She grew up on Long Island, where music was always in the air during Saturday morning cleanups or friendly games of dominoes with neighbors. The radio is what truly captured her imagination.
“In the evenings, it was just me and my radio — it was my company,” she says.
She spent hours tuned into New York City’s iconic radio voices, quietly studying their ease and connection with listeners. “There’s so many legendary people I heard who made me feel like they were really speaking to me, directly to me,” she says. That sense of intimacy shaped her own on-air style: grounded, knowledgeable, and deeply personal.
Now a seasoned curator and presenter, Sweeney aims to make jazz approachable, especially for those new to the genre. Her set spans everything from hard bop and big band to fusion and smooth grooves, all woven together with stories, context, and a touch of history. More than anything, she hopes listeners “feel companionship” in the music — and in her voice guiding them through it.
“I’m here to make people feel comfortable about taking their first step into jazz,” she says. “I want them to let the music seep into their spirit.”