Moods & Modes

Latest Episodes:

Jane Getter Nov 04, 2022

Show notes

Before heading out on tour with Jane Getter Premonition, Alex sat down with Jane to talk about her new album Anomalia, the diverse musical influences that are woven into her music, and the evolution of her sound. Jane reminds Alex of the time when he taught her how to play metal and shares the story of the New York moment that inspired the song Train Man, from her album “On”.

NYC-based Jane Getter is a “triple-threat” (Geoff Wilbur)—guitarist, singer, and award-winning composer. Getter’s 6th release, Anomalia, coalesces a lifetime of musical exploration into intricate arrangements, powerful playing, and killer solos. Her band, Jane Getter Premonition, has carved out a niche at the intersection of jazz, metal, rock and singer-songwriter with masterful playing of Getter’s “complex, sophisticated, and dynamic” compositions (All About Jazz). On tour, JGP has dazzled audiences at ProgStock, Outreach Music Festival (Austria), San Francisco Jazz Festival, bFlat Bar (India), Guitar City (Poland), Borderline (UK), North Sea Jazz Club (Netherlands) Iridium, and opened for Allan Holdsworth and Brand X.

Catch Alex on tour with Jane Getter thru November 13

Get Jane’s new album Anomalia here

Follow Jane on IG @janegetter and Twitter @janegetter

Jane Getter website

Follow Alex on IG and Twitter @alexsklonick

Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe. Editing and mixing by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd.

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My Lunch with Nite Bob Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, Alex finally gets the chance to sit down with Nite Bob, whose job titles include sound engineer, guitar tech, tour manager, and production manager, to name a few. His 45-year career in the music industry is legendary as are many of the artists he’s worked with, including Steely Dan, Aerosmith, Iggy Pop, Emerson Lake & Palmer, KISS, The New York Dolls, R.E.M., and many more.

Recorded over lunch at the Ear Inn, one of New York’s oldest pubs, Nite Bob shares stories from years of working closely with Steely Dan’s Walter Becker - his proclivity for purchasing guitars on a whim, even when advised otherwise; how he brought hard rock-worthy volume to Steely Dan shows, and thought nothing of switching equipment in the middle of a song.

Nite Bob and Alex discuss buying guitars as a collector versus as a working musician, and Nite Bob tells Alex about that time he connected Rick Rubin and Run DMC to Aerosmith, which resulted in one of the most iconic collaborations in music history.

Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Matt Dwyer. Editing and mixing by Matt Dwyer. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd.

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Brooklyn Lutherie's Mamie Minch Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, Alex visits Brooklyn Lutherie, the only woman-owned and operated guitar shop in New York City. While there to pick up his double SG, he chats with Mamie Minch, the shop’s co-founder, about the repair on his guitar and learns something new about it in the process. Alex, Mamie, and co-founder Chloe Swantner discuss what it was like to start a guitar repair business in what has traditionally been a very male-dominated field, and how Brooklyn Lutherie is changing the ratio. Mamie and Alex also discuss her musical career and her influences, which include two relatively unknown but fascinating female musicians, Connie Converse and Judee Sill. You’ll also hear a bit of Mamie’s music.

Mamie Minch is a longtime staple of New York City’s blues scene. She began playing guitar as a teenager in her bedroom listening to reissues of class country blues on repeat. She would try her hand at picking out the songs of legends like Mississippi John Hurt, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Memphis Minnie and Bessie Smith. She loved the steady thumb and percussive right hand of these blues players, but she also devoured lots of different styles of music, from soul to psychobilly and old time to punk rock.

When she’s not making music, Mamie spends her days as a guitar repair luthier at Brooklyn Lutherie, the shop she and her business partner, Chloe Swantner, opened in 2014. It remains one of the few women-owned and -operated shops around. She also teaches, writes articles about luthiery and guitar playing for She Shreds and Acoustic Guitar magazines, and runs the annual Ukulele Building Camp for Girls in Brooklyn, NY.

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More Les: Further Adventures in Mahwah Jul 08, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, Alex continues the journey into the life of Les Paul, from his close relationship with Django Reinhardt to the time he performed for Eisenhower and Nixon at the White House and demonstrated the Les Paulverizer; his love-hate relationship with the SG, and so much more. You’ll hear a fantastic story about the time that Les went to see Eddie Van Halen perform, and the moving eulogy that Mahwah Mayor Jim Wysocki wrote for Les’s funeral.

Les Paul was best known as a skilled guitarist, and as one of the most important figures in the development of modern electric instruments and recording techniques. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar (the Gibson Les Paul, which he helped design, is one of the most famous and enduring models), multitrack recording, and various reverb and echo effects.

From the episodes:

Les Paul in Mahwah Exhibit

Jim Wysocki

Benny Goodman, The Neurotic Guitarist

Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal

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The Vault of Les Paul Jun 17, 2022

Show notes

Les Paul was an inventor, an award-winning musician, an innovator and a creative genius. In this episode, Alex pays tribute by taking us on a journey through the life of Les Paul - his music, his inventions, and the recent recovery of one of his missing Gibson Les Paul prototypes.

Alex visits Mahwah, NJ with Benny Goodman, host of The Neurotic Guitarist, and musician Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, where they meet Jim Wysocki, mayor of Mahwah and longtime friend of Les Paul. Jim - a former police officer who befriended Paul in the early 80s - invites the group into his home, containing a vault of items that Les left behind, including instruments, journals, hand-wound pickups, memorabilia and more. The group also visits the Les Paul exhibit at the Mahwah Museum, home to select vintage guitars, artifacts and musical relics of Les’s. Mayor Jim shares incredible stories about his time with Les Paul and helps identify Les’s long lost G5 prototype. Alex and Ron jam on Les’s personal guitars in the museum, some of which are available for visitors to play.

You can also see a video of their visit on The Neurotic Guitarist.

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Best of Moods & Modes: Peter Green, Part 2 Jun 01, 2022

Show notes

At the tail end of the 60s, an unlikely meeting took place in Chicago between some prominent traditional blues artists and a chart-topping rock band from the UK. The results would reverberate for decades to come. In this episode, you’ll hear a discussion on the importance of this session along with further insights into the impact of the late, great Peter Green with guests Dave Rubin (author of Guitar Method) and Andy Aledort (Guitar Magazine).

Peter Green was a British blues rock guitarist and composer. As the founder of Fleetwood Mac, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Green founded Fleetwood Mac in 1967 after a stint in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and quickly established the new band as a popular live act in addition to a successful recording act, before departing in 1970. Green’s songs, such as “Albatross”, “Black Magic Woman”, “Oh Well”, “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)” and “Man of the World”, appeared on singles charts, and have been adapted by a variety of musicians. Green was a major figure in the “second great epoch” of the British blues movement. Eric Clapton praised his guitar playing, and B.B. King commented, “He has the sweetest tone I ever heard; he was the only one who gave me the cold sweats.” His trademark sound included string bending, vibrato, and economy of style.In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked him at number 58 in its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.

Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Matt Dwyer. Editing and mixing by Matt Dwyer. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Best of Moods & Modes: Peter Green, Part 1 May 24, 2022

Show notes

While Alex is out on the road with Testament on the Bay Strikes Back Tour, we thought we’d take you on a journey back to the early days of Moods & Modes. This week, we’re featuring Episode 3: Peter Green, Remembered and Rediscovered.

A deep dive into the life and music of Peter Allen Greenbaum, better known as Peter Green, who passed away on July 25, 2020. Although best known for co-founding the first version of Fleetwood Mac, there is so much more to uncover. This episode features a roundtable of experts on the gentle genius of guitar known as “Greenie,” plus a few surprises. Alex is joined by Mike Zito, Dave Rubin, Andy Aledort; and, via shared podcast: Dean Delray & Kirk Hammett.

Peter Green was a British blues rock guitarist and composer. As the founder of Fleetwood Mac, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Green founded Fleetwood Mac in 1967 after a stint in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and quickly established the new band as a popular live act in addition to a successful recording act, before departing in 1970. Green’s songs, such as “Albatross”, “Black Magic Woman”, “Oh Well”, “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)” and “Man of the World”, appeared on singles charts, and have been adapted by a variety of musicians. Green was a major figure in the “second great epoch” of the British blues movement. Eric Clapton praised his guitar playing, and B.B. King commented, “He has the sweetest tone I ever heard; he was the only one who gave me the cold sweats.” His trademark sound included string bending, vibrato, and economy of style.In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked him at number 58 in its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.

Stay tuned next week's Best Of episode Peter Green, Part 2.

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Best of Moods and Modes: Carnatic Crash Course May 17, 2022

Show notes

In episode 2, Alex welcomes musician Prasanna, a pioneer in performing Carnatic music on the guitar. In conversation with Alex, Prasanna breaks down his unique style and the musical inspirations behind it, which include Blackmore, Coltrane, and Steely Dan, to name a few. Because he’s also an educator, Prasanna demonstrates some of the techniques he uses and explains the musical vocabulary behind the music he performs. This episode was recorded in person and you’ll hear Prasanna and Alex play some music throughout the episode.

A pioneer in performing Carnatic music on the guitar—as well as skilled in playing and composing in genres such as jazz, progressive rock, and world fusion music—Prasanna graduated magna cum laude from Berklee in 1999. An entrepreneurial visionary in the business of creative music and education, Prasanna was voted among the top 50 creative Indians by Open Magazine. Prasanna, who holds a degree in engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, worked as a software engineer before coming to Berklee to pursue music.

Stay tuned for upcoming Best Of episodes, including a tribute to Peter Green (of Fleetwood Mac) Part 1 (5/24) and Part 2 (5/31).

Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Brad Stratton. Editing and mixing by Matt Dwyer. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Best Of Moods & Modes: Guitar Rescue May 10, 2022

Show notes

While Alex is out on the road with Testament and the Bay Strikes Back Tour, we thought we’d take you on a journey back to the early days of Moods & Modes. This week, we begin with the vey first episode, which was released in July 2020.

Alex visits Matt Umanov of Matt Umanov Guitars, a legendary guitar shop in New York City. Matt is a guitar dealer and repairman who’s been a fixture in Greenwich Village since the late 1960s and whose regular clients include the likes of Eric Clapton and Pat Metheny. Matt shares some great stories about some of his most notable customers, including an unlikely connection between Pat Metheny and J. Geils, and the two discuss the nightmare repair job that has brought Alex to the shop.

Stay tuned for upcoming Best Of episodes, including Carnatic Crash Course with guest Guitar Prasanna (5/17), and a tribute to Peter Green (of Fleetwood Mac) Part 1 (5/24) and Part 2 (5/31).

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MAX ZT Apr 01, 2022

Show notes

Brooklyn-based musician Max ZT has been called the “Hendrix of Hammered Dulcimer” and is widely regarded as one of the instrument’s most prolific and innovative performers. In this episode, he joins Alex to explain the origin and design of the instrument, which he describes as the predecessor to the piano, and demystifies how to play it with some detailed examples. Max tells Alex about discovering the instrument at an early age, and the two discuss the importance of being present and judgment-free when playing. You’ll also hear clips from the jam session that happened during the recording.

Taking his roots from Irish and American folk music, Max has transplanted his compositional techniques to both Senegal, where he studied the Mandinko technique with the Cissoko griot family, and to India, where he received the prestigious American Institute of Indian Studies Fellowship grant to study under the world-renowned santoor master Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. His fresh perspective and bold experimentalism have been the backbone to beautiful, complex, and genuine compositions, while his unorthodox playing style has been a pioneering force in revolutionizing dulcimer techniques.

Max ZT and his band House of Waters have been called “One of the most original bands on the planet,” by NY Music Daily, and have shared the stage with some of the most influential international musical leaders of the century including Pt. Ravi Shankar, Tinariwen, Jon Bon Jovi, Jimmy Cliff, Bela Fleck, Karsh Kale, Snarky Puppy, and more.

Max’s debut solo album Daybreak will be released on April 8.

Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Brad Stratton. Editing and mixing by Tom Sullivan and Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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