Moods & Modes

Latest Episodes:

Michael League Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

This week Alex welcomes Michael League, one of the most accomplished musicians of the last two decades. Michael is best known as the founder, bandleader, and bassist for the New York-based instrumental group Snarky Puppy, and in this conversation you’ll hear him tell Alex about the band’s genesis and musical evolution. Michael tells Alex about Snarky Puppy’s “no power chord” rule, how necessity led to him taking on the role of producer, and why it’s crucial to never “quit failing.” Towards the end of the conversation, Michael tells Alex about improvements to his creative and personal life that he’s enjoyed since moving to Spain, and shares equally important stories of success and failure.

Michael League is a 4-time Grammy® Award-winning, 5-time nominated producer and musician based out of Catalonia, Spain. He is the creator and bandleader of instrumental music ensemble Snarky Puppy and world music group Bokanté, founder of the record label and music curation source GroundUP Music, and artistic director of the GroundUP Music Festival. Snarky Puppy has amassed three Grammy Awards over the last 8 years, an incredible feat for a jazz-based instrumental group in the modern musical climate. He has worked with a wide range of legendary artists including David Crosby, Erykah Badu, and Joe Walsh, and continues to push musical boundaries through the endless number of projects that he is a part of.

Michael’s new album, So Many Me is available now and you can hear music from the episode on Spotify.

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 Justin Thomas (Revoice Media). Production Assistance by Matt Bavuso. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd.To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply to the music you love, check out osirispod.com. Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

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PERCY JONES Jun 18, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Alex welcomes bass legend Percy Jones to the podcast. Best known for his work with jazz fusion ensemble Brand X, Percy tells Alex about the evolution of the band, including the period of time when Phil Collins was the drummer. The two discuss the incredible London music scene in the 60's and early 70's, Percy tells Alex how he ended up playing the fretless bass, and shares stories about Brian Eno’s unconventional creative process (and Alex makes a connection between Phil Collins and Brian Eno’s infamous Oblique Strategy cards). Percy Jones is a bass guitar legend, known for his solo work and collaborations with Brand X, Brian Eno, Suzanne Vega and many others. His most recent projects include PAKT and Box Of Noise. Alex performs with Percy on PAKT, available for pre-order here.

Check out the episode playlist on Spotify.

To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply to the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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REZ ABBASI May 21, 2021

Show notes

Rez Abbasi is an accomplished jazz guitarist and composer known for his ability to fuse traditional Pakistani and Indian classical music with modern jazz. In this episode, he discusses his eclectic guitar style, the diverse musical projects he’s contributed to, and the inspiration for his 2020 release, Django-shift, a collection of songs inspired by the music of Django Reinhardt. Rez tells Alex about some of the music he rediscovered during the pandemic (like the band Foreigner) and the projects he’s thinking of working on next.

Rez Abbasi has explored nearly every style of music imaginable over the course of his career, having released 15 solo albums and contributing to a number of others. He’s been voted #1 Rising-Star Guitarist in the 2013 DownBeat Critics Poll and subsequently placed in the “Top-Ten Guitarists” alongside luminaries Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny, guitarist and composer Rez Abbasi is one of the most original voices on the current scene.

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 Brad Stratton. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd.

To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply to the music you love, check out osirispod.com. If you like what you hear, please give us a rate and review on Apple Podcasts

To learn more about unique music workshops you can join this summer with Music Masters Collective, visit www.musicmasterscollective.org/modes

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ARIELLE May 01, 2021

Show notes

Arielle is a guitarist, singer, and guitar builder who has risen to prominence in the rock community for her soulful, uninhibited guitar playing and songwriting. Disregarding industry norms, Arielle has forged her own path and as a result, has performed with a stunning list of legendary acts including Brian May, Gregg Allman, CeeLo Green, Eric Johnson, and many others. In this episode, Arielle discusses her diverse musical influences, how she learned to find her voice as a songwriter, and the friendship with Brian May that led to their collaboration on the BMG Arielle guitar. The two discuss her passion for building her own instruments, and Arielle tells Alex about her commitment to replacing the wood that she uses for her guitars by planting trees. Arielle’s album Analog Girl In A Digital World will be released on May 7.

To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply to the music you love, check out osirispod.com. If you like what you hear, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

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PETER FRAMPTON Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

Peter Frampton is among the most celebrated guitarists in rock history. His 1976 album, Frampton Comes Alive!, remains one of the top-selling live records of all time and produced a handful of hit singles that remain in rotation. In this episode, he joins Alex to talk about his exceptional career, from his early days with Humble Pie to his success as a solo artist and the making of his upcoming release, Frampton Forgets The Words. Peter tells Alex about growing up with David Bowie, his reluctance to be a lead vocalist, and the two geek out over Peter’s signature guitar gadget, the talk box.

Frampton has collaborated with such legends as George Harrison, David Bowie, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Wyman, and Ringo Starr, among many others. In 2007 he won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album for Fingerprints, and in 2014 he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. His memoir, Do You Feel Like I Do, was published in 2020.

To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply to the music you love, check out osirispod.com. If you like what you hear, please give us a ratand review on Apple Podcasts.

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CHICK COREA REMEMBERED Mar 12, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Alex pays tribute to Chick Corea. It’s a journey through the life of the great musician, from his early days in New York, debut as a band leader and first album, to the musicians and cultural movements he inspired. Corea’s ability to reinvent himself musically is showcased throughout, as Alex explores the different recordings and performances that make up his iconic career - with a few surprises along the way.

A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master, 23-time Grammy winner, and keyboard virtuoso, Chick Corea attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering. He is the fourth-most-nominated artist in the history of the Grammys, with 65 nominations. From straight ahead to avant-garde, bebop to fusion, children's songs to chamber music, along with some far-reaching forays into symphonic works, Chick Corea was one of the most beloved and decorated jazz artists in history.

You can hear full versions of the music played during this episode on Spotify. If you like what you hear, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.

Moods & Modes is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Brad Stratton. Editing, Mixing, and by Brad Stratton. Music by Alex Skolnick.

To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply to the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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RODRIGO Y GABRIELA, P.2 Feb 11, 2021

Show notes

In part two of the series with Rodrigo y Gabriela, the tables are turned as Rod y Gab interview Alex. They dig into Alex’s musical history, beginning with early influences like The Beatles and KISS, and his immersion into the Bay Area metal scene that ultimately led him to Testament. The trio discuss thrash vs glam metal, the Al Dimeola-inspired acoustic track on the 1990 album Souls of Black,what success looks like for a musician, and why it’s important to super-serve your most ardent fans. Alex explains the story behind his album Planetary Coalition, which features Rodrigo y Gabriela, and why sometimes becoming a great player happens by accident.

In the episode, you’ll hear the trio perform the Dave Brubeck song “Take Five” and “Playa La Ropa” from Planetary Coalition.

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RODRIGO Y GABRIELA, PART 1 Jan 28, 2021

Show notes

In part one of two episodes with Rodrigo y Gabriela, Alex is in Mexico with the duo during the recording of their album 11:11 in 2009. Alex captured the conversation as they shared food and wine overlooking Zihuatanejo Bay, after a day of recording. The trio discuss their influences, like Paco de Lucia and Strunz & Farah, and the diverse musical taste that comes with being a metalhead. Rod y Gab recount their early days, when they lived in Ireland and busked their way through Europe, and explain how they’ve been able to maintain their integrity throughout their career. During the conversation, Alex takes you through a few of their early recordings and you’ll hear his performance in the track “Atman” at the end of the episode.

Moods & Modes is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe, Brad Stratton, and Adam Caplan. Editing, Mixing, and by Brad Stratton.

If you like what you hear, please give us a review on Apple Podcasts.

To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply to the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

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

20/21: LOOKING BACK & LOOKING AHEAD Jan 14, 2021

Show notes

Alex looks back on 2020, from the great artists who were lost, to the trajectory of the pandemic and some of the unexpected moments in between. He shares personal reflections and stories, and gives us a peek at what’s ahead for Moods & Modes in 2021.

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SWEETWATER RUNS DEEP Dec 21, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Alex travels to Sweetwater Music, the musician-led retailer in Fort Wayne, IN. to give a master class and recording workshop with Stu Hamm. During the trip, he documents the story of Sweetwater and digs into why “always doing the right thing” has made all the difference in their success. Alex walks the guitar gallery with legendary guitar rep (and player) Nick Bowcott, discusses the increased demand for instruments - despite predictions that interest in the electric guitar is dying - and gets a behind-the-scenes look at the detailed inspection process that is the foundation of their unparalleled customer service.

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