Today, the Spotlight shines On Steven Milne, singer, songwriter, keyboardist and vocalist in the Aberdeen, Scotland-based band The Little Kicks. The Little Kicks make sophisticated pop music, with three of the members providing vocal harmonies, over songs with enticing guitar hooks, and featuring the seductive sound of analogue synthesizers. The…
Today, the Spotlight is On singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Pete Josef. The impetus for Pete’s visit was a series of tracks that he has been dropping throughout the Spring and Summer of 2023 - one of which, “Utopia (https://petejosef.bandcamp.com/album/utopia) ”, you can listen to at the end of this episode.…
Today, the Spotlight shines On EMBER, a trio featuring saxophonist and trumpeter Caleb Wheeler Curtis, bassist Noah Garabedian and drummer Vincent Sperrazza. Their latest album, August in March, came out August 11, 2023 on Imani Records (https://imanirecords.bandcamp.com) and is “a vivid representation of the musical, interpersonal and community-oriented ideas that…
Through her latest project with Septet+, the accomplished flutist transforms works by Adrienne Rich, Naomi Shihab Nye, and other poets into conversations between words and improvised music. ------------------ Today, the Spotlight shines On flutist Jamie Baum. When COVID hit, Jamie found inspiration and solace in poetry. What started as daily…
On the Spotlight On podcast, jazz clarinetist Anat Cohen discusses how different ensembles and musical partners, like Marcello Gonçalves and Fred Hersch, influence her playing style and personality, highlighting the unique dynamics and trust in each setting. Don't miss the entire conversation on the latest episode of Spotlight On: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/anat-cohen-clarinet-in-full-bloom-jazz-music-quartetinho/…
In this excerpt from the latest episode of Spotlight On, jazz clarinetist Anat Cohen talks about her band, Quartetinho, its members, and influences behind their album, 'Bloom,' featuring diverse music styles from tango to Afro-Cuban. Don't miss the full conversation on the Spotlight On podcast: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/anat-cohen-clarinet-in-full-bloom-jazz-music-quartetinho/ #Shorts #AnatCohen #Jazz #Clarinet…
Today, the Spotlight shines On MISS C-LINE, a neo-soul singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Switzerland. Her music blends soul and groove with elements of hip-hop and jazz, resulting in a unique and memorable sound. This conversation is memorable, too, and and it pairs well with the MISS C-LINE track…
Today, the Spotlight shines On Brooklyn-based pianist and composer Danny Fox and the latest work from the Danny Fox Trio, Time Took Care of It. Danny’s trio, with bassist Chris van Voorst van Beest and drummer Max Goldman, has been a working group with a consistent lineup since their founding…
Today, the Spotlight shines On Canadian producer and sound artist Michael Scott Dawson. Michael joined us to mark the release of his third solo album, Find Yourself Lost, a collection of country-adjacent, Western-themed ambient recordings issued by Toronto label We Are Busy Bodies (https://wearebusybodies.com) . This album is ethereal without…
In this episode, the Spotlight shines On internationally-renowned bass player and composer Bruno Råberg. Since coming to the US from his native Sweden in 1981, Bruno has made many recordings as both a leader and sideman — and has performed with an incredible number of world-class artists - including Terri…
Today, the Spotlight is On international award-winning harpist and composer, Kirsten Agresta Copely. Kirsten, who is known for her charismatic, telegenic presence on stage, is also the go-to harpist for pop artists including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Enya, The Roots, Lady Gaga, and many others. Kirsten joins Spotlight On to…
In this clip from the new episode of Spotlight On, jazz clarinetist Anat Cohen discusses her love for the clarinet's wide range and versatility, recounts her experiences with various saxophones, and shares a story about obtaining a soprano saxophone from David Ortega. Listen to the full conversation on the Spotlight…
Fresh from a three-week European tour with Quartetinho, the accomplished clarinetist discusses how she transforms everything from Thelonious Monk to Brazilian choro into her own musical language. ------------------ Today, the Spotlight shines On clarinetist Anat Cohen. Anat’s been bringing her joyful spirit to jazz venues worldwide for two decades, blending…
Today, the Spotlight is On Gabriel Jacob Luansing, who produces music under the name mr. master. For over six years, Gabriel has been working on an ever-expanding experimental hip-hop project called ‘ultra,’ which, as of this recording, currently spans 138 songs, clocking over six hours of music. ‘ultra’ is a…
Today, the Spotlight shines On the Basel-based band LILAMORS, which consists of vocalist Ana Čop, pianist Thilo Seevers, and sound artist Jaka Arh. With their debut album, When I Am Dead, My Dearest, out on June 30th, LILAMORS is taking jazz into new territories of experimental electro-acoustic music, utilizing poetry…
Today, the Spotlight shines On Vermont-based saxophonist, composer and arranger Brian McCarthy. Brian joins us on the occasion of his most recent project, AFTER|LIFE released back in late May, just a few days after we recorded this talk. AFTER|LIFE is the second album of Brian’s in the nonet format as…
Today, the Spotlight shines On Peter Kruder and Roberto Di Gioia, who join us to talk about their new but long-gestating duo project, “--------”. Viennese artist, producer and DJ Peter Kruder is one of the legendary figures in electronic music, known for his pioneering work as a member of Kruder…
In this excerpt from the Spotlight On podcast, pianist Marina Albero discusses her skepticism about classical music's rigid adherence to written scores, arguing that historical figures like Chopin probably improvised frequently. Listen to the entire conversation with Marina Albero on the latest episode of Spotlight On: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/marina-albero-from-pianist-to-nomad-of-sound/ #shorts #JazzPiano #ClassicalMusic…
In this excerpt from the new episode of Spotlight On, pianist Marina Albero shares how she decided to pursue music, influenced by her time in Cuba from age 15, where she studied classical piano before relocating to Seattle. Check out the full conversation with Marina Albero on the Spotlight On…
The acclaimed pianist discusses her musical evolution from Barcelona to New Orleans, where she recorded her latest album on Ellis Marsalis's personal piano at his namesake center. ------------------ Today, the Spotlight shines On pianist and composer Marina Albero. From Barcelona’s vibrant music scene to the heart of New Orleans, Marina…
In this clip from the latest episode of Spotlight On, author Jonathon Grasse discusses Eric Dolphy's underrated talent and how his contributions with John Coltrane were undervalued initially. He highlights Dolphy's multi-instrumental skills and the significance of later releases. Don't miss the full conversation on the Spotlight On podcast: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/jonathon-grasse-the-life-music-of-eric-dolphy-biography/…
Matt Watts is a music industry double threat. By day he's the VP of Marketing at Fender Guitars. At night he continues to play guitar with pop-punk legends, the Starting Line. Matt joined us in 2019 for a live conversation in front of an audience about his varied pursuits -…
Ben Lovett is a true multi-hyphenate. A founding member of Mumford & Sons, Ben sings, plays keyboards and drums, writes and produces music. He develops venues and promotes shows. He owns a record label, music publishing, is a restaurateur, activist, philanthropist and all-around interested and engaged human being.
Author and religious studies scholar Diana Pasulka mines archives from as disparate sources as the US Air Force to the Vatican while searching for material about the links between UFO sightings and religious experiences. Listen to the full conversation from the Spotlight On podcast right here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5Fb-2jZNnk&t=22s #Shorts…