Free Association with Brian Carpenter

An essay on urban loneliness, with two tracks from the funny and poignant new album Room 29 by Chilly Gonzales and Jarvis Cocker, plus music from David Shire, Bill Conti, Nick Cave, Bill Callahan, and more. Original air date: March 24, 2017 Chilly Gonzales & Jarvis Cocker “Room 29 (reprise)” from Room 29 (Deutsche Grammophon 2017) Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds “Slowly Goes the Night” from Tend...

A tribute to Robert Fisher, the songwriter behind Willard Grant Conspiracy, who passed away last month. Long-time WGC member David Michael Curry visits WZBC to talk about the history and play some selected cuts of the discography, plus a premiere of the forthcoming record Untethered. Original air date: March 10, 2017

Guitarist Glenn Jones visits Free Association to talk about his new record Fleeting and premiere tracks from forthcoming releases Waterworks, a remarkable live recording with Matthew Azevedo, and An Idea In Everything, a collaboration with drummer Chris Corsano and visual and performing artist David Greenberger. Glenn also expounds on the American Primitive style and the influence of John Fahey an...

Russ Gershon, leader of the Either/Orchestra, brings in his forthcoming record from the Ethiopiques series, plus some never-released Ethiopian radio recordings of the source material. The Either/Orchestra, founded over 30 years ago, has become one of the leading exponents of Ethiopian big band music, with several recordings, two trips to Ethiopia, plus concerts around the globe. In this episode, R...

Gavin McCarthy and Thalia Zedek of E stop by Free Association to talk about their new record released this month on Thrill Jockey, writing, touring, and making music in Boston. Plus two recommendations from Gavin. Original air date: November 18, 2016

Brian Carpenter joins Adam Glasseye (Gun Mother, Reverend Glasseye) to journey through the tower of song by Leonard Cohen, one of the greatest songwriters of all time, who passed away last week at the age of 82. Original air date: November 18, 2016

Marissa Nadler joins Brian Carpenter on Free Association to talk about the making of her new record Strangers, the voice, and her career in music and art. Plus Marissa brings in a few surprises, including her beautiful lo-fi companion record Bury Your Name and a few influences, including an incredible cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne” by the great Nina Simone. Air date: September 23, 2016

Andrew Stern, one of Boston’s most innovative and adventurous guitarists, visited Free Association to talk about his wide-ranging music and influences. Air date: May 12, 2016

Prince was a force of nature…an astounding multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer. Here are a few deep cuts, B sides, remixes, and popular songs mixed in with a few inspirations and artists inspired by Prince.

Terry Donahue of Alloy Orchestra stops by Free Association to talk about making music for silent films. For 25 years, Alloy Orchestra has been one of the premier ensembles composing and performing live music for silent films, including the 1929 Soviet experimental art film Man with a Movie Camera and Buster Keaton’s The General.

Thalia Zedek (Thalia Zedek Band, E, Come) stops by Free Association to chat about her music and collaborations, plus some Boston music history.

Guests Carla Kihlstedt and Matthias Bossi of Rabbit Rabbit join the show with Viggo Nelson Bossi in tow to talk about their music and history, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, and a story behind Bob Dylan’s Lay Lady Lay.

Father and son Brian and Alex team up to navigate through new and old duet collaborations from John Butcher/Fred Frith, Colin Stetson/Sarah Neufeld, David Bowie/Brian Eno, Robert Fripp/Brian Eno to Krzystof Penderecki/Jonny Greenwood. Plus music for choirs from Swingle Singers, Andrew Byrne, Caroline Shaw, Roomful of Teeth, 2001: A Space Odyssey (Gyorgy Ligeti). And the zombie apocalypse.

Imagination and Innovation: The World of Raymond Scott. Episode 6: Manhattan Research, Inc., featuring special guests Tom Rhea, Jeff Winner, and Brian Dewan

Imagination and Innovation: The World of Raymond Scott. Episode 5: Cartoons (1942-1955) with special guests J.G. Thirlwell, DJ Spooky, and Daniel Goldmark

Imagination and Innovation: The World of Raymond Scott. Episode 4: Your Hit Parade and the 2nd Quartet, featuring special guests Irwin Chusid, Jeff Winner, and Brian Dewan

Imagination and Innovation: The World of Raymond Scott. Episode 3: Music for Big Band and Orchestra, featuring special guests Irwin Chusid and Jeff Winner

Imagination and Innovation: The World of Raymond Scott. Episode 2: Early Biography and Raymond Scott Quintette, featuring special guests Jeff Winner, Irwin Chusid, and David Harrington

Imagination and Innovation: The World of Raymond Scott. Episode 1: Introduction and Rediscovery with Jeff Winner and Irwin Chusid

Rivers and Rhythms: A Sam Rivers Retrospective. Episode 4: Compositions for Orchestra (1974-2007), featuring special guests Allan Chase, Russ Gershon, Doug Mathews, and Steve Coleman

Rivers and Rhythms: A Sam Rivers Retrospective. Episode 3: Free Jazz Period and the New York Loft Scene, featuring special guests Dave Holland, Joe Daley, Barry Altschul, Warren Smith, Steve Coleman, Russ Gershon, and Allan Chase.

Rivers and Rhythms: A Sam Rivers Retrospective. Episode 2: The Blue Note Years, New York, and Studio Rivbea, featuring special guests Jason Moran, Steve Coleman, Joe Daley, Steven Bernstein, Julian Priester, Allan Chase, and Russ Gershon

Rivers and Rhythms: A Sam Rivers Retrospective. Episode 1: Biography and Boston (1923-1964), featuring special guests Russ Gershon and Allan Chase