This week on Forbes Avenue, we air an interview with jazz bassist Ron Carter recorded the week he turned 87 years young!

The program includes two tracks: “Eighty One,” from a 2006 recording he made with guitarist Bill Frisell and drummer Paul Motian (Bill Frisell, Ron Carter & Paul Motian) and “Sweet Lorraine,” from Maestro Carter’s 1994 record Jazz, My Romance. During our conversation he shares his insights from decades in music — he is still playing, practicing and teaching today! Along the way, he reminisces about the Pittsburgh jazz scene; reflects on Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Bill Frisell and other musicians with whom he’s collaborated; gives advice to musicians; and talks candidly about how race relations affected his career. It’s a remarkable conversation with a remarkable man!

Listen to the Interview: Ron Carter

Credits:
Richard Gordon, host, researcher, audio engineer, audio editor
Recorded May 7, 2024; WRCT debut October 8, 2024

This week on Forbes Avenue, Carnegie Mellon student Katrina D’arms discusses fashion, mending, and the importance of a sustainable relationship to clothes.

Home economics has largely faded from school curriculums, but Kat hosts mending workshops on CMU’s campus and in Pittsburgh at large where she provides materials and teaches people the skills to repair their clothing. (For more information and upcoming events: @mendwithkat on Instagram). It was a great perspective about the clothes we wear everday!

Listen to the Interview: Kat D’arms

Credits:
Riona Duncan, host, researcher
Archan Das, audio editor, audio engineer
Recorded September 16, 2024; WRCT debut October 1, 2024

Since 1982, the American Library Association has sponsored Banned Books Week the third week of September to provide schools, colleges, universities, and public libraries resources “to bring together the entire book community in shared support of the freedom to read.” In fact, a Pittsburgh Librarian and First Amendment activist named Judith Krug came up with the idea!

We recently hosted CMU Associate Professor of English Kathy Newman on Forbes Avenue for a conversation about censorship, free speech, cancel culture, and her English Department course about Banned Books (76210). A fascinating conversation about a timely subject! (For more information: CMU’s Banned Books Project)

Listen to the Interview: Prof. Kathy Newman

Credits:
Riona Duncan, host, audio editor, audio engineer, researcher
Recorded August 26, 2024; WRCT debut September 24, 2024