The Tonearm

Today, the Spotlight shines On flutist Jamie Baum . When COVID hit, Jamie found inspiration and solace in poetry. What started as daily readings of women poets became something much bigger: an album blending jazz and spoken word. As leader of her long-running Septet+ , Jamie has crafted wide-ranging music for over twenty years. She has played everywhere, from major jazz festivals to tiny clubs in...

Today, the Spotlight shines On clarinetist  Anat Cohen . Anat’s been bringing her joyful spirit to jazz venues worldwide for two decades, blending swing, Brazilian rhythms, and melodies from her native Israel. Her 2024 album  Bloom  pairs her musical warmth with that of her quartet  Quartetinho  - Portuguese for "little quartet" - creating intimate conversations between cl...

Today, the Spotlight shines On pianist and composer  Marina Albero . From Barcelona’s vibrant music scene to the heart of New Orleans, Marina keeps finding new ways to push musical boundaries. Her latest album,  A Nomad of Sound , brings together jazz, classical, and world music traditions in a blend all her own. Marina has journeyed across continents and cultures—from her early years st...

Today, the Spotlight shines On author J onathon Grasse . His new book,  Jazz Revolutionary , traces Eric Dolphy’s journey from the clubs of 1940s Los Angeles to his groundbreaking work in New York’s avant-garde jazz scene. Eric Dolphy’s revolutionary voice in jazz was silenced far too soon. He was an artist who pushed the boundaries of what was possible on alto sax, flute, and bass clarinet,...

Today, the Spotlight shines On innovative percussionist and drummer  Lisa Pegher . Lisa turns percussion into something you’ve never heard before. A pioneering artist who moves easily between classical concert halls and electronic music spaces, Lisa wields everything from traditional drums to cutting-edge AI technology. She’s performed with major orchestras worldwide and premiered works by to...

Today, the Spotlight shines On award-winning jazz critic and author  Paul de Barros . Throughout his storied career, Paul was editor and critic at the Seattle Times and has written for Downbeat and Earshot Jazz, amongst other outlets. He is also the author of  Jackson Street After Dark: The Roots of Jazz in Seattle  but today, he joins us to talk about the updated edition of his boo...

Today, the Spotlight shines On the duo of songwriter, producer, and MC  Küf Knotz  and harpist, vocalist, and music therapist  Christine Elise . Küf and Christine have turned the unlikely harp and hip-hop track combo into pure magic with their 2024 album  Hypnagogia . The album explores the space between awake and dreaming, with surreal soundscapes and vivid imagery that pulls...

Today, the Spotlight shines On author  Christoph Dallach , who joins me to discuss his book  Neu Klang: The Definitive History of Krautrock . Christoph has spent years tracking down the pioneers who spent the late 1960s in West Germany’s basements and practice rooms, creating sounds unlike anything else in rock and roll. Through conversations with members of bands like Can, Kraftwerk, an...

Today, the Spotlight shines On bassist and composer  Marwan Allam . Marwan’s debut album,  Bab Bhar , takes Arabic rhythms and Tunisian musical traditions and hands them to a jazz quartet, creating something that feels both ancient and brand new. Marwan tunes and plays his bass to echo the sound of the gimbri, a traditional three-string instrument from his native Tunisia. He’s here to wa...

Today, the Spotlight shines On composer, mandolinist, multi-instrumentalist, teacher, and label founder  Joe Brent . Joe has worked with artists ranging from Regina Spektor to the Philip Glass Ensemble, but his collaboration with Grammy-nominated violinist Sara Caswell and bassist Andrew Ryan in 9 Horses was the impetus for our time together. 9 Horses creates music between classical precision...

Today, the Spotlight shines On  Stephen Shaw  and  Jonathan Linden  of  Round Room Live . Round Room Live has become a powerhouse in family entertainment, from Broadway blockbusters to kids' favorite TV characters coming to life on stage. Stephen Shaw and Jonathan Linden launched the company in 2016 with a bold idea—take their experience from massive rock tours and use it...

Today, the Spotlight shines On experimental music producers and label owners  Taylor Deupree  and  Joseph Branciforte . Back in 2002, Taylor Deupree released an electronic album called  Stil.  That release captivated listeners with its quiet, repeating patterns and stark digital sound. Twenty years later, Taylor and producer Joseph Branciforte linked up to reimagine the al...

Today, the Spotlight shines On legendary Danish organist  Anders Koppel . Great music often runs in the family, and as proof, we have our first father-son episodes of Spotlight On. Last November, we had Benjamin Koppel, son and collaborator of today’s guest. But today’s story starts decades ago when Anders played Newport with his band Savage Rose. Fast forward to now, and Anders is back at th...

Today, the Spotlight shines On Christian McBride, a musician, recording artist, prolific composer, arranger, producer, cultural curator, dedicated educator, and mentor. Christian has been called the hardest-working person in jazz, and based on what I just rattled off, that might be underselling it. From his early days in Philadelphia soaking up the sounds of Philly Soul to sharing stages with lege...

What can be scarier than Halloween ghouls? How about a trip through the LSD underground? Today, the Spotlight shines On  Erik Davis , and this trip is no bummer. Erik is an author, award-winning journalist, and teacher in San Francisco. He is the author, most recently, of  Blotter: The Untold Story of an Acid Medium _, a study of LSD blotter art. And that’s what he’s joined us to talk ab...

Today, the Spotlight shines On  Josh Johnson , the Los Angeles-based saxophonist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and Grammy Award-winning producer. Josh joined me earlier this year to talk about his second solo album,  Unusual Object , which came out this past April on Northern Spy Records. Equal parts futuristic jazz and modern composition, Josh uses processed saxophone and subtle sam...

Today, the Spotlight shines On composer and percussionist  Shawn Mativetsky . A renowned tabla player, Shawn is a pioneer in bridging the worlds of Western and Indian classical music. We discussed the intricacies of traditional Indian music, including the setup and tuning of the instruments, the guru-disciple relationship, and the reception of Western musicians in the Hindustani community. We...

Today, the Spotlight shines On  Paul Stache , co-owner (with his wife and partner Molly Sparrow Johnson) of  Smoke Jazz Club , one of New York City’s premier live music venues. Smoke is celebrating its 25th anniversary throughout 2024 and Paul joined us to talk about the storied venue’s past, present, and future. In addition to the club’s 25th Anniversary Celebration plans, we hit on top...

Today, the Spotlight is going to shine a little differently. Instead of a single guest, we will have three segments dealing with the importance of local music scenes. Our first guest is Shain Shapiro . Shain is a thought leader working at the intersection of music, culture, and urban policy. His book, This Must Be The Place: How Music Can Make Your City Better , came out last year on Repeater Book...

Today, the Spotlight shines On drummer and composer  Devin Gray . Like me, Devin is a born New Englander who made his way to Brooklyn, though unlike me, he splits his time between Brooklyn and Berlin. Devin has performed with Spotlight On alumni Angelica Sanchez and Satoko Fuji, as well as a who’s who of the creative music scene: David Liebman, Sylvie Couvoisier, Tim Berne, Nate Wooley, and m...

Today, the Spotlight shines On Brad Mindich , an entrepreneur who works directly with artists, athletes, and others in music, culture, and sports to expand their legacies and create powerful connections with their fans. Brad currently does this work as the founder and CEO of Inveniem/Definitive Authentic, which helps its clients organize, catalog, present, and oftentimes monetize their archives di...

Today, the Spotlight shines On  Andy McCluskey , the singer, songwriter, musician, and producer best known as the lead singer and bass guitarist of  Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark  (also known as OMD). Andy joined Spotlight On producer and guest host Michael Donaldson to discuss topics as varied as the political messages behind their latest work, post-modern society, Kraftwerk, a...

Today, the Spotlight shines On JUNO Award-winning oud player and guitarist Gordon Grdina . Gordon’s work defies limitations, be they geographical, distance, time, or genre. He incorporates avant-garde jazz, free improvisation, indie rock, and Arabic tradition into his music. So much music, so many collaborators, and so much ground to cover in our talk. We made the most of our time together, explor...

Today, the Spotlight shines On trailblazing songwriter and now memoirist  Steve Wynn . Steve first hit public consciousness in the early 1980s with his band  The Dream Syndicate , frequently mentioned in the same breath as REM and The Replacements as the pioneers of American indie rock. The Dream Syndicate’s initial run did not outlast the decade that birthed them, but Steve’s career did...

Today, the Spotlight shines On the acclaimed and intriguing composer, bandleader, and improviser  Graham Reynolds . The Austin-based Reynolds has composed for countless film, television, dance, and theatrical productions, serving most notably as the sonic collaborator of director Richard Linklater. He is also Artistic Director of the new music-focused non-profit Golden Hornet. Graham joined m...