Inside MusiCast

Ben Shepherd exudes groove. Not only can you hear and feel it, but you can see it on the ear-to-ear smile on his face when he's layin' it down. The New Zealand native has been energized by music since he was a kid, with the bass guitar being his focus. Ben made his way to L.A., where he's held down the groove for some incredible artists, such as Peter Erskine, David Archuleta, Ellis Hall, Kendrick Lamar, Lee Ritenour, Chance The Rapper, Billy Childs, Patrice Rushen, Jeff Lorber, and many more. Ben also has his sights set on releasing his own material in the very near future. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Ben Shepherd.

While the rest of Los Angeles is sleeping, Jay Graydon is hard at work. His nocturnal schedule started when he was in high school and has persisted throughout his career, but this magical time of the day has afforded Jay with the creative timetable to write and produce countless gold, platinum and Grammy winning albums and songs. We last had Jay on the show ten years ago when we discussed various highlights of his career, so we’re pleased to have him back to update us on several recent topics, including the new JaR album, his ‘E’ Model Rhodes project, some guitars from his collection that he’s parting ways with, and so much more. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome back Jay Graydon.

We first discovered Shawn Lee in late 2015 when we heard the news about a new, West Coast oriented band from the UK called Young Gun Silver Fox, but little did we know about his lengthy tenure in the music business and the variety of musical styles he’d been involved with, from country, to electronica, to West Coast, and more. Shawn has once again broadened his musical horizons with a brand new solo album titled “Rides Again” that was recently released and contains a series of songs that are reflective, autobiographical, and have a modern, country-soul vibe. This is a very personal album with songs that reflect on memories from his childhood, his family, and how he experienced life growing-up in Wichita, Kansas. Here to talk to us more about “Rides Again”, along with some insight into the new Young Gun Silver Fox project that’s in the works is our good friend, Shawn Lee.

It's been 11 years since our last connection with Robbie Dupree. At the time, he had just released his album ‘Time And Tide’, which featured his steady stable of musical colleagues - David Sancious, Rick Chudacoff, Peter Bunetta, Leslie Smith, and the late Larry Hoppen. Since that time, and with an understanding of the ever-changing landscape of the music business, Robbie has decided that writing and producing a full album of new songs isn’t on his radar. Instead, he’s taken the path of releasing single tracks at his own pace and when the inspiration strikes him. Along with his 2012, four song EP ‘Arc Of A Romance’, he has recently released three, beautifully produced singles with top-notch lyrical content and musicianship. For Robbie, it’s all about quality over quantity and it’s apparent in these new tracks. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome, Robbie Dupree.

Gary Husband is a musical rare breed. He’s a multi-instrumentalist who focuses on expression, textures, and improvisational thinking. That’s how he’s developed as a critically acclaimed drummer, pianist, composer and producer. Having world class skills in both piano and drums provided him with incredible diversity, which led to gigs with a vast and eclectic range of celebrated musicians including John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Gary Moore, Level 42, Billy Cobham, Al Jarreau, Mike Stern, John Wetton, Chris Squire, Andy Summers, Steve Hackett, Robin Trower, Sir George Martin, Quincy Jones and many others. Recently, Gary has released an ongoing series of standalone tuitional videocasts for musicians with a desire to establish their own voice in drumming. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome, Gary Husband.

Mike Stern and Jeff Lorber are both well-respected musicians and have each had long and successful careers in the music business, with jazz being the root of their musical craft. While they’ve each traveled down different avenues and have developed their own, unique style, their paths have recently crossed, which has ignited a collaboration that fused their creativity and resulted in a brand new album titled “Eleven”, which was released on September 27. The album features a mix of new and existing tracks by both Mike and Jeff, and co-produced by none other than Jimmy Haslip. In their first interview together to discuss this brilliant new album, Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Mike Stern and Jeff Lorber.

On this episode of Inside MusiCast, we’re taking a trip to the smooth side of the jazz spectrum for an extensive chat with jazz trumpeter, songwriter, and vocalist, Rick Braun. However, 'smooth' doesn't pigeonhole Rick's music, as he incorporates a spectrum of jazz styles into his music, which is evident on his latest album "Crossroads" released a few weeks ago from Shanachie Entertainment. Rick also has an extensive resumé as a studio and touring musician, having recorded and performed with Crowded House, Natalie Cole, Glenn Frey, Tom Petty, Sade, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, and War, to name a few. He's also a good friend of Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon and co-wrote their Top 20 hit "Here With Me". Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome, Rick Braun.

Versatility. For A-list session players, it’s not only the ability to adapt to a variety of musical styles and genres, but to the artists who call them in for a gig. John Peña has made a successful career in music by having this ability to adapt to any musical scenario that comes his way. On today’s episode of Inside MusiCast, we’ll chat with John about his path to becoming a first call bassist in L.A. John’s gift of versatility has led him to gigs with a variety of artists and musical styles, including Carlos Santana, Julio Iglesias, Los Lobotomys, Natalie Cole, The Crusaders, Herb Alpert, Chaka Khan, Jerry Garcia, Chick Corea, Steve Vai, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Larry Carlton, Michael McDonald, Joe Sample, Michael Brecker, David Sanborn, Patti LaBelle, Patti Austin, and many others. He recently finished-up a tour with Oleta Adams and took some time to discuss life, music, computers, and even airplanes. Inside MusiCast welcomes John Peña.

Michael Thompson is proof that dreams do come true. The native New York guitarist knew at an early age that music was in his blood and he set his sights on becoming an elite session player. Having studied at Berklee with the likes of Pat Metheney, he eventually made his way to L.A. to pursue his dream at being an A-list studio musician. He quickly landed tours with Joe Cocker and Cher before breaking into the L.A. studio scene. Word spread about his talent and he’s now recorded and performed for many big names in the music industry, such as Stewart Copeland, Stanley Clarke, David Foster, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, Michael Jackson, Babyface, Quincy Jones, Mutt Lange, and so many more - not to mention forming his own band, the Michael Thompson band in 1989, who recently released a brand new studio album “Love & Beyond”. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome, Michael Thompson.

Don Breithaupt is a man of many talents. He’s a singer/songwriter, musician, producer, arranger, composer, author and even an Inside MusiCast Correspondent. From his steady gig with Brass Transit, to his Breithaupt Brothers collaboration with his brother, Jeff, to recently producing “True North: The Canadian Songbook” - an epic, 32 song project that celebrates Canada’s 150th birthday, Don’s passion for music keeps him on the road, in the studio, and constantly writing and creating music. However, the center of his musical world is Monkey House, a band he spearheads and has been intact for over 25 years. With four studio albums already to their credit, the band released their fifth studio album today titled “Friday” and contains 12 tracks, including their tribute to the Walter Becker song “Book Of Liars”. Here to discuss this brand new album is our good friend, Don Breithaupt.

On this episode of Inside MusiCast, we’re joined by two legendary musicians whose session work is as legendary as the artists they’ve worked with: Danny Kortchmar and Waddy Wachtel. Not only have these two performed and written songs for some of the most celebrated artists of the 70's and 80's, such as James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Warren Zevon, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Karla Bonoff, and Toto to name a few, they’ve recently reconnected with their musical brothers, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel, and Steve Postell to form the session-player super group, The Immediate Family. Today we’ll chat with Kootch and Waddy about this new group of old friends that are creating new music, revisiting classic songs they've been involved with throughout their careers, and taking their show on the road. You're gonna' love this chat. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Danny Kortchmar and Waddy Wachtel.

Warren Ham is one of the best vocalists and woodwind players in the business. Born and raised in Texas, Warren found his way into the band Bloodrock out of Fort Worth. He and his brother, Bill, then went on to form The Ham Brothers Band, who eventually became the backing band for Bread and Cher.  From there, Warren went on to perform and tour with some of the best in the business, including Kansas, AD, Olivia Newton John, Donna Summer, Toto, Ringo Starr and so many more. Decades later, he’s as busy now as he’s ever been, but he’s taken a timeout to chat with us. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Warren Ham.

As adaptable as Chris Rodriguez has been throughout his career in music, having performed with a wide range of well-known artists and music genres spanning from pop, to country, to CCM, and rock, he continues to expand his musical palate.  Recently, Chris embarked on a journey that has led him to explore elements of jazz. Having some down time on the road and in-between gigs has allowed him the opportunity to write over 70 songs and compositions, with 14 of them landing on a brand new solo album titled “Head, Hands and Heart”, which is now available as a digital download and on major streaming sites.  While he’ll still be providing guitars and vocals on the road with Kenny Loggins and Peter Cetera, Chris has a treasure trove of original music to share with the world. Here to talk with us today about the new album “Head, Hands and Heart” is our good friend, Chris Rodriguez.

Dominique Xavier Taplin may be a young musician, but his immense talent has led him to some amazing gigs with Ghost-Note, Prince, and most recently he's taken David Paich's place on the road with Toto. However, he doesn't take these experiences for granted. He fully understands the magnitude of these artists and is honored to not only be a part of their legacies, but to have the opportunity to add his own signature to their music. Soft-spoken, humble, and crazy-talented. You're going to love this chat with a rising star in the world of music. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Dominique Xavier Taplin.

Don Felder, is back with “American Rock 'N Roll”. It’s the second solo album by the former member of the Eagles and it comes nearly seven years after his debut solo effort titled “The Road To Forever.” On “American Rock ‘n Roll”, Don has enlisted some well known contributors who laid down parts for this all-star effort, including Slash, Bob Weir, Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Richie Sambora, Chad Smith, Mick Fleetwood, David Paich, Steve Porcaro, Alex Lifeson, Steve Gadd, Jim Keltner, Todd Sucherman, Nathan East and many more. The 11-track album explores a variety of musical territories, from straight-ahead rock, to late 70’s California country, to a Latin inspired ballad, to modern power ballads. “American Rock ‘n Roll” is a big effort and showcases the experiences and influences that Don has collected over the course of his lengthy career in music. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome back Don Felder.

t's been four years since Inside MusiCast last interviewed Evelyn Kallansee and Sebastiaan Cornelissen from the Dutch band Tristan, but being that their brand new album "The Spice Of Five" just dropped it was high time we had them back on again. This time, we have the entire band joining us, including Evelyn and Sebastiaan, along with keyboardist Coen Molenaar, bassist Frans Vollink, and guitarist Guy Nikkels. The band is currently in the middle of a very busy European tour, but they’ve all taken time out to join us today to talk about this new 12-track album project that may be their finest effort yet. Joining us from The Netherlands, Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Tristan.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, jazz/soul/R&B singer songwriter Maysa Leak has established herself as a bonafide vocalist. This was proven when she caught Stevie Wonder’s attention in the early years and was invited to audition for him and his vocal group Wonderlove. He even allowed her to finish college first before joining the band. In 1991 she was recommended to the British funk-jazz group Incognito by a friend. She also caught band leader Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick’s ear and soon she was part of the Incognito vocal arsenal of great singers just in time to sing on the 1992 album, “Scribes, Tribes & Vibes”. Since then she’s recorded several solo albums that have had an impact in the UK and US. Her 2017 release, “Love Is A Battlefield”, allowed her to cover soulful tune adaptations of classics from the Isley Brothers, Luther Vandross, Natalie Cole and Pat Benatar. Last year she even launched her new label, BLUE VELVET SOUL RECORDS on which she recorded her first single, "You Are Not Alone". We’re very happy to welcome Maysa to Inside MusiCast.

Like most musicians who are at the top of their game, Mike Lindup’s path to music began when he was very young.  His mother and father were both creative souls and musicians, which provided an important influence for Mike. It wasn’t long after attending the Guildhall School of Music that Mike found his way into a band that would prove to be his greatest gig, keyboardist with Level 42.  For nearly 40 years, Level 42 has released 11 studio albums, an EP and several live and greatest hits compilations and have continued to tour heavily throughout Europe. Mike has also released three solo projects and stays busy with sessions for other musicians, as well as performing in a periodic live gig called ‘Thriller Live’ which has had a ten year run in London’s west end.  Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Mike Lindup.

John Ferraro has enjoyed a panoramic drumming career that has allowed him to become a first call, A-list session drummer, and that doesn’t happen overnight. From his early tours and sessions with Larry Carlton and Barry Manilow to playing with Boz Scaggs, Burt Bacharach, and so many others, John has earned his stripes, has garnered respect among his peers in the music industry, and he’s created a long-lasting career in music.  John’s journey continues and we’re very pleased to finally have him on to talk about his amazing career. Inside MusiCast welcomes John Ferraro.

It’s been a few years since Jimmy Haslip has been a guest on Inside MusiCast, but we had to have him back. Since his departure from the Yellowjackets in 2012, Jimmy has been extremely busy and has had a hand in dozens of projects that keep his calendar full year after year. 2018 has been no different and has yielded some amazing projects, such as a second Arc Trio record that features Scott Kinsey and Gergo Borlai, as well as a collaboration with Otmaro Ruiz and Jimmy Branly on a record project called “Elemental”. Add a few months of touring, session work, and producing and his calendar is bursting at the seams. Hear to fill us in on his musical journey is none other than Jimmy Haslip.

It’s no surprise when we say that Steve Lukather wears his heart on his sleeve. We’ve known this about him for a long time and his recently released autobiography titled “The Gospel According To Luke” is a fascinating look into his career in music, yet it also contains very honest and candid accounts of the trials and tribulations of the business that he’s experienced along the way. His music, songwriting, and his prowess on the guitar is a gift he has shared with all of us for over 40 years and it’s earned him immense respect by his peers and fans as one of the greatest musicians to ever pick-up a guitar, but as fans we often don’t realize the sacrifice, the time and the work that it takes to achieve what Luke has accomplished. While the book contains an incredible variety of these accounts, memoirs and stories, it only scratches the surface. Since it’s been close to four years since we last had Luke on the show, it’s definitely time to catch-up with him, dig a little deeper into his mind, and we’ve included many questions from our listeners from around the world. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome our good friend, Steve Lukather.

In the mid to late 1980’s, if it was a Tuesday night at the Baked Potato in North Hollywood, it was Los Lobotomys night. The original band, an offshoot of David Garfield’s band Karizma, consisted of some of the best musicians in L.A., included Jeff Porcaro, Lenny Castro, Nathan East, Brandon Fields, Steve Lukather and David Garfield. Lines formed outside the Spud’s door with fans who wanted to experience the band’s instrumental rock, jazz fusion and be-bop. However, the Lobotomys’ door was always open and many guests appears with them throughout the years, including Carlos Vega, Joe Sample, Vinnie Colaiuta, David Sanborn, Gregg Bissonette, Sheila E., Marcus Miller, Larry Carlton, Slash, Pat Travers, David Paich, Bobby Kimball, Alex Acuña, Chad Wackerman and many others. Fast forward to 2018 and the band is still going strong and has reinvented its lineup. With a new album on the way, Los Lobotomys is back as version 3.0 and consists of its founder, David Garfield, along with Lenny Castro on percussion, John Peña on bass, Chad Wackerman on drums and the latest addition, guitarist Doug Bossi. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome back our old friend David Garfield and guitarist Doug Bossi.

Earlier this year, bassist and vocalist Jeff Coffey left his gig with the legendary band Chicago. Jeff will be the first to admit that it was a dream gig, especially for a musician who was just finding his way back into the business after taking a hiatus from all things music. He’s now focused on other musical aspirations, including work on his third solo project, which is still in production. He’s also found himself on the road again as a member of Don Felder’s band. Jeff has come a long way from his roots in the Orlando area and he’s here to share his musical journey with us. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome, Jeff Coffey.

As a writer, producer, composer and highly sought-after guitarist, James Harrah has left his musical imprint on countless projects, including his own. He’s a guitarist that is always in demand due to his versatility, from jazz to gospel, R&B to pop, AOR to folk and rock to funk, James has delivered at every level, in every genre. He’s credited for his work with Patrick Leonard, Richard Page, Herbie Hancock, Peabo Bryson, Valerie Carter, Peter Cetera, Ray Charles, Andrae Crouch, The Commodores, Kenny Loggins, Jewel, Madonna, Vonda Shepard, Wilson Phillips and many more. Plus, he has a new solo project in the works that will be available in the near future. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome James Harrah.

Being in the right place at the right time is often the foot in the door for many successful musicians, but you can never overlook the sheer talent that cracks the door open even wider. Snuffy Walden will admit that good timing had it’s good fortunes. From his early days in the blues rock band Stray Dog and opening shows for ELP, to becoming a first call studio musician having worked with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Chaka, Laura Branigan, Donna Summer, and Rita Coolidge, Snuffy eventually traveled down a musical path that he never expected with writing scores and themes for popular television shows such as The West Wing, Thirtysomething, and The Wonder Years. Through this work in television, Snuffy has earned ten Emmy nominations and has won an Emmy for his work on The West Wing. He’s been on our wish list for quite some time and today we’re honored to talk with Snuffy Walden.

It was just two years ago that we welcomed Lenny Castro to Inside MusiCast for the first time. Little did we know that in this short span of time since that interview that he would embark on creating the tracks that would become his debut solo album, “Hands Of Silk And Stone”. The album was released over the weekend on digital download sites, such as iTunes and Amazon Music and also appears on streaming platforms, like Spotify and Apple Music. So what musical path did Lenny take in creating this new project and what musicians did he enlist? Let’s find out. Joining us once again to discuss “Hands Of Silk And Stone” is our good friend, Lenny Castro.

If you’ve never heard the name Casey Young, you’ve definitely heard his contributions to many incredible albums.  Although he began honing his musical skills on drums, Casey eventually became fascinated with synthesizers after hearing the music of Todd Rundgren.  From that moment on, Casey became one of go-to guys for creating sounds and sound design. From building synthesizers, to helping artists find the right sound for the right place, to providing sound design support for major tours, Casey Young has collaborated with an astounding list of musicians, including Gary Wright, Yes, Madonna, Michael Sembello, Toto, Mr. Mister, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Greg Mathieson, The Manhattan Transfer, David Sanborn, Robbie Nevil, and many more.  Here to talk to us about all of this in-studio is none other than Casey Young.

Since 1976, Ross Pallone’s passion for live mixing and studio engineering has made an imprint on the musical landscape for some of the biggest names in the business.  His big break came in the early 80’s when he met Michael McDonald while engineering Amy Holland’s debut album “On Your Every Word.” This meeting evolved into a long term relationship with McDonald, but it also set his career in motion with engineering albums and providing live mixing for hundreds of artists, including Alan Parsons, Alice Cooper, Ambrosia, Barbara Streisand, Chaka Khan, Christopher Cross, David Foster, David Pack, Diana Ross, Earth, Wind & Fire, Elton John, Dean Martin, Donna Summer, Gladys Knight, James Newton Howard, Manhattan Transfer, Michael Jackson, and Prince, among many others.  Here to talk about the behind-the-scenes world of studio engineering and live mixing is Ross Pallone.

It’s been seven years since we last visited with Michael Franks, when he had just released his last studio album “Time Together.”  In a few weeks, his brand new album “Music In My Head” is set to be released and it continues in his tradition of combining elements of jazz, pop, and Brazilian styles, with his unmistakable voice leading the way.  “Music In My Head” was a collaboration with several producers, arrangers and musicians, including the late Chuck Loeb, Jimmy Haslip, Scott Petito, Gil Goldstein, Charles Blenzig, Bob Mintzer, David Spinozza, Eric Marienthal, Manuel Quintana, Rachel Z, Billy Kilson, Larry Koonse and many more.  The album drops in early June, but during our chat with Michael we’ll play a few samples to whet your appetite. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome back Michael Franks.

If you’ve been listening to Inside MusiCast from our early beginnings in 2006, you’ll recognize this throwback show intro that was voiced by the talented singer/songwriter Jennie DeVoe. Today’s episode of Inside MusiCast is our 200th and we’re celebrating this milestone with a lighthearted conversation with one of our earliest guests and our good friend, bassist Lee Sklar. Lee is without question one of our favorite guests and we’re always pleased when he returns to the show to catch-up and to discuss his amazing career. This episode will also feature questions for Lee from our listeners from around the world. Eddy, our team of Correspondents and I thank you for your support of Inside MusiCast and for indulging us on our quest to take you inside the music one interview at a time. So for this 200th episode, Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Lee Sklar.

40 years ago, the Dixie Dregs released “Free Fall”, their debut album on Capricorn Records with band members Andy West, Allen Sloan, Steve Davidowski, Rod Morgenstein and today’s Inside MusiCast guest, guitarist Steve Morse.  This incarnation of the band hasn’t been back together since the release of “Free Fall”, but from now until the end of April, the complete, original line-up is on the road for an extensive tour that will take them all across the USA.  Joining us to discuss all things Dixie Dregs, along with other career highlights, including his tenures with Deep Purple and Kansas, is guitarist Steve Morse.

Neil Stubenhaus is clearly one of the top A-list of bassists in the music business - and he doesn’t need to preach it. It’s proven with his discography and the select artists that he has been able to work with throughout his career. He’s sometimes under the radar, but he’s been on ours for a long time and we’re happy to have him on Inside MusiCast as a guest. From his early years with Blood, Sweat & Tears to playing with Gino Vannelli, from Larry Carlton to Karizma, Stubenhaus is about as solid as they come. He’s got something to say about the craft of playing the instrument, as the industry in general. Inside MusiCast is please to welcome Neil Stubenhaus.

David Garfield is as passionate a musician as he is talented. His latest project is massive undertaking and involves collaborations with the best musicians in the music business. “Outside The Box” is the working title and Creatchy has already amassed over 40 tracks - and he’s still going. This labor of love is a collection of original tracks, as well as new arrangements of classic songs. The guest list on this project is off the charts, including Vinnie Colaiuta, Greg Phillinganes, Joe Porcaro, Paul Jackson, Jr., Freddie Washington, Kirk Whalum, Doc Kupka, Eric Marienthal, Will Lee, Steve Ferrone, Chris Trujillo, Walt Fowler, Brandon Fields, David Paich, Shannon Forrest, Jimmie Lee Sloas, and so many more. Here to chat with us more about this amazing project is our good friend David Garfield.

Andy Timmons is one of the most talented and sought after guitarists in the business. He is often referred to as “The Tone King” by his peers and colleagues, as he possesses an arsenal of tones and is as versatile a guitarist as you will encounter. Andy’s career has led him to performing with the glam band Danger Danger, to a 15 year position as musical director for Olivia Newton John, to being a part of Simon Phillips Protocol projects. He’s also performed with artists ranging from Kip Winger, Paula Abdul, Paul Stanley, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Steve Morse, Mike Stern, Ted Nugent and many more. We’re pleased to welcome to Inside MusiCast, Andy Timmons.

Do you smell smoke? We do. And, where there’s smoke, there’s probably a fire somewhere. If you’re in Nashville, it was probably started by one of the area’s hottest arrangers and his smokin-est band, The Smoking Section. They burn it up at 3rd & Lindsley every few weeks. Tim Akers knows the Nashville scene better than anyone and is on the A-list of arrangers and session players who know how to get the job done. When you call on Tim Akers, you get the best arranger, keyboardist, and MD who can assemble the best team of A-list musicians to play for the best names in the biz: Michael McDonald, Keith Urban, Kenny Loggins, Patti LaBelle and so many more. He’s funky, can arrange tunes better than the original, and is just plain smokin’. Rick and Eddy have their fire extinguishers out to welcome Tim Akers to Inside MusiCast.

On this special edition of Inside MusiCast, we’re breaking down Toto’s second studio album track-by-track. After the success of their debut album, Toto pushes the limits with Hydra by infusing a progressive rock approach in what may be their most unique and conceptualized album in their entire catalog. Joining us for this trip back to 1979 is Toto keyboardist, programmer, and our good friend, Steve Porcaro.

Anthony Robustelli’s path to music started at a very early age.  His father was the leader of a big band and music was always prominent with a variety of instruments always at his fingertips.  Anthony’s career includes the role of musical director for Gloria Gaynor, a touring stint with Michael Franti and Spearhead, along with several solo projects under his belt.  It’s no secret that Anthony is in ardent fan of Steely Dan.  In fact, his most recent projects center around the Dan, including his new book titled “Steely Dan FAQ”, which contains incredibly detailed information about all aspects of the band.  He has also released a new album titled “The Steely Dan Sessions: Interpretations Of Unrealized Classics” that diehard Steely Dan fans will truly appreciate, as Anthony breathes life into lost classics from Fagen and Becker.  Here to discuss these projects and more is none other that Anthony Robustelli.

It’s been nearly a decade since Michael McDonald has released an album of original material, but he’s back with what may arguably be his finest effort over the course of his illustrious career. The 12 track album titled “Wide Open” is a musically diverse journey that explores elements of pop, rock, country, folk, jazz, blues and soul. Produced by Shannon Forrest, the album enlists an amazing cast of musicians, including Shannon, Amy Holland McDonald, Michael Landau, Robben Ford, Marcus Miller, Steve Porcaro, David Paich, Bernie Chiaravalle, Dan Huff, Tom Scott, Larry Goldings, Tommy Simms, Brandon Marsalis and many others. Yet, the heart of “Wide Open” is the lyrics. Perhaps for the first time in his career, Michael wears his heart on his sleeve, as he presents a very personal account of his path to becoming sober and forging ahead to live life in the open. Here to talk more about “Wide Open” is our good friend and past guest, Michael McDonald.

Steve Weingart and Renee Jones are a match made in music.  High school sweethearts, they spent their early years growing together with music being their mutual passion.  Eventually they made the move to Los Angeles, with Steve focusing on music as his profession.  Renee didn’t initially pursue music as her career path, but it was Steve’s invitation for her to perform on his solo album Dark Blue Dream that turned her focus to music as a profession, which she continues to pursue to this day.  Steve and Renee have recently collaborated on a brand new album project titled “Oasis” - a project spawned by Steve’s endorsement by Casio and features him performing on the new Casio GP500 Grand Hybrid, while Renee lends her talents on vocals and bass.  Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome back to the show Steve Weingart and his wife Renee Jones.

A few months ago when Toto announced the musician who would be filling the shoes of David Hungate and Mike Porcaro, we knew that it would raise a lot of curiosity amongst the band’s loyal fans when they heard the name Shem von Schroeck.The truth of the matter is that we’ve known about Shem for quite some time. In fact, we interviewed him nearly a decade ago and discovered just how multi-talented he really is. Shem is not only a bassist, but a drummer, keyboardist, arranger, producer, operatic vocalist, author, recording engineer, video editor, and a diehard Trekkie. Toto fans who have witnessed one of his early performances with the band surely have a solid understanding of why Shem is a perfect fit to fill the coveted position of bass guitar and backing vocalist for the foreseeable future. He’s not only a perfect fit as a musician, but he has the humble, welcoming style of personality that embodies the spirit of his bandmates. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome back Shem von Schroeck.

Stewart Copeland isn’t a one trick pony.  When he first joined us on Inside MusiCast four years ago, we spent nearly an hour and half talking about his various journeys in the world of music and barely spoke about his tenure with The Police.  From opera, avant garde, classical, jazz, pop, rock, reggae, to other forms of world music, Stewart Copeland lives for musical exploration and the quest for continued knowledge.  A brand new project is in the works that has found Stewart collaborating with some incredible musicians, including Vittorio Cosma, Adrian Belew and Level 42’s Mark King.  They call themselves Gizmodrome and we’re honored to have Stewart Copeland back to chat about this very cool project. 

Born and raised in L.A., Paul Jackson, Jr. was destined to become one of the most recorded guitarists in the music business. You’ve heard him play on major albums and for major artists over the past four decades - Michael Jackson, Daft Punk, Elton John, Michael Franks, Jeff Lorber, Rod Stewart, Lionel Richie, George Benson, and the list goes on. We’ve finally connected with the Grammy-winning guitarist to talk about his career, collaborations, solo work, and also how he remains a most sought-after session guitarist in this new global, digital session age. We’ve waited for this for a long time and we’re happy to welcome Paul Jackson, Jr. to Inside MusiCast.

Five years ago, Gino Vannelli joined us for our 100th episode of Inside MusiCast.  At the time, he was in the process of recovering from a nearly devastating in-ear monitor accident that he feared had permanently damaged his hearing.  Fortunately, through a variety of self-healing therapies and teaching himself new singing methods, Gino overcame the trauma and has been touring, writing and recording new music.  In fact, Gino has written over 40 songs since his last album project nearly eight years ago and is in the process of completing a brand new album.  To chat about this new album project among other topics, inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Gino Vannelli.

From playing clubs at the age of 16, to venturing off to London with his friend Zoot Money and formed Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band when he was 19, Andy Summers musical journey was just beginning to flourish.  Summers went on to perform with other bands and musicians including The Soft Machine, The Animals, Kevin Coyne, Jon Lord, Joan Armatrading, David Essex, Neil Sedaka, and Kevin Ayers.  But it was his gig with Strontium 90 that introduced him to Gordon Sumner and Stewart Copeland that catapulted his career into one of the most successful bands ever, The Police.  After the band’s final studio album, “Synchronicity” in 1983, Summers, like his bandmates, embarked on solo careers that continue to this day.  In fact, Andy recently released his 14th solo project “Triboluminescence” and he’s here to talk to us about it.  Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Andy Summers.

Jeff Lorber continues to climb to new levels as a musician and with his music.  With each new album project, his goal is to make improvements and create even better music than before.  The new Jeff Lorber Fusion project titled “Prototype” is the latest chapter in his musical saga and includes some familiar faces, as well a some new additions.  Once again, Jeff reunites with bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Gary Novak as the core of the Jeff Lorber Fusion.  Saxophonist Andy Snitzer makes his debut with the group and the album contains several incredible guest musicians, such as Nathan East, Chuck Loeb, Larry Koonse, Paul Jackson, Jr. and Dave Mann.  It’s been nearly four years since we last connected with Jeff, so we’re pleased to have him back to chat about the new record and to catch-up.  Inside MusiCast is please to once again welcome Jeff Lorber.

It’s been nearly seven years since we last connected with Bernie Chiaravalle, but it goes without saying that he’s been a busy musician.  His long standing relationship with Michael McDonald has kept him moving on the road and in the studio.  He played an integral role with Amy Holland’s latest album “Light On My Path” and he has released three additional solo projects since our chat with him back in 2010.  It’s only been a year since he released his last album “One Bright Moment” but on April 18, Bernie is set to release perhaps his most introspective and personal album to date, “Make Some Sense Of This” - an album project that he wrote, performed, engineered and produced from start to finish.  Here to talk to us more about this new album project is our good friend, Bernie Chiaravalle. 

The title of Raul Midón’s brand new album, “Bad Ass And Blind”, sums it up pretty nicely. True, Raul is blind and has been since birth, but when it comes to music he’s as badass as they come. The New York Times described him as “a one man band who turns a guitar into an orchestra and his voice into a chorus.” Since 1999, Raul has released eight solo albums that touch a variety of musical landscapes and features his blazing, percussive-style finger work on the guitar, as well as his soulful, silky vocals. His talents have also been featured on tours, sessions and album projects for artists such as Shakira, India Arie, Al Jarreau, Marcus Miller, Alejandro Sanz, Julio Iglesias, Stevie Wonder, Jason Mraz, and Herbie Hancock. His ninth studio album, “Bad Ass And Blind”, is set to be released on March 24 and will find Raul expanding into his jazz roots and featuring compositions that explore linear modal harmony, similar to the musical avenues taken by jazz legends Miles Davis and Wayne Shorter. To expand on his incredible journey in music and to chat further about his brand new album, Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Raul Midón.

For those of you who love music and had hopes of someday performing in front of thousands of screaming fans and touring the world, meet Keith Howland.  His path to the music business began with those very same dreams that eventually became his reality.  In the early 80’s when Keith attended James Madison University, he caught a Chicago concert on campus and it turned out to be one of the best performances he’s ever witnessed.  After the show, he remembers catching a glimpse of Chicago guitarist Chris Pinnick and thought to himself, “That’s the luckiest guy in the world.  I wish I could get a gig like that.”  His wish eventually came true, but not before paying his dues and working his way into the audition that eventually changed his entire career.  Here to tell us about this incredible journey to the band Chicago is Keith Howland. 

Having studied classical organ at a young age, Bill Meyers thought of himself as a music snob. While his friends were into Led Zeppelin and other rock artists, Bill was focusing on the works of Bach. Bill honed his skills at the University of DePaul where he discovered a love for jazz, blues and R&B and started making his own music. A demo he created landed in the hands of Gino Vannelli and the rest is history. Bill joined Gino’s touring band, which eventually led him on his path in the music industry performing, producing, arranging and writing music for the likes of Madonna, Earth Wind and Fire, George Dukes, Boz Scaggs, Lou Rawls, David Foster, Natalie Cole, Sheila E, and many others. Here to expand on his incredible career is Bill Meyers.

On this episode of Inside MusiCast, we take you to Rio de Janeiro to chat with a multifaceted musician whose music explores many avenues, including jazz, soul, MPB, rock, funk, and a deep love for the West Coast sound – Ed Motta. Since launching his solo career in 1990, Ed has released 13 albums containing these various music elements, but it was his 2013 release “AOR” that caught our attention here at Inside MusiCast. For lovers of that smooth, West Coast vibe, “AOR” became an instant classic. Earlier this year, Ed followed-up “AOR” with “Perpetual Gateways”, a record that again explores similar West Coast territory, but takes a journey into some well-crafted jazz and includes some heavy duty guest musicians, including Hubert Laws, Greg Phillinganes. Patrice Rushen, and Marvin ‘Smitty’ Smith. Needless to say, Ed Motta is a musician’s musician and we’re excited to have him here with us today. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Ed Motta.