All Of It: NYC Winter Jazzfest Preview—Giant Step 35.5

Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Alison Stewart
Guests: Maurice Bernstein (Giant Step co-founder & CEO), DJ Nicodemus (former Giant Step resident DJ)

Episode Overview

This episode of All Of It explores the 35.5th anniversary of Giant Step, a pivotal NYC music collective and label, ahead of their Winter Jazzfest celebrations. Host Alison Stewart welcomes Maurice Bernstein and DJ Nicodemus to trace the history of Giant Step, from its early days championing groove-based music in the 1990s, its influence on jazz/hip hop crossover, to its continued role in New York’s dynamic club scene. The conversation spotlights the people, records, and ethos that helped build a musical community and shares details on the upcoming anniversary events.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Giant Step’s Origins and Mission

• Historical Context:
  • Giant Step launched in the 1990s, drawing inspiration from John Coltrane’s Giant Steps album and British rare groove culture.
  • Pioneered a cross-cultural, musically adventurous scene through club nights, live shows, and eventually a record label.
• Mission:
  • Sought to give visibility to artists whose music was being heavily sampled in hip hop and club records, particularly those no longer in the mainstream spotlight.
• The "If it isn’t happening, make it happen" Spirit:
  • Maurice Bernstein: “It was just, if it isn't happening, make it happen. That's the New York way, right?” (02:52)

Educating the Next Generation

• Sampling & Music History:
  • Giant Step events and Groove Academy concerts introduced new audiences—especially young people—to foundational soul, funk, and jazz artists, as well as the roots of hip hop sampling.
  • Importance for DJs to understand the origins of their music and samples.
  • DJ Nicodemus: “Just knowing the roots and the culture gave us such a groundwork for exploring more music...maybe we wouldn't have gotten unless we heard the sample first.” (03:18)
• Iconic Samples Highlighted:
  • Maurice Bernstein points to Rob Base’s “It Takes Two” (sampling Lyn Collins) as a revelatory moment:
    • “That's Lyn Collins. It's like, who? You know, it's like, right, okay, we need to change that.” (03:55)
• Bootsy Collins Story:
  • Maurice shares how, pre-internet, he tracked down legendary performers by phone—sometimes calling artists' homes.
    • “When I called Ohio...Bootsy was living at home at that point with his mum, and his mum answered the phone.” (05:53)

Building a Scene & Moments of Growth

• Early Struggles:
  • Initial Monday night events at SOB’s had low turnout; persistence paid off when moved to Thursdays at Metropolis Cafe, which attracted a critical mass of “kindred spirits.” (06:19)
• Community and Creativity:
  • The scene became a hub for emerging acts like The Roots, Digable Planets, and Massive Attack, alongside established DJs and musicians.
• From Attendee to DJ (Nicodemus’s Story):
  • DJ Nicodemus recalls practicing skills at home and eventually breaking into the club with a mixtape at a Washington Square Park daytime event, describing the blend of DJs and live musicians as “a huge education” (08:35–09:42).

The Jazz/Hip-Hop Crossover

• Innovative Sampling and Fusion:
  • Artists like A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, and Gang Starr merged jazz sensibilities with hip hop, guided by producers like DJ Premier and Q-Tip.
  • Maurice Bernstein calls their approach “genius”—“They are picking just this moment from an obscure track and turning it into...incredible.” (10:28)
• Underground Sound:
  • DJ Nicodemus valorizes the “rare groove and B sides” spun at Giant Step, often absent from radio playlists but central to the club’s identity.
  • “Going to Giant Step, you would hear a lot of those rare groove and B sides...there was a lot of stuff happening.” (13:18)
• Notable Example:
  • Digable Planets’ “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like That)” sampled Art Blakey—host plays a clip and guests discuss its significance (11:06–12:37).

Transatlantic Influences

• Maurice Bernstein’s Manchester Roots:
  • UK jazz-dance culture influenced Giant Step’s philosophy.
  • Unlike the UK, NYC jazz clubs didn’t encourage dancing, a surprise for Bernstein: “I went to a jazz club, was sitting down and listening to music, and I was like, this is strange. You're supposed to dance to this music.” (14:12)
  • “America is the home of all this music, but I don’t know if we always appreciate what we have.” (14:30)

Personal Reflections and Legacy

• Unexpected Path:
  • Bernstein studied Islamic law but followed his passion for music.
  • “I’m just so passionate about music...it’s just an honor to be able to work with your passion.” (14:46)
• Proud Projects:
  • Most proud of Nuyorican Soul—“Just being a part of that record...one of the greatest records of all time.” (15:16)
• Listener Memories:
  • Texts from listeners highlight how Giant Step shaped their musical taste and NYC nightlife experiences.

Winter Jazzfest 35.5 Anniversary Events—What to Expect

• Line-up Highlights:
  • Gilles Peterson (UK jazz/club legend), Ron Trent (DJ and former Giant Step resident), Carl Hancock Rux, and Cassa Overall (jazz/hip hop fusion talent) performing jazz versions of classic tracks.
  • DJ Nicodemus and DJ Lovey also spinning in the loft.
  • Maurice Bernstein: “It’s just going to be great music and great people and that, you know, it was always about the music.” (17:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On why they started Giant Step:
  • Maurice Bernstein: “If it isn’t happening, make it happen. That’s the New York way, right?” (02:52)
• On educating DJs and audiences:
  • DJ Nicodemus: “Just knowing the roots and the culture gave us such a groundwork for exploring more music...” (03:18)
• On breaking into the scene:
  • DJ Nicodemus: “I was out record shopping every weekend...to see those flyers was like, really...I knew I had to be there. This is it.” (07:48)
• On jazz/hip hop fusion:
  • Maurice Bernstein: “It’s genius the way they do it because they’re picking just this moment from an obscure track and turning it into it...incredible.” (10:28)
• On the club culture:
  • “You weren’t like, watching a concert. So that was a huge education.” (09:41)

Key Timestamps

• 00:09–02:32 – History and mission of Giant Step, listener shoutouts
• 03:14–05:06 – Sampling, musical education, and Bootsy Collins story
• 06:14–07:16 – Turning point in building the scene
• 07:23–09:46 – DJ Nicodemus’s entry and development
• 10:19–11:06 – Fusion of jazz and hip hop; rare groove culture
• 11:06–13:43 – Digable Planets, jazz/hip hop influences, underground sound
• 13:45–14:32 – UK/NYC parallels in club/jazz scenes
• 14:32–15:38 – Bernstein’s journey, legacy, and proudest projects
• 16:05–17:15 – Winter Jazzfest 2026 anniversary event preview

Conclusion

This episode shines a light on the enduring legacy of Giant Step and its impact on New York’s music culture—fusing genres, building a vibrant community, and nurturing the careers of some of the most influential artists and DJs in hip hop, jazz, and beyond. The upcoming Winter Jazzfest celebrations serve not just as parties, but as tributes to the creativity, persistence, and passion that define the city’s ever-evolving soundscape.