Milena Casado (left) and Tyreek McDole. Melissa Isabel Quiñones; EBAR hide caption

Melissa Isabel Quiñones; EBAR

The two rising stars on this week's show found jazz against the odds. Vocalist Tyreek McDole grew up in a suburb outside Orlando. Trumpeter Milena Casado is from a small village in Spain. Neither comes from a musical family. Tyreek discovered jazz through a Disney film. Milena found the music as a path for survival. Each artist tells their story at this pivotal moment in their burgeoning careers, after the successful launch of their debut recordings almost a year ago.

Credits: 

Writer and Producers: Simon Rentner with Sarah Geledi; Host: Christian McBride; Mastering: Ron Scalzo; Executive producer: Steven A. Williams; Digital Producer at NPR Music: Alina Edwards; Executive Producer at NPR Music: Suraya Mohamed; Executive Director at NPR Music: Sonali Mehta