Inside The Juno Reactor

Welcome to "Inside The Juno Reactor" Podcast

Episode 10: Greg Ellis - Drums on film & more - Alexandre Desplat, Zakir Hussain, Kodo drummers, JR

SYNOPSIS: As "Inside The Juno Reactor's" first season closes with Greg Ellis, JR's main drummer and percussionist who contributed with live touring & studio sessions, The Matrix... From his background as a rock/punk drummer to his project with Azam Ali, "VAS",  working in the Film & Videogame industry, discussing percussions, musicianship, and technology, reminiscing studio life with Juno Reactor and Mabi, and much more!

GUEST BIO: Recognized as one of the more innovative and versatile drummers in the world Greg Ellis has performed around the world and recorded with musical artists from over 30 countries including Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, KODO, Bickram Ghosh, Mahsa Vahdat, Tord Gustavsen, Yungchen Lhamo, Chiwoniso Mairaire, Sugizo, Juno Reactor, Billy Idol and many more.

Welcome to "Inside The Juno Reactor" Podcast 

Episode 9: Mabi - King of Conga Fury (Miles Davis, Juno Reactor)  

SYNOPSIS: This week's "Inside the Juno Reactor" is dedicated to Mabi, his life and unique persona, his amazing percussion, musical skills, and cheerful character. In this special interview shot by Ben Watkins 10 years ago at JR's Ridge Farm Studio, we hear the Mabi story: a look at his background and early life in South Africa, to then explore what then became an essential element, Mabi changed the trajectory of Juno Reactor, a collaborator for 15 years.

GUEST BIO: One of South Africa's most venerable musicians, a veteran of bands such as Malombo and Sakhile, Mabi Gabriel Thobejane is a natural born drummer. Known in the West as the 'Conga King' he has worked with Robert "Doc" Mthalane, Pops Mohamed, Miles Davis Sipho Gumede, Madala Kunene and Busi Mhlongo. Interested in bringing traditional music to a wider audience he has more recently collaborated with premier trance outfit Juno Reactor. Born 1948 in Mamelodi, South Africa, and passed on June 3, 2021.  

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Episode 8: Deepak Ram  - The Master Behind "Navras" & "Solaris" Bansuri Flute

SYNOPSIS: This week Inside The Juno Reactor it's a pleasure to welcome Deepak Ram, a musician of extraordinary grace. His playing is beyond technique,  and for me it is sublime. His ability to transport me to other dimensions is what first knocked me out when he came down to my London studio to record a track called "Solaris". On "The Matrix Revolutions", when it came time to call musicians for what was to become "Navras", he was on top of my list. His bansuri can also be heard on movie soundtracks, such as “The Fast And The Furious”, “Matrix Revolutions”, “India, Kingdom of the Tiger”, “Stealth” and “Before The Rains”

GUEST BIO: Deepak Ram is a South African-born flautist, composer, keyboard player, and producer of Indian origin. Deepak is considered a master of bansuri, an Indian flute of ancient origin made from bamboo. He is a senior disciple of world-renowned bansuri maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia under whom he studied Indian classical music. Deepak's versatile playing and breadth of musical repertoire meld classical and improvisational techniques of Indian Raga, Jazz, Blues, and Flamenco into a fusion that has garnered critical acclaim internationally.

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Episode 7: Jason Bentley - Music Supervisor, Electronic Music evangelist, KCRW host

SYNOPSIS: This week inside the Juno Reactor it is a pleasure to welcome Jason Bentley,  Music Supervisor for The Matrix Trilogy, Total Recall, Beetlejuice, The Gladiator, Tron are just a few.  When Jason was 18,  on holiday in Europe and the UK, early Acid House changed his life His pioneering DJ evangelism paved the way IN the USA for a whole new generation to absorb his love of Electronic music of all genres through his KRCW shows.  I first had the pleasure of meeting  Jason when I was working on The Matrix Reloaded.

GUEST BIO: Jason Bentley is a Music Director, Supervisor, Curator and DJ, known for his involvement in radio and film such as The Matrix Reloaded (2003), Total Recall (1990) and TRON: Legacy (2010).

Welcome to "Inside The Juno Reactor" Podcast

Episode 6: Youth - Tales of a maverick musician - Grammy Producer

SYNOPSIS: This week inside the Juno Reactor it is a pleasure to welcome Martin Glover aka YOUTH. An old friend who talks about the early days of punk &  his formation of Killing Joke) a mentor to so many artists involved in the beginning of Goa Trance, Ott, Simon Posford, Raja Ram, Tip records... A modern-day Renaissance man a painter, a poet, singer-songwriter & producer of Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Taj Mahal adding Grammies to his already cluttered shelf of awards. Behind the gongs is a funny intelligent man who, in this episode, also explains the art of the producer.

GUEST BIO: Martin Glover, known by his stage name Youth, is a record producer and a founding member and bassist of Killing Joke. He is a member of The Fireman, along with Paul McCartney.