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Ralphie Choo's sound is a free-wheeling mix of Madrid, then and now

Ralphie Choo Mark Yareham/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Mark Yareham/Courtesy of the artist

Sense Of Place

Ralphie Choo's sound is a free-wheeling mix of Madrid, then and now

WXPN

September 14, 2023 • Spanish artist Ralphie Choo performs songs from his new debut album, Supernova.

Ralphie Choo on World Cafe

22:22

Sense of Place: How a wild boom of creativity took hold of post-Franco Madrid

Madrid at night in 1980. Paolo Monti/Wikimedia Commons hide caption

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Paolo Monti/Wikimedia Commons

Sense Of Place

Sense of Place: How a wild boom of creativity took hold of post-Franco Madrid

WXPN

July 14, 2023 • Following Francisco Franco's death in the 1975, a counterculture movement known as La Movida Madrileña took root in the Spanish capital.

Sense of Place: How a wild boom of creativity took hold of post-Franco Madrid

15:44

Sense of Place: How Madrid helped Jorge Drexler fully embrace the music

Jorge Drexler Juan Perez-Fajardo/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Juan Perez-Fajardo/Courtesy of the artist

Sense Of Place

Sense of Place: How Madrid helped Jorge Drexler fully embrace the music

WXPN

July 12, 2023 • The Academy Award-winning musician performs live from Metropol Studios in Madrid.

Jorge Drexler on World Cafe

53:47

Sense of Place: Denton, Texas' Brave Combo does things their own way

Brave Combo Miguel Perez/NPR hide caption

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Miguel Perez/NPR

Sense Of Place

Sense of Place: Denton, Texas' Brave Combo does things their own way

WXPN

April 7, 2023 • The fierce independence behind their polka music has taken Brave Combo from Japan to an episode of The Simpsons to playing at David Byrne's wedding.

Brave Combo on World Cafe

20:11

Sense of Place: How did Denton, Texas, become an unlikely jazz mecca?

University of North Texas, One O'Clock Lab Band Stephen Kallao/WXPN hide caption

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Stephen Kallao/WXPN

Sense Of Place

Sense of Place: How did Denton, Texas, become an unlikely jazz mecca?

WXPN

April 5, 2023 • Join us as we attend a rehearsal and talk with University of North Texas' One O'Clock Lab Band's director, Alan Baylock.

One O'Clock Lab Band on World Cafe

14:49

Sense of Place: Step inside Dan's Silverleaf Bar in Denton, Texas

Dan's Silverleaf founder Dan Mojica Kimberly Junod/WXPN hide caption

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Kimberly Junod/WXPN

Sense Of Place

Sense of Place: Step inside Dan's Silverleaf Bar in Denton, Texas

WXPN

April 4, 2023 • Whether they're just starting out or they're big stars, like Leon Russell, it's a place to see live music almost nightly in Denton, Texas.

Dan's Silverleaf on World Cafe

16:23

'Sound Opinions' radio show hosts on the albums that define Chicago

The Staple Singers perform at Wattstax, a benefit concert that took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Aug. 20, 1972. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Sense Of Place

'Sound Opinions' radio show hosts on the albums that define Chicago

WXPN

February 3, 2023 • World Cafe asked veteran music journalists Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot of Sound Opinions to choose the definitive Chicago album.

Sound Opinions on World Cafe

25:23

Step inside the 'birthplace of gospel music'

Music director Stanley Stovall stands inside Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, which is widely considered "the birthplace of gospel music." Miguel Perez/WXPN hide caption

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Miguel Perez/WXPN

Sense Of Place

Step inside the 'birthplace of gospel music'

WXPN

February 3, 2023 • Chicago's Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church played a pivotal role in the evolution of gospel.

Ebenezer Baptist Church on World Cafe

13:33

Chicago's jazz scene was the perfect place for Makaya McCraven to break the rules

Makaya McCraven Sulyiman/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Sulyiman/Courtesy of the artist

Sense Of Place

Chicago's jazz scene was the perfect place for Makaya McCraven to break the rules

WXPN

February 1, 2023 • The "beat scientist" and composer chats about his musical upbringing and his approach to remixing live music.

Makaya McCraven on World Cafe

32:16

Here are 5 Chicago soul records you should know

Ayana Contreras Guillaume Ziccarelli/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Guillaume Ziccarelli/Courtesy of the artist

Sense Of Place

Here are 5 Chicago soul records you should know

WXPN

January 30, 2023 • Ayana Contreras, host of WBEZ's Reclaimed Soul, talks about what makes Chicago soul special.

Ayana Contreras on World Cafe

18:37

This Chicago store is a must if you're on the hunt for rare, vintage guitars

Instrumentalist Nathaniel Murphy is often called upon to try out the many guitars inside the Chicago Music Exchange. Miguel Perez/WXPN hide caption

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Miguel Perez/WXPN

Sense Of Place

This Chicago store is a must if you're on the hunt for rare, vintage guitars

WXPN

January 30, 2023 • The city's Chicago Music Exchange boasts a massive showroom that looks more like a museum of musical instruments.

Chicago Music Exchange on World Cafe

7:48

Chicago's indie music scene is thriving inside this college student's apartment

A crowd gathers before Chicago indie band Friko performs at Eli Schmitt's apartment as part of his New Now concert series. Kimberly Junod/WXPN hide caption

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Kimberly Junod/WXPN