Category Archives: All Interviews

ARCHIVED list of my interviews/conversations with people/artists.

Neal Casal: No One Above You

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Today, a new Neal Casal archival album No One Above You (The Early Years 1991–1998) is released, presenting 13 previously unavailable demos & studio recordings from the outset of the late songwriter & guitarist’s career. Brother Neal was a consummate collaborator, a celebrated roots guitarist who could be found playing alongside Willie Nelson, Shooter Jennings, The Jayhawks, & Phil Lesh. More than a sideman, he was a revered bandmate, and an integral part of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, GospelbeacH, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, The Skiffle Players, & Circles Around The Sun. His passing in 2019 left a hole in the hearts of fans & friends alike, leaving many looking for a few more moments from the prolific songwriter. No One Above You (The Early Years 1991–1998) helps close that gap, providing a few last documents of his perennial prowess. Primarily recorded between 1991 & 1995, in the years before the debut album ‘Fade Away Diamond Time’, the songs collected here embody his creative process leading up to that introduction. Casal archivists & producers Gary Waldman, Jim Scott, & Jon Graboff have compiled and remixed the tapes, adding subtle additions to these original takes, with performances by John Ginty, Dan Fadel, Angie McKenna, Jeff Hill, Graboff, and more. The album includes unheard compositions alongside covers of Tom T. Hall, The Incredible String Band, & Floyd “Red Crow” Westerman. Among the originals, the hallmarks of Neal’s songwriting remain evident, even in these early days. The release is also prefaced by a personal recollection from Waldman, Casal’s longtime manager & friend, recalling the events that led him to pursue a solo career and his evolution from these nascent studio days into a respected songwriter and guitarist. Its release is accompanied by a companion photo memoir, No One Above You (Christy Coleman + Neal Casal – A Love Story In Photographs), compiled by Neal’s former wife Christy Coleman. It provide an additional vital document of this era. Coleman shares images of the couple’s courtship and companionship, culled from pictures captured by herself, Casal, and a few friends along the way. It’s an unvarnished vision of backstage solitude, after hours revelry, and the counterbalance of a home away from the crowds. Available from the Neal Casal Music Foundation, the album—on limited edition 180-gram green vinyl, 180-gram black vinyl, CD and digital formats —and 304-page book are accompanied by two limited edition tees designed by Nashville-based imogene + willie—one in vintage white, the other in faded black—each featuring an original SX-70 Polaroid from the book.

I had the chance to get some time with Gary Waldman just before the release of this wonderful collection of Neal (and Christie). We dive heart first into how the entire project came about, the songs, the photography & the many memories. It was an honor to get a look back in time with Gary, almost like living some of the moments with him. I had Neal on the proGram every time CRB or Circles Around The Sun would come to town – always a real conversation about the feels, the road and the times he captured both the scenery in images and the way that inspired his writing and playing. I miss those times. This new music and the accompanying book have been a nice way to reconnect and here a few whispers of new tales from the past.

House Of Waters Flow

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“In today’s world, there are no musical boundaries,” says Max ZT of House of Waters, a trio that makes those words come alive as they incorporate elements of West-African, jazz, psychedelic, indie rock, classical and world music into their astonishingly unique sound. The “Jimi Hendrix of the Hammered Dulcimer” (NPR), Max ZT is an innovator of an instrument rarely heard in contemporary music. With roots in Irish folk music, Max has studied in Senegal, where he trained with the Cissoko Griot family, and India, where he studied under the santoor master Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. His unorthodox playing style has been a pioneering force in revolutionizing dulcimer techniques. Moto Fukushima is a recognized master of the six-string bass. With a background in jazz improvisation, Western classical music and the music of South America, Moto’s playing is a combination of finesse, subtlety, and power that leaves audiences “slack-jawed in awe.” (Jazz Wise) Nominated for the Best Contemporary Instrumental album at the 2024 GRAMMY awards, House of Waters is at the forefront of jazz innovation. With their new GroundUp Music recording, On Becoming, Max ZT and Moto Fukushima are joined by first-call accompanists: drummer Antonio Sanchez joins them throughout the album, and guitarist Mike Stern and vocalist Priya Darshini join the innovative group as special guests. “The concept for our new album, On Becoming was tuning the collaboration, focusing on the moment, openness, presentness, composition as a connective tool, composition as an isolating tool,” Max ZT states. “And the fluidity between the two. ”According to House of Waters’ bassist, Moto Fukushima, they strive for openness married to accessibility. “I want to keep the freedom, but if we keep everything free — like certain kinds of abstract music… it can often be a little too far to communicate between us and the audience. We want to have a certain structure and balance.” House of Waters has scored an Emmy-winning documentary (ESPN), and recently re-scored three 100+ year-old French Dadaist-Era silent films in partnership with GroundUP Music and Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas. They have received the South Arts Jazz Road Grant and have an extensive touring history around the world. Having shared the stage with influential musicians including Pandit Ravi Shankar, Victor Wooten, Tinariwen, Snarky Puppy, Karsh Kale, and more.

I had another chance to catch up with friend of the proGram, Max ZT ahead of the September 27th House Of Waters event at the Stoughton Opera House. We got into the who & what of that event (including the connective tissue that unites performer and audience member), the creations and being in the moments of their last two albums. Including this one that recieved a Grammy Nod.This conversation was rich in enlightenment and reminded me just how and why I can get my whole being into this music. We talk a bit about how working and touring with his with Priya Darshini on the album before the Imrpov Sessions album brought him back to the ways they first met. We even find out what he has been listening to recently and how even Andre 3000’s newer flute album shows the ‘in this moment’ we speak of throughout this conversation.

Todd Jorge & MEDESKI

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Todd Clouser is a dynamic guitarist, composer, songwriter, & performer whose genre-defying music blends rock, jazz, blues, spoken word, & improvisation. Originally from Minneapolis, Todd has made Mexico his home, immersing himself in its vibrant creative scene while forging a global presence through relentless touring & prolific output. Hailed by NPR as “a fascinating musician” who “doesn’t belong to any scene & doesn’t want to,” his work is marked by its adventurous spirit & cross-cultural collaboration. As the leader of A Love Electric, a critically acclaimed power trio with bassist Aaron Cruz & drummer Hernan Hecht (later Jorge Servín), Clouser has released 7 albums across labels in the U.S., Mexico, & Europe. The band’s explosive sound—described as “power psych, punk jazz, post-genre, freak rock” (Vive Latino)—has fueled over 1,000 performances across 4 continents, from rock festivals to jazz clubs, alongside luminaries like Medeski, Cyro Baptista, & Billy Martin. Their albums, including *Psychmonde* & *Son of a Hero*, showcase Todd’s ability to channel 1970s rock heroics, avant-garde flourishes, & introspective songcraft into a singular, high-energy experience. His virtuosity as a guitarist extended to his role with Klezmerson, a Yiddish-Mexican klezmer-rock ensemble. Performing compositions by John Zorn, he recorded for Tzadik Records on albums like *Book of Angels: Amon* & *The Book of Beriah*. His work with Klezmerson brought him to prestigious stages, including **The Village Vanguard** in New York City & **Masada Marathons** in Sarajevo & Vienna, where he shared the stage with avant-garde giants like Marc Ribot & Bill Frisell. These experiences, were transformative, deepening his approach to music and collaboration. He has become a cultural ambassador, bridging musical communities through his leadership of Ropeadope Sur, a Mexico City-based imprint of Ropeadope Records. Founded with Hernan Hecht, Ropeadope Sur amplifies independent Latin American artists, with releases like Los Cardencheros de Sapioriz’s a cappella recordings & La Pingo’s Orquesta’s *Midwest/Bajio*. His vision for the label reflects his commitment to fostering creative & economic viability for artists in Mexico and beyond. He also co-edited *Musicians in Mexico City Vol. 1 and 2*, a book project documenting the city’s thriving music scene, further cementing his role as a chronicler of its cultural pulse. Through his nonprofit Music Mission, he channels his passion for community outreach, donating instruments, education materials, workshops, & support to underserved communities in Mexico (Oaxaca, Chiapas, Mexico City, Durango) & Nicaragua. This initiative, alongside his organization of events like the Lakeside Guitar Festival in Minnesota, underscores his belief in music’s power to connect & uplift across borders. Clouser’s extensive discography includes solo projects like Man With No Country & The Mexico City Experiment, a vibrant tribute to his adopted city featuring collaborators like Germán Bringas & Erik Deutsch. His tireless work ethic, shaped by his recovery from addiction, has fueled collaborations with artists from Flea to Keb’ Mo and performances at venues from Japan to Patagonia. Whether shredding fuzzed-out riffs, penning poetic narratives, or advocating for independent artists, Todd Clouser remains a restless innovator, weaving stories & sounds that transcend genre and geography.

Equally comfortable behind a Steinway grand piano, Hammond organ or any number of vintage keyboards, John Medeski is a highly sought after improviser and band leader whose projects range from work with John Zorn, The Word (Robert Randolph, North Mississippi Allstars, Phil Lesh, Don Was, John Scofield, Coheed & Cambria, Susana Baca, Sean Lennon, Marc Ribot, Irma Thomas, Blind Boys of Alabama, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and many more. Classically trained, Medeski grew up in Ft.Lauderdale, FL where as a teenager he played with Jaco Pastorius before heading north to attend the New England Conservatory. He released his first solo piano record, A Different Time, on Sony’s Okeh Records in 2013, and current projects include a new album in the works with his band MadSkillet (Terrence Higgins, Kirk Joseph, Will Bernard), and HUDSON (a collaboration with Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield & Larry Grenadier), plus a documentary on Medeski Martin & Wood.

Jorge Servin is an explosive young drummer from Mexico City, Jorge Servin fuses jazz, rock, and Latin rhythms with fearless precision. A rising voice in international creative music, he’s collaborated with artists across genres & continents. He has been playing in many projects with Todd over the years, but I imagine this one is something he’ll mark down on the wall.

I had the chance to check in with family to the proGram, Todd Clouser ahead of the September 14th event at the North Street Cabaret with his drummer from A Love Electric, Jorge Servin and Keyboard maestro, John Medeski. We get into how he prepares for working with MEDESKI and just when he knows how to add or subtract from the moment as they create in real time. We both are very excited for Jorge as he gets to look over and see MEDESKI as he does his rhythms and grooves. I had to make sure to revisit the recent Lakeside Guitar Festival and find out what were some of the highlights, this always sounds like a great time to be had. Of course I could not let my long running joke with Todd about forming a trio with Him and Medeski and well, Me. I, of course would be playing power tools. I can remember the first time Todd told me he was getting a chance to play with one of his musical heroes and that feeling keeps riding the waves of height to establish more moments of musical outreach. Hope to see you at North Street Cabaret for this one.

TARBABY Will ALL You

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The three members of Tarbaby – pianist & friend of the proGram, Orrin Evans, bassist Eric Revis, & drummer Nasheet Waits – share a long history together, dating back to well before the formation of the trio. They share core beliefs about acknowledging the over-arching tradition of the music while being true to one’s own story; they’re an ensemble of serious intentions and riotous humor, fervid spirit and fierce intellect, passion and purpose. All of that melds and collides in their provocative and risk-welcoming sound. The New York Times has hailed the trio as, “a strong postbop collective with plenty of moves at its command: advanced rhythmic calculus, sly harmonic implication, [and] cohesive elasticity.” Lucid Culture described Tarbaby as, “Intense, enigmatic, often very funny… Darkly melodic, fearlessly spontaneous and bristling with combustible energy.” 2024 saw a bold new release from the eclectic power trio. For the first time in a career marked by collaborations, You Think This Is America marks the first time that Tarbaby has recorded an entire album strictly in piano trio format. Recorded live at New York’s Hunter College for photographer/engineer Jimmy Katz’s Giant Step Arts imprint, the confrontational date mixes originals with wide-ranging covers by Ornette Coleman, David Murray, Andrew Hill, Sunny Murray, & The Stylistics. Tarbaby didn’t set out to become a band. It arose from a conversation, one that in many ways had been going on for decades and continues to this day. That dialogue centers on the respect, or lack thereof, with which “jazz” (in these discussions, that word is often voiced tenuously if at all) is regarded by those who claim to uphold its traditions. The music’s origins are a key factor, especially as they are so intimately tied to uncomfortable facts that many, even those who reap its benefits, would prefer to ignore.

I had a chance to catch up with legendary bassist, Eric Revis ahead of the September 10th TARBABY event at Arts + Literature Laboratory. Mr. Branford Marsalis states, “Eric’s sound is the sound of doom; big, thick, percussive.” Scores of musicians across various disciplines agree. Revis has performed and recorded with Betty Carter, Peter Brötzmann, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Jason Moran, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Steve Coleman, Ralph Peterson, Lionel Hampton, McCoy Tyner, Andrew Cyrille, & Tarbaby, the experimental trio he tri-leads with Orrin Evans & Nasheet Waits, as well as with Options, also with Waits, and the legendary Bennie Maupin. In addition to manning the bass chair in Branford Marsalis’ revered quartet since 1997 (scoring a Grammy in the process), Revis has also recorded eight brilliant and wildly diverse albums as a leader, teaming him with visionary artists like Jason Moran, Ken Vandermark, Kris Davis & Andrew Cyrille, and appeared on the soundtracks to the Netflix features Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom & Rustin. Mr. Revis and I talk about what one could likely plan for at a TARBABY live event, we dive deep into the name of the band and how the conversations around that sound in 2025 and we dissect some of the music on the latest record. We find out when the album featuring Ursula Rucker might be dropping and if in fact, Mr. Marsalis does noodle. This is a conversation about friends making music with a purpose of what has been missing, keying in on those feelings and continuing to write the history books with a new language based of the old ways. This is music that makes me stand taller and try harder and is sure to provide many expressions and how to find yourself best suited in the places you’re in.

Still & Bright With Amythyst Kiah

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Produced by Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, Green Day, Weezer) and recorded at his Nashville studio, Amythyst Kiah’s latest album Still + Bright explores the vast expanse of her inner world: her deep-rooted affinity for Eastern philosophies & spiritual traditions, a near-mystical connection with the natural world, the life lessons learned in her formative years as a self-described “anime-nerd mall goth.” In dreaming up the backdrop to her revelatory storytelling, Amythyst & Walker arrived at a darkly cinematic & exhilarating twist on the rootsy alt-rock of her 2021 breakthrough album Wary + Strange, an LP that landed on Rolling Stone’s list of the 25 Best Country & Americana Albums of 2021 and drew acclaim from major outlets like Pitchfork. With its sonic palette encompassing everything from fuzzed-out guitars & industrial-leaning beats to gilded pedal steel and Kiah’s exquisitely graceful banjo work, Still + Bright fully affirms her as an artist of both daring originality & uncompromising depth. On Wary + Strange, Kiah offered up a collection of spellbinding songs detailing her experience with grief & trauma & alienation, each illuminating the extraordinary impact of her songwriting. An electrifying showcase for her singular musicality and soul-stirring voice, Kiah’s Rounder Records debut soon found many leading critics hailing her as a formidable new talent, adding to a list of accolades that includes earning a Grammy nomination for her powerhouse anthem “Black Myself.” But when it came time to create her follow-up, the Tennessee-born singer/songwriter felt compelled toward a profound shift in her artistry. Although Kiah’s third full-length marks a departure from the anguished emotionality of its predecessor (an album informed by losing her mother to suicide at age 17), Kiah imparts all of Still + Bright with a hypnotic intensity born from boldly stating her convictions. All throughout Still + Bright, she reveals her rare ability to spin her fascinations into songs uncovering essential truths about human nature. The making of Still + Bright involved a careful transformation of the songwriting process she adopted after composing her first song on a Fender acoustic at age 13. The latest turn in a dynamic career that’s included joining Our Native Daughters (an all-women-of-color supergroup also featuring Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla, & friend of the program, Allison Russell), the album marks her 1st time opening up her approach and working with co-writers, including punk legend Tim Armstrong, Sadler Vaden (a guitarist/vocalist for Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit), former Pentatonix member Avi Kaplan, and Sean McConnell (a singer/songwriter who’s also written with Brittney Spencer & Bethany Cosentino). While Still + Bright undoubtedly finds Kiah pushing into new emotional and musical terrain, the album also makes for a vital new addition to a body of work largely dedicated to exploring the struggle and joy of true self-discovery.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Amythyst before she makes her way to the Madison area performing a solo event at the Mineral Point Opera House on September 5th. We start of talking about what the solo thang looks/sounds like. It seems like a great opportunity to really get to know the person and the art. We get into the creating of and change in writing approach while working with partners for the making of ‘Still + Bright, and dissect two songs, one of which, ‘Empire Of Love’ is a song I am so excited to see/feel live. How did she get to work with Moby you wonder? Answered here and when I stop and put myself in her shoes I get that goosebumpy feeling. Before wrapping up our conversation, I was curious as to where she found herself gaining a personal inspiration or feeling on contentment while putting the songs on “Still + Bright” toGether and we end up finding something we definitely both have in common…Mother Nature for the win.

Never Stumped

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The first part of today’s proGram knew the face of the stumpings.

Squirrels- Jubal Lee Young
(I’m a) Yo Yo Man- Marty Cooper
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Sweet Street Blues- Chano Domínguez & Ethan Margolis
Slow Rise (to the middle)- The Wood Brothers
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WILLIE DIXON’S GONE- Tom Hambridge
Boot-Leg- The Reverend Shawn Amos
Corrina- Candice Ivory
Foolish Pleasure- Candice Ivory
Up Jumps the Devil- Kip London
Roll Me Right- Kip London
greenarrowradio promo- David M’Ore
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I Got Sumpin’ For You- Buddy Guy
Dear Landlord- Monster Mike Welch
Screwdriver Keys- Chris Vincent & The Raw Deal
Croke- Kirk Fletcher
I’m Gonna Dig Myself A Hole- Kirk Fletcher

Strollin’ With Moses Patrou

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Moses Patrou is a singer and songwriter with a distinct and warm baritone voice that he compliments with his Hammond organ playing that seamlessly blends Blues, Soul, Country and Jazz, much like one might be accustomed to hearing in places like Memphis or New Orleans, creating a cozy atmosphere, sometimes subtle, sometimes exciting, always entertaining. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, his musical journey began in Madison, Wisconsin, hearing rolling boogie woogie, blues and country music firsthand from his very talented musician father, Johnny “Chimes” Patrou. Some of his earliest memories were watching his father perform with Original Funky Drummer Clyde Stubblefield. Musical pilgrimages later on led him to study and perform at the source in places such as New Orleans, Brazil, and Cuba before laying his hat in New York. His first album, aptly titled “Introducing Moses Patrou”, was released on Grammy award winning producer Ben & Leo Sidran’s label “Nardis Records” in Japan in 2007, and later in the US. His sophomore effort, “Cant Stop, Vol. 1′′, was co-produced with friend of the proGram, Scott Sharrard (Lead guitarist for the Gregg Allman Band) and Charles Martinez (Sound Engineer for Michael McDonald, Boz Skaggs and Donald Fagen of Steely Dan) and released in the fall of 2013. The work of all kinds and the prolific songwriting has continued onward, each new step providing more learning and definitely a merging of old sounding with the new feelings leads us to this year’s release ‘Confession Of A Soul’.

I had the chance to catch up with Moses ahead of him heading back to the Madison area. He’ll be at the ‘Strollin’ Middleton Jazz Fest’ (presented by our friends at Arts & Literature Laboratory on September 6th at 7pm. We talk about the who and what that event should provide those who make it out. We dive deep into the way this latest album ‘Confession of A Soul’ came toGether, the players and the soul of it all. It is one of those from top down to bottom that has such a feelin’ that would conjure new emotions and stories to energize any listener. We talk a few Madison things and if he had to have one cat always in his pocket from the city, who would that be. We also spoke about how he finds the song in his writings and a bit of what’s to come. Here at greenarrowradio, we are always down with giving props to other Madison folk – if you wanna hear some inside scoop on the connection with Ben & Leo Sidran, head her to listen to the 300’th episode of Leo’s ‘The Third Story‘.

Nicole Zuraitis Live At Vic’s

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GRAMMY-winning vocalist, pianist, & songwriter Nicole Zuraitis shows she is a one-of-a-kind artist with the release of her 1st ever concert album, Live at Vic’s, recorded at the eponymous Las Vegas jazz club. In the span of a 2 hour show, she delivers a masterful performance that reflects the full scope of her artistry and makes clear why she stands out in today’s musical landscape. Nicole effortlessly shows her mastery of multiple roles: Singer. Pianist. Improviser. Songwriter. Storyteller. Arranger. A masterful interpreter of jazz, pop, and anything else she seems to put her mind to. Live at Vic’s arrives on the heels of 2 major Grammy wins: in 2024 Nicole won Best Jazz Vocal album for How Love Begins, a historic win as the first independent artist to win in this category (who also wrote and arranged the entire album themselves) and a year later she earned a Grammy for Best Large Jazz Ensemble alongside partner & collaborator Dan Pugach for Bianca Reimagined: Music for Paws and Persistence which was inspired by their mutual passion for rescuing and fostering dogs. Joined by an exceptional ensemble, Live at Vic’s is a powerhouse album in part because she uses her arrangements to bring out the best in the musicians around her including her featured longtime group of Idan Morim (guitar), Dan Pugach (drums), and Samuel Weber (bass) with special guests Keyon Harold (trumpet), Rachel Eckroth (organ), and Tom Scott (saxophone). “It’s jazz. The magic of it is the improv. So the songs are 11 minutes, and everybody’s shredding,” Zuraitis says. “I wanted to make an album for people of songs that I adore. This feels like the pinnacle of my career to get onstage and go: This is what I sound like. Every single thing on this album is arranged by me or written by me. It’s all live, unedited. No auto tune. Everything is here.” This is just how I would want it!!

I had the pleasure of chatting it up with Nicole about this new and first live release. We get into each musician and what the bring to the project. For me, this ‘Live At Vic’s’ record is very much a keyhole view into a setlist that’s created for a wide variety of people to really get into and feel personally about. We talk about how paying the bills working at all sorts of gigs, playing other people’s songs and adding her own touch, made a different in how she presented and wrote her own songs. Nicole and I dissect one of the cover tunes, Steve Nicks’ ‘Rhiannon’ and how this song formed with her and the band’s own take without losing any of the original feelings. Also put under the microscope is my favorite tune on the album ‘All Stars Lead To You‘, a tune I truly feel will open up more people to the abilities Nicole (and band) possess. Her, Modern Songbook style is so appealing to people who don’t stop at a genre, and is such an inviting thing…this new live record is a welcome mat into a new groove people should allowing right in.

Solo Acousti’Lectric With John Kadlecik

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John Kadlecik is a singer, songwriter, and musician based in the DC-area who can play most string instruments, but is primarily known for being a guitar-slinging sideman to Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir in the band Furthur. An original co-founder of the group Dark Star Orchestra, John has been performing improvisationally-oriented shows regularly since the late 1980’s and touring nationally for the last 20 years. His work also includes several studio releases of original music, and he is currently active with Melvin Seals & JGB in addition his own group, The John Kadlecik Band, and a “supergroup,” the Golden Gate Wingmen.

I had the chance to spend a little time with the original co-founder of Dark Star Orchestra and current member of Melvin Seals & JGB, John Kadlecik before his special ‘Solo Acousti’Lectric’ performance in Madison on August 24th at Atwood Music Hall. This will be an experience in its purest incarnation as he presents his ever-evolving solo act. We get into how he crafts a mesmerizing improvisational symphony, layering acoustic and electric guitar, bass, drums, piano, and more — all triggered from a single electric guitar. Blending traditional solo performances with dynamic looping, he creates the energy and depth of a full band in real time. It has to be seen to be believed! So we take time to geek out over the tools he uses to put on such a dynamic on men type of a show. There is always time to talk about the stories keeping true to themselves, how Bobby & Phil were always guru-like and being in so many projects, how he, a collaborator by nature, keeps it all working.

Black Thunder by Brittany Davis

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Black Thunder is the new album by Seattle-based artist Brittany Davis, which arrived on June 13 2025 on Loosegroove Records, a label run by Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard. This release features Davis on keys & vocals, Evan Flory-Barnes on bass, & D’Vonne Lewis on drums, and recalls artists like Nina Simone, Roberta Flack, & Rahsaan Roland Kirk in its immersive, incantatory spirit. The trio, who barely knew each other previously, completely improvised Black Thunder in a surge of interactive creativity across 2 days in the studio. The pressure-cooker environment did away with overthinking & brought each musician’s A-game. Steeped in Black & Afrocentric cultural influences, this is Brittany’s most poignant & cathartic work to date. “In some way, it feels like they’ve been preparing for this recording all their lives. Honing their instrumental craft & ability, of course but more importantly, preparing their ears, emotions, & egos to be fully present and create absolutely in the moment,” Producer Josh Evans said. “To listen deeply and respond empathetically. To speak with uncomfortable honesty. To listen, and be vulnerable.” Davis — who has been blind since birth, arrives at Black Thunder via considerable headwinds. In 2023, she released her debut album, Image Issues, also via Loosegroove Records. The album met critical hosannas, including recognition & appearance on NPR Tiny Desk Home, KEXP, World Cafe & SPIN. In 2023, Davis was featured on ABC’s Good Morning America, which noted, “She uses her music to connect with people and fight for a more inclusive world.” Black Thunder marks a shift away from Image Issues’ urban soul-funk built upon drum machines & programmed keys; instead opting for a fully live, organic performance, one that showcases her stylistic maturation, pure expression and the breadth of her versatility. “She is channeling something or someone else,” the producer adds. “Voices, spirits, the divine — something bigger than the room itself. Something more than just the 3 musicians playing, something older, something deeper.” “So many things I’ve never seen / but I’ve touched it all, it seems,” Davis sings on the album’s first single, “Amid the Blackout of the Night.” “She’s never seen the stars; she’s never seen the sun nor moon; she’s never seen the night. But how can she somehow still perfectly capture that feeling of looking up into the night sky?” Evans says. “Is there more to seeing than just sight?” ​Black Thunder is the work of a brilliantly unique artist charting a course all her own. By bulldozing easy narratives and accessing the realm of pure feeling, this latest missive is a creative thunderclap that will be impossible to unhear.

I had the complete honor of getting to spend a little toGether time in the now with Brittany Davis to dive body Mind and soul equally into the new ‘Black Thunder’ record. We talked about the seed to flower story of its birth and how its way of being created was a true new definition to organic. Spiritual Jazz might be the label where you’d find someone put this record, but it is so much more thank any one idea can fit. It is deep in places where toes can no longer touch the bottom and that’s where its treasures are discovered. We get into the celebration of all people within this music and how perceptions become true entities. We point to a couple of tracks for examples, surely ever person should feel each one differently on their own but Brittany talks about her desire to have this album exercise individual’s minds. We talk about the clear differences between her debut album, ‘Image Issue’ while really shouting out the similarities that are present. This is music of the then, the now and the then of later now(s). Brittany opens up about her blindness and how it takes a different way to make connections within the face of reality, but at the end of the day, this shining star knows more just by being present and paying attention. At the end, we may have come up with a podcast idea – let’s see if that connection gets fulfilled. This is one of my favorite new sonic stories to flip through and I am proud ot be able to share a bit of it and Brittany with you.

Juice In

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The first part of the proGram knew if you just give it a little squeeze.

There’s A feeling in Music- Cole Quest and The City Pickers
All Work Together- Cole Quest and The City Pickers Ft. Arlo Guthrie
Catfish- Ryan Lee Crosby Ft. Jimmy “Duck” Holmes
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A Woman Scorned (Bar Room Mix)- Eva Carboni
All Night Lover- Robert Randolph
Sinner- Robert Randolph
You Used To Call Me- John Hiatt, Sonny Landreth & Roddie Romero
Ay Ai Ai- Ruben Ramos with Los Texmaniacs & Augie Meyers
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Flat Tire- Kendra Morris
Palestinian Children- Peyoti for President
My Body My Choice- Peyoti for President
No Way- Fat Produce
Into Orbit- Sababa 5
Sab- Sababa 5

Two Times With Marques Carroll

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A bold performer, soulful composer & passionate educator, Trumpeter Marques Carroll is dedicated to preserving the authentic culture of Jazz and spreading his holistic love of music around the world. He has been drawing national attention since 1996, having worked & shared the stage with today’s most celebrated artists & ensembles including Carmen Bradford, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Etienne Charles, Christian McBride, Jon Faddis, Meshell Ndegeocello, Randy Weston, Jimmy Heath, Jeff Hamilton, Randy Brecker, Nicholas Payton, Tom Harrell, Bob Brookmeyer, Bobby Watson, the Count Basie Orchestra, The Temptations, Chicago Jazz Ensemble, The O’Jays, The Four Tops, May Wilson & Aretha Franklin. Born into a musical family in St. Louis, Marques fell in love with the trumpet when he was only 8 years old. His grandfather worked with Jazz legend Clark Terry, who became an influence on him and his musical growth. Marques also developed a lifelong friendship with Wynton Marsalis who has become one of his greatest supporters. Marques studied at DePaul University where he earned his Bachelor’s & Master’s Degrees in Jazz Studies Performance. A storyteller at heart, he uses his experience and mastery of multi-genre vocabulary to break down barriers between genres writing evocative music that speaks directly to the soul. Rooted in the tradition of Black American Music (BAM), Marques is consciously challenging norms of genres such as Blues, Funk, Soul, Neo-Soul, & Hip-Hop, expanding and pushing into new places of expression & mastery. Marques Carroll captures and shares this journey with his audiences through his own compositions, The Ancestors’ Call and most recently released album, Foundations. The Ancestors’ Call, a GRAMMY© considered album for 2021’s Best Jazz Album, is a soulful exploration of culture & consciousness that reflects upon the African Diaspora through a balance and attention to detail encouraging its audience to feel, reflect, & celebrate. The sequel to the Ancestors’ Call, Foundations, is a tribute album that pays respect to his mentors & supporters from all walks of life including artists, teachers, family & friends. Marques is co-founder of JMarq Records and is the leader of his self-titled quintet featured in both of his albums, The Ancestor’s Call and Foundations released by JMarq Records.

I had the pleasure of spending a little time with Marques ahead of two dates upcoming in Madison. Friday, July 18th at North Street Cabaret and aGain on August 13th as part of Jazz At Five. We give props to the folks that’ll be playing with him as part of the Quinet for these events (including our pal, Pawan Benjamin), what type of scene this music, these people will attempt to create as a play to gather and be. We dive head first into the new live album(s) he is going to be dropping soon. He documents the notorious Jazz clubs in Chicago that helped form and develop the scene there, places he has adopted as a home and the people that helped make them grow and survive. It’s a thank you card to that scene. I had to give a shout out to a tune that really helps me turn any boxed in corners – check out which track and will it be on the new albums? We also talk about his friend, mentor and colleague, (friend of this program, Mr. Wynton Marsalis) and get some stories about the person he is and what things have rubbed off on Marques. It is always soothing to talk it up with someone who inspires you, and they just add to that feeling with their words and energy.

Fantastic Negrito Brought It

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Fantastic Negrito released his highly anticipated album, Son of a Broken Man, on October 18, 2024, via his own Storefront Records. The album sees Fantastic Negrito encapsulating his inimitable style, from hard-hitting guitar riffs to expressive ballads, with the unexpected twists that have become his trademark. It stands as one of his most personal works to date, exploring family, deception, and the human desire to hide the true self as he dives deep into the struggle between father and son. Born Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, Fantastic Negrito’s story is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of music. By now, much has been made of Negrito’s unique story—growing up in an orthodox Muslim household, a doomed major label deal, the near-fatal car crash that permanently damaged his guitar playing hand—as well as the remarkable redemption arc that began in 2015, when he won the first-ever NPR Tiny Desk Contest. He has since earned three Grammy Awards® for Best Contemporary Blues Album and shared stages with everyone from Sturgill Simpson to Chris Cornell to Bruce Springsteen. He has collaborated in the studio with the likes of Sting, E-40, and Tank and The Bangas, performed on countless headline world tours and at festivals such as Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Newport Folk, and WOMAD, and founded the Revolution Plantation, an urban farm aimed at youth education and empowerment. On July 3rd at the Mellininum Stage, What Fantastic Negrito is known for was brought in full force. Watch the entire performance here.

Phil DeGruy at Snug Harbor

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Phil DeGruy is a true gem in the world of music, seamlessly blending technical brilliance with boundless creativity and humor. His custom-built “guitarp,” an ingenious fusion of an electric guitar and electric harp, sets him apart as a singular force in the guitar world. Whether playing solo or collaborating with fellow virtuosos like Cranston Clements, Jimmy Robinson, and John Rankin, DeGruy’s performances are always a journey of musical innovation and entertainment. With accolades from guitar legends like Danny Gatton and Larry Coryell, DeGruy’s artistry continues to leave an indelible mark. His ability to intertwine wit and musical prowess ensures that his performances are as engaging as they are virtuosic. Phil DeGruy played a brilliantly fun set on July 2nd at Snug Harbor. Check out the video of the set here.

And Poof

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The middle part of the program showed up like maGic.

Sufa- Ouzo Bazooka
Seeds- Ouzo Bazooka
Hak Dellali- Sinouj
Zaragoza- Pierpont & Helgeson
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Phantom Power- The Mighty Mocambos
Where Did Peace Go- Larry Saunders
The Bump- Alvin Cash & The Crawlers
Smiling Faces Sometimes- Charles Kynard
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Cut & Rewind- Say She She
Humble Me- Reinel Bakole & Helocim
Jazz ‘n’ Stuff- Esbe
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Do Don’t- B:Dum B:Dum Sound
Tyson Dub Mix- Jah Wobble
Tragic Slavic Dub- Jah Wobble
Life (In The Deep End)- Eric Hilton

Dixie’s Final Party In Madison

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NBC’s “The Today Show” exclaimed, “It’s not your grandma’s Tupperware party” and with good reason. This hilarious one-person comedy has become one of the most successful off-Broadway tours of the last decade and is rolling into Overture Center with “The Final Season” on Friday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. in Capitol Theater. Following 17 years of laugh-out-loud performances, Dixie is holding her final season of Tupperware parties with Madison being the 2nd to last stop on the tour. Dixie Longate, the fast-talking Tupperware Lady, packed up her catalogues, left her children in an Alabama trailer park and travels across the US & around the world throwing good ol’ fashioned Tupperware Parties filled with hilarious stories, heartfelt accounts of its importance to women, free giveaways, outrageous audience participation and the most fabulous assortment of Tupperware ever sold on a theater stage. Who better to bring the joy of Tupperware to a mass audience than the gal, who since 2003, has been recognized yearly by Tupperware as one of their top sellers. Audiences tend to howl with laughter as Dixie demonstrates the many alternative uses for the iconic plastic kitchen staple. Filled with outrageously audience participation and a little bit of empowerment & homespun wisdom, Dixie’s Tupperware Party leaves your heart a little bigger and your food a little fresher. The show has ADULT CONTENT.

Dixie’s Bio:

Dixie Longate hails from Mobile, Alabama, where she lives with her 3 kids: Wynona, Dwayne & Absorbine, Jr. She started selling Tupperware as part of the conditions of her parole back in 2001. Within a few years, she became the top selling Tupperware representative in the US. When a friend of hers told her she should turn her living room party into a theatrical show, she laughed so hard at the idea, she almost had to put down her drink. Dixie’s Tupperware Party soon opened off-Broadway in 2007 to both raving fans & great reviews. The show earned Dixie a Drama Desk Award Nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance. She lost to Laurence Fishburne. Really. Look it up. The following year, with plastic bowls in hand, she embarked on a small tour to some theaters in the US. 12 years later, that tour was still running and had become one of the longest-running, off-Broadway tours in American theater history. During the lockdown in 2020, she came up with her first streaming show while refilling her breakfast vodka as she was trying to homeschool her kids. “Dixie’s Happy Hour” ran in 26 cities over the first few months of 2021. After 22 months of being forced to be with her kids full-time, which was about the meanest thing anyone has ever done to her by the way, she decided it was time to emerge from the trailer to share all the things that she learned when the world was flipped over and life took a crap on the front lawn with her new show, “Cherry Bombs and Bottle Rockets.”

I had the chance to catch up with our favorite Tupperware pusher, Dixie Longate ahead of the final stop in Madison as plans and directions change. We can catch her 6/27 at the Overture. We get into what she thinks it is about her and Madison, WI that always seems to jive when we all get together. She reminds the newbies about just what this show she brings is all about. We do cover what is in the future that changes her touring around and stopping thru many places around the country – hint, the show goes on, just she will have a home base for us to go to and she does let us know the things she will miss about coming…to towns and spaces all over. Always a pleasure and joy to speak with Dixie and this time is no different. So, Join the party in Madison and help Dixie meet her final sales quotas!

Father Son by Nathan & Noah East

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Internationally renowned legendary bassist Nathan East & rising star pianist son Noah release stunning debut recording, ‘FATHER SON’ with special friends Eric Clapton, Hubert Laws. Merry Clayton, Seiko Matsuda, Billy Valentine, Jack Lee, Greg Phillinganes & more. With inspiring originals and beautifully re-imagined classics, FATHER SON, released April 18,2025 marks the debut collaboration by legendary bassist Nathan East and his wunderkind 24-year-old pianist/organist son Noah. The album which captures the intimacy of the jazz duo & trio format, infused with the powerful spirit of rhythm & blues was recorded at the legendary EastWest Studios in Los Angeles by GRAMMY®-winning engineer & producer Moogie Canazio. With the release of ‘FATHER SON’, Nathan & Noah showcase their rich interplay and chemistry and join an illustrious group of many famous musician fathers and their sons across all genres of music, including Ringo & Jake Starkey, Bob & Jakob Dylan, Joshua & Dewey Redmond, the Marsalis family, and Bob & Ziggy Marley, among many others. Nathan brings his signature grooves, fluid runs and deep musicality to the project. For Noah, this is a powerful introduction to the jazz world, highlighting his soulful touch on piano and masterful command of the Hammond B3. Together they create a sound that is heartfelt & electrifying.

More about Nathan East:

GRAMMY nominated bassist Nathan East, credited on more than 2,000 recordings, is recognized as one of the most recorded musicians in Popular Music, R&B Soul, Rock & Jazz. He is a founding member of contemporary jazz supergroup Fourplay and is known for his musical collaborations with such artists as Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Anita Baker, Quincy Jones, Beyoncé, Babyface, Elton John & Daft Punk with Nathan’s bass line driving the worldwide hit song “Get Lucky”. East co-wrote Easy Lover with Phil Collins & Philip Bailey earning him Britain’s prestigious Ivor Novello Award. In 2014 Nathan released his debut album on the Yamaha Entertainment Group label which went to #1 on the Billboard Jazz Charts and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. His 2nd solo album “Reverence” (2017) which reached #1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz charts featured Chick Corea, Yolanda Adams, Earth, Wind & Fire, Hubert Laws, Eric Clapton & Phil Collins. Mr. East, a graduate of UC San Diego with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music was honored by The United States Congress with a Congressional Record for his contribution to the worldwide music community.

More about Noah East:

At 24, Noah East is an accomplished touring and session pianist & organist. Noah displayed exceptional talent from the young age of 4, when he began playing the piano after his parents discovered he had perfect pitch. At 13, he made his professional debut as a featured keyboardist on his father’s GRAMMY-nominated solo album. His musical journey has taken him to prestigious venues worldwide including the Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul, S. Korea, the iconic Tokyo Blue Note Jazz Club, and numerous Jazz Festivals around the globe. Noah recently signed to Yamaha Corporation as an Artist, and has performed, recorded, & collaborated with: Steve Ferrone, Greg Phillinganes, Hubert Laws, Shania Twain, David Foster, Randy Brecker, Rome Ramirez, Seiko Matsuda and is also a member of the Cream of Clapton Band. Noah earned a Business Degree from The Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley.

I had the complete pleasure of getting some time with Mr. Nathan East and Son, Noah to dive ear first into their brand new album, Father Son, which is out now on Eastern Star Media/TruSpace. We went seed to flower on how the idea to do this project took shape, going way back to Noah’s work on his dad’s first solo record, to the feelings of this project being complete and free into the world. We take time to sorta dissect a couple of reinterpreted tracks (‘Yesterday’ & ‘Hard Times’), Of course, I cannot hold back on how these songs make me feel deep inside, as well as the way a new song gets born. The example chosen by Nathan from the new record is ‘Utopianoah’. As usual, I cannot hold back from letting them know how this song makes me feel deep down in/on the soul-sides. I certainly am/was interested in how these songs will feel play in a live setting, and they do have a special Performance Wednesday, June 18, in Los Angeles at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill & Jazz, so we got into what that could look like. We concluded with both sharing something about the other that still amazes them. To me, these two cats are each down to Earth, cool and enjoying being able to work/play toGether has cleared new paths into the future.

Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead

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Under the direction of Jason Moran, the Kennedy Center artistic director for Jazz, Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead is an international two-week jazz residency performance and composition project discovering and presenting the next generation of jazz greats. Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead identifies outstanding, emerging jazz artist-composers (in their mid-teens to age 25) and brings them together under the tutelage of experienced artist-instructors who coach and counsel them, helping to polish their performance, composing, and arranging skills. The 2 week residency program—for which there is no tuition or application fee—includes daily workshops and rehearsal with established jazz artists and culminates in three concerts in the Kennedy Center Justice Forum, which will be live streamed. The Kennedy Center will provide participants with lodging at a local hotel and per diem to cover meal expenses. Betty Carter, who possessed one of this era’s most extraordinary voices, was devoted to jazz education. Her Jazz Ahead program, which she brought to the Kennedy Center in 1998, has helped launch the careers of several of today’s stars, including Cyrus Chestnut, Kendrick Scott, Jason Moran, Jazzmeia Horn, Nate Smith, Arco Iris Sandoval, and Matthew Whitaker, among others. Open your ears and reflect into the future.

Feel Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few

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Isaiah Collier is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, model, curator, activist, motivational speaker and all around cool cat. He may be most known for his saxophone work. He has studied and learned from many of the masters such as Coltrane, Mitchell, Shorter and one can feel and hear his approach is drawn from these influences. As with so many of the great improvisers, he works without a net and crosses all sorts of boundaries that may be drawn. He has worked all over the globe with artists like Chance the Rapper, Waddada Leo Smith, Carl Allen, Paul Rogers, Bernie Maupin, Rudy Van Gelder and many more visionaries. He has played his music and shared his stories at many of the favorite festivals and clubs as he continues to grow and learn with and from. The sometimes untold tales, or hoped to be forgotten tales of the past collide with the now of today and the what if of tomorrow(s) seems to be where Isaiah lives. While he is best known perhaps for his work within Isaish Collier & The Chosen Few, it is very easy to tell how his singularity of voice is one to be listened to, reflected upon and fed to become complete.

I had the honor of reconnecting with Isiah once aGain as he prepare to being a new look Chosen Few to play the Terrace on June 14th for the 2025 Madison Jazz Festival. We talk about showing up at the event with yourself as a blank slate, without expectations and let the sound(s) and rhythms take away the every day all thats that we all get overcome by. I made sure to have him give roll call with a little flip to the backside of the baseball card on who is coming with him to Madison. So, I already feel closer to those who’ll be providing the colors for my easel. This is one powerhouse of an ensemble. We went seed to flower on his latest (Late 2024) release, ‘The World Is On Fire‘, which certainly allows for more meaning with each new listen. We talked about his ‘Story Of 400 Years‘ project which is a musical & multimedia production that explores the history of Black people in North America, starting with the Transatlantic slave trade and continuing through pivotal moments in Black American history. One of the more (and it all was) thrilling part of this conversation was time spent talking about what he gets to be a part of as a Steve Jobs Archive Fellow which led us into him exploring sounds in new ways and shapes while being able to listen to and learn from diverse talents. There so much goodness in this conversation, just as I know will happen in Madison on June 14th and anywhere else Mr. Isaiah Collier will be joining in.

photo by: Johanna Brinckman

Talkin’ Quantum Blues With Mr. Jamaaladeen Tacuma

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Ropeadope presents Quantum Blues featuring Tisziji Muñoz, Paul Shaffer, Will Calhoun, & Jamaaladeen Tacuma AKA: The Quantum Blues Quartet. This serendipitous one of its kind meeting between 4 musicians with life-long accomplishments occurred in New York in 2024. The result is Quantum Blues, a work that takes the listener by the hand on a journey of true musical exploration. It is evident that the artists are dealing with & transmitting much more than just music, they are investigating their own emotion & understanding of the world and communicating the process directly to us. In a world of quickly digestible tracks, Quantum Blues stands like a complex novel of the human experience. I had the honor of catching up with Mr. Jamaaladeen Tacuma to discuss this project. Here’s a little about him to get your mind’s working. Artist, producer, musician & composer Jamaaladeen Tacuma spent his youth in Philadelphia where he received a world class music education from the many Jazz musicians living there and has since traveled the world as a renowned and supremely versatile master of the electric bass guitar. In the 1970’s, when he was just a teen, his creatively funky free approach caught the ear of saxophonist Ornette Coleman and he became a member of Coleman’s Prime Time Band. His work is heard on some of Coleman’s historic recordings: “Dancing In Your Head & “Of Human Feelings.” Tacuma has since lent his bona fides as a jazz force to the work of Grover Washington Jr, Archie Shepp, Gary Bartz, Max Roach, James Carter, David Murray… As band leader he has produced over 25 studio albums with 120 original compositions and has appeared on countless albums as a producer, band leader & soloist. As his career evolved, he found himself right at home in music no matter the genre. Whether it be R&B, Soul, World Music, Classical, Hip-hop, Pop, Country, Experimental or a cross cultural collaboration with a classical symphony, opera’s, Turkish music Ensembles, Alpine brass band, Korean Samul Nori drum ensemble & Moroccan Gnaoua groups. He has lent his one of kind bass flavor to projects with Wiilhelmenia Fernandez, Sheryl Crow, Bob Weir, Dave Mathews, Jason Isbell, The Roots, Marc Ribot, Brad Paisley, Jeff Beck, Derek Bailey, Carlos Santana, Burhan Ocal, DJ Logic, among others. He is a standing member of Super Soul Banned, a group assembled by Rolling Stone’s drummer Steve Jordan, rubbing shoulders with the glitterati at the annual Fox Gala (Michael J. Fox’s annual fundraiser for Parkinson’s research). He has even toured/collaborated with the legendary Australian kids music group The Wiggles. Jamaal believes that music has the profound ability to be a bridge across cultures that unites humanity and has recorded, performed & collaborated with musicians on nearly every continent. He works as a music ambassador elevating the art form and shining a light on Philadelphia as an epicenter of black music culture. In the past decade Tacuma has been recognized for his Artist Excellence with numerous awards & accolades including The Marcus Garvey Foundation 50th Anniversary Award, The Pew Arts & Heritage Fellowship, Philadelphia’s Benny Golson Award & Liberty Bell Medal, Jazz Journalist Association “Philadelphia Jazz Hero Award” & South Arts Creative Residency Grant, Mid Atlantic Arts International Artist. In 2024 he became culture Ambassador for The Third Way Cultural Alliance, and he continues to engage old and new fans on tour, produce and record and teach masterclass workshops worldwide from his current home base in Philadelphia.

During my conversation with Jamaal, we got into how the stars aligned to get these 4 talents together and how they each shaped a moment in time with a groove and kinship that should come with sunglasses. The music is a piece of each – not only them but it has parts of/for us as well. Jamaal is very generous with sharing his thoughts and feeling and has the resume to prove it (as seen above), he can fit in anywhere and always stands out with flash & pizazz. He recently went down south to get spend time with our family & Third Way Ambassador Todd Clouser brought together key musicians from Mexico and South America to express the vibrant music and arts scene emerging in Mexico City. This week long exploration of music & culture saw Jamaal appear with local musicians at Jazzatlan for two nights of music and panel discussions about the role of music in bridging cultures. Rehearsals and recording sessions will allow musicians time and space to open dialogues and create music together. You see what is meant by building bridges – these folks here. Before we said farewell, he did drop a little nugget mentioning that he is producing friend of the program, Mr. Marshall Allen‘s new album 101 an Audio Odyssey’. This was one of those dream come true conversations for me. Check it out so you can get some of that feeling too.