Darol Anger is an acoustic music legend known as much for his innovative fiddle style beyond Bluegrass and Jazz traditions, and his teaching. Darol has helped drive the evolution of the contemporary string band through his involvement with numerous pathbreaking ensembles such as the Turtle Island String Quartet, the David Grisman Quintet, and his current touring group Mr Sun. This podcast episode is being released a few days before his new 2-album set Diary of a Fiddler #2: The Empty Nest, and you’ll be hearing many clips from this brilliant collaborative project that features dozens of phenomenal string players and improvisers. You’ll find the titles and performers from these clips in the timestamps Diary of a Fiddler #2 Album Anyone interested in the history of American acoustic music will be curious to hear Darol’s stories from his long career, and his advice to students from his many years teaching at Berklee and online at ArtistWorks. Most importantly I’m sure you’ll be inspired by Darol’s openness and generosity to musical connection. My website including YouTube

Darol Anger website Newsletter Buy me a coffee? Podcast Merch Martin Hayes Tracy Silverman Brittany Haas Joe K. Walsh Leslie DeShazor Julie Lyonn Lieberman Sara Caswell (00:00) Intro (02:14) summer festivals, Diary of a Fiddler projects (09:28) Brittany Haas with clip of I Coulda told U (10:49) recording the album, Liza Jane Parade with clip (14:44) Mike Barnett with clip Liza Jane Reboot (18:48) Darol’s early career in San Francisco (28:57) 5 string acoustic violin (33:30) Enion Pelta with clip Ouditarus Rez, teaching (39:00) other linked episodes (39:53) ArtistWorks, Berklee teaching (47:52) Ella Jordan, John Mailander with clip The Unberable Gift (49:43) Berklee, Jenna Moynihan with clip Melt the Teakettle (53:32) the importance of a positive and supportive atmosphere (57:54)playing bowed string instruments, baritone violin (01:01:46) Martin Hayes, Allistair Fraser, Natalie MacMaster (01:07:20) Casey Driessen with clip The Amen Corner (01:09:44) Rembemering Emy Phelps with clip of The Crooked Road to Emy with Tristan Clarridge (01:17:51) Mr. Sun 01:19:23) Diary of a Fiddler #2 with clip of the end of La Ville Manteaux with Trent Freeman, gardening

Originally released in 2022: Tracy Silverman is truly an inspiring musician in every respect and it was such an honour to meet him and be able to record this memorable episode! This interview is also available as a video; the transcript is also linked on my website

We talked about his classical roots, studying with legendary teachers Lewis Kaplan and Ivan Galamian, his rejection of the classical world and his fascinating career, through his years in rock bands, we even talked about some of his early gigs, including learning the ropes as a strolling violinist, getting the job as first violinist of the innovative Turtle Island string quartet, and the development of his Strum Bowing method.

We talked about many musicians, including some of his collaborators and mentors including Terry Riley, Darol Anger, Roy “Futureman” Wooten, Mark Wood, and composers Roberto Sierra and John Adams. In this conversation one of the many topics we covered was the new concerto writtten for Tracy called “Ficciones” by Roberto Sierra.

Finally, we dived into his creative process, how music affects our emotions, and how to stay open by listening to others, and learning to show up as ourselves.

Tracy Silverman website

Please help me keep this podcast going! Podcast merch

Newsletter

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:03:29) Concerto "Ficciones" by Roberto Sierra, premiered with the American Symphony Orchestra

(00:07:13) Tracy's 6-string electric violin built by Joe Glazer with demonstrations, and more about "Ficciones"

(00:14:14) Tracy's support system for the instrument, progression from classical violinist through his rock days

(00:22:37) Lewis Kaplan

(00:25:25) Ivan Galamian

(00:28:40) Tracy's approach to Bach

(00:32:04) Tracy's childhood, improv and composition

(00:36:17) "Ficciones" "Between the Kiss and the Chaos"

(00:40:51) Turtle Island String Quartet and career advice

(00:44:35) Strolling violin gigs, wedding singer

(00:47:41) John Adams, "Dharma at Big Sur", solo recital versions of concerti

(00:50:00) Looping with demo

(00:57:27) Album "Beats and Jams" with son "Toby Beats"

(01:02:11)Terry Riley

(01:24:03) process of improvisation, Strum bowing different styles

(01:17:47) Egberto Gismonti, Darol Anger

(01:22:00) teaching, strum bowing in school music programs

(01:24:43)Turtle Island String Quartet, Darol Anger and the origin of strum bowing

(01:28:08) music affects our emotions

(01:32:10) Roy "Futureman" Wooten, positive mindset

(01:37:30) challenges with the 2020 lockdowns

(01:44:35) commission for "Ficciones" with different orchestras

(01:46:22)Tracy's mission with string playing, practicing, advice

This was originally released in 2022. The internationally renowned South African guitarist Derek Gripper is famous for his groundbreaking technique for evoking the West African kora on the guitar. During this episode you’ll get to hear Derek play quite a bit and you will hear his wonderful insights on how we listen to and learn music, the influence of Montessori and Alexander Technique in his life, his reflections on important collaborations in his career and his perspectives on changes that have been imposed on creators and performers.

My website for the video and transcript

Derek Gripper Website

Newsletter

Buy me a coffee?

Podcast Merch

(00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:45) Bach guitar music with intro (00:04:00) carnatic music studies, album with tabla player Udai Mazumdar (00:06:12) structural improvisation, Bach (00:08:18) Alexander Technique (00:15:28) violin studies (00:16:24) Derek's recording approach (00:20:30) “Billly Goes to Durban” (00:21:28) kora music, Toumani Diabaté (00:25:18) “Tubaka” guitar music (00:26:36) Derek’s transcriptions, Zoom classes (00:30:12) online music economy, Derek’s experiences with selling albums, Platoon label (00:35:35) Montessori method and teaching guitar (00:39:38) "A Year of Swimming" (00:41:34) Alex Van Heerden, “Sagtevlei”, Steve Reich, Bryan Bolton (00:45:36) Guy Buttery and different collaborations (00:48:12) South Africa and COVID’s economic ramifications (00:49:43) Madosini (00:52:06) World Music as a genre and marketing tool (00:58:23) Derek’s style of performing (01:00:31) mental health, touring, mindset with Alexander Technique inhibition and internal resistance (01:04:42) "Seeing Nobody" guitar music (01:07:00) reflections on Derek’s career, being South African, John Williams, Lucy Duran (01:11:30) Derek’s guitars, Paul Galbraith Brahms guitar, “Bloomdorns”, Hermann Hauser, just intonation and bending notes, oud, lute, veena, (01:17:36) Derek’s advice and reflections on too much input

photo: Luke Young

I'm re-releasing this episode, because my improvising ensemble Collected Strands have just released our second album, Volume 2, also with beautiful cover art by Maryanne Moodie.

This is a special episode of my podcast, celebrating Volume 1 with my improvising ensemble Collected Strands. The other musicians in the group have all been featured previously on this series, and you’ll find the links to those episodes below, with cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne, pianist James McGowan and drummer Mike Essoudry. I’m also delighted that you will get to know the inspiring Australian artist, educator and author Maryanne Moodie who’s woven art graces the cover of this album. You’ll find the link to her work as well. I am also releasing the interview with Maryanne as a separate stand-alone bonus episode connected to this episode. I feel that all my listeners who love music and creativity will find that Maryanne’s personal journey and perspectives will resonate strongly with them, and I hope some listeners in the weaving and art world will also be inspired by the musicians!

We are including excerpts from the album during this episode, and you can listen to both albums here: Bandcamp

Streaming services Volume 1

Streaming services Volume 2

To listen to my individual episodes with the members of the group, head over to my website where you'll also find the video and transcript of this episode.

Newsletter sign-up

Podcast Merch

photo of Collected Strands: Curtis Perry

cold open with Raphael Weinroth-Browne (00:47) excerpt from Solace, Volume 1 Collected Strands (01:45) intro about the episode, Maryanne Moodie (03:45) James and Leah talk about recording the album, the process of improvising (07:35) intro to Unsettled Night with excerpt (10:16) group discussion, Mike Essoudry using bass bow, creative process in improvisation (12:20) percussive, random textures intro to Chaotic Kittens with excerpt (15:15) Mike and James on creative process (19:25)James and Leah on putting the album together, choosing titles, intro to Baroquinerie with clip (23:58) Raph’s perspectives on improvisation, group discussion (34:52) Leah and James genres, improvised chamber music, intro to Summer’s Eve with clip (38:03) Interview with artist Maryanne Moodie: her start in weaving, writing her books, nurturing our creativity creating commissions, how the audience takes in art, the community of weavers (55:09) ways you can support this podcast (56:03) group discussion, audiences (01:00:37) comments on The Long Journey Home and Summer’s Eve, A Simple Magic with clip

I’m delighted to welcome Maya Youssef, the world-renowned "Queen of the qanun" and innovative British-Syrian educator .You can also watch on YouTube, and the transcript is linked as well to my website: Maya shares with us how her frustrations with the traditional teaching of Arabic music led her to develop her unique system for teaching musicians and dancers in a completely different way. She also shared her past personal crisis as a victim of domestic abuse and how she found the strength to get out of that danger, which is shockingly pervasive. In fact, she said that she chooses to be vulnerable in sharing this because we never know who is listening. You will be uplifted with clips from Maya’s beautiful second album Finding Home, which I encourage you to buy, and you’ll find all Maya’s projects linked in her website . She also talked to me about her exciting upcoming projects in 2026, including her book about learning and teaching Arabic music, her upcoming album and tours, and her wonderful collaborators. Maya spent the interview with her kanun and you’ll hear her demonstrate several times, including a beautiful improvisation on maqam Rast.

Newsletter

Podcast Merch

Buy me a coffee to support this series? Thanks!

I’ve linked several episodes I’m sure you’ll love: Ali Omar El-Farouk Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto

Kelly Thoma

Mohamed Assani Olcay Bayir

(00:00) Intro (02:07) the kanun with demonstrations (08:15) Maya’s youth in Syria (12:38) clip of Silver Lining and more about Maya’s musical education (19:57) challenges with learning taqsim, and how she developed her method (31:13) qanun music: taqsim on maqam Rast (33:03) improvising, composing (35:18) other linked episodes and ways to support this podcast (36:04) musical influences and composing (38:26) clip of An Invitation to Daydream (38:24) avoiding injuries, album Finding Home, creative process with clip of In My Mother’s Sweet Embrace (44:30) Al MacSween, Elizabeth Nott (46:37) about Soul Fever with clip (51:14) Leo Abrahams (53:21) learning from mentors, learning to be entrepreneurial, clip From My Homeland (57:00) surviving domestic abuse and the importance of speaking about it (01:04:01) SOAS graduate school Musicology (01:06:06) Aziza Mustafa Zadeh (01:07:38) two versions of Walk With Me, with clip of version with Leo Abrahams (01:11:05) Maya’s upcoming book about learning and teaching Arabic music, new album, balancing her career

The wonderful singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and scholar Lily Henley sings in the endangered language Ladino and during this podcast you’ll hear clips from her album Oras Dezaoradas. Blending her roots in American and Celtic music, Lily creates powerful original music that honours centuries of Sephardic women’s voices. These songs tell timeless stories of love, loss, exile, and resilience, sharing her personal connection to this important tradition.

You’ll also learn about:

• Sephardic history and contemporary communities
• Lily’s unusual childhood
• how she’s learned to trust her voice

Like all my episodes, you can also watch this on my YouTube channel and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website.

Lily Henley Website

Newsletter Buy me a coffee? Podcast Merch

Other Episodes for you: Polina Shepherd Ida Gillner Jean Rohe Kavisha Mazzella Yale Strom Alicia Svigals

Catalog of Episodes

(00:00) intro

(01:39) Sephardic culture and history, Ladino language, album Oras Dezaoradas

(11:15) clip of Porke Yorach Blanka Ninya, Paris Ladino mentors Marie-Christine Bornes-Varol, François Azar

(13:41) about Esta Noche Te Amare with clip, Fulbright, Paris Sephardic community

(21:53) how close is Ladino to Spanish, clip of Duermite mi Alma, Susana Weich-Shahak, starting Doctorate at Harvard

(29:44) other linked episodes and ways to support this series

(30:39) balancing academic life and touring

(33:40) Lily’s childhood

(39:11) about Arvoles Yoran Por Luvya with clip, Dunca Wickel

(44:49) first album Words Like Yours

(48:23) Morena Me Yaman clip, identity as singer and multi-instrumentalist

(57:12) why there’s a track of fiddle tunes with clip

Karen Power is an Irish composer who uses environmental sounds in her intriguing work. She is a master field recordist who has recorded sounds in some of the worlds most isolated and challenging locations including The Arctic, Amazon, and Namib Desert. You'll hear clips of her work including The Bats of Namibia, Frogs of Angor Wat, fascinating bog sounds and arctic ice sounds in collaborations with the Quiet Music Ensemble and many brilliant collaboraters on her project human nature. She’s also shared with us a raw field recording from a double cicada brood emergence. Karen and I also talked about her projects working to explore listeneing, composing and improvising with young children and inclusive music making with people living with disabiliities. You can also watch this on my YouTube channel; I’ve also linked the transcript. Episode link

It’s a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you every week, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity. Ko-fi support page

Podcast merch

Newsletter Karen Power website human nature album

we return to ground

Other episodes: Lawrence English Ceara Conway

Jesse Stewart Philip Griffin Verna Gillis Ellen Waterman

(00:00) Intro (02:22) field recording (11:44) recording bats, human nature album with clip of Bats of Namibia (16:30) different kinds of scores to communicate with the musicians (21:32) we return to ground album with the Quiet Music Ensemble (23:47) clip of Instruments of Ice (25:37) Sonic Pollinators with clip (27:27) we return to ground with clip (33:51) other linked episodes you’ll like (34:42) collaboration with Loré Lixenburg Language Land Sea (41:51) Thomas Buckner, Frogs of Angkor Wat with clip (43:30)Pauline Oliveros, Sirens of New York with clip (47:55) Natural Creators Program for young children (53:45) inclusive ensembles for adults living with disabilities (58:50) Blackbirds, Jessical Cottis (01:01:31) women composers problems with equity (01:06:50) cicadas

Teagan Faran is a remarkable violinist known for her versatility as a performer, composer, and improviser. In this episode, you’ll hear selections from her album Middle Child—a compelling and genre-spanning musical journey featuring works by acclaimed contemporary composers, as well as Tegan’s own reimagining of Brahms’ beloved Intermezzo.

A Fulbright grant recipient, Tegan spent nine months in Argentina delving into the rich traditions of tango and regional folk music. She shared insights about her time there, along with stories of collaboration and mentorship, including her work with the Grammy-nominated ensemble Palaver Strings and the electroacoustic duo Persephone & the Phoenix.

Tegan has also built a dynamic career as an educator and has studied under renowned teachers like Danielle Belen. In our conversation, we touched on her diverse teaching experiences, the importance of injury prevention, and her parallel path as a certified personal trainer. My website link takes you to the video and transcript.

Teagan Faran Website

Buy me a coffee? Podcast merch

Other episodes you may enjoy: Julie Lyonn Lieberman

Meg Okura

Martha Mooke, bad snacks, and Margaret Maria among so many!

photo: Naomi Vand

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:53) album Middle Child with clip of Brahms Intermezzo

(05:42) Davis West, with clip of Outermezzo, Deedee Bridgewater

(08:44) Palaver Strings

(15:58) FARAHMS Misha Vayman with clip

(17:59) Persephone & the Phoenix Duo Nicole Brancato

(22:51) Casimiro by Julián Granciano with clip, tango, learning in Argentina

(28:31) Little Things album, sheet music with clip of El Silbador

(34:22) other linked episodes and ways to support this series

(35:11) stir crazy by Carlos Simon with clip, Leo Sussman

(37:01) mentor Matt Albert

(40:41) musical and personal identity

(44:24) mentor Danielle Belen, concert presentation, teaching, Ithica, Sphinx

(53:06) career advice, exploring instruments

(56:29) Temptress Jens Ibsen with clip

(59:37) personal trainer, avoiding injury

I’m joined by the extraordinary Olcay Bayir, a British singer-songwriter of Kurdish Alevi origin, originally from Turkey. Olcay opens up about the challenges of immigrating as a teenager, her classical training in opera, and how she has forged her own unique musical path.

You’ll hear clips from her 2024 album Tu Gulî, along with selections from her earlier projects, featuring songs in several languages. Her rich voice and evocative arrangements breathe new life into Anatolian folk traditions, offering a vibrant and powerful reimagining of this timeless music.

In our conversation, Olcay shares:

• Insights into Alevi culture and spirituality
• How she honours the strength and stories of Anatolian women
• her creative process and inspiration from masterful collaborators

As always, you can watch this episode on my YouTube channel or listen on your favourite podcast platform. A full transcript is also available, all linked on my website

Support page: Ko-fi

Podcast merch

Newsletter

Other episodes I suggest: Omo Bello

Sophie Lukacs

Gilad Weiss

Shahriyar Jamshidi

Ali Omar El-Farouk

Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto

(00:00) Intro

(01:54) Songline Music Festival, BBC project, Babel Music Expo inspiration

(04:05) album Tu Gul î

(07:32) clip of Edlê with Olcay’s intro, from Tu Gul î

(08:15) Songwriting, performing in 4 languages, diversity of Anatolian cultures

(12:15) Alevi culture

(15:12) clip of Ötme Bülbül with Olcay’s intro, poet Pir Sultan Abdal

(17:18) choices in instrumentation and arrangements, Ignacio Monteverde

(19:46) clip of Ay Dilberê with Olcay’s intro, poet Feqiyê Teyran

(21:27) the sad story of Husna, with clip

(25:56) childhood in Turkey, how music helped her with the challenges of immigration

(29:09) clips of Daha Senden Gayrı Aşık Mı Yoktur? and Nare, Nare with Olcay’s commentary

(32:46) Other epiosdes you’ll enjoy and ways to help this series

(33:49) opera studies, early musical experiences, coaching vocal technique

(36:51) performance skills

(40:10) 2nd album Rüya, clip of Yar Dedi, creative process

(42:21) içerde EP, Help Musicians UK, clip of Lost Child

(46:15) newfound joy in baking and cooking as a creative pursuit, buying the albums on Bandcamp

Joel Styzens is a composer and multi-instrumentalist whose career as a drummer was transformed due to sudden hearing damage. He talked to me about dealing with the physical and psychological effets of hyper acusis and tinnitus, the beauty of hammered dulcimer, and you’ll hear clips from his first 2 albums Relax Your Ears and Resonance. He’s a music educator who loves to help students to make discoveries on their own and we spoke about Joel’s passion for all kinds of artistic expression, and his positive recent experience at the Ragdale Artist residency. Joel’s personal story is so inspiring, and his music is so beautiful; please check out his albums .

You can also watch this on YouTube and the Transcript is also linked to my website

Support this series! It’s a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you every week, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity. Would you like to know about upcoming guests? Newsletter sign-up

Podcast merch

Other episodes you'll like: Jack Hui Litster Kirsten Agresta Copely Margaret Maria

Follow the podcast on social media

Photo of Joel: Sarah Boudreau

(00:00) Intro (02:49) Joel’s sudden hearing problems (09:47) meeting his wife through his music with clip of Viv (17:51) inspired from the Botanic Gardens in Chicago (20:28) video clip from Waterfall Garden featuring hammered dulcimer (20:32) clip from Burijji (24:51) David’s Dulcimers (28:52) dealing with tinnitus and hyperacusis (34:39) support from family, clips of Lifeline and Memento M (38:34) Other episodes you’ll like and ways to support this series (39:26) cellists Sophie Webber, Katinka Kleijn, ATLYS string quartet, Rob Clearfield (41:41) teaching multi-instrumentalist approach (53:32) Ragdale residency, exploring different forms of creative expression