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John Schaefer

Host

John Schaefer

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John Schaefer (Marco Antonio)

John Schaefer has hosted Soundcheck since the show’s inception in 2002. He has also hosted and produced WNYC’s radio series New Sounds since 1982 (“The No. 1 radio show for the Global Village” – Billboard) and the New Sounds Live concert series since 1986.

John has written extensively about music, including the book New Sounds: A Listener’s Guide to New Music (Harper & Row, NY, 1987; Virgin Books, London, 1990); The Cambridge Companion to Singing: World Music (Cambridge University Press, U.K., 2000); and the TV program Bravo Profile: Bobby McFerrin (Bravo Television, 2003). He was contributing editor for Spin and Ear magazines, and his liner notes appear on more than 100 recordings, ranging from “The Music of Cambodia” to recordings by Yo-Yo Ma and Terry Riley.

In 2003, Schaefer was honored with the American Music Center's prestigious Letter of Distinction for his "substantial contributions to advancing the field of contemporary American music in the United States and abroad." In May 2006, New York magazine cited Schaefer as one of "the people whose ideas, power, and sheer will are changing New York" in its Influentials issue. He began blogging for WNYC when accompanying the New York Philharmonic on its historic (and apparently very weird) trip to North Korea in 2008 and continues to blog at soundcheck.org.

He is a regular contributor to the World Science Festival and the White Light Festival at Lincoln Center; he has also written about horse racing (Bloodlines: A Horse Racing Anthology, Vintage NY 2006) and was a regular panelist on the BBC’s soccer-based program Sports World.

Shows:

John Schaefer appears in the following:

NYC's Asian American Classical Community Meets Hate with Music

Monday, July 26, 2021

With live performances slowly returning, we're checking in with different corners of New York City's music scene to see how musicians have weathered the pandemic.

Beverly-Glenn Copeland

Weekly Music Roundup: Beverly Glenn-Copeland Meets Kelsey Lu, Elvis Costello Meets Juanes, and Joan As Police Woman

Monday, July 19, 2021

New Sounds

Hear new takes on old songs by Derek & The Dominoes, folk singer Shirley Collins, Elvis Costello, and Beverly Glenn-Copeland. Plus, JG Thirlwell as Xordox and new Joan As Police Woman.

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Attacca Quartet

Weekly Music Roundup: Jorge Drexler, Courtney Barnett, Attacca Quartet

Monday, July 12, 2021

New Sounds

This week, Jorge Drexler’s Uruguayan gospel, Quantic’s cumbia-rock, classical electronica from Attacca Quartet, and Courtney Barnett’s eventual return.

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The Go! Team

Weekly Music Roundup: Rival Consoles, Laura Mvula, The Go! Team

Monday, July 05, 2021

New Sounds

The British are coming (again) in The Go! Team, Laura Mvula, and Rival Consoles, supergroup Big Red Machine reconvenes, and a new (old) kind of Latin music from John Linnell.

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NYC's Cumbia Scene Looks Forward

Friday, July 02, 2021

As New York gets started on what looks to be a summer of live performances, we're checking in with different corners of the city's music scene.

Caroline Shaw and Sō Percussion

Weekly Music Roundup: Caroline Shaw and So Percussion, Helado Negro

Monday, June 28, 2021

New Sounds

This week, new music from composer and vocalist Caroline Shaw with So Percussion, Toronto rapper Shad, and American musician Helado Negro; also RIP Jon Hassell and Frederic Rzewski.

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Madonna, The Beastie Boys, and The Talking Heads - Museum Takes A Look Back At The 80s

Thursday, June 24, 2021

By John Schaefer : Host

The Koch administration was too busy pulling the city back from near bankruptcy to bother with cabaret laws, so club sprouted up all over the city.

Amythyst Kiah

Weekly Music Roundup: Amythyst Kiah, Shungudzo, Yves Tumor

Monday, June 21, 2021

New Sounds

Tennessee-based songwriter Amythyst Kiah's bluesy-Americana, new music band Wild Up records the outsider art of Julius Eastman, a glam-dance track by Yves Tumor, and Shungudzo's debut.

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Australian band Hiatus Kaiyote

Weekly Music Roundup: Hiatus Kaiyote, Pom Pom Squad, Jake Shears

Monday, June 14, 2021

New Sounds

This week, Polo G taps Nicki Minaj for a duet; Pom Pom Squad offers mid-century garage-noir; Arab Strap's remix allegory; and Haitus Kaiyote drops a slinky wondercore song about sex.

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Japanese Breakfast aka Michelle Zauner

Weekly Music Roundup: The Mountain Goats, Japanese Breakfast, Spellling

Monday, June 07, 2021

New Sounds

This week, Japanese Breakfast and Joy Oladokun fight for happiness; the Mountain Goats fight for their lives; plus new releases from Prince, Spellling, and Public Service Broadcasting.

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The Shed Celebrates Emerging Artists With Free Series

Friday, June 04, 2021

By John Schaefer : Host

Open Call is a program of free exhibitions, installations, and performances.

As Live Performances Restart, Local Musicians Look to the Future

Friday, June 04, 2021

As New York begins to look ahead to a summer of live performances, we're checking in with different corners of the city's music scene.

John Schaefer's Summer Concert Guide

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Your summer tunes tour guide.

Sons of Kemet

Weekly Music Roundup: Sons of Kemet, Xenia Rubinos, Johnny Flynn

Monday, May 17, 2021

New Sounds

Go “Black to the Future” with Sons of Kemet; take a strange trip with Johnny Flynn; hear the many voices of Xenia Rubinos and the sweet 70's sounds of St. Vincent's latest.

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Tony Allen

Weekly Music Roundup: Tony Allen, Okuté, LUMP

Monday, May 10, 2021

New Sounds

This week, legendary Nigerian drummer Tony Allen’s posthumous album, Cuban band Okuté's new/old sound, and Laura Marling’s “lumpy” collaboration with Mike Lindsay of Tunng.

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Flock of Dimes

Weekly Music Roundup: Flock of Dimes, Warpaint, Innov Gnawa

Monday, May 03, 2021

New Sounds

This week, a gathering of the tribes for a new Flock Dimes song, the return of Warpaint, and a Billie Eilish single torn from the headlines. Plus, healing trancey music from Innov Gnawa.

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Jupiter & Okwess

Weekly Music Roundup: Jupiter & Okwess, Van Morrison, Lucinda Chua

Monday, April 26, 2021

New Sounds

This week, the return of R&B legend Van Morrison, a joyful noise from Congo’s Jupiter and Okwess, an unsettling noise from Jason Lindner, and an eerie nocturnal song by Lucinda Chua.

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Weekly Music Roundup: Rodrigo y Gabriela, Amythyst Kiah, Eyibra

Monday, April 19, 2021

New Sounds

This week, Rodrigo y Gabriela cover Astor Piazzolla, a haunted single from Amythyst Kiah, and a musical project exploring non-binary history from the artist Eyibra.

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Tyshawn Sorey, Vijay Iyer, Linda May Han Oh

Weekly Music Roundup: Old Sea Brigade, Vijay Iyer Trio, and Mon Laferte

Monday, April 12, 2021

New Sounds

This week, Old Sea Brigade’s new sound, Vijay Iyer's latest Trio, and Chilean singer Mon Laferte’s Mexican tribute. Plus, a kora duet by Ballaké Sissoko and Sona Jobarteh.

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Sons of Kemet

Weekly Music Roundup: Sons of Kemet, Rosanne Cash, L'Rain

Monday, April 05, 2021

New Sounds

This week, songs by Sons of Kemet and Rosanne Cash wrestle with history; and Esperanza Spalding opens her musical apothecary. Plus, L'Rain and Damon Locks & Black Monument Ensemble.

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