Episodes
Feb. 13, 2025
Dorothy Lawson: ETHEL's String Theory for Quartets
As ETHEL prepares for their first Carnegie Hall performance, Dorothy Lawson reflects on decades of mixing classical precision with popular music's spirit.
Feb. 6, 2025
Jamie Baum: a flutist sets poetry in motion
Through her latest project with Septet+, the accomplished flutist transforms works by Adrienne Rich, Naomi Shihab Nye, and other poets into conversations between words and improvised music.
Jan. 30, 2025
Anat Cohen: Clarinet in Full Bloom
Fresh from a three-week European tour with Quartetinho, the accomplished clarinetist discusses how she transforms everything from Thelonious Monk to Brazilian choro into her own musical language.
Jan. 23, 2025
Marina Albero: from pianist to nomad of sound
The acclaimed pianist discusses her musical evolution from Barcelona to New Orleans, where she recorded her latest album on Ellis Marsalis's personal piano at his namesake center.
Jan. 16, 2025
Jonathon Grasse: the life & music of Eric Dolphy
The music scholar and author discusses Jazz Revolutionary, his groundbreaking biography of Eric Dolphy, and how the revolutionary multi-instrumentalist navigated artistic boundaries from 1940s Los Angeles to the avant-garde …
Jan. 9, 2025
Lisa Pegher: Rhythms, Circuits, & Artificial Intelligence
Percussionist and digital innovator Lisa Pegher discusses her mission to modernize classical music through AI technology while preserving the deep emotional core of human artistic expression.
Jan. 2, 2025
Paul de Barros: chronicling Marian McPartland's life in jazz
The acclaimed jazz critic discusses his updated biography of Marian McPartland, revealing how the Piano Jazz host's complex personality and vast musical connections created both challenges and opportunities in documenting he…
Dec. 26, 2024
Küf Knotz & Christine Elise: when hip-hop meets harp
The Philadelphia-based hip-hop artist and classically-trained harpist discuss how they're bridging musical worlds and bringing healing performances to communities from urban yoga studios to the Alaskan wilderness.
Dec. 19, 2024
Christoph Dallach: krautrock origins from schlager to synthesizers
The veteran music journalist joins the podcast to discuss his book Neu Klang: The Definitive History of Krautrock and how a disparate group of musicians shaped a distinctly German sound in the shadow of World War II.
Dec. 12, 2024
Marwan Allam: a Tunisian gateway to modern jazz
Innovative bassist and composer joins us to discuss his album 'Bab Bhar,' which deftly puts Arabic rhythms and Tunisian musical traditions into the hands of a contemporary jazz quartet.
Dec. 5, 2024
Joe Brent: mandolin magic from Vivaldi to Vinegar Hill
The acclaimed mandolinist and composer joins the podcast to discuss the history of his chosen instrument, the philosophy behind his Adhyâropa Records imprint, and the radical chamber music of his ensemble 9 Horses.
Nov. 28, 2024
Round Room Live: crafting family entertainment's next act
From The Rolling Stones to Sesame Street, Stephen Shaw and Jonathan Linden pull back the curtain on how they bring the stories of legends to exhibitions and beloved characters to the stage.
Nov. 21, 2024
Taylor Deupree & Joseph Branciforte: reimagining Stil.
The two renowned experimental musicians, mastering engineers, and label owners discuss how a classic electronic album guided and inspired an acoustic masterpiece.
Nov. 14, 2024
Anders Koppel: the Hammond's Danish master
The legendary Danish B3 player chats about his early days in the band The Savage Rose, memories of playing the Newport Jazz Festival in '69, and his recent album with drummer Brian Blade and his son Benjamin, Time Again.
Nov. 7, 2024
Christian McBride: jazz notes from the engine room
The universally acclaimed bassist, bandleader, artistic director, and prodigious collaborator joins the podcast to discuss his many ongoing projects, the evolution of jazz education, and how bass players are like baseball ca…
Oct. 31, 2024
Erik Davis: the beatification of blotter art
The author and 'countercultural icon' discusses his latest book, Blotter: The Untold Story of an Acid Medium, which details a fascinating intersection between art and the illicit drug market.
Oct. 24, 2024
Josh Johnson: unusual objects and saxophone stories
The Los Angeles-based saxophonist, composer, and Grammy-winning producer discusses the creative philosophies and inspirations that led to his unique album, Unusual Object.
Oct. 17, 2024
Shawn Mativetsky: a tabla adventure through Temporal Waves
The renowned Canadian percussionist, tabla player, and educator discusses his lifelong embrace of Indian musical traditions and the fusion with synthesized textures that inspires his project Temporal Waves.
Oct. 10, 2024
Paul Stache: The Art of Running Smoke Jazz Club in NYC
With Smoke Jazz Club celebrating its 25th year, co-owner Paul Stache joins us to discuss the challenges and rewards of maintaining an essential venue for Manhattan's jazz community.
Oct. 3, 2024
Building Music Communities: thinking global & acting local
Author Shain Shapiro, trumpeter Thomas Marriot, and DJ collective Seattle House Mafia join the podcast to shed light on the past, present, and future states of local music scenes.
Sept. 26, 2024
Devin Gray: Most Definitely's solo drum universe
The innovative jazz drummer discusses the beautiful islands of Maine, approaching music with sincerity, his connection to Berlin, and experiments with solo percussion on the album Most Definitely.
Sept. 19, 2024
Brad Mindich: the art and craft of archiving stardom
The founder and CEO of Inveniem and Definitive Authentic talks about the importance of an artist's archive, the notion of pre-nostalgia, unexpected discoveries in lost boxes, and curating virtual museums for music's biggest …
Sept. 12, 2024
Andy McCluskey: kicking down fascist art with OMD
The Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark frontman chats about art movements, political treachery, Kraftwerk's impact, and the brilliant album Bauhaus Staircase.
Sept. 5, 2024
Gordon Grdina: the axe man cutting down borders
The JUNO Award-winning oud player and guitarist discusses the joy of partaking in a musical melting pot, the avant-garde scene in Vancouver, and his many projects, including recent albums with his ensemble The Marrow and dru…