Guests & Schedule

Century Songs Podcast, Guests and Schedule (Updated Frequently)

We produce the Century Songs Podcast (mostly) in day-long recording sessions (we call them "Production Days") at The Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our house band, board engineer and videographer meet each guest at the main stage, perform our selected public domain standard, then come back to The Jazz Kitchen's meeting room for a chat with hosts Eric Baker and David Poncé. In some situations, we connect remotely (as we did for Episode 7) with guest artists who have connections to Central Indiana, but also have schedule/geographical barriers to Production Day sessions.

Our first Production Day was June 22, 2026 and we've had two additional since. In all, we've had such a GREAT response from our invited performers/educators, and we're excited to share that list and keep it current as we continue production through the end of Season 1 and announce Season 2 lineup (we already have the songs chosen for Season 2!).

Recorded for Century Songs Podcast (in Episode Order, with Links to Published Episodes)

• Ep1, Stardust (perf. Shawn O'Connor, Eric Baker): David Allee, Musician/Owner, The Jazz Kitchen, Guest

• Ep2, Love for Sale: Sandy Lomax, Vocalist/Vocal Jazz Instructor, local Indy Jazz Scene Legend!

• Ep3, After You've Gone: Oliver Nelson, Jazz Musician/Educator, local Indy Jazz Scene Legend!

• Ep4, Blue Skies: Eric Baker, Musician/Composer/Music Director/Podcast Host :-)

• Ep5, (Back Home Again) Indiana: Shawn O'Connor, Jazz Musician/Bandleader/Educator, Leader, "Boss Pitches" Big Band

• Ep6, Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise: Rich Cohen, Musician

• Ep7, On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away: Emma Hedrick, Vocalist/Composer/Educator, Amy Azzarra, Vocalist/Composer, Gabe Schonman, Vocalist/Composer/Producer

• Ep8, Look for the Silver Lining: Candice Tugby, Trumpet player/Vocalist/Educator, Director of The Jazz Futures (IJF) Program

• Ep9, Makin' Whoopee (perf. with Island Mix Tape Band): Mike Kessler, Musician/Educator/Bandleader, Century Songs House Band Member

• (Available 11/2/26) Ep10, Love Will Find a Way: Jared Thompson, Musician/Composer/Bandleader of Premium Blend Indy

• (Available 11/9/26) Ep11, Indian Summer: Mark Buselli, Educator/Musician/Composer, Director of Jazz Studies, Ball State University, IJF Hall of Fame Member

• (Available 11/16/26) Ep12, Body and Soul: Rob Dixon, Musician/Composer/Bandleader, Indy Jazz Foundation Board Member, IJF Hall of Fame Member, the "Musical Mayor of Indianapolis!"

• (Available 11/23/26) Ep13, The Birth of the Blues: Clifford Ratliff, Musician, local Indy Jazz Scene Legend, IJF Hall of Fame Member

OTHER PRODUCTION DAY GUESTS & STANDARDS PERFORMED

Production Day 1, June 22, 2026 Guests  (Episode Dates to Be Announced)

• The Birth of the Blues: Clifford Ratliff, Musician, local Indy Jazz Scene Legend, IJF Hall of Fame Member

• Always, If I Had You: Everett Greene, Vocalist, local Indy Jazz Scene Legend, IJF Hall of Fame Member

• How Long, How Long Blues: Kevin Anker, Musician/Bandleader, Century Songs House Band Member, IJF Hall of Fame Member

Production Day 2, July 27, 2026 Guests & Standards Performed (Episode Dates to Be Announced)

• Indian Summer: Mark Buselli, Musician/Educator/Bandleader, IJF Hall of Fame Member

• Love Will Find a Way: Jared Thompson, Musician/Composer/Bandleader

• Bye Bye Blackbird: Sandy Williams, Musician/Educator

• Makin' Whoopee (perf. with Island Mix Tape Band): Mike Kessler, Musician/Educator/Bandleader, Century Songs House Band Member

• My Blue Heaven (perf. Eric Baker, Bethany Robinson): Bethany Robinson, Musician/Composer/Educator/Bandleader

• Sweet Lorraine (perf. Eric Baker, Chelsea Hughey): Chelsea Hughey, Musician/Composer/Educator/Bandleader

• Georgia On My Mind: Bashiri Asad, Vocalist/Bandleader

• Someone To Watch Over Me: Amanda McCarthy, Vocalist

Production Day 3, October 5, 2026 Guests & Standards Performed (Episode Dates to Be Announced)

• Body and Soul: Rob Dixon, Musician/Composer/Bandleader, Indy Jazz Foundation Board Member, IJF Hall of Fame Member, ("Musical Mayor" of Indianapolis!)

• (Won't You Come Home) Bill Bailey: Rich Dole, Musician/Educator/Bandleader/Radio-Podcast Host

• Mood Indigo: Brandon Meeks, Musician/Composer/Bandleader

• Ain't Misbehavin': Brenda Williams, Vocalist/Actress/Entertainer, IJF Hall of Fame Member

• Sweet Georgia Brown: Carolyn Dutton, Musician/Bandleader/Educator

• S'Wonderful: Heather Lake Bays, Vocalist/Session Musician

• What Is This Thing Called Love?: Wendy Reed, Vocalist, IJF Hall of Fame Member

• I Can't Believe that You're In Love with Me (perf. Eric Baker): non-performing discussion guest TBD

Production Day 4, January 2027, Guests and Standards to Be Performed (Episode Dates to Be Announced)

• I Want to Be Happy: Roy Geesa, Musician/Bandleader

• Singin' the Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home): Joel Tucker, Musician/Educator

• Potato Head Blues: Sam Butler, Musician/Educator/Bandleader

• (Standard TBD): Monika Herzig, Musician/Educator/Bandleader

• (Standard TBD): Mark O'Connor, Musician/Educator/Bandleader

• (Standard TBD): Matt Pivec, Musician/Educator/Bandleader

Remote Production (Episode Dates to Be Announced)

• Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It): Sean Haefeli, Musician/Composer/Podcast Host

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