The ProgCast With Gregg Bendian

Dave Liebman is a living colossus of the saxophone. He spoils us with two vivid hours of his incredible experiences in the hotbed of jazz/creative music's seminal days - when he became a meister alongside The Meisters.

As a young'n back in 1975, one of the first new, American, proggy bands I followed was CRACK THE SKY - who recently landed a spot in Rolling Stone magazine's "50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time." In this episode, fanboy Gregg has the pleasure of chatting with CTS chief architects and composers, singer John Palumbo and guitarist Rick Witkowski. They tell me all about the band's beginnings, their prolific output, and their trials and tribulations as under-sung heroes of American prog.

Guitarist/keyboardist/composer MIKE KENEALLY is one of a kind. Mike is a musical force-of-nature and one of the most prolific artists I have ever known. His work with Zappa, Satriani, and Vai is legendary. Mike and I cover our 20 years of history together, our trio with the late, great Doug Lunn, our love of XTC, and we tip o' the iceberg on Mr. Keneally's vast reserve of musical ideas and projects.

This week I welcome my long-time collaborator, guitarist/composer/conceptualist GE STINSON to The ProgCast. GE is one of the founding fathers of world fusion music and has always been on the cutting edge of improvisation, in all its forms. Lots of ideas and history to cover...

Singer SHEILA JORDAN is living history. A High Priestess of Jazz - from Bop to Free - Ms. Jordan joins me in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Charlie Parker,  telling some amazing tales of Bird, and taking us back to the very beginnings of that new jazz, Be Bop.

Drumming great CHESTER THOMPSON is an icon of progressive music. He's  well-known for his work with Zappa, Weather Report, and Genesis, and we touch on all of that. (Back in 1977, my dad took me to see Genesis at MSG - Chester's first time in NYC with the boys - and that's just how far back my history with Chester goes.) It's an honor to welcome Chester Thompson to The ProgCast!

Alex Cline and I have a long, rich history of collaboration and friendship. In this extensive interview we discuss our time in Interzone, our mutual influences (lots of ECM), how it is we play so well together, and what the Alex Cline Ensemble is all about.

Randy Brecker is without doubt a founding father of jazz fusion. His pioneering work in the bands Blood, Sweat & Tears, Dreams, and Brecker Brothers is nothing short of seminal. Lots to discuss, including his time with Billy Cobham, John Abercrombie, and Jaco's WoM

Keyboard master Don Preston is, of course, an original member of Zappa's Mothers of Invention. He's also a synth pioneer, a music conceptualist, and a cutting edge composer. We chat about his beginnings as a bassist, his time with Frank, Carla Bley, Michael Mantler and so much more.

Gary Husband is the complete musician/artist we all endeavor to become. Equally at home on drums or keyboards, he's also a wonderful composer and serious educator. My two hours with Gary flew by, as we talk about his time on the British jazz scene, and his work with Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin,  Jack Bruce, and so much more...