Inside MusiCast

Mica Millar is not well known in the States, but word is quickly spreading about her incredible vocals and well-crafted songs. The Manchester UK-based singer recently released her debut album titled, “Heaven Knows”, and when you hear it, you’ll know that the name Mica Millar will be known everywhere very soon. What makes her story and music even more remarkable is the fact that she suffered a horr...

Growing-up in Queens, Lionel Cordew was surrounded by music inside his home, in his neighborhood, and in church.  His brothers were all involved in music, his mother sang in the gospel choir at the church where his father was the minister, and his neighborhood hosted block parties where cats like Lenny White, Marcus Miller, Omar Hakim, Najee and many others would often play.  Lionel abso...

Inside MusiCast rings in the new year with our first guest for 2023, guitarist Dean Parks!  Dean is no stranger to liner notes geeks around the world and was home grown in the state of Texas. In fact, he was a member of the “One O’clock Lab Band'' at North Texas State while in college. Whatever it is that’s in the water at North Texas, he drank it – along with other top musicians who have com...

Honing her musical skills while growing-up on the East coast, Deborah Holland found her way to Los Angeles in the late ‘70s in an attempt to break into the music business.  A demo of two of her songs landed in the hands of Stewart Copeland and Stanley Clarke, who were searching for a female vocalist to front their new band project, which became Animal Logic.  She got the gig, which was a...

Shawn Lee and Andy Platts are back with Ticket To Shangri-La , their fourth Young Gun Silver Fox album in the last seven years. Their undeniable, West Coast groove is a prominent ingredient once again, but the addition of some incredible horn arrangements, a heavier lean on the acoustic guitar, and Andy's silky smooth vocal harmonies make for another stellar collection of tunes with the feel-good...

In 1980, Scottish born singer-songwriter, Ali Thomson, released his first album on A&M Records titled “Take A Little Rhythm”.  The title track garnered heavy airplay in countries around the world and reached as high as #15 on the Hot 100 in the USA.  He then went on to record a second album for A&M the following year titled “Deception Is In Art.”  While the pop scene deliver...

In 2013, the world of contemporary jazz welcomed a newcomer who released her debut, self-titled album, Lindsey Webster.  Since then, Lindsey’s roots have continued to grow as she’s released a total of six albums, with her latest album, “Reasons”, dropping in early September.  In fact, the first single from the new album, “I Didn’t Mean It”, features Brian Culbertson and hit the Top 10 on...

For decades, David Paich has been an icon in the LA music scene, having composed, arranged, written, produced, and performed on hit songs for some of the biggest artists in the music business. Then there’s his legendary band, Toto, which he’s poured his heart and soul into for the past 45 years. Despite this incredible resumé, he’s never released a solo project, until now. David’s debut solo album...

Don Breithaupt is back with a brand new Monkey House album titled “Remember The Audio” - an 11 track project that was conceived during the pandemic and arguably their finest collection of songs in the Monkey House canon.  The core of the band remains steady, with Breithaupt on lead vocals and keyboards, Mark Kelso on drums, Pat Kilbride on bass, and Justin Abedin on guitar.  The album al...

Jim Keltner’s career in music has been nothing short of iconic. For those who go deep into discographies and liner notes, you know that the name Keltner is associated with a litany of some of the biggest names in the world of music, including George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Joe Cocker, Carly Simon, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Seals & Crofts, Randy Newman, The Bee Gees, The Traveling W...

It’s been nine years since we last spoke to Marilyn Scott, so we’re pleased to have her back today to talk about her brand new album, “The Landscape”, which was recently released on Blue Canoe Records - her first album release since 2016’s “Standard Blue”.  The seven-track project focuses on putting yourself in front of nature, embracing our surroundings, and letting go.  Marilyn enlists...

Steve Dorff never wanted the spotlight. As a young musician and budding songwriter, he had his sights set on writing great songs for the most prominent voices in popular music - and he did just that. Early on, his songs landed in the hands and voices of several country and Western artists, which seemed like an unusual pairing considering that Steve grew-up in New York City. In fact, the first top...

After a short break, Inside MusiCast is back with this brand new episode featuring Canadian singer/songwriter, Chris Smith. Chris’ career in music started to take off in the ‘80s when he left Humber College to join a band called The Graduates, an original R&B, pop band made up of other Humber non-grads that played the clubs on the Ontario circuit. From there, he became a member of Regatta, a l...

From his early days as a recording engineer and producer, to his involvement with legendary acts such as Buffalo Springfield, Poco, and Kenny Loggins - not to mention his collection of solo work - Jim Messina has carved a stellar reputation for himself in the music industry as an artist who can do it all. And he hasn’t stopped. He’s back on the road for an extensive solo tour this Spring and will...

On this episode of Inside MusiCast, we welcome a legendary, Grammy-winning jazz artist who has been creating music since the early ‘60s when he recorded an album produced by Quincy Jones. Bob James has recorded 60 albums in 60 years, which includes his involvement as a founding member of the band Fourplay and is widely known for composing “Angela”, the theme song for the hit TV show Taxi. While ja...

On this episode of Inside MusiCast, we welcome a three time Grammy-nominated jazz artist who’s recorded 40 albums throughout his career, David Benoit. David has enjoyed a solid presence in the jazz scene ever since his debut album on Blue Moon records in 1977. During his career, he’s worked with Russ Freeman of the Rippingtons and has also arranged and performed for artists such as Michael Franks,...

The past few years have presented some life altering challenges for Simon Phillips.  In late 2017, fires that ravaged Southern California destroyed his home and his recording studio.  Two years later, the COVID-19 pandemic took Simon off the road from a busy touring schedule leaving him with questions about the immediate future.  Yet, Simon’s resiliency persevered. The pandemic affo...

Steve Vai is arguably one of the finest rock guitarists on the planet. His inventive approach to the instrument has afforded him some incredible opportunities over the past 40 years and today we’ll explore some of them, including the importance of meeting and working with Frank Zappa. We’ll also discuss his upcoming album release titled "Inviolate", which is set to drop this Friday, January 28. Th...

After a two month break, Inside MusiCast is kickin’ off the new year with a new artist whose debut album was a 2021 Inside MusiCast Album Of The Year selection, Anastasia Lynne! During the last week in December, the Inside MusiCast team each chose an Album Of The Year - 11 great albums that were released in 2021 that really pushed our buttons. When IMC Correspondent Scott Gross chose Anastasia Lyn...

Burleigh Drummond and Mary Harris have shared the stage, a family, as well as a home for decades.  While Burleigh is a founding member of the progressive and pop band Ambrosia, his wife, Mary, has been performing alongside him in the band for over 20 years.  The two are also involved in another musical entity called Tin Drum, an ever-evolving project which formed in the ‘90s and now inco...

In a career that’s spanned more than 50 years, Larry Carlton has been involved with thousands of projects that span a wide variety of musical styles.  From solo projects, to countless studio sessions with some of the biggest names in the music industry, to performing on one of the most popular television theme songs, Larry’s work has garnered multiple Grammy awards and worldwide notoriety for...

Dash Crofts and his longtime musical partner, Jimmy Seals, both grew-up in Texas and started performing together in the late 1950’s. Before they struck out on their own as the legendary duo Seals and Crofts, Dash and Jimmy performed with several bands and musicians, including Dean Beard and the Crew Cats, The Champs, Eddie Cochran, Glen Campbell and the GC’s, and The Dawnbreakers. Through their co...

When he was young, James Raymond knew he had a special gift for music, yet he somehow felt that this natural ability stemmed beyond what his adoptive parents and his education seemed to provide.  At the age of 30, he began the arduous task of finding his birth parents.  When he secured his birth certificate, the name David Crosby appeared.  When James finally had a chance to meet hi...

Luis Conte is one of the most heralded percussionists in the music industry, but had it not been for the encouragement of his parents and a three week window of time, his massive career performing for and touring with some of the biggest artists may never have happened.  A few weeks before he turned 15 years old, his father encouraged him to leave his home country of Communist Cuba before he...

Hailing from San Francisco and finding his musical roots in Texas, Mark Lettieri is no stranger to diversity when it comes to how he approaches the guitar. Throughout his career, he’s released six solo albums, has been involved in countless recording sessions, and has toured with many well-known music acts. Since 2008, Lettieri has been involved with Grammy-winning Snarky Puppy and is also a membe...