This morning at Media Room Live! I spoke with classical pianist David Korevaar. He recently released his recordings of the complete cycle of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas on Prospero.

We had a fascinating discussion about Beethoven, the piano, and some of music’s greatest compositions.

Thanks to David and to everyone who tuned in live.

Join Media Room Live! next week, Thursday March 5 at 11:00AM EST, when I will interview composer and trumpeter Ingrid Jensen whose album Landings will released tomorrow from Newvelle Records as part of the Newvelle Ten Collection.

Click here to watch Ingrid and me live.

Below is “Amsterdam After Dark” from her upcoming album.

This morning at Media Room Live! I spoke with singer-songwriter Courtney Hartman. Her album With You was released in November and has been in heavy rotation at Media Room.

Courtney discussed her musical inspirations, training, and how With You was a celebration of community. Listen to “Companion” below.

Thanks to Courtney and everyone who tuned in live.

Join Media Room Live! next week when I speak with classical pianist David Korevaar who recorded all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas in 2025.

Today, David Leisner and I talked about being a composer, a guitarist, and his recent album Dedications (below), released January 16.

You can buy it here.

Below is the video mentioned during the interview. David performs “Farewell, R.W.” by David Del Tredici, one of the compositions on Dedications, at Plaza Blanca in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

Thanks again to everyone to tuned in live.

Next Week At Media Room Live!

Join me next week for an interview with singer-songwriter Courtney Hartman whose new album With You is one of the finest recordings of this young year.

Below is “Companion”

Courtney and I will go live at 11:00AM Thursday, February 19 at 11:00AM EST. Click here to watch live.

Thank you to everyone who tuned in to the live video.

Michael Stephen Brown and I talked about being a composer and pianist, the state of contemporary classical music, and the upcoming release of TWELVE BLOCKS (below).

Media Room Live! is now a weekly feature. Join us every Thursday at 11:00AM EST when I interview an artist doing some of today’s most interesting work.

* On February 12 I will talk with classical guitarist David Leinser about his new album Dedications, released January 16.

* On February 19 I will be in conversation with singer/songwriter Courtney Hartman, whose new album With You, is one my favorite releases of this young year.

* On February 26 I will interview classical pianist David Korevaar, who has just released the complete recordings of Beethoven’s piano sonatas.

* On March 5 I will meet jazz trumpeter and composer Ingrid Jensen, whose album Landings will be released is out February 27, 2026 as part of Newvelle Records 10th Anniversary Collection.

* On March 12 I will interview Buffalo’s own Jay Beckenstein, leader of Spyro Gyra, about the band’s 50th Anniversary and its March 28 performance at Buffalo State.

Media Room Live! events are free to all Media Room subscribers.

Thank you to everyone who tuned into the live video.

The video above is the continuation of a discontinued live stream that had to be abandoned due to technical issues. For those of you that were with us for that, we traced it to a bluetooth issue.

I apologize for any inconvenience the technical issues may have caused and I hope you enjoy our discussion.

Join us for another Media Room Live! event 11:00 AM EST February 5, 2026 when I talk with pianist and composer Michael Stephen Brown about his music and his new album “Twelve Blocks.”

I hope you enjoy this reading of Media Room’s review “The Search For Squarepants,” published today.

You can read the review, including images and links, by clicking here.

Paid subscribers receive audio posts for all movie reviews. This review has been made available to all subscribers. In 2026, audio and video posts will only be available to paid subscribers.

If you are a free subscriber check your email for a special upgrade offer that expires Christmas Day.

As always, thank you for reading Media Room, and Happy Holidays.

Cover image: Still image from “SpongeBob Squarepants: The Search For Squarepants.” Released December 19, 2025. © Paramount Pictures.

Thank you to everyone who tuned in!

Click here to read more about the two compositions on the recording, including my reviews of the BPO performances.

Click here to read Atlanta music critic William Ford’s recent article, mentioned in the interview.

Buffalo Philharmonic coverage is for paid subscribers only. Take advantage of Media Room’s Holiday Special

I hope you enjoy this reading of Media Room’s review of “Pluribus,” published today. It is currently streaming at Apple TV.

Following the review is a six minute performance of Renaissance composer Johannes Ockeghem’s “Dei Gratias” performed by the Huelgas Ensemble conducted by Paul Van Nevel.

“Dei Gratias” plays over one of the most beautiful scenes in Plurbius, as the Others silently conduct an exodus from Albuquerque.

You can read the review, including images and links, by clicking here.

Paid subscribers receive audio posts for all movie reviews. This review has been made available to all subscribers. If you like what you hear please consider becoming a paid subscriber.

This Holiday, Give The Gift Of Quality Arts Writing

Media Room is quality arts writing, not “entertainment content.”

Media Room’s 30% off Holiday Special ($65/$45.50) goes through the end of the year. Paid subscribers receive a full year of posts and benefits including paywalled Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra coverage with concert reviews before the repeat performance.

Paid subscribers also receive insightful movie and TV reviews, exclusive audio and video posts, access to over 450 posts in the archive, and “The Song of the Day” playlist on Tidal, now with 24 hours of nonstop music.

Give the gift of quality writing this holiday.

Cover image: Still image from “Pluribus.” L-R Karolina Wydra (Zosia), Samba Schutte (Koumba Diabaté). © Vince Gilligan, SONY Pictures Television, and Apple TV.

Deo Gratias · Huelgas Ensemble · Johannes Ockeghem · Paul Van NevelUtopia Triumphans: The Great Polyphony of the Renaissance℗ 1995 Sony Classical, a division of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENTReleased on: 2014-01-24Choir: Huelgas EnsembleConductor: Paul Van NevelLyricist: AnonymousComposer: Johannes OckeghemProducer: Wolf Erichson

I hope you enjoy this reading of Media Room’s review of “Tapawingo,” published today. It began streaming at Amazon Video and Apple TV December 2.

You can read the review, including images and links, by clicking here.

Paid subscribers receive audio posts for all movie reviews. This review has been made available to all subscribers. If you like what you hear please consider becoming a paid subscriber.

This Holiday, Give The Gift Of Quality Arts Writing

Media Room is quality arts writing, not “entertainment content.”

Media Room’s 30% off Holiday Special ($65/$45.50) goes through the end of the year. Paid subscribers receive a full year of posts and benefits including paywalled Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra coverage with concert reviews before the repeat performance.

Paid subscribers also receive insightful movie and TV reviews, exclusive audio and video posts, access to over 450 posts in the archive, and “The Song of the Day” playlist on Tidal, now with 24 hours of nonstop music.

Give the gift of quality writing this holiday.

Cover image: Still image from “Tapawingo.”© Tapawingo Film, LLC.

I hope you enjoy this reading of Media Room’s review of “Wake Up Dead Man,” published today. The movie is in theaters now and begins streaming December 12 at Netflix.

You can read the review, including images and links, by clicking here.

Paid subscribers receive audio posts for all movie reviews. This review has been made available to all subscribers. If you like what you hear please consider becoming a paid subscriber.

This Holiday, Give The Gift Of Quality Arts Writing

Media Room is quality arts writing, not “entertainment content.”

Media Room’s 30% off Holiday Special ($65/$45.50) goes through the end of the year. Paid subscribers receive a full year of posts and benefits including paywalled Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra coverage with concert reviews before the repeat performance.

Paid subscribers also receive insightful movie and TV reviews, exclusive audio and video posts, access to over 450 posts in the archive, and “The Song of the Day” playlist on Tidal, now with 24 hours of nonstop music.

Give the gift of quality writing this holiday.

Cover image: Still image from“Wake Up Dead Man.” © Netflix.