Backstage at The Enharmonic

January 14, 2017 Happy New Year!  The first episode of Backstage at The Enharmonic for 2017 features bass player and Director of Sales for Casio America: Mark Amentt.   Mark gives a lot of valuable advice to young folks that want to have a career in the music industry.  He also talks about growing up as a self-taught drummer,  the unique position of being a left handed bass player, his switch from...

October 31, 2016  In this episode I speak to a gentleman with a highly specialized job, librarian for The Philadelphia Orchestra, Steve Glanzmann.   Roughly only 350 folks in the entire world hold a similar job, our discussion sheds light on the inner workings of this unique job, the basic requirements, and advice on pursuing this line of work. In January 2003, Steve was hired as a full-time libra...

October 24, 2016:  Hot off Broadway's  Phantom of The Opera  playing the part of 'Christine Daaé', my next guest Rachel Zatcoff chats with me about her early influences, a failed attempt at trying out for The Al Abert's Showcase television show, trepidations about going into theater, getting 'the call' for her role in Phantom, the relationship between performing and teaching, and the great organiz...

October 17, 2016  Live from the Chicagoland area I had a chance to chat with Rich Daniels, saxophonist, conductor and composer.  Rich is the founder and leader of The City Lights Orchestra, and is the conductor for the  Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration tours, which is where I first met Rich two years ago, working as a percussionist in the east coast leg of the tour.   In this edition of Backstag...

October 10, 2016: This is a MUST "listen to" for folks trying to break into the freelance scene!  Digital marketing consultant and musician Seth Hanes shares stories and advice on building your brand, to get more gigs.  He talks about his rise from parking attendant to marketing director for the Philly Pops.  He also give us some previews about his new book, Break into the Scene, which is now avai...

September 6, 2016:  If you've ever played in a middle school or high school jazz band or have seen the movies The Majestic, National Treasure, Remember the Titans, Armageddon, Star Trek: Nemesis, The Incredibles, Snakes on a Plane, Race to Witch Mountain, Con Air, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes or have watched Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, or Tom and Jerry on TV then you've heard my guest Gordon...

August 28, 2016: In this episode I get to talk with one of my all-time favorite drummers, Jeff Sipe.  I've been a fan of Jeff's since 1994, when I first heard him with Col. Bruce Hampton and The Aquarium Rescue Unit.  Since then I've been able to see his trio live, have seen him perform with Jeff Coffin's Mu'tet on numerous occasions and have even been able to perform with Jeff Sipe for the Jerry...

August 22, 2016:   I was very lucky to find a few minutes to speak with Capathia Jenkins this week.  When not performing on TV and Broadway, she is busy crisscrossing the globe performing on the world’s biggest stages with the finest orchestras.  Last year I performed in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Jacksonville with Capathia in Classic Soul . She brought the house down in all three cities, every sin...

August 13, 2016:  In this episode we chat with percussion and publishing powerhouse Dave Black.  Dave reminisces about first hearing the power of a drumline at a parade when he was 7 years old, purchasing and learning to play guitar before becoming a percussionist, his fortuitous meeting in high school and lasting friendship with legendary drummer Louie Bellson, the importance of having a strong f...

July 20, 2016:  I  am happy to welcome a true drumming legend and personal hero of mine, The Brush Master: Clayton Cameron.  In this episode we learn about Big C's (that's what Sammy Davis, Jr. called him) time in the Los Angeles All-City High School Marching Band, his 'terrible' audition with Mr. D, the two most important weeks of his life and tap dancers, not winning the audition for the college...

July 5, 2016:   My next guest and I have known each other for nearly a quarter century, the internationally acclaimed conductor Donald Nally. Having performed in many of his choirs while an undergraduate student at West Chester University in the mid 90’s, and playing and arranging percussion for him outside of the academic setting, my musical life has been incredibly enriched.  In this episode we...

June 20, 2016  This episode of Backstage at The Enharmonic features the multifaceted Jeffrey R. Smith.  We learn about Jeff's early days at home in New Jersey taking piano lessons, singing with the Philadelphia Boys Choir, his years on Broadway right after college and even a little bit about his short lived trombone playing days in high school. An alumnus of Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale,...

June 3, 2016 I'm happy to have  Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser as the seventh guest on Backstage at The Enharmonic !  Dr. Tim's legendary workshops, advocacy materials and educational resources have influenced and shaped the lives of millions of students and music educators across the United States.  In this episode we'll learn about the 'agreement' that he had with his parents about learning to play the d...

May 13, 2016: Having unwittingly scheduled an interview for Friday the 13th made me a little nervous, however, Chris Coletti was an incredibly mirthful guest!  He explains how he ended up playing the trumpet although he originally had aspirations of being a violinist or clarinet player, he explains the genesis of his trademark operatic vocal stylings, his mad karaoke skills, going to middle school...

May 9, 2016  Perhaps best known as Conan O'Brien's saxman for the last 23 years today's guest, Jerry Vivino, shares stories about his foundation on the clarinet and hisparents profound influence on his life and career.  A short lived xylophone career, baseball, Roy Rogers, his childhood teacher Ray Gerrard, and his recently acquired circular breathing technique are all discussed through-out this c...

April 29, 2016 Today's guest is the ever ebullient Joseph Conyers, assistant principal bass of The Philadelphia Orchestra, founder of Project440 and the newly appointed director of the Philadelphia All City Orchestra.  In this episode Joseph reminisces about dancing to the clothes washer, auditioning and winning the Philadelphia Orchestra job, and his halcyon days of being a certified storm tracke...

April 19, 2016 In this episode Sean has a captivating discussion with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra bass player Michael Kurth.  He discusses his earliest influences his including K.I.S.S., The Blues Brothers movie, beating a chest of drawers with a hammer, and his affinity for the rock band Tool, plus a preview of an exciting ASO recording session with music director Robert Spano for the 17-18 season...

April 12, 2016 In this episode Sean spends time talking with the legendary drummer, Hal Blaine.  Hal goes way back and reminisces about taking his mother's rocking chair apart and using the dowelings as drumsticks, talks about his three years in Chicago studying with Roy Knapp (Gene Krupa's teacher) after serving in the Korean War, discusses his work with the Wrecking Crew, tells about his amazing...

April 3, 2016  Sean spends a few minutes talking with famed saxophonist (Billy Joel, The Beach Boys) and producer Richie Cannata about his earliest influences. Topics include Pete Fountain, Mickey Mouse and Liberty DeVitto.