Lafayette Gilchrist is a keyboardist, composer, and the newest piano chair in the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra. In this episode, Gilchrist shares his story of growing up in Washington, DC, and what led him at age 17 to finally sit down at a piano and begin teaching himself to play and compose. He describes how his early love of hip-hop, funk, and go-go evolved into a passion for jazz, sparked by Chuck Brown’s riffs and inflections woven into the popular music of the time. After earning a degree in ...
Jul 25, 2025•54 min•Ep. 64
Fulfilling the unrealized aspiration of his paternal grandfather to become a conductor, Roberto Kalb’s early life was shaped by supportive parents, teachers, and mentors, combined with unrelenting drive and courage. Where many might have shied away from the pursuit, Roberto carved his own path. His journey to becoming a composer and conductor, with a biography that reads like a travel guide through the Midwest, is marked by bold opportunity-taking and the determination to create new milestones w...
Jun 20, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 63
In this episode I sit down with Tibi Cziger, clarinetist, founder, and Artistic Director of the Israeli Chamber Project before his visit and performance with the Chamber Music Concert December 4th in Ashland, Oregon. The Israeli Chamber Project consists of strings, winds, harp, and piano. They were named the winner of the 2011 Israeli Ministry of Culture Outstanding Ensemble Award and 2017 Partos Prize Tibi is the founder, and Artistic Director of the Israeli Chamber Project. It’s been 16 years ...
Dec 02, 2024•54 min•Ep. 62
Carla Ecker, concert violinist, and I sat down in Ashland, Oregon, for a delightful in-person conversation. She has performed with renowned orchestras, including the Sarasota Opera Orchestra, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, El Paso Symphony, and the Phoenix Symphony. Currently residing in Tucson, Carla maintains an active performance schedule across the U.S. and has served as the Concertmaster of the Rogue Valley Symphony for t...
Nov 22, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 61
Angela Johnson’s music is rich and funky, featuring smart and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny, soul-baring lyrics. She broke onto the music scene as a member of Cooly's Hot Box, which showcased her unique blend of jazz, soul, and R&B. Johnson then released her first solo album, “They Don't Know,” jumpstarting her solo career and highlighting her production skills. As a singer, songwriter, and producer known for her soulful voice and compelling compositions, she has a soul made for storytelli...
Oct 25, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 60
I’m grateful to be sitting down once again with Martin Majkut, Music Director of both the Rogue Valley Symphony in Oregon and the Queens Symphony Orchestra in New York. We haven’t spoken since 2020, and there’s much to catch up on. We geek out over Beethoven's 5th Symphony and the ongoing debate about its proper tempo. Martin shares how fatherhood has transformed him as both a person and a conductor, explaining why becoming a father later in life has been ideal for him. We also delve into the af...
Sep 27, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 59
Caity is a two-time Juno Award-winning vocalist from Canada, known for her remarkable musical talent and relentless work ethic. Her voice has an instrumental quality that can hold its own against any saxophone on an improvisational riff. Gyorgy has performed at jazz clubs and festivals across Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the United States, collaborating and recording with incredible musicians, including Christine Jensen, Pat LaBarbera, Jocelyn Gould, Ira Coleman, Bryn Roberts, and Joe LaBarbera, t...
Sep 13, 2024•47 min•Ep. 58
Nikka Costa returns to the music scene after a career break, and we sit down to discuss her life and her new album, Dirty Disco . Costa’s evolution as an artist is truly inspiring. Each of her works invites the listener to peel back layers, revealing more about this transformative vocalist with every song and decade. In our candid conversation, we revisit her early fame, which began with an album that catapulted her to stardom at just seven years old. From being greeted by adoring fans at airpor...
Aug 16, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 57
Originally from London, Will Vinson has played as a leader and sideman in New York, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, and Japan. Will is a member of Rufus Wainwright’s band and has performed, arranged, and recorded with Sufjan Stevens, Sean Lennon, Martha Wainwright, Beth Orton, Harper Simon, and other jazz visionaries. In this episode, we discuss his mentors and how they have shap...
Aug 02, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 56
Sarah Belle Reid is a rule breaker. A performer-composer who trained in trumpet and moved through, and at times against the status quo, to modular synthesizer, and an ever-expanding array of handcrafted electronic instruments. The personal voice she explores, moves between the intersections of contemporary classical music, experimental and interactive electronics, visual arts, noise music, and improvisation. Reid holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from California Institute of the Arts, with a res...
Jul 05, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 55
Alexandra Arrieche, Brazilian-born conductor keeps busy working with some of the most important ensembles and figures in both classical and pop music. With an ability to move masterfully between genres, she distinguishes herself as one of the most unique and exciting conductors of her generation. Alexandra currently serves as Music Director of the Olympia Symphony Orchestra and the Henderson Symphony, and as Principal Conductor of the Antwerp Philharmonic in Belgium as well as conducting the Eur...
Jun 21, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 54
From picking up the violin before even mastering speech, to gracing prestigious concert halls worldwide, Jennifer Roig-Francoli’s musical odyssey is as captivating as her performances. An international prize-winner, her talent has been featured in TIME Magazine. She’s also certified and accomplished Alexander Technique (AT) instructor, reshaping how musicians perceive and inhabit their craft, with the goal to free mind, body, and spirit. Jennifer immerses us in her enthralling violin journey, re...
Jun 07, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 53
This week, I sit down with Idit Shner. Idit holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oklahoma City University, a Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Central Oklahoma, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas. She currently teaches at the University of Oregon as a professor of saxophone and jazz studies. Idit has performed solo recitals across the United States and Israel. Idit is one of those rare musicians who excels in both classical and jazz sa...
May 25, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 52
Heralded as one of the best prepared and most serious bassists by Chuck Israels, Garrett Baxter is also a longtime friend. Though years separate us, Garrette and I grew up in the same small town in Southern Oregon where we cut our teeth in band rooms from high school to college. Residing now in Portland he is one of the most exciting young bassists in the city. One of only a few in person interviews I have done, I was excited to join Garrett in his home in Portland to talk music. We chat about p...
May 10, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 51
Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies and Jazz Ensemble Director at Houghton University Russell Scarbrough is a composer, bandleader, trombonist, and educator. His works have been performed by symphonies, orchestras, big bands, jazz ensembles, and soloists alike on a multitude of stages, at schools and universities, Carnegie Hall, and the steps of the US Capital. Russell and I get nostalgic and walk down memory lane in this episode. Tune in and reminisce with us about choosing our first instrument...
Apr 26, 2024•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 50
Joanna Wallfisch is a London born vocalist/composer, hailing from generations of musicians. A multi-instrumentalist, she plays the guitar, ukulele, charango, piano, flute, and is a master in the art of live vocal looping. Her music is at once, hypnotic, and genre defying. We sat down right before her newest album, now released, All in Time dropped. This latest is a collection of songs, with “no particular theme, but an overarching sense of purpose”. About allowing herself to be more patient, “it...
Apr 12, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 49
Kat Eaton has a voice dripping with deep, sultry tones and a pen that cuts through both light hearted topical themes and heavy social issues with equal parts soul and finesse. From drunk-dialing your ex to the persecution and attacks on the LGBTQAI+ community, Kat is the relevant, progressive musician we are all searching for. Truly an artist for the modern times. Kat has toured the UK/EU and sold out multiple headline shows in London, co-writing with the likes of Caro Emerald, Ruby Turner, and ...
Mar 29, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 48
The Playful Musician is back with a new season and you won’t want to miss it. Our host Steve Davidson will chat with musicians of every ilk; diving into the background, practice rituals, and origin stories of each guest. Discover talented, inspiring artists as you are introduced to them for the first time or hear stories regaled from your favorite performers and legends of our era. With Davidson’s captivating interview style he deftly pulls out intimate stories and candid moments you’ll not hear...
Mar 24, 2024•5 min•Ep. 47
Multi award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter, pianist and CBC Music national radio host Laila Biali returns to the Playful Musician to talk about her brand new recording Your Requests. This recording is the result of her deep connection to her fans and their "requests" for songs for her to record. Bringin new imagning's and fresh ideas these jazz standards, Your Request is a joyful, breath of fresh air!
Jun 23, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 46
A delightful and insightful conversation with Toronto based vocalist, composer and teacher Nicky Schrire. Our conversation centers mostly around her new album Nowhere Girl which arrives on June 9, 2023 wherever you get your music! We talk about the long, ten-year build up to this album, working with producer Oded Lev-Ari, how things transpire in the studio and what musical adventures she has planned for the rest of the year. You can find out more about the album and about Nicky at nickyschrire.c...
Jun 03, 2023•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 45
Dr. Otis Murphy is professor of Saxophone at the prestigious Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington Indiana. Otis has the distinction of being the youngest faculty ever appointed to the Jacobs School of Music, having obtained his position at the tender age of 28. Otis was a student of Classical Saxophone icon Eugene Rousseau and received a Fulbright Fellowship to study in France with french saxophonist Jean-Yves Fourmeau. In our conversation we spoke about his trajectory toward...
Apr 15, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 44
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 which he co-founded when he was just 19. Brett has also made an impact on the big screen, composing for the films The Devil Inside and Wer. Brett Shares about his start with songwriting at age six, how he approaches creativity, what it's like to score for a major motion picture and you'll get to hear a bit of his just released single...
Apr 01, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 43
Pittsburgh Trombonist 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 exposed to musical influences that would later turn him into an internationally-recognized performer, pianist, arranger, and composer. Leveraging his experience fronting a quarter on a cruise ship, he then served as trombonist and musical director for trumpeter and band leader Maynar...
Mar 18, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 42
Singer and Songwriter, Alice DiMicele, joins me on this captivating episode of The Playful Musician. Based in Southern Oregon like myself, we swap stories and share musical memories from the past as well as speaking about challenges we’ve faced during the pandemic and beyond. Alice DiMicele talks about her new upcoming album Every Seed We Plant along with her experience writing and producing during the pandemic. Hear incredible snippets from Every Seed We Plant, which effortlessly communicates e...
Mar 04, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 41
Australian jazz pianist Barney McAll has had a fascinating music career. An accomplished jazz pianist and composer with an innate musical curiosity and drama, Barney’s played with Gary Bartz, Kenny Garrett, Maceo Parker and Eddie Henderson... and he was Sia's music director too. No big deal. In this episode, we chatted about the influence of Cuban and African ritualistic trance on Barney’s work, his time as composer in residence in Sydney and how he’s developed as a musician. In this episode, we...
Feb 18, 2022•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 40
Pianist Baruch Meir is a professor of piano at Arizona State University. He maintains a busy teaching schedule in addition to his international concert career. Baruch recently toured Korea's most prestigious music schools and universities as well as the Music Academy in Vienna (Austria), the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem (Israel) and various conservatories and universities in the U.S. Baruch’s distinctions include the American-Israel Cultural Foundation Awards, the British Council fellowsh...
Feb 11, 2022•53 min•Ep. 39
A singer and composer of eclectic tastes and prodigious gifts, Grammy-nominated Theo Bleckmann makes music that is accessibly sophisticated, unsentimentally emotional, and seriously playful. Theo spent 15 years as a member of Meredith Monk’s ensemble and appeared on 2002's Mercy and 2008's Impermanence. He has also worked with Philip Glass, John Zorn, Kenny Wheeler, and David Lang, to name a few. Theo has released a series of irreverent albums on Winter & Winter, including recordings of Las ...
Jan 28, 2022•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 38
Indian-American pianist Vijay Venkatesh has been recognized on three continents as a pianist with profound musicianship, sparkling pianism and an innate sense of partnership. Vijay has rapidly established a major international reputation as top prizewinner in the San Jose, Seattle, Zimmerli, World Piano, and Waring International Piano Competitions. He has also been named a Davidson Fellow Laureate at the Library of Congress and featured on NPR’s “From the Top” with host Christopher O'Riley. Vija...
Jan 14, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 37
JUNO-nominated artist, Tara Kannangara is a second-generation, Sri Lankan-Canadian force of nature, making music that is deeply personal, genre-bending and culture blending. Tara has been featured on CBC's The Signal, The Sunday Edition and NPR Tiny Desk with Lido Pimienta. Her work has been presented at major festivals across North America including The Montreal Jazz Festival, The Washington DC Jazz Festival and The Smithsonian. She is a founding member of #thisisartschool, a coalition of artis...
Dec 17, 2021•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 36
Robert Spring is one of the country's most unique and talented clarinetists. He is a professor in Arizona State University's School of Music, Dance and Theatre, and recently received the International Clarinet Association’s highest honor, the Honorary Membership Award. Spring has performed as a recitalist or soloist with symphony orchestras and wind bands in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and South America. He has been on the faculty of several summer music festivals and has published n...
Dec 03, 2021•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 35
