Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

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Episodes

Details

There’s a fascinating variety to a life in music; this series features wonderful musicians worldwide with in-depth conversations and great music. Many episodes feature guests playing music spontaneously as part of the episode or sharing performances and albums. The inspiration and connection found in a meaningful creative life, the challenges faced, and the stories from such a diversity of people will draw you into this weekly series, with many topics that will resonate with all listeners. Available also as video and transcript: https://www.leahroseman.com/about

Recent Episodes

MAR 23, 2025

Kala Ramnath

Kala Ramnath is a world-renowned Indian violinist who performs in both the Hindustani classical tradition, and in collaborations that incorporate many styles with Ray Manzarek of The Doors, Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer, Hilary Hahn, Kronos Quartet with Reena Esmail and veena player Jayanthi Kumaresh, and leading orchestras such as my own National Arts Centre, to name but a few. You’ll hear about her childhood, and how she became a disciple of the legendary vocalist Pandit Jasraj, leading her to revolutionize her approach to Hindustani violin technique. As a teacher she has put together an incredible resource with an extensive video library that she’s created of Indian music, Indianclassicalmusic.com

When I recorded this interview with Kala, she had just the day before returned from the celebration of life for the legendary tabla master Zakir Hussain, who died this past December, and was one of the most important musicians in both Indian music and in bringing a global audience to Indian music. He had moved to San Francisco in the 1960s and was involved in too many projects to begin to list; in 2024 he was the first musician from India to receive 3 Grammys at one ceremony, including his collaboration with Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer. Zakir Hussain was an incredibly important mentor of Kala, and you’ll hear in her words about what his guidance and collaborations meant to her.

Kala talked to me about some of her many cross-genre collaborations, including her fantastic albums with tabla master Bikram Ghosh and her inventive trio with George Brooks and Gwyneth Wentink and you'll hear some of that music as well (albums linked below).

Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript : YouTube and Transcript

Kala Ramnath Website Indianclassicalmusic.com

Raag Ahir Bhairav Paperboats album Elements trio album

Other episodes I’ve linked directly to this one, which I think may interest you: Karnatic violinist Suhadra Vijaykumar

Sitar and tabla player Mohamed Assani

Bansuri player Milind Date

Sarod player Avi Kishna

It’s a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you every week, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity. Please buy me a coffee? Or check out my merch store Sign up for my newsletter and get exclusive sneak peeks!

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:41)Zakir Hussain, Triveni with Jayanthi Kumaresh

(10:53) Kala’s childhood

(15:17) Indianclassicalmusic.com resource

(17:56) Kala Ramnath Collective world music

(19:13) albums with Bikram Ghosh

(20:28) A Better Place from Paperboats with Bikram Ghosh

(26:30) Pandit Jasraj, changing her approach to the violin

(34:46) Raag Ahir Bhairav (video linked in show notes)

(46:16) Kala’s Singing Violin style

(48:12) other episodes you’ll enjoy and different ways to support this series

(49:05)Concerto for Hindustani Violin and Orchestra written with Reena Esmail

(54:32) Ragas according to the time of day

(57:43) Ray Manzarek of The Doors, ragas with other musical traditions

(01:02:31) why Kala uses viola strings and tunes low

(01:04:21) trio with George Brooks and Gwyneth Wentink

(01:05:42) Better Than Coffee from Elements, George Brooks, Gwyneth Wentink (link in show notes)

(01:10:15) Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, importance of consistent practice

(01:13:54) Kalashree foundation

(01:15:28) pandemic shutdowns, performing with Zakir Hussain

77 MIN

MAR 16, 2025

Tasha Warren Engaging with Audiences

Tasha Warren is an acclaimed clarinetist who has premiered over one hundred solo clarinet and chamber works. In this podcast you’ll hear excerpts from her album “Ourself Behind Ourself, Concealed” a fantastic collaboration with cellist Dave Eggar of newly commissioned and premiered Bass Clarinet and Cello works, which earned two Grammy nominations. If you listened to my episode with Meg Okura last year, you heard a bit about this project, and Meg’s episode is linked in the show notes if you missed it. Dr. Warren is Assistant Professor of Chamber Music at Michigan State University and the principal clarinet faculty of Mostly Modern Festival and you’ll hear her valuable and candid perspectives on a life as an educator, concert presenter and also the challenges of balancing such a full professional life with that of being a mom. You’ll also hear about her unique musical trip to India sponsored by Pitch Pipe organized by Jennifer Heemstra, among several inspiring projects in this wide-ranging episode. In this episode you’ll be hearing music by Nathalie Joachim, Paquito D’rivera, Martha Redbone Pascal Le Boeuf and Cornelius Boots. One of the wonderful surprises for me as a podcaster has been getting to know composers new to me and I encourage you to listen to Tasha and Dave’s recording which is linked for you below.

Like all my episodes, you can also watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website

Tasha Warren Website

Ourself Behind Ourself Concealed album

It’s a joy to be able to bring these meaningful conversations to you, but this project costs me quite a bit of money and lots of time; please support this series through either my merchandise store or buy me a coffee on my Ko-fi page

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Some other episodes I’ve linked directly to this one, which I think may interest you, with:

Sarah Jeffery of Team Recorder

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:14) champion of new music, “Ourself Behind Ourself, Concealed” album with Dave Eggar

(09:05) Pascal Le Boeuf

(13:19) clip from Snapshots by Pascal Le Boeuf

(15:00) process of choosing composers for this project, expanding styles

(17:37) trip to India, Jennifer Heemstra

(25:07) experiences presenting concerts in different contexts and communities

(30:53) value of journaling, importance of self-awareness and practicing efficiently

(36:25) Martha Redbone, about Black Mountain Calling Cherokee stomp dance

(40:07) clip from Martha Redbone’s Black Mountain Calling

(41:19) Paquito D’Rivera, about African Tales

(43:26) clip of African Tales by Paquito D’Rivera

(44:37) embracing the risk of improv

(46:06) other episodes you’ll like and different ways to support this series

(46:55)study abroad program in Israel, Klezmer improv

(49:29) husband clarinetist Guy Yehuda, balancing family life with careers

(52:08) dealing with gender bias as a mom and musician

(58:34) Cornelius Boots

(1:0:33) clip from Crow Cavern by Cornelius Boots

(1:01:55) Cornelius Boots

(1:02:35) Nathalie Joachim

(1:05:03) clip of Lalin by Nathalie Joachim

(1:06:25) the benefits of music competitions

(1:09:54) solo album the Naked Clarinet, about Wings by Joan Tower, music as creativity prompt

(1:13:55) engaging with different audiences

76 MIN

MAR 9, 2025

Tal Yahalom: Jazz guitarist and composer

Tal Yahalom is an award-winning jazz guitarist and composer and you’ll be getting a preview of his compelling quintet album Mirror Image with refreshingly unique instrumentation: violin, cello, percussion, sax and flute and both nylon-string and electric guitar. You’ll be hearing excerpts from the album and hear about Tal’s creative process and collaborators including percussioninst Rogerio Boccato and David Leon on sax and flute. Tal told me about some great advice he got from Pat Metheny, whom he met when Tal won the Detroit Jazz Festival National Guitar Competition, and the invaluable guidance of key mentors throughout his education and career. Tal recently came back from musically immersive travels in Brazil and Argentina, and it was inspiring to hear about his experiences their as well as hear about several of his collaborators, including his band KADAWA, and we’re featuring a track from their new album as well. Towards the end of this interview, Tal shared some personal reflections on his new duo with vocalist Danielle Wertz, and some very wise insights into student-centered learning, which I think apply quite broadly, not just to music. Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/tal-yahalom

Tal Yahalom Website Mirror Image Album (pre-order link; releasing March 21, 2025)

KADAWA band

Buy me a coffee? Original Merch Newsletter

Other episodes you'll like:

Marc van Vugt Ariel Bart Gilad Weiss Edison Herbert

Roddy Ellias Daniel Ramjattan

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:49) album Mirror Image

(07:00) clip of KIM from Mirror Image

(07:29) about Prelude, use of strings

(09:30) clip of Prelude from Mirror Image

(11:13) album set list, listening parties

(14:01)Argentian grandfather, trip to Brazil and Argentina, Vardan Ovsepian

(17:26) Rogerio Boccato, Brazil trip, Gian Correa

(22:43) clip from Chorinho for Tati from Mirror Image

(23:28) Brazil trip

(25:43) creative process, about Hymn for Tomorrow

(28:56) excerpt from Hymn for Tomorrow

(30:22) album art Linnea Lieth, Tal’s creative process

(35:09) other episodes linked to this one and different ways to support this series

(36:04) Tal’s creative process

(40:26) percussionist Rogerio Boccato

(43:50) clip of Dusk on Landwehr Canal

(45:10) David Leon sax and flute player

(47:39) story of Sophianic Mess

(51:04) clip of Sophianic Mess

(51:47) band KADAWA Almog Sharvit, Ben Silashi

(55:58) KADAWA Salhov Syndrome from Post Graduation Fees

(01:02:11) Tal’s experience of student-led education, guitar teacher Shai Chen

(01:05:36) the importance of transcription

(01:09:07) meeting Pat Metheny, winning Detroit Jazz Festival Guitar Competition

(01:14:09) solo guitar album Solo Standards

(01:16:32) duo with vocalist Danielle Wertz, arranging

(01:22:18) approach to teaching student-centered approach

photo: Adrien Tillmann

86 MIN

MAR 2, 2025

Rachel Eckroth and John Hadfield

Rachel Eckroth and John Hadfield are wonderfully inventive musicians who have formed a duo. This podcast episode is shining a light on their recently released album “Speaking in Tongues”and you’ll hear some of this textured and dynamic music that really pushes the boundaries of a duo, along with insights into their creative process and their varied career paths.

John Hadfield is a phenomenal percussionist, drummer, and composer, for many years based in New York and now based in Paris. He’s collaborated on over 100 recordings including Grammy-award winning albums. He talked to me about performing with Kenny Werner, with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silkroad Ensemble, as well as John’s Paris Quartet.

Rachel Eckroth was nominated for a GRAMMY for her album “The Garden” and she is very active as a keyboardist, vocalist, composer, producer and arranger. She tours currently with St. Vincent, and she talked to me about her keyboards, and some of her formative experiences.

Both Rachel and John love to explore new sound colours both acoustically and with electronic instruments and this album is a powerful, inventive and immersive listening experience. You’ll find this project linked in the show notes, and hopefully some of you can attend their live shows on one of their tours.