Spotlight On is now . . . The Tonearm!

Music Artists Episodes

Feb. 1, 2026

Noah Franche-Nolan: Music-Making as Spiritual Practice

The JUNO-nominated Vancouver pianist and composer discusses his new trio album Rose-Anna, a record rooted in family, grief, and the quiet power of music passed down through generations.
Jan. 11, 2026

Patricia Brennan: Vibraphone Visions of the Universe

From Mexican marimba traditions to astronomy-guided composition, the vibraphonist explains how her album 'Of The Near And Far' maps constellations onto the circle of fifths to generate raw material for genre-defying new work.
Jan. 4, 2026

Phil Haynes: Banging the Drum for Liberty Now

The drummer and composer discusses how Liberty Now!. Free Country's first album in a decade, transformed from celebration into unintentional protest, shaped by Herb Robertson's death and a fracturing democracy.
Guest: Phil Haynes
Dec. 28, 2025

Bryan Senti: Strings, Migration, and Finding Home

Bryan Senti explores the tension between classical's elite associations and his Hispanic upbringing, finding resolution by channeling his family's migration experiences into 'La Marea,' a work that bridges Latin minimalism and experimental composition.
Guest: Bryan Senti
Dec. 23, 2025

Holiday Bonus: Nels Cline on the Wilco Will Love You Podcast

Our recent episode featuring Wilco and creative music guitarist Nels Cline has proven to be a listener-favorite. This holiday season, we thought it might be fun to give you even more of what we know you love. So … we are exci...
Guest: Nels Cline
Dec. 14, 2025

Nels Cline: Tales of a Daunted Guitarist

Fresh from sessions for Trio of Bloom, the Wilco guitarist reflects on working with Craig Taborn and Marcus Gilmore for the first time, reconciling insecurity with ambition, and why comfort might be creativity's biggest enemy.
Guest: Nels Cline
Dec. 7, 2025

Marcus Roberts: Jazz Piano and Technology's Promise

The acclaimed blind pianist who honed his craft playing with Wynton Marsalis and Seiji Ozawa now pioneers accessible music technology while leading The Modern Jazz Generation into uncharted creative territory.
Nov. 30, 2025

Ned Rothenberg: Solo Improvisation in Bizarre Times

The veteran woodwind master joins the podcast to discuss 'Looms & Legends,' his approach to making "ugly and out of tune" multiphonics musically useful, and why curiosity remains essential to both artistic practice and human empathy.
Nov. 23, 2025

Miguel Zenón: Vanguardia Subterránea and the Sound of Sanctuary

The alto saxophonist and MacArthur Fellow reflects on his quartet's first live recording, captured at New York's Village Vanguard after two decades of collaboration and hundreds of performances worldwide.
Guest: Miguel Zenon
Nov. 16, 2025

Linda May Han Oh: In Search of Strange Heavens

The bassist behind the chordless trio album ‘Strange ‘Heavens reflects on studying Dave Holland's transcriptions, competing as a Thelonious Monk semifinalist, and learning to be comfortable with her own sound rather than imitating her heroes.
Nov. 9, 2025

The Inaugural Jazz Forward Award Winners

The inaugural Jazz Forward Award recognizes JazzWeek's radio charts, Oh! Jazz's global streaming network, Seattle Jazz Fellowship's community revival, and Sligo Jazz Project's inclusive summer school.
Oct. 30, 2025

Peter Knight: Hand to Earth's Sonic Homecoming

From garage bands to the Australian Art Orchestra, Knight traces his path to Hand to Earth, an ensemble whose new album *Ŋurru Wäŋa* honors Indigenous song traditions while exploring electroacoustic possibilities with producer Lawrence English.
Oct. 23, 2025

David Harrington of Kronos Quartet: The Musician Listens

David Harrington reveals the philosophy behind Kronos Quartet's genre-defying repertoire and explains why the ensemble has "barely scratched the surface" after half a century.
Oct. 16, 2025

Jeff Parker: The Return of The New Breed

The guitarist and member of Tortoise discusses how his landmark solo album 'The New Breed' merged jazz improvisation with hip hop production, marking his transition from collaborative work to solo artistry.
Oct. 9, 2025

Hampus Lindwall: Blizzard of Organ

Swedish organist and composer Hampus Lindwall talks about 'Brace for Impact,' his collaboration with Stephen O'Malley, and why treating the pipe organ like a huge mechanical computer opens unexpected compositional possibilities.
Sept. 25, 2025

Donny McCaslin: From Stadium Jazz to Lost Lullabies

The saxophonist behind David Bowie's 'Blackstar' discusses ‘Lullaby for the Lost’, his genre-defying new album, creative partnerships with Tim Lefebvre and David Fridmann, and finding artistic authenticity through controlled chaos.
Sept. 18, 2025

Matt Piucci of Rain Parade: Return to the Paisley Underground

Matt Piucci reflects on the deluxe reissue of 'Crashing Dream,' the value of long-term creative partnerships, and how Rain Parade's influence shaped a generation of musicians from My Bloody Valentine to the Stone Roses.
Guest: Matt Piucci
Sept. 11, 2025

Robin Holcomb & Peggy Lee: Behind the Delicate Sound of 'Reno'

Two distinctive voices in Pacific Northwest creative music discuss their long collaboration, their new album ‘Reno,’ and how geographic community shaped their collaborative mindset to blend composition with improvisation.
Aug. 28, 2025

Rico Jones: The Spiritual Sax of BloodLines

Tenor saxophonist Rico Jones explains his concept of creating a 'cinema of sound,' discusses navigating multiple cultural identities in jazz, and reveals how his Indigenous and Hispanic heritage inform his music without constraining it.
Guest: Rico Jones
Aug. 21, 2025

Aqeel Aadam: Code, Creativity, and Democratization of Sound

The founder of Aqeel Aadam Sound discusses his flagship product 'Waymaker,' why he discourages people from buying modular synthesizers, and how his daily creative practice keeps him connected to the inspiration behind his innovative plugin designs.
Aug. 14, 2025

Rez Abbasi: When Everything Else Fades, Sound Remains

The Pakistani-American guitarist and composer opens up about expanding his long-running acoustic ensemble, the philosophy behind 'Sound Remains,' and finding musical magic through non-attachment.
Guest: Rez Abbasi
July 31, 2025

Sean Imboden: Into the Heart of Big Band Jazz

The Indianapolis-based saxophonist opens up about his move from Broadway sideman to big band leader, the creative challenges of leading a seventeen-piece jazz ensemble, and the community spirit that shaped his debut album 'Communal Heart.'
July 24, 2025

Glenn Dickson & Bob Familiar: The Clarinet in the Machine

Clarinetist Glenn Dickson and synthesist Bob Familiar discuss their serendipitous meeting, patient creative process, and how they transform studio improvisations into the luminous compositions on 'All the Light of Our Sphere.'
July 17, 2025

Gustavo Cortiñas: A Jazz Drummer's Call to Action

From his Mexican roots to Chicago's jazz scene, Cortiñas explains how he builds "bold, urgent conversations" on his album 'The Crisis Knows No Borders,’ addressing climate change through the language of improvised music.