Singer-songwriter Pat MacDonald on inadvertently writing a hit song ("The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades"), the art of allowing circumstance to rule, the value of mishearing the world around you and the power of threes.
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Engineer and producer Al Schmitt is the embodiment of recorded music in America. Here he covers his career from recording big band music and race records in the 1950s to the roll of digital recording in the 21st century, the impact of drugs on the music business, and the importance of good personal relationships, and 23 Grammys along the way.
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The guitarist and singer-songwriter talks about working with Norah Jones, the process of becoming a songwriter, making something happen and finding joy.
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Writer Clifford Irving has lived a lot of life and had many loves, but he says his “one true love” was the Island of Ibiza, where he made his life for 20 years starting in the early 1950s. Here he covers much of his compelling journey and explors the importance of imagination in writing, the question of ethical instruction between parents and children, and the love that can occur between man and monkey.
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Pianist, organist, composer Larry Goldings on New York in the 90s, developing his musical style, the importance of humor and the jazz life in LA.
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On a recent weekend trip to Music City USA, I raised this question repeatedly and I got a variety of answers. Uber drivers, bartenders, music managers and restaurant patrons answer the question: should I move to Nashville.
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Minneapolis and the legacy of Prince, as seen through the eyes of three of his contemporaries. (Ricky Peterson, Paul Peterson and Monte Moir.)
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For this special 50th Episode, bassist, composer, and friend of the podcast Michael Thurber turns the tables and interviews Leo.
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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.
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Guitarist Gabriela Quintero of the group Rodrigo y Gabriela on the power of fearlessness, her own unique technique, and the importance of community.
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Butch Vig, Record producer on working with Nirvana, Garbage and the subtle art of communication.
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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 MoreSinger-songwriter Jorge Drexler on his songwriting process, the importance of empathy, and his desire to "build bridges" between people and ideas.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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