All Episodes
Brett Detar
"The things that you don’t take seriously are the things that end up being awesome." - Brett Detar Brett Detar is a Los Angeles based singer, songwriter, film composer, producer and super creative guy. He's made a name for himself with his band The Juliana Theory...
Reggie Watkins
"You’re just a vehicle for the music to come through." - Reggie Watkins Reggie Watkins has always had a knack for music. He has come a long way from learning how to play the piano at six. Born and raised in West Virginia and spending years in Pittsburgh, Reggie was...
Alice DiMicele
"I like music that says something and means something - I'm not really into the fluff." - Alice DiMicele Southern Oregon based, singer-songwriter Alice DiMicele joins the Playful Musician to talk about her new upcoming album Every Seed We Plant along with her...
Barney McAll
"" - Barney McAll Barney McAll In this episode we touch on the following topics Lazaro Ross/Smithsonian – Barney said he’d send a link Dr Chris Somerville’s research Featured tracks Sweet Water with Barney McAll and Rita Satch Sunrays, out February 18th To...
Baruch Meir
"" - Baruch Meir Baruch Meir In this episode we touch on the following topics: Links from the episode: Show Notes: People Mentioned: Bobby McFerrin
Theo Bleckmann
"" - Theo Bleckmann Theo Bleckmann In this episode we touch on the following topics: Links from the episode: Show Notes: People Mentioned: Bobby McFerrin
Vijay Venkatesh
"" - Vijay Venkatesh Vijay Venkatesh In this episode we touch on the following topics: Links from the episode: Show Notes: People Mentioned:
Tara Kannangara
"" - Tara Kannangara Tara Kannangara In this episode we touch on the following topics: Links from the episode: Show Notes: People Mentioned: Bobby McFerrin
Bob Spring
"" - Bob Spring Bob Spring In this episode we touch on the following topics: Links from the episode: Show Notes: People Mentioned: Bobby McFerrin
Jared Judge
Along with being a conductor and violinist, Jared Judge is an established web developer and entrepreneur. He created and runs BookLive.com, a web tool for musician
Wonkak Kim
Korean-born clarinetist, Wonkak Kim, is an Associate Professor of Clarinet at the University of Oregon School of Music. Wonkak has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician at leading venues
Geoffrey Keezer
Jazz pianist Geoffrey Keezer, a two-time GRAMMY nominee, has approximately 20 albums to his name as a bandleader. He has built a successful career by creating unusual and compelling music with
Kate McGarry and Keith Ganz
Jazz artist, Kate McGarry, and guitarist, Keith Ganz, have been musical and life partners for 17 years, producing 6 critically acclaimed albums together and earning two GRAMMY® nominations
James Genus
James Genus is an American jazz bassist and currently plays in the Saturday Night Live Band. He has performed as a session musician and sideman throughout his career, with an impressive list
John Ellis
"You want to figure out how to play with intention" - John Ellis John Ellis In this episode we touch on the following topics: Studying Saxophone with James Holik and North Carolina School For The Arts Recordings relased over 2020 Playing without a chordal instrument...
Steve Owen
"Music is too much fun, not to do it at your utmost! If you know you've put in your best effort it takes the pressure off and you can just let things happen" - Steve Owen Steve Owen is a saxophonist, composer, and the Director of Jazz Studies at University of Oregon....
Donny McCaslin
"Everyone has to do the work, study the traditions, but it doesn't look the same for everybody" - Donny McCaslin Donny McCaslin - @donnymccaslinmusic and donnymcaslin.com American jazz saxophonist, Donny McCaslin, has recorded over a dozen albums as a bandleader in...
Tierney Sutton
"Improvisation is creating a process that is adjustable...that you did not plan" - Tierney Sutton Tierney Sutton In this episode we touch on the following topics: Physical Distancing vs Social Distancing Honesty, Truthfullness, and Art Pandemic Creativity and...
Gian Slater
"" - Gian Slater Gian Slater In this episode we touch on the following topics: Links from the episode: Show Notes: People Mentioned: Bobby McFerrin
Amanda Tosoff
"" - Amanda Tosoff Amanda Tosoff In this episode we touch on the following topics: Links from the episode: Show Notes: People Mentioned: Bobby McFerrin
Sara Caswell
"" - Sara Caswell Sara Caswell In this episode we touch on the following topics: Links from the episode: Show Notes: People Mentioned: Bobby McFerrin
Allison Au
e Ja "If you can realize it's got nothing to do with you, it just about the music, that's when things get really interesting" - Allison Au Allison Au @AllisonAuMusic - Juno-award winning Jazz Saxophonist, Composer and Arranger, Allison Au (pronounced "ow") refuses to...
Janis Siegel
"" - Janis Siegel Janis Siegel In this episode we touch on the following topics: Links from the episode: Show Notes: People Mentioned: Bobby McFerrin
Steve Smith
"The best way to work on matched grip is to play ride cymbal with the left hand" - Steve Smith Steve Smith In this episode we touch on the following topics: Links from the episode: Ashland, Oregon Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society Southern Oregon University...
Laila Biali
"" - Laila Biali Laila Biali In this episode we touch on the following topics: Creating during quarantine The switch from classical pianist to jazz artist Rehearsing and touring with Sting The Juno Awards Process NYC Post Pandemic DIfference between arts...
Clarence Penn
"Practicing is working on stuff you can't play" - Clarence Penn Clarence Penn @clarence_penn In this episode we touch on the following topics: How Covid has impacted Joel Chick Corea and other jazz heroes Transcription as a tool How he worked on his amazing sound!...
Joel Frahm
"Find the beauty inside yourself...and say that" - Joel Frahm Joel Frahm In this episode we touch on the following topics: How Covid has impacted Joel Chick Corea and other jazz heroes Transcription as a tool How he worked on his amazing sound! Reclaiming...
Sara Gazarek
"" - Sara Gazarek Sara Gazarek In this episode we touch on the following topics: The passing of Chick Corea Being nominated for a Grammy and the experience of attending the Grammys Producer vs Performer The role and responsibility of mentorship Links from...
Rhett Bender
"Practice when you want to and know WHY you're practicing." - Rhett Bender Rhett Bender is a Professor of Music at the Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon University. He teaches music theory and saxophone performance and is a founding member and soprano...
Kate McGarry
"In order to go deep, it's got to be specific. You fill the lyric with your life!" - Kate McGarry Kate McGarry (@katemcgarry2). shares about what she’s learned from studying the Somatic Voicework™ The LoVetri Method for over 17 years. We chat about pandemic...
Deanna Swoboda
Deanna Swoboda (@deannaswoboda)is an Associate Professor of Music at Arizona State University. She teaches tuba and euphonium, Entrepreneurship and Music courses, coaches chamber music, and designs creative music performances.
Alexander Tutunov
Pianist Alexander Tutunov is widely recognized as one of the most outstanding virtuosos of the former Soviet Union. He’s performed throughout Europe, China, Mexico, and the United States as a solo performer, soloist with orchestra, and on radio and television.
Susan Mohini Kane
Susan Mohini Kane is a professor of voice and opera and professional classical singer. She teaches opera workshops, master classes, voice lessons, and opera training programs throughout the United States and Internationally.
Vicki Genfan
Vicki Genfan is a virtuoso guitarist, singer and composer. Drawing from folk, jazz, pop, soul and world music, she has a distinctive style that pushes the boundaries of the singer/songwriter genre into new territories. Vicki is honest, thoughtful and soulful. We chat...
Jeff Pevar – Part 2
In the second half of my conversation with guitarist Jeff Pevar, we chat playing with the greats. From recording Ray Charles’s Christmas album to playing with David Crobsy, he talks about pushing boundaries, knowing your worth and the highlights of being on a world...
Jeff Pevar
Jeff Pevar is a guitarist, composer, producer, performer and multi-instrumentalist. He's brought his unique musical style to movie scores, television shows, advertisements and composes original music for his own releases. Jeff is entertaining, passionate, extremely...
Matthew Kriemelman
He may be best known for his 12 year stint as a drummer for the Blue Man Group, but Matthew Kriemelman’s talents reach far beyond the Las Vegas stage. From NYC’s downtown club scene to touring in fifteen different countries…
Tessa Brinckman
Flutist Tessa Brinckman has been described as a “flutist of chameleon-like gifts.” Not only does she play the flute, piccolo, baroque, alto, bass and contrabass flutes, and miscellaneous keyboards, but she also composes, teaches and…
Todd Barton
Theresa McCoy
Theresa McCoy is an accomplished percussionist. She’s played with esteemed symphonies, salsa bands, on horror movie soundtracks and for distinguished guests such as the Queen of England
Martin Majkut
Episode 2 Martin Majkut Martin Majkut (@mmaestrissimo) is a world class conductor and human being. He’s lived through a revolution, has two PhDs, can sing, play piano and inspires orchestras to deliver exciting, polished and powerful performances. He’s the Music...
Terry Longshore
Episode 1 Terry LongshoreVersatile doesn’t even begin to describe my first guest. Terry Longshore is a percussionist, composer, teacher and performer. From collaborating with multi-media artists to composing live music for dance and theatre to premiering works by...
The Origins of The Playful Musician
In this short episode Steve reveals the origins of the podcast, how it came to be and the intention going forward.
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