x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Spotlight On

Lawrence Peryer

The musicians, writers, innovators and ideas shaping media, entertainment, and culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

arts books

All Episodes

47:07

Kinan Azmeh: Live in Berlin, Rooted in Damascus

Spotlight On ·

2025/06/05

Today, the Spotlight shines on clarinetist and composerKinan Azmeh.Earlier this year, Kinan releasedLive in Berlin, his fourteenth album with his CityBand quartet. The album captures music he wrote during Syria's 2011 uprising—pieces that carry the weight of watching your homeland torn apart from thousands of miles away. Born in Damascus and now based in Brooklyn, Kinan has spent decades crossing the world with his clarinet, performing with Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, the New York Philharmonic,

en

50:47

Tal Yahalom: A Guitarist's Mirror Image of Tradition

Spotlight On ·

2025/05/29

Today, the Spotlight shines On guitarist and composerTal Yahalom.Tal has built a reputation in New York's creative music scene for weaving post-bop, classical, and South American influences into a unique sound all his own. On his latest album,Mirror Image, Tal brings together a chamber quintet that puts his guitar in conversation with strings, woodwinds, and percussion, creating music that shifts between meditative reflection and striking exploration.(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are

en

46:30

Claire Cope: Orchestrating Stories of Brave Women

Spotlight On ·

2025/05/22

Today, the Spotlight shines OnClaire Cope. This British composer crafts music that combines the freedom of jazz with the precision of classical music, drawing inspiration from women whose stories are often overlooked in history books.Caire’s new albumEvery Journeydropped in March to coincide with International Women's Day. On it, she expanded her original septet to an 11-piece band, giving her more colors to paint with as she tells stories of female explorers and their brave first steps.Claire’s

en

38:38

Mike Scott of The Waterboys: The Ballad of Dennis Hopper

Spotlight On ·

2025/05/15

Today, the Spotlight shines OnMike Scott, founder ofThe Waterboys.In 2014, Mike stumbled upon Dennis Hopper’s photography in a London gallery and fell into a rabbit hole that led toLife, Death and Dennis Hopper, a bold concept album that tells the story of theEasy Riderstar from childhood to beyond the grave. It's a sonic movie with guest turns from Bruce Springsteen, Fiona Apple, and Steve Earle that chronicles not just Hopper's journey but the cultural shifts he witnessed and helped create.This

en

57:30

Craig Mod: Things Become Things That Last

Spotlight On ·

2025/05/08

Today, the Spotlight shines OnCraig Mod, a writer, photographer, and walker who's spent the last 20 years making Japan his home.Random House has just releasedThings Become Other Things, a walking memoir that traces his 300-mile journey along ancient pilgrimage paths in rural Japan. The book blends sharp prose with striking photography, capturing conversations with aging fishermen, inn owners, and cafe "mamas" while reflecting on friendship, loss, and the disappearing village life of Japan's Kii

en

51:58

Tamiko Thiel: part 2 - art at technology's edge

Spotlight On ·

2025/05/01

Today, the Spotlight again shines on media artistTamiko Thiel, in the second of our two-part conversation.In our first talk, we explored Tamiko's journey from designing the world's first AI supercomputer in the eighties to becoming a pioneering media artist. Today, we dive deeper into her groundbreaking work in virtual reality and other philosophical matters.Tamiko's been creating immersive digital worlds since the mid-1990s when she worked with Steven Spielberg on a virtual space for seriously ill

en

57:06

Tamiko Thiel: part 1 - sculpting the electronic brain

Spotlight On ·

2025/04/24

Today, the Spotlight shines On digital media artist Tamiko Thiel.To mark our special milestone of 250 episodes, we are kicking off a two-part conversation with media artist Tamiko Thiel.Tamiko has lived at the crossroads of art and technology for over 40 years. She designed the Connection Machine, the first commercial AI supercomputer that now sits in New York’s Museum of Modern Art. She's worked with everyone from Steven Spielberg to Richard Feynman, and pioneered virtual reality art before most

en

45:18

Hunter Noack: Grand Piano & Grander Landscapes

Spotlight On ·

2025/04/17

Today, the Spotlight shines On naturalist and classical pianistHunter Noack.Redefining what a concert hall can be, Hunter Noack hauls a nine-foot Steinway grand piano to mountaintops, forests, and beaches for his series "In a Landscape: Classical Music in the Wild."Hunter grew up in Central Oregon, where his love for music and nature took root. His concert series gives audiences wireless headphones and encourages them to wander through stunning settings while the music plays. It's part performance,

en

49:31

Noah Preminger: A Veteran Saxophonist Tackles the Ballad

Spotlight On ·

2025/04/10

Today, the Spotlight shines On renowned saxophonistNoah Preminger.Boston-based saxophonist Noah Preminger has spent years pushing jazz into new territories before focusing on one of the art form's most enduring traditions. He’s just releasedBallads, a collection that finds this restless musical explorer settling into the quiet power of beautiful melodies.Noah's built his reputation on bold musical choices—from stark Delta blues interpretations to intricate duo sessions with bassist Kim Cass. But

en

48:22

Mary Halvorson & Sylvie Courvoisier: Bone Bells and...

Spotlight On ·

2025/04/03

Today, the Spotlight shines On two artists who've taken the piano-guitar duo to bold new places.Sylvie CourvoisierandMary Halvorsonhave just releasedBone Bells, their third album, and a fresh showcase of their uncanny musical connection.These two players come from different worlds: Sylvie from European classical traditions and Mary from experimental jazz guitar circles. But when they join forces, something magical happens. Their music shifts from delicate to eruptive, structured to spontaneous, with

en

53:54

Phillip Golub: Recording the Impossible Piano

Spotlight On ·

2025/03/27

Today, the Spotlight shines OnPhillip Golub, a Brooklyn pianist taking his music in bold new directions.Phillip's new project,Loop 7, is a set of minimalist compositions performed on a piano tuned to 22 notes per octave instead of the usual 12. Working with producer Joseph Branciforte, he's created something that lives between acoustic chamber music and studio art.It's a groundbreaking approach—Phillip's performance was captured on a special Yamaha piano in a unique way he tells us about. The

en

57:12

TJ Dumser (Six Missing): Inner Space, Sobriety, and...

Spotlight On ·

2025/03/20

Today, the Spotlight shines OnSix Missing, the musical project of ambient artistTJ Dumser, who creates music that helps us connect with the present moment in ways we often forget.After encountering an intense phase of burnout, TJ turned his mental health struggles intoGentle Breath, a dark, lush EP that marks a new direction for this Austin-based artist. It's music that explores uncertainty with stunning depth—think Tangerine Dream meets the cosmic GAS records, but with TJ's distinct voice shining

en

45:33

Jenny Scheinman: A Violin in the Wild

Spotlight On ·

2025/03/13

Today, the Spotlight shines On violinist and composerJenny Scheinman.Jenny Scheinman grew up on California's remote Lost Coast, and now she brings us music that captures the wild beauty of her roots. Her double albumAll Species Paradebrings together jazz and folk to create something wholly original that feels like the natural world itself.With a dream team of collaborators including Bill Frisell, Nels Cline, and Julian Lage on guitars, Jenny's violin leads us through soundscapes that honor the land,

en

47:14

Cary Baker: Adventures in Busking and Street Music

Spotlight On ·

2025/03/06

Today, the Spotlight shines OnCary Baker, author ofDown on the Corner: Adventures in Busking and Street Music.The music you hear on street corners and subway platforms has its untold history, and at age 16, Cary Baker followed a slide guitar's haunting melody through Chicago’s Maxwell Street Market to find himself face-to-face with bluesman Blind Arvella Gray. That chance encounter sparked a lifelong obsession.Cary's book,Down on the Corner, traces the heritage of street music across 100 years, from

en

46:58

Michael Dorf: From Knitting Factory to Patti Smith's...

Spotlight On ·

2025/02/27

Today, the Spotlight shines On New York live music and venue impresarioMichael Dorf.In addition to foundingThe Knitting FactoryandCity Winery, Michael has brought legendary artists together at Carnegie Hall for over twenty years, raising millions for music education while creating unforgettable tribute nights. He launched his first tribute show in 2004 after seeing how school music programs were vanishing.Now, he’s put together what might be his most powerful lineup yet. Michael Stipe, Courtney

en

32:45

Greg Lisher: From Camper Van to Circuitry Man

Spotlight On ·

2025/02/20

Today, the Spotlight shines OnGreg Lisher, a guitarist best known for alternative rock who has leaned hard into electronic music.Greg made his name playing with Camper Van Beethoven and Monks of Doom, but during the pandemic, he sat down at a keyboard and started exploring new sonic territory.The result isUnderwater Detection Method, a collection of instrumental pieces that blend synthesizers with live strings and drums. It's an album that started as digital sketches and grew into something much

en

44:32

Dorothy Lawson: ETHEL's String Theory for Quartets

Spotlight On ·

2025/02/13

Today, the Spotlight shines OnDorothy Lawson, a cellist who's helped redefine what a string quartet can be. Dorothy and the groupETHELhave spent years breaking down walls between classical, jazz, rock and world music.On March 13th at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Dorothy teams up with bass legendRon Carterto reimagine his landmark Kronos Quartet recording from 40 years ago, featuring arrangements of music by Thelonious Monk.Dorothy shares how ETHEL has evolved through four generations of musicians,

en

43:54

Jamie Baum: a flutist sets poetry in motion

Spotlight On ·

2025/02/06

Today, the Spotlight shines On flutist Jamie Baum.When COVID hit, Jamie found inspiration and solace in poetry. What started as daily readings of women poets became something much bigger: an album blending jazz and spoken word.As leader of her long-running Septet+, Jamie has crafted wide-ranging music for over twenty years. She has played everywhere, from major jazz festivals to tiny clubs in 35 countries, bringing her distinctive sound to collaborations with artists like Paul Motian, Randy Brecker,

en

44:54

Anat Cohen: Clarinet in Full Bloom

Spotlight On ·

2025/01/30

Today, the Spotlight shines On clarinetistAnat Cohen.Anat’s been bringing her joyful spirit to jazz venues worldwide for two decades, blending swing, Brazilian rhythms, and melodies from her native Israel. Her 2024 albumBloompairs her musical warmth with that of her quartetQuartetinho- Portuguese for "little quartet" - creating intimate conversations between clarinet, piano, bass, and percussion.Anat will mark her 50th birthday this spring with four special nights at Lincoln Center's Appel Room,

en

47:41

Marina Albero: from pianist to nomad of sound

Spotlight On ·

2025/01/23

Today, the Spotlight shines On pianist and composerMarina Albero.From Barcelona’s vibrant music scene to the heart of New Orleans, Marina keeps finding new ways to push musical boundaries. Her latest album,A Nomad of Sound, brings together jazz, classical, and world music traditions in a blend all her own.Marina has journeyed across continents and cultures—from her early years studying classical piano in Cuba to recent acclaim in Seattle, where she’s twice been named Musician of the Year. Now she’s

en

276 results

Similar Podcasts

Podcast Patapoe

0d0a

Diaries: From the Housing Projects to Power

Mia Z. Edwards

九霄电台

九霄电台

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas

Adam Graham|Old Time Radio Detective Host

The Magnus Archives

Rusty Quill