The Tonearm

Today, the Spotlight shines On EMBER , a trio featuring saxophonist and trumpeter Caleb Wheeler Curtis, bassist Noah Garabedian and drummer Vincent Sperrazza. Their latest album, August in March , came out August 11, 2023 on Imani Records and is “a vivid representation of the musical, interpersonal and community-oriented ideas that the three forward-thinking musicians that make up EMBER…care deepl...

Today, the Spotlight is On singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Pete Josef . The impetus for Pete’s visit was a series of tracks that he has been dropping throughout the Spring and Summer of 2023 - one of which, “ Utopia ”, you can listen to at the end of this episode. Before we got to his new music, we discussed Pete’s musical upbringing, his connection to classic soul “message music”, a...

Today, the Spotlight is On international award-winning harpist and composer, Kirsten Agresta Copely . Kirsten, who is known for her charismatic, telegenic presence on stage, is also the go-to harpist for pop artists including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Enya, The Roots, Lady Gaga, and many others.  Kirsten joins Spotlight On to talk about her recently released New Age album, Aquamarine , w...

Today, the Spotlight is On Gabriel Jacob Luansing, who produces music under the name mr. master .  For over six years, Gabriel has been working on an ever-expanding experimental hip-hop project called ‘ ultra ,’ which, as of this recording, currently spans 138 songs, clocking over six hours of music.  ‘ultra’ is a project meant to be dived deep into, and we do, discussing the intention a...

Spotlight On producer and editor Michael Donaldson and host Lawrence Peryer communicate constantly throughout the research and production of each episode, but they rarely actually speak in person. So when Michael suggested they spend time catching up to discuss some topics of shared interest, the pair decided to press ‘record’ and share their discussion with listeners.  The two had a freewhee...

The Spotlight shines On guitarist and banjoist Brandon Seabrook , hot off the release of his new album brutalovechamp on Pyroclastic Records . Brandon is known for pushing his music past the far reaches of the extreme, fusing elements from punk, jazz, pop, and metal. His music has been called “abrasive” and “angular”, with an intense focus on virtuosity. brutalovechamp covers new ground.  Wit...

Today, the Spotlight shines On Peter Kruder and Roberto Di Gioia , who join us to talk about their new but long-gestating duo project, “ -------- ”.   Viennese artist, producer and DJ Peter Kruder is one of the legendary figures in electronic music, known for his pioneering work as a member of Kruder & Dorfmeister . Kruder & Dorfmeister, named after Peter and collaborator Richard...

Today, the Spotlight shines On Dan Mackta , Managing Director of North America and Northern Europe for the high-resolution music service, Qobuz .  We get pitched constantly by publicists to have their music business clients on as guests. Long-time listeners have noticed that we host fewer of those types of discussion than in the past but when we do, we aim to feature only the most interesting...

Today, the Spotlight shines On Vermont-based saxophonist, composer and arranger Brian McCarthy . Brian joins us on the occasion of his most recent project, AFTER|LIFE released back in late May, just a few days after we recorded this talk.  AFTER|LIFE is the second album of Brian’s in the nonet format as well as the second to be brought to fruition through support from the Vermont Community Fo...

Today, the Spotlight shines On David Rodriguez , Executive Vice President and Executive Producer at NJPAC - the New Jersey Performing Arts Center .  David works in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey, and has led a fascinating life in the performing arts. He was a full-time musician on the road with groups ranging from Isaac Hayes to Tito Puente to the Rochester Philharmonic. He studied at Jui...

Today, the Spotlight shines On the Basel-based band LILAMORS , which consists of vocalist Ana Čop, pianist Thilo Seevers, and sound artist Jaka Arh. With their debut album, When I Am Dead, My Dearest, out on June 30th, LILAMORS is taking jazz into new territories of experimental electro-acoustic music, utilizing poetry from the last two centuries as well as original lyrics written by Ana. The...

Today, the Spotlight shines On MISS C-LINE , a neo-soul singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Switzerland.  Her music blends soul and groove with elements of hip-hop and jazz, resulting in a unique and memorable sound. This conversation is memorable, too, and and it pairs well with the MISS C-LINE track we have for you at the end of this episode, her latest single, “Intimately”...

Today, the Spotlight shines On Brooklyn-based pianist and composer Danny Fox and the latest work from the Danny Fox Trio , Time Took Care of It . Danny’s trio, with bassist Chris van Voorst van Beest and drummer Max Goldman, has been a working group with a consistent lineup since their founding in 2008. Their distinctive sound is a testament not only to their time together but also to their intere...

Today, the Spotlight shines On Canadian producer and sound artist Michael Scott Dawson . Michael joined us to mark the release of his third solo album, Find Yourself Lost , a collection of country-adjacent, Western-themed ambient recordings issued by Toronto label We Are Busy Bodies . This album is ethereal without being space music and is steeped in melody, tape loops, and Michael’s own field rec...

In this episode, the Spotlight shines On internationally-renowned bass player and composer Bruno Råberg . Since coming to the US from his native Sweden in 1981, Bruno has made many recordings as both a leader and sideman — and has performed with an incredible number of world-class artists - including Terri Lyne Carrington, Sam Rivers, Donny McCaslin, Billy Hart, Matt Wilson, and countless others....

Today, the Spotlight shines On Lithuanian drummer and producer Marijus Aleksa . Marijus has worked as a band leader, session musician and solo artist, and in each setting, his sound is his own, reflecting his interests in jazz, world and electronic club music.  Marijus spent a decade in London, embedded in the dynamic new jazz scene there. Now back in Lithuania, he recently programmed a small...

Today, the Spotlight shines On South African record producer, emcee, and keyboardist EMAMKAY . EMAMKAY visited us to talk about his new album, Love Is Energy , released back in March. As he explains in our talk, the music was crafted from jam sessions and band rehearsals that le later revisited and mined for inspiration. The resulting album is finely crafted but surprisingly organic. EMAMKAY’s mus...

Today, the Spotlight shines On guitarist Dominic Miller , a musician unique in his ability to fit in and contribute as a sideman, but also to step up as a band leader. Dominic may be best known as guitarist — and in his own words, “Lieutenant” — for Sting , a position he has filled for over 30 years, but he has been creating his own diverse body of work for many decades as well.  Dominic join...

Today, the Spotlight shines On Lem Oppenheimer, co-founder of Easy Star Records, an independent record label specializing in pushing and expanding the boundaries of reggae music.  Founded in mid-90s New York City, Easy Star first focused on raising the bar for US reggae but soon expanded to uncovering and highlighting great artists from regional scenes around the world.  Their in-house b...

Today, the Spotlight shines On Monika Herzig, whose career as a jazz pianist and composer spans three decades and dozens of releases. Monika joins us to talk about the release of a reimagined set of Joni Mitchell’s music, which she arranged and features vocals interpreted by her late friend, award-winning vocalist Janiece Jaffe. To quote from the liner notes: “This album is, first and foremost, ab...

Today, the Spotlight shines On an episode from about a year ago, our conversation with photographer Harold Sherrick. Harold joined Spotlight On to talk about A Pig's Tale , a book he co-authored which tells the story of the legendary bootleg record label, Trade Mark of Quality, and the adventures of its founders in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  Trade Mark of Quality was really the first bo...

Today, the Spotlight shines On New York-based jazz innovators Jane Ira Bloom and Mark Helias, who join us to discuss their latest collaboration with drummer Bobby Previte, 2.3.23 . I’d like to read from Mark’s notes for the album, “ 2.3.23 was an outgrowth of the improvisational recording project that emerged between myself and Jane Ira Bloom beginning at an early stage of the pandemic in April/Ma...

Today, the Spotlight shines On John Brodeur, leader of the music project, Bird Streets.  John conceived of Bird Streets as his return to a band format after a long career as a solo artist. The new band point of view proved to be artistically freeing, and John joins us today to talk about Lagoon , the second Bird Streets album. Among John’s collaborators on Lagoon are Pat Sansone of Wilco, Mic...

Today, the Spotlight shines On Australian jazz heavyweight Christopher Hale.  Christopher has been called “one of the most unique and respected musicians in Australia” ( Glam Adelaide ) and an “unconventional virtuoso of the bass guitar” ( The Age ). His new release, Ritual Diamonds , came out on March 3 through Earshift Music. The work reimagines Korean ritual drumming and contemporary jazz,...

Today, the Spotlight shines On rising electro soul artist, Nick Locke, who performs under the name Phyphr. A songwriter and producer, Phyphr combines his own live guitar playing with electronic elements to create a unique, vibrant twist on electronic funk, soul and blues.  Phypht and host Lawrence Peryer had a great time connecting which hopefully comes across in this recording.&nbs...