numerous international competitions. The 21-year-old from Abu Dhabi now has her heart set on a bigger dream - the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. Niamh Peren, a Kiwi film maker has just been granted permission to make a film on Lari. bFM reporter Pearl Little spoke to Niamh about her upcoming documentary.
Support Niamh here: https://givealittle.co.nz/project/niamhperen-documentary
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