Shows
Meaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 20 Kendrick Freeman: Drummer, Percussionist & Teacher, Developing Your Personal Voice, Haitian Polyrhythms, Clarifying Misconceptions about Vodou, Healing and Presence.What you just heard is our guest setting an intention for this interview, by singing this little song in Haitian Kreyol. I’m happy to announce that we have our first drummer and percussionist on the show! I’ve seen him perform many times over the years and have always enjoyed something about his playing that is hard to describe. I guess I could say that it is as much about his Presence as his playing. He was born in Bronxville, New York, grew up in Western Connecticut, and made his way to California in 1974. He performs in an...2020-03-3000 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsMarc Farre: Singer/Songwriter and Guitarist, The Craft of Songwriting: Where do Songs Come From? The Value of Self-Discipline and Perils of Perfectionism, Being Your Own Benefactor.Marc Farre: Singer/Songwriter and Guitarist, The Craft of Songwriting: Where do Songs Come From? The Value of Self-Discipline and Perils of Perfectionism, Being Your Own Benefactor.Our guest this episode is a guitarist/singer-songwriter who is known as an Indie POP-rock musician with an art house French vibe sound, a throaty voice, and darkly poetic lyrics.He grew up in Washington D.C., was raised speaking both French and English at home, and sings many of his songs in French.After graduating from Georgetown University with a degree in Mathematical Economics he l...2020-03-0800 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 18 Ken Cook: Professional Pianist, Composer, & Beloved Jazz Faculty Member at Sonoma State, Improvisation and Free Play, Dirty Little Secret between Instrumentalists & Vocalists Unpacked.Our guest this episode is a professional pianist, originally from Newport Beach, California, currently residing in the San Francisco Bay Area where he performs with his trio, as well as with a long list of other accomplished musicians, including vocalist Deborah Winters, and soul singer Chris Saunders. He is also a member of guitarist Ricardo Peixoto’s Quintet.Our guest is an adjunct faculty member of the Jazz department at Sonoma State, teaches piano privately, and composes and scores music for film. He loves all kinds of music and has played on 13 albums.He has a...2020-02-0900 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 17 Nancy Hayashibara: Life as a College Piano Accompanist, Comic Relief: Cultivating Well-Being Through Drawing Comics & Creating Variety Shows, Thriving as a Gay, Female Musician.Our guest this episode was born and raised in Carson California, where she studied classical piano throughout her childhood starting at very young age. After high school, she attended University of California, Long Beach, where she studied Interior Design. After one semester there, she changed course and made her way to Sonoma State, where she graduated with a BA in both Music, (piano) and Fine Art, (printmaking).Our guest works as an accompanist in private studios and is currently the pianist who accompanies the applied music students at Santa Rosa Junior College in Northern California. She is...2020-01-0700 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 16 Briony Greenhill: Vocal Improvisation - Surrendering to the Fountain of Creativity, Earth-Based Spirituality & Healing, Paradigm Shift - From Fear & Trauma to Nourishment & Belonging.Our guest this episode was born and raised in the UK in East Anglia - and in December of 2019, she became a US citizen. She is a vocal improviser, which means that she sings without knowing what she is going to sing, both alone and with others, and she is also a teacher. Our guest developed her musicianship chops through studying with well known vocal improvisers, Rhiannon and Bobby McFerrin, as well as with bassist and guitarist, David Eskenazy and Indian master singer, Atulkumar Upadhye. In 2017, she recorded “Listen”, an album of completely improvised vocal music with her qu...2019-12-2300 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 15 Nate Lopez: 8-String Guitar; Playing Bass, Melody, & Chords Simultaneously, Practice Techniques Using Your Good Friend, the Metronome, Gig Culture, & NAMM-What's it All About?We are pleased to announce that this is our first episode where our guest plays live music on the show. Our guest this episode is a Native Californian. He began playing piano at age four, soon transitioned to guitar, bass guitar and by age 14, decided on eight stringed guitar as his primary instrument. Our guest is a full time musician, primarily playing solo gigs on his eight string guitar, with which he simultaneously plays bass, chords, melody and fills. He has a passion for the blues, which is evident in all of his playing. He writes and performs originals...2019-12-0900 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 14 Mimi Pierce: A Parisian Chanteuse and Her Band, SonoMusette, The Long Road Back; Recovery from Vocal Injury, Bee Keeping.Our guest this episode grew up in a suburb outside of Paris, France and currently lives in Penngrove, California. She started singing and performing with her brother, Gabe Pirard, when they were children, and later, after having moved to the States, formed the band Dgiin, where they performed together for over 12 years.After a vocal injury that required a two year vocal rest, our guest formed a new band called SonoMusette, where they perform in the style of French Chanson from the 20th Century, including covers of Jaques Brel and Edith Piaf, as well as their originals.2019-11-2300 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 13 Stephanie Ozer: A Love Affair with Brazilian Jazz, Music & Spirituality, All Love: Joys & Challenges of Parenting a Child on the Autism Spectrum & Tips for Neurotypicals.Our guest this week grew up in the Bronx, New York, currently lives in Sonoma Valley, California. She is a professional pianist who composes, performs and teaches a variety of genres, and has a passion for Brazilian Jazz. She started studying classical piano as a young girl and began attending the children’s program at Manhattan School of Music/Juilliard at age 11. Our guest has a BA in Piano Performance from University of Michigan School of Music, and she also wrote for, acted in and directed a feminist theater group at the University. She has been playing and performing si...2019-11-1000 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 12 Stella Heath: The Artistry, Nuts & Bolts of Being a Working Singer & Band Leader, Bandjango Collectif, Growing up as a Bi-Racial Child, The Billie Holiday Project.Our guest this episode is from Petaluma, California. She started singing, taking piano lessons, and studying classical voice as a young girl living in the country. As a teen, she attended a performing arts high school, then moved East to continue her studies at Syracuse University where she focused on theater arts. Our guest then moved to New York City and pursued acting for five years before returning to her hometown of Petaluma. Upon her return, she and guitarist Gabe Pirard started a band called French Oak Gypsies, based on their mutual interests in French Gypsy Jazz and Traditional...2019-10-2800 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 11 John Simon: Improvising in a Jazz Combo; Listening, Responding, Leaving Space, The Art of Accompanying a Vocalist, Moog Synthesizers & the Early Days of Electronic Music.Our guest this episode is originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a pianist, composer, arranger, sound engineer, accompanist, as well as the music director at a church. He moved to Northern California in 1979, and currently lives in Sebastopol, CA. Our guest also works as producer, musician, and sound engineer at his recording Studio, J Dog Studios in Sebastopol. He has both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Music Composition and composes in the genres, jazz and electronics. You can find clips of his music at the end of the podcast in this order: “A Night in Athabasca” (Electro...2019-10-2100 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 10 Brodie Cumming: A Teacher and a Student, Ups and Downs of a Career in Music as a Guitarist, Composer and Teacher, Meaning and Purpose in Music and Life.Our guest on today’s episode lives in Napa, California. He is a guitar teacher at Napa School of Music, and is the YouTube phenom who created, “100 Famous Rock Guitar Riffs”. He has a BA in Music Composition and has diverse musical interests. He has written and performed in a multitude of genres from Latin Rock, to Medieval Folk music, to 12 tone serialism. Our guest also happens to have been our co-host, Daniel Townsend’s guitar teacher for many years. We are thrilled to welcome our guest, Brodie Cumming! A Canadian Christmas2019-10-1400 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 9 Reed Maidenberg: The Meandering Odyssey of a Musician and His Day Job as Audio-tech, Sound Engineer, Singer/Songwriter and Recording Artist.Our guest this episode is originally from Indiana and currently lives in Santa Rosa, California. He is a sound engineer, audio-tech, archivist, singer/songwriter and recording artist. He has performed throughout Europe, where he lived for ten years, gigged as an audio-tech since the 90’s, worked as an archivist at George Lucas’ Skywalker Sound, and worked many festivals such as Bottlerock. He is currently semi-retired, enjoying occasional gigs and composing and recording new music. We are pleased to welcome our guest, Reed Maidenberg! Notes:Reed on YouTubeReed's Music on Spotify...2019-09-3000 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 8 Skyler Stover: Learning Bass - In School and Out of School, Touring Europe, Connecting with the Spirit of a Loved One through Music.Our guest this episode plays both stand-up and electric bass, and is also a guitarist and singer/songwriter. He currently lives in his hometown of Petaluma, California. He graduated from San Francisco State with a BA in music and recently toured Europe for several months with Idris Ackamoor and the Pyramids. He currently plays in several bands, including the Reggae Band, Sol Horizon, the Gypsy Jazz band, Bandjango Collectif, formerly known as French Oak Gypsy Band, as well as with the Mike Saliani Band, and Lisa Stano and the Gang.Our talented guest is a ha...2019-09-2300 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 7 Devi Daly: The Healing Power of Singing, Sound Orchard, Owning your Creativity, Creating Community.Our guest this episode lives in Point Reyes, California. She is a singer, guitarist, pianist, voice teacher, choir director, and community organizer, as well as a long-time yoga teacher. She leads a choir of up to 50 people that absolutely delights and inspires the community with their performances.During our conversation, she reveals that she is more interested in singing as a path to personal healing and transformation than as a performance-oriented activity. This becomes a main area of focus in our discussion.She is also the co-founder and executive director of the non-profit, Sound Orchard, an...2019-09-1600 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 6 Neil Angelo Fontano: Gigging and Enjoyment, Overcoming Stage Fright & Social Anxiety, the Pleasures of Food.Our guest this episode started playing piano at 10, and played his first professional gig at 14. He also plays a bit of trumpet, drum kit, and bass. His piano studies began with classical and ragtime, and soon after, he discovered Jazz. He still loves classical piano, has a passion for the music of George Gershwin and is known for playing a mean stride piano.At 25, he is currently the pianist for The Billie Holiday Project, led by Stella Heath, and has played at most of the top local Bay Area venues, including Blue Note, Napa, The Back Room...2019-09-0900 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 5 Paul Olguin: Life and Tales of a Session Player Bassist, Touring, For the Love of Music, Wisdom from a Teacher.Our guest this episode was born and raised in Santa Monica, California. He began playing trumpet at age 10, fell in love with the low tones of the tuba at 13, and switched to electric bass at 15.He started gigging in clubs as a teenager in LA, toured with early rock and R&B bands, played in Hollywood Punk-Era clubs, and toured with a Latin folk band. He’s toured with The Drifters, Richard Berry, and performed on bills with the likes of Albert King, Pete Seeger, Bonnie Raitt and Billy Idol. He is a hard-working session pla...2019-09-0200 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 4 Michael Fortunato: The Art of Entertaining, Relationship between Performer and Audience, Innovation in Music and Life, Musicians as Community Leaders.Today’s guest is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He plays tenor and baritone sax, clarinet, flute and any other woodwind instrument he can get his hands on. While he is well known and loved in the local music community and beyond for being a versatile player of many genres, I know him as a killer jazz musician, passionate, generous and creative, with very big ears and the ability to connect with anyone.He also happens to be a community development consultant who travels the world, and a kind and humble man. Today’s guest is Michael Fortunato....2019-08-2500 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 3 Dena DeRose: Life as a Master Jazz Pianist & Vocalist, Learning the Language of Jazz, A Symbiotic Relationship - Touring the World Performing & Teaching.We are delighted to share Dena DeRose, with you in this episode. Dena is a masterful jazz singer and pianist, jazz educator and overall wise and very fun person! She’s performed in New York clubs since the early 90’s and played at festivals and concerts throughout the world. Dena has worked with Gene Bertoncini, Ray Brown, Jay Clayton, John Clayton, Bruce Forman, Benny Golson, Wycliffe Gordon, Jeff Hamilton, Billy Hart, Bill Henderson, Mark Murphy, Judy Niemack, Ken Peplowski, Houston Person, Alex Riel, Marvin Stamm, Clark Terry, and Steve Turre, and is the leader on 12 albums, three of which...2019-08-1800 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 2: Lisa Stano; Living Life to the Fullest, Songwriting and Lyric Writing Tips, A Common Bond; Lisa & Jill on Losing a Brother to AIDS.Our second episode, we are delighted and honored to have Jill's dear friend, Lisa Stano as our very first guest. She currently resides in Petaluma California, and is a prolific and talented singer/songwriter, guitar player, stand-up bassist, and overall delightful human being. Lisa is someone who seeks and finds joy in whatever she does. In this inspiring episode, which is more of a conversation than a straight-up interview, you will find a lot of laughter joy, and inspiration. We discuss songwriting, what makes a great gig, the art of performing, and, as both Lisa and Jill...2019-08-1800 minMeaningful Musical ConversationsEpisode 1: Hosts Jill Minyé and Daniel Townsend get to know each other in the first episode of Meaningful Musical Conversations.In the first episode of Meaningful Musical Conversations, Jill, jazz pianist and singer, and Daniel, jazz and rock guitarist/singer/songwriter, have a fun time getting to know each other. https://www.jillminye.comhttps://www.danieltownsendmusic.com 2019-08-1700 min