Inside MusiCast

You may know Chuck Rainey as the legendary Steely Dan bassist that has played on some of the most significant recording projects in history. What you may not know is that Chuck was a bassist in the making from the very beginning. You see, as a young musician he started out as a brass and woodwind guy, playing trumpet and eventually baritone. In the end, the low notes he began playing on his trumpet won out, as he migrated to the four stringed instrument that today has defined his musical career and persona. Also, you might not know that he actually toured with the Beatles on their second U.S. tour while playing in King Curtis’ band. In short, our guest has played with the best of them, including Quincy Jones, Donny Hathaway, Sergio Mendez, Aretha, Donald Fagan, Walter Becker, and Bernard Purdie. And he’s still going strong. We welcome the legendary Chuck Rainey to Inside MusiCast.

For a young Steve Weingart growing up in Dayton, Ohio, the music of fusionists Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul, and Herbie Hancock wooed him as an aspiring young pianist. You might say that it derailed the classical music prodigy, who studied at the College Conservancy of Music in Cincinnati, and placed him on a track that would lead him to becoming a sought after touring and performing keyboardist for top fusion and rock bands such as the Dave Weckl Band, the infamous El Grupo, Steve Lukather, Chaka Khan, Simon Phillips, Marco Mendoza, and many others. Although his career is on a fast track, somehow he’s been able to keep a level head by not forgetting his roots and approaching his musical career with appreciation and humility. But, don’t let his under-spoken personality deceive you; this man can play. He is most capable in almost any musical genre, but fusion is where his heart lies. His latest solo fusion release Dark Blue Dream is a collection of progressive fusion compositions that will captivate you. In short, he makes it all sound too easy. Inside MusiCast welcomes a most talented and gracious Steve Weingart.

Richard Page is back. For proof, go to iTunes or Richard’s web site and you’ll find his most recent solo release since his 1996 solo album, Shelter Me. What’s most unusual is that he chose this holiday season to release a most wonderfully crafted Christmas single entitled, I Always Cry At Christmas. But, this isn’t your typical Christmas track, this is a Richard Page song that delivers what you’d expect - something special from the soul. As the former lead vocalist for Pages, Third Matinee, and Mr. Mister, he has delivered hits such as Broken Wings and Kyrie. But over the past several years he has taken a hiatus from his personal solo career to craft songs and produce artists such as Leona Lewis, Bill Champlin, Al Jarreau, Celine Dion, as well as many others. Today, Richard is once again ready to let us all come into his world, by sharing his music and his personal story with us all. Inside MusiCast is glad to welcome Richard Page as our first guest of 2009.

It seems that we at Inside MusiCast have recently been delivering musical legacy stories. Our next guest is also a legacy artist. His dad was a big band leader for Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra; his Mom, a talentetd vibes player; his brother Michael is a sought-after keyboardist and session player. But, if you’re a fan of the rock band YES, then you’re probably familiar with our guest, Billy Sherwood. A seasoned multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and producer, Billy earned a Grammy nomination as producer for Paul Rodgers’ ‘Muddy Water Blues’ for Best Contemporary Blues Album. While still with YES, he simultaneously worked on his own solo efforts and took on new producing projects that have included work with YES bassist Chris Squire. Most recently, he has joined a new band - CIRCA, featuring YES alumni Tony Kay and Alan White, along with guitarist Jimmy Haun, and released their debut album in 2004. Inside MusiCast welcomes Billy Sherwood.

For many artists who follow their heart’s desire, the roads that lead to the promised land of musical success can be long and winding. Looking back on the road that Robbie Dupree has traveled, he’s found that he’s been one of the “lucky ones”. From his tough beginnings in Brooklyn, to his Top Ten hits, ‘Hot Rod Hearts’ and ‘Steal Away’, which earned him a Grammy nomination in the early 80’s for Best New Artist, you’ll find that Robbie’s career has been a wonderful journey that has crossed paths with timely opportunities. His newly released CD entitled ‘Time And Tide’ is a product of his high standards in writing, engineering and musicianship. He also has surrounded himself with musicians who he’s worked with over the past years - David Sancious, Larry Hoppen, Leslie Smith, Rick Chudacoff, and Peter Bunetta – all excellent musicians in their own right. Robbie Dupree has definitely reached his promised land, creating music on his terms. Inside MusiCast welcomes Robbie Dupree.

In the music scene there are only a few names that command immediate respect. Sinatra. Foster. Hubbard, Q. Laboriel, Jaco. Goodman. Getz. Corea. Bellson. Armstrong. And then there’s Porcaro…a legacy surname that is renowned in jazz, rock, pop, and classical genres. As owner of this respected surname, Joe Porcaro, a most respected percussionist and drummer, has lived a fortunate life that has involved music at every turn. From marching with his dad in his early days, to performing with his sons on the Grammy Award winning album TOTO IV, to playing on countless film scores and TV shows over the years, Joe Porcaro is a living legend who lives by the philosophy of “passing the music on”. He is constantly working to expand his legacy by sharing his musical knowledge, talent, and passion to students who study at the Los Angeles Music Academy (LAMA), which he helped start in 1996. Here, students (who are so lucky), work face-a-face with one of music’s most respected instructors. His sons, Steve, Mike, and Jeff (we all miss him) remain the pride of his heart, as they were sole beneficiaries of their father’s passion and love of music. And that’s an understatement. Inside MusiCast is honored to welcome a living legend who is still in his prime, Joe Porcaro.

Don’t call Grant Geissman’s music smooth jazz. It’s almost a misnomer to him and doesn’t really capture what his music is all about. Quite simply, the formally trained jazz guitarist is a hybrid musician, having trained on classic jazz standards and improvisation with some serious jazz-cats in the San Jose, California area over the years. As a guitarist with a diverse appetite for new musical experiences, he has also found a successful niche playing on several TV show scores and themes such as Monk, Dawson’s Creek, Boy Meets World, Touched by an Angel, Lizzy McGuire and other TV shows. Most recently he collaborated to compose the theme (and incidental music) for the CBS-TV sitcom Two And A Half Men, for which he was nominated for a Prime Time Emmy Award. As a session player, you’ll find his guitar work on projects for Quincy Jones, Keiko Matsui, David Benoit, and Dianne Schur. But Geissman’s window of opportunity opened in 1976, when flugelhornist Chuck Mangione added him to a short tour in California and the Pacific Northwest. The rest is history, as Geissman became part of Mangione’s band and became famous for his sizzling solo on the song Feels So Good. Finally, as a solo artist with eleven projects under his belt, you’ll find his new jazz project “Say That!” addicting. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Grant Geissman.

When Take 6 came on to the music scene in 1988 with their self-titled debut album, they started breaking the rules of how music was being created, and as a founding member of the band, Mark Kibble was a key perpetrator. The band calls Kibble the “architect”, due to the fact that he was key in designing and molding the Take 6 sound, and no one else sounds like Take 6…nobody. Together they proceeded to design a fresh, vocally-driven sound consisting of gospel, jazz, doo-wop, R&B, pop, 60’s soul and a hip-hop approach that has been working for twenty years. By the way, Kibble, like several of the members of the group, isn’t only an amazing first tenor, he’s also a YAMAHA-endorsing guitarist and formidable producer. Although Kibble and his younger sibling, Joey, are part of the group, it’s evident that after twenty years all six band members treat each other like brothers…or this gig may have ended years ago. Take 6 has won countless awards, from Grammys to Doves to Soul Train, but along the way Kibble and Take 6 have kept their feet planted on the ground. Inside MusiCast welcomes Mark Kibble.

David Gamson has been messing around with sounds, songs, and arrangements for years. As keyboardist/writer/producer for the 80’s band Scritti Politti, he guided the brightly colored, synth-driven sound that was to create several hits in the UK and the U.S. For a band that started as a punk-based band, the migration to a soulful, yet groove-based sound was designed primarily by Gamson. Today, he works as an independent producer and songwriter working with artists such as Chaka Khan, Me’shell Ndegeocello, Green Gartside, Sheila E., George Benson, Miles Davis, Al Jarreau, and has garnered several Grammy nominations for his work. His musical heritage was a natural training ground for him….having worked in a recording studio out of college and even having a father who was Leonard Bernstein’s assistant. It was the making of a talented producer, writer, and arranger who has become the “scritti” behind many artists today. Inside MusiCast welcomes David Gamson.

As percussionist and member of the Grammy Award-winning jazz quartet Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Roy “Futureman” Wooten, loves walking on the high wire of musical experimentation. And, if you’re familiar with the music of the Flecktones, you know exactly what we’re talking about. Futureman, Victor Wooten (Roy’s brother), Béla Fleck, and Jeff Coffin have been creating music from the inside out for twenty years, and the music they create is like nothing else out there. Much more than a musician and composer, Futureman also is an inventor. He plays a modified MIDI-based, SynthAxe dubbed a “Drumitar” that triggers digital percussion modules. The sounds, textures, time signatures, and overall rhythms of his musical creations border on genius. His amazing musical knowledge on theory, composition and rhythm, along with his vast knowledge of music history, will leave you speechless. Go get some java and settle back for our longest interview”! We didn’t cut anything, because we felt that it was all important. Inside MusiCast welcomes Futureman.