The Keyboard Chronicles

Doug Petty is an American pianist, keyboardist, arranger, composer, and educator based in Los Angeles. He’s currently the keyboard player for the iconic Tears for Fears, but that’s just the start. Doug has recorded and performed with numerous artists, including Rihanna, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, and Enrique Iglesias. His work extends to film soundtracks, contributing to movies such...

Roger Joseph Manning Jr. is a US-based keyboardist, singer, and songwriter renowned for co-founding the bands Jellyfish, the Moog Cookbook, and Imperial Drag. He also happens to be a long-time member of Beck’s backing band, is a member of The Lickerish Quartet and has also collaborated with artists such as Air, Jay-Z, Blink 182, and Johnny Cash. We cover a lot of this amazing territory in ou...

Bob Fridzema has had quite the career already, marked by collaborations with a wide array of artists, including Glenn Hughes, Walter Trout, Bernie Marsden, and King King, among others. We cover a lot of this plus delve into other aspects of Bob’s work, including a quick studio tour that features some great vintage gear. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio pla...

It’s hard to overstate Eric Mouquet’s impact on music during the 1990s, and he’s still going strong. We cover Eric’s seminal work with Deep Forest but also his extensive recording, performing and collaboration with everyone from Peter Gabriel to David Foster and Herbie Hancock. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: wat...

Phillip Golub is a Brooklyn-based pianist, improviser, and composer. We talk on Phillip’s career and his work in transcribing Wayne Shorter’s work, as well as some thoughts on the increasing challenges musicians face industrially. All in all a fascinating chat! To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the embedded video below o...

Anna Lapwood is a British organist, conductor, and broadcaster. Currently Director of Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge, Anna has a full schedule as both organist and conductor. We go in-depth in relation to some of the amazing instruments Anna has performed on, as well as a wide-ranging discussion on Anna’s career and the challenges of classical music in the modern era more broadly. To l...

Jim Sheridan is a hard keyboard player to quantify, as his career has been incredibly diverse. That said, it’s fair  to say he’s a TV production expert from a musical viewpoint, and it’s given him some fascinating perspectives on composition, production and musicianship. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the embedd...

David Ryshpan is a multifaceted Canadian musician whose talents extend to being a pianist, keyboardist, composer, arranger, and DJ. Born in Toronto.  David has collaborated with a range of artists, including the likes of Vox Sambou, Jorge Ben Jor, and Trio Bruxo, showcasing his versatility across different musical landscapes. We go from Beijing to Brazil in this discussion, with a side-trip to Tok...

Mikey Rowe is  keyboardist for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Rowe’s musical journey with Noel Gallagher extends beyond the High Flying Birds. He was also  a part of Oasis and has an incredibly extensive session and recording career, which we discuss in some depth. And then there’s the train wreck story… A huge thanks to Mikey for his time! To listen / watch: Audio-onl...

Mark Shusterman is the keyboardist for Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. We cover his journey with that outfit as well as his other projects and diverse musical history.  To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel Discussion topics covered during t...

Jim Prime has been Deacon Blue’s keyboard player for decades, and that alone is a great reason to spend some serious time with him. Add in his other playing credits with other artists (John Martyn, Johnny Hallyday), his sense of humour and some of the best anecdotes we’ve heard, and you’ve got an interview for the ages. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in t...

Damon McMahon is an Australian-based keyboard player and former musical instrument industry professional who has a fascinating history of playing and living in other countries, including China, Singapore and Japan. We cover Damon’s interesting history in music and also engage in some music industry chat. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: V...

Most of our guests are hard to pigeon-hole, but none moreso than Sarah Belle Reid . We delve into Sarah’s fascinating work in modular synthesis, composition and even take a few detours into academia and virtual reality. If you’ve ever thought about learning or jumping into modular synthesis, Sarah has some great guidance as well. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button...

Aside from his founding role with The Greyboy Allstars and his recent tour with Roger Waters, Robert Walter has had an incredibly diverse career as a performer and composer. We cover it all as well as some great guidance for newer players and some great Desert Island Disc picks. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the embedded video b...

Jamie Hilboldt has been the go-to keys man for a range of artists from The Funk Brothers to his current long-term gig with the iconic Gary Puckett & The Union Gap. We cover Jamie’s career and his approach to playing and performing songs that are ingrained into the fabric of popular music. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch...

Grant Larcom is one of the stellar stable of keyboard players with Postmodern Jukebox. We talk on his amazing ride with that outfit as well as his other projects and future plans. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel Discussion topics covered during t...

Franz Nicolay plays piano, accordion and pretty much anything with keys for a wide range of projects including The Hold Steady and cabaret-punk orchestra World/Inferno Friendship Society as well as his own burgeoning solo career. We talk on all that in addition to his output as an author (see links below).  This is one wide ranging chat we hope you’ll enjoy a great deal. To listen / watch: A...

In this episode, we celebrate the 100th episode of the Keyboard Chronicles podcast. We discuss the behind-the-scenes process of producing a podcast and share our top five guests. other notable guests, discuss our favorite interviews, most popular audio and video episodes, and our bucket list guests. We also talk on our plans for 2024 and of course YOU, without whom this show would not be here. To...

We catch up with Morris Hayes to talk about his incredible career to date, including not only his amazing time with Prince, but his diverse production career and great insights on touring and playing. In this second instalment ( Part 1 is here ) we cover some iconic Prince gigs, a train wreck story that will turn your blood to ice water, hanging with Herbie Hancock and a great deal more. To listen...

We catch up with Morris Hayes to talk about his incredible career to date, including not only his amazing time with Prince, but his diverse production career and great insights on touring and playing. In this first part we cover Morris’ development as musician, his entry into the orbit of Prince and his approach to becoming an effective musical director and collaborator for the New Power Gen...

Kevin Gastonguay is a pianist and composer from Minnesota and now based in Nashville. Kevin has gained has gained well-deserved recognition for his work with jazz guitarist Cory Wong, with whom he records and tours internationally. In addition to his collaborations with Wong, Kevin has played in a range of bands and continues to release his own work regularly. All of this and more is covered in th...

Darryl Beaton has already had an incredible career as a keyboard player, singer and musical director, and he’s just getting started. We talk with Darryl on his career to date, his take on the ups and downs of TV-based musical direction and a whole bunch more including one hell of a Stevie Wonder anecdote! To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:...

Dominic Fallacaro is a jazz pianist, co-arranger, orchestrator, and Music Director. He’s currently MD for the hit Broadway jukebox musical & Juliet . This is of course, only one aspect of Dominic’s career and we cover his other achievements as a player, composer and arranger. There’s even a great Elmo story, so this is one not to miss! To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on...

Buck Johnson has been playing and singing since a very young age, and this experience shows in this interview as Buck takes us through his amazing career to date. We cover everything from Aerosmith’s farewell tour, to Buck’s production career, working with a range of true greats and his solo work. Lots to enjoy in this one. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the...

Scott Sheriff is the go-to keys maestro for the excepetional Carrie Underwood. He is also a busy session / studio musician and arranger,  and also has his own yacht rock band, amongst other projects. We talk about all of this and more in this episode. To listen / watch: Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or: Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previou...