The Keyboard Chronicles

Jim Moginie is a renowned Australian musician best known as a founding member, keyboardist, and songwriter for the iconic rock band Midnight Oil, where he served as a driving creative force for over 50 years. Beyond his keyboard work with the Oils, Jim has collaborated with numerous prominent artists including Silverchair, Sarah Blasko, Neil Finn, and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, while also p...

Mic Michaeli has held down keyboard duties with iconic act Europe for nearly the entirety of their ongoing career. We cover that career in some detail and also discuss other projects Mic has been able to complete in between sell out arena and stadium shows. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and p...

Dennis Atlas is currently keyboardist for the renowned rock band Toto, joining the band in 2024 as their second keyboardist, replacing Steve Maggiora . We talk to Dennis about that amazing opportunity, his burgeoning solo career and his other projects. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previo...

Larry Mullins is an American multi-instrumentalist best known for his work with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Swans and Iggy Pop, but his diversity as a player and composer goes well beyond those two iconic acts. In this second of two parts we talk on Larry’s work with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Residents, the establishment of Larry’s record label, his work with Jessie Evans and...

Larry Mullins is an American multi-instrumentalist best known for his work with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Swans and Iggy Pop, but his diversity as a player and composer goes well beyond those two iconic acts. In this first of two parts we talk on Larry’s 115 date tour with Swans, his just released solo album and start discussing his long and storied career to date.  To listen / watch: Aud...

Tom Seals is an emerging talent in the jazz and blues scene in the UK. Despite his youth, this gifted musician from Crewe has already performed alongside renowned artists such as Jamie Cullum, Gregory Porter, and Jools Holland. Beyond live performances, he hosts his own television program on Sky called “Tom Seals Presents,” where he engages in conversations with celebrities and offers...

Jakob Frímann Magnússon is a musical chameleon, wearing many hats in the Icelandic music scene and beyond. Born in Denmark but raised in Iceland, Jakob co-founded the legendary Icelandic band Stuðmenn back in his high school days, and they’ve been rocking since the 1970s. Jakob also has a solid solo career, dabbling in jazz fusion and collaborating with some big-name American jazz musicians....

Felix Bornholdt is a New Zealand-born pianist and composer, known for his active involvement in the Australian improvised music scene and as a member (until recently) of the band Lime Cordiale. He has a rich musical background, influenced by a diverse range of genres from ECM and Bach to avant-garde jazz, which he was exposed to during his childhood. Bornholdt’s career highlights include ext...

Mike Mangan is an American musician known for his skills on the Hammond B3 Organ. Aside from playing keyboards for The Cult, Mike also leads his own bands , (Big Organ Trio and Rebel House Radio), and has been part of Glenn Hughes’ band, The Keef Richards and much more.  To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the embedded video bel...

Larry Goldings is an internationally respected pianist, organist and composer, whos has worked with a wide array of artists such as John Scofield, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, and James Taylor. He also has his own trio and solo works, as well as his contributions to numerous film and television soundtracks. Then there’s his  comedic alter ego named Hans Groiner. In Part 2 we explore Larry&#...

Larry Goldings is an internationally respected pianist, organist and composer, whos has worked with a wide array of artists such as John Scofield, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, and James Taylor. He also has his own trio and solo works, as well as his contributions to numerous film and television soundtracks. Then there’s his  comedic alter ego named Hans Groiner. In part 1 we cover Larry&#82...

Robert L. Doerschuk is an accomplished music journalist and pianist. He has served as the editor of Musician Magazine and the Country Music Association (CMA) magazine, and a lot of our audience may know Bob from his time at the now defunct Keyboard magazine. Doerschuk is also a noted author, having written “88: The Giants of Jazz Piano,” which provides biographical sketches and critica...

Thomas Dolby has had one of the most interesting and innovative careers as a musician, and that makes him one interesting guest. We cover an enormous amount of ground in this interview and above all else it shows Thomas’ passion hasn’t waned, and his eyes are very firmly on the future. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch t...

Doug Petty is an American pianist, keyboardist, arranger, composer, and educator based in Los Angeles. He’s currently the keyboard player for the iconic Tears for Fears, but that’s just the start. Doug has recorded and performed with numerous artists, including Rihanna, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, and Enrique Iglesias. His work extends to film soundtracks, contributing to movies such...

Roger Joseph Manning Jr. is a US-based keyboardist, singer, and songwriter renowned for co-founding the bands Jellyfish, the Moog Cookbook, and Imperial Drag. He also happens to be a long-time member of Beck’s backing band, is a member of The Lickerish Quartet and has also collaborated with artists such as Air, Jay-Z, Blink 182, and Johnny Cash. We cover a lot of this amazing territory in ou...

Bob Fridzema has had quite the career already, marked by collaborations with a wide array of artists, including Glenn Hughes, Walter Trout, Bernie Marsden, and King King, among others. We cover a lot of this plus delve into other aspects of Bob’s work, including a quick studio tour that features some great vintage gear. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio pla...

It’s hard to overstate Eric Mouquet’s impact on music during the 1990s, and he’s still going strong. We cover Eric’s seminal work with Deep Forest but also his extensive recording, performing and collaboration with everyone from Peter Gabriel to David Foster and Herbie Hancock. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: wat...

Phillip Golub is a Brooklyn-based pianist, improviser, and composer. We talk on Phillip’s career and his work in transcribing Wayne Shorter’s work, as well as some thoughts on the increasing challenges musicians face industrially. All in all a fascinating chat! To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the embedded video below o...

Anna Lapwood is a British organist, conductor, and broadcaster. Currently Director of Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge, Anna has a full schedule as both organist and conductor. We go in-depth in relation to some of the amazing instruments Anna has performed on, as well as a wide-ranging discussion on Anna’s career and the challenges of classical music in the modern era more broadly. To l...

Jim Sheridan is a hard keyboard player to quantify, as his career has been incredibly diverse. That said, it’s fair  to say he’s a TV production expert from a musical viewpoint, and it’s given him some fascinating perspectives on composition, production and musicianship. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the embedd...

David Ryshpan is a multifaceted Canadian musician whose talents extend to being a pianist, keyboardist, composer, arranger, and DJ. Born in Toronto.  David has collaborated with a range of artists, including the likes of Vox Sambou, Jorge Ben Jor, and Trio Bruxo, showcasing his versatility across different musical landscapes. We go from Beijing to Brazil in this discussion, with a side-trip to Tok...

Mikey Rowe is  keyboardist for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Rowe’s musical journey with Noel Gallagher extends beyond the High Flying Birds. He was also  a part of Oasis and has an incredibly extensive session and recording career, which we discuss in some depth. And then there’s the train wreck story… A huge thanks to Mikey for his time! To listen / watch: Audio-onl...

Mark Shusterman is the keyboardist for Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. We cover his journey with that outfit as well as his other projects and diverse musical history.  To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel Discussion topics covered during t...

Jim Prime has been Deacon Blue’s keyboard player for decades, and that alone is a great reason to spend some serious time with him. Add in his other playing credits with other artists (John Martyn, Johnny Hallyday), his sense of humour and some of the best anecdotes we’ve heard, and you’ve got an interview for the ages. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in t...

Damon McMahon is an Australian-based keyboard player and former musical instrument industry professional who has a fascinating history of playing and living in other countries, including China, Singapore and Japan. We cover Damon’s interesting history in music and also engage in some music industry chat. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: V...