Mary Foster Conklin

Born: December 29

Praised as “a potent advocate for women in jazz,” NYC-based Mary Foster Conklin has hosted a weekly radio show called “A Broad Spectrum – the Ladies of Jazz” celebrating women composers and lyricists since 2016 on WFDU 89.1 FM based at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey, streaming on the HD2 Channel at http://www.wfdu.fm.  

She has taught several workshops on radio submission for singers and recently was a participant on the Jukebox Jury panel at the 2024 JALC Jazz Congress.  As a vocalist, she is a master storyteller with an affinity for uncovering hidden gems deserving attention. Her fifth and most recent recording, These Precious Days (MockTurtle Music), was praised as “a treasure” by JAZZLIVES and “A winning new collection of songs… by a vocalist equally effective on suspects usual and otherwise,” JAZZTIMES.  

Kelly Green, Jen Allen, Nicholas Payton, Christian McBride Big Band, Gino Amato & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
September 8, 2025

This broadcast includes new releases from Kelly Green, Jen Allen, Nicholas Payton, Christian McBride Big Band and Gino Amato, with birthday shoutouts to Alice Coltrane, Dinah Washington, Adrienne Fenemor, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Linda May Han Oh, Meshell Ndegeocello, Rachel Eckroth and Vicki Burns, among others, plus a remembrance of Honorable Man Ronny Whyte. Happy listening and ...

Remembering Sheila Jordan, New Releases By Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine, Catina DeLuna, the Airmen Of Note, Richard Johnson, Jorge Garcia. Patricia Brennan & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
September 1, 2025

This broadcast includes new releases from the Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine, Catina DeLuna and Otmaro Ruiz, the Airmen Of Note, Richard Johnson, Jorge Garcia plus a single from Patricia Brennan, with birthday shoutouts to lyricists Dorothy Parker and Carolyn Leigh, pianist Mal Waldron (100!), Nora Germain, Fostina Dixon, Anita Wardell, Naomi Moon Siegel, ...

Remembering Nancy King, New Releases From Colin Hancock's Jazz Hounds featuring Catherine Russell, Plus Amy Engelhardt, Dara Starr Tucker, Jennifer Madsen & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
August 25, 2025

This broadcast includes new releases from Colin Hancock's Jazz Hounds featuring Catherine Russell, Amy Engelhardt, Dara Starr Tucker and Jennifer Madsen, with birthday shoutouts to Bernice Petkere (Close Your Eyes, Lullaby of the Leaves), Terry Pollard, Iola Brubeck, Ben Sidran, Mary Stallings, Cecilia Smith, Jenny Klukken, Lenora Zenzali Helm, among others, plus a remembrance of the ...

Abbey Lincoln, Dorothy Ashby Birthdays, New Releases From Ragan Whiteside, Nicole Zuraitis, Lonnie Plaxico, Tierney Sutton & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
August 18, 2025

This broadcast includes new releases from Ragan Whiteside, Nicole Zuraitis, Lonnie Plaxico and Tierney Sutton, with birthday shoutouts to Louis Armstrong, Regina Carter, Abbey Lincoln, Dorothy Ashby, Cyrille Aimee, Terri Lyne Carrington, Trudy Pitts, Meg Okura and Roberta Piket, among others. Happy listening and please support the artists you hear--see them live, buy their music so ...

Mark Winkler, Yuko Mabuchi, Bonnie J. Jensen, Lauren Henderson, Emma Hendrick, Nicholas Payton & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
August 11, 2025

This broadcast includes new releases from Mark Winkler, Yuko Mabuchi, Bonnie J. Jensen, Lauren Henderson, Emma Hendrick plus a single from Nicholas Payton's latest, with birthday shoutouts to Honorable Men Hank Jones, Tony Bennett and Kevin Mahogany plus Camille Bertault, Tara Davidson, Kat Edmonson, Antoinette Montegue, Shamie Royston, Claudia Acuna and Connie Converse, among others. Happy ...

Syndee Winters, Joe Farnsworth, Emma Smith, Lauren Scales, Mike Flanagan & Chris Grasso, Paloma Dineli Chesky

by Mary Foster Conklin
August 4, 2025

This broadcast includes new releases from Syndee Winters, Joe Farnsworth, Emma Smith, Paloma Dineli Chesky, Lauren Scales, Mike Flanagan & Chris Grasso, with birthday shoutouts to Janis Siegel, Emily Asher, Ada Rovatti, Joanne Brackeen, Annie Ross, Fay Victor and Nnenna Freelon, among others. Happy listening and please support the artists you hear--see them live, buy their ...

Moon Songs, New Releases By Nicole Zuraitis, Nicole Glover, Samara Joy, Sarah Wilson & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
July 28, 2025

This broadcast celebrates the 56th anniversary of the moon landing with celestial songs and new releases from Nicole Zuraitis, Nicole Glover, Samara Joy and Sarah Wilson||, plus birthday shoutouts to lyricist Dorothy Fields, {{m: Akua Dixon, Jimmy Scott, Mary Osborne, Luciana Souza, Cynthia Scott, Lauren Sevian, Carmen Bradford, Julia Hulsmann and Phoebe Snow, among others. Happy ...

Wild Iris Brass Band, Maria Muldaur, Kieran Brown, Dawn Clement, Peter Lin, Anna Laura Quinn, Allan Harris & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
July 21, 2025

This broadcast includes new releases from Wild Iris Brass Band, Maria Muldaur, Kieran Brown, Dawn Clement, Peter Lin, Anna Laura Quinn and Allan Harris, with birthday shoutouts to Mavis Staples, Carol Morgan, Carolyn Leonhart, Suzanne Pittson, Marina Albero, Iris Ornig and Honorable Man Billy Eckstine, among others. Happy listening and please support the artists you hear--see ...

Lakecia Benjamin, Janet Planet, Susan Krebs, Alex Trembley, Katie Thiroux, Sinne Eeg & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
July 14, 2025

This broadcast includes new releases from Janet Planet, Susan Krebs, Alex Trembley, Katie Thiroux, and Sinne Eeg, plus a single from Lakecia Benjamin, with birthday shoutouts to Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Brandee Younger, Madeline Eastman, Susan Krebs, Caroline Davis, Nancy Erickson Lamont, Rhoda Scott, Natalie Cressman, Monika Ryan and Lezlie Harrison, among others. Happy listening and ...