Elaine Chao and Trist Curless

The Musician's Loupe

Music EN ↓ 33 episodes

A discussion about music and musicianship by Trist Curless (jazz singer, educator, sound engineer, and recording engineer, formerly of m-pact and The Manhattan Transfer) and Elaine Chao, M.Ed (multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, beatboxer, singer-songwriter, author, and former educator). Each week, we listen to a song together and discuss the music we love through the lens of decades in the music industry. Topics include analysis of songwriting, chord progression, instrumentation, recording technology, and arrangement.

Author

Elaine Chao and Trist Curless

Episodes

Vocal jazz, doo-wop, and a little melodica: In the Still of the Night (I’ll Remember) (Johnny Mathis) 30.12.2025 31:33

Listen to the song YouTube - https://youtu.be/Hr1M6wWBei0?si=ygI48sWUK1WvFumB   Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/20DUr5qMlguUSIeVsquajt?si=90324010b59a4cc7   Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/in-the-still-of-the-night-ill-remember/270027184   Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B00138JBLM?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_nzxPmW...

Standards, phrasing, and the jazz ballad: Over the Rainbow (Lorez Alexandria) 23.12.2025 31:29

Listen to the song YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07svdMmaQbM   Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/4rnTlPjfyaDtKVhq9ZYryy?si=bcbff13656ac43f5   Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/over-the-rainbow/1444164049   Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B000W15BNS?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_1lz8YoMjapO1PSPL3SaW0Iyma&tr...

Anthems, harmonies, and unexpected soul: If You Believe (Kenny Loggins) 16.12.2025 31:31

Listen to the song YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG0eW6zHoyc Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/2thU0AOHF6C9Iwnrch1oHA?si=7a2cab7b25b848a3 Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/if-you-believe/202777729 Amazon - https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B00138CRKY?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_dpAh3rAcWNutnxKDLPr1dx5Z3&trackAsin=B00137RMK...

Minimalism, metaphor, and heartbreak: Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer (Stevie Wonder) 09.12.2025 32:41

Listen to the song YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrLDXORRDpo&list=RDFrLDXORRDpo Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/37Coai9PTZrf39716Ypi0S Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/never-dreamed-youd-leave-in-summer/1443793772 Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B000VWPMX2?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_SAOWAZX6uO74jq9sKAZbYD40N&tr...

BONUS: A belated introduction 03.12.2025 19:44

Join us for this special bonus episode: Trist and Elaine introduce themselves, cover their own musical backgrounds, and share why they’re doing this podcast. Other Links The LHR Project Take 6 m-pact Pentatonix Straight No Chaser The Manhattan Transfer Naturally 7 The Swingles About us Trist Curless is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, educator, and sound engineer. As a performer, Trist has toured wor...

Clever songwriting, vintage vibes, and a bit of whimsy: The Laundromat Swing (Rachael and Vilray) 02.12.2025 30:56

Listen to the song YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDgAKf6pE6I&list=RDKDgAKf6pE6   Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/4sluRx2AOutiE6pVszQfZ0   Apple Music - https://open.spotify.com/track/4sluRx2AOutiE6pVszQfZ0   Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B07VGP8RCW?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_OnOs1Dd5AHZ7VTB6bC1Si32Zb&trackA...

Storytelling songs, pop culture references, and the underdog: You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (Jim Croce) 25.11.2025 29:58

Listen to the song YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hickVDiW8k0   Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/6ZBeRXjadHvBk9VYSnoO0R   Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/you-dont-mess-around-with-jim/1674575644   Amazon - https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0DZVD77DQ?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_MGVmgH42gWddvoDScPKQIAkC5&tr...

Retro funk, pop, and a powerful bridge: Half of the Way (Vulfpeck) 18.11.2025 26:53

Listen to the song we're discussing: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr6f26I2cBI&pp=ygUYdnVsZnBlY2sgaGFsZiBvZiB0aGUgd2F5   Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/3uFp6gGgNMtSEmzx1cHTG4   Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/half-of-the-way-feat-theo-katzman/1436319130   Amazon - https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B081ZLBTR1?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&am...