51: On Prince (Paul Peterson, Ricky Peterson, Monte Moir)
Minneapolis and the legacy of Prince, as seen through the eyes of three of his contemporaries. (Ricky Peterson, Paul Peterson and Monte Moir.)
Read More50th Episode Special: Leo Sidran
For this special 50th Episode, bassist, composer, and friend of the podcast Michael Thurber turns the tables and interviews Leo.
Read More49: Marc Webb, Director
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Before director Marc Webb was handed the keys to the Spider Man franchise (he directed both Amazing Spider Man movies), he made the 500 Days Of Summer – a film that wove music and image together in a deeply compelling way.
Before he made his first feature film, he directed nearly 150 music videos for artists ranging from Maroon 5 to My Chemical Romance, AFI to Miley Cyrus, Green Day to Santana.
And before he did any of that, he went to high school in Madison, Wisconsin with me! Here he tells the story of how a theater kid from the Midwest went on to make his mark on music videos, and then on the big screen, how he handles the expectations of the job, stays in touch with his creative instincts, and what makes a good director.
Thanks for listening! If you like this podcast, please leave a review on iTunes.
48: Gabriela Quintero (Rodrigo y Gabriela)
Guitarist Gabriela Quintero of the group Rodrigo y Gabriela on the power of fearlessness, her own unique technique, and the importance of community.
Read More47: Butch Vig, Record producer on working w/Nirvana, Garbage, and the art of communication
Butch Vig, Record producer on working with Nirvana, Garbage and the subtle art of communication.
Read More46: How to get nominated for a Grammy
Composer Maria Schneider, Arranger Rob Mounsey, Producer Michael Leonhart, Engineer Al Schmitt, Drummer Bill Stewart, Organist Larry Goldings, Engineer James Farber, and Singer Alex Cuba - all contributed to Grammy nominated projects this year - on the intersection between music and life.
Read More45: Jorge Drexler "Everything comes from empathy"
Singer-songwriter Jorge Drexler on his songwriting process, the importance of empathy, and his desire to "build bridges" between people and ideas.
Read More44: Dave King: "Commitment is an incredible thing"
Drummer, composer and surrealist instructional video host Dave King on the power of commitment, creating his own "tribal music" and the importance of isolation to the creative process.
Read MoreParis
What did it feel like in Paris on the night of Friday, November 13th?
This is my conversation with my father, Ben, about our impressions of being there that night.
Read More42: Becca Stevens: "I'm an emotional perfectionist"
Singer-songwriter Becca Stevens on allowing yourself to stay creatively vulnerable and take chances. She talked about how to overcome writers block, and the benefits of lack of time when it comes to creative process.
Read More41: Creed Taylor, Record Producer at the crossroad of history and good taste
For forty years, Creed Taylor was one of a small handful of jazz record producers and label managers who shaped and defined the sound of jazz recording.
Read More40: Howard Levy, Harmonica Player | Rhythm, Melody & Light are all the same thing
Howard Levy has one of the most inquisitive musical minds of anyone I’ve ever met, and the thing that he’s most known for is his astounding harmonica playing and innovative technique.
Read More39: The Musicians Behind Late Show with Stephen Colbert
In honor of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Will Lee (bass player for David Letterman), Michael Thurber and Jon Batiste (members of the new Late Show band) are featured.
Read More38: Addicted To Living In the Present Moment - The Trade Winds project
Bassist Matt Geraghty and Saxophonist Ze Luis have been traveling to port cities (New Orleans, San Juan, Havana) to find out. It's part of their compelling video series, the 21 Trade Winds project. Both musicians have made names for themselves in the jazz and world music communities, Matt with his personal projects, and Ze as a sideman and producer for notable Brazilian artists like Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil.
Read More37: Inspiration Comes from Life at the Newport Jazz Festival
Ben Sidran and I spent three days at the Newport Jazz Festival, checking out the music, hanging with musicians and trying to find a lobster roll. During the course of the weekend, we connected with some wonderful jazz personalities, including Jon Batiste, Dr. John, Jason Lindner, Maria Schneider, Jose James, James Carter, Jamie Cullum, David Hazeltine, and Bob Dorough. Each of them helped us to paint the picture of real life as it comes into contact with a career in music.
Read More36: George Wein at 90 - Looking forward to the future
George Wein opened his first jazz club, Storyville, in the early 1950s when he was a young man. He then created the Newport Jazz Festival in 1954. The festival became an icon among music festivals and influenced the way music was presented around the world.
Read More35: Welcome to Copenhagen
Roam in and out of Copenhagen jazz clubs with me and my father, Ben Sidran. With microphones in hand, we interviewed all sorts of musicians, wondering aloud about the future of the music. A window into my world.
Read More34: He started the website that you can't stop reading. Meet Peter Koechley.
The viral content website Upworthy launched in 2012 with an emphasis on simple and transformational storytelling. It had an immediate impact online and quickly influenced many other sites in the way they shared stories. Peter Koechley explains their philosophy, why they focus on empathy, and how he came to co-found the influential site.
Read More33: Tommy LiPuma with Al Schmitt, Steve Gadd, Larry Goldings, Jacob Collier and Dean Parks
The conversation is a fascinating glimpse into both the golden age of recording and modern music production approaches, which also highlights how important relationships and trust are to building a career in music (or any industry).
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32: Sachal "I have a power to make my words count"
Singer Sachal on connecting with an audience, integrating technology into organic music, and the importance of lyrics.
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