The Track Star Podcast

Jon Batiste is back on the Track Star Podcast, this time joining Jack in the "band room" to pick up right where they left off.

They dive deeper into the importance of music, explore Jon's personal voice memos and notes filled with unreleased demos and musical ideas, and talk about jazz traditions, Monk's meditations, and the artists who have shaped the way Jon listens and plays.

Along the way, they break down a legendary live performance by Duke Ellington, listen to recordings from Art Tatum, Ella Fitzgerald, Bud Powell, and Keith Jarrett, and explore the history and improvisation at the heart of jazz. And, of course, the conversation turns into some unexpected jamming of their own.

This Episode's Track List:

Moonglow - Art Tatum

Beethoveen Blues - Jon Batiste

Black Mozart - Jon Batiste

HK Jam - Jon Batiste (Voice Memo)

Holy Water - Jon Batiste (Voice Memo)

Always Know - Jon Batiste

Diminuendo in Blue - Live - Duke Ellington

Blue Skise - Ella Fitzgerald

In Walked Bud - Thelonious Monk

You Go To My Head - Bud Powell

In Walked Bud - Jon Batiste

Jelly Roll - Earl Hines

Redbeans - Jon Batiste

Blues for Basie - Oscar Peterson

American Symphony - Jon Batiste (Voice Memo)

Köln, January 24, 1975, Part I - Live - Keith Jarrett

LL Cool J joins Jack on Track Star to talk about the music he loves and the artists who helped shape his sound. Having made his own mark on hip-hop, LL revisits some classics and share his influences.

They span early hip-hop from Treacherous Three and Funky 4 + 1, unforgettable records from Biz Markie and Roxanne Shanté, and a stacked lineup of MCs on “The Symphony.” Along the way, there’s Beastie Boys, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, and U2.

This Episode's Track List:

Just a Friend - Biz Markie

Hey Ladies - Beastie Boys

The Body Rock - Treacherous Three

Love Hangover - Diana Ross

Roxanne’s Revenge - Roxanne Shanté

The Symphony (ft. Craig G & Masta Ace) - Marley Marl, Kool G Rap & Big Daddy Kane

Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2

Rappin and Rocking the House - Funky 4 + 1

Ain’t Nobody - Chaka Khan

Ahead of Breakaway Carolina, Jack sits down with Sean and Alex, two local Gen Z music fans, at Applebee’s in Charlotte for a special episode of the Track Star Podcast, made possible by @bacardi. Over Bacardi cocktails, they explore how their generation discovers, shares, and experiences music: from first iPods and TikTok discoveries to the artists they feel understand them best.

The conversation spans Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and Taylor Swift, the freedom of moving between genres, and the connection between EDM, rave culture, and community. They debate whether algorithms
help or limit discovery, how social media brings fans closer to artists, and what happens when phones become part of every concert experience. With more access and choice than ever, what makes Gen Z’s relationship with music different?

Then, the conversation moves from the table to Bacardi x Applebee’s Neighborhood Afters, as Sean and Alex join Jack for an evening of music and community.

Special thanks to @bacardi for making this episode possible. #ad #BacardiPartner #DoWhatMovesYou

Daniel Kaluuya joins Jack on Track Star to put his music knowledge to the test, with a playlist spanning American hip-hop, soul, UK garage, grime, and rap. From Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill to Skepta and Little Simz, the episode brings together classics from both sides of the Atlantic.



The music moves from soul and R&B into the energy of UK club music, with Jorja Smith, Giggs, Jme, and D Double E. Jack and Daniel listen, react, and talk through the songs. Catch Daniel in A24’s Misty Green, out today.



This Episode's Track List:



Heart of the City – Jay-Z

Ex-Factor – Lauryn Hill

Blue Lights – Jorja Smith

Do You Mind (Crazy Cousinz Remix)

Party Hard – Donae-O

P’s & Q’s – Kano

Man Don’t Care – Jme ft. Giggs

Shutdown – Skepta

Talkin the Hardest – Giggs

Raindance – Dave, Tems

Venom – Little Simz

Street Fighter Riddim – D Double E

Pay As You Go – Wiley feat. Dizzee Rascal, Ace & Maxwell

That’s Not Me – Skepta ft. JME

Music historian Ashley Kahn and bassist Bakithi Kumalo join Jack on the Track Star Podcast to explore the music, people, and stories behind Paul Simon’s Graceland. Drawing on Kahn’s new book, Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland, the conversation traces the album’s South African roots and the collaborations that helped shape its unmistakable sound.

Bakithi shares his perspective from inside the studio and on the road, recalling his first meeting with Simon, his experience on the Graceland tour, and what it meant to perform alongside South African legends. Together, Ashley and Bakithi bring the album’s history to life through personal memories and the music that connects it all, from the sounds that inspired Graceland to the influence it continues to have today.

This Episode's Track List:

Gumboots (with Boyoyo Boys) - Paul Simon

The Boy In The Bubble - Paul Simon

Graceland - Paul Simon

You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon

Pata Pata - Miriam Makeba

Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes - Paul Simon