Green Arrow Radio

On a magical night at Nectar’s in Burlington, Vermont in December of 2018, 3 musical masters—Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger & Ray Paczkowski—came together with alchemical synthesis, and created a fresh, so-tight-it’s-free sound, permeated with technical prowess and a deep-pocket punch. The packed house fortunate enough to be in attendance that night witnessed the birth of something very special. The following spring, the trio took the name LaMP by combining the first letters of each members’ surname, and reconvened back in Vermont at Sugarhouse Soundworks for an intense recording session with sound engineer Roger Stauss laying down tracks that would become their eponymous debut EP. Metzger, described by The Village Voice as “…an ace guitarist of a thousand styles,” and a full-time member of the beloved Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, tested the decades-strong synergy between Lawton & Paczkowski forged from their time playing with Trey Anastasio Band and their duo project Soule Monde. It resulted in seven tracks crackling with energy & soul. The melodic & harmonic interplay between Paczkowski’s swirling organ & clavinet dancing with Metzger’s acrobatic melodies on telecaster, driven by Lawton’s unflappable backbeat, produced a record that will stand the test of time. Ever since, as the 3 members busy schedules have allowed, LaMP has prioritized bringing the music to the people with shows across the East Coast. As word has spread and the crowds have grown with each subsequent tour, it’s become clear that LaMP will be a musical force to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future. Last year, LaMP returned with their 2nd studio collection, One Of Us, on Royal Potato Family and the trio distills singular, road-honed improv instincts into taut, instrumental epics. One Of Us, which consists of 10 tracks packed into 35-minutes of kaleidoscopic interplay & club-shifting grooves, is the band’s 1st studio outing since their self-titled debut, released during 2020, and follow’s last year’s double-dose Live At Nectar’s, which was sourced from 2 nights at the storied Burlington, VT institution where the band was born in 2018. While each of the players has extensive experience with other gigs, as well as collaborations with artists like Nels Cline, John Medeski & Anders Osborne, LaMP has hewed its own path. Following their Nectar’s set, the band was hungry to return to the studio to coax to life a fresh batch of tracks. To do so, they decamped to Ben Collette’s Tank Recording Studio in Burlington for a three-day session. At the beginning of 2026, a bandcamp release of a live recording of the album recorded at Tank, in Burlington, VT on 7.18.24 was dropped.

I had the chance to catch up with Russ Lawton ahead of the upcoming LaMP show in Madison at the High Noon Saloon on March 15th. We get into just how those at the event are going to be prepared to get their special kinda groove on. This power groove trio has been selling out shows and building a strong following due to this live experience. We line up how they find the time to combine the talents into this experience and the thrill of this scene and the happiness of the community getting out to share in the vibe. We talk about the latest release, One Of Us, and how it took shape from the building onto a Russ beat and how each member adds their them. Russ builds a setlist around one of these latest tracks and laments about the happiness of sharing a positive experience.

Emmet Cohen is a multifaceted American jazz pianist, composer, & bandleader. Widely recognized for his virtuosity, deep swing, & commitment to intergenerational continuity, he has emerged as a central figure in contemporary jazz—honoring its lineage while actively shaping its future. A recognized prodigy, Cohen began Suzuki-method piano instruction at age three and quickly developed a musical voice marked by clarity, elegance, & intensity. At the heart of Cohen’s work is the belief that jazz is fundamentally about communication and connection—between musicians, audiences, and the generations that carry the music forward. That philosophy found a defining expression during the 2020 lockdown, when Cohen created Live From Emmet’s Place, a weekly livestream series broadcast from his Harlem apartment. Evoking the spirit of historic rent parties while employing sophisticated modern production, the series quickly became a global gathering place for artists & listeners alike, setting a new standard for live internet jazz performance. Across platforms, Emmet’s Place has garnered over 100 million views. What began as an intimate weekly broadcast has since evolved into a far-reaching creative platform. Live From Emmet’s Place now continues from Power Station NYC, expanding its scope while maintaining the immediacy & communal spirit that defined its origins. A Mack Avenue recording artist, Cohen’s releases include Future Stride, Uptown in Orbit & Vibe Provider. These recordings trace a distinctive artistic arc—combining stride, swing, bebop, & modern jazz to create a unique & deeply personal aesthetic. Mr. Cohen has performed in over 40 countries and appeared at many of the world’s most respected venues & festivals, including the Village Vanguard, Birdland, Carnegie Hall, the Newport Jazz Festival & the Monterey Jazz Festival. For many years, he served as Hammond B-3 organist in-residence at Harlem’s SMOKE Jazz Club. He has also participated in International Jazz Day celebrations led by Herbie Hancock, a worldwide broadcast underscoring Cohen’s global presence within the art form. Beyond performance, Emmet plays an active role in shaping the broader jazz ecosystem. He serves as host of The Jazz Cruise and is a member of its programming team, and he has been chosen as Artistic Partner of the 2027 American Piano Awards—significant roles that reflect his ongoing investment in artistic leadership and the long-term vitality of the music. Cohen’s honors include winning the 2019 American Piano Awards and being named DownBeat Readers Poll Pianist of the Year (2025). In 2023, he was honored by the Jazz Journalists Association with 2 awards: Pianist of the Year & Livestream Producer of the Year. He holds a Master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. Through Emmet’s Place, Mr. Cohen has collaborated with hundreds of musicians spanning generations & styles, including Christian McBride, Joshua Redman, Samara Joy, and many of the most important & genre-defining voices in jazz today. Central to the project is a commitment to fostering young talent and advancing the next generation of jazz artists—placing emerging musicians on the bandstand alongside masters and creating space for mentorship, discovery & artistic growth. His dedication to lineage is further embodied in his ongoing Masters Legacy Series, a landmark collection of recordings, live performances & interviews honoring legendary jazz musicians. Serving as both producer/pianist, he’s collaborated with icons including Jimmy Cobb, Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Tootie Heath, George Coleman & Houston Person. The series functions as a living dialogue across generations, preserving jazz’s oral tradition while actively extending it into the present.

I had the pleasure of spending a little time with Mr. Coehn ahead of the February 28 event in Madison at the Wisconsin Union Theater. We get into the event: Emmet Cohen: “Miles and Coltrane at 100” featuring Jeremy Pelt & Tivon Pennicott. Emmet has gained a reputation for connecting with audiences through his artistry and commitment to intergenerational exchange. With the Emmet Cohen Trio plus special guests Tivon Pennicott and Jeremy Pelt, he celebrates the centennial of perhaps the two greatest names in jazz history: Miles Davis and John Coltrane. The ensemble gives their slant on the legacy of the two jazz greats in a concert sure to be warmly familiar and also something entirely new. We also touch on the soon to be released Universal Truth, if he ever (or more like have you ever) felt like you are in a piece of history and he even builds a setlist around one of the upcoming new tracks. Mr. Cohen is an individual who is always adding more and more space onto the bridge that connects people of all kinds. He understand where he comes from, how to capture the moment while he attempts to find more shining starts for the future.