Today, the Spotlight shines On Seattle pianist and composer Bill Anschell. We’ve had award winners of all types on the podcast, but as far as I can remember, Bill is the first to have won an award for humor: in 2014, Bill was the winner of the inaugural Paul Desmond…
Today, the Spotlight shines On vocalist, composer, and improviser 王睿琪 Ruiqi Wang (pronounced as “Ray-Chee Wong”). Ruiqi Wang creates stunning experimental music, combining influences from jazz, contemporary Euro-classical music, and traditional Chinese music. Ruiqi Wang joined me earlier this year on the heels of the release of her debut album,…
Today, the Spotlight shines On David Rodriguez, Executive Vice President and Executive Producer at NJPAC - the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. David works in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey, and has led a fascinating life in the performing arts. He was a full-time musician on the road with…
Today, the Spotlight shines On the innovative pedal steel guitar player Susan Alcorn. While Susan got her start playing in country & western bands in Texas, she has taken the pedal steel into new and uncharted territories, exploring 20th-century classical music, improvisational jazz, and various world musics. On her latest…
In this clip from Spotlight On, Philadelphia musicians Küf Knotz and Christine Elise discuss their enchanting three-week residency at Washington state's Bloedel Reserve, where they filmed a music video and experienced nature's mysterious beauty. Don't miss the full conversation on the latest episode of the Spotlight On podcast: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/kuf-knotz-christine-elise-when-hip-hop-meets-harp-philadelphia/ #Shorts…
In this excerpt from the Spotlight On podcast, musicians Küf Knotz and Christine Elise discuss the magic of musical experiences in building trust and sharing, and explain the grounding importance of their pre-show mantra inspired by yoga practices. Listen to the entire conversation with Küf Knotz and Christine Elise on…
In the excerpt from the new episode of Spotlight On, Küf Knotz discusses his early career as a musician in Philadelphia and his shift from rock and hip hop bands to neo-soul while harpist/collaborator Christine Elise recalls her first performance. Don't miss these two amazing music-makers on the Spotlight On…
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. ------------------ Today, the Spotlight shines On the duo of songwriter, producer, and MC Küf Knotz and harpist, vocalist, and music therapist Christine Elise.…
In this clip from the latest episode of Spotlight On, Christoph Dallach, author of Neu Klang: The Definitive History of Krautrock, discusses the accessibility of obscure music today, the trade-off between mystique and availability, and how some artists, like Kraftwerk, maintain their mystery despite their fame. Don't miss the entire…
In this excerpt from the latest episode of Spotlight On, author Christoph Dallach discusses how the term 'krautrock' is perceived differently by Americans, British, and Germans. He mentions the diverse nature of bands labeled under this term and how it creates context. Don't miss the full conversation with Christoph Dallach…
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. Today, the Spotlight is going to shine a little differently. Instead of a single guest, we will have three segments dealing…
In our special 200th episode, the former editor of the seminal magazine Mondo 2000 opens up about his musical activities, how his view of technology has changed, and his enduring curiosity about the chaos all around us. Today, on this fun, round-number milestone, the Spotlight shines On legendary writer, editor,…
In this excerpt from the new episode of Spotlight On, Christoph Dallach, author of Neu Klang: The Definitive History of Krautrock, discusses the longevity and legacy of classic acts like Queen, Blondie, and Kraftwerk, reflecting on whether bands should continue with new lead members or end their story. LIsten to…
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. ------------------ Today, the Spotlight shines On author Christoph Dallach, who joins me to…
In this excerpt from the latest episode of Spotlight On, bassist Marwan Allam discusses the exceptional skills of the new generation of musicians, comparing past musical education, and the emotional expression required in Arabic music, particularly the maqam system. Don't miss the full conversation on the Spotlight On podcast: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/marwan-allam-a-tunisian-gateway-to-modern-jazz-fusion/…
In this clip from the Spotlight On podcast, bassist Marwan Allam discusses his musical upbringing in Tunisia, discovering artists like BB King and Jimi Hendrix, his shift to jazz influenced by George Benson and Robben Ford, and his eventual passion for bass through a mentor's guidance and exposure to greats…
In this excerpt from the new episode of Spotlight On, jazz bassist Marwan Allam discusses the metaphorical and symbolic significance of his album title 'Bab Bhar,' reflecting the blend of modern and traditional cultures in Tunisia. Don't miss the full conversation on the Spotlight On podcast: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/marwan-allam-a-tunisian-gateway-to-modern-jazz-fusion/ #shorts #SpotlightOn #MarwanAllam…
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. ------------------ Today, the Spotlight shines On bassist and composer Marwan Allam. Marwan’s debut album, Bab Bhar, takes Arabic rhythms and Tunisian…
Mandolin player Joe Brent talks about Adhyâropa Records, a boutique label that started with his ensemble 9 Horses. The label promotes diverse genres and emphasizes artist ownership, and Brent hopes it sets an artist-centric example that inspires other independent labels. Don't miss out on more of Joe Brent's fascinating conversation…
In this excerpt from the latest episode of Spotlight On, mandolin player Joe Brent discusses the importance of listening and synchronizing in chamber ensembles, highlighting the unique qualities of his ensemble 9 Horses and the distinct experience of playing collaboratively compared to solo performance. Don't miss the full conversation with…
In this clip from the new episode of Spotlight On, Joe Brent of 9 Horses gives his 'TED talk' and describes the mandolin's history, tracing its origins from African banjos to the oud, lute, guitarra, armandolino, and finally to the modern mandolin. Don't miss this fantastic conversation in full on…
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. ------------------ The Spotlight shines On composer, mandolinist, multi-instrumentalist, teacher, and label founder Joe Brent. Joe has worked…
The Lithuanian jazz drummer and producer opens up about his unique electronic and world music influenced sound. ------------------ Today, the Spotlight shines On Lithuanian drummer and producer Marijus Aleksa. Marijus has worked as a band leader, session musician and solo artist, and in each setting, his sound is his own,…
In 2023, EMAMKAY visited us to talk about his album, Love Is Energy, released back in March. As he explains in our talk, the music was crafted from jam sessions and band rehearsals that le later revisited and mined for inspiration. The resulting album is finely crafted but surprisingly organic.…