Program Program introduces the topic of African American music in the United States, in particular, jazz, with its ability to convey the great range of emotions of the human spirit via its improvisational nature. Host David Crippens introduces performance segments by the Ali Yusef Trio and the Webster Lewis Septet, interviews with Cecil Taylor and the owner of Crawford's Grill (a famous jazz nightclub in Pittsburgh, PA), "Information" on "new music" and what it means, "Dealin'" with Cecil Taylor (who defines jazz), "Commentary" by professor and historian A.B. Spellman on the lack of new African American music on Boston radio stations, and segment interludes with Cheryl Bibbs, Gerald Durley, and Wolf Mandrill (of the musical group Mandrill). Produced by Marita Rivero. Directed by Conrad White.
Series Say Brother is WGBH's longest running public affairs television program by, for and about African Americans, and is now known as Basic Black. Since its inception in 1968, Say Brother has featured the voices of both locally and nationally known African American artists, athletes, performers, politicians, professionals, and writers including: Muhammad Ali, Maya Angelou, Thomas Atkins, Amiri Baraka, Doris Bunte, Julian Bond, Stokely Carmichael, Louis Farrakhan, Nikki Giovanni, Odetta Gordon, Henry Hampton, Benjamin Hooks, Jesse Jackson, Hubie Jones, Mel King, Eartha Kitt, Elma Lewis, Haki Madhubuti, Wallace D. Muhammad, Charles Ogletree, Byron Rushing, Owusu Sadaukai, and Sonia Sanchez.
