Tod Dickow with Charged Particles Play the Music of Michael Brecker on The Hear and Now, 10 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 22

The Hear and Now, hosted by Derk Richardson, welcomes the Northern California jazz trio Charged Particles, with guest saxophonist Tod Dickow, to the KPFA performance studio for an in-studio concert, broadcast live and engineered by Tony Ferro. Formed in the early 1990s, and taking its name from a Chick Corea composition, the trio is anchored … Continued


Derk Richardson hosts an in-studio concert by the Bay Area all-women super group Skip the Needle: Shelley Doty, Kofy Brown, Vicki Randle, and Katie Cash (Katie Cash Music). The band played eight songs live in the first hour. The second hour’s playlist includes Procol Harum, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan (from The Rolling Thunder Revue), Calexico / Iron … Continued



Founded in 2008 in Tehran and dedicated to multiculturalism and peace, the Sibarg Ensemble brings together traditional Iranian music and jazz through original compositions, arrangements of classical melodies and folksongs, and structured improvisations. A trio version of the ensemble–Sara Saberi, oud, Hesam Abedini, vocals and Persian percussion, and Josh Charney, piano and keyboards–performs in the … Continued


The Sibarg Ensemble performs live on The Hear and Now, 10 p.m., Thursday, August 8, 2019

Founded in 2008 in Tehran and dedicated to multiculturalism and peace, the Sibarg Ensemble brings together traditional Iranian music and jazz through original compositions, arrangements of classical melodies and folk songs, and structured improvisations. A trio version of the ensemble–Sara Saberi, oud, Hesam Abedini, vocals and Persian percussion, and Josh Charney, piano and keyboards–performs in … Continued


The Hear and Now

The Hear and Now – July 18, 2019

this episode is no longer available

Host Derk Richardson covers a lot of musical ground in this episode: Birthday nods to Martha Reeves and Brian Augur, a Persuasions song featuring the late Jerry Lawson, the first song recorded by Elvis Presley (in 1953), favorite tracks from Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billie, Jefferson Airplane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Kevin Welch, Jenna Mammina, Moby, Jenny Scheinman, … Continued


The Hear and Now

The Hear and Now – July 11, 2019

this episode is no longer available

From singer-songwriters to avant-garde jazz; old faves, new voices, and live performances. With host Derk Richardson. This episode honors the passing of Jerry Lawson, of the Persuasions, and Joao Gilberto, acknowledges the birthdays of Swamp Dogg, Christine McVie, Suzanne Vega, Jerry Miller (Moby Grape), Arlo Guthrie, Butch Hancock, and Mavis Staples, and includes tracks from … Continued