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.]
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
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
OVERVIEW of INTERVIEWS
Guitarists Interviews
John McLaughlin, Jimmy Herring, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks
Alex Machecek, John Scofield, Scott Sharrad, Louie Shelton
Ronny Jordan, Devon Allman, Eliot Lewis, Oz Noy
Carl Mörner Ringström, Joey Molland, Michael Lee Firkins, Ray Russell
Zayn Mohammed
Bassists Interviews
Oteil Burbridge, Etienne Mbappe, Jerry Jemmott, Nathan East
Keyboard Interviews
Chuck Leavell, Barbara Dennerlein, Jon Batiste, Matthias Bublath,
Gary Husband, Matt Slocum
Drummer Interviews
Jaimoe, Jeff Sipe
Various Instruments Interviews
Anne Drummond, Jim Hart, Rod Melancon, The Ringers: Jimmy Herring, Mike Landau, Wanye Krantz, Kieth Carlock
VISIT THE HOME PAGE TO STREAM OR DOWNLOAD INTERVIEWS
Podcast Interview with the great Etienne Mbappe
Etienne Mbappe is a musician’s musician, a Paris based bass player, originally from Cameroon. He began his musical career in Paris in the 80s, playing with the leading names on the African music scene. He was part of Ultramarine, a groundbreaking world music fusion band, and was eventually recruited by the jazz legend Joe Zawinul to join his band, and later by another music icon, John McLaughlin, with whom he still tours and records.
This year he joined Jimmy Herring, Wayne Krantz, Keith Carlock, and Michael Landau in a new super group — The Ringers. Fresh off thier first tour, and just before the upcoming tour with John McLaughlin, this seemed like a perfect time to talk with Etienne( aka ATN to friends & fans.)
t2m podcast etienne mbappe t2m abstract logix p o c interview ringers
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. They are about to embark on their first tour which will begin on Feb. 19th in Athens, Georgia –get the lastest tour dates here. 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. If you’re on the East Coast, you don’t want to miss this!!!
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 Jimmy Herring – Part 2
Part 2
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.)
Talking2Musicians 