Concert Honesty

Brianna is a pianist and teacher living in Cincinnati, OH.  We talked about her background in music and growing up with a farmer as a father.  We also touched on issues of class and race in the new music community and how, in general, to try and make things better.  Brianna was the first in person podcast I’ve done since Covid, and I have to say, it was a real blessing.  I hope you enjoy this chat as much as I did.

Kadeem is a musician living in Brooklyn, NY and of Trinidadian descent.  He’s a big advocate for the steel pan culture in NYC and Trinidad.  We talked about pan culture as well as some of the issues around vaccine hesitancy.  I truly am grateful to have had this conversation with Kadeem.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Ben is a percussionist, educator, arranger, and composer who teaches at NIU.  Ben and I have a great chat about his time at NIU and his work with Cliff and Liam, as well as how to embrace cultures not familiar to you.  I really enjoyed the chat with Ben and I hope to do more!

Duvone is the arranger and music director of Renegades Steel Orchestra in Trinidad and Tobago.  It was a pleasure to talk with him about his background and get into some discussions about the steel band culture and history and issues of respect of the culture in the steelband community.

I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I did.

Felix Reyes, Marcelina Suchocka, and Alan Hankers make up a trio of two percussionists and 1 pianist focusing on new commissions for the line-up.  They all have a background of heavy metal influence and it was a treat to talk with them about their groups goals and future.

Kim is a Trinidadian historian focusing on the roots of the steelband movement in Trinidad and Tobago.  His book “From Tinpan to TASPO” changed my life.  We talk about the history of the steel pan and his approach to collecting all of that crucial information from figures who are alive today.

Shodekeh is a vocal breath artist, currently in residence at Towson University.  We had a great chat about the innovating beat boxer, Biz Markie, among many other artists.  We also talk a bit about his personal battle with suicide and how Buckminster Fuller’s ideation approach changed his life.  Fascinating person and conversation.  Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Aaron is a SoSI alum and percussionist living in Seattle.  We talk about ways to use funding to support local artists and ethics around all of that.  I really enjoyed catching up with Aaron.

Andrea is a SoSI alum and percussionist/performer living in Florida.  Her online persona is Andē.  It was amazing to catch up with her and hear what she’s up to.  Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

I met Kunal at Silent Barn, a punk house music space he ran with his friend Joe Ahearn and many others.  It was a pleasure to catch up with him and hear about his life in coding.  I really enjoyed this chat especially the discussion around ethics in technology.