International Anthem: a conversation
Q&A w/ Alejandro Ayala, Ben LaMar Gay & Jeremiah Chiu
Host: Kurt Overbergh (BRDCST curator & IA-fan)
BRDCST x INTERNATIONAL ANTHEM have been a blessed marriage for years, with previous performances by Alabaster DePlume, Irreversible Entanglements, jaimie ‘BREEZY’ branch (R.I.P, we still deeply miss her), Bex Burch and Tom Skinner (The Smile). Jeff Parker, Makaya McCraven, Ruth Goller, Angel Bat Dawid, Anteloper, Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & Frank Rosaly have also found their way to the AB stage in the past.
The Chicago-based International Anthem is therefore still the most fascinating (out there) jazz label of recent years. Quality newspaper Chicago Reader perfectly summed up the essence of the label: “International Anthem brings punk idealism to progressive jazz.” A comparison with the groundbreaking Impulse! Records from the 60s are obvious: top productions, the musical vision of the future, (often) wonderful liner notes (a lost art!) and an extremely recognizable and stylishly maintained graphic design (in the case of IA even always wrapped in an (in Japan so popular) OBI strip).
In the period 2014-2024, around 100 IA releases were released. IA wants to celebrate that past decade in 2025 under the name IA11 with 'a series of releases, reissues, miscellaneous media and events'. BRDCST is proud to be part of this with a series of blow ups of album covers of the label, an IA showcase and a real talk x Q&A.
We dive into the artwork, the rich oeuvre and the philosophy of the label. Ben LaMar Gay, Alejandro Ayala (DJ and Head of Marketing & Events @ IA) and Jeremiah Chiu also each present their favorite IA album.
For those who want to learn more about the label: