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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
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
Oteil Burbridge Podcast
OTEIL BURBRIDGE
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 for finally talk to the man himself.
THIS IS THE PODCAST FEED — VISIT THE HOMEPAGE FOR DOWNLOAD LINK AND INTERVIEW NOTES
Talking2Musicians 