Spotlight On

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 and is “a vivid representation of the musical, interpersonal and community-oriented ideas that the three forward-thinking musicians that make up EMBER…care deeply about.”Today’s conversation explores the heady thematic elements of EMBER’s music: humanism, community, place, and the importance of being a band of equals. Stick around after the discussion to hear the track “Flotation Device and the Shivers” from August in March, by EMBER. ------------------Dig DeeperVisit EMBER at emberband.comListen to EMBER’s August In March on Bandcamp or your favorite streaming platformFollow EMBER on InstagramAlso on Instagram: Caleb Curtis, Noah Garabedian, and Vinnie SperrazzaVinnie Sperrazza’s Chronicles email newsletter (Substack)Frank Zappa & Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Improvisations, Boston 1969Alice Coltrane Documentary (1970)Complete Recordings of Sam Cooke with the Soul StirrersOscar Peterson Trio with Milt Jackson - Very TallThe state of Utica’s jazz sceneJoe Henderson’s The State of the TenorBe sure to check out other musical projects from Caleb Curtis, Noah Garabedian, and Vinnie Sperrazza------------------• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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”, you can listen to at the end of this episode. Before we got to his new music, we discussed Pete’s musical upbringing, his connection to classic soul “message music”, and much more. Pete is an artist deeply in tune with his times, which is reflected in the lyrical content of his music. He is also in tune with the lineage his own work springs from, as you will learn from this talk. It was a pleasure having him on and we highly encourage you to check out his music. Enjoy. ------------------Dig DeeperVisit Pete Josef at petejosefmusic.comListen to Pete Josef’s music on Bandcamp or your favorite streaming platformFollow Pete Josef on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTubePete Josef…inspirations (Spotify Playlist)Rotary Connection - “Lady Jane” (Jerry G. TV show, Chicago, 1969)Moussa Kouyate plays koraSura SussoMarvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ Is as Relevant Today as It Was in 1971Local Groove Does Good: The Story Of Trip-Hop’s Rise From BristolWhere to Start With Afrobeat Pioneer Tony Allen, One of the Greatest Drummers EverPatch’s artwork for Pete Josef’s “Utopia”The White LampTheo Katzman------------------• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 talk about her recently released New Age album, Aquamarine, which is “Inspired by her deep connection with the ocean and imbued with memories of her late mother, this album is a heartfelt homage to the woman who ignited Kirsten's passion for both music and the sea”. Kirsten spoke with us from her home — which is also a commercial recording studio — in Brooklyn, NY. Please enjoy our talk and stick around after the end credits to listen to “Into the Mist”, from Kirsten Agresta Copely’s album Aquamarine. And check the show notes for some harp music recommendations from Kirsten. ------------------Dig DeeperVisit Kirsten Agresta Copely online at kirstencopelymusic.com Listen to Kirsten Agresta Copely’s Aquamarine on Bandcamp or your favorite streaming platform.Follow Kirsten Agresta Copely on Instagram, Facebook, and TwitterTransformative Experiences | I Am Water Ocean Conservation | Cape TownBeyonce at the White House Second State DinnerWired StringsKirsten’s Harpist Recommendations:Mary Lattimore - “Sometimes He’s In My Dreams”Mikaela Davis - “Cinderella”Lara Somogyi - “lodges”------------------• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 project meant to be dived deep into, and we do, discussing the intention and aims of the project, artistic identity and much more.We would like to encourage listeners to spend some time with even a small part of ‘ultra’ before listening to this discussion — ideally on shuffle. You’ll find a a link to the project in the show notes below. Please enjoy ‘ultra’ and our discussion with Gabriel Jacob Luansing, a/k/a mr. master. ------------------Dig Deeper: Follow mr. master on SoundCloud, Instagram, and YouTube.Listen to  mr. master’s ‘ultra’ project on SoundCloudmr. master’s lyrics on GeniusA Loner and A Rebel: A Tribute to Paul ReubensBonus Tracks blog: Ultramagnetic MCs‘Dr. Octagonecologyst’: Dr. Octagon’s Avant Rap MasterpieceNerdcore Music: 12 Notable Nerdcore ArtistsMC FrontalotMC LarsAndrea GibsonDaniel SchmachtenbergerTristan Harris - Facebook & Rethinking Big Tech | The Daily ShowCelebrating 40 years of La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela’s Dream HouseHenry DargerPigeons and Planes interview with mr. masterThe man who built his own cathedral------------------• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spotlight On producer and editor Michael Donaldson and host Lawrence Peryer communicate constantly throughout the research and production of each episode, but they rarely actually speak in person. So when Michael suggested they spend time catching up to discuss some topics of shared interest, the pair decided to press ‘record’ and share their discussion with listeners. The two had a freewheeling and sprawling talk which Michael worked his editing magic on in order to bring to you. Enjoy. ------------------Dig DeeperFollow Lawrence Peryer on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTubeFollow Michael Donaldson on Mastodon, LinkedIn, and 8sided.blogthe musical genre is dead, gen z killed itCollege Radio: What’s changed—and what hasn’t.The Elephant 6 Recording Co.A Weird, Wonderful Conversation With Kim Stanley RobinsonIt’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s…Some Dude?!Actors and Writers Strike 2023, Explained: What Happens Now?Will A.I. Replace Pop Stars?A Brief History of Virtual Pop StarsTiny AccidentsThe Case Against Music CurationSpotify’s Discover Weekly explained At 85, Sam Rivers Creates A Scene In Orlando------------------• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Spotlight shines On guitarist and banjoist Brandon Seabrook, hot off the release of his new album brutalovechamp on Pyroclastic Records.Brandon is known for pushing his music past the far reaches of the extreme, fusing elements from punk, jazz, pop, and metal. His music has been called “abrasive” and “angular”, with an intense focus on virtuosity. brutalovechamp covers new ground. With his octet, Epic Proportions, Brandon explores beauty, personal emotion and a lyricism not usually associated with his music. In his liner notes for the record, he describes the album as “a departure” and “intimate and vast.” Our conversation was vast as well, covering Brandon’s early life, affinity for ‘80s metal, and his move to more vulnerable, less process-driven music, as well as his reasons for this shift. Enjoy.------------------Dig DeeperListen to brutalovechamp by Brandon Seabrook’s Epic Proportions on Bandcamp or your chosen streaming platformVisit Brandon Seabrook online at brandonseabrook.comFollow Brandon Seabrook on Instagram or YouTube"Libidinal Bouquets" Live at Public Records (video)Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention: The Freak Out GatefoldThese 10 SST Records releases defined ’80s punk and beyondThe Gated Reverb Conundrum (that ‘80s drum sound)Back In The Day, This Major Rhode Island City Was A Mafia MeccaA Brief History of the Tenor BanjoChristopher Weingarten on Brandon Seabrook in The Village VoiceRobert Altman: The Sound Crew’s Best CompanionForgotten Heroes: Sonny Sharrock’s Footprints on the Moon------------------• Did you enjoy this episode? Rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 & Dorfmeister.Kruder & Dorfmeister, named after Peter and collaborator Richard Dorfmeister, is an Austrian duo who broke out creating trip hop and downtempo remixes of pop, hip-hop, and drum and bass songs. Equally independent and innovative, K&D have recently announced their 30th anniversary tour, set for later in 2023. PIanist Roberto Di Gioia was born in Milan and made his name manning the keyboard bench with Klaus Doldinger’s Passport. ​​Over the years, Roberto has worked with many American jazz greats, including Art Farmer, Joe Lovano, and Clark Terry. Together, Peter and Roberto fuse electronic, jazz, pop and dance music into a unique sound deserving of a wide audience. Check out the show notes for a link to a video of their stunning premier live performance, which took place around the time of this discussion Despite their pedigrees and accomplishments, Peter and Roberto were relaxed, engaging and very self-deprecating. Enjoy the conversation.------------------Dig Deeper• Listen to Peter Kruder and Roberto Di Gioia’s "————————" on your favorite streaming platform• Visit Peter Kruder at peterkruder.com• Roberto Di Gioia’s discography• Follow Peter Kruder on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter• Follow Roberto Di Gioia on Instagram• Kruder & Dorfmeister• “Herbie takes no prisoners on his back covers.” • The Yamaha DX7: Death of The Analog Synthesizer• Wiener Konzerthaus, Mozart Hall• Peter and Roberto perform “Donauwalzer” by Johann Strauss at the Wiener Konzerthaus• Rutger Hauer dissects his iconic “tears in rain” Blade Runner monologue------------------ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On Dan Mackta, Managing Director of North America and Northern Europe for the high-resolution music service, Qobuz. We get pitched constantly by publicists to have their music business clients on as guests. Long-time listeners have noticed that we host fewer of those types of discussion than in the past but when we do, we aim to feature only the most interesting people, solutions and companies. Dan, his background, and his work at Qobuz check those boxes and more. A creative leader in the modern music business, Dan is turning his skills promoting and marketing artists to the cause of high quality audio, making sure the art itself is offered to consumers in the best way possible, consistent with the maker’s original vision. Enjoy the conversation.------------------Dig DeeperCheck out Qobuz at www.qobuz.comFollow Dan Mackta on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedInFollow Qobuz on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTubeUnited Blood: How Hardcore Conquered New YorkThe Kids Of Bowery's Hardcore 'Matinee,' Then And NowJohn Zorn: CobraThe Legacy of Alvin Lucier: Transforming the World Of Experimental Music at Wesleyan and BeyondFacing the Other Way: The Story of 4ADAudio file formats: What they are and why they matter to your music listeningWhat is spatial audio? Here’s everything you need to knowWhat Is Binaural Audio and How Does It Work?------------------• Did you enjoy this episode? Rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 well as the second to be brought to fruition through support from the Vermont Community Foundation and the Vermont Arts Council. Chris Pearson in The Times of London wrote, “Imagine John Coltrane's A Love Supreme driven by science rather than spirituality…while Coltrane praised God, McCarthy muses musically on death and rebirth in a cyclical cosmos and how we are all linked, down to a molecular level.”There is a lot of concept packed into this record and Brian guides us through it. We had some laughs, too, though, and this was a very enjoyable talk. Enjoy.------------------Dig DeeperListen to the Brian McCarthy Nonet’s AFTER|LIFE on Bandcamp or streaming platforms.Visit Brian McCarthy online at brianmccarthyjazz.comFollow Brian McCarthy on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.What is a Nonet? Branford Marsalis - Full Concert - 08/26/87 - Newport Jazz FestivalWhat Is Free Jazz?Vermont Arts CouncilVermont Community FoundationBrian McCarthy on The Better Angels of Our NatureWe are all made of stars: half our bodies' atoms 'formed beyond the Milky Way'Rare interview with Bill Evans recounts the story of Miles Davis and Kind of BlueWilliam Patterson Jazz Room Series------------------• Did you enjoy this episode? Rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 groups ranging from Isaac Hayes to Tito Puente to the Rochester Philharmonic. He studied at Juilliard, the Eastman School of Music, and Mansfield University. He worked at Carnegie Hall, Aaron Davis Hall, AOL Live, and the Apollo Theater. At NJPAC, David creates diverse programs that resonate far beyond the four walls of the venue — into the very heart of the community it serves and the lives of the musicians it works with.David takes us through his life, career, philosophies, and the important work he and others do at NJPAC. Enjoy. ------------------Dig DeeperCheck out the New Jersey Performing Arts Center onlineFollow NJPAC on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TwitterMax Roach | The Life and Music of a Bebop PioneerHip Hop NutcrackerA Guide to the Ironbound: Newark's Culinary GemThis Park Near NYC Has More Cherry Blossom Trees Than Washington, D.C.Christian McBride, Revered in Jazz, Is Playing the Long GameMax Roach - We Insist! (Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite)George Clinton Makes Triumphant Return To Newark SchoolNJPAC opens back up after the pandemicChristian McBride Discusses TD James Moody FesitvalInside the prestigious Sarah Vaughan competition for vocalists------------------• Did you enjoy this episode? Rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.