The Keyboard Chronicles

Most of our guests are hard to pigeon-hole, but none moreso than Sarah Belle Reid . We delve into Sarah’s fascinating work in modular synthesis, composition and even take a few detours into academia and virtual reality. If you’ve ever thought about learning or jumping into modular synthesis, Sarah has some great guidance as well. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button...

Aside from his founding role with The Greyboy Allstars and his recent tour with Roger Waters, Robert Walter has had an incredibly diverse career as a performer and composer. We cover it all as well as some great guidance for newer players and some great Desert Island Disc picks. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the embedded video b...

Jamie Hilboldt has been the go-to keys man for a range of artists from The Funk Brothers to his current long-term gig with the iconic Gary Puckett & The Union Gap. We cover Jamie’s career and his approach to playing and performing songs that are ingrained into the fabric of popular music. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch...

Grant Larcom is one of the stellar stable of keyboard players with Postmodern Jukebox. We talk on his amazing ride with that outfit as well as his other projects and future plans. 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...

Franz Nicolay plays piano, accordion and pretty much anything with keys for a wide range of projects including The Hold Steady and cabaret-punk orchestra World/Inferno Friendship Society as well as his own burgeoning solo career. We talk on all that in addition to his output as an author (see links below).  This is one wide ranging chat we hope you’ll enjoy a great deal. To listen / watch: A...

In this episode, we celebrate the 100th episode of the Keyboard Chronicles podcast. We discuss the behind-the-scenes process of producing a podcast and share our top five guests. other notable guests, discuss our favorite interviews, most popular audio and video episodes, and our bucket list guests. We also talk on our plans for 2024 and of course YOU, without whom this show would not be here. To...

We catch up with Morris Hayes to talk about his incredible career to date, including not only his amazing time with Prince, but his diverse production career and great insights on touring and playing. In this second instalment ( Part 1 is here ) we cover some iconic Prince gigs, a train wreck story that will turn your blood to ice water, hanging with Herbie Hancock and a great deal more. To listen...

We catch up with Morris Hayes to talk about his incredible career to date, including not only his amazing time with Prince, but his diverse production career and great insights on touring and playing. In this first part we cover Morris’ development as musician, his entry into the orbit of Prince and his approach to becoming an effective musical director and collaborator for the New Power Gen...

Kevin Gastonguay is a pianist and composer from Minnesota and now based in Nashville. Kevin has gained has gained well-deserved recognition for his work with jazz guitarist Cory Wong, with whom he records and tours internationally. In addition to his collaborations with Wong, Kevin has played in a range of bands and continues to release his own work regularly. All of this and more is covered in th...

Darryl Beaton has already had an incredible career as a keyboard player, singer and musical director, and he’s just getting started. We talk with Darryl on his career to date, his take on the ups and downs of TV-based musical direction and a whole bunch more including one hell of a Stevie Wonder anecdote! To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:...

Dominic Fallacaro is a jazz pianist, co-arranger, orchestrator, and Music Director. He’s currently MD for the hit Broadway jukebox musical & Juliet . This is of course, only one aspect of Dominic’s career and we cover his other achievements as a player, composer and arranger. There’s even a great Elmo story, so this is one not to miss! To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on...

Buck Johnson has been playing and singing since a very young age, and this experience shows in this interview as Buck takes us through his amazing career to date. We cover everything from Aerosmith’s farewell tour, to Buck’s production career, working with a range of true greats and his solo work. Lots to enjoy in this one. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the...

Scott Sheriff is the go-to keys maestro for the excepetional Carrie Underwood. He is also a busy session / studio musician and arranger,  and also has his own yacht rock band, amongst other projects. We talk about all of this and more in this episode. 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 previou...

Trevor Nealon has been playing keys with Band of Heathens for more than ten years, after an already diverse career in music. We cover off Trevor’s career across those multiple projects and have a few laughs along the way. Hope you enjoy it! 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 epi...

Dan “Spiffy” Neuman is a multi-instrumental musician, whose organ playing caught our attention over recent years. As you’ll hear, Dan’s upbringing and career to date is incredibly diverse and he’s rightly gained recognition for his skills as a guitarist and organist. For those unfamiliar with churches with a gospel singing focus, this is a fascinating interview from t...

Rob Aries is a keyboard player and bassist for Average White Band . Rob also happens to be a formidable jazz player and in this episode we cover all of that plus some, in what’s been an amazing career to date. 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 Channe...

Paddy Milner is a British keyboard player and blues pianist, who amongst other things is the current keyboard player for Sir Tom Jones, and co-founder of roots / rock ‘n roll outfit Jawbone . We speak with Paddy on his musical upbringing, his love for the blues and boogie woogie and his amazing gigs with artists like Jack Bruce and Tom Jones.  To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play...

Troye Kinnett is an Indiana USA-based keyboard player, who aside from holding down keyboard duties with John Mellencamp for close to twenty years, has had a lengthy and varied career in production, live work and composition. We talk on all this and more with Troye, including some great road stories and perspectives on the music industry in changing times. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on th...

In Part 2 of our interview with Rachel Flowers, we cover off her love of Keith Emerson’s work and her interactions and performances in that space, her love of Stevie Wonder as well as our raft of standard questions including some brilliant desert island disc picks! To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the embedded video below or...

Rachel Flowers is a renowned pianist who has played / collboarated with some of the biggest artists in the world. In this first of two parts, we cover Rachel’s early years and development in music, and have some good laughs along the way as well. 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...

We speak with the amazing Rai Thistlethwayte on his incredible international career as an acclaimed keyboard player across a range of genres. As you’ll hear / see, Rai is an incredibly down-to-earth and insightful musician with some great perspectives on the keyboard playing life. Enjoy! To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the e...

We continue our chat with the amazing Bill Payne ( Part 1 is here ). We cover a lot more territory in relation to Little Feat, keyboard rigs, Bill’s other significant collaborations with other artists and a whole bunch more. 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...

Bill Payne is a highly acclaimed American musician best known as a founding member and keyboardist of the iconic rock band Little Feat . With his keyboard skills, Bill has made significant contributions to Little Feat’s extensive discography, including hit songs like “Dixie Chicken,” “Willin’,” and “Fat Man in the Bathtub.” Throughout his career, Bil...

Steve Maggiora has only been with Toto for a handful of years, but he’s already making a big impression. We talk with Steve on his recent tour with Toto, how he got the gig in the first place, and the much wider career he’s had as a keyboard player, including an amazing gig on the Canary Islands! To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Vid...

Aside from holding down keyboard duties with iconic act Blondie for more than 15 years, Matt Katz-Bohen has had an incredibly diverse career in music to date. We cover the gamut from Princess Goes to Matt’s work on Broadway, Blondie and a whole lot more. 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 an...