Category Archives: Uncategorized
Chuck Leavell Interview
Chuck Leavell is one of the world’s premier blues rock pianists—a veteran musician who has recorded and toured with many of the best-known names in the business. He is perhaps best known for his work with the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Black Crowes, and his legendary years with the Allman Brothers Band in the ’70s.
He’s a phenomenal musician who’s been part of so much musical history. I’ve done two interview with Chuck. In 2008 Chuck did an extensive career retrospective interview with me for All About Jazz,(you can hear about 60% at the bottom of the page — about an hour and 15 minutes.) However, because of the audio quality I would suggest reading the print version.
Luckily, our 2012 interview has good audio quality plus audio clips from Chuck’s Piano Blues CD– see below.
2012 Audio Interview
In 2012 I caught up with Chuck again after he received a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement, and released Back To The Woods, his tribute CD to the early blues piano players with guest appearances by John Mayer and Keith Richards.
Here is a lower quality partial audio from Chuck’s 2008 print interview:
File: https://talking2musicians.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/t2m-chuck-leavell-first-podcast-interview.mp3
John Scofield Interview
Just after sitting in with the Allman Brothers Band at the Beacon, the iconic jazz guitarist spoke with me about his musical roots in rock and blues — imagine, some top groups played at his high school. He even saw Jimi Hendrix. He gave me his take on Duane Allman, Mike Bloomfield, Sly and the Family Stone, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, John Mayer, Jimmy Herring and plenty more.
file: https://talking2musicians.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/t2m-scofield-podcast.mp3
Or you can read the print version on the Internets most popular Jazz site, AllAboutJazz:
Derek Trucks
Derek is a consummate musician, he has been on the cover of Down Beat and Rolling Stone; he’s been profiled in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal; he’s toured with Clapton and Santana; he’s guested on recordings with J.J. Cale, Elvin Bishop, Buddy Guy, and David Sanborn; he’s done a DVD with McCoy Tyner, Ron Carter, and Jack DeJohnette; and he and his wife performed at the White House with B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger, and m.m..
Here is the audio of the second half of my feature interview with Derek for All About Jazz. From his earliest guest appearance on stage with the Allman Brothers Band to his duets with Eric Clapton and lots more!
file: https://talking2musicians.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/t2m-derek-trucks-podcast-interview.mp3
Read the full print interview
Jimmy Herring Interview
Here is my interview with Jimmy before the start of the 2017 John McLaughlin Tour
Jimmy Herring is one of the world’s premier progressive rock guitarists. He has the uncanny ability to fuse the visceral power of rock with the ingenuity of jazz harmonics without diminishing the essence of either. In this wide-ranging one hour interview he shares his thoughts on music and his musical influences. From John Scofield, Jimmy Smith, and chicken pickers, to his favorite Howlin’ Wolf song, and lots more.
file: https://talking2musicians.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/t2m-jimmy-herring-2011-interview-podcast.mp3
Or read the print version:
In 2012 I spoke with Jimmy again to catch up and get some background about the recording of his great CD Subject to Change Without Notice — for example, he shared his thoughts about the musicianship of his son (who played cello on the CD), and the artistry of his daughter (who painted the cover art.)
file: https://talking2musicians.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/t2m-jimmy-herring-2012-interview-podcast1.mp3
Or read the print version
MEET THE RINGERS – Carlock, Herring, Krantz, Landau & Mbappe
On this episode I speak with all three guitarists from The Ringers: Jimmy Herring, Wayne Krantz, & Michael Landau, plus their fantastic drummer, Keith Carlock. The band brings together five extraordinary musicians, world class players who collectively have recorded and toured with many of the best known and most respected artists on the planet. Steely Dan, Michael Jackson, Bonnie Raitt, Seal, Sting, Joni Mitchell, John Mayer, James Taylor, the Allman Brothers Band and m.m.
These are musicians’ musicians, guys who put the music first, and who want to have fun on stage playing to people who love music. It is a rare treat to see three of the most gifted guitarists on the planet together on stage in the same band, backed up by an equally talented drummer and bassist.
file: https://talking2musicians.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/t2m-podcast-the-ringers.mp3
Videos
Ronny Jordan Interview
In remembrance of his loving spirit and musical gifts. He passed away in January of 2014 at the age of 51.
Ronny Jordan is a winner of Gibson Guitar’s award for Best Jazz Guitarist, he’s been nominated for a Grammy, and is a jazz artist who has made it to the pop charts. He’s known as one of the earliest and most successful jazz artists to draw upon the energy and vitality of hip hop. His music is perhaps best described as Urban Jazz, a blend of jazz, hip hop,and R&B — but certainly not limited to that.
His message is positive and spiritually uplifting, his grooves are addictive, and his playing is ingenious. He is completely self-taught, and in addition to his musicianship, he is an accomplished producer, arranger, and composer. He uses the studio as creatively as possible, and on his latest album he introduces his fans to midi guitar — doing string, keyboard, and bass parts on a midi guitar.
Ronny was born and raised in London, the son of a pentecostal preacher with a very interesting life story which he shared in this interview. This wide-ranging interview took place in late January of 2013, Ronny talks about the awakening of his talent, his early career, his big break with Island Records, and his recordings. Gifted, creative, and humble — he is all-about-the-music.
file: https://talking2musicians.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/t2m-podcast-website-edition-ronny-jordan.mp3
Nathan East
Nathan East is one of the world’s premiere session musicians. He’s perhaps best known as Eric Clapton’s favorite bass player, but that’s also Nathan on Michael Jackson’s “Bad” and Daft Punk’s recent Grammy winning album. Of course he’s a founding member of the highly successful jazz group Fourplay.
Some of his other credits include: Anita Baker, Herbie Hancock, Babyface, B.B. King, George Harrison, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Savage Garden, Sting, Quincy Jones, Al Jarreau, Kenny Loggins, and The Manhattan Transfer.
His debut self-titled album will be released March 25, 2014, with guest appearances by Michael McDonald, Sara Bareilles, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Kazumasa Oda, Bob James, Chuck Loeb, Ray Parker, Jr., David Paich and his son Noah East.
file: https://talking2musicians.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/t2m-nathan-east-interview1.mp
Duane Allman Colorized Birthday Photo Album
Duane Allman at 70
Click photo to open gallery
I colorized several photos of Duane Allman and posted them in a photos gallery.
On November 20, 1946 Duane Allman made his world debut in the delivery room of Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville. Had he lived, he would be celebrating his 70th birthday this month. With that in mind, I wrote an extensive profile piece about Duane Allman for AllAboutJazz that you can find here.
Because Duane Allman’s playing had such an impact on me, it’s not surprising that he was mentioned in several of my interviews. So below I’ve put together a special bit of audio dealing with Duane Allman and the band he founded, drawn from my interviews with seven different musicians. Six of the seven are Grammy winners. Although Joey Molland of Badfinger doesn’t have a Grammy, he was at the epicenter of popular music during the time Duane Allman played with the Allman Brothers Band. For example, he played on George Harrison’s album All Things Must Pass, John Lennon’s Imagine, and performed on The Concert for Bangladesh in Madison Square Garden — and he met Duane Allman.
I hope you enjoy the article and the audio below.
- 0:00 Do You Remember the 60s?
- 5:22 Jerry Jemmott
- 15:41 Jaimoe
- 21:06 Chuck Leavell
- 30:40 Badfinger’s Joey Molland
- 41:11 John McLaughlin
- 43:18 John Scofield
- 52:20 Derek Trucks
We’ve been looking at the same photos for decades. Now, thanks to modern technology there is a way to bring them to life. So, in celebration of Duane Allman on his 70th birthday here’s my birthday gift to fans.
Feel free to share, but please be fair and ask folks to visit talking2musicians.com so they can hear the audio and find a link to the article about Duane.
colorized by Alan Bryson for http://www.talking2musicians.com
Mike Seal
Mike Seal
Guitarist Mike Seal first caught my attention at the end of 2014 as part of the Jeff Sipe Trio. At that time I described him as an extraordinarily talented young musician, an assessment shared by many, including the legendary dobro virtuoso Jerry Douglas. This summer the three time winner of the Country Music Association’s Musician of the Year award invited Mike Seal to join his band. At the beginning of this exciting new chapter in his musical journey, it seemed like an ideal time to speak with him.
Mike has been active on the Southern music scene for over ten years, touring with The Jeff Sipe Trio, The Black Lillies, The Jeff Coffin Mu’tet, and sharing the stage with musicians such as Kofi Burbridge, Oteil Burbridge, Col. Bruce Hampton, a.m.m.
Mike’s grandfather was a gifted self taught gospel guitarist in rural Virginia, and his older brother, Rob Seal, is a multi-instrumentalist (guitar/mandolin/violin/banjo) who is active on the bluegrass music scene. Mike is married to Megan Lovell who is a very accomplished lap steel and dobro player. She and her sister Rebecca front the popular Americana roots band Larkin Poe. The band frequently tours with Elvis Costello, and has opened for the Tedeschi Trucks Band.
During the interview he solves the mystery of his unique technique, talks about his influences, and his trial by fire initiation into the Jerry Douglas Band at the Bluegrass Festival this past summer in Telluride, Colorado, a.m.m. There are several audio clips which showcase his remarkable musicianship and the breadth of his musical interests – jazz, bluegrass, and even two classical pieces. I’m eagerly anticipating an album from this extraordinarily talented musician.
NOTE 2018: If you prefer to read, this interview is now available in print form on my Steemit page here, or on the Internet’s most popular jazz website AllAboutJazz here.
Here are the videos which accompany the interviews.
Matt Slocum Interview
Matt Slocum
Matt Slocum is a prominent keyboardist on the Southern music scene, best known for his work with Oteil Burbridge, the Lee Boys, and Susan Tedeschi and his role as Jimmy Herring’s go-to keyboard player. Last year he was recruited by Bruce Hampton to join the Aquarium Rescue Unit’s 30 year anniversary tour. He’s also a member of the band King Baby, who just finished recording their first album which will be released this fall on Abstract Logix.
He was born in Massachusetts, where he began studying classical piano at an early age. As a teenager he moved to Alabama and continued his musical education at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. At the 1991 Berklee College of Music Summer Performance Program he was ranked among the the top ten of the attendees.
We get into all of that and more, and listen to some audio of Matt’s work with Jimmy Herring, Bruce Hampton, and King Baby.
visit homepage to stream or download the interview
