The ProgCast With Gregg Bendian

Duncan Rouleau is an illustrator/writer/creator of Big Hero 6, and the man from the comic book world who helped me make my REQUIEM FOR JACK KIRBY the beautiful artifact that it is. We talk early comic discoveries, album cover art, Steve Ditko and our favorite artists, and behind the scenes workings of how the Kirby album came to be.

Drummer/composer/producer Lenny White is a Founding Father of Jazz-Rock music. His work with Miles on "Bitches Brew" is legendary, Freddie Hubbard's "Red Clay" is iconic, and Return To Forever's "Romantic Warrior" is a pinnacle intersection between jazz and prog. What a joy and a complete honor to pick Lenny's brain about his early discoveries, his solo albums, our favorite sci-fi movies, and the concepts that animate his unique musical world.

Chris Merrick Hughes is perhaps best known for producing Tears for Fears' "Songs from the Big Chair," and co-writing their "Everybody Wants To Rule The World." We talk about his early days as drummer/producer for Adam and The Ants, and his later work on Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, and Steve Reich's music. Chris' musicality reaches into minimalism and far beyond, and his take on electronica is completely fascinating.

RYAN OLCOTT, guitarist/singer/composer from 12RODS might be the most interesting  guy in pop music you've not yet heard of. Todd Rundgren produced their excellent "Separation Anxieties" disc and some referred to them as "American XTC." After 12RODS split, Ryan went on to create tons of cool techno-glitch using tape and circuit-bending madness as Foodteam and c.Kostra. Fun chat with a brilliant chap and an American original.

Guitarist/composer Steve Hackett stops by the podcast to talk about his excellent new acoustic album "Under A Mediterranean Sky," his upcoming projects, and the 50th anniversary of Genesis' "Nursery Cryme."  

HUGH PADGHAM is a Grammy-winning producer/engineer who's worked with Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Sting, XTC, David Bowie, Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd, and many more. Hugh and I chat about his massive list of credits, as he regales us with tales from his fascinating musical life.

When Cecil Taylor, icon of the jazz avant garde asks if you'd like to tag along with him to The Garden to hear an iconic American rock band you say, "Yes!"  Grateful Dead aficionado and Sirius/XM DJ Gary Lambert was with us that night (he invited Ornette Coleman), and Gary helps me tell the whole story, on this episode of The ProgCast  GREGG BENDIAN is a percussionist/composer/producer/educator/podcaster from Teaneck, New Jersey. During his wide-ranging career he has toured internationally and recorded with Todd Rundgren, Jan Hammer, The Mahavishnu Project, Keneally-Bendian-Lunn, The Musical Box, John Zorn, Derek Bailey, Nels Cline, Cecil Taylor, Pat Metheny, Ornette Coleman and Zoot Horn Rollo. On the academic front, Gregg develops and teaches courses in studio production aesthetics, music history, and composing/arranging at William Paterson University of New Jersey. For the Yale Oral History of American Music, he has contributed over 100 expansive interviews with major figures including Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, Carla Bley and Steve Reich. Bendian is archivist/producer for the Bottom LIne Archive of historic concerts. Recorded over 30 years at the Greenwich Village venue, the series features discs by Jack Bruce with Billy Cobham, The Brecker Bros, Lou Reed/Kris Kristofferson, Pete Seeger/Roger McGuinn, and Doc Watson. An accomplished percussionist and a composer of over 200 works, he has created a body of innovative music for jazz, rock, percussion (solo and ensemble) and mixed chamber groups, which include his Interzone and Trio Pianissimo bands. Gregg's music is published by Iamuziks (ASCAP). Begun in August of 2020, The ProgCast explores the creative process and musical history of a diverse assortment of cutting edge artists.   You can also find us on: SPOTIFY:  https://open.spotify.com/show/0x9bzb0...​ APPLE PODCASTS:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...​ www.greggbendian.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HBmV2y5G7dXc0xDuY9EAt?si=6m8XTjwoSpy1G-nuJqiTqwwww.bottomlinearchive.com https://guides.library.yale.edu/oham/collectionsguidewww.mahavishnuproject.com https://www.wpunj.edu/coac/departments/music/faculty/faculty-pop.html

TERRY CHAMBERS is well-known as the drummer of XTC. We chat about his and the band's early years, how he developed his unique style, and the drum sound that changed everything. Plus, lots about his post-XTC musical life and what he's up to currently with Ex-TC.  GREGG BENDIAN is a percussionist/composer/producer/educator/podcaster from Teaneck, New Jersey. During his wide-ranging career he has toured internationally and recorded with Todd Rundgren, Jan Hammer, The Mahavishnu Project, Keneally-Bendian-Lunn, The Musical Box, John Zorn, Derek Bailey, Nels Cline, Cecil Taylor, Pat Metheny, Ornette Coleman and Zoot Horn Rollo. On the academic front, Gregg develops and teaches courses in studio production aesthetics, music history, and composing/arranging at William Paterson University of New Jersey. For the Yale Oral History of American Music, he has contributed over 100 expansive interviews with major figures including Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, Carla Bley and Steve Reich. Bendian is archivist/producer for the Bottom LIne Archive of historic concerts. Recorded over 30 years at the Greenwich Village venue, the series features discs by Jack Bruce with Billy Cobham, The Brecker Bros, Lou Reed/Kris Kristofferson, Pete Seeger/Roger McGuinn, and Doc Watson. An accomplished percussionist and a composer of over 200 works, he has created a body of innovative music for jazz, rock, percussion (solo and ensemble) and mixed chamber groups, which include his Interzone and Trio Pianissimo bands. Gregg's music is published by Iamuziks (ASCAP). Begun in August of 2020, The ProgCast explores the creative process and musical history of a diverse assortment of cutting edge artists.

Jade Warrior guitarist DAVID DUHIG joins me for a discussion of the band's origins (Steve Winwood got them signed), David's famous Monkey Chant solo, JW offshoots, and recollections of his brother Tony, who founded Jade Warrior at the tail end of the psychedelic era.

JOHN LECKIE has produced and/or engineered for Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett, Be Bop Deluxe, XTC and so many other great artists. We dig into his work with George Harrison, Lennon/Ono, McCartney, and of course, The Dukes of Stratosphear.