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Impropod Podcast
Impropod Podcast episodes
- Ep28 Camden chaos, & the great train robbery - Jeff Bacon
Jeff Bacon, is a music industry business development specialist based in Barcelona, and ex-manger of the band Alabama 3. He tells stories of an unusual coincidence involving the great train robbery, a bizarre family connection and the film Buster. In the second story he recalls his first band’s London gig, complete with an overheating Vauxhall Astra, and the chaos of arriving at the Jazz Café unannounced.
Luke responds to each story with an improvised soundtrack, capturing everything from foreboding and tension to confusion and humour.
They discuss:
◼ How Jeff’s love of 70s jazz-funk, soul and hip hop inspires memories of classic grooves, orchestration and music discovery
◼ How an unexpected family connection turns a potentially awkward Alabama 3 radio session into a story of friendship, coincidence and serendipity◼ How the chaos of Jeff’s first London gig — an overheating car, a missing band from the venue schedule and an improvised setup — inspires a soundtrack of excitement, confusion and resilience◼ How improvisation can transform stories, visuals and emotions into music, creating a unique experience for both the listener and the storytellerFollow Jeff
◼ On Instagram @tallglassomilkFollow Alabama 3
On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/25zUD40u8M2kJmdcabBzrz?si=h3MvbT3SSyuP3MpGZLSEXAFollow Camden Jazz Cafe: https://thejazzcafe.com/?
Follow Impropod:
◼On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34WsYcP0CO0urZJJLz1tOw
◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/Follow Luke
◼On Instagram: @lukeymeankeys◼On LinkedIn @luke-tomlinson-917ab6252/
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
20 min - Ep27 Disporting ones-self & the highland moose - Belinda Connolly
Belinda Connolly, an author, chef, therapist and BnB host talks about childhood memory of summers evoked by Luke's music, and tells 2 hilarious stories involving her cat tinkle, nudity and a suspected moose...The episode delves into themes of nostalgia, nature, and the emotional power of music and memory.
They discuss:
◼ How the dramatic rescue of a cat from a rooftop becomes a story of tension, command and unexpected heroism◼ How a mysterious encounter in the Scottish Highlands inspires music that captures isolation, suspense, danger and dark humour◼ How improvisation can bring old memories back to life, transforming personal stories into a richer experience through musicFollow Belinda
◼On instagram: @deliciouslyconsciouschefFollow Impropod:
◼On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34WsYcP0CO0urZJJLz1tOw◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/Follow Luke
◼On Instagram: @lukeymeankeys◼On LinkedIn @luke-tomlinson-917ab6252/
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
16 min - Ep26 Life ascension & the ice cave - Pete Taylor
Pete Taylor, father of previous guests Ben and Alice Boyd Taylor, talks about how he is ascending from darker times in his life, and his adventure in the Himalayan mountains.
Pete shares his extensive background in health and social care, his journey through grief after his wife's late-stage cancer diagnosis, and his desire to pursue creative endeavors. The episode features a musical segment where Pete reflects on his emotions and recounts a transformative high-altitude trekking experience in the Himalayas on the Langtang Valley trek. The discussion highlights the intersection of storytelling and music, emphasizing how personal narratives can be deeply expressed and interpreted through sound.
They discuss:
◼ How Pete’s experience of grief, transition and finding new possibilities in life inspires an improvised musical journey from sadness and uncertainty towards optimism
◼ How the changing seasons, Celtic traditions and the idea of falling in love again become themes for exploring transition, transformation and new beginnings through music
◼ How a high-altitude trek in the Himalayas leads to a dramatic survival story involving getting lost, a glacier, and a high stakes decision with a pendulum
◼ How improvisation can translate deeply personal stories into music, offering a different form of communication beyond the constraints of words
Follow Impropod:
◼ On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34WsYcP0CO0urZJJLz1tOw◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/Follow Luke
◼On Instagram: @lukeymeankeys◼On LinkedIn @luke-tomlinson-917ab6252/
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
19 min - Ep25 Sashimi Trouble 6s & 9s & the big break- Andy Hill
Journalist and musician Andy Hill, takes us on a journey to to China, with an embarrassing restaurant story involving broken glass and far too much wine! He also gives some insight into music harmony and tells a story about his 1st big break into journalism.
Luke provides spontaneous improvised soundtracks to Andy’s stories, from the intensity and chaos of a Chinese restaurant to the optimism of walking through London after landing his dream internship.
They discuss:
◼ How an improvised piano piece can conjure vivid images of city skylines, skyscrapers and the sunrise over New York◼ How a disastrous dinner in Chongqing becomes a musical journey through travel, chaos, embarrassment and broken glass◼ How repetition and musical patterns shape the way we listen, creating recognition and a sense of anticipation◼ How Andy’s first big break in journalism inspired an improvised soundtrack of pressure, excitement, optimism and walking on air through LondonFollow Andy◼On Instagram @andyhillwritesFollow Impropod:◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/◼Follow Impropod on Instagram: @impropodpodcast
◼Follow Impropod on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34WsYcP0CO0urZJJLz1tOw
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
20 min - Ep24 Storm on a square rigger, Egypt & percussion - Jon Inder
Percussionist, songwriter and musicologist Jon Inder recounts a tale about his exhilaration of being in a storm on a square sailed ship the TS Royalist as a child, as well a surreal Egyptian story about sailing down the Nile on a felucca involving unwell stargazing. All with a unique improvised soundtrack of course!
They discuss:
◼ How the rhythms and energy of a storm at sea can be transformed into music, from crashing waves and darkness to the calm and clarity of dawn◼ How an unforgettable journey down the Nile combines ancient Egyptian landscapes, desert skies, shooting stars and the contrasting experience of being violently unwell◼ How music can evoke the presence of the ancient world, using harmony, texture, light and dissonance to create a sense of scale and timelessness◼ How piano and percussion can translate visual imagery, memories and emotions into sound, and the different ways musicians approach improvisation and creative interpretationFollow Impropod:
◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/
◼Follow Impropod on Instagram: @impropodpodcast
◼Follow Impropod on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34WsYcP0CO0urZJJLz1tOw
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
22 min - Ep23 Key-lime K-Hole - Craig
Chef Craig previously of Rumour in Totnes explores the connections between food, music and memory, from describing the layers of a key lime pie as a musical composition to sharing an intense psychedelic Ketamine experience, and the emotional journey of discovering he is going to become a father. Through Luke’s improvisations, Craig revisits powerful memories and explores how sound can evoke vivid images, emotions and experiences.
They discuss:
◼ How the textures, flavours and contrasting elements of a key lime pie can be transformed into an improvised musical interpretation◼ How an intense ketamine experience becomes the inspiration for an improvised soundtrack of darkness, transformation, disorientation and release
◼ How the discovery of impending fatherhood inspires music that captures anticipation, anxiety, uncertainty and overwhelming joy
◼ How improvisation can turn personal memories into sound, creating a lasting emotional soundtrack to significant moments in life
Follow Impropod:
◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/◼Follow Impropod on Instagram: @impropodpodcast
◼Follow Impropod on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34WsYcP0CO0urZJJLz1tOw
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
20 min - Ep22 Growing up and the Anatomy of music - Rowland O’Conner
Sound engineer, guitarist and Greenpeace fundraiser Rowland O'Connor joins Luke to explore spontaneity, creativity and the balance between thought and instinct in music. Roland talks about his experiences running jam nights at Barrelhouse in Totnes and his work at Sorting Room Studios, before sharing stories that inspire improvised musical responses.
From childhood games and model ships to the complex emotions of environmental responsibility, Rowland explores how improvisation can turn memories, dilemmas and feelings into music. The conversation considers the tension between planning and spontaneity, and how music can bring subconscious thoughts and emotions to the surface.
They discuss:
◼ How childhood games, model ships and growing up can inspire an improvised soundtrack exploring the changing relationship between age, maturity and playfulness◼ How the environmental paradox of working with technology while trying to protect the planet becomes a musical exploration of responsibility, pressure and hope◼ How improvisation can transform complicated thoughts and emotions into music, finding clarity without needing to consciously explain everything◼ How balancing musical knowledge, structure and instinct allows spontaneous creativity to emerge in the momentFollow Rowland:◼On Instagram: @rocandrowlFollow Impropod:◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/◼Follow Impropod on Instagram: @impropodpodcast◼Follow Impropod on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34WsYcP0CO0urZJJLz1tOw
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
17 min - Ep21 Pink Dolphins & Divorce! - Jack Judd
Carpenter & musician Jack Judd tell of his adventures in the amazon and goes a musical and emotional journey revisiting his parents divorce!Jack shares vivid personal experiences. Through musical prompts, Jack delves into the therapeutic potential of improvisation, illustrating how music can evoke emotions and memories.
He recalls an unforgettable adventure in the Amazon, including a gruelling 32-hour bus journey, piranha fishing and swimming with wild pink river dolphins.
An improvised piano piece then unexpectedly takes Jack back to the moment his parents separated when he was ten, and to his experience of starting at a new school while processing emotions he had largely suppressed. Luke uses music to explore the contrast between childhood excitement, vulnerability, fear and emotional turmoil.
Jack reflects on how improvisation can unlock memories and feelings that are difficult to express in words, and considers its potential therapeutic value. He also talks about his own relationship with improvisation on guitar, describing the feeling of becoming a conduit for sounds rather than consciously creating them.
◼ How Jack’s adventures in the Amazon, from a 32-hour bus journey to swimming with pink dolphins, inspire an improvised soundtrack of adventure and danger
◼ How the sounds, rhythms and sensory overload of the Amazon can be translated into music, capturing its hypnotic atmosphere and constant movement◼ How an improvised piece unexpectedly brings back memories of Jack’s parents’ divorce and his experience of starting a new school, transforming difficult emotions into music◼ How improvisation can unlock memories and emotions that are difficult to express in words, and its potential to become a powerful and therapeutic form of self-expressionFollow Jack
◼On @jackjuddmusicFollow Impropod:◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/◼Follow Impropod on Instagram: @impropodpodcast◼Follow Impropod on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34WsYcP0CO0urZJJLz1tOw
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
20 min - Ep20 Discombobulation and Mind Clarity - Ruthie Oldershaw
What would you do if you where lost on Dartmoor with your dogs, you have no phone and it's getting dark? Find out how Ruthie dealt with this situation! Ruthie then recounts the hilarious story of accidentally locking herself out of her student accommodation while naked.
She talks about her early love of ballet and how music has always made her imagine movement and choreography. She describes an abstract beach that appears in her mind while listening to Luke’s improvisation.
The discussion delves into themes of anxiety, the chaotic nature of life, and the emotional toll of night shifts in Northhampton hospital. The conversation turns to flow states, dancing, the emotional rollercoaster of working night shifts and Ruthie’s favourite word, “discombobulated.” Luke attempts to capture that feeling through music.
The episode ends with Ruthie reflecting on what improvisation revealed about her busy mind, movement, emotions and the freedom to embrace something other than being happy and lighthearted all the time.
They discus:
◼ How childhood dancing and an abstract beach inspire improvised music filled with movement, spinning and playful imagery◼ How getting lost on Dartmoor becomes a musical journey through anxiety, determination, running, disorientation and the beauty of nature◼ How an embarrassing student accommodation mishap inspires a light-hearted soundtrack of chaos, humour and improvisation◼ How night shifts, exhaustion and feeling “discombobulated” are transformed into an improvised soundtrack, leading to reflections on self-awareness and making space for different emotionsFollow Ruthie
◼On Instagram @ruthieoldershawFollow Impropod:
◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/◼Follow Impropod on Instagram: @impropodpodcast◼Follow Impropod on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34WsYcP0CO0urZJJLz1tOw
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
22 min - Ep19 Embracing Ambiguity - Julian Marshall
Luke talks to renowned composer, songwriter, teacher & musician, Julian Marshall about his composition process, the benefits of not trying to control your own life. Julian gives some great musical insight and tells some interesting stories.
Julian delves into his extensive musical career, from his classical training at the Royal College of Music to his experiences in various bands and his transition into teaching and composing. He shares personal stories, including a pivotal moment in 1981 when he faced uncertainty after leaving a successful band Marshall Hain. The discussion explores themes of vulnerability, confidence, and creativity, highlighting the emotional and artistic aspects of music. Julian also talks about his recent projects and the influence of poetry on his work.
They discuss:◼ How uncertainty, vulnerability and confidence can be transformed into an improvised musical response, and why these qualities are central to creativity◼ How an unexpected meeting with a singer in a dance improvisation group led to a record deal with Warner Brothers and changed Julian’s musical career◼ How Julian’s “splurge and craft” approach to composition combines spontaneous improvisation with the discipline of arranging, refining and shaping musical ideas◼ How improvisation creates a spontaneous conversation between composer and musician, allowing stories, emotions and ideas to emerge through musicFollow Julian
◼On Instagram @julian_marshall_composer◼Julian's website: https://julianmarshall.co.uk/Julian's previous bands:◼ Eye to Eye◼ The Flying LizardsFollow Impropod:
◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/◼Follow Impropod on Instagram: @impropodpodcast◼Follow Impropod on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34WsYcP0CO0urZJJLz1tOw
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
20 min
About Impropod Podcast
From the publisher's feed
The podcast that explores the power of improvised music and it's connection to storytelling. Hosted by Luke Tomlinson. www.impropod.com