This week, Louis catches up with the great Doobie Powell, who came to Ropeadope through Sput Searight's RSVP records. Doobie's father was a musician who founded the band Wood, Brass, & Steel, featuring the young Doug Wimbish. This is the band that eventually became the Sugar Hill Gang, so you can see right away that Doobie's background in the Church was accentuated with secular experience. Doobie's new album, Finding Myself Again, came out in Spring of 2019, and his blend of all those musica...
Jun 17, 2019•28 min
Keyboardist and composer Brockett Parsons cut his teeth in the New York scene and rose to national attention when Sean Combs personally selected him for his touring band. Many know Brockett as the keyboard player in Lady Gaga's band, but it was his appearance on the 2017 Super Bowl half-time show that most will remember as he introduced a new invention that he and some close friends developed: the piano arc 360 keyboard. When Brockett met up with drummer and Modern Icon Recording's founder Adria...
Jun 10, 2019•38 min
Keyboardist Deron Johnson is a Los Angeles native, and he quickly picked up work touring with Paula Abdul before being snapped up by Miles Davis to join his final touring band. We know Deron best as a founding member of the all star band, Light Blue Movers. Together with Adrian Harpham, Gabe Gonzalez, & Jonathan Levy, Johnson has recorded two albums with the group. Teleological Deevolution available at https://fanlink.to/LBM https://www.moderniconrecordings.com/ Produced by Gabe Sanderson.
Jun 03, 2019•23 min
Crown is an artist and songwriter. Her work examines the crisis of women, how we are forever pulled between the potential we see ahead and the echos of our under liberated past and present. Her songs tell the stories of her discoveries and strives to illuminate the nuanced challenges women face in our everyday experience. Engineered by Moses Opawumi
May 28, 2019•35 min
May 20, 2019•20 min
The Last Poets are considered to be The Godfathers of hip-hop, bringing poetry onto the turbulent scene in the 1960's. For over 50 years they have persevered, keeping their intent and their mission alive as they seek to enlighten all people about racism, social justice, and personal growth through poetry and music. Earlier this year, Umar Bin Hassan, Abiodun Oyewole, and Baba Donn Babatunde gathered at the Ropeadope Room at the invitation of renowned bassist and producer Jamaaladeen Tacuma. It w...
May 13, 2019•30 min
The Last Poets are considered to be The Godfathers of hip-hop, bringing poetry onto the turbulent scene in the 1960's. For over 50 years they have persevered, keeping their intent and their mission alive as they seek to enlighten all people about racism, social justice, and personal growth through poetry and music. Earlier this year, Umar Bin Hassan, Abiodun Oyewole, and Baba Donn Babatunde gathered at the Ropeadope Room at the invitation of renowned bassist and producer Jamaaladeen Tacuma. It w...
May 06, 2019•24 min
The Last Poets are considered to be The Godfathers of hip-hop, bringing poetry onto the turbulent scene in the 1960's. For over 50 years they have persevered, keeping their intent and their mission alive as they seek to enlighten all people about racism, social justice, and personal growth through poetry and music. Earlier this year, Umar Bin Hassan, Abiodun Oyewole, and Baba Donn Babatunde gathered at the Ropeadope Room at the invitation of renowned bassist and producer Jamaaladeen Tacuma. It w...
Apr 29, 2019•24 min
The Last Poets are considered to be The Godfathers of hip-hop, bringing poetry onto the turbulent scene in the 1960's. For over 50 years they have persevered, keeping their intent and their mission alive as they seek to enlighten all people about racism, social justice, and personal growth through poetry and music. Earlier this year, Umar Bin Hassan, Abiodun Oyewole, and Baba Donn Babatunde gathered at the Ropeadope Room at the invitation of renowned bassist and producer Jamaaladeen Tacuma. It w...
Apr 22, 2019•34 min
This week Louis gets on the line with Thor Madsen aka Thor De Force. It was fascinating to hear his experience growing up in Denmark, making his way to the NY scene and collaborating with the cats at Nublu. His new record, Sounds Of The Mansion is a sweeping work, a deep dive into HIS sound. The record is easily accessible yet continues to bring you further into Thor's world. Stream and download Sounds Of The Mansion at https://thordeforce.bandcamp.com/album/sounds-of-the-mansion Produced by Nic...
Apr 08, 2019•32 min
This week I get on the line with Kyle Nasser. As Kyle is a graduate of both Berklee and Harvard, I knew the conversation might get serious. And it did, as we went through the intricacies of his new album, Persistent Fancy. We know Kyle from the NY outfit Beekman, but this is his debut as a bandleader. The compositions have deep meaning and careful intricacy, and yet one does not need to have a full understanding to enjoy the album. Find Kyle's album Persistent Fancy at https://kylenassermusic.ba...
Apr 01, 2019•24 min
This week Mr. Brian Wolf from Drums & Tuba. If you were around in the experimental years at the turn of the century, checking in on artists like MMW and Les Claypool, you know this band. Started on the streets of Austin, Texas, Drums & Tuba is Brian and drummer Tony Nozero. Together they explore song structure as they hear it, and the unique sounds they create appeal to punk rock as much as jazz. Let's hear Brian break it down. Their new album Triumph! is available at https://drums-tuba....
Mar 25, 2019•35 min
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah is well received in the jazz world, but it is his transcendent level of creativity and his mission to unite us all by breaking down barriers within the construct of music that define him as a leader in this time. Louis had the chance to chat with Christian, and as is often the case, we ran over on time and we just let it roll. This is the second and final installment of the series. Enjoy. Christian Scott's 'Ancestral Recall' can be found at https://christianscott.ba...
Mar 18, 2019•22 min
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah is well received in the jazz world, but it is his transcendent level of creativity and his mission to unite us all by breaking down barriers within the construct of music that define him as a leader in this time. Louis had the chance to chat with Christian, and as is often the case, we ran over on time and we just let it roll. This is part one of a two part series. Christian Scott's 'Ancestral Recall' can be found at https://christianscott.bandcamp.com/album/ancestr...
Mar 11, 2019•22 min
This week I spend some time speaking with RC Williams. A Dallas musician who has held down the weekly DFW Jam Sessions for many years; a place where world class musicians get together and explore. It was at one of these sessions that young UNT students with a band named Snarky Puppy met cats like RC, Sput Searight, Shaun Martin, and Corey Henry. RC & The Gritz is best known as Erykah Badu's band, and their new album, Analog World, hit this year. The band starts with a pickup band vibe, but s...
Mar 04, 2019•23 min
This week it's off to West Virginia to visit with saxophonist Jared Sims. We first met Jared in the Boston band Akashic Record, and now that he has re- settled in his home state as the director of Jazz Studies at WVU, Jared is returning to the roots of Jazz. His most recent album, The New York Sessions, is a nostalgic trip through the sounds of the New York scene. With titles like Tribeca Tap Bar and Brooklyn Tea, Jared captures the sound and feeling of the greatest city on earth. Purchase Jared...
Feb 25, 2019•18 min
This week we have the great pleasure of speaking with Vivian Sessoms. Raised in a musical family in Harlem, Vivian's list of credits in the music business requires a lot of scrolling, with notables like Stevie Wonder, Sinead O Connor, and Ryuichi Sakamoto on the list. Vivian stunned us with her two part album entitled LIFE, an epic collection of songs and lush arrangements done with her husband, Chris Parks, and featuring the likes of Keyon Harold, Casey Benjamin, Shedrick Mitchell, and Amp Fidd...
Feb 18, 2019•51 min
Sasha Masakowski is an enigma: born and raised in New Orleans, the daughter of a celebrated Jazz Guitarist, Sasha is every bit at home in New York City and equally comfortable with the quirks and changes of our modern world as she is with the history of Jazz. We spoke about her album Art Market, which views and celebrates New Orleans through her lense - playful at times, worldly, with a full juxtaposition of genres. Support Sasha and her latest record "Art Market" at https://sasha-masakowski.ban...
Feb 11, 2019•31 min
Mark de Clive-Lowe has been on the global scene for some time; Hailing from New Zealand, Mark made spent a decade in London immersed in the London broken beat scene and has traveled the world with his detailed setup, composing on the spot and mixing electronic and organic sounds. In 2019 mark is set to release Heritage - a two part album that takes him back to his mother's homeland - Japan. The two part album, due out in February and April, musically expresses his connection, respect, and deep p...
Feb 04, 2019•33 min
The cats from Troker joined us by phone from Guadelajara and spoke of their early influences in the Ropeadope fam like DJ Logic and John Medeski. The band takes that early sound and brings it forward in a powerful way, with a strong emphasis on Mexican culture. Find Troker's new album Imperfecto at https://trokermusic.bandcamp.com/album/imperfecto
Jan 28, 2019•18 min
Louis sits down with Anu Sun to discuss his upcoming release, Sanguine Regum.
Jan 21, 2019•30 min
This week on the show - Andrew Finn Magill. raised in a musical household in Asheville NC, Finn was steeped in Irish traditional music, but it was when he hit the land of Brazil where his full inspiration kicked in. Finn spent years studying the language and the music, and the result is Canta Violino - his blend of Jazz and Brazilian styles - on the violin. let's hear the story.
Jan 07, 2019•31 min
On the line with Osei and Simon of Big Hands Rhythm and Blues Band. The name is straightforward, but the music is so much more.
Dec 31, 2018•21 min
It's a joy to chat with Richard X Bennett and hear about his unique path and the deliberate way he goes about recording music.
Dec 24, 2018•32 min
Bubby Lewis joins Louis on this week's The Station Tapes
Dec 17, 2018•33 min
Bright Dog Red - the name itself a deliberate juxtaposition of the familiar. Led by Joe Pignato, BDR is a collective of teacher and students who go on stage or into the studio and simply improvise.
Dec 10, 2018•33 min
This week on the podcast Louis sits down with pianist and composer Aaron Parks. Raised in Seattle, Aaron moved to New York at the age of 16 to study at The Manhattan School Of Music. Within two years he was invited to join Terence Blanchard's band and soon recorded his acclaimed Blue Note album Invisible Cinema. Parks notes that his new album, released this year and titled Little Big, is the successor to Invisible Cinema, and also that it is truly a band album rather than a solo project. Aaron's...
Dec 03, 2018•29 min
Louis gets on the line with Robi Botos and the conversation wicket turns to Robi's heritage and the relationship between oppressed people and the musical diaspora. Robi speaks of his time with the great Oscar Peterson and the making of his new album, Old Soul.
Nov 26, 2018•28 min
Jonathan and Louis reflect on the old days and chat about Jonathan's rise from local band to international touring act with some of the greatest players in the world. Jonathan's new album, Pillar, features Victor Wooten, Bela Fleck, Oteil Butbridge, MonoNeon, Shaun Martin, and Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah.
Nov 19, 2018•27 min
Fima chats about his childhood in the Village, where famous folks would drop by (Hendrix for one!), and the motivation behind his new album, Songs From The Tree.
Nov 12, 2018•31 min
