Spotlight On

Today, the Spotlight shines On legendary Danish organist Anders Koppel.Great music often runs in the family, and as proof, we have our first father-son episodes of Spotlight On. Last November, we had Benjamin Koppel, son and collaborator of today’s guest.But today’s story starts decades ago when Anders played Newport with his band Savage Rose. Fast forward to now, and Anders is back at the Hammond B3, making magic with Benjamin on alto sax and the incredible Brian Blade on drums.This trio came together naturally. Benjamin and Brian have been close friends and collaborators since 2011. Something special clicked when they invited Anders to join them on the organ. Their latest album, Time Again, swings hard while aiming for the heart.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from the album Time Again by Benjamin Koppel, Brian Blade, & Anders Koppel)–Dig DeeperLearn more about Anders Koppel at wisemusicclassical.comPurchase Time Again on Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choiceTime Again teaser videoCheck out Benjamin Koppel at benjaminkoppel.com and his check out his label Cowbell MusicBenjamin Koppel plays jazz with a novelist’s narrative (Spotlight On podcast)The Savage RoseBrian Blade | DrummerAll About Jazz Organ: Inside the Hammond B-3Kenny Werner | PianistNewport Jazz Festival - 1969–• 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. You can also follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, and Mastodon.

Today, the Spotlight shines On Christian McBride, a musician, recording artist, prolific composer, arranger, producer, cultural curator, dedicated educator, and mentor.Christian has been called the hardest-working person in jazz, and based on what I just rattled off, that might be underselling it. From his early days in Philadelphia soaking up the sounds of Philly Soul to sharing stages with legends like Ray Brown and Chick Corea, Christian has become a bridge between jazz’s rich history and its vibrant future.These days, you’ll find him leading his new band, Ursa Major, hosting NPR’s Jazz Night in America, mentoring the next generation of musicians, and somehow finding time to work on a new big band album featuring twelve different vocalists. He’s also preparing for an upcoming funk tribute show with none other than George Clinton and Savion Glover at NJPAC.Whether laying down the groove with Inside Straight, his Big Band, or any other celebrated ensemble, Christian brings an irresistible combination of soul, swing, and storytelling to everything he touches. Today, we’ll explore his journey from Philly to the world stage, his passion for record collecting, and why he believes being uncomfortable might be the best way to grow as a musician.Quick note: this conversation occurred when our baseball teams were still in contention. One had a better outcome than the other, and neither made it all the way…–Dig DeeperVisit Christian McBride at christianmcbride.comListen to Christian McBride on Qobuz, Bandcamp, or your streaming platform of choiceFollow Christian McBride on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTubeTribute to Funk!The curious mind—and hard work—of bassist Christian McBrideJazz House Kids | School For JazzDig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com–• 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. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

What can be scarier than Halloween ghouls? How about a trip through the LSD underground?Today, the Spotlight shines On Erik Davis, and this trip is no bummer. Erik is an author, award-winning journalist, and teacher in San Francisco. He is the author, most recently, of Blotter: The Untold Story of an Acid Medium_, a study of LSD blotter art. And that’s what he’s joined us to talk about.Erik also wrote one of my favorite books, High Weirdness: Drugs, Esoterica, and Visionary Experience in the Seventies. His scholarly and popular essays on music, technoculture, drugs, and spirituality have appeared in many books, magazines, and journals. He is also one of the founders of Alembic, a center in Berkeley, California, devoted to meditation, movement, and visionary arts and culture.Enjoy our talk about the hysteria surrounding LSD, the cultural significance and risks of the LSD blotter art trade, as well as the intersection between that art and the illicit drug market.–Dig DeeperVisit Erik Davis at techgnosis.comSubscribe to Erik Davis’s newsletter Burning Shore at burningshore.comPurchase Blotter: The Untold Story of an Acid Medium and other books by Erik Davis from MIT Press, Bookshop, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Powell’sEight LSD Blotters That Defined Psychedelic CultureInside the LSD Museum That the DEA Somehow Hasn’t Torn to the Ground‘I’m high as a Georgia pine’: Dock Ellis’s no-hitter on LSD, 50 years onDig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com–• 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. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

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 uses processed saxophone and subtle samples in his unique compositions.In addition to examining Unusual Object, we discussed the relevance and impact of genre classifications in music, how Josh’s Grammy has led to more opportunities and connections in various music communities, the impact of Chicago’s artistic community on Josh’s development as a musician, courage in the pursuit of creative avenues, and of course, it would not be an episode of Spotlight On if we did not dig into process. So we did.Josh will be at the Village Vanguard in New York from October 29 through November 3 with Vibraphonist Joel Ross’s Good Vibes ensemble. It should be a good one.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Josh Johnson’s Unusual Object)–Dig DeeperVisit Josh Johnson at joshjohnsonmusic.comFollow Josh Johnson on InstagramPurchase Unusual Object at Northern Spy Records, Qobuz, or Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choiceMeshell Ndegeocello Wins Inaugural Best Alternative Jazz Album Award at 2024 GrammysThe lessons of Wayne Shorter, engine of imaginationJosh Johnson “Marvis” live performanceThe Conversations That Make a Voice // Josh JohnsonDig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com–• 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. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

Today, the Spotlight shines On composer and percussionist Shawn Mativetsky. A renowned tabla player, Shawn is a pioneer in bridging the worlds of Western and Indian classical music.We discussed the intricacies of traditional Indian music, including the setup and tuning of the instruments, the guru-disciple relationship, and the reception of Western musicians in the Hindustani community. We also explored the importance of deep learning, consistent practice, and research in mastering a musical instrument, with Shawn sharing his personal journey and commitment to his craft.Shawn and I spoke much earlier this year, around the April release of his album, Temporal Waves. Enjoy.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from the album Temporal Waves)–Dig DeeperVisit Shawn Mativetsky at shawnmativetsky.comVisit Temporal Waves at temporalwaves.comPurchase Temporal Waves on Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choiceFollow Temporal Waves on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and YouTubeIntro to Tabla & North Indian Rhythm – Shawn MativetskyIntroduction to Classical TablaPandit Sharda SahaiCanadian Percussionists: Shawn MativetskyDig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com–• 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. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

Today, the Spotlight shines On Paul Stache, co-owner (with his wife and partner Molly Sparrow Johnson) of Smoke Jazz Club, one of New York City’s premier live music venues. Smoke is celebrating its 25th anniversary throughout 2024 and Paul joined us to talk about the storied venue’s past, present, and future.In addition to the club’s 25th Anniversary Celebration plans, we hit on topics like how their business has navigated the transition to a digital world, insight into managing an independent venue, as well as many of the amazing artists who have graced their stage over the years. Enjoy.–Dig DeeperVisit Smoke Jazz Club online at smokejazz.comFollow Smoke Jazz Club on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTubeVisit Smoke Sessions Records at smokesessionsrecords.com or on BandcampSmoke Rises: A Jazz Room Returns on the Upper West SideSmoke Jazz & Supper Club reopens (video)Harold Mabern “The Iron Man: Live at Smoke” (video)Smoke Jazz Club NYC: Talking with Co-owner Paul Stache–• 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. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

Today, the Spotlight is going to shine a little differently. Instead of a single guest, we will have three segments dealing with the importance of local music scenes.Our first guest is Shain Shapiro. Shain is a thought leader working at the intersection of music, culture, and urban policy. His book, This Must Be The Place: How Music Can Make Your City Better, came out last year on Repeater Books. Shain has defined a new way to think about the value of music and the creative economy in cities and places. He is the founder and chairman of Sound Diplomacy, a global research and strategy consultancy that demonstrates the impact of the creative industries on community development and economic growth. He is also the founder and executive director of the not-for-profit global Center for Music Ecosystems, where he collaborates with leaders and policymakers to foster policies that lead to social and economic development at local, national, and global levels.Our second segment features trumpeter and composer Thomas Marriott, who takes us through the modern history of the Seattle jazz scene, with its current challenges and opportunities.We end with Seattle House Mafia, a three-member DJ collective that tell tales of the evolution of Seattle’s dance music scene.If you enjoy this episode, please let us know, and support live music wherever you are.–Dig DeeperVisit Shain Shapiro at shainshapiro.com and follow him on LinkedInVisit Thomas Marriot at thomasmarriott.net and follow him on Facebook and YouTubeVisit Seattle House Mafia at seattlehousemafia.com and follow them on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (X), and YouTubeDig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com–• 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. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

Today, the Spotlight shines On drummer and composer Devin Gray.Like me, Devin is a born New Englander who made his way to Brooklyn, though unlike me, he splits his time between Brooklyn and Berlin.Devin has performed with Spotlight On alumni Angelica Sanchez and Satoko Fuji, as well as a who’s who of the creative music scene: David Liebman, Sylvie Couvoisier, Tim Berne, Nate Wooley, and many others.Our conversation ranged from Devin’s earliest exposures to music, his self-taught approach to drumming, genre divisions in music, local and regional art scenes, the different approaches to arts funding he’s encountered in the US and Europe, the appeal of creating an artistic universe of work, sincerity and authenticity, more.Devin will be performing in Seattle in the next few days and I hope to continue our conversation then. Enjoy.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Devin Gray’s album Most Definitely)–Dig DeeperVisit Devin Gray at devingraymusic.comPurchase Devin Gray’s Most Definitely on Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on SpotifyFollow Devin Gray on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter (X), and YouTube7 Questions for Devin GraySatoko Fujii: composing beyond the jazz spiritMelt All the Guns (feat. Ralph Alessi & Angelica Sanchez)Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com–• 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. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.