You Dig?

This week on You Dig?, Steve Wiest welcomes one of Britain's most celebrated music journalists and authors, Paul Du Noyer, for an extraordinary conversation about the people, places, and music that shaped generations.

From growing up in Liverpool to working at NME, Q, and co-founding MOJO, Paul has spent a remarkable career chronicling popular music and interviewing its greatest figures.

We travel through Liverpool's musical history, from the Cavern Club to Eric's and Cream, explore the influence of Chicago blues on British rock, and discover what it was like to sit across from Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Jimmy Page, and other musical legends.

Paul recalls hearing the Beatles' Abbey Road for the first time while hospitalized as a teenager, shares his insights into the extraordinary songwriting partnership of Lennon and McCartney, and reflects on Peter Jackson's Get Back documentary.

Then things get wonderfully personal in the Dig You Inquisition! We discover why David Bowie is Paul's superhero, how Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman" became forever connected to his first visit to America, and why Mendelssohn is currently filling the halls of Castle Du Noyer.

Finally, Paul shares invaluable advice on the art of interviewing: preparation, patience, listening, and the beautiful Italian concept of sprezzatura—the appearance of effortless mastery born from tremendous work.

An episode for music lovers, writers, musicians, Beatles enthusiasts, and anyone who treasures a great story.

Pull up a chair on the front porch. You're going to dig this one!

You Dig? with Steve Wiest Conversations with creative people about the art of making art.

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Paul's official website, books, articles, and interview archive:

https://www.pauldu­noyer.com

Books discussed:

• Conversations with McCartney

• Liverpool: Wondrous Place

• The Complete John Lennon Songs

• In the City: A Celebration of London Music

Buy these books and more online: https://www.pauldunoyer.com/books/

Composer, arranger, drummer, pianist and master educator Richard DeRosa joins Steve for an unusually deep—and frequently ridiculous—episode of You Dig?

Rich shares stories about his father Clem DeRosa, Neil Slater, Gary Smulyan, Dick Oatts, Mel Lewis, the Village Vanguard and his years at the University of North Texas, while taking us inside the creative thinking behind pieces including “Sno Peas,” “Perseverance,” “Mixed Emotions” and “Fugue for Thought.”

Along the way, Rich and Steve dig into composition, storytelling, teaching, perseverance, musical humor, Gary McFarland, the 1969 Mets, terrible impressions, affogato—and Rich’s beautifully simple philosophy of life:

Find what you’re good at, cultivate it, and make yourself useful.

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Links from today's episode:

https://richderosa.com/

'Sno Peas • "Sno Peas" The One O'Clock Lab Band

Mel Lewis "Alone Together" • Alone Together (Live at the Village Vanguard)

Mel Lewis: "Dearly Beloved" • Dearly Beloved (Live at the Village Vanguard)

Fugue for Thought • Fugue for Thought

Perseverance • Perseverance

Mixed emotions • Mixed Emotions

Gary McFarland's "America The Beautiful" • On This Site Shall Be Erected…

Founding Yellowjackets pianist and composer Russell Ferrante joins Steve Wiest for a wide-ranging conversation about music, mentors, creativity and a remarkable life in jazz.

Russ takes us back to his gospel-soaked childhood in San Jose and the extraordinary Bay Area music scene that helped shape him. From there, the stories come fast: Robben Ford and the beginnings of Yellowjackets, Clifford Coulter, Wayne Shorter, Joni Mitchell, Bobby McFerrin, Lorraine Feather, Star Trek IV and legendary film composer Leonard Rosenman.

Along the way, Russell shares one of the great pieces of musical advice, given to him by Wayne Shorter: “Play the notes next to the note you want to play.”

Steve and Russ also take a deeper musical dive into Inflexion, Russell’s beautiful solo recording, including “We Shall Overcome,” reharmonization, voice leading and the elusive art of making extraordinary musicianship sound effortless.

Finally, Russell faces THE DIG YOU INQUISITION, revealing his thoughts on Spider-Man, Steph Curry, Sinatra and Jobim, vanilla ice cream, autumn—and the meaning of life.

Music, humility, curiosity, laughter and some truly wonderful stories with one of the most distinctive musical voices of the past four decades.

You Dig?

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Links From This Episode: The Yellowjackets

https://www.yellowjackets.com/

The Russell Ferrante Trio: Inflexion

https://www.bluecanoerecords.com/inflexion.html#/

Russ Tells Us About Inflexion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_nqNqdcWfw

We Shall Overcome (From Inflexion)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEE64mtWobQ

The Yellowjackets: Greenhouse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiI91s2qP64 Jazz Vespers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9nqYChnV0w&t=268s J

oni Mitchell: Both Sides Now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cBf0olE9Yc

Sinatra/Jobim

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GFsiFQuUFo&list=PLNgtaFzkPVKr3petnuG5N_9eKXFwR7PT1

Bobby McFerrin: Bang-Zoom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE7LoOw17v0 Kut Elling https://kurtelling.com/

Lorraine Feather "The Girl With the Lazy Eye"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoprveV13FU

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You Dig Season Four Theme Song

"E'Vol" composed by Steve Wiest CONCERTO FOR FOLDED SPACE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W6oVoUcyLc

WCBC Cue by Rosana and Gary Eckert

https://rosanaeckert.com/

Season Four of You Dig? launches with one of the most extraordinary trumpet players of our time: the legendary Wayne Bergeron.

Wayne sits down with Steve Wiest for a hilarious, wide-ranging musician-to-musician conversation about a lifetime spent making music at the highest level—and the remarkable people and stories he encountered along the way.

Wayne remembers his dear friend Jack Sheldon, including the unforgettable experience of playing “Taps” at Jack’s funeral on Jack’s own trumpet. He reveals a previously unheard Jack Sheldon project, tells the complete story of the infamous $100 piccolo trumpet, and takes us inside his experience recording Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story.

That leads to encounters with Barack and Michelle Obama, John Williams, Gustavo Dudamel, Steven Spielberg—and an absolutely unforgettable moment with Rita Moreno.

Then it’s trumpet time: the story behind Wayne’s legendary “O Holy Night,” recording Bésame Mucho with Maynard Ferguson, and the poignant story of how Wayne ultimately played Maynard’s final recorded notes.

Along the way: Stevie Wonder, Gordon Goodwin, Raymond Scott, the Dig You Inquisition, mint chocolate chip gelato, questionable advice for trumpet players—and enough road stories to guarantee that Wayne will have to come back.

This is Wayne Bergeron.

Welcome to Season Four of You Dig?

Hosted by Steve Wiest.

👍 LIKE the episode 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to You Dig? 💬 Tell us your favorite Wayne Bergeron story in the comments.

#WayneBergeron #YouDig #SteveWiest #Trumpet #MaynardFerguson #Jazz #WestSideStory #GordonGoodwin

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🎵 LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

RAYMOND SCOTT REIMAGINED Quartet San Francisco with Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band & Take 6 https://quartetsanfrancisco.com/currentproject

25 YEARS OF PHATNESS Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band Featuring Wayne Bergeron as co-producer

Purchase/download the album here: https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/25-years-of-phatness-gordon-goodwins-big-phat-band/hbd6typgllh37

Season Three concludes with one of today's most thoughtful jazz artists.

Steve sits down with saxophonist, composer, educator and author Adam Larson for an engaging conversation about music, creativity, entrepreneurship, education, family life and building a sustainable career in today's music industry.

They discuss Adam's acclaimed educational books, his Music Business Boot Camp, composing, Michael Brecker's influence, passive income for musicians, and much more before Adam faces the legendary Dig You Inquisition.

Whether you're a performer, educator, student, or simply love hearing creative people talk honestly about their craft, this is a terrific way to close Season Three.

Visit:

https://www.adamlarsonjazz.com

Trumpeter, composer, educator, and bandleader Derrick Gardner joins Steve on the Front Porch for an inspiring conversation about music, family, mentorship, and building a life in jazz.

From growing up under the influence of his legendary father Burgess Gardner, to performing with Frank Foster and the Count Basie Orchestra, touring with Harry Connick Jr., leading the acclaimed Big Dig! Band, and directing jazz studies at Northwestern University, Derrick shares stories and wisdom from every stage of an extraordinary career.

They discuss composition, mentorship, jazz education, Woody Shaw, Larry Young's Unity, jam session etiquette, the importance of community, and Derrick's celebrated recordings including Echoes of Ethnicity, A Ride to the Other Side, and Still I Rise.

The episode concludes with Derrick taking on the Dig You Inquisition, revealing everything from his favorite superhero to the meaning of life.

Whether you're a jazz fan, educator, student, or simply love hearing great artists tell great stories, this is one conversation you won't want to miss.

Learn more about Derrick Gardner: https://www.derrickgardnermusic.com

British trombone/composer/producer phenom Callum Au joins Steve Wiest for an engaging conversation about trombone, arranging, composition, creativity, and his acclaimed new album Sing Seven Seas.

The discussion ranges from Callum's early years in Blackpool, England, to his work with Michael Bublé, Claire Martin, Quincy Jones celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall, and his growing reputation as one of the most exciting arrangers and composers working today.

Along the way, Steve and Callum discuss trombone culture, the London jazz scene, Louis Dowdeswell, Mark Nightingale, National Youth Jazz Orchestra, unusual instruments, fatherhood, and the delicate balance between artistic inspiration and professional craft.

A fascinating look inside the mind of a modern composer and arranger whose work bridges tradition and innovation.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/@YouDigPod

Callum's Website: https://callumaumusic.com/

Jake Wilson (Guitar) from "A Piece of the Action" "Odity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2zjpfZQouc

Tour manager and production veteran Ed Sargent joins Steve Wiest for a wide-ranging conversation covering forty-four years of friendship, music, and adventures on the road.

Ed shares stories from his years with Maynard Ferguson, explains the culture and etiquette of the legendary tour bus known as "The Jar," recounts memorable moments with Dizzy Gillespie, Joan Jett, Aerosmith, and Steven Tyler, and reflects on what he learned from some of the music world's most iconic personalities.

The conversation also explores audience connection, leadership, tour management, fishing, family, and the meaning of a life well lived.

A warm, funny, and deeply human conversation with one of the music industry's great behind-the-scenes professionals.

Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/@YouDigPod

On this deeply musical and often hilarious episode of You Dig?, Steve Wiest sits down with trumpet legend Randy Brecker for an epic late-night hang covering improvisation, practice, composition, Miles Davis, Michael Brecker, Horace Silver, the Brecker Brothers, Seventh Avenue South, and Randy’s beautiful new album Espirito.

Highlights include: 🎺 The famous Miles Davis wah-wah story 🎺 How Randy wrote “Skunk Funk” 🎺 Following Michael Brecker solos night after night 🎺 Lessons learned from Horace Silver 🎺 Randy’s approach to practicing at age 80 🎺 Brecker Brothers origin stories 🎺 Thoughts on improvisation and tension/release 🎺 The Dig You Inquisition™

Wise, funny, warm, and deeply inspiring, this episode is packed with hard-earned musical insight from one of jazz fusion’s most iconic voices.

A good time is had by all. You dig?

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Links from this Episode:

Randy's website: https://www.randybrecker.com/

🎺 SPECIAL BONUS:

Check out the legendary fan-made video by the great Lewis Gerts:

“Some Skunk Funk by Almost Everyone”

featuring countless performances spliced together bar-by-bar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TnUbXkvlz4

Steve Wiest dives deep into the music of legendary trumpeter, composer, and fusion pioneer Randy Brecker in this deluxe edition of the You Dig? Sampler Platter.

From Dreams and the original The Brecker Brothers to the orchestral brilliance of the NDR Bigband collaborations, this episode explores the compositions, recordings, musicians, and moments that helped define modern jazz fusion.

Featured music includes: • “Some Skunk Funk” • “Hanging in the City” • “That’s All There Is To It” • “Sozinho” • “Harpoon” • “Above and Below” • “Imagine My Surprise”

Along the way, Steve discusses Michael Brecker, Ada Rovatti, Barry Rogers, Jörg Achim Keller, fusion arranging, Randy’s unforgettable trumpet sound, and the enduring impact of the Brecker musical universe.

A good time is had by all. You dig?