The Playful Musician

Miguel Zenón joins me on The Playful Musician. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico and living in New York City Miguel is a Grammy Winner, Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow, and a Doris Duke Artist.Growing up in San Juan, Miguel Zenón originally thought he would study engineering, but during his senior year of high school he was drawn to jazz, much to his family’s surprise. With no musicians in his family, the transition was stressful, and he describes it as a leap of faith. Today Miguel is a Grammy-winning saxophonist, composer, and educator, recognized as a true alto saxophone legend. He is releasing his eighteenth album, and his first live recording, Vanguardia Subterránea: Live at The Village Vanguard.Described as “one of the most esteemed and singular-voiced alto saxophonists in jazz,” it is an honor to interview Miguel. We discuss his Tiny Desk Concert, his path from classical to jazz saxophone and back again, the culture shock of leaving Puerto Rico to study at the Berklee College of Music, and how he has kept his quartet together creating music for more than 20 years.His new album, released the same day this podcast airs, captures what it feels like to perform on the sacred ground of the Village Vanguard. It is more than a tribute to the Vanguard. It honors the foundation of music itself, the people who paved the way for Miguel to be where he is today, and the groundwork he is now laying for those who will follow.

Filipino-American saxophonist and composer Jon Irabagon joins the ranks of legendary saxophonists sharing their stories on The Playful Musician. Born in Chicago, Irabagon studied at DePaul University before moving to New York City to earn his master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music, followed by postgraduate studies at Juilliard. He has taught on four continents and is currently on the faculty at the University of Illinois Chicago, where he teaches jazz saxophone, directs combos, and leads courses in jazz history.Jon’s story begins in the Windy City, a place that shaped and molded his unique, evolving expression on the alto saxophone. His parents had emigrated from the Philippines in search of a place where they could find work, start a family, and feel accepted in a new country. Irabagon’s sweeping career is like hearing the American Dream set to the brassy, warm tones of the alto sax.With his newest album, Someone to Someone, from his label Irabbagast Records debuting today August 15 we sit down to discuss how he went from being a little kid too small to carry a saxophone to the bus stop to become one of Time Out’s “25 Essential New York City Jazz Icons” and one of my personal favorite alto sax players.In this episode, we discuss why he started his own label and his theory on releasing albums authentically, his insights from private lessons with Dick Oatts and Dave Liebman, his teaching philosophies and techniques (covering everything from goal setting to social media), how he landed a gig with Billy Joel simply by asking the right question, and his dream of one day releasing an album featuring all nine saxophones he owns and plays.Jon’s passion for music and his ability to cut straight to the heart of what it means to be a working musician will leave you inspired and ready to stream his music.

Lafayette Gilchrist is a keyboardist, composer, and the newest piano chair in the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra.In this episode, Gilchrist shares his story of growing up in Washington, DC, and what led him at age 17 to finally sit down at a piano and begin teaching himself to play and compose. He describes how his early love of hip-hop, funk, and go-go evolved into a passion for jazz, sparked by Chuck Brown’s riffs and inflections woven into the popular music of the time. After earning a degree in economics, Gilchrist left college to begin his professional life but also launched his band, spending hours in music stores selecting jazz albums purely by their cover art.His is a story of individualism and discovery, a reminder that there is no single path to virtuosity or success in music. Like many professional musicians, he understands the many roles required to build a career and his journey offers inspiration to musicians of all ages.

Fulfilling the unrealized aspiration of his paternal grandfather to become a conductor, Roberto Kalb’s early life was shaped by supportive parents, teachers, and mentors, combined with unrelenting drive and courage.Where many might have shied away from the pursuit, Roberto carved his own path. His journey to becoming a composer and conductor, with a biography that reads like a travel guide through the Midwest, is marked by bold opportunity-taking and the determination to create new milestones within an institution often viewed as rigid in its traditions.Roberto moves with lightness, joy, and genuine encouragement for his peers and fellow artists. This episode will leave you eager to spend an evening on The Hill at Britt, sipping wine and enjoying the beautiful life journey that brought Roberto Kalb from a kid in Mexico to Southern Oregon’s verdant Applegate Valley, baton in hand.

In this episode I sit down with Tibi Cziger, clarinetist, founder, and Artistic Director of the Israeli Chamber Project before his visit and performance with the Chamber Music Concert December 4th in Ashland, Oregon. The Israeli Chamber Project consists of strings, winds, harp, and piano. They were named the winner of the 2011 Israeli Ministry of Culture Outstanding Ensemble Award and 2017 Partos PrizeTibi is the founder, and Artistic Director of the Israeli Chamber Project. It’s been 16 years since their group first debuted, and we sit down to talk about how it came to be. We discuss his love of programming, how he manages a traveling chamber orchestra, including where the harp comes from, “a harp in every port”. It wasn’t always that way, how wanting to include a new composition by a new Israeli composer in each program is a great idea that proved challenging. Of course, speaking with another reed player, we dive into and “nerd out”, on reeds. Tibi’s dreaming spirit, self-starter work ethic and idealism is sure to inspire. 

Carla Ecker, concert violinist, and I sat down in Ashland, Oregon, for a delightful in-person conversation. She has performed with renowned orchestras, including the Sarasota Opera Orchestra, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, El Paso Symphony, and the Phoenix Symphony. Currently residing in Tucson, Carla maintains an active performance schedule across the U.S. and has served as the Concertmaster of the Rogue Valley Symphony for the past eight years.During our conversation, we explore the definition of a Concertmaster and delve into this fascinating and vital role within an orchestra. Carla shares her experience working with Martin Majkut, Music Director of the Rogue Valley Symphony and a friend of the podcast. She explains how the collaboration between the Conductor and Concertmaster is essential for creating an efficient and effective orchestral environment—one that, when successful, elevates the music to extraordinary levels.Carla’s natural grace and leadership make her a perfect fit for the role of Concertmaster. We also discuss the challenges she has faced and overcome in her life, as she has continually sought opportunities and refused to let struggles define her. Her perspective on how music can unite us, even during times of deep division, offers a hopeful and uplifting message for citizens of both the United States and the world.


Angela Johnson’s music is rich and funky, featuring smart and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny, soul-baring lyrics. She broke onto the music scene as a member of Cooly's Hot Box, which showcased her unique blend of jazz, soul, and R&B. Johnson then released her first solo album, “They Don't Know,” jumpstarting her solo career and highlighting her production skills. As a singer, songwriter, and producer known for her soulful voice and compelling compositions, she has a soul made for storytelling, and boy does she.I sit down with Angela on the day her latest album, “The Best of Both Worlds,” is released by Reel People Music —a collaboration with Opolopo (AKA Peter Major). We discuss the trials and triumphs of being a female producer, her writing process and inspiration, her attraction to high-vibration music, and her new endeavor of writing scores for films. This episode is packed with her unique playfulness, which you'll find infectious.

I’m grateful to be sitting down once again with Martin Majkut, Music Director of both the Rogue Valley Symphony in Oregon and the Queens Symphony Orchestra in New York. We haven’t spoken since 2020, and there’s much to catch up on.We geek out over Beethoven's 5th Symphony and the ongoing debate about its proper tempo. Martin shares how fatherhood has transformed him as both a person and a conductor, explaining why becoming a father later in life has been ideal for him. We also delve into the aftermath of the pandemic and how it has positively changed both him and the makeup of his orchestra. This conversation, like all my discussions with Martin, is delightful. You'll come away with wisdom to apply to your own path in life and an intimate look at this wonderful composer.

Caity is a two-time Juno Award-winning vocalist from Canada, known for her remarkable musical talent and relentless work ethic. Her voice has an instrumental quality that can hold its own against any saxophone on an improvisational riff. Gyorgy has performed at jazz clubs and festivals across Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the United States, collaborating and recording with incredible musicians, including Christine Jensen, Pat LaBarbera, Jocelyn Gould, Ira Coleman, Bryn Roberts, and Joe LaBarbera, to name a few.Join us as we discuss her ambitious project of transposing 31 songs in 30 days, her ability to write music that feels as if it emerged organically from the 1950s, and how she has honed her writing and improvisational skills to stand out as a young jazz vocalist you'll want to keep an eye on. We also talk about her newly released album Hello! How Are You?, where she brings her joyful spirit and playfulness to these new tracks, and what's next for her career.

Nikka Costa returns to the music scene after a career break, and we sit down to discuss her life and her new album, Dirty Disco. Costa’s evolution as an artist is truly inspiring. Each of her works invites the listener to peel back layers, revealing more about this transformative vocalist with every song and decade.In our candid conversation, we revisit her early fame, which began with an album that catapulted her to stardom at just seven years old. From being greeted by adoring fans at airports to growing up with musical legends, we explore her journey and what she enjoys listening to when she’s not creating new music. This episode offers an intimate look at an artist with decades of experience in the music industry and the stories to match.Tune in as we discuss showmanship, the art of guiding an audience, and how to write a song by listening to how it wants to be written. This episode is both profound and exciting, featuring advice and wisdom from an artist we’ve all eagerly awaited for her next big hit.

Originally from London, Will Vinson has played as a leader and sideman in New York, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, and Japan. Will is a member of Rufus Wainwright’s band and has performed, arranged, and recorded with Sufjan Stevens, Sean Lennon, Martha Wainwright, Beth Orton, Harper Simon, and other jazz visionaries.In this episode, we discuss his mentors and how they have shaped his sound and that of other alto saxophonists. We also explore how his sense of time affects everything, his journey overcoming shyness to make a mark on New York and jazz, and how picking up the alto saxophone pushed him to carve his own path as a jazz leader with incredible power, dramatic sensitivity, and technical prowess.

Sarah Belle Reid is a rule breaker. A performer-composer who trained in trumpet and moved through, and at times against the status quo, to modular synthesizer, and an ever-expanding array of handcrafted electronic instruments. The personal voice she explores, moves between the intersections of contemporary classical music, experimental and interactive electronics, visual arts, noise music, and improvisation. Reid holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from California Institute of the Arts, with a research focus on the development of new electronic instruments and musical notation systems as interfaces for exploring temporal perception and co-creation. Reid is on faculty at Chapman University teaching music technology, as well as Temple University, where she teaches Physical Computing and Electronic Instrument Design. Sarah and I discuss her early career and how she disrupted her own ideas of musical success to forge a path all of her own. She shares the story of creating her own instrument, MIGSI, explaining what inspired its development, its mechanics, and how it has propelled the trumpet into the future with innovative sensing technology and sound processing. Sarah also reflects on her journey as an innovative musician in her field, building a social media presence, independent research and improvisation, and how she felt like she was “just starting”, once she realized she was not just a performer but so much more, herself. Sarah goes on to announce, for the first time publicly, her newest work, an opera titled “Times Undoing and Progress”.

Alexandra Arrieche, Brazilian-born conductor keeps busy working with some of the most important ensembles and figures in both classical and pop music. With an ability to move masterfully between genres, she distinguishes herself as one of the most unique and exciting conductors of her generation. Alexandra currently serves as Music Director of the Olympia Symphony Orchestra and the Henderson Symphony, and as Principal Conductor of the Antwerp Philharmonic in Belgium as well as conducting the European Emmy Award-winning Night of the Proms. Alexandra has a laundry list of collaborations including Bryan Ferry, Seal, Simple Minds, Earth Wind and Fire, Pointer Sisters, Natasha Bedingfield, Chaka Khan, Roger Hodgson (Supertramp), Peter Cetera (Chicago), Toto, and Alan Parsons.In this episode Alexandra shares her life’s story, starting from her early days in Brazil, emerging as a musician from a family of chefs, attributing her musical talent to her maternal grandfather, a traditional fado guitarist who she never met. We chat about her early life, starting with piano and composing for the first time at the age of 16, creating a musical storm. Today, she is an extremely accomplished and a rare “collaborative conductor”. We chat about her upcoming Britt performances in Jacksonville Oregon where she is a guest conductor, why classical music is vital, and how she works to successfully produce applaudable performances from the orchestral ensembles she works with.  

From picking up the violin before even mastering speech, to gracing prestigious concert halls worldwide, Jennifer Roig-Francoli’s musical odyssey is as captivating as her performances. An international prize-winner, her talent has been featured in TIME Magazine. She’s also certified and accomplished Alexander Technique (AT) instructor, reshaping how musicians perceive and inhabit their craft, with the goal to free mind, body, and spirit. Jennifer immerses us in her enthralling violin journey, recounting tales of her childhood violin practice. We delve into what drew her to the Alexander Technique and its exploration, her current teaching path, her “without hands” approach, and her mission to empower students’ to train themselves. Her recent book, Make Great Music with Ease adds depth to our conversation; expect to be inspired by Jennifer's spark and sharp insight. 

This week, I sit down with Idit Shner. Idit holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oklahoma City University, a Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Central Oklahoma, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas. She currently teaches at the University of Oregon as a professor of saxophone and jazz studies. Idit has performed solo recitals across the United States and Israel.Idit is one of those rare musicians who excels in both classical and jazz saxophone. I couldn’t wait to hear about her theories on playing both genres and her tips and tricks for switching between these two demanding styles. We discuss how she gigged to pay for college, her experience meeting her husband when she started grad school, and the newest hot topic of reeds—when she would use synthetic ones and why she prefers not to.Idit’s enviable drive, dedication, and work ethic are a wonder to behold, yet she still manages to keep things Playful.

Heralded as one of the best prepared and most serious bassists by Chuck Israels, Garrett Baxter is also a longtime friend. Though years separate us, Garrette and I grew up in the same small town in Southern Oregon where we cut our teeth in band rooms from high school to college. Residing now in Portland he is one of the most exciting young bassists in the city. One of only a few in person interviews I have done, I was excited to join Garrett in his home in Portland to talk music. We chat about practice patterns and tips, what we do before we even pick up our instruments to learn new pieces, and who he is currently playing with, in the Pacific NorthWest and beyond, including his first gig in New York City at Dizzy’s Club. Garrett is a consummate student of music. Listen as he shares some of the best advice and most memorable lessons he’s learned along the way. 

Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies and Jazz Ensemble Director at Houghton University  Russell Scarbrough is a composer, bandleader, trombonist, and educator. His works have been performed by symphonies, orchestras, big bands, jazz ensembles, and soloists alike on a multitude of stages, at schools and universities, Carnegie Hall, and the steps of the US Capital. Russell and I get nostalgic and walk down memory lane in this episode. Tune in and reminisce with us about choosing our first instruments in school and making the trek home with our cumbersome choices. While swapping stories from the jazz band, we discuss the changing landscape of jazz education, and what Russell learned by playing along with borrowed records from the public library. Russell shares the trials and joys of writing for jazz musicians, who each have their own voice and we debate whether a composition is there to serve the needs of the musician or the soloist is there to serve the piece.

Joanna Wallfisch is a London born vocalist/composer, hailing from generations of musicians. A multi-instrumentalist, she plays the guitar, ukulele, charango, piano, flute, and is a master in the art of live vocal looping. Her music is at once, hypnotic, and genre defying.We sat down right before her newest album, now released, All in Time dropped. This latest is a collection of songs, with “no particular theme, but an overarching sense of purpose”. About allowing herself to be more patient, “it’s all at once about nothing and everything”. The second track, Killer Whale, will pull your skin away from your bones, calling you like a siren, to the sea. Music in her family has been more than a career, it was a means of survival. She tells the harrowing story of her grandmother, a survivor of Auschwitz. As a young teen she preserved her life by playing the cello in the orchestra at the camp. “If it weren’t for music, none of us would exist.”A lively listen as we discuss endurance, in sport, in music, motherhood, and life.  Purchase Joanna’s book The Great Song CycleWatch Joanna’s documentary The Great Song Cycle, Down Under

Kat Eaton has a voice dripping with deep, sultry tones and a pen that cuts through both light hearted topical themes and heavy social issues with equal parts soul and finesse. From drunk-dialing your ex to the persecution and attacks on the LGBTQAI+ community, Kat is the relevant, progressive musician we are all searching for. Truly an artist for the modern times. Kat has toured the UK/EU and sold out multiple headline shows in London, co-writing with the likes of Caro Emerald, Ruby Turner, and Roberta Campos; breaking through to distant territories via the national radio airwaves of Holland, Belgium, Brazil, France, and Italy. Kat’s voice is a rich jewel in the music scene.Kat shares how with her first exposure to blues and soul, at the age of ten, she knew she wanted to create the visceral, full body experience she felt in the music.  As a very shy kid, Eaton created an alter ego to embody the confidence she needed, to become the performer she is today. From winning a Battle of the Bands, to playing pubs, Kat and I discuss how the ability to remain objective about her performance and talent, opened doors to a full life of songwriting, performance, and composition. Her new album, Honestly dropped Friday last, March 22nd. 

The Playful Musician is back with a new season and you won’t want to miss it. Our host Steve Davidson will chat with musicians of every ilk; diving into the background, practice rituals, and origin stories of each guest. Discover talented, inspiring artists as you are introduced to them for the first time or hear stories regaled from your favorite performers and legends of our era.With Davidson’s captivating interview style he deftly pulls out intimate stories and candid moments you’ll not hear anywhere else.  So sit back and tune in as you deep dive into the personal world of professional musicians and what makes them tick.