Chad Kopotic is the master builder over at the Deering Banjo Company and has been with Deering for 27 years now. Chad knows pretty much everything there is to know when constructing and setting up banjos. He's a great resource and gives us a lot of great tips on how to properly set up your banjo.
New Orleans tenor banjoist, guitarist, and bassist Don Vappie drops by Banjo Studio to talk with us today. Don has been inducted in the Banjo Hall of Fame and has won the Steve Martin Banjo Award, as well as many other accolades. We get into a number of things including some chord voicings, articulation and phrasing in your music, what it means to be Creole, and more!
Raised in Lafayette, Louisiana but based in New Orleans, Doug Belote is one of the most in demand drummers on the scene today. He has played or recorded with too many musicians to name but some of these include Jerry Douglas, Derrick Trucks, Dr. John, John Oates, Robben Ford, Charlie Hunter, Anders Osborne, Ryan Cavanaugh, and many more (including yours truly). Doug can play anything, from the most avant garde jazz to a rock solid train beat. Take a listen to Doug's musical story, some of his co...
We're glad to feature shredding 5-string banjoist Ryan Cavanaugh back on the Banjo Studio podcast as we reboot our podcast in this 1st episode of Season 2. Ryan just released a fantastic record called Ryan Cavanaugh Screams Electric with his New Orleans based jazz fusion trio. We get into the process of making this record as well as a number of other topics.
In this episode we interview French guitarist Antoine Boyer. Antoine has his roots in gypsy jazz, learning the guitar alongside his father at an early age. Then is his teens he went on to study classical guitar. In recent years he has moved into more modern jazz sounds by adding electric guitar to his palette of sonic choices. He is an extraordinary talent with incredible taste and chops. He's only in his early 20s but yet has recorded 6 albums under his name. His most recent recording, Tangram,...
In this interview with Tim O'Brien, Banjo Studio Podcast host Jonathan Freilich talks with Tim about his newest recording "He Walked On".
We recently got to chat with banjo master Tony Trischka about many topics including his new recording Shall We Hope.
Taj Mahal has been one of my favorite musicians since I was a teenager. We were very honored that Taj would take time to speak with us. Initially slated for a short 15-20 minute interview, Taj had a good time speaking with the Banjo Studio Podcast host, Jonathan Freilich, and spoke with him for over an hour! Listen as Taj talks about his beginnings, how he got started playing the banjo, his approach to the banjo and the way he tunes it, and much more. If you aren't familiar with Taj Mahal, now i...
David Grier is one of the greatest flatpicking guitarists of all time. Listen to his reflections on Tony Rice's influence, the direction of bluegrass today, his own influences, and more.
David Immergluck is an American multi-instrumentalist who is best known as a guitarist in the alternative rock bands Counting Crows, Camper Van Beethoven and the Monks of Doom, as well as for his tenure with American singer songwriter John Hiatt. A versatile musician, Immerglück plays mandolin, pedal steel guitar, bass, slide guitar, electric sitar, keyboards, and sings.
Jens Kruger of the Kruger Brothers is a modern master of the 5 string banjo who is taking the instrument to places it has never been. Born in Switzerland and now living in North Carolina, Jens' music bridges American folk music and European classical music styles. He has composed for a full symphony orchestra as well as a number of string quartets and more. In this interview, we dig deep into his compositional techniques, style, and more. Enjoy!
Joe Henry is a prolific songwriter, guitarist, producer, and author. He has won multiple Grammy awards, has 15 studio albums under his own name, and has produced countless artist’s recordings. His production credits include Elvis Costello , Allen Toussaint , Rhiannon Giddens , Aarron Neville , Soloman Burke , and many, many more. This is a fascinating interview with one of the great creative forces in American music of our time. Listen to Joe Henry go into depth about his songwriting process, pr...
Guitarist Adam Levy (Norah Jones, Tracey Chapman) is known for his tone and taste. Adam talks with host Jonathan Freilich about his concept on the guitar, how he looks at the guitar from a more compositional approach as oppose to a cliche guitar licks approach, his studies with Ted Greene, his current online guitar lessons course, and more.
In this episode, we talk with the legendary jazz guitarist Steve Khan. Steve has been listed as one of the top 22 jazz guitarists of all time and has an extensive recording career in many genres. Steve has recorded and appeared with the likes of Miles Davis, Steely Dan, Chaka Khan, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, and the list goes on. Steve Has been focused in the later part of his career in latin jazz and has been called "The Voice Of Guitar In Latin Jazz".
This week we talk with the mesmerizing singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (guitar, banjo, ukulele) Valerie June. Valerie hails from Tennessee and has a unique sound that blends blues, country, and Appalachia. She has an amazingly effervescent, positive spirit and this comes across in her music. Host Jonathan Freilich talks about her influences, her songwriting process, and more. This is a fantastic interview. Take a listen. Valerie also performs a song for us on the banjo!...
In this episode we talk with master old time Appalachian musician and banjo builder Riley Baugus. Riley plays in the Round Peak style which comes from the area of Surry County, North Carolina. Host Jonathan Freilich talks with Riley about the Round Peak style, what is old time music, his musical path, and more. Riley has recorded with Robert Plant , Willie Nelson , Allison Kraus , and more. He also sang on the Academy Award Nominated soundtrack for the movie Cold Mountain. Riley plays and sings ...
Host Jonathan Freilich talks with 5 string banjoist Rob McCoury of the Del McCoury Band and the Travelin' McCourys. Jonathan talks with Rob about what he is currently working on, how he is getting on during the Covid lockdown, and what it was like growing up around the music of his father Del McCoury.
Chris "Critter" Eldridge is a master of the dreadnought guitar and is the guitarist & sings with Punch Brothers, Live From Here, Julian Lage, and more. This is a great interview and host Jonathan Freilich talks with Chris about compositional form of the Punch Brothers tunes, Chris' training with legendary guitarist Tony Rice, how to get the best live sound and recorded sound for an acoustic guitar, and more!
This week we talk with master 5 string banjoist and Compass Records founder Alison Brown. Is this interview we talk with Alison about the development of the Deering Julia Belle banjo, how she made the jump from the business world to becoming a full time professional musician, how she balances being an artist and CFO of a successful record company, and much more.
In this episode we talk with Ketch Secor of the band Old Crow Medicine Show. Take a listen to stories of how the band came to be, what brought Ketch down this path. Host Jonathan Freilich talks with Ketch about a number of subjects including the effect the banjo had on Ketch's musical journey, how Old Crow Medicine Show got its start, the influence of African Americans in country and old time music, and more.
Mary Gauthier is one of the most articulate and poignant songwriters of our time. She grew up in southern Louisiana, moved to the Boston area where she started her singer/songwriter career and is now based in Nashville. Her most recent record, Rifles And Rosary Beads was nominated for a Grammy Award. This record consists of songs she co-wrote with U.S. military veterans and their families. Mary is currently working on a book about her life journey. Host Jonathan Freilich talks with Mary about wh...
Kurt Rosenwinkel is one the top jazz guitarists performing today. Kurt has been a Verve recording artist as a leader, has started his own record company Heartcore Records, and as a sideman has recorded with artists as diverse as Q-Tip, Eric Clapton, Gary Burton, Joshua Redman, Brian Blade, and many, many more. Take a listen as host Jonathan Freilich talks to Kurt about his compositional method, how he learned to play guitar, what he is working on now, and more.
Songwriter/banjoist Danny Barnes is always experimenting and trying to become a better musician. Host Jonathan Freilich talks with Danny on his path from traditional banjo styles to how he created his own sound. Danny recently released his Man On Fire album which is killer. This was produced by Dave Matthews and he is featured as a guest artist as well as Bill Frisell , John Paul Jones (bass and mandolin), and drummer Matt Chamberlain . Banjo Studio is your source for the finest in North America...
Ryan Cavanaugh is one of the most innovative banjoists ever. His 3 finger single string technique on the 5 string banjo allows him to play lines like a jazz guitarist. One of his biggest influences is the jazz guitarist John McLaughlin . Host Jonathan Freilich talks with Ryan on his journey from traditional banjo styles to playing modern jazz. Banjo Studio is your source for the finest in North American made banjos and Collings guitars and mandolins and accessories....
