The acclaimed jazz critic discusses his updated biography of Marian McPartland, revealing how the Piano Jazz host's complex personality and vast musical connections created both challenges and opportunities in documenting her remarkable life. ------------------ Today, the Spotlight shines On award-winning jazz critic and author Paul de Barros. Throughout his storied…
Today, the Spotlight shines On returning guest, the innovative musician and composer Markus Reuter. Markus originally joined us for Episode 130 back in November 2022. He joins us now to discuss his project Sea of Hopeless Angels (Unsung Records), which began as several unedited studio solo improvisations by Markus on…
Today, the Spotlight shines On Josh Johnson, the Los Angeles-based saxophonist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and Grammy Award-winning producer. Josh joined me earlier this year to talk about his second solo album, Unusual Object, which came out this past April on Northern Spy Records. Equal parts futuristic jazz and modern composition, Josh…
Today, the Spotlight shines On musician and producer Daniel Ögren. Daniel is one of the artists propelling Sweden’s contemporary new music scene. He has an extensive body of work as a solo artist and as a member of Sven Wunder, The Greys, and, most notably, Dina Ögon. He also works…
Today, the Spotlight shines On Brad Mindich, an entrepreneur who works directly with artists, athletes, and others in music, culture, and sports to expand their legacies and create powerful connections with their fans. Brad currently does this work as the founder and CEO of Inveniem/Definitive Authentic, which helps its clients…
Today, the Spotlight shines On Berlin-based electronic music composer and performer Hainbach. I have come to view Hainbach as much an archeologist or audio specimen collector as he is a musician. While he makes beautiful music and soundscapes, they are often showcase pieces for the devices he works on, which…
Today, the Spotlight shines On the musician and producer David John Haskins, better known to the world as David J, bassist and co-founder of both post-punk goth band Bauhaus and, subsequently, Love and Rockets. As if having such a luminary visiting our podcast isn’t enough, today’s talk is guest-hosted by…
Today, the Spotlight shines On Andy McCluskey, the singer, songwriter, musician, and producer best known as the lead singer and bass guitarist of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (also known as OMD). Andy joined Spotlight On producer and guest host Michael Donaldson to discuss topics as varied as the political…
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…