MFM SPEAKS OUT

"The secret to success in the music industry is to always be learning and never stop improving your skills." In this episode of MFM Speaks Out , Adam Reifsteck interviews singer-songwriter, DJ, and producer Flaviyake (aka Duck The Bass) about the importance of combining multiple musical skills to achieve lasting success, immigrating to the United States, the issue of gender inequality in the music...

"If one person's sense of value as a human being is renewed, their family, their community, all of us are affected by it in a positive way. We all benefit" In this episode of MFM Speaks Out , our guest is Alina Bloomgarden . Alina was the original producer of Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC), the Lincoln Center Reel to Real series, and Director of Visitors Services for 23 years, where she received th...

"We need a better way of living for the music scene." In this episode of MFM Speaks Out , Adam Reifsteck interviews German saxophonist and composer Axel Mueller about his work as a musician and activist which led to co-founding a new union in Germany called Pro Musik that supports freelance musicians. Topics discussed include the challenges gigging musicians face in Germany that has only been exac...

"Music is service." This episode of MFM Speaks Out will be different from our usual format. Dawoud Kringle will be interviewing his guest; a professional musician and  recovering drug addict and alcoholic. Out of respect to our guest and the tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous and other substance abuse recovery programs, we are protecting our guest’s anonymity and referring to him as Dave. Our discu...

"Success in music is not guaranteed, but as long as you are persevering and helping others along the way, you will reach your goals." In this episode of MFM Speaks Out , Adam Reifsteck interviews conductor and pianist Geraldine Anello about immigrating to the United States from France in her early 20s which ultimately led to a career as a Broadway musician. Topics discussed include how she created...

“Stay true to yourself, and stay true to the game. If you give music your all, and be honest with yourself, you will be rewarded.” In this episode of MFM Speaks Out , Dawoud Kringle interviews  Royal Bayyan . Royal is a Musician, Songwriter, Producer, Music Supervisor, Personal Manager, Executive Brand Consultant. He played with and was a founding member of Kool & the Gang . He established several...

"We're operating under a significant cloud... it is important to not only take care of yourself but support your fellow musicians in any way that you can." In this episode of MFM Speaks Out, Adam Reifsteck interviews composer, guitarist, and MFM Board member Roger Blanc. His concert music has been performed at major New York City venues and abroad. As an arranger, orchestrator, and music producer...

“ Musicians With Attitude...in order to be active collectively you have to change as a person. So in order to become not only a better musician but also a better human being, you must change yourself. ” In this episode of MFM Speaks Out, Dawoud Kringle interviews Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi (a.k.a. SoSaLa). Ladjevardi is a saxophonist, composer, improviser, producer, entrepreneur, activist, and the f...

"Employers benefit from the disorganization of freelance musicians.  But when we come together and have conversations about our working conditions, there is a power that arises which brings about change." In this episode of MFM Speaks Out, Adam Reifsteck interviews multi-instrumentalist Chris Reza about his work in the Broadway music scene. His performance credits include Fun Home, Radio City’s Ch...

" An Alternative (music business) infrastructure is one of the things that helps us keep this sustainable ." In this episode of MFM Speaks Out, Dawoud Kringle interviews Oakland, California based guitarist Karl Evangelista is among the new wave of  21st century experimental / improvisational musicians. His work blends contemporary improvised music with popular song, 20th century composition, psych...

"There needs to be a mechanism in place so that sampling is no longer a controversial issue and that all musicians are fairly compensated for their work." - Philo Farnsworth In this episode of MFM Speaks Out , Adam Reifsteck interviews an electronic musician and founder of sampling record label Illegal Art who goes by the alias Philo Farnsworth about the use of samples in recorded music. the label...

" For me, there is a strong connection between music and images ." - DeLaurentis In this episode of MFM Speaks Out , Dawoud Kringle interviews Cecile DeLaurentis, commonly known as DeLaurentis. DeLaurentis is a French innovative electronic musician and producer. She studied music at the Perpignan Conservatory and at the University of Mirail in Jazz Musicology in Toulouse. Her work has been describ...

"Now is the time to organize...[in the face of the pandemic] as inequality and workers issues get put on the table more, artists need to make sure they are not left out of the conversation." -- William Deresiewicz In this episode of the  MFM Speaks Out , Adam Reifsteck interviews William Deresiewicz, a leading critic of the arts and contemporary culture and New York Times bestselling author about...

"To me, there isn't a middle zone between creative paths of improvisation and traditional paths... Musicians deserve to be compensated and deserve a decent environment to play their music."   - Sal Cataldi In this episode of the  MFM Speaks Out , Dawoud Kringle interviews Sal Cataldi. Sal is a guitarist, composer, improviser, producer, a contributor to nysmusic.com , MFM member, and founder of Cat...

“If you want to make money with your music, make it happen...you just gotta find the way." In this episode of the  MFM Speaks Out , Adam Reifsteck interviews trumpeter and producer Donald Malloy , aka Wave Magnetik . The topics discussed include how he infuses jazz with electronic dance music to reach new audiences, creative ways to monetize music online while live gigs have been canceled as a res...

"If you're seeing only one side of 'Blackness,' and you think that is diversity, you're missing the point." In this episode of the  MFM Speaks Out , Dawoud Kringle interviews LaRonda Davis , National President of the Black Rock Coalition (BRC) , co-founder and CCO of Flaming Yoni Productions , and Group Creative Director of Publicis . The topics discussed include the history of the BRC, it's missi...

"If there is no community, create it." - Ed Hartman In this episode of the  MFM Speaks Out , Adam Reifsteck interviews percussionist and composer Ed Hartman . The topics discussed include the evolution of Hartman's music career, the challenges musicians continue to face during the Coronavirus pandemic, and how to get started in the world of sync licensing as a lucrative income stream. Ed's music h...

In this episode of the  MFM Speaks Out , Dawoud Kringle interviews master pianist, composer, producer, music educator, music activist, and MFM Advisory Committee Member Arturo O'Farrill . The podcast began with a discussion of O'Farrill's work with Chico O'Farrill, Harry Belafonte, and Dizzy Gilespie. O'Farrill talked about the evolution of Latin Jazz and the problems inherent in musical genres, a...

In this episode of the  MFM Speaks Out , Adam Reifsteck interviews Keith Levenson. Keith's career has run the gamut from Broadway's Annie to Meatloaf, from the London Symphony Orchestra to The Who. He is equally at home in a regional shed, Broadway theatre or a large arena. In 2018 Keith helmed a very successful tour of the rock opera "Tommy", with band and symphony orchestras across the country....

“I very quickly realized that a music career without Internet presence in 2012 and beyond was not a music career.” In this episode of the  MFM Speaks Out , Dawoud Kringle interviews Austin TX based guitarist, singer, songwriter, & producer Jackie Venson. Venson began as a classically trained pianist and student at the Berkeley School of Music. Eventually, she took up the guitar, and developed her...

In this episode of the  MFM Speaks Out , Adam Reifsteck interviews Hudson Valley based composer and pianist Peter Wetzler  about the evolution of his music career over the years, how current events are affecting the livelihood of professional musicians, and the importance of coming together as a community to become advocates for change. A dual citizen of the US & Canada, now living in Kingston, NY...

In this episode of the  MFM Speaks Out , Dawoud Kringle interviews California based musician, improviser, composer, and inventor of the Bazantar Mark Deutsch about his personal evolution from contrabass and sitar virtuoso to designing an unprecedented musical instrument, his artistic and spiritual philosophies on music, and the struggles of being an innovator and iconoclast. Mark started as a "go...

In this episode of the MFM Speaks Out , Adam Reifsteck interviews DJ and producer Jeannie Hopper about the evolution of the underground club scene in New York, the issue of gender inequality in the music industry, and the biggest problems musicians and DJs face in the current digital landscape. Jeannie started producing for New York’s WBAI Radio in 1987 as a political reporter. She traveled extens...

In this episode of MFM Speaks Out , Dawoud Kringle interviews guitarist Stephen Johnson ; Polydor recording artist formerly of Victorian Parents, and Son of John, and presently with Future350), musical director of the Movita Dance Theater, and the co-founder and head of the MFM Hudson Valley Chapter in Kingston. Some of the topics discussed will include the changes in the music scene in Johnson's...

In recent weeks, COVID-19 has devastated our music community, leaving thousands of music creators and professionals without work and an uncertain future. But there are resources available for musicians if we know where to look. In this episode of the MFM Speaks Out podcast, Chris St. Hilaire and host Adam Reifsteck  discuss how musicians can navigate this difficult time and the importance of comin...