The transcript to my interview with British guitarist Edison Herbert. The podcast, video and show notes are linked here as well. We are featuring his compositions from a couple of his albums and you’ll learn about his personal journey in music that has led to his career as a full-time performer. He talked to me about some of his mentors and influences including George Benson, and his perspectives as a Black artist navigating the music scene in the UK. I found him to be warmly engaging and candid and we circled around to topics that impact all of us, such as dealing with self-knowledge, creativity, and the need to be persistent and keep true to what’s important to us .

Chuck Copenace is a Winnipeg-based Ojibway musician from Animakee Wazhing 37. This is the transcript of my interview with him, and the podcast and video links are linked with the shownotes as well. In this episode, we talk about Chuck’s excellent album Oshki Manitou, which expands his work as a trumpet player, arranger, and composer. He’s woven together ceremonial sweat-lodge melodies with jazz, funk, dance and electronica and this episode features tracks from that album. He’s such a powerfully lyrical trumpet player, and you’ll be deeply touched to hear his inspiring story of moving through trauma and addiction to helping others through counseling and music.

The full transcript of my interview with J. Walter Hawkes. The podcast, video and show notes are linked here. J. Walter Hawkes is a 4-time Emmy-winning composer for the PBS series Peg + Cat and Wonder Pets, is a renowned jazz trombone player, and also performs as a jazz vocalist, ukulele player, and pianist. As a young man, he survived a horrible accident which changed the course of his life. We talk about this and his mentors including the legendary Slide Hampton, how he got into composing for Blues Clues, and many hilarious and heart-warming personal stories. Those of you who listened to my episode with Pat Irwin will remember his album Wide Open Sky with Walter, and we’re featuring two pieces from that album in this episode along with an impromptu performance of Cole Porter’s Get Out of Town. Walter’s love of adventure really comes through in this conversation, and it’s really inspiring to hear how he’s built such an interesting career in music.

This is the full transcript to my interview with the multi-style GRAMMY-nominated harpist and composer Kirsten Agresta Copely. The podcast and video versions with the show notes, are linked here as well.

The transcript of my interview with Jeremy Mastrangelo. The podcast and video versions are linked here. Violinist Jeremy Mastrangelo is a wonderful colleague of mine in Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra. He’s known in our greenroom as a great storyteller, onstage as an excellent musician, and having heard him give brilliant masterclasses I can attest to his excellence as an educator as well. This episode is infused with Jeremy’s wit and wisdom as well as a couple of beautiful violin performances. We talk about violin shopping in Cremona, teenage life at Interlochen Academy, the difficulties and joys of a career as an orchestral musician, family, and the benefits of deepening our understanding of the composers we play. You will find that one of the wonderful stories in this episode, reveals an unexpected discovery!

This is the transcript of my episode with Kat Raio Rende. The podcast, video and show notes are linked here as well. Kat is an Emmy-winning songwriter, singer, and producer. Together with her husband JP Rende she has a successful songwriting and production company Earworm Music company. This episode is a fascinating window into the world of music for children’s tv shows, jingles, working with celebrities, and music production in general. Kat’s infectious delight in music, composition, and singing as well as her personal story and perspectives as a parent will fascinate listeners everywhere.

The transcript of my interview with pianist, composer, improvisor, psychoanalyst and therapist Marilyn Lerner. The podcast and video versions are linked here as well.

This is the full transcript of my episode with Margaret Maria, who is a wonderful cellist who’s a unique composer. The episode in podcast and video format is linked here as well. Margaret’s compositions are all written by layering cello lines in some gorgeous and emotive aural tapestries. Her personal story is interesting and moving: she started the cello as a teenager, was admitted to the University of Toronto at age 16 without graduating from high school, and was then admitted to the prestigious Curtis Institute. She went on to have a successful career as a member of the Vancouver Symphony and then Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, which is how I came to know her. She gave up her job with the NAC after a few years, and embarked on a new life as a composer, meanwhile continuing to teach. Some of her work as an educator has been with the Orkidstra program, which she has been involved with since it’s inception in 2007. It’s a social development program that serves over 650 youth from over 62 linguistic and cultural backgrounds by building community through free music programs. This episode has a lot of powerful music, and the complete track of Blessing of Awakening is available as a bonus episode.

The transcript of my episode with the brilliant and engaging keyboard player and composer Kait Dunton; the podcast and video with shownotes and image gallery are linked here as well.

This is the transcript of my interview with Jack Hui Litster. The podcast, video and show notes are linked here as well. This conversation explores different ways to make a living as a musician, achieving a flow state, some of the positive impacts of technology, and the importance of finding a work-life balance. Jack has developed a satisfying creative career after some interesting twists and turns. In this episode, you’ll learn about his experiences as a jazz drummer, his pivot into international development, and his path back to composing, producing and recording music in different styles.

This is the transcript of my interview with the Reggae artist Jah’Mila, and the podcast, video, bonuses, and shownotes are also linked here.

Transcript of my interview with the fascinating harmonic player and inventor Brendan Power. The podcast and video versions are linked to this transcript.

The incredibly charming American musician, Janie Rothfield, is a great traditional fiddler, banjo player, educator, composer, and so much fun to talk to. She shared several of her original tunes on both violin and banjo, and we talked about teaching music, accompanying dancers, creativity, and the importance of making connections through music. Janie has created a unique series of weekend workshops called "Janie's Jumpstart Camps", and she records and tours with many different bands. This is the transcript of this conversation, which is linked to the podcast and video.

In-depth interview with film and tv composer Sandro Morales-Santoro. This is the transcript, which is linked to the podcast and video versions, which feature music as well.

Mark Ferguson is a jazz pianist, trombonist, composer, arranger, producer and music educator. This is the transcript, and the podcast and video versions are linked: In this episode you get to hear him perform 3 of his original compositions on piano. We talk about his mentors, perspectives on music education and the interesting twists and turns in his varied career. He’s performed with many of the world’s great artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Gil Evans, Aretha Franklin, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Holly Cole and Manteca.

Transcript of my episode with Douglas Burden, bass trombone player with the National Arts Centre Orchestra for 50 years before his retirement in 2022. The podcast and video versions are linked.

The full transcript of my conversation with Kelly Thoma, lyra player. The podcast and video versions are linked. This is a wide-ranging conversation which includes Kelly’s personal story of becoming a musician after training as a dancer, Cretan culture, the influence of Ross Daly and the Labyrinth Musical Workshop, and her many joyful musical collaborations.

Full transcript of my interview with Tracy Silverman, which is available as a podcast and video. Tracy Silverman is truly an inspiring musician in every respect, and in this memorable episode we dived into his creative process, how music affects our emotions, and how to stay open by listening to others, and learning to show up as ourselves.

Elizabeth Pallett is a wonderful British lute player. Her love of Renaissance music and history is infectious and she has generously provided this episode with several of her beautifully produced YouTube videos; her channel Luteweb is linked in the description, as well as her duo Amarylli with soprano Hannah Grove. We talk about the history of the evolution of plucked instruments in Europe, and many fascinating historical figures including Dowland and Shakespeare. Liz plays various lutes and plucked instruments and teaches at the Birmingham Conservatoire as well as online with students worldwide. Like all my episodes, you can listen to this on your favourite podcast player, watch the YouTube on my channel, and read this transcript! Everything is linked.

Transcript of my long-form interview with the legendary Irish fiddler Martin Hayes. The podcast and video versions are linked.