The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt

• The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt-Toni Blackman-From Cultural Ambassador of Hip-Hop to Becoming

  Cultural Ambassador of Hip-Hop, author, and creative Toni Blackman stopped by The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt to share her origin story in her own words. Toni recounts the earliest instance of experiencing creativity and moves through the memories leading up to her East Coast arrival. Toni and the host engaged one another about their shared cultural backgrounds and experiences growing up in diverse communities across America. They discussed Toni's journey from her hometown to Howard University, where she found self-worth and built a valuable network, while also exploring themes of personal growth, accountability, and the challenges faced by Black Americans in education and career advancement. The conversation concluded with discussions about Toni's work as a Hip-Hop artist and cultural ambassador, including her experiences with Freestyle Union and her efforts to blend hip-hop with education and diplomacy. Background music composed and performed by James Hurt. © 2025 James Hurt. All rights reserved.The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt would like to thank you for listening. Please share links to episodes in the highlights section and don't forget to follow us on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/james36963/?hl=enWebsite:https://musicjameshurt.com/

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• The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt-Yunie Mojica-Multifaceted Dreams Personified

  Saxophonist, composer, singer, and events tastemaker Yunie Mojica stopped The Sit-Down Podcast to share her origin story in her own words. While coming from a family immersed in both educational athletic endeavors Yunie was exposed to the many flavors of music through her home listening culture that she credits her dad with. Growing up the city of Hartford, Connecticut Yunie shares how she made peace with identity politics via the Transatlantic Slave Trade route by self-identifying as Black, Dominican, Puerto Rican, and a New York cultured individual. This reconing has taken Yunie on several twists and turns on the road to becoming a musician steeped in the Jazz tradition as taught through the Jackie McLean Institute in addition to all of the electronic music subsets of the time as heard as a young child from Celia Cruz to early Disco Latin Salsa-Soul (Salsoul), and ultimately leading her ear to Sonny Stitt and a willingness to capture that 'feeling' know and often referred to as 'Jazz'-the great American art form. With a Bachelors degree in both Jazz studies and Music Management Mojica has been contributor for such events as Summer Stage and Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzie's Club Coca Cola. Yunie continues to amaze with her duo project co-led with brother, DJ Acemo who are currently carving out a sonic space in the world of creative experimental electronica. Yunie also served as co-host of the podcast "Make Music Trill Again" with vocalist Melanie Charles. Background music composed and performed by James Hurt.© 2025 James Hurt. All rights reserved.The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt would like to thank you for listening. Please share links to episodes in the highlights section and don't forget to follow us on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/james36963/?hl=enWebsite:https://musicjameshurt.com/

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• The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt-Carole Alexis-Cultural Identity Through the Lens of Artistry

  Carole Alexis, Choreographer and Director of Ballet Des Ameriques, takes time out of her busy and active schedule to stop by the Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt and discuss her origin story in her own words. Having had multiple levels of training and expertise in several disciplines Carole takes the listener on a journey that begins in her homeland of the French-Caribbean territory of Martinique, early formal training in Africa (with primary focus on Dakar, Senegal), France, through the ultimate choice to relocate to the United States (settling in New York City's Harlem) in search the common thread of the human experience-beauty through artistic expression. The conversation also highlights the contributions of activism through an artistic lens and such pioneers from the Négritude movement poets such as Aimé Césaire, Léopold Sédar Senghor, and Léon-Gontran Damas. The notion of circularity as an integral part of the diaspora was extensively utilized to compliment the notion of linearity as it relates to art and culture. Gender roles and how they began to expand the boundaries to include women in dance as recently as the 17th Century were also discussed as one of the earliest forms of the 'constraint-freedom' dance (pun intended) towards transcendence in search of beauty and perfection however untenable. Background music composed and performed by James Hurt.© 2025 James Hurt. All rights reserved.The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt would like to thank you for listening. Please share links to episodes in the highlights section and don't forget to follow us on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/james36963/?hl=enWebsite:https://musicjameshurt.com/

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• The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt-Val Jeanty-Sound Chemist

  Sound Chemist, drummer, percussionist, and turntablist, Val Jeanty stops by The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt to share an origin story which begins in her native land-The Republic of Haiti. From immersion in ceremonies of drum and dance as a young child, exposure arts across multiple disciplines, the shift towards instability and the decision to migrate to the USA, to an awareness of the different levels of social metrics to include race as a leading determinant of 'how' one moves through such a system labeled as a Democracy yet structured as a Republic, becoming drawn to the new sounds of urban youth's unique voice through the music of Hip-Hop, utilizing electronic instruments such as turntables and samplers as an extension of both sonic-creativity and cultural-preservation, navigating the journey of sound healing as a Sound Chemist, and offering a word of encouragement to aspiring sonic explorers and the like. This episode is dedicated the continued struggle and enduring spirit of the people of Haiti. Background music composed and performed by James Hurt. © 2025 James Hurt. All rights reserved.The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt would like to thank you for listening. Please share links to episodes in the highlights section and don't forget to follow us on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/james36963/?hl=enWebsite:https://musicjameshurt.com/

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• The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt-Chad Anderson-Sense of Urgency

  Visual artist, educator, and spontaneously-creative drummer Chad Anderson stops by the Sit-Down Podcast to share both his origin story and musical journey in his own words. This episode takes us to the state of Mississippi and into the city of Starkville. Chad recounts his first interests in art and music in particular, coming from a family of educators, radio as  a first instrument, earliest drum rivalry, the legacy of John Reese, Alvin Fielder's impact on his drum philosophy, visual artist Bart Galloway, I-95-from Jackson to Memphis, meeting Kelley and Chris Parker, and working with the trans-generational creative music visionary Chad Fowler. This episode is dedicated to the memory, legacy, and impact of the musical advocacy of violinist, creative thinker, and creator of the Black Arts Music Society (BAMS), John Reese. Background music composed and performed by James Hurt.© 2025 James Hurt. All rights reserved.The Sit-Down Podcast with James Hurt would like to thank you for listening. Please share links to episodes in the highlights section and don't forget to follow us on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/james36963/?hl=enWebsite:https://musicjameshurt.com/

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