Videos

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. ------------------ The Spotlight shines On saxophonist Donny McCaslin. Donny's new album, Lullaby for the Lost, arrives September 26th on Edition…

In this clip from Spotlight On, Matt Piucci of Rain Parade reflects on the Paisley Underground scene in early '80s Los Angeles and the sense of community among musicians like The Bangles, Dream Syndicate, and Green On Red. Don't miss the entire chat on the latest episode of the Spotlight…

In this excerpt from the latest Spotlight On, Matt Piucci of Rain Parade shares the band’s origin story, starting with his college days with David Roback and the lineup changes that led to their 'Crashing Dream' era. Check out the full conversation on the Spotlight On podcast: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/matt-piucci-of-rain-parade-return-to-the-paisley-underground/ #Shorts #RainParade…

In this clip from the new episode of the Spotlight On podcast, Matt Piucci from the band Rain Parade discusses the process of reissuing their 1985 album 'Crashing Dreams' and the value of revisiting the material with hindsight. Don't miss the full conversation on the latest episode of Spotlight On:…

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. ------------------ The Spotlight shines On Matt Piucci, founding member and principal guitarist of Rain Parade. Rain…

In this excerpt from Spotlight On, pianist and songwriter Robin Holcomb speaks about the influence of Asian poetry on her minimalist style, while cellist Peggy Lee reflects on her exposure to New York's 'downtown scene' through secondary sources after moving to Vancouver. Listen to the full conversation on the latest…

In this clip from the new episode of the Spotlight On podcast, pianist/songwriter Robin Holcomb and cellist Peggy Lee discuss their unique collaboration and drawing inspiration from their strong musical chemistry. Don't miss the full conversation on Spotlight On: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/robin-holcomb-peggy-lee-behind-the-delicate-sound-of-reno/ #Shorts #RobinHolcomb #PeggyLeeCellist #PacificNorthwestMusic #CreativeMusic #Improvisation #ContemporaryComposition #VancouverMusic #SeattleMusic #ExperimentalMusic…

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. ------------------ The Spotlight shines On composer and pianist Robin Holcomb and cellist Peggy Lee. These two musicians have been creating music…

In this clip from Spotlight On, Larry Tye discusses Louis Armstrong's bold criticism of Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus and President Dwight Eisenhower over the 1957 Little Rock High School integration, which profoundly influenced the author. Don't miss the full conversation on the latest episode of the Spotlight On podcast: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/larry-tye-the-jazzmen-who-changed-american-history/…

In this excerpt from the latest episode of Spotlight On, author Larry Tye discusses his unconventional journey of writing 'The Jazzmen,' a book about Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie and how he approaches topics with a 'beginner's mind.' Listen to the full conversation on the Spotlight On podcast:…

In this clip from the new episode of Spotlight On, author Larry Tye discusses the experiences of jazz icons Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie, detailing their use of private Pullman sleeping cars for safety while traveling in the segregated South. Listen to the full conversation on the Spotlight…

The New York Times bestselling author discusses his latest book, 'The Jazzmen,' revealing how Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie became civil rights pioneers who wrote the soundtrack for social change in twentieth-century America. ------------------ The Spotlight shines On bestselling author and journalist Larry Tye. Larry's latest book, The…

In this clip from Spotlight On, saxophonist Rico Jones discusses the profound connection between improvisation, spirituality, and the importance of letting go of the conscious mind to fully engage in the music-making process. Don't miss the conversation on the latest episode of the Spotlight On podcast: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/rico-jones-the-spiritual-jazz-saxophone-of-bloodlines/ #Shorts #RicoJones #Jazz…

In this excerpt from Spotlight On, saxophonist Rico Jones discusses his diverse cultural and musical influences and how his upbringing shaped his outlook on identity as a musician. Listen to the full conversation on the latest episode of the Spotlight On podcast: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/rico-jones-the-spiritual-jazz-saxophone-of-bloodlines/ #Shorts #RicoJones #Jazz #TenorSax #Bloodlines #GiantStepArts #LiveJazz…

In this clip from the new episode of Spotlight On, saxophonist Rico Jones shares how he structured his latest album, 'BloodLines,' as a cohesive suite, drawing inspiration from film composers like John Williams. Listen to the full conversation on the Spotlight On podcast: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/rico-jones-the-spiritual-jazz-saxophone-of-bloodlines/ #Shorts #RicoJones #Jazz #TenorSax #Bloodlines #GiantStepArts…

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. ------------------ The Spotlight shines On tenor saxophonist Rico Jones. Rico's new album BloodLines captures something you…

In this clip from Spotlight On, synthesist and plug-in designer Aqeel Aadam discusses his philosophy for audio plug-ins, emphasizing a streamlined interfaces with a minimal number of controls, like a guitar pedal. Don't miss the full conversation on the latest episode of the Spotlight On podcast: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/aqeel-aadam-code-creativity-modular-synthesis-plugins/ #Shorts #Podcast #AqeelAadam…

In this excerpt from the latest Spotlight On, synthesist and plug-in designer Aqeel Aadam shares his views on modular synthsand their open-ended nature, which often leads to impracticality for those seeking specific results. Don't miss the full conversation on the Spotlight On podcast: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/aqeel-aadam-code-creativity-modular-synthesis-plugins/ #Shorts #Podcast #AqeelAadam #ModularSynthesis #PluginDevelopment #MusicTechnology…

In this clip from the new episode of Spotlight On, synthesist and audio plug-in designer Aqeel Aadam discusses the democratization of musical ideas and tools, making them accessible to those who can't afford expensive gear. Check out more of the conversation on the Spotlight On podcast: https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/aqeel-aadam-code-creativity-modular-synthesis-plugins/ #Shorts #Podcast #AqeelAadam…

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. ------------------ The Spotlight shines On musician, software engineer, and plug-in developer Aqeel Aadam. Aqeel's…

In this clip from Spotlight On, guitarist Rez Abbasi talks about how his new album 'Sound Remains' draws inspiration from his meditation practices. Abbasi shares how in moments of deep meditation, sound persists even as other sensations fade. Don't miss the full conversation on the latest episode of the Spotlight…

In this excerpt from the Spotlight On podcast, guitarist Rez Abbasi reflects on the theme of impermanence that permeates his new album, Sound Remains. He describes the importance of not getting too attached to anything, including his music. Don't miss the full conversation on the latest episode of Spotlight On:…

In this clip from the new episode of Spotlight On, guitarist Rez Abbasi discusses his new album 'Sound Remains,' highlighting his interest in Latin rhythms and contrasting it with his previous work with Indian music and percussion, noting the unique feel and sonority of Latin instruments. Listen to the full…

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. ------------------ The Spotlight shines On guitarist and composer Rez Abbasi. Rez's new album with his Acoustic Quintet, Sound Remains, puts steel-string acoustic guitar at the center…