Interview with Taj Mahal

I recently had the opportunity to interview Taj Mahal for the Banjo Studio. For as much of an influence as his records have had on me, it was a very special moment.

Banjo Studio says:

Taj Mahal has been one of my favorite musicians since I was a teenager. We were very honored that Taj would take time to speak with us. Initially slated for a short 15-20 minute interview, Taj had a good time speaking with the Banjo Studio Podcast host, Jonathan Freilich, and spoke with him for over an hour! 

Listen as Taj talks about his beginnings, how he got started playing the banjo, his approach to the banjo and the way he tunes it, and much more. 

If you aren't familiar with Taj Mahal, now is the time to start checking out his very deep catalog of recordings.

If you are interested in Taj’s life and work, the blues, music around the world, and/or the banjo, you will find it fascinating.

The interview is here…

Back online after some interesting work/ Fermin Muguruza

A couple of months went by very fast in preparation for the Fermin Muguruza recording in New Orleans which I was asked to produce.  Fermin is a great and fascinating Basque singer, documentarian, writer with about a 30 year story in music under his belt.  I think we may have gotten to the first New Orleans/Basque recording ever. And what an interesting development that is!

In passing we learned a lot about Basque things.  Including Zatarain's...

It's worth clicking on the link above  and finding out more about Fermin.  His work has a lot of social import and he put together a fascinating album here, with a great lineup of heavy musicians from all across the New Orleans music world.  Look for that in December.

At any rate, all of this producing and arranging slowed down things like posting more interviews and even posting concert schedules on the website.  back to that, and with more Naked Orchestra things to come and the Joyce Opera ( "what's that? never heard of it. are we starting rumors?")