Jim Black is a cat. He's been on the scene a long time, playing drums in several of the most important bands to come out of Brooklyn in the past two decades. He's travelled the world and for this episode Jim and I sit down to discuss the state of a crumbling music industry, maintaining long-term relationships both musical and personal, and growing as a musician. This is a good one so strap in.

Ben Goldberg is a clarinetist of astounding virtuosity, depth and sensitivity. His music has had a profound effect on me since first encountering it at age 19 and any chance to hear Ben play is a revelatory experience. For this talk Ben and I go deep, real deep as we discuss the ongoing struggle inherent to playing clarinet, the weight of tradition, and living a balanced life. I couldn't be more proud of how this podcast turned out and I hope that you all get as much out of listening to it as I did making it.

Billy Martin is a world class drummer who has made a name for himself as a founding member of the legendary Medeski Martin & Wood. When not on the road with MMW, Billy keeps busy running his record label, improvising with a broad range of musicians, focusing on his visual art and most recently, composing for film. This talk took place just after New Years on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Billy's house in New Jersey. We cover a lot of ground and I am very grateful to Billy for talking.

Charlie Looker is a special one. Born and raised in New York City, he's been on a very personal and intense musical journey that started as a young teenager going to shows at the Knitting Factory. He was a founding member of Zs, which he left to start Extra Life. Since disbanding Extra Life Charlie has been busy with Seven Teares and most recently Psalm Zero, who will release their first full-length "The Drain" on March 4th. For this conversation Charlie and I drink waaaaay too much whiskey and get into it, knocking over mic stands, arguing about Death Grips and throwing vaguely antisemitic snaps at one another. This one gets weird...

Tom Blancarte is a gifted bass player and improviser with whom I have been collaborating for the past decade. On February 23rd he will release his first solo album on Dan Peck's Tubapede Records. Entitled "The Shortening of the Way", it's 35 minutes of psychotic and virtuosic solo playing. For this one Tom and I talk improvising, solo playing, beer, day jobs and death. Check it.

Jesse Krakow is a bro among bros and a veteran of many crucial prog and avant rock ensembles. A Los Angeles native, his blood runs thick with a love for the two Coreys, Del Taco, "It's A Living" and Captain Beefheart. For this talk Jesse and I go to a lot of places, starting our trip in the San Fernando Valley of the 1980s and ending it as a father in Brooklyn in 2014, we go to some very strange and uncomfortable places in between. When you get two Jews on the mic things tend to get weird and this episode is no exception.

Ellery Eskelin is the kind of musician who, in his personal approach to life and music, sets and example for all of us. He has been playing the saxophone for forty years and continues to reinvent and refine his relationship to it. He is a Baltimore native, the son of six night a week gigging mom, and he grew up in playing blues-based bop since the age of ten. For this conversation Ellery takes me back to Baltimore, with some great stories from childhood to his first gig in New York up until the time he locked himself in his basement for three months to develop an approach to solo saxophone. Episodes like this are the reason that I started this podcast.

Matt Bauder is without question one of the most talented, proficient and soulful musicians that I know. He does things on the saxophone that make me want to quit music forever. He's also a handsome cat (look at this mug). For this talk Matt and I examine a lot of our own frustrations with trying to build a life around music as well as look back at Matt's high school years with Wolf Eyes, Colin Stetson and Andrew WK. A great one.

Ava Mendoza is a delightful gal who just moved from the Bay Area to Brooklyn. Her guitar tone is enviable and she makes powerful music that comes directly from her heart. For this talk we welcome Ava to NYC with a glass of wine and some good old fashioned fat chewing. Ava is the real deal and I am glad that she is now calling NYC her home.