The Tonearm

Today, the Spotlight shines On organist, composer, and sound artist Hampus Lindwall.Hampus started as a guitarist who cut his teeth copying Steve Vai solos but who now sits behind a 78-stop church organ. He has been the organist at Saint-Esprit in Paris since 2005, but his latest album, Brace for Impact, throws tradition out the window. Recorded on a massive organ in Düsseldorf with guitarist Stephen O'Malley, this music draws on everything from experimental music pioneer Xenakis to heavy metal and more.Hampus takes us through this remarkable project, sharing how a Swedish metalhead became one of the most adventurous voices in contemporary organ music.If you enjoyed this episode, check out our discussion with Terence Hannum from earlier this year, or our 2024 interview with Hainbach, or even 2023’s with Brandon Seabrook, all available on spotlightonpodcast.com.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Hampus Lindwall’s new album Brace for Impact)–Dig DeeperVisit Hampus Lindwall at hampuslindwall.com and follow him on Instagram and BlueskyPurchase Hampus Lindwall's Brace for Impact from Ideologic Organ, Bandcamp, or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choiceDig 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 Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're putting The Tonearm's needle on pianist and composer Noah Franche-Nolan.Noah's latest album, Rose-Anna, is named after his Acadian great-grandmother, a church organist from Grand Falls, New Brunswick. The Acadians are French-speaking people with deep roots in Canada's Maritime provinces. The Acadians were expelled from their land by the British in the late 1700s and many of them migrated south to Louisiana where they became known by their more famous name, the Cajuns. Noah’s family connection runs deep through the record and he even plays organ on two tracks, honoring the woman who sparked his musical heritage.The album pairs him with bassist Jodi Proznick and drummer Nicholas Bracewell in a trio that displays deftness with groove-driven chops, tender hymns and free exploration. The music conjures thoughts of home, family, and what gets passed down through generations.Noah's also one half of Arid Landscapes, an ambient electroacoustic project with guitarist Dan Pitt, that takes a totally different approach—live looping, processing, and soundscapes that feel vast and open. My November 2024 talk with Dan for The Tonearm is linked in the show notes.Noah and I talk about both projects, his work as a church music director in Vancouver, and what it means to make music that honors the past while pushing into new territory.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Noah Franche-Nolan's album Rose-Anna)–Dig Deeper• Artist and Albums:Visit Noah Franche-Nolan at noahfranche-nolanmusic.com and follow him on InstagramPurchase Noah Franche-Nolan's Rose-Anna from Bandcamp or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choiceNoah Franche-Nolan on All About JazzVancouver Guardian profile• Arid Landscapes (duo with Dan Pitt):Arid Landscapes released September 2025, available on BandcampDan Pitt — official siteDan Pitt on BandcampBetween the Lines of Dan Pitt's 'Horizontal Depths' (The Tonearm)• Collaborators and Ensembles:Jodi Proznick — bassist, Noah Franche-Nolan TrioNicholas Bracewell — drummer, Noah Franche-Nolan TrioRaagaverse — JUNO-nominated Indo-jazz fusion quartet led by Shruti RamaniShruti Ramani — vocalist and bandleader, RaagaverseJaya (Raagaverse debut album) on BandcampNick Fraser — Toronto drummer and University of Toronto faculty; Noah's former teacher• Recording Labels:Cellar Music Group — Vancouver label founded by Cory Weeds; 2023 Grammy Award winnerCory Weeds — Cellar Music Group founder and artistic directorFrankie's Jazz Club — Vancouver jazz venue run by Cory Weeds (Rose-Anna release show venue)• Film Scoring:Häxan (1922) — Swedish-Danish silent horror essay film directed by Benjamin ChristensenThe Cinematheque — Vancouver independent film institute that commissioned Noah's live score for Häxan• Educational Institutions:Vancouver Community College (VCC) — where Noah teaches jazz pianoVSO School of Music — Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's school; Noah teaches in Jazz and Classical Theory/CompositionUniversity of Toronto, Faculty of Music — where Noah and Dan Pitt studied jazz• Venues and Spaces:The Tranzac — Toronto's not-for-profit community arts venue; central to the city's improvised music sceneBrentwood Presbyterian Church — Burnaby; where Noah serves as coordinator of musicking and where Arid Landscapes was partly recorded–Dig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com–• 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 podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn. • Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re putting The Tonearm's needle on author and behavioral scientist Michael Hallsworth.Michel has spent the last two decades applying behavioral science to real-world problems at the Behavioural Insights Team. He's held positions at Princeton, Columbia, Imperial College London, and the University of Pennsylvania.Michael's new book, The Hypocrisy Trap, takes on something we all recognize instantly but rarely understand: why we're so quick to spot hypocrisy in others yet are blind to it in ourselves. He shows how our hunt for inconsistency has become a weapon in politics and daily life, one that actually breeds more of what it tries to eliminate. The book reveals why some hypocrisy might be unavoidable in functioning democracies, and how our relentless attacks on it can backfire in dangerous ways.We talk about double standards, the psychology behind moral accusations, and why the most authentic-seeming politicians might be the most deceptive. Michael explains how we can tell the difference between hypocrisy that harms society and the everyday compromises that allow us to function together.–Dig DeeperGuest and BooksVisit Michael Hallsworth at michaelhallsworth.comPurchase Michael Hallsworth's The Hypocrisy Trap: How Changing What We Criticize Can Improve Our Lives from MIT Press, Penguin Random House, Bookshop, Barnes and Noble, or AmazonMichael Hallsworth and Elspeth Kirkman's Behavioral Insights from MIT PressConnect with Michael Hallsworth on LinkedInBehavioral Scientist column by Michael HallsworthOrganizations and InstitutionsThe Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) - World-leading organization applying behavioral science in support of social purpose goalsDr. Michael Hallsworth at BITMaster of Behavioral and Decision Sciences Program at University of PennsylvaniaImperial College LondonColumbia UniversityPrinceton UniversityKey Concepts and ResearchBehavioral economics and public policy - Michael Hallsworth's Google Scholar profileNature Human Behaviour - Journal featuring Hallsworth's researchJournal of Public EconomicsThe LancetHistorical and Philosophical ReferencesHannah Arendt's On Revolution - Analysis of the French and American RevolutionsHannah Arendt on hypocrisy and the Reign of Terror - "Robespierre's war upon hypocrisy transformed the 'despotism of liberty' into the Reign of Terror"The French Revolution Reign of Terror - Historical contextMaximilien Robespierre - Key figure in the French RevolutionPolitical Examples DiscussedBoris Johnson's COVID-19 party scandal - The "Partygate" scandal discussed in the episodeBrexit and UK politicsRelated Reading"Our Hypocrisy Blind Spot" by Michael Hallsworth - Essay in Behavioral Scientist"The Future of Behavioral Insights Demands Human-Centered Design" - Hallsworth and Kirkman on behavioral scienceHannah Arendt quotes on hypocrisy - "What makes it so plausible to assume that hypocrisy is the vice of vices is that integrity can indeed exist under the cover of all other vices except this one"-Dig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com–• 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 podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're putting The Tonearm's needle on John Mlynczak, President and CEO of the National Association of Music Merchants.NAMM is the trade association for the music, sound, and event industries. Basically, NAMM represents the companies that make the tools your favorite music artists use to create their work.John has spent years at Hal Leonard and PreSonus Audio, where music education meets technology. He built curricula, managed platforms, and taught teachers how to use tech in their classrooms.Now he runs an organization that's rethinking what a trade show means when the music industry has gone digital. NAMM just celebrated its 125th anniversary, but John isn't interested in nostalgia. He's asking harder questions about how people discover instruments, how they learn to play them, and why gathering in person still matters when you can order anything online. The NAMM Show draws tens of thousands of people to Anaheim every January (this January 20 - 24, to be exact), and the numbers behind those crowds tell a story about content, influence, and how musicians connect with gear today.We talk about John’s shift from teaching in Louisiana to shaping industry strategy, why music advocacy needs to be offensive rather than defensive, and what happens when trade shows have to prove their value in real time.–Dig DeeperGuest and Organization:Visit NAMM at namm.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedInJohn Mlynczak's NAMM ProfileThe NAMM Show 2026 - January 23-25, Anaheim, CaliforniaNAMM Show Registration and App InformationEducational Background and Previous Roles:Virginia Commonwealth University - Bachelor of Music EducationLouisiana State University - Master's degrees in Music Performance and Education LeadershipHal Leonard - Music publishing and educationPreSonus Audio - Audio technology and recording equipmentNoteflight - Online music notation softwareMusic Education Organizations:Technology Institute for Music Educators (TI:ME)Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA)NAMM FoundationSupportMusic CoalitionNAfME (National Association for Music Education)Music Technology Tools Mentioned:GarageBand - Apple's music creation softwareCubase - Digital audio workstationEssential Elements Interactive - Music education platformNAMM Events and Awards:She Rocks Awards - Celebrating women in musicParnelli Awards - Honoring live event professionalsNAMM U - Educational programming and resourcesPerformance Groups:MetWinds - John's current performance ensembleMusical Reference:Alexander Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto - The piece John performed as a cocky freshmanIndustry Research and Reports:NAMM Industry Insights - Music products industry dataTrade Show Executive - Conference John mentioned attending–• Dig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com–• 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 podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're putting The Tonearm's needle on Patricia Brennan, a vibraphonist and composer who grew up in Veracruz, Mexico, playing salsa with her dad while listening to Hendrix and Zeppelin with her mom. She studied classical percussion at the Curtis Institute, performed with Yo-Yo Ma and the Philadelphia Orchestra, then found her voice and career in jazz and improvisation.Patricia’s latest album, Of The Near And Far, takes constellations from the summer sky and turns them into music. She superimposes the circle of fifths over star patterns to generate pitches, then turns them into compositions that reflect a voice as unique as the compositional approach. Patricia’s ten-piece ensemble features a jazz quintet, a string quartet, and an electronic musician, all conducted by Eli Greenhoe. Hot on the heels of her 2024 release, Breaking Stretch, which won Album of the Year and Vibraphonist of the Year in the DownBeat Critics Poll, Patricia's here to talk about finding symmetry between the cosmos and composition, why she carries a telescope wherever she goes, and how ancient myths and modern astronomy shape her work.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Patricia Brennan's album Of The Near And Far)–Dig DeeperArtist and AlbumVisit Patricia Brennan at patriciabrennanvibes.com and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTubePurchase Patricia Brennan's Of The Near And Far from Pyroclastic Records, Bandcamp, or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choicePatricia Brennan's acclaimed 2024 album Breaking Stretch on Pyroclastic RecordsEducational InstitutionsCurtis Institute of Music – Philadelphia conservatory where Patricia studied classical percussionYouth Orchestra of the Americas – Continental ensemble Patricia joined at age seventeenCollaborators and Ensemble MembersSylvie Courvoisier, pianistMiles Okazaki, guitaristKim Cass, bassistJohn Hollenbeck, drummer and composerKyle Armbrust, violistArktureye (Noel Brennan) – Electronic musician and Patricia's duo partner in MOCHEli Greenhoe, conductorMusical Influences and ReferencesKeiko Abe – Japanese marimbist who transformed the instrumentRadiohead – In RainbowsErik Satie – "Gnossienne No. 1"Glenn Gould performing BachPhilip Glass – String QuartetsGyörgy Ligeti – AtmosphèresGrachan Moncur III – Evolution featuring Bobby HutchersonKid Koala – Canadian turntablistEighth Blackbird – Contemporary chamber music ensembleFania All-Stars – Legendary salsa supergroupComposers MentionedTōru Takemitsu – Japanese composerIannis Xenakis – Greek-French composerKarlheinz Stockhausen – German composerEdgard Varèse – French-American composerJohn Cage – American experimental composerSteve Reich – American minimalist composerDavid Lang – Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, Bang on a Can co-founderAstronomical ReferencesAndromeda Galaxy (M31) – Nearest major galaxy to the Milky WayCircle of fifths – Music theory concept used in Patricia's compositional systemConstellation guide – Reference for the star patterns inspiring the albumNASA's Sounds of Space – Astronomical recordings translated into audio–Dig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com–• 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 podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn. • Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're putting The Tonearm's needle on drummer Phil Haynes.Since moving to New York from Oregon in 1983, Phil's played on scores of recordings with artists like Anthony Braxton and David Liebman. Phil has joined me once already, in March 2024, to discuss his memoir, Chasing the Masters: First Takes of a Modernist Drumming Artist.Phil’s with me today to discuss his band Free Country, which takes American roots music and runs it through their particular jazz lens, using cello, guitar, bass, and drums to create something called "jazz-grass."Their new album Liberty Now! did not set out to be political. Phil planned for the group to record original compositions, a departure from their previous work. But then the last US Presidential election happened. And then the band got word of the passing of their trumpeter, Herb Robertson, as they walked into the studio. The music and the plan changed. Phil paired the new recordings with songs from Free Country's catalog into a double album that runs from Revolutionary War tunes to "What a Wonderful World."Phil's here to talk about grief, protest, making art when the ground shifts under you, and one of my favorite topics: the role of music in addressing contemporary political and social challenges.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Phil Haynes & Free Country's album Liberty Now! )–Dig Deeper• Artist and Album:Visit Phil Haynes at philhaynes.com and on BandcampPurchase Phil Haynes & Free Country's Liberty Now! from Corner Store Jazz or BandcampPhil Haynes' memoir: Chasing the Masters: First Takes of a Modern Drumming ArtistPhil Haynes' March 2024 appearance on The Tonearm Podcast• Free Country Band Members:Hank Roberts, cellist/vocalistDrew Gress, bassistJim Yanda, guitarist• Free Country Discography:Shenandoah (1997) - pre-1900 American musicWay the West Was Won (2002) - early 20th century Americana'60/'69: My Favorite Things (2014) - music of the 1960sSomething Beatles (2013) - live Beatles covers• Herb Robertson:Herb Robertson tributePhil Haynes & Herb Robertson: Ritual (2000)herbrobertson.com• Influences and Mentors:Paul Smoker, trumpeterDavid Liebman, saxophonistElvin Jones - Merry-Go-Round album• Historical and Musical References:Max Roach - We Insist! Freedom Now Suite (1960)Max Roach Freedom Now Suite analysisJohn Coltrane - A Love Supreme (recorded December 9, 1964)Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile, Edgar Meyer - The Goat Rodeo Sessions–Dig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com–• 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 podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're putting The Tonearm's needle on violinist and composer Bryan Senti.Bryan Senti won a BAFTA for scoring the BBC series Mood. He's composed for films since 2015 and worked with artists like Regina Spektor and Mark Ronson. But his new album La Marea tells a different story—his father's story.La Marea takes Cuban migration and turns it into sound. His previous album, 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 La Marea)–Dig DeeperVisit Bryan Senti at bryansenti.comFollow Bryan Senti on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and YouTubePurchase Bryan Senti's La Marea from Bandcamp or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choiceBryan Senti's previous album ManuDustin O'Halloran - composer and collaboratorFrancesco Donadello - mixer, Synecdoche Music ResearchJustin Moshkevich - co-producer, Igloo MusicSpencer Zahn - bassist, 'Quiet in a World Full of Noise'Noah Hoffeld - cellistRrose - techno artistCzech National Symphony OrchestraAndrea Franco - video directorDig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com–• 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 podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 DeeperArtist Listen to The Tonearm Podcast with Nels Cline at thetonearm.com and wherever you get your podcastsVisit Nels Cline at nelscline.com and follow him on Instagram and FacebookPodcast and HostsGet more episodes of Wilco Will Love You here and your podcast platform of choiceFind Mary MacLane Mellas on Instagram and Meredith Hobbs Coons on her websiteKey Groups and Projects MentionedWilco - Nels Cline has been guitarist since 2004The Nels Cline Singers - long-running experimental projectNels Cline 4 - featuring Julian Lage, Scott Colley, and Tom RaineyConsentrik Quartet - with Ingrid Laubrock, Chris Lightcap, and Tom Rainey on Blue Note Records–• 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 podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 DeeperVisit Graham St. John's website at EdgecentralGraham St. John - Senior Research Fellow at University of HuddersfieldPurchase Strange Attractor: The Hallucinatory Life of Terence McKenna from MIT Press or BookshopLos Angeles Review of Books review of Strange AttractorLucid News review - "Genius and Delusion in Terence McKenna's Life"McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy - Founded and led by Dennis McKennaPurdue University - Betsy Gordon Psychoactive Substances Research Collection - Contains McKenna archive materials donated by Dennis McKenna in 2013Klea McKenna's archival project at TerenceMcKenna.comDig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com–• 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 podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 DeeperArtist and AlbumVisit Nels Cline at nelscline.com and follow him on Instagram and FacebookVisit Craig Taborn at craigtaborn.com and follow him on InstagramVisit Marcus Gilmore at drummerslams.com and follow him on InstagramPurchase Trio of Bloom from Bandcamp or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choiceTrio of Bloom on Pyroclastic RecordsCollaborators and ProducerDavid Breskin - producer, poet, and creative catalystKris Davis - founder of Pyroclastic RecordsPyroclastic Records - independent label supporting creative musicKey Groups and Projects MentionedWilco - Nels Cline has been guitarist since 2004The Nels Cline Singers - long-running experimental projectNels Cline 4 - featuring Julian Lage, Scott Colley, and Tom RaineyConsentrik Quartet - with Ingrid Laubrock, Chris Lightcap, and Tom Rainey on Blue Note RecordsCover Songs ReferencedTerje Rypdal - What Comes After (ECM, 1974) - source of "Bend It"Wayne Shorter & Milton Nascimento - Native Dancer (Columbia, 1975) - source of "Diana"Ronald Shannon Jackson & Decoding Society - Eye On You (About Time, 1980) - source of "Nightwhistlers"Original Compositions ReferencedInitiate by Nels Cline Singers (Cryptogramophone, 2010) - source of "Forge" and "King Queen" (which became "Queen King")Marcus Gilmore - "Breath"Craig Taborn - "Unreal Light" and "Why Canada"Nels Cline - "Eye Shadow Eye," "Gone Bust"Free improvisation - "Bloomers"Visual ArtSharon Core - painter whose flower series adorns the albumIrving Penn - photographer whose 1980 'Flowers' series inspired Core's paintingsYancey Richardson Gallery - representing Sharon CoreHistorical ReferencesPower Tools - Bill Frisell, Melvin Gibbs, Ronald Shannon Jackson trio produced by David Breskin (1987)John Zorn's Cobra - game piece and performance systemThe Knitting Factory (original NYC venue) - seminal downtown jazz and experimental music venueNYC Venues MentionedThe Stone - John Zorn's performance spaceRoulette - experimental music venue in BrooklynVillage Vanguard - legendary jazz clubLittlefield - Brooklyn venue (now closed)The Bellhouse - Brooklyn music venueiBeam Music Brooklyn - performance spaceGet MoreDig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com–• 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 podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, Jazz in Marciac 2024)–Dig Deeper• Visit Marcus Roberts at marcusroberts.com • Check out Marcus Roberts' music on Qobuz • Marcus Roberts on Wikipedia • Marcus Roberts - 60 Minutes Profile "The Virtuoso" (2014)• Jason Marsalis - drummer in Marcus Roberts Trio and The Modern Jazz Generation • Rodney Jordan - bassist in Marcus Roberts Trio • The Modern Jazz Generation - Roberts' 12-piece ensemble founded in 2012• Dig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com–• 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 podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn. • Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show NotesNed Rothenberg just released his first solo album in thirteen years, Looms & 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 & Legends)–Dig DeeperArtist and AlbumVisit Ned Rothenberg at nedrothenberg.com and follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and BandcampPurchase Ned Rothenberg's Looms & Legends from Pyroclastic Records, Bandcamp, or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choiceNed Rothenberg - Extended BiographyDig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com–• 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 podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn. • Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we're putting The Tonearm's needle on saxophonist and composer 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, Vanguardia Subterránea - 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 Vanguardia Subterránea)–Dig DeeperArtist and AlbumVisit Miguel Zenón at miguelzenon.com and follow him on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and BandcampPurchase Miguel Zenón Quartet's Vanguardia Subterránea: Live at The Village Vanguard from Bandcamp or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choiceMiguel Zenón Quartet MembersLuis Perdomo (piano) - Visit luisperdomojazz.comHans Glawischnig (bass) - Visit hansglawischnig.comHenry Cole (drums) - Visit henry-cole.com–• 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 podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're putting The Tonearm's needle on bassist and composer 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, 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 Strange Heaven)–Dig DeeperVisit Linda May Han Oh at lindamayhanoh.com and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and BandcampPurchase Linda May Han Oh's Strange Heavens from Biophilia Recordings, Bandcamp, or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choiceLinda May Han Oh: Tiny Desk ConcertDig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com–• 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 podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on The Tonearm, we're celebrating the inaugural Jazz Forward Award winners from 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.–Featured Organizations and Award InformationJazz Forward Award Program - All About Jazz recognition of industry trailblazers promoting jazz awareness and cultureJazzWeek - jazzweek.com - Radio airplay tracking for jazz recordings across North AmericaOh! Jazz - ohjazz.com - Live and on-demand streaming platform featuring jazz clubs worldwideSeattle Jazz Fellowship - seattlejazzfellowship.org - Nonprofit venue presenting live jazz in Seattle's Pioneer SquareSligo Jazz Project - sligojazz.ie - Annual summer school and festival in Sligo, IrelandSligo Jazz YouTube Channel - YouTube - Concert footage and festival highlightsDig into this episode's complete show notes at podcast.thetonearm.com–• 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 podcast.thetonearm.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi, this is Lawrence Peryer with a quick update about some exciting changes coming to our show. Spotlight On is now The Tonearm—same name as our online magazine at thetonearm.com. Same conversations with the people and ideas moving culture forward, just a new name and a fresh look. The timing works out: this week marks one year since we launched The Tonearm online.We're also shifting from Thursday to Sunday episode releases. Why Sundays? Thursdays have gotten crowded—it seems like everyone drops new episodes that day. Sundays give us room to breathe, and we like letting our conversations really develop. Sunday feels right for that, when you can actually sit with our guests and let these talks unspool at their own pace.Our first episode as The Tonearm drops this Sunday. After nearly 300 episodes, we're not changing what we do—we're just refining as we go. We've got another surprise in store too. That one you'll hear on Sunday.There's nothing you need to do. New episodes will continue showing up however you're listening now. See you Sunday at The Tonearm, or wherever you like to listen. And as always, thanks for listening. Be safe and stay in touch.–• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of The Tonearm in your podcast app of choice.• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Talk Of The Tonearm email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On composer, trumpeter, and producer Peter Knight.Peter Knight has spent decades working in the spaces between genres and cultures. His latest project brings together 40,000-year-old Indigenous Australian songs with contemporary electroacoustic music through Hand to Earth's new album, the title of which translates as "the scent of home." The record finds Peter collaborating with Indigenous songkeepers Daniel and David Wilfred alongside Korean vocalist Sunny Kim, creating music that honors ancient traditions while pushing into new sonic territory.He's here to walk us through this remarkable collaboration and share how his work with the Australian Art Orchestra shaped his understanding of music as a bridge between worlds.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Hand to Earth's album Ŋurru Wäŋa)–Dig Deeper• Hand to Earth - Contemporary Australian ensembleHand to Earth on Peter Knight's websiteHand to Earth page on Australian Art Orchestra site• Ŋurru Wäŋa (The Scent of Home) - Latest albumAlbum on Room40 BandcampAlbum info on Room40 website• MOKUY - Previous Hand to Earth album (2023)Album on Room40 BandcampAlbum info on Room40 website• Peter Knight - Official Website: peterknightmusic.com• Lawrence English's A Young Person's Guide to Hustling in the Arts• 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 Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn. • Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On David Harrington, founder and violinist of Kronos Quartet.For fifty years, David has led one of the most adventurous musical ensembles on the planet. Kronos has commissioned over 1,100 works, collaborated with everyone from Philip Glass to Nine Inch Nails, and earned three Grammys along the way. Their recent "Hard Rain" project brought together nearly fifty artists worldwide to reimagine Bob Dylan's nuclear-age anthem, while the Library of Congress has just acquired David’s archive.David shares stories from five decades of musical exploration and why he believes musicians must listen to the world and respond with purpose.If you enjoyed this episode, check out my discussions with Dorothy Lawson, Philip Golub, and Lisa Pegher. All three are available on spotlightonpodcast.com.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Kronos Quartet + The Hard Rain Collective’s Hard Rain EP)–Dig DeeperVisit Kronos Quartet at kronosquartet.org and follow them Instagram, Facebook, and YouTubePurchase Kronos Quartet + The Hard Rain Collective’s Hard Rain EP from Bandcamp or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choice.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 Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On guitarist, composer, and producer Jeff Parker.For nearly three decades, Jeff has balanced solo work with his role in the post-rock band Tortoise. His 2016 album The New Breedtakes hip-hop beats and puts them in the hands of live musicians. Named after his late father's clothing store, the album just got the deluxe reissue treatment from International Anthem.He's here to discuss how moving to Los Angeles shaped his sound, why making "identifiably human-made music" matters more than ever, and what it's like transitioning from being the youngest musician in the room to becoming a mentor.If you enjoy this episode, check out our discussions with Josh Johnson, Gordon Grdina, or Daniel Ögren. All are available on spotlightonpodcast.com.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Jeff Parker’s album The New Breed)–Dig DeeperVisit Jeff Parker at jeffparkersounds.comPurchase The New Breed (IA11 Edition) from International Anthem, Bandcamp, or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choice.Jeff Parker's discography on BandcampTortoise - official website and BandcampDig 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 Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On writer Chris O'Leary.Chris has spent over a decade and a half writing what's become the definitive study of David Bowie's songbook. His blog, Pushing Ahead of the Dame, covers every song on every album in Bowie’s extensive canon. The first post from 2009 covers David’s first single, 1964’s “Liza Jane”, and the most recent is about Chris’s latest work, a newly revised edition of Rebel Rebel, a collection of his writings on Bowie songs from 1963 - 1976. Chris has written for Pitchfork, Slate, and Billboard, and he's currently working on an online project called 64 Quartets, a series exploring musical quartets across genres.I previously booked Chris back in 2021 to speak at the Bowie 75 pop-up I produced in New York City. There, he presented on Bowie and Brian Eno's 1995 album Outside.Chris is here to discuss his updated book, what new archival releases have taught us about Bowie's creative process, and why he chose the blog format to tackle one of music's most ambitious projects.If you are interested in more of our episodes touching on the life and work of David Bowie, check out last week’s episode with Donny McCaslin, 2022’s episode with Chris Duffy, or 2021’s episode with David Whitehead.–Dig DeeperChris O'Leary's blog "Pushing Ahead of the Dame"Rebel Rebel: The Songs of David Bowie, 1963-1976 (revised edition, July 2025)Ashes to Ashes: The Songs of David Bowie, 1976-2016Repeater BooksDig 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 Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.