Big Ears Festival

Few events embody the act of listening and receiving quite like the Big Ears Festival. In this episode, Nate reports back from the fest, and shares an interview with two artists who performed there: trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith and pianist Vijay Iyer, who have a new duo album called Defiant Life.

With jazz legends like Herbie Hancock and Henry Threadgill and new music stars like Davóne Tines and Caroline Shaw, a 2024 festival lineup puts the "big" in Big Ears.

Composer and alto saxophonist John Zorn brings eight eclectic bands to the Big Ears Festival stage, ranging from solo classical piano to all-out electrified jams.