We’re back with a whole new set of bangers including new music from Matthew Dear, Babe Rainbow, Blind Yeo and Ghost Funk Orchestra. Plus, legendary composer Danny Elfman joins the show to talk about the music that has influenced him over the years ahead of his show tomorrow night at the Fox Theatre in Detroit and a fond farewell for legendary jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for September 8, 2026

• “Booger’s Bounce of Joy” — Karate Boogaloo
• “Bicho auto” — Juana Molina
• “Acid and Honey” — Babe Rainbow
• “New Drug (Original)” — Matthew Dear
• “Macho” — Jaakko Eino Kalevi
• “TOY NO” — MUGRE
• “Something Against You” — Pixies
• “Brown Rice” — Don Cherry
• “Colour Pillow / Kologo” — Blind Yeo
• “Ocotillo” — Ghost Funk Orchestra
• “Espionage” — Butcher Brown feat. Charlie Hunter

In The Groove with Danny Elfman

• “What’s This?” — Danny Elfman

• “Minor Swing” — Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli & The Quintet of the Hot Club of France

• “Night Boat to Cairo” — Madness
• “Los Angeles” — X
• “Breakfast Machine” — Danny Elfman
• “Ice Dance” — Danny Elfman

More from the show

• “Snowman” — Blonde Redhead
• “Harvest Moon” — Cassandra Wilson
• “Samois a Moi” — Cyrille Aimée
• “Train on the Island” — Aldous Harding
• “Tugboat” — Galaxie 500
• “Olive Branch” — ARTEMIS
• “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” — Cécile McLorin Salvant
• “Baby Blue” — King Krule
• “Sleeping Ute” — Grizzly Bear
• “Do I Move You?” — Nina Simone
• “The Thrill Is Gone (From Yesterday’s Kiss)” — Aretha Franklin
• “I Found the F” — Broadcast
• “Only a Shadow” — The Cleaners From Venus
• “R&B (Theo Verney Version)” — English Teacher
• “Ritual Union (Maya Jane Coles Remix)” — Little Dragon
• “The World’s Biggest Paving Slab (Daniel Avery Remix)” — English Teacher & Daniel Avery
• “Alone (Four Tet Remix)” — The Cure

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, fondly remembering the interpretive genius of Cassandra Wilson who passed this week at age 70.

In happier music news, Jazzfest is here, and we’ll play some of our favorite performers in town, including some cool in-studio takes. Also, Sept. 5 is Loudon Wainwright III’s 80th birthday, so a tip of the hat to the tragi-comic troubadour happens this week as well!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for September 5, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “I Can’t Stand The Rain” – Cassandra Wilson ft. Chris Whitley
• “26-2” – Ravi Coltrane
• “After The Love Is Gone” – Kurt Elling (Acoustic Cafe recording)
• “Touchdown” – Bob James
• “Motel Blues” – Loudon Wainwright III (Acoustic Cafe recording)
• “Say That You Love Me” – Loudon Wainwright III (Acoustic Cafe recording)
• “You Can’t Fail Me Now” – Loudon Wainwright III & Lucy Wainwright Roche (Acoustic Cafe recording)
• “There Is Power In A Union” – Billy Bragg (Acoustic Cafe recording, live at Meadowbrook, July 2, 1995)

HOUR TWO:

• “Seven Steps” – Cassandra Wilson
• “I Can’t Get Next To You” – Dee Dee Bridgewater
• “Stepping Out” – Kurt Elling (Acoustic Cafe recording)
• “Meet The Wainwrights” – Loudon Wainwright III & family
• “Road Ode” – Loudon Wainwright III
• “One Man Guy” – Rufus Wainwright
• “Fanfare For Unity” – Joe Lovano
• “Yes We Can” – Catherine Russell
• “Cominando” – Ron Carter & Foursight
• “Harvest Moon” – Cassandra Wilson

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org