Blog Archives
Brandon Niederauer Interview
Although he is only seventeen, guitarist/singer/songwriter Brandon Niederauer has amassed a staggering list of accomplishments. At age ten he was a guest and performer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show—the YouTube clip of which has over 3,200,000 views. Two years later he landed a role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway Musical, School of Rock. He has performed a Hendrixesque version of the National Anthem at games for Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association.
He has worked with Lady Gaga, and played with Gregg Allman, Buddy Guy, Widespread Panic, Jon Batiste, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Oteil Burbridge, Dr. John, Eric Krasno, George Porter Jr., and many others. Currently he can be seen in Spike Lee’s Netflix series, She’s Gotta Have It.
He tours with his own band, nationally and internationally, playing his own signature guitar by D’Angelico. Finally, nurtured and guided by his parents, and grounded by friendships he has retained since early childhood, he excels in science and math at his public high school in Long Island, New York.
Continue reading the interview on AllAboutJazz. [There were so technical issues and as a result only the print version of this interview is available.]
For Lap Steel Guitar & Pedal Steel Guitar Fans
Click here to check out my latest article on All About Jazz about lap steel & pedal steel guitar players.
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.
Mike Seal Interview & Note
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.
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.
Hit the play button to listen, or click R on the guitar pick icon to download the mp3
Audio Player
Interview related videos
Facebook video of Mike playing “The Claw”
Below — Jeff Sipe Trio with Mike Seal, Taylor Lee bass, Jeff Sipe drums
Mike Seal on guitar with the Jeff Coffin Mu’tet in 2011, playing “L’Esperance” by Felix Pastorius (bass) and Jeff Coffin (sax)
Mike Seal with The Black Lillies
The Jerry Douglas Band with Mike Seal on guitar
Mike Seal playing J.S. Bach
Mike Seal and Jonathan Keeney playing Girl with the Flaxen Hair by Claude Debussy
Mike’s wife is Megan Lovell (lap steel guitar) of the band Larkin Poe.
(look close and you’ll see Mike riding in the back of the truck.)
Here are some clips of the stunningly talented Mark O’Connor, can’t thank Mike enough for turning me on to him.
And a fantastic blues player to boot!
Talk about a strange coincidence, during the interview I mentioned to Mike that Dan Seals 1985 song “Headin’ West” was the first time I heard Jerry Douglas play. Here’s is a clip from the 90s of Jerry Douglas and Dan Seals doing that song — but instead of Jim “Moose” Brown on guitar, it’s Mark O’Connor on fiddle!
The great Phil Baugh mentioned in the interview
Mentioned in interview TTB backstage with Jerry Douglas & Taj Mahal
Jeff Healey’s amazing 5 finger technique
Oteil Burbridge Interview & Note
Oteil Burbridge is one of the most respected bass players on the Southern music scene. He is an original member of the cult band Aquarium Rescue Unit led my Col. Bruce Hampton, who are regrouping for a reunion tour this summer. He was the original bass player in the Tedeschi Trucks Band, and he received a Grammy lifetime achievement award for his 17 year stint with the legendary Allman Brothers Band.
He departed the TTB in order to start a family and he is now the very proud father of a healthy baby boy. To spend more time with his family he is selective about touring and has really been mixing it up these past few years.
If you’ve listened to my interviews with John Scofield, Jimmy Herring, Derek Trucks, and Jeff Sipe you know his name has come up several times. He is all about the music and it was a treat to finally talk to the man himself.
File: https://talking2musicians.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/t2m-oteil-burbridge.mp3
Aquarium Rescue Unit with guests Kofi Burbridge on flute and Chuck Leavell on piano
Roosevelt Collier, Derrick Lee, Kofi Burbridge, Oteil Burbridge & Anthony Cole
Oteil in the movie Being There with Peter Sellers — he appears about 4 minutes into the clip.
Oteil on Studio Jams #7 doing “Butter Biscuit”
Oteil with the ABB
BB King & Bobby Blue Bland mentioned in the interview
Kofi & Oteil join Soulive on stage
Jaco Pastorius – Bass Solo Montreal Jazz Festival 80
Weather Report
Joni Mitchell & Jaco mentioned by Oteil
Interview with Jimmy Herring part one
Jimmy Herring is one of the world’s premier progressive rock guitarists. 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.
Interview with Jaimoe of the Allman Brothers Band
As a 2012 recipient of a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement, Jaimoe needs no introduction. He has been a beloved figure on the music scene for over four decades, as a veteran of the R&B circuit with Otis Redding, Percy Sledge and Joe Tex, and as a founding member of the legendary Allman Brothers Band and the critically acclaimed band Sea Level.
In late 2011 his Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band released Renaissance Man (Lil’Johnieboy Records, 2011), an album that is generating well-deserved praise and a lot of buzz. We talk about his band, Otis Redding, his friendship with Noel Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Clapton and much more.