Mark Shilansky's Talking Music Podcast

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March 2011
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Syndication

Adrian Sicam is a singer/songwriter/keyboardist who joins Mark in a car conversation en route to a function gig with their sometime musical home: the Hip Pocket Orchestra.  Ade and Mark discuss Ade's time at Syracuse University, the world of musical theatre, the legendary funk/spoken word band Neon Grandma (of which Adrian was a founding member), Star Island, Adrian's solo record "Hey Stranger," and the trials and tribulations of the living as an artist.  Music: "You Behave" (Shilansky), "Skylark" (Carmichael/Mercer, arr. Sicam/Shilansky), "I Cover the Waterfront", "Funky Lover" (Sicam, perf. by Neon Grandma), "So Low" (Sicam), "Jazz and Sushi" (Sicam), and "Change Your Mind" (Sicam)

Direct download: MStalkingMusicAdrianSicam.m4a
Category:music -- posted at: 5:24am EDT

Christine Fawson plays trumpet and sings on her own projects and as the Alto in the group Syncopation.  She speaks her mind honestly, and doesn't tolerate B.S. from anyone, including her friends.  We discuss the Mormon faith (quite controversially, I might add), Women in Jazz, Berklee, and much more.  Visit her at http://www.christinefawson.net  Episode Music: "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" (U2, as performed by Syncopation), Don't Fence Me in (Berlin, performed by Fawson), Invisible War (Julia Fordham, by Syncopation), Avalon (Fawson), Wonderful You (by Syncopation, music by Hiromi Uehara, Lyrics by Fawson), and "Betcha By Golly Wow" (Syncopation, words and music by Linda Creed and Thom Bell).

Direct download: MStalkingMusicChristineFawson.m4a
Category:music -- posted at: 3:44pm EDT

Mark talks to singer/songwriter/guitarist Kate Schutt.  Originally from Pennsylvania, Kate spent time in Boston and then many years in Guelph, Ontario before settling in her current locale of NYC.  A slew of great recordings make up her body of work, including "No Love Lost" (the one Shilansky is on, also Shilansky-pal Dave Jamrog, w/string arrangements by Jeff Louie and a special appearance by Toni Lynn Washington), and "The Telephone Game," (featuring Orrin Evans, Terri Lynn Carrington, John Ellis) a project made in conjunction with the innovative Artistshare label.  Kate and Mark talk about all this, as well as studying Chinese, why someone would bail on Harvard to go to Berklee (!!?), the life of a self-managing/producing artist, and much more.  If you've heard other interviews with Kate (she has been making some major waves in the industry, including being featured on NPR's "Song of the Day"), this one is different, because in this one Kate addresses how she "left it all behind" and dropped out of the biz for a significant period of time, to do volunteer work, and she discusses this in moving detail.  Songs include: "The Moon Got Broken", "Our Legs are Burning," "Glamorous Life" (a Sheila E cover!), "You Can Have the Sky," and "Raining."

Direct download: MStalkingMusicKateSchutt.m4a
Category:music -- posted at: 2:02am EDT

Mark interviews bassist/educator Greg Holt, on a drive to a gig (the cars get a little noisy, so adjust your volume accordingly...sorry).  Topics include their work with Syncopation, Celia Slattery, and Allyssa Jones among others, as well as Greg's teaching at Boston Arts Academy, Mark's strange hostility toward the Lydian Chromatic Concept, what happens when your house burns down, and the insular world of the Boston Pops.  Music selections: "Getaway" - Syncopation, "It's Not Me" - Allyssa Jones, "Chinese Café/Unchained Melody" - Celia Slattery, and "Wonderful You" - Syncopation.

Direct download: MStalkingMusicGregHolt_2.m4a
Category:music -- posted at: 11:28pm EDT

Mark talks at LENGTH to trumpeter/composer Taylor Haskins.  It's a long one, but DEAL WITH IT!! We had a lot of ground to cover as we've known each other for about 22 years or so.  Listen to it on a long drive or across a couple different commutes... We discuss our shared history, Taylor's original music and sideman work with people like Dave Holland, Richard Bona, and Guillermo Klein.  Musical selections: "Lovefool" from my Join the Club CD, Taylor's "You Have Everything You Need" (from Wake Up Call), "Biorhythm" (from Metaview), "Here is the Big Sky" (from the brand new Recombination), and Tay's cover of Tom Waits' "Johnsburg, Illinois" (from American Dream).  Caution: We talk some politics, musical and otherwise, throughout... please comment and converse; we respect your opinion if it differs from ours, and we may wind up agreeing to disagree.  Enjoy the music, in any case.

Direct download: MStalkingmusicTaylorHaskins.m4a
Category:music -- posted at: 11:35pm EDT

Mark talks with jazz singer Kate McGarry about her journey through the world of music, from Cape Cod to L.A. to NYC to North Carolina.  Nominated for a Grammy award for her CD "If Less is More, then Nothing is Everything," Kate performs her heartfelt original music and profoundly personal renditions of songs from the "Great American Songbook" as well as covers of music by Joni Mitchell, Peter Gabriel, and the Cars (!).  Music excerpts: "Chelsea Morning" (Joni Mitchell) from the CD "Show Me," "You Don't Have to Cry" (Steven Stills) from "If Less is More...", "The Target (Kate McGarry) from the CD of the same name, and "Gypsy in My Soul" (Jaffe/Bolland).

Direct download: MSTalkingMusicKateMcGarry.m4a
Category:music -- posted at: 3:21pm EDT

Mark continues his conversation with the members of the vocal group ESP, talking with Singer/Songwriter Sandi Hammond about rock musicals (and Michael Wartofsky), famous ex-boyfriends, the problem of bullying, and her life as a teacher, songstress, and now jazzer. Music: Sandi's "Gloomy Girl" from the CD Rubbergirl, and "The Pleasure is Back" from the CD "This Summer Night."

Direct download: MStalkingSandiHammondESP.m4a
Category:music -- posted at: 8:25pm EDT

In the first of a two part interview with his pals and collaborators ESP Vocal Trio (Emily Browder Melville, Patrice Williamson, Sandi Hammond) Mark discusses the group's ongoing Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for its new CD recording, and also their shared histories, vocal technique, ex-boyfriends and girlfriends, Michael Bublé, New England Conservatory, and more.  Music in this episode: "Monument" (Shilansky), excerpts from Lukas Foss' "Griffelkin" (featuring Emily with Kendra Coulton), "Celia" (Patrice singing this Bud Powell tune), "Apple Brown Betty" (ESP singing an original tune, from a live gig at Wellesley), and "In for the Evening"(Shilansky).

Direct download: MStalkingESPtrio.m4a
Category:music -- posted at: 12:55am EDT

In a return from an unintentional hiatus, Mark talks to jazz vocalist, composer, and educator Julie Hardy.  Through her teaching at the New School and City College in NYC, and her performance and composition of jingles and other commercial music, she supports her jazz and indie pop songwriting habit.  We discuss shared experiences (including some traumatic ones), teachers, the jazz world, and why being able to sound like Katy Perry can be a good thing.  Episode music: "On the Rave" (Shilansky), "No Turning Back" (Hardy), "I'm Looking Through You" (Lennon/McCartney, Arr. Hardy), "I Love the Way" (Hardy), and "Iris" (Wayne Shorter, w/lyrics by Hardy).

Direct download: MStalkingMusicJulieHardy.m4a
Category:music -- posted at: 10:28am EDT

Mark talks to vocalist Christina Watson and trombonist Oscar Utterstrom, who practice their jazzy artistry in the Nashville area.  They both happen to be former students and frequent collaborators w/Mark, and discuss their shared experiences, jazz in Nashville, Steig Larson, and much more.  Features music by M.S. (opening theme "Amsterdam"), Christina ("In a Sentimental Mood," "A Flower Truly Blue," and "Where or When"), and Oscar ("Home").  http://www.christinawatson.com and http://www.oscarutterstrom.com

Direct download: MSTalkingMusicChristinaWatsonOscarUtterstrom.m4a
Category:music -- posted at: 8:38am EDT

Mark talks to Peter Kontrimas, bassist and recording engineer extraordinaire, about the many sessions Mark has done at Peter's studio, local jazz legends Herb Pomeroy, Dick Johnson, Paul Broadnax, Jerry Bergonzi, and Rebecca Parris, the NEW PIANO, and the wisdom of having great espresso handy at a session.  Music featured includes M.S.'s "What Else," and "All of You" and "East of the Sun" by Rebecca Parris (w/Peter on bass).  Contact Peter at pkontrimas@verizon.net

Direct download: MSTalkingMusicPeterKontrimas.mp3
Category:music -- posted at: 12:36am EDT

Mark talks to drummer, recording engineer, and composer Dave Jamrog about their shared experiences, Toni Lynn Washington, equipment theft, life on the road, family, and much more.  Features music excerpts from the work of M.S. ("tip of the iceberg", "as fate would have it", "on the rave", and "love, give him up") as well as other people Dave has worked with (Neil Shilansky, Kate Schutt), and recorded (Allyssa Jones).

http://www.davejamrog.com for info about Dave's playing and recording career (Snappytracks recording).

Direct download: MSTalkingMusicDaveJamrog.mp3
Category:music -- posted at: 6:25pm EDT

Mark and Dave discuss Take 6, the crazy nepotistic network of friends that connects them, the state of vocal jazz today, and absolutely everything that has happened in their lives up to this point.  Seriously, though, this talk does get a little heavy on the biographical info, and I feel we barely scratched the surface of our usual scintillating conversation.  Listen and learn, and Dave will be back again with our group Syncopation, and I'm sure other times too.  Songs include M.S.'s "Almost Like," and Dave's originals and arrangements ("Festive Minor", "Get out of your own way", "Just one of those things", "The Song is You," "Deciding Where to Land", "For All We Know," and "Shade").

Direct download: MSTalkingMusicDavidThorneScott.m4a
Category:music -- posted at: 11:38pm EDT

Mark and Molly Flannery discuss music, family, biased bloggers, the Acton Jazz Café, and James Joyce, among other things.  Check out Molly at www.mollyflannery.com

Music selections:  "In for the Evening" by M.S. as the theme, Molly Flannery music selections: "Seven Seas", "Star Eyes," and "Memoria" (featuring Fernando Holz).

Direct download: MSTalkingMusicMollyFlannery.m4a
Category:music -- posted at: 12:36am EDT

Mark and Gilson discuss the piano, Brazilian Music, performance-based injuries (no laughing matter), and bullies.  Check Gilson out at www.gilsonmusic.com 

Music played:  M.S.'s "As Fate Would Have It" as the theme, "Rosa Morena" and "Lampiao" from Gilson Schachnik's album "Lampiao."

Direct download: MSTalkingMusicPodcastGilsonSchachnik.m4a
Category:music -- posted at: 3:09am EDT

Mark ventures out into the podcast world for realz now, with some exclusive audio of jazzy interpretations of some Bob Dylan music.  Featuring performances and interviews with Molly Flannery, Chuck Gabriel, Adrian Sicam, and Sara Bielanski, excerpted from a broadcast on WICN radio, 90.5 FM.  http://www.wicn.org

 

 

Direct download: MarkShilanskyTalkingMusicPodcastEpisdode1point5.m4a
Category:music -- posted at: 10:31am EDT

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