Today, the Spotlight shines On innovative percussionist and drummer Lisa Pegher.

Lisa turns percussion into something you’ve never heard before. A pioneering artist who moves easily between classical concert halls and electronic music spaces, Lisa wields everything from traditional drums to cutting-edge AI technology.

She’s performed with major orchestras worldwide and premiered works by today’s leading composers, but what sets Lisa apart is her drive to push percussion into new territory.

Her project, A.I.RE, explores the evolution of rhythm—from pure acoustic sounds to an AI-generated musical landscape. With composers from New York’s ICEBERG collective, Lisa has crafted a show that asks big questions about music’s future while delivering an unforgettable live experience.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Paul Dooley: Masks and Machines and A.I.RE Concert 2024)

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Dig Deeper

• Visit Lisa Pegher at www.lisapegher.com
• Purchase Paul Dooley: Masks and Machines (feat. Lisa Pegher) from Bandcamp or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Follow Lisa Pegher on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, and Mastodon.

• Be sure to bookmark our new online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

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Today, the Spotlight shines On award-winning jazz critic and author Paul de Barros.

Throughout his storied career, Paul was editor and critic at the Seattle Times and has written for Downbeat and Earshot Jazz, amongst other outlets. He is also the author of Jackson Street After Dark: The Roots of Jazz in Seattle but today, he joins us to talk about the updated edition of his book Shall We Play That One Together? The Life and Art of Jazz Piano Legend Marian McPartland, which contains a new preface detailing the challenges of writing a biography about an often headstrong, living subject. The preface alone is worth the price of admission.

From 1978 to 2011 (33 years for those counting at home), Marian McPartland hosted the weekly national radio program Piano Jazz, wherein she helped popularize jazz and jazz musicians through interviews and in-studio performances. Pick a name, almost any name—they were on Piano Jazz.

Marian passed away in 2013 at the age of 95. She lived a fascinating life as a complex, able woman in the difficult world of professional music.

Paul’s book is a special document of a special person and her unique times.

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Dig Deeper

• Purchase Shall We Play That One Together? The Life and Art of Jazz Piano Legend Marian McPartland from USC Press, Bookshop, Powell’s, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon
• Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz
• Clint Eastwood On Piano Jazz
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, and Mastodon.

• Be sure to bookmark our new online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On the duo of songwriter, producer, and MC Küf Knotz and harpist, vocalist, and music therapist Christine Elise.

Küf and Christine have turned the unlikely harp and hip-hop track combo into pure magic with their 2024 album Hypnagogia. The album explores the space between awake and dreaming, with surreal soundscapes and vivid imagery that pulls listeners in.

They’ve shared stages with artists like Wyclef Jean, Rising Appalachia, and Digable Planets. Earlier this year, they joined me to discuss their unique sound and mission.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from the album Hypnagogiaby Küf Knotz and Christine Elise)

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Dig Deeper

• Check out Küf Knotz & Christine Elise at kufknotz.com
• Purchase Hypnagogia by Küf Knotz and Christine Elise on Bandcamp or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Follow Küf Knotz on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
• Follow Christine Elise on Instagram and Bluesky
• The Musical Story of Hip Hop Meeting the Harp in Philly with Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise
• Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise - LIVE | Sofar Philadelphia
• Pat “Pecue” Quinn | Illustration & Branding
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, and Mastodon.

• Be sure to bookmark our new online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On author Christoph Dallach, who joins me to discuss his book Neu Klang: The Definitive History of Krautrock.

Christoph has spent years tracking down the pioneers who spent the late 1960s in West Germany’s basements and practice rooms, creating sounds unlike anything else in rock and roll.

Through conversations with members of bands like Can, Kraftwerk, and Tangerine Dream, Christoph uncovers how these artists shaped a distinctly German sound in the shadow of World War II. It’s a story of cultural rebirth told by the musicians who lived it.

A veteran music journalist who has interviewed everyone from Bob Dylan to Taylor Swift, Christoph brings fresh insight to this pivotal moment in music history.

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Dig Deeper

• Purchase Neu Klang: The Definitive History of Krautrock from Faber & Faber, Bookshop, Powell’s, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon
• Follow Christoph Dallach on Instagram
• Christoph Dallach’s playlist for his book “Neu Klang: The Definitive History of Krautrock”
• Krautrock: The 1970s bands which helped post-war Germany overcome its dark history
• When it comes to krautrock, it’s impossible not to mention the war
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, and Mastodon.

• Be sure to bookmark our new online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On bassist and composer Marwan Allam.

Marwan’s debut album, Bab Bhar, takes Arabic rhythms and Tunisian musical traditions and hands them to a jazz quartet, creating something that feels both ancient and brand new.

Marwan tunes and plays his bass to echo the sound of the gimbri, a traditional three-string instrument from his native Tunisia. He’s here to walk us through this groundbreaking approach and share how growing up at the crossroads of North African music shaped his creative path.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Marwan Allam’s album Bab Bhar)

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Dig Deeper

• Purchase Marwan Allam’s Bab Bhar on Bandcamp and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Follow Marwan Allam on Instagram and YouTube
• Music in Tunisia: Exploring 10 Rich Harmonies
• Experiencing Maqam: An Introduction to Arabic Music
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, and Mastodon.

• Be sure to bookmark our new online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On composer, mandolinist, multi-instrumentalist, teacher, and label founder Joe Brent.

Joe has worked with artists ranging from Regina Spektor to the Philip Glass Ensemble, but his collaboration with Grammy-nominated violinist Sara Caswell and bassist Andrew Ryan in 9 Horses was the impetus for our time together. 9 Horses creates music between classical precision and folk intimacy with mandolins and violins. On their latest album, Strum, 25 musicians create what Joe calls “identifiably human-made music.”

Joe shares the story behind 9 Horses and much more, including why making deeply human music matters now more than ever.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from the 9 Horses album Strum)

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Dig Deeper

• Visit Joe Brent at josephbrent.com and Adhyâropa Records at adhyaroparecords.com
• Purchase 9 Horses’s Strum on Bandcamp or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Follow Joe Brent on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and YouTube
• Follow Adhyâropa Records on Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and YouTube
• Mandolins: A Brief History
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon. 

• Be sure to bookmark our new online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On Stephen Shaw and Jonathan Linden of Round Room Live.

Round Room Live has become a powerhouse in family entertainment, from Broadway blockbusters to kids' favorite TV characters coming to life on stage.

Stephen Shaw and Jonathan Linden launched the company in 2016 with a bold idea—take their experience from massive rock tours and use it to create live shows that capture the magic of beloved brands, from Sesame Street to Formula One. They’ve built Round Room into one of the most dynamic forces in live entertainment, with hit tours and exhibitions playing to packed houses worldwide. Their latest ventures include the just-launched Blippi tour and an upcoming 20th-anniversary spectacular for Nitro Circus. Stephen and Jonathan are here to pull back the curtain on how they bring beloved characters and stories to the stage.

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Dig Deeper

• Learn more about Round Room Live at roundroomlive.com
• Follow Round Room Live on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook
• Round Room – Phish
• How Success Happened for Round Room Live Co-Presidents Stephen Shaw and Jonathan Linden

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com and The Tonearm for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and our email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Mastodon, and Bluesky.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On experimental music producers and label owners Taylor Deupree and Joseph Branciforte.

Back in 2002, Taylor Deupree released an electronic album called Stil. That release captivated listeners with its quiet, repeating patterns and stark digital sound. Twenty years later, Taylor and producer Joseph Branciforte linked up to reimagine the album as Sti.ll, rebuilding the entire work using only non-electronic instruments.

The new version takes all of the computer-generated sounds from the original and puts them in the hands of live musicians playing clarinets, strings, and percussion. It is an ambitious and adventurous project from two collaborators enmeshed in experimental music—Taylor runs 12k Music and has spent years blending electronic and natural sounds, while Joe’s built Greyfade into a label that keeps finding creative ways to present creative music.

They’re here to walk us through this one-of-a-kind project while covering several other topics related to creativity and the modern music business.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from the albums Stil. and Stil.ll, played side-by-side.)

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Dig Deeper

• Visit Taylor Deupree and 12k at 12k.com
• Visit Joseph Branciforte and greyfade at greyfade.com
• Purchase Stil. from 12k or Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Purchase Sti.ll from greyfade, 12k, Qobuz, Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• A Voyage of Seeing: On Hiroshi Sugimoto’s Seascapes
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On legendary Danish organist Anders Koppel.

Great music often runs in the family, and as proof, we have our first father-son episodes of Spotlight On. Last November, we had Benjamin Koppel, son and collaborator of today’s guest.

But today’s story starts decades ago when Anders played Newport with his band Savage Rose. Fast forward to now, and Anders is back at the Hammond B3, making magic with Benjamin on alto sax and the incredible Brian Blade on drums.

This trio came together naturally. Benjamin and Brian have been close friends and collaborators since 2011. Something special clicked when they invited Anders to join them on the organ. Their latest album, Time Again, swings hard while aiming for the heart.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from the album Time Again by Benjamin Koppel, Brian Blade, & Anders Koppel)

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Dig Deeper

• Learn more about Anders Koppel at wisemusicclassical.com
• Purchase Time Again on Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Time Again teaser video
• Check out Benjamin Koppel at benjaminkoppel.com and his check out his label Cowbell Music
• Benjamin Koppel plays jazz with a novelist’s narrative (Spotlight On podcast)
• The Savage Rose
• Brian Blade | Drummer
• All About Jazz Organ: Inside the Hammond B-3
• Kenny Werner | Pianist
• Newport Jazz Festival - 1969

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, and Mastodon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On Christian McBride, a musician, recording artist, prolific composer, arranger, producer, cultural curator, dedicated educator, and mentor.

Christian has been called the hardest-working person in jazz, and based on what I just rattled off, that might be underselling it. From his early days in Philadelphia soaking up the sounds of Philly Soul to sharing stages with legends like Ray Brown and Chick Corea, Christian has become a bridge between jazz’s rich history and its vibrant future.

These days, you’ll find him leading his new band, Ursa Major, hosting NPR’s Jazz Night in America, mentoring the next generation of musicians, and somehow finding time to work on a new big band album featuring twelve different vocalists. He’s also preparing for an upcoming funk tribute show with none other than George Clinton and Savion Glover at NJPAC.

Whether laying down the groove with Inside Straight, his Big Band, or any other celebrated ensemble, Christian brings an irresistible combination of soul, swing, and storytelling to everything he touches. Today, we’ll explore his journey from Philly to the world stage, his passion for record collecting, and why he believes being uncomfortable might be the best way to grow as a musician.

Quick note: this conversation occurred when our baseball teams were still in contention. One had a better outcome than the other, and neither made it all the way…

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Dig Deeper

• Visit Christian McBride at christianmcbride.com
• Listen to Christian McBride on Qobuz, Bandcamp, or your streaming platform of choice
• Follow Christian McBride on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
• Tribute to Funk!
• The curious mind—and hard work—of bassist Christian McBride
• Jazz House Kids | School For Jazz
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.