The Bandwich Tapes

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with singer and songwriter Tenille Townes for a conversation about truth, freedom, and the long road back to yourself. I’ve admired Tenille’s writing and singing for a long time, and one of the first things I tell her in this conversation is simple: when she sings, I believe her. That kind of authenticity sits at the center of everything we talk a...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with guitarist and composer Bob Lanzetti , best known as one of the founding members of Snarky Puppy . I’ve admired Bob’s playing for a long time, so getting the chance to talk with him felt especially meaningful. We begin with something many musicians quietly carry with them: the fear of hand issues and how that concern evolves over the course of...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with guitarist and composer Stash Wyslouch for a conversation that moves easily between music, teaching, parenthood, and the deeper question of how artists actually learn. Stash has built a unique musical voice that draws from bluegrass, jazz, metal, and avant-garde traditions, and hearing how those influences intersect in his life and work makes...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with pedal steel guitarist Travis Toy for a wide-ranging conversation about craft, longevity, and what it really takes to build a career on the road. Travis has spent decades shaping the sound of modern country music—from his long run with Rascal Flatts to his current role touring with Luke Bryan —and his perspective comes from thousands of nights...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with bassist Chris Tordini for a thoughtful conversation about what it really looks like to build a sustainable life in music. Chris has quietly become one of the most respected bassists on the scene, known for his deep musicality, versatility, and the kind of collaborative spirit that keeps musicians coming back to work with him. We talk about hi...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with guitarist and composer Mark Lettieri for a conversation that lives right at the intersection of groove, discipline, and musical curiosity. Mark has spent years carving out a distinctive voice on the guitar—whether through his solo work, his baritone guitar explorations, or his playing with Snarky Puppy and Fearless Flyers—and this conversatio...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with singer-songwriter Grace Humphries , and we talk about what it feels like to be at the very beginning of an artist’s journey—while already carrying real life, real grief, and a clear sense of purpose into the music. Grace shares what it’s been like arriving at Belmont University as a spring admit , stepping into music school life for the first...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with Larry Goldings —keyboardist, organist, composer, and one of the most respected musical collaborators working today. Larry has built a career that stretches across jazz, pop, film, television, and session work, but what really stands out in our conversation is his deep commitment to serving the music first. We start by talking about some of the...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with Jake & Shelby , a Nashville-based songwriting duo whose music is built on a natural chemistry that you can hear immediately. Our conversation feels a lot like their songs—honest, relaxed, and rooted in the process of figuring things out together. We start in the middle of a Nashville winter storm in early 2026 , when power outages and unex...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with guitarist, singer, and songwriter Trey Hensley , and it’s a conversation I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. Trey has built a reputation as one of the most electrifying acoustic guitar players around, and we talk about the moment he finds himself in now—stepping back into a solo role after a decade performing as part of a duo . He’s...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with pianist, composer, improviser, label founder, and educator Kris Davis —one of the most forward-thinking voices in creative music today. Our conversation left me feeling genuinely energized. Kris approaches music with a rare combination of curiosity, discipline, and fearless experimentation, and it was a joy to dig into how all of that shows up...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Sarah Jarosz at a remarkable moment in her career, fresh off multiple Grammy wins, including recent recognition with I’m With Her . We talk about what it actually feels like to experience that kind of validation after years of nominations, and why the support she receives from her hometown of Wimbe...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with drummer and composer Beth Goodfellow , a musician whose touch, curiosity, and musical sensitivity have made her a sought-after collaborator across genres. We begin with her long musical relationship with Iron & Wine , and how working with Sam Beam has shaped the way she thinks about rhythm and ensemble playing. Beth shares how Sam’s drumm...

In this episode, I sit down with Taylor Eigsti , and this conversation goes everywhere I hoped it would. We talk about preparation versus spontaneity, writing music that leaves room for the present moment, and why the best ensembles feel more like carefully cast films than perfectly rehearsed machines. Taylor shares what it’s been like working recently with Michael League, Ben Wendel, Kendrick Sco...

I sat down with Janie Barnett, a singer, songwriter, arranger, and educator whose career reflects a steady commitment to saying yes to what fits and no to what does not. We begin with her roots in the Greater Washington area, where summers at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and early exposure to roots music shaped her ear. Moving to New York was a shock. The city carried a gritty, post-Patti Smi...

This episode is a special one for me: Steve Gadd. Steve is not just a great drummer. He is one of those rare musicians whose feel and sound are instantly recognizable. A few seconds in, and you know it's him. He has been a first-call presence on recordings and tours for decades, and somehow, he makes the most complex things feel relaxed and human. Spending time with him for this conversation was a...

In this episode, I’m joined by Simon Oslender , and I’m not exaggerating when I say his playing lit me up the first time I heard it: pure joy, but with real depth underneath. We talk about growing up in a deeply musical home, starting on drums, and the exact “big bang” moment when a John Mayall live DVD (and Tom Canning on Hammond B3) made Simon lock in on the organ for life. We get into Simon’s e...

I got to sit down with Alison Prestwood, an A-list bassist, singer, and bandleader whose playing has been anchoring records and stages for decades, and it felt like catching up with someone I should’ve known for years. We talked about her leap from Atlanta to Nashville in the early ’90s, what it’s like leaving steady work to chase the next chapter, and how those five-to-six-nights-a-week club year...

In this episode, I sit down with singer-songwriter CJ Hooper to talk about building songs—and confidence—as an independent artist without rushing the process. We dig into how moving from Texas to Washington shaped his musical perspective, and why honest, story-driven country music seems to resonate no matter where you live. CJ and I talk about releasing Over Yonder , his second album just a year a...

In this episode, I sit down with percussionist Colin Currie for a wide-ranging conversation about curiosity, originality, live performance, and the lifelong pursuit of musical meaning. Colin is one of the most influential percussionists of our time, known for his deep commitment to contemporary music, his close collaboration with composers, and his transformative interpretations of Steve Reich’s w...

In this episode, I sit down with drummer Kim Trammell for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about groove, identity, longevity, and finding your way back to joy in music. Kim is an intensely musical player whose feel, touch, and sound are unmistakable, and this conversation traces her path from early classical training to decades of professional drumming in Memphis and beyond. We talk about how...

In this episode, I sit down with percussionist, composer, and author Russell Hartenberger for a deep and reflective conversation about sound, mentorship, history, and the long arc of a musical life. Russell’s influence on percussion performance, composition, and pedagogy is immeasurable, and this conversation traces the remarkable path that led him from a childhood in Oklahoma to the center of som...

In this episode, I sit down with mandolinist, composer, and bandleader Jacob Jolliff for a wide-ranging conversation about curiosity, discipline, and building a musical life that resists easy categorization. Jacob is one of those rare musicians who move fluently between bluegrass, jazz, classical, and experimental music without losing his voice in any of them. We begin by talking about his love of...

In this episode, I sit down with drummer David Northrup for a deep and wide-ranging conversation about groove, longevity, and serving the song. David has built an incredible career by doing precisely that, whether he’s playing traditional country, blues, soul, or roots-based music. We start by talking about his current work with Joe Nichols, why it’s such a musical and personal fit, and what it me...

In this episode, I sit down with singer, songwriter, bassist, and musical innovator Scott Mulvahill for a wide-ranging conversation about curiosity, collaboration, and building creative worlds. We start by talking about Scott’s recent trip to Lafayette, Louisiana, where he performed Paul Simon’s Graceland in a profoundly meaningful way, including sharing the stage with original Zydeco musicians wh...