This episode  is Part 1 of my new series with the Grammy-winning producer, author, and musician Ian Brennan who seeks out musicians from remote corners of the world.He has produced over fifty remarkable international records since 2009 across five continents with his wife the Italian-Rwandan filmmaker, photographer and author Marilena Delli Umuhoza. In this episode you’ll hear excerpts and stories from  the Tanzanian Albinism Collective, documenting the descendants of the last slave ship in Mobile, his first trip to Rwanda and meeting The Good Ones, the trip to Comoros with Comorian and the Zomba prison project in Malawi. You’ll also hear about Ian’s work inside locked psychiatric institutions and his development of violence-prevention methods that emphasize empathy. 

As a producer, he has become known capturing performances with minimal equipment, with the goal of bringing the listener directly into where the music is happening with a sound that feels intimate, warm, and immediate. The links for all the music you’ll hear are in the show notes. This transcript is linked to the podcast and video versions of this interview.

It was so inspiring to have this conversation with  the multi-talented singer-songwriter and pianist Vienna Teng . This transcript is linked to the podcast and video versions of this interview.

In this episode we’re featuring  the band Few of a Kind’s new album, a beautiful collaboration with Vienna, Brandon Ridenour, Ben Russell, Yousif Sheronick, and Andrew Gutauskas. Vienna takes us inside their creative process with excerpts from each track.  She also  reflects on what truly makes a great song, how her identity evolved with parenthood, and how she has connected with audiences through her climate action workshops. Vienna also shared insights into two other brilliant recent projects, her unique album We’ve Got You and  “The Riversitter” after Dave Eggers’ “The Museum of Rain”.

You’ll hear the charming story of how she actually found her stage name, some  highlights including opening for Joan Baez, performing on the Late Show with David Letterman and especially what it felt like to return to touring and recording after a ten-year hiatus after working in environmental sustainability. 

I was honoured to have this opportunity to talk to the pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico about her extraordinary life in music and the arts. This transcript is linked to the podcast and video versions of the interview. She shared wonderful and moving stories about Ann Southam, Louis Quilico,  Pierre Boulez, Jacques Isrealievitch, and her legendary teacher Rosina Lhévinne. 

I was really struck by Christina’s open-minded attitude throughout her long career to learning new music, culminating in almost 70 brilliant and powerful albums so far; it’s  amazing to learn that most of her recordings are recorded live, in one take.  Christina also shared how meaningful it is to her to be a mother and grandmother, as well as respected academic; she’s Professor Emerita and Senior Scholar at York University in Toronto. Among many honours, she has been appointed to the Order of Canada, and the Royal Society of Canada.  

  Her curiosity and creative energy seem limitless; she’s a poet and visual artist,  she’s studied Ancient Egyptian culture, and she lives her life spiked with humour and a down-to-earth attitude.  We are also including excerpts from several of Christina’s albums and performances including music by Mozart, Art Tatum, Ann Southam, Meredith Monk and David Jaeger, all detailed in the timestamps with links in the show notes.

Interview with Hank Moore: Hank Moore became a radio DJ at just ten years old, then went on to  influence the broadcasting industry. You’ll hear about his experiences interviewing Elvis Presley, working as an advisor to President Lyndon B. Johnson, and earning two inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. From payola to the negative effects of the  deregulation of broadcasting, he offers valuable perspectives on the music industry. Hank has crossed paths with legends like Ed Sullivan, Frank Sinatra, and Burt Bacharach, and lived through many moments that defined popular culture. We discussed his Pulitzer Prize nominated Pop Music Legends and some of the many highlights from his varied and fascinating career in broadcasting and business. This transcript is linked to the podcast and video versions of this interview.

The trumpet player and composer Nadje Noordhuis joined me  for a wide-ranging conversation about identity, creativity, and carving out a life in music on her own terms. Nadje reflects on her early musical upbringing in Sydney, Australia, and the formative training that led her toward jazz trumpet. She remembers her friend Lois Martin, and Nadje speaks candidly about experiences of sexism in the music world, and the challenges of breaking into the New York jazz scene—financial struggles, years at the Manhattan School of Music, and finding her footing as a woman in jazz.

She reflected on her collaborative project Multitudes with composer James Shipp, and you’ll be hearing clips from that project as well as Gulfoss with Maeve Gilchrist, Full Circle with Fred Hersch.  She talked about being about to record with the legendary engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug, and Nadje encourages all of us to take risks to follow our own paths. 

This transcript is linked to the podcast and video version of the interview.

Julia Keefe (Nez Perce) is an internationally acclaimed Native American jazz vocalist, actor, activist, and educator currently based in New York City. You’ll hear how her Indigenous Big Band project started, the history behind jazz in Native American communities and inspiration from Delbert Anderson to Jim Pepper. A special influence in her life has been Mildred Bailey and you’ll be hearing some clips from Julia’s Mildred Bailey Project album throughout this podcast; the track names are in the timestamps. Mildred was a very important figure in jazz and Julia is also working on a film about her life and career.  Julia shared some fascinating specifics into how her  voice teachers Jo Lawry,  Theo Bleckmann  and also Kate McGarry helped push her artistic and expressive boundaries, and later what a  transformative experience it was to be mentored by Esperanza Spalding. Julia’s identity as an Indigenous jazz musician shapes her creative life in so many affirming and inspirational ways; I’m so happy to share this meaningful conversation with you.

British flautist and composer Eliza Marshall joins me to celebrate her new album Eternal Birth — a bold, genre-defying project blending classical, folk and world traditions into a rich cinematic soundscape. Recorded in the UK and Senegal, the album features haunting flutes, whistles, bansuri, spoken word, percussion and electronics, alongside an exceptional cast of world-class and Grammy-winning musicians. Eliza shares stories from her wide-ranging career — from The Lion King and touring with Peter Gabriel to loop pedals, Ranagri, and her project Freedom to Roam — as well as reflections on creativity, risk-taking, re-wilding, and living a deeply connected musical life. This transcript is linked to the podcast.

Gabriel Kahane Interview: Heirloom, Songwriting, and Creative Practice — Composer, songwriter, writer and storyteller Gabriel Kahane joins Leah Roseman on Conversations with Musicians. Hear excerpts from Heirloom, Book of Travelers, and Magnificent Bird, plus insights on songwriting, conducting, theatre training, his upcoming book, and creating socially engaged music. This transcript is linked to the podcast and video version of this interview.

The Swedish fiddler Lena Jonsson has created a unique style inspired by traditional Swedish music as well as many other influences. Today we’re focusing on the wonderful 3rd album by her trio, “Folk Covers” which celebrates many great folk music composers of today. I think you’ll really enjoy this uplifting conversation which features a lot of music, including Lena giving us some spontaneous house concert experiences, and clips from the new album, with insights into process of curating and interpreting these folk covers; please note the timestamps have the tune names. You’ll also learn about the Swedish folk scene and regional differences, her experiences studying both in Sweden and Boston at Berklee, her love of creative design and how to dance a Polska. The podcast, video and show notes are linked here as well!

Violinist Lara St. John joins us to discuss her upcoming documentary Dear Lara, her remarkable career, and her ongoing work to ensure safety within music education. (This transcript is linked to the podcast and video version of this interview.)

In this wide-ranging interview, she opens up about artistry, mentorship, advocacy, and the experiences that shaped her path as a world-renowned soloist.

We also explore her albums, her creative process, and her mission to build a safer, more inclusive future in classical music. Lara’s creativity, warmth, humour and brilliance come through and you’ll hear about her decision to become the first classical soloist to start her own record label, her formative year in the former USSR, advice about learning music and the violin, and a tribute to one of her main mentors, Joey Corpus. In fact Joey’s amazing story wasn’t one I was familiar with and since this conversation I’ve learned more about this inspiring pedagogue. 

We talked about two of her many albums, and you’ll hear a couple of clips from Shiksa and She/Her/Hers; track names are in the timestamps and everything is linked to Lara’s website in the show notes. Lara is also known for her love for iguanas, and at the very beginning of this episode you’ll get to meet Baby Octavius.

Guitarist Ben Garnett has released a beautiful new album, Kite’s Keep, and this episode features clips and insights from the project. The record includes collaborations with acoustic music greats familiar to listeners of this podcast, including Darol Anger and Brittany Haas. Ben’s mentor, Chris Eldridge of the Punch Brothers, also appears, and Ben discusses the wisdom he’s gained from other influential musicians in his life, among them his cousin, acclaimed rock guitarist Andy Timmons, the brilliant Julian Lage, and bandleader Missy Raines. He also talks about how playing tuba was helpful, and how he immersed himself in a range of musical styles—studying jazz in university before finding his way into Nashville’s acoustic bluegrass scene. This transcript is linked to the podcast and video version of this episode.

Canadian violinist Yolanda Bruno spoke to me about her  new album Dear Jeanne and her  film The Immortal Serafin, which both honour the late Jeanne Lamon, the renowned baroque violinist, and Music Director of Tafelmusik for 34 years. Yolanda explains how she explores the story of Jeanne’s 1759 Santo Serafin baroque violin, which was generously loaned to Yolanda for one year.  You’ll hear a few clips from the album, including Jeanne’s masterful string trio arrangement of Bach’s iconic Ciaccona, as well as a taste of a Leclair duo with Julia Wedman, another important mentor for Yolanda, and a work by Beth Silver honouring Jeanne’s Dutch-Jewish heritage. 

Yolanda reflects on what it means to live more sustainably with her partner, the accordionist Michael Bridge, who was previously featured on this podcast. She shared how her her annual project Music for Your Blues has impacted her life, as well as a very memorable experience performing in a high-security penitentiary, which taught her about connection and  dignity, and the value of live music. I also wanted to shine a light on Yolanda’s brilliant first ablum, The Wild Swans, featuring 11 women composers, recorded with pianist Isabelle David. You’ll hear short excerpts by Lera Auerbach and  Kelly-Marie Murphy. We end the episode with Yolanda’s insights about  avoiding burnout by achieving balance in her life using the idea of longer cycles of time, which I loved. This transcript is linked to the podcast and video versions of this interview, with complete show notes with other linked episodes.

This is the transcript to my 2025 interview with Mack Hagood. The podcast and video versions are linked here. I really enjoyed this opportunity to speak with Mack Hagood, author of Hush: Media and Sonic Self-Control, to explore how we use sound to manage our minds, moods, and modern lives.From white noise apps and noise-cancelling headphones to tinnitus and sound therapy, Mack helped me understand the complex relationship between media, technology, and the human need to tune in (or out). We discuss the surprising cultural history behind everyday sonic tools — from the 1964 Sleep-Mate sound conditioner to Irv Teibel’s visionary Environments recordings, to Dr. Amar Gopal Bose’s 1978 flight epiphany that led to noise-cancelling headphones. Mack reflected on teaching “The Smartphone in Society,” and concerns with both social media and streaming platforms. Towards the end of this conversation he explained why started his podcast Phantom Power and how his childhood in New Orleans eventually led him to the new field of sound scholarship. 

Transcript of my interview with pianist and composer Michael Stephen Brown; the podcast and video are linked here. Michael Stephen Brown is both a fantastic pianist and composer, and in this episode you’ll be hearing some excerpts from his upcoming album 12 Blocks, which is a very personal project for him of chamber music and solo piano pieces. You’ll hear the stories and personal connections with each of these works that he’s composed. He shared his experiences at several inspiring arts residencies including living in Aaron Copland’s house unplugged from the internet, his close friendship with the late Shirley Perle, and his research into Felix Mendelssohn’s relationship with Delphine von Schauroth and her compositions.   We talked about the importance of removing the stigma from getting therapy and providing more affordable access to mental health support to those in the performing arts through his support of Creative Care. and his longstanding collaboration with cellist and comedian Nick Canellakis; you’ll also be hearing a clip of one of their performances. At the core of this interview are Michael’s broad interests and how he reflects his curiosity and love of storytelling in his creative work. There’s lots more to this in-depth episode, and all the music you’ll be hearing is composed by Michael; have a look at the show notes for the links.

This week’s episode is a personal one for me, since Jennifer Johnson has been helping me gain more ease and comfort in violin playing and living in general. An understanding of Body Mapping will help you whether you play an instrument, sing, or simply go about your daily life. Jennifer Johnson is a violinist, film maker, and the author of several books including “What Every Violnist Needs to Know About the Body”. She’s an internationally sought-after Master Teacher and Teacher Trainer in Body Mapping and is renowned for her expertise in helping musicians to move according to the design of their bodies to prevent playing injuries and promote ease.

I also wanted to shine a light on Jennifer’s film Music, Movement & Transformation: The Body Mapping Story,   which is partly a beautiful tribute to her inspiring mentor Barbara Conable; the link to rent the film is in the show notes. 

I’m sure you’ll find this conversation with Jennifer is full of actionable tips and insights to help you, including some of the best advice about dealing with stage fright that I’ve ever heard. This transcript is linked to the podcast and video versions of the episode, and the show notes.

Cherokee singer-songwriter Agalisiga “The Chuj” Mackey shares the story behind his debut country-folk album, created entirely in the Cherokee language with producer Jared Tyler. He discusses language revitalization, the Cherokee syllabary, immersion schools, and the impact of boarding schools. Agalisiga also reflects on Indigenous history, cultural preservation, and his musical influences—showing how traditional language and contemporary music can keep a culture thriving. This is the transcript of the interview; the podcast and video are linked here.

Gaelynn Lea is a violinist, singer-songwriter, disability rights advocate, author, and public speaker. Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, Gaelynn began her musical journey with the support of a childhood music teacher and her musical family. This transcript is linked to the podcast and video version as well as show notes. You’ll hear about how her big break happened when she won NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2016, which led to a fascinating creative life which in the last few years has included international touring and  scoring Macbeth on Broadway, starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga.  Gaelynn is really open to trying new things, and this really came through as she talked to me about how she’ll never have enough time to explore all her curiosities, reflections on her first compositions and songs, how she collaborated with  mentors Alan Sparhawk, and Charlie Parr, and how she created a new musical fable for the stage called Invisible Fences with disabled storyteller Kevin Kling. 

You’ll be hearing clips from some of  Gaelynn’s albums during the podcast, and her Bandcamp is linked in the show notes for you. We begin with a look at her upcoming memoir—It Wasn’t Meant to Be Perfect— a warm, funny and deeply-felt exploration of disability, music, and the messy creativity of an artist’s life. I  plan to welcome Gaelynn back  for a future episode focused on that work. You can find the pre-order link in the show notes.

Sam Sadigursky is a renowned clarinetist, composer, and member of the Philip Glass Ensemble. In this episode, we explore his latest project The Solomon Diaries with Nathan Koci, his work on Broadway in The Band’s Visit, and his career spanning jazz, classical, and contemporary music. Sam shares stories from touring with Philip Glass, mentors Brad Mehldau and Lee Konitz, and his upbringing in a musical immigrant family.

We also dive into improvisation beyond music, the impact of streaming algorithms, and the cultural legacy of the Borscht Belt. Listen to insights into Sam’s unique voice as a composer and performer, and hear excerpts from some of his wonderful creative output. This is the transcript, and the podcast, video and show notes are linked here.