Fun 2 Know Podcast

About Fun 2 Know Podcast

Featuring interviews with writers, musicians and artists with host (and former FRESH AIR researcher) Dan Buskirk

Publisher

Fun 2 Know Podcast

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Dec 2014

Latest episode

3 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

63 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   3 Sept 2026

   F2K Ep. 61 - Sun Ra Arkestra's Knoel Scott

   On today's show, the saxophonist and the newly-anointed bandleader of the Sun Ra Arkestra, Knoel Scott. Sun Ra is the storied musician who came out of Alabama in the 1930s, landing in Chicago in the late 1940's, writing arrangements for the legendary big band leader Fletcher Henderson. Inspired by visions life in outer space, the musician transformed from Sonny Blount to Sun Ra, sent from Saturn to bring music to our embattled Earth. He assembled his big band, known as “The Arkestra,” and Sun Ra began writing, recording, and performing his music at an astounding clip, relocating to New York for most of the 1960s and finally settling in Philadelphia by the start of the 1970s. Their live shows became the stuff of legend, a mix of psychedelic lights, costumes, chanting, dancing, and music mixing styles from across a range of 20th styles, with Ra's lecturing on ancient Egypt, space and the future while playing a dazzling selection of early mini-synths. In 1978 the band would be guests on Saturday Night Live and earlier this year were the subject of PBS' American Masters series with the documentary “Sun Ra: Do the Impossible. Sun Ra would transition in 1993, John Gilmore led the band until his passing in 1995 and saxophonist Marshall Allen would vigorously lead the modern Arkestra as they expanded their profile performing and recording internationally. Marshall Allen's retirement has just been announced, stepping down at the age of 102. Now Knoel has officially taken the reins. We got together to talk about the Arkestra then-forthcoming concert at the McCarter Theater September 3rd of 2026. We talk abut his early experiences growing up in a musical community in Jamaica, Queens, his first discovery with Sun Ra's music, the lure of money, fortune and fame, the brilliance of bebop and Charlie Parker, our place in the cosmos and more. Thanks to Bobbie's Bookstore in Philly's Germantown for graciously hosting the interview.

2. 

   16 Jul 2026

   F2K Ep. 60 - Bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma

   On today's show, we welcome back renowned electric bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma. This is the third time we've had Jamaaladeen at the mic, if you listen back to Fun-2-Know episodes 47 & 11 you can hear Jamaaladeen talk about growing up in North Philadelphia and playing the bands of legendary players Charles Earland and Walt Dickerson while still in his teens. But it is his experience in Ornette Coleman's ground-breaking mid-seventies band Prime Time that has been a source of endless inspiration to Tacuma, Jamaaladeen's 2010 release FOR THE LOVE OF ORNETTE would be among the last recorded appearances of the music giant. Beginning in 1983 with a string of records for the Grammavision label, Jamaaladeen has produced decades of releases for many labels including Moers Music, DIW, Jazzwerkstatt, Tzadik, P-Vine & Timeless and in recent years has put his energies into his own Jam-All Productions imprint, much of which you can find at Bandcamp. The list of musicians he's recorded and performed with is extensive, including Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, Mary Halvorson, David Murray, James Blood Ulmer, The Golden Palominos, The Roots and that list goes on and on.

Since 2015, Jamaladeen has also produced and promoted The Outsiders Festival in his hometown of Philly, bringing a wonderfully diverse group of talent to town and he also owns the Redd Carpet Room, a boutique curated by Tacuma's sharp taste in fashion.

3. 

   1 May 2026

   F2K Ep. 59 - Saxophonist & Composer Maria Grand

   On today's show, the saxophonist, vocalist and composer Maria Grand. Originally from Geneva, Switzerland, Maria came to New York to pursue a career in music while still in her late teens. She has been releasing her own music since 2017, recordings that feature her enthralling tenor saxophone playing and vocals in service of exploratory, melodic compositions. She's performed and recorded with Vijay Iyer, Mary Halvorson, Antoine Roney and others and her latest is just out, entitled BOTH SIDES. Maria was passing through Philadelphia when we met up, the night before I caught a wonderful show with her quartet at the Black Squirrel Club. Maria brought her percussionist Shakoor Hakeem along for the conversation, they've collaborated together since meeting in a youth jazz program as teens. We'll hear Shakoor in our conversation as well, discussing his experiences making music with Maria. We talk about growing up in a musical family, struggles in high school, coming to New York to study in the jazz mecca as well as Maria's work in musical therapy.

Who has been a guest on Fun 2 Know Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• DM Hotep
• Digba Ogunbiyi
• James Brandon Lewis

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

4.6 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 14 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

7

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51