For the Greater Groove: The Future of Strings

45 years after graduating from The Juilliard School, I have a chance to chat with my former violin professor there, Lewis Kaplan. At 91, Kaplan is a senior professor of violin and chamber music at Juilliard and is still running 2 Bach Festivals. We chat about the legendary Ivan Galamian, who we both studied with, whether or not I practiced as a student, being a founding member of The Aeolian Chamber Players, the changing art of teaching in the 21st century and more.

“There are things in the music that conjoin us all.” Matt Glaser chats about the music that still inspires him after 50 years of study—the swing music of the 20's thru the 50's—and his perspective, after years of study, that the same musical ideas were shared across racial and economic boundaries, and how this has defined American popular music.

Curtis Stewart is a violinist/composer who is at the forefront of the new music world as a solo performer and recording artist, founding member of the Publiqartet, Artistic Director of the American Composers Orchestra and professor at The Juilliard School. We talk about his new Grammy nominated album, Of Love, the influence of his musician parents, teaching music at his own NYC high school for 10 years, and play a round of “Not My Gig”, where we find out just how much Mr. Publiquartet knows about…the Public Library.

With a musical worldview centered on individuality, freedom and emotion, Ginny talks about how to deal with the challenges women face in the performing arts, how to be fearless onstage, her new album, and how and what she teaches the students at her Popular Strings class at the Thornton School of Music, USC.  ­­

Regina talks about her sound, her move from classical to jazz, her experience as a hospice caregiver, and then I ask the MacArthur genius how much she knows about...the song "MacArthur Park."

Jean Luc Ponty is the father of all modern jazz violinists with a long and ground-breaking career. In this wide-ranging conversation, Jean Luc talks about his transition from a young classical violinist fresh out of the Conservatoire to one of the leading jazz instrumentalists in Europe, to his impact on American rock and jazz fusion. We talk about who influenced his playing, what gear he uses, and about being in Frank Zappa's band. Personally, there is no violin player who has had a greater impact on me musically than the legendary Jean Luc Ponty! 

Violinist and tireless educator Jesus Florido talks about the importance of the groove in Latin music and how it's expressed on the violin. We share an astonishment at how the groove is so often ignored by classical violinists in favor of tone production, and then I quiz Mr. Florido about...obscure facts about the state of Florida. 

A collection of highlights of my conversations from the past year, with short musical excerpts, starting with the Zach Brock episode from January and including Natalie Haas, Sara Caswell, Billy Contreras, Roberto Sierra, Diana Ladio, Danny Seidenberg, Sirius String Quartet, Tomoko Akaboshi, Mark Summer, Mia Asano, Eugene Friesen and Daniel Bernard Roumain. 

Composer/violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain shares his unique perspective as a black progressive string player and composer in a very traditional classical world. We talk about his journey of self-discovery and the importance of advocating for new ideas and updating of traditions. Then I quiz the composer of one of the better known contemporary solo violin works, "Filter", about the rock band Filter. Hilarity ensues.

Eugene Friesen is one of the architects of progressive string playing. We go deep and we get specific--Eugene slows down an example of his trademark pizzicato technique and drops nuggets of gold all through this podcast, getting philosophical and sharing little known secrets of his early years. And then the inventor of the educational superhero, Celloman, gets quizzed on indie-rock festival vendor, Jelloman.

Mia Asano is a young electric violinist who has become one of the most visible content creators in the string world. She's a recent graduate of Berklee College of Music and we talk about how she got over 2 million views and 100K followers one night. And how she fell out of love and back in love with music. 

Mark and I reminisce about the old Turtle Island days and he confesses to having written one of the best-known solo cello pieces of all time, "Julie-O", on the piano. Then I quiz Mr. Julie-O about...all things Julio, as in Julio Igelsias, "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard" and Don Julio tequila.

Tomoko shares her story of being a classical violinist in Tokyo who fell in love with jazz and moved to Boston to study with only a suitcase and a violin. She's now a busy contractor who books a lot of the cooler gigs for string players in the NYC area. We talk about her work and mission and then we find out how much the founder of the jazz/chamber ensemble The Resonance Collective knows about...The Resident Collective, a community activism non-profit in LA.

A chat with my good friends in the Sirius Quartet, Chern Hwei and Gregor Huebner, violins, Ron Lawrence, viola and Jeremy Harmon, cello. They were in the studio on a lunch break, so I took advantage of the opportunity to get this globe-trotting foursome in the same room at the same time. We talk about arranging for string quartet, their influences from the non-classical world and then I quiz the Sirius Quartet about...Sirius Black from Harry Potter.

My old buddy from the Turtle Island String Quartet demonstrates jazz viola techniques, talks about arranging for TISQ and about his newfound love for the violin. Then I ask the founding member of the Unbande about...7 Up, the Un-cola.

Diana is the violin half of the violin/cello Moxie Strings duo. They work with thousands of kids every year as guests in schools all over the country. We talk about our shared mission of striving to give young people the ability to play their own pop music on strings. Then we find out what the Moxie Strings violinist knows about...the Moxy Hotel in Chicago.

Composer Roberto Sierra speaks about the new electric violin concerto he is in the middle of composing for me. It's called "Ficciones" and is inspired by short stories by the Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges. We also talk about writing and playing in the musical vernacular, the popular musical styles of our time. And then I quiz the composer of "Fandangos" about...WWE wrestler Fandango.

Billy reflects on the influence of Buddy Spicher, tells some gig stories and breaks down the comprehensive and highly structured routine he uses in practice and on the bandstand. Then we quiz the Western Swing expert about...Western Spring Manufacturing Co.

One of the most important jazz violinists on the scene today, Sara brings her classical and jazz background to her students at Berklee College and Manhattan School of Music. She talks about the inspiration she gets from young players and then we quiz Downbeat magazine's perennial "Rising Star" jazz violinist about...Rising Star Casino and RV Park.

Natalie Haas has helped define this new role for strings that I keep talking about--the future of string playing, which I believe is all about being a genuine rhythm player, not just a melody/virtuosic player.  Natalie is the consummate rhythm string player, and her 20-year duo with Scottish fiddle master Alasdair Fraser is testament to that. She breaks it down, clearly demonstrates a groove for us, and is a good sport on her segment of Not My Gig, where I quiz the long-time teacher at the Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School about...The Valley of the Sun, an early Hollywood western. 

Zach and I get deep into his improv process, talking about Charlie Parker playing the violin, the improv angel and demon on his shoulders, and how not to swing. (Spoiler alert: be swung instead.) And then we quiz this Snarky Puppy about...kittens.

Even though Andy Reiner was born in Fiddle Hell, the long-standing fiddle camp his family has been running for many years, he's become a guardian angel of progressive string playing, embracing all things groovy with his wide-ranging command of everything from bluegrass and celtic playing to metal and funk. A true multiverse musician, we talk about all of the above and then we quiz the host of The River so Suck podcast on the real River Suck in Ireland. Hilarity ensues.

Jared Judge is the host of The Gigging Musician Podcast and author of Gigging Secrets: The Underground Playbook to Making a Living Performing. He developed BookLive Pro, an online software that facilitates booking and handling of freelance gigs and contracts. But the real test is to see how he does in a game of Not My Gig.

Multi-style cellist, composer, gear maven Jacob Szekely talks about technique, influences, gear and the kind of education contemporary string players really need.Then we see how much the author of The Improvisor's Guide to the Cello knows about...The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Progressive violinist Rob Flax got his degree in improvisation from the New England Conservatory and brings some of his practical wisdom as well as some fuzz-related gear to Nashville for an in person chat here at the studio. Then I quiz the chess-master on...chess pie!

Earl shows us how he does his signature hardcore metal bowing riff. We groove hack Metallica's "Disposable Heroes" and talk about finding your place in a band as a string player. Earl talks about growing up in New York and the impact of his mixed classical/metal background. Then we find out how much the Vitamin String Quartet member knows about...vitamins, of course! Disclaimer--there are a few F-bombs and other similar conversational detritus, so sensitive listeners should be advised.

Richard Greene, the inventor of The Chop, the bow stroke that has revolutionized string playing, recounts how he discovered/invented it back in his Bill Monroe days. And he also claims that, even though it feels like we have no idea what we're doing, we do, in fact, all peak in our 20's. Then I quiz the founding member of Seatrain about...seaplanes!

So much really useful, real-life, practical and applicable information for playing chords and chopping on cello from Renata in this episode! A discussion and a lesson in one. We groove hack James Brown's "I Feel Good" and I quiz the Kumbwaa Jazz Center Artist in the Schools about...Kumbaya!

In this episode, I dig into gear, style and rock and roll rhythm playing with the host of the Rockstar Violinist Podcast, Matt Bell. Matt breaks down the bowing for the main rhythm riff of his version of Zappa's tune "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama", retitled "My Fiddle Wants to Kill Your Mama" and then we quiz the rockstar violinist on...Rockstar Video Games, the video game company.

Martha and I chat about creativity and how to teach it. Then Martha jams out on one of her odd meter looping grooves. In the Not My Gig segment, I quiz the leader of The Scorchio Quartet about...Scorched Earth, the video game. Hilarity ensues.

Joe talks about choosing rock and roll over his classical background and demonstrates some cool tricks of his trade. We groove hack James Brown's "The Chicken" and then, in the Not My Gig segment, we quiz the leader of Stratospheerius about...the stratosphere.

A long overdue in-person visit from my longtime TISQ big brother, Darol Anger. Darol gives us plenty of close up looks at his legendary chop in this Special Video Edition episode. Listen to the audio here and/or you can watch this episode at https://youtu.be/TPRTIkda8V4.  

Mimi and I groove hack James Brown's "Pass the Peas" and talk about non-classical articulation and space in playing funk. We discuss the importance of other cultures and styles in string teaching and address the systemic racism in the classical string tradition. Then we see how much Mimi knows about the character Mimi in La Boheme. 

Continuation of our chat. For the Not My Gig segment, we find out how much Mark Wood, maker of the Viper electric violin, knows about real vipers. www.markwoodmusic.com

Mark Wood and I go back to 1981, when we first started building 6-string violins together. We take a story-filled stroll down memory lane. (Pro-tip: look for the promo video on FB and IG--it features mid-80's era live footage of yours truly with my band Stradivarius in NYC.) This is part 1 of a two-parter. www.markwoodmusic.com

The good Doctor groove hacks The Trooper by Iron Maiden to play it on viola. We chat about his perspective on young string players as the head of strings at Berklee College of Music. Then I quiz Doc about Doc Martens shoes. www.docwallacemusic.com

Chris Groove Hacks the "Coffin Dance" and replicates it on violin. Then he illustrates how he approaches rhythm in his Creative Strings Workshops. In our Not My Gig segment, I quiz him on creative string art. christianhowes.com

Julie and I dig into a wonderful tune by African singer Cesaria Evora called "Angola" for the Groove Hacker segment. Julie shares her thoughts about capturing the style on your instrument. And then, since Julie is the founder of Strings Without Boundaries, I quiz her about the Boundary Water Canoe Wildlife Area. julielyonn.comhttps://julielyonn.com/

Mark busts out the guitar as well as the fiddle for this episode. He talks about the rhythmic life of Americana music and demonstrates some examples from his Mark O'Connor Method. Then I quiz the composer of The Improvised Violin Concerto about improv comedy. MarkOConnor.com

Mike groove hacks the groove on his tune "Make It Right" and shows us how he plays it on solo cello. We talk about the different rules for classical and pop styles and then, in our Not My Gig segment, we quiz Mike Block on Blockbuster Video. MikeBlock.com

Casey and I Groove Hack a tune in 7 called "Love is Stronger Than Justice" by Sting. We talk about chopping, grooving and traveling. And then, in the Not My Gig segment, we see how much Mr. Chop knows about...chopsticks. Caseydriessen.com