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 Andean minimalism and experimental composition.

Today we're putting&nbsp;The Tonearm's needle on violinist and composer Bryan Senti.Bryan Senti won a BAFTA for scoring the BBC series&nbsp;Mood. He's composed for films since 2015 and worked with artists like Regina Spektor and Mark Ronson. But his new album&nbsp;La Marea&nbsp;tells a different story—his father's story.La Marea&nbsp;takes Cuban migration and turns it into sound. His previous album,&nbsp;Manu, honored his Colombian mother through short violin pieces. This time, Bryan recorded with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. The result mixes classical precision with Latin American folk traditions and ambient textures. He recorded it specifically for Dolby Atmos. 800 tracks of strings, all acoustic, creating what he calls the feeling of being adrift at sea.In this conversation, I talk with Bryan about rediscovering the violin as an adult, how techno influenced a string orchestra album, and what it means to honor family stories through music.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Bryan Senti's album&nbsp;La Marea)–<h3>Dig Deeper</h3><ul><li>Visit Bryan Senti at&nbsp;<a href="https://bryansenti.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">bryansenti.com</a></li><li>Follow Bryan Senti on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bryansenti/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BryanSentiComposer/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/bryansenti.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYcpLxOuOB3XeZOquU84ouQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a></li><li>Purchase Bryan Senti's&nbsp;La Marea&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://bryansenti.bandcamp.com/album/la-marea" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/la-marea-bryan-senti/arbupyv5913fc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Qobuz</a>&nbsp;and listen on your streaming platform of choice</li><li>Bryan Senti's previous album&nbsp;<a href="https://bryansenti.bandcamp.com/album/manu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Manu</a></li><li><a href="https://www.dustinohalloran.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dustin O'Halloran</a>&nbsp;- composer and collaborator</li><li><a href="https://www.francescodonadello.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Francesco Donadello</a>&nbsp;- mixer, Synecdoche Music Research</li><li><a href="https://www.igloomusic.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Justin Moshkevich</a>&nbsp;- co-producer, Igloo Music</li><li><a href="https://www.spencerzahn.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spencer Zahn</a>&nbsp;- bassist, 'Quiet in a World Full of Noise'</li><li><a href="https://www.noahhoffeld.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Noah Hoffeld</a>&nbsp;- cellist</li><li><a href="https://rrose.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rrose</a>&nbsp;- techno artist</li><li><a href="https://www.cnso.cz/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Czech National Symphony Orchestra</a></li><li><a href="https://andrea-franco.com/About" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Andrea Franco</a>&nbsp;- video director</li><li>Dig into this episode's complete show notes at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.podcast.thetonearm.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a></li></ul>–• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice.• Looking for more? Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://podcast.thetonearm.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a>&nbsp;for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://social.lol/@thetonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mastodon</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheTonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-tonearm/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! →&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thetonearm.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thetonearm.com</a>

Bryan Senti: Strings, Migration, and Finding Home

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 excited to bring you another conversation with Nels, this one from the Wilco Will Love You Podcast.Wilco Will Love You is hosted by two fans who cover the music and influence of the Chicago band. The podcast is co-hosted by Mary MacLane Mellas and The Tonearm’s contributing writer Meredith Hobbs Coons.If you’ve listened our episode with Nels, you know what a warm and generous interview subject he is. Listening to this conversation, I really enjoyed hearing how the different perspective the hosts brought highlighted the enthusiasm for making and talking about music Nels has. It was also clear how much the fans mean to him.–Dig Deeper<h3>Artist </h3><ul><li>Listen to The Tonearm Podcast with Nels Cline at <a href="https://podcast.thetonearm.com/nels-cline-wilco-tales-of-a-daunted-guitarist/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thetonearm.com</a> and <a href="https://podcast.thetonearm.com/follow/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">wherever you get your podcasts</a></li><li>Visit Nels Cline at<a href="https://www.nelscline.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> nelscline.com</a> and follow him on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/nelscline/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nelscline/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li></ul><h3>Podcast and Hosts</h3><ul><li>Get more episodes of Wilco Will Love You <a href="https://wilco-will-love-you.simplecast.com/episodes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://campsite.bio/wwlypodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">your podcast platform of choice</a></li><li>Find Mary MacLane Mellas on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marymaclaneartist/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and Meredith Hobbs Coons on <a href="https://www.meredithhobbscoons.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">her website</a></li></ul><h3>Key Groups and Projects Mentioned</h3><ul><li><a href="https://wilcoworld.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wilco</a> - Nels Cline has been guitarist since 2004</li><li><a href="https://www.nelscline.com/the-nels-cline-singers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Nels Cline Singers</a> - long-running experimental project</li><li><a href="https://www.nelscline.com/nc4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nels Cline 4</a> - featuring Julian Lage, Scott Colley, and Tom Rainey</li><li><a href="https://www.nelscline.com/nels-cline-consentrik-quartet" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Consentrik Quartet</a> - with Ingrid Laubrock, Chris Lightcap, and Tom Rainey on Blue Note Records</li></ul>–• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice.• Looking for more? Visit <a href="https://podcast.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a> for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>, <a href="https://social.lol/@thetonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mastodon</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheTonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-tonearm/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → <a href="https://www.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thetonearm.com</a>

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

Cultural anthropologist Graham St. John spent ten years assembling McKenna's story, documenting the rogue scholar who argued that interfacing with tryptamines was evolution's missing link and that rave was its modern revival.

Today, we're putting The Tonearm's needle on Graham St John, a cultural anthropologist and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Huddersfield in the UK.Graham has spent decades studying transformational events, psychedelic culture, and electronic dance music scenes. He's written ten books, and his latest is Strange Attractor: The Hallucinatory Life of Terence McKenna, published by MIT Press. McKenna was the 20th century's psychedelic renaissance man, a stand-up philosopher who became a sampled voice on rave tracks and a herald of consciousness expansion.Graham spent years tracking down letters, interviewing over 80 people, and sifting through archives to capture McKenna's life, not to canonize or condemn him, but to understand how this rogue scholar became both hero and controversy in equal measure.We talk about the challenge of writing a biography when your subject was known for embellishing stories, and why distinguishing fact from fiction in McKenna's "hallucinatory life" matters.–Dig Deeper<ul><li>Visit Graham St. John's website at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.edgecentral.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Edgecentral</a></li><li><a href="https://pure.hud.ac.uk/en/persons/graham-st-john/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Graham St. John</a>&nbsp;- Senior Research Fellow at University of Huddersfield</li><li>Purchase&nbsp;Strange Attractor: The Hallucinatory Life of Terence McKenna&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262049573/strange-attractor/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MIT Press</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/strange-attractor-the-hallucinatory-life-of-terence-mckenna-graham-st-john/8cc02eeac978f39d?ean=9780262049573&amp;next=t&amp;" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bookshop</a></li><li><a href="https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/we-are-the-alien/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Los Angeles Review of Books review</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;Strange Attractor</li><li><a href="https://www.lucid.news/boundary-between-genius-delusion-terence-mckennas-life/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lucid News review</a>&nbsp;- "Genius and Delusion in Terence McKenna's Life"</li><li><a href="https://mckenna.academy/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy</a>&nbsp;- Founded and led by Dennis McKenna</li><li><a href="https://archives.lib.purdue.edu/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&amp;op%5B%5D=&amp;q%5B%5D=mckenna&amp;limit=&amp;field%5B%5D=&amp;from_year%5B%5D=&amp;to_year%5B%5D=&amp;commit=Search" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Purdue University - Betsy Gordon Psychoactive Substances Research Collection</a>&nbsp;- Contains McKenna archive materials donated by Dennis McKenna in 2013</li><li>Klea McKenna's archival project at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.terencemckenna.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TerenceMcKenna.com</a></li><li>Dig into this episode's complete show notes at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.podcast.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a></li></ul>–• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice.• Looking for more? Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://podcast.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a>&nbsp;for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://social.lol/@thetonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mastodon</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheTonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-tonearm/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! →&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thetonearm.com</a>

Graham St. John: Terence McKenna's Hallucinatory Life

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.

Today, we’re putting The Tonearm’s needle on guitarist Nels Cline.Most people know Nels Cline as Wilco's guitarist for the past two decades. But his range goes far beyond indie rock. He's spent forty-plus years moving between jazz clubs, punk venues, and studios where the rules get bent or thrown out entirely. Rolling Stone put him on their list of the top 100 guitarists of all time, but that tells you nothing about how he actually plays.His current project, Trio of Bloom, pairs him with keyboardist Craig Taborn and drummer Marcus Gilmore on Pyroclastic Records. The three had never played together before producer David Breskin brought them into the studio in November 2024. What came out sounds like a band that's been working together for years, full of ambient drift and barbed funk that explores the outer edges of dub.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Trio of Bloom's self-titled album)–Dig Deeper <h3>Artist and Album</h3><ul><li>Visit Nels Cline at<a href="https://www.nelscline.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> nelscline.com</a> and follow him on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/nelscline/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nelscline/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li><li>Visit Craig Taborn at<a href="https://craigtaborn.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> craigtaborn.com</a> and follow him on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/craigtaborn/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Instagram</a></li><li>Visit Marcus Gilmore at<a href="https://drummerslams.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> drummerslams.com</a> and follow him on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/drummerslams/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Instagram</a></li><li>Purchase Trio of Bloom from <a href="https://trioofbloom.bandcamp.com/album/trio-of-bloom" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a> or <a href="https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/trio-of-bloom-trio-of-bloom/v6gl5g1yj7z3b" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Qobuz</a> and listen on your<a href="https://album.link/t/440202268" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> streaming platform of choice</a></li><li><a href="https://pyroclasticrecords.com/artist/trio-of-bloom/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Trio of Bloom on Pyroclastic Records</a></li></ul><h3>Collaborators and Producer</h3><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Breskin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">David Breskin</a> - producer, poet, and creative catalyst</li><li><a href="https://krisdavis.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kris Davis</a> - founder of Pyroclastic Records</li><li><a href="https://pyroclasticrecords.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pyroclastic Records</a> - independent label supporting creative music</li></ul><h3>Key Groups and Projects Mentioned</h3><ul><li><a href="https://wilcoworld.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wilco</a> - Nels Cline has been guitarist since 2004</li><li><a href="https://www.nelscline.com/the-nels-cline-singers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Nels Cline Singers</a> - long-running experimental project</li><li><a href="https://www.nelscline.com/nc4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nels Cline 4</a> - featuring Julian Lage, Scott Colley, and Tom Rainey</li><li><a href="https://www.nelscline.com/nels-cline-consentrik-quartet" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Consentrik Quartet</a> - with Ingrid Laubrock, Chris Lightcap, and Tom Rainey on Blue Note Records</li></ul><h3>Cover Songs Referenced</h3><ul><li><a href="https://album.link/i/1442891425" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Terje Rypdal - What Comes After</a> (ECM, 1974) - source of "Bend It"</li><li><a href="https://album.link/i/516364206" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wayne Shorter &amp; Milton Nascimento - Native Dancer</a> (Columbia, 1975) - source of "Diana"</li><li><a href="https://about-time-records.bandcamp.com/album/eye-on-you?search_item_id%3D2952480880%26search_item_type%3Da%26search_match_part%3D%3F%26search_page_id%3D4928351886%26search_page_no%3D0%26search_rank%3D1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ronald Shannon Jackson &amp; Decoding Society - Eye On You</a> (About Time, 1980) - source of "Nightwhistlers"</li></ul><h3>Original Compositions Referenced</h3><ul><li><a href="https://album.link/i/363644809" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Initiate by Nels Cline Singers</a> (Cryptogramophone, 2010) - source of "Forge" and "King Queen" (which became "Queen King")</li><li>Marcus Gilmore - "Breath"</li><li>Craig Taborn - "Unreal Light" and "Why Canada"</li><li>Nels Cline - "Eye Shadow Eye," "Gone Bust"</li><li>Free improvisation - "Bloomers"</li></ul><h3>Visual Art</h3><ul><li><a href="https://sharoncore.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sharon Core</a> - painter whose flower series adorns the album</li><li><a href="https://www.irvingpenn.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Irving Penn</a> - photographer whose 1980 'Flowers' series inspired Core's paintings</li><li><a href="https://www.yanceyrichardson.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Yancey Richardson Gallery</a> - representing Sharon Core</li></ul><h3>Historical References</h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/898221-Power-Tools" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Power Tools</a> - Bill Frisell, Melvin Gibbs, Ronald Shannon Jackson trio produced by David Breskin (1987)</li><li><a href="https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2016/11/10/musical-chess-cobra-and-john-zorns-game-pieces/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John Zorn's Cobra</a> - game piece and performance system</li><li>The Knitting Factory (original NYC venue) - seminal downtown jazz and experimental music venue</li></ul><h3>NYC Venues Mentioned</h3><ul><li><a href="http://thestonenyc.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Stone</a> - John Zorn's performance space</li><li><a href="https://roulette.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Roulette</a> - experimental music venue in Brooklyn</li><li><a href="https://villagevanguard.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Village Vanguard</a> - legendary jazz club</li><li>Littlefield - Brooklyn venue (now closed)</li><li><a href="https://www.thebellhouseny.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Bellhouse</a> - Brooklyn music venue</li><li><a href="https://www.ibeambrooklyn.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">iBeam Music Brooklyn</a> - performance space</li></ul><h3>Get More</h3><ul><li>Dig into this episode's complete show notes at <a href="https://www.podcast.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a></li></ul>–• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice.• Looking for more? Visit <a href="https://podcast.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a> for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>, <a href="https://social.lol/@thetonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mastodon</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheTonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-tonearm/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → <a href="https://www.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thetonearm.com</a>

Nels Cline: Tales of a Daunted Guitarist

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.

Today, we're putting The Tonearm's needle on pianist Marcus Roberts.Roberts plays jazz piano like he's lived through its entire history. His style pulls from Jelly Roll Morton and Fats Waller as much as it does from bebop. He spent years in Wynton Marsalis's band, has performed piano concertos with Seiji Ozawa, and today leads The Modern Jazz Generation, a 12-piece ensemble encompassing three decades of musicians.Roberts is here today to talk about something beyond performance. He's one of twenty artists awarded a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation's Performing Arts Technologies Lab. His project tackles a technical problem that's plagued remote music collaboration: latency. He's working to get the delay below 40 milliseconds so musicians in different cities can actually play together in real time.Roberts has been blind since age five, and he's used technology his whole life to access music and create it. From Braille music notation to AI-powered tools, he shows us how tech can serve artists rather than replace them. And that’s just a hint of where this conversation goes.(The first two musical excerpts heard in the interview are from a Marcus Roberts live performance, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Jazz+in+Marciac+2024+marcus+roberts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jazz in Marciac 2024</a>)–Dig Deeper• Visit Marcus Roberts at <a href="https://www.marcusroberts.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">marcusroberts.com</a> • Check out Marcus Roberts' music on <a href="https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/interpreter/marcus-roberts/17907" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Qobuz</a> • <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Roberts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Marcus Roberts on Wikipedia</a> • <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-virtuoso-marcus-roberts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Marcus Roberts - 60 Minutes Profile "The Virtuoso" (2014)</a>• <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@JasonMarsalis" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jason Marsalis</a> - drummer in Marcus Roberts Trio and The Modern Jazz Generation • <a href="https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/rodney-jordan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rodney Jordan</a> - bassist in Marcus Roberts Trio • <a href="https://www.npr.org/2015/02/26/389150820/introducing-marcus-roberts-and-the-modern-jazz-generation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Modern Jazz Generation</a> - Roberts' 12-piece ensemble founded in 2012• Dig into this episode's complete show notes at <a href="https://www.podcast.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a>–• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit <a href="https://podcast.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a> for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>, <a href="https://social.lol/@thetonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mastodon</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheTonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-tonearm/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>. • Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → <a href="https://www.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thetonearm.com</a>

Marcus Roberts: Jazz Piano and Technology's Promise

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.

<h2>Show Notes</h2>Ned Rothenberg just released his first solo album in thirteen years, Looms &amp; Legends, and it shows why he's been called America's most intimate composer and improviser. Ned’s improvisations and compositions display his use of extended techniques like circular breathing and multiphonics, while others tell stories through melody. He calls it music for an imaginary culture - sounds that feel indigenous to a place that doesn't exist yet.Ned shared his views on the nature of experimental music, discussions about the role of art in society, the importance of personal artistic expression, and Ned's interest in exploring what goes on between jazz musicians during the act of creation. And this summary barely scratches the surface.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Ned Rothenberg's album Looms &amp; Legends)–<h2>Dig Deeper</h2><h3>Artist and Album</h3><ul><li>Visit Ned Rothenberg at<a href="https://www.nedrothenberg.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> nedrothenberg.com</a> and follow him on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ned.rothenberg/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nedrothenbergmusic/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and<a href="https://nedrothenberg.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Bandcamp</a></li><li>Purchase Ned Rothenberg's Looms &amp; Legends from <a href="https://pyroclasticrecords.com/release/looms-legends/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pyroclastic Records</a>,<a href="https://nedrothenberg.bandcamp.com/album/looms-legends" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Bandcamp</a>, or <a href="https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/looms-legends-ned-rothenberg/dx5toj4921lyb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Qobuz</a> and listen on your<a href="https://album.link/i/1815354306" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> streaming platform of choice</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nedrothenberg.com/extended-biography" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ned Rothenberg - Extended Biography</a></li><li>Dig into this episode's complete show notes at <a href="https://www.podcast.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a></li></ul>–• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice. • Looking for more? Visit <a href="https://podcast.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a> for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>, <a href="https://social.lol/@thetonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mastodon</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheTonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-tonearm/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>. • Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → <a href="https://www.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thetonearm.com</a>

Ned Rothenberg: Solo Improvisation in Bizarre Times

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.

Today, we're putting&nbsp;The Tonearm's needle on saxophonist and composer&nbsp;Miguel Zenón.A MacArthur Fellow, Guggenheim recipient, and Grammy winner, Miguel has spent over two decades creating music that connects jazz tradition with Puerto Rican rhythms and modern composition.He's here to talk about his latest release,&nbsp;Vanguardia Subterránea&nbsp;- his quartet's first live album, captured at the Village Vanguard with musicians he's played with for twenty years. Miguel and I first spoke in 2011 about his role as both an artist and an educator. Now, fourteen years later, we pick up that conversation as he reflects on what it means to document this long-running musical partnership in one of jazz's most sacred spaces.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Miguel Zenón’s album&nbsp;Vanguardia Subterránea)–Dig Deeper<h3>Artist and Album</h3><ul><li>Visit Miguel Zenón at&nbsp;<a href="https://miguelzenon.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">miguelzenon.com</a>&nbsp;and follow him on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/miguelzenonmusic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/miguelzenon" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/miguelzenon" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://miguelzenon.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a></li><li>Purchase Miguel Zenón Quartet's&nbsp;Vanguardia Subterránea: Live at The Village Vanguard&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://miguelzenon.bandcamp.com/album/vanguardia-subterr-nea-live-at-the-village-vanguard" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/vanguardia-subterranea-live-at-the-village-vanguard-miguel-zenon-quartet/o2ak5xdhh97qc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Qobuz</a>&nbsp;and listen on your&nbsp;<a href="https://orcd.co/vanguardiasubterranea" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">streaming platform of choice</a></li></ul><h3>Miguel Zenón Quartet Members</h3><ul><li>Luis Perdomo&nbsp;(piano) - Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://luisperdomojazz.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">luisperdomojazz.com</a></li><li>Hans Glawischnig&nbsp;(bass) - Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hansglawischnig.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hansglawischnig.com</a></li><li>Henry Cole&nbsp;(drums) - Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://henry-cole.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">henry-cole.com</a></li></ul>–• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice.• Looking for more? Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://podcast.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a>&nbsp;for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://social.lol/@thetonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mastodon</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheTonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-tonearm/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! →&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thetonearm.com</a>

Miguel Zenón: Vanguardia Subterránea and the Sound of Sanctuary

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.

Today we're putting&nbsp;The Tonearm's needle on bassist and composer&nbsp;Linda May Han Oh.Linda's a Grammy winner who's recorded with Pat Metheny, Kenny Barron, and Joe Lovano. She was even the model for the bassist character in Pixar's 'Soul.' But it's her own work that brings us together.Her latest album,&nbsp;Strange Heaven, explores why we choose familiar hells over strange heavens—why we stick with what we know even when change might save us. It's a question that cuts through everything from personal relationships to political choices.Linda approaches her albums like journals, each one capturing where she is as an artist and a person. Since becoming a mother, she says her music has become more direct, more distilled—less about ego and more about emotional truth.She's here to discuss creative honesty, her work promoting women composers in jazz through the New Standards project, and why making music with emotional directness matters more than ever.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Linda May Han Oh’s album&nbsp;Strange Heaven)–Dig Deeper<ul><li>Visit Linda May Han Oh at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lindamayhanoh.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lindamayhanoh.com</a>&nbsp;and follow her on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lindamayhanoh/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/lindamayhanoh/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://lindamayhanoh.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a></li><li>Purchase Linda May Han Oh's&nbsp;Strange Heavens&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://biophiliarecords.com/music/?ID=5266525318575993&amp;album=Strange%20Heavens" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Biophilia Recordings</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://lindamayhanoh.bandcamp.com/album/strange-heavens" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a>, or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/strange-heavens-linda-may-han-oh-with-ambrose-akinmusire-tyshawn-sorey/kbsm1h25cw2nb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Qobuz</a>&nbsp;and listen on your streaming platform of choice</li><li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/04/08/1243012572/tiny-desk-concert-linda-may-han-oh" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Linda May Han Oh: Tiny Desk Concert</a></li><li>Dig into this episode's complete show notes at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.podcast.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a></li></ul>–• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice.• Looking for more? Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://podcast.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a>&nbsp;for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://social.lol/@thetonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mastodon</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheTonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-tonearm/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! →&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thetonearm.com</a>

Linda May Han Oh: In Search of Strange Heavens

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.

Today on The Tonearm, we're celebrating the inaugural&nbsp;Jazz Forward Award&nbsp;winners from&nbsp;All About Jazz. Since 1995, All About Jazz has been a driving force for jazz discovery. Now they're recognizing industry trailblazers who actively promote jazz awareness and culture.We'll hear from four organizations reshaping how jazz connects with audiences worldwide. Ed Trefzger from JazzWeek tracks radio airplay across North America, giving artists and their teams vital exposure data. Jesus Perezagua's Oh! Jazz streams live performances from clubs globally, bringing the world's jazz rooms to your screen of choice. Thomas Marriott's Seattle Jazz Fellowship revives local jazz culture through community-focused programming. And Eddie Lee's Sligo Jazz Project transforms an Irish town into Europe's most inclusive jazz education festival each summer.Each organization tackles different challenges, from measuring impact to building community to educating the next generation. Together, they show how jazz thrives through innovation and dedication.–<h3>Featured Organizations and Award Information</h3><ul><li>Jazz Forward Award Program&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazz_forward.php" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">All About Jazz</a>&nbsp;recognition of industry trailblazers promoting jazz awareness and culture</li><li>JazzWeek&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jazzweek.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">jazzweek.com</a>&nbsp;- Radio airplay tracking for jazz recordings across North America</li><li>Oh! Jazz&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ohjazz.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ohjazz.com</a>&nbsp;- Live and on-demand streaming platform featuring jazz clubs worldwide</li><li>Seattle Jazz Fellowship&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a href="https://seattlejazzfellowship.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">seattlejazzfellowship.org</a>&nbsp;- Nonprofit venue presenting live jazz in Seattle's Pioneer Square</li><li>Sligo Jazz Project&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sligojazz.ie/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sligojazz.ie</a>&nbsp;- Annual summer school and festival in Sligo, Ireland</li><li>Sligo Jazz YouTube Channel&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/SligoJazz" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>&nbsp;- Concert footage and festival highlights</li><li>Dig into this episode's complete show notes at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.podcast.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a></li></ul>–• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate The Tonearm ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice.• Looking for more? Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://podcast.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcast.thetonearm.com</a>&nbsp;for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://social.lol/@thetonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mastodon</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheTonearm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-tonearm/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! →&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thetonearm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thetonearm.com</a>

The Inaugural Jazz Forward Award Winners

Putting a needle on the cultural wax.

The people and ideas moving culture forward. With host Lawrence Peryer.