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Episodes

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.
Guest: Marwan Allam
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.
Guest: Erik Davis
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.
Guest: Josh Johnson
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.
Guest: Paul Stache
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.
Guest: Devin Gray
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…
Aug. 29, 2024

Steve Wynn: a music and memoir grand slam

The indie rock pioneer, known for his work with The Dream Syndicate and The Baseball Project, joins the podcast for a freewheeling conversation centered around his 'redemptive' new memoir, I Wouldn't Say It If It Wasn't True.
Aug. 22, 2024

Graham Reynolds: soundtrack virtuoso takes center stage

The Austin-based composer talks about scoring films for the likes of Richard Linklater, his process for juggling music projects, and bringing his latest release, Music For Prophet, to the concert stage.
Aug. 15, 2024

Satoko Fujii: composing beyond the jazz spirit

The acclaimed Japanese pianist, composer, and improviser discusses her incredibly prolific output, redefining jazz as a spirit rather than a style, and her recent recordings with the quartet Kaze and the Satoko Fujii Tokyo T…
Guest: Satoko Fujii
Aug. 8, 2024

David J: unearthing tracks from the attic

The Bauhaus and Love and Rockets bassist chats with guest host Michael Donaldson about lighting candles, the magic(k) muse, touring with Jane's Addiction, and the album collecting his early demos, Tracks From The Attic.
Guest: David J
Aug. 1, 2024

Ches Smith & Shara Lunon: dismantling musical conventions

Drummer Ches Smith and vocalist Shara Lunon join the podcast to discuss improvisation vs. jamming, punk's connection to jazz, and the process behind the extraordinary album Laugh Ash.
July 25, 2024

Live at The Royal Room: improvisation in music and life

Lawrence Peryer joins James Falzone and his Division Ensemble for conversations and performances that shed light on the art of improvisation.
July 18, 2024

Riccardo La Foresta: drumming without drumming

The Italian sound artist & percussionist details the origin and methodology of the Drummophone and the process behind his sonic collaboration with emptyset's James Ginzburg.
July 11, 2024

Janek van Laak: drumming up a circle of madness

The prolific Berlin-based drummer and producer talks about the magic of John Bonham, why humor is essential, the rhythms of India, and the process of recording his debut album, Circle of Madness.