63.7K
Downloads
465
Episodes
Welcome to the audio home page for CONFERENCE of the BIRDS, a weekly radio program/podcast featuring a heterogeneous, intra-continental mix of music, poetry, speech, and song. The birds (so to speak) are here assembled in concert/consort on a weekly basis, most weeks, for a free recital of juxtaposed, contrastive, intermingled musics, and for phases, forms, and statements of musical action, reflection, critique, recalcitrance, joy, rest, prayer, revolt, renewal or repair, revolution.....and more. Each week (most weeks), find here a new ensemble/assemblage of classical, folk, ritual, spiritual, avant-garde, experimental, popular, poetic, political, danceable sounds and songs, in various genres, forms, formats, and styles, ranging from free-jazz, flamenco, and Javanese gamelan to field recordings, folk songs, and Indian film music, to salsa, samba, disco, Raï, cha’abi and be-bop. Conference Of the Birds (COB) airs LIVE, Friday evenings, 9:00 - 12:00 midnight, Eastern USA time, on WRFI and WINO (Ithaca/Odessa), community radio for Central New York and the Finger Lakes. Broadcasting to the world on the net via www.wrfi.org and Radio Garden: https://radio.garden/listen/wrfi-ithaca-community-radio/0N0fROGD#google_vignette. Episodes are available 24/7 online. Always free, commercial free, and free of commercial, corporate, or capitalist intent.
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
THIS WEEK's BIRDS: Tasnif from Mohsen Karamarti (Iran); from Pakistan: Parveen X 3: Shahida, Fardia, Abida; Sonny Rollins; James Brandon Lewis salutes David S. Ware; David S. Ware w/ Quartet; Wilbur Ware & Quartet; Nerissa Campbell w. Gamelan; Faqirs du Sindh (more from Pakistan); new cante jondo from Yerai Cortés; vintage cante jondo from Dolores Vargas; from Bulgaria: Sofia Papadopoulou & Svetia Karadjova; plus, yes, as ever.....much, much, much more....
Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN:
https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com
via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580
Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere.
Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online:
PLAYLIST at SPINITRON:
https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/22151670/Conference-of-the-Birds
and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG
https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks
Find WRFI on Radio Garden:
http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR
NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
Stephen Cope @ Conference of the Birds, POBOX 428, Tivoli, NY, 12583, USA.
Monday Mar 09, 2026
Monday Mar 09, 2026
THIS WEEK's BIRDS: New music from Rajna Swaminathan; New experiential music from Lukas Ligeti & group;Tunisian jazz vocalist Fatima Charii; Scandanavian group Söndörgő; Sudanese jazz from Sharhabil Ahmed; ta'arab inspired vocal music music from Nyankol Mathiang Dut (Grande Comore); 70s Algerian pop/rock from Les Abrades; live in Deuthlkand: Frank Foster, Jürgen Seefelder, Thomas Stabenow & Keith Copelandfrom; South Indian mârgam from Srimati Nandini Sharma et al. Greek vocals and Balkan instruments from, respectively, Stelios Kazantzides, Sotiria Mpellou, & Laver Bariu; Muneer B. Fennell & The Rhythm String Band; new ensemble music from Jon Irabagon; compositional jazz from Things of This Nature (Caylie Davis, Chris Ferrari, Shogo Yamagishi, JHJ MAzza); Rajasthani vocal from Allah Jilai Bai Bikaner; from and, as ever.....much, much, much more....
Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN:
https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com
via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580
Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere.
Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online:
PLAYLIST at SPINITRON:
https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/22046673/Conference-of-the-Birds
and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG
https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks
Find WRFI on Radio Garden:
http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR
NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
Stephen Cope @ Conference of the Birds, POBOX 428, Tivoli, NY, 12583, USA.
Saturday Feb 28, 2026
Saturday Feb 28, 2026
THIS WEEK's BIRDS: Vintage Music from Marty Ehrlich; Abdul Wadud (solo); Yusef Lateef live; new music from Satoko Fujii w. Quartet; Jon Irabagon; Congolese rumba from Rigo Star; Syran Mbenza, too; Titina (from Cape Verde); Téofilo Chantre (from Cape Verde); Boy Ge Mendes (More from Cape Verde); MPB (Brazi) from Maria Bethania & Gonzaguinha; Pyeng Threadgill; Elia Maris & Gerolykoi (from Greece); South Sundanese pop from Gordon Koang; and, as ever.....much, much, much more....
Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN:
https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com
via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580
Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere.
Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online:
PLAYLIST at SPINITRON:
https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/21976019/Conference-of-the-Birds
and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG
https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks
Find WRFI on Radio Garden:
http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR
NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
Stephen Cope @ Conference of the Birds, POBOX 428, Tivoli, NY, 12583, USA.
Saturday Feb 14, 2026
Saturday Feb 14, 2026
THIS WEEK's BIRDS: Gulf Pop from Kuwait we. Rabab; Mohammed Hayani (vocalist from Morroco); Eritrean pop star Muluu Baqqalaa; Amy Gaciaga w. Women in Jazz; new music from Dave Adewumi; Violeta Parra (nueva canción); Barry Altschul deconstructs Monk; Ballet Folklorico de Mexico (just exactly that x 2); ; new music from Roscoe Mitchell; Ghanian highlife from Vis-a-Vis; Congolese (Zairean) vocalist M'Pongo Love; from Brazil: Tim Maia, Jair Rodrigues, Nilze Benedicto; Ana Lucia, Orlandivo, Guiga de Ogum, Zeca Pagadinho; and, as ever.....much, much, much more....
Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN:
https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com
via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580
Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere.
Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online:
PLAYLIST at SPINITRON:
https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/21904959/Conference-of-the-Birds
and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG
https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks
Find WRFI on Radio Garden:
http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR
NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
Stephen Cope @ Conference of the Birds, POBOX 428, Tivoli, NY, 12583, USA.
Monday Jan 26, 2026
Monday Jan 26, 2026
THIS WEEK's BIRDS: First episode of 2026 (we got a little ahead of ourselves...): Japanese bop from Sinsuke Fujieda; Albert Ayler; Nobo Hara w. Hozan Yamamoto (shakuhachi jazz); Karen Borca (bassoon imnrpov.); Andrew Hill; Mohammed Tahar Fergani (Arabo-Andlausian music); film music legend Asha Bhosle; Mostafa Sidi Ahmed from Sudan; painist/composer Eri Yamamoto w/ choir; raga from Gulabi Sapera; Turkish vocal legend Seçil Heper; Greek music from Anthoula Nousi; from much, much more....
Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN:
https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com
via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580
Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere.
Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online:
PLAYLIST at SPINITRON:
https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/21768259/Conference-of-the-Birds
and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG
https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks
Find WRFI on Radio Garden:
http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR
NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
Stephen Cope @ Conference of the Birds, POBOX 428, Tivoli, NY, 12583, USA.
Monday Jan 19, 2026
Monday Jan 19, 2026
THIS WEEK's BIRDS: an abbreviated episode (TWO HOURS ONLY, opps.) w/ Balkan vocalists Stefka Sabotinova & Valya Balkanska; Moroccan vocalist Houria Aîchi performing sacred music from the Aures Mountains; Malian vocalists Bako Dagnon, Lassana Tamoura, & Neba Solo w. Benogo Diakite ; Noura Mint Seymali from Mouritania; experimental bop from Roland Kirk & the Modern Jazz Quartet; Regis Huby as leader & w/ Bruno Angelini Quartet; two in the Raga Kalkani: one on Sarod (Ashoke Roy) & one vocal rendition (Rashid Khan); Ay Lazzat from Dagestan; Absaldin Magomedov (also from Dagestan); Ghalia Benali, Constantinople & Kiya Tabassian perfrom Rumi; much, much more....
Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN:
https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com
via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580
Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere.
Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online:
PLAYLIST at SPINITRON:
https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/21836136/Conference-of-the-Birds
and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG
https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks
Find WRFI on Radio Garden:
http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR
NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
Stephen Cope @ Conference of the Birds, POBOX 428, Tivoli, NY, 12583, USA.
Monday Dec 29, 2025
Monday Dec 29, 2025
Note: new mailing address below...
THIS WEEK's BIRDS: Marshall Allen w. Neneh Cherry; new Myra Melford; Webber/Morris Big Band; Gurmeet Singh & Sardur Surjeet Singh (mystical vocal music Punjab); new music from Noah Franche-Nolan; Sima Bina sings Afghan music; Steve Swell, Warren Smith, Chad Taylor & David Taylor; vintage John Handy; Billy Hart w. Tired & Tickled Trio; Taha Suliman (pop from Sudan): Saudi vocalist Mohammed Abdu; Ethiopian vocalist Kuku Subside; Italian pop vocalist Nada; much, more....
Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN:
https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com
via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580
Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere.
Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online:
PLAYLIST at SPINITRON:
https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/21701834/Conference-of-the-Birds
and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG
https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks
Find WRFI on Radio Garden:
http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR
NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
Stephen Cope @ Conference of the Birds, POBOX 428, Tivoli, NY, 12583, USA.
Saturday Dec 20, 2025
Saturday Dec 20, 2025
Note: new mailing address below...
THIS WEEK's BIRDS: Ethiopian Harpsit/vocalist Alemu Aga; new out trio fro m Nizar Rohana; gulf pop from vocalist Abu Bakr Salem; vintage bop from Sam Jones; The Tokyo Gagaku Ensemble (Gagaku music); Nidaa Abou Mrad & Carole Samaha; from Mali:Toulou de Kankoré & Boumou Sangaré; Congolese rumba from Pepe Kallé; vintage high0-life from Celestine Ukwo and His Philosophers National; new music from, Zeena Parkins, Noura Mint Seymali, and Amir elSaffar; vocal raga from Rahif Khan; much, more....
Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN:
https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com
via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580
Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere.
Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online:
PLAYLIST at SPINITRON:
https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/21668023/Conference-of-the-Birds
and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG
https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks
Find WRFI on Radio Garden:
http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR
NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
Stephen Cope @ Conference of the Birds, POBOX 428, Tivoli, NY, 12583, USA.
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
Note: new mailing address below...
THIS WEEK's BIRDS: new music from Yusuf Mumin; Altin Gün from Turkey/Europe; also from Turkey: Aynur Doğan; Algerian vocalist Noura;Lebaense vocalist Asmahan; vintage Steve Lacy; pianist/ composer Yelena Eckemoff; new music from drummer/composer Tyshawn Sorey; from Iraq: Md After Hussain & Paq; Mila Ayub from Java; also from java: Javasounds does dangdut; Babani Koné from Mali; Fode Baro from Guinea; Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre; Peter Mceachern Trio; much, more....
Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN:
https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com
via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580
Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere.
Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online:
PLAYLIST at SPINITRON:
https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/21633396/Conference-of-the-Birds
and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG
https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks
Find WRFI on Radio Garden:
http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR
NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
Stephen Cope @ Conference of the Birds, POBOX 428, Tivoli, NY, 12583, USA.
Wednesday Nov 19, 2025
Wednesday Nov 19, 2025
Note: new mailing address below...
THIS WEEK's BIRDS: new music from Arooj Aftab; vintage Najat Al Saghira; vintage bop from Coleman Hawkins; vocalists from Cape Verde: new Teofilo Chantre plus Jorge Humberto & Armando de Pina; Derek Bailey w. Cecil Taylor; Accra Quartet; neo-Yoruba/jazz from. Michelle Rosewoman; Sahroui vocalist Aziza Brahim; from Mali: Kemin Fanta, Coumba Sira Koïta; cante jondo from. "el Chocolate" ()Antonio Nuñez) & Paquita de Jerez; Jose Mauro & Antônio Neves (from Brazil); new music from Matt Mitchell & Sera Serpa; vintage Oliver Lake; much, more....
Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN:
https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com
via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580
Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere.
Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online:
PLAYLIST at SPINITRON:
https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/21530182/Conference-of-the-Birds
and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG
https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks
Find WRFI on Radio Garden:
http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR
NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
Stephen Cope @ Conference of the Birds, POBOX 428, Tivoli, NY, 12583, USA.