Jazz

On this week's show there's blues from Lightnin' Hopkins and John Mayall, soul courtesy of Candi Staton, ska from the Specials plus classic country from Johnny Paycheck. Audio

Errol Garner swings; Abbey Lincoln sings; and Dave Holland and Sam Rivers focus on what's important. Audio

On this week's show there's blues from BB King and Alberta Hunter, reggae courtesy of Desmond Dekker, classic Americana from the Willard Grant Conspiracy, a live RNZ session track from Don McGlashan… Audio

On this week's show there's reggae from Horace Andy, soul courtesy of Irma Thomas and Otis Redding, blues from Johnny Jenkins plus a cut from Gillian Welch's classic album Revival. Audio

Jazz musician Heather Webb presents Parallax, her Masters recital of all original music inspired by astrophysics. Recorded by RNZ Concert at the Ron Ball Studio, Christchurch Town Hall on 17 February… Audio

On this week's show there's soul from Sam and Dave, blues courtesy of Earl Hooker, a classic cut from Rickie Lee Jones, reggae from Junior Murvin plus a birthday tune for Kris Kristofferson. Audio

On this week's show there's classic country from Marty Robbins, a soul smash from Bob and Earl, blues courtesy of Magic Sam plus a birthday tune for Eddie Hinton. Audio

On this week's show soul queen Esther Phillips covers Van Morrison, and Bonnie Raitt takes on John Prine. There's also blues from Junior Wells, reggae courtesy of Gregory Isaacs plus an all time… Audio

On this week's show there's blues from Buddy Guy, a birthday tune for Charlie Watts, new music from Leaf Rapids and Kassi Valazza, a classic from Pink Floyd plus a preview of the Cowboy Junkies… Audio

This week's Nashville Babylon celebrates Bob Dylan's 84th birthday with a selection of cover versions of his finest work from the likes of Mavis Staples, Solomon Burke, Esther Phillips, Bryan Ferry… Audio

Nashville Babylon: Saturday 17 May 2025 Audio

On this week's Nashville Babylon, there's soul from Etta James and Otis Redding, new music from the Altons and Jason Isbell, reggae courtesy of Althea & Donna, plus classic cuts from John Prine and… Audio

On this week's Nashville Babylon, there's classic soul from Betty LaVette, reggae from the Wailers, live recordings courtesy of Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty, new music from Florist, plus an… Audio

On this week's show, Otis Redding takes on the Stones and Tina Turner covers Led Zeppelin. There's also blues from Jimmy Dawkins, gospel courtesy of Sister Wynonna Carr, plus all-time classics from… Audio

On this week's show there's classic blues from Little Walter and Dinah Washington, reggae courtesy of the Meditations, an early rock 'n' roll smash from Chuck Berry plus a birthday tune for Iggy Pop.

Music correspondent Dave Wilson looks at why queer women have been quite visible in the history of jazz, particularly among the early African American blues singers, but not so queer or gay men.  Audio

On this week's Nashville Babylon there's blues from Howlin' Wolf and Big Mama Thornton, soul courtesy of Irma Thomas, an all time classic from the Clash plus a birthday tune for Henry Mancini. Audio

On this week's Nashville Babylon there's reggae from Max Romeo, soul courtesy of James Carr and Pops Staples, a show favourite from Dr John, new music from Brown Horse, plus Ella Fitzgerald covering a… Audio

On this week's Nashville Babylon there's classic rock 'n' roll from Carl Perkins and Wanda Jackson, a track from Roberta Flack's 1969 debut album, reggae courtesy of Culture, plus blues from Sonny Boy… Audio

On this week's Nashville Babylon there are birthday tunes for Aretha Franklin and Nick Lowe, blues courtesy of Buster Benton and Big Maybelle plus a reggae classic from the Abyssinians. Audio