Australian composer and pianist Alister Spence joined me from Sydney to discuss jazz, improvisation, and his album Always Ever.

Our video feed dropped at 15:09 so please stop watching at that point.

Thanks to Alister and everyone who tuned in live.

Media Room Live! With Liz Freivogel Of The Jupiter String Quartet

At 11:00AM EST on April 30, join me for an interview with Liz Freivogel, violist for the Jupiter String Quartet. Their album, Undreamed Shores was released April 17 and features the world premiere recordings of three new quartets written for the ensemble.

Listen to “Rise Up” by Michi Wiancko, above.

Click here to watch live.

Media Room Live! With Allison Loggins-Hull

Composer Allison Loggins Hull recently completed a three year composer residency with The Cleveland Orchestra. Its recording of three of her compositions (above) will be released tomorrow.

We discussed her musical background, her training as a flautist, and how she transitioned into composing.

A second album, Patchwork, features members of The Cleveland Orchestra performing chamber works alongside Loggins-Hull on flute. It will be released May 1.

Click here to purchase the recordings.

Our interview was part of Media Room’s “Contemporary Composer” series. Click here to see previous installments.

Thanks to Allison and everyone who watched live.

Media Room Live! With Alister Spence

Alister Spence is an Australian pianist and composer and his upcoming release Always Ever (above) consists of 16 wholly improvised pieces for solo piano.

Click here to watch our live interview Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 5:00PM EST. Please note the later time. This is to accommodate Alister who is in Australia and 14 hours ahead of EST.

Watch my interview with classical guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas who will perform Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez” with the Buffalo Philharmonic this weekend.

The BPO will be led by Guest Conductor Anna Sułkowska-Migoń in a program that includes Fauré, Borodin, and a rare performance of Grażyna Bacewicz‘s “Overture for Orchestra.”

The BPO’s “Pablo’s Guitar” program will be performed Saturday night at 7:30PM and Sunday afternoon at 2:30PM.

Look for my review at Media Room with photos by Kirsten Anderson after Saturday night’s performance.

For tickets and more information go to bpo.org.

Dave Soldier is truly an iconoclast. An author, neuroscientist, and professor at the Columbia University Medical Center, he is also an accomplished musician. His first album of symphonic works, Vipers at the Onyx (above) will be released tomorrow, April 10, 2026.

We took a deep dive into the life and music of Stuff Smith and Dave explained how Stuff’s music inspired the first composition on the album. We discussed Smith’s broad influence, including how Bob Wills incorporated Smith’s sound into Texas Swing.

Vipers At The Onyx also features Soldier’s “Jaleo,” dedicated to McCoy Tyner and Eddie Palmieri, whose music Soldier heard at age 15 and whom he credits for inspiring him to become a composer.

For more information and to purchase the album click here.

Thanks to all those who tuned in live and thanks to them and to Dave for their patience as we worked through some technical problems.

I think it well worth it. I hope you agree.

Media Room Live! With Allison Loggins-Hull

Join Media Room Live! next week, Thursday, April 16 at 11:00AM EST for my interview with composer Allison Loggins-Hull. We will discuss her three year composer residency with the Cleveland Orchestra and her upcoming recordings (above).

Please watch my interview with jazz drummer and composer Gregory Hutchinson. His all-star, Miles Davis tribute album, Kind Of Now: The Pulse of Miles Davis (below), will be released tomorrow (April 3, 2026).

Note that our interview contains casual profanity (mostly by me) and discussion of current events that ardent supporters of the current administration might find off-putting.

I don’t wish to trigger anyone, so please feel free to skip the interview and put on some Kid Rock.

April 9: Media Room Live! With David Soldier

Join Media Room Live! next week, Thursday, April 9, 2026, for my interview with musician and neuroscientist Dave Soldier whose album Vipers at the Onyx (above) will be released April 10, 2026.

Please watch my interview with pianist and composer Julia Hülsmann, whose album Octet: While I Was Away was released by ECM January 30.

It was a fascinating, wide-ranging discussion. Thanks to Julia and everyone who watched live.

April 2: Media Room Live! With Gregory Hutchinson

Join Media Room Live! next week, Thursday, April 2 , 2026, for my interview with drummer Gregory Hutchinson. His album Kind Of Now - The Pulse of Miles Davis will be released April 3 on Warner Records.

Please note the interview will be at 5:00PM EST to accommodate Gregory who will be overseas.

You can stream the early single, “Orbits,” here and watch the album trailer below.

Please watch my interview with pianist and composer Vadim Neselovskyi, who album Perseveranita was released February 27. Click here for Media Room’s written interview with Neselovskyi published February 17.

Perseverantia is a 72 minute suite for piano and string trio and we were joiined by Ysyae String Trio violist Emlym Stam from The Hague. As you will see, we caught up with Emlyn in his car as he was picking up his daughter.

We talked about composition, improvisation, classical vs. jazz, and much more.

Media Room Live! With Julia Hülsmann

Join Media Room Live! next week for my interview with German composer and pianist Julia Hülsmann whose recording Octet: While I was Away was released on ECM January 30.

Media Room Live! is upgrading its video platform, so watch this space for more information about how to watch.

Technical issues prevented Jay Beckenstein and me from talking live on Substack, but no matter. Above, please find our interview recorded today, March 12, 2026.

Jay and Spyro Gyra will return to Buffalo for a 50 year anniversary concert March 28, 2026 at Buffalo State College. Tickets and more information can be found here.

Next Week: Media Room Live! With Vadim Neselovskyi

On March 19 I will interview Ukrainian pianist and composer Vadim Neselovskyi. Readers may recall Media Room’s interview published February 17.

Since the interview was published, Perseverantia was released February 24 he hosted his album release party in Brooklyn March 5. I look forward to catching up with Vadim and continuing our fascinating discussion.

Click here to watch live.

This morning at Media Room Live! I spoke with jazz trumpeter and composer Ingrid Jensen about her music and her new album, Landings.

We had a fascinating discussion about improvisation, musical interplay, and how she makes music.

On March 18 she will host an album release event at Dizzy’s Club in New York.

Thanks to Ingrid and to everyone who tuned in live.

Media Room Live! In March

Editor’s Note: at the end of the interview above I mistakenly said next week’s interview is with Vadim Neselovskyi. Actually, that interview is in two weeks (see below). Apologies.

Spyro Gyra’s Jay Beckenstein

Join Media Room Live! next week, Thursday March 12 at 11:00AM EST, when I will interview Buffalo’s own Jay Beckenstein. He returns home for a March 28 performance at the Buffalo State Performing Arts Center, celebrating 50 years of Spyro Gyra. Click here to watch live.

Vadim Neselovskyi

On Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 11:00AM EST, I will talk with composer and pianist Vadim Neselovskyi, whom I recently interviewed about his album Perseverantia, released February 27.

Julia Hülsmann

On Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 11:00AM EST watch my interview with Julia Hülsmann. On January 30 she and her Octet released While I Was Away on ECM.

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.