Inside MusiCast

Stephen Duros, also knows as Astro, is a guitarist, lighting technician for TOTO, and a talented cartoonist.  His approach to lighting for Toto is literally ‘analog’ by today’s standards, as his lightning method includes very little automation.  He relies on his astute sense of Toto’s music in order to trigger lighting effects for their shows. If you’ve ever seen Toto live, you’ll understand just how accurate and artistic his work can be.  But Stephen’s talents go beyond the lights.  He’s also a brilliant guitarist with a focus on classical and Flamenco.  In fact, Stephen performed with the amazing Ottmar Liebert for several years and was even credited on Liebert’s Grammy nominated album The Scent Of Light.  Here to discuss his many talents, including his cartooning, is Stephen ‘Astro’ Duros.

From his humble beginnings in Nebraska, to working his way into a band as a backing vocalist, to fronting the band that eventually became The Tubes, Fee Waybill was born to entertain. But being the front man in the band wasn’t just about singing the tunes. The Tubes live performances were an extravaganza of bondage, simulated sex, chainsaws, phallic props, smashing televisions, and often partially nude dancers and band members. Not only were The Tubes pioneers of incorporating theatrics and shock value into their live shows, but they were also a band of brilliant musicians. Their early albums were a fusion of rock and jazz that were comparable to Zappa and incorporated lyrics that satirized pop culture, politics, religion and even sexual taboos. They garnered a cult following, but didn’t have a major hit on their hands until they connected with producer David Foster in 1981. Together with Steve Lukather, the Tubes scored their first major hit “Talk To Ya’ Later” and two years later topped its success with the even more successful “She’s A Beauty.” But as mentioned before, Fee is a man of many talents and he’s here to tell us all about them. Inside MusiCast welcomes Fee Waybill.

On this episode of Inside MusiCast, we welcome Michelle Willis who hails from Toronto and is quickly gaining attention through her appearances opening and performing with Snarky Puppy, as well as her current tour in support of the legendary David Crosby.  Recently, Michelle released her debut solo album titled “See Us Through”, an album that was six years in the making and as mature a debut album as you could ask for.  The album features eight tracks of very personal lyrical accounts wrapped around gorgeous vocal harmonies, it’s beautifully engineered, and musically supported by some of the best players in Toronto.  Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Michelle Willis.

When he was only 13 years old, Joe Vana’s life was forever changed through a chance meeting with Survivor’s Jim Peterik. As Joe will tell you, Jim taught him everything he knew about music and the music business. But it wasn’t until he was 28 years old that he discovered his voice, but when he did he became Peterik’s in-house demo singer for many years. Joe and Jim eventually created a band called Project Voyager, which ultimately became Mecca. In 2002, Mecca released its debut, self-titled album that featured David Hungate on bass, Shannon Forrest on drums, Fergie Frederiksen and Joe on vocals, Mark Aquino on guitars and Jimmy Nichols on keyboards. Nine years later, Mecca released their follow-up titled “Undeniable” and on October 14 of this year, Mecca released the band’s third album “Mecca III.” Here to discuss the new album is Mecca’s Joe Vana.

When he was only 13 years old, Joe Vana’s life was forever changed through a chance meeting with Survivor’s Jim Peterik. As Joe will tell you, Jim taught him everything he knew about music and the music business. But it wasn’t until he was 28 years old that he discovered his voice, but when he did he became Peterik’s in-house demo singer for many years. Joe and Jim eventually created a band called Project Voyager, which ultimately became Mecca. In 2002, Mecca released its debut, self-titled album that featured David Hungate on bass, Shannon Forrest on drums, Fergie Frederiksen and Joe on vocals, Mark Aquino on guitars and Jimmy Nichols on keyboards. Nine years later, Mecca released their follow-up titled “Undeniable” and on October 14 of this year, Mecca released the band’s third album “Mecca III.” Here to discuss the new album is Mecca’s Joe Vana.

Amy Holland has been surrounded by music since the day she was born.  Her mother was a singer and performer and her father was also involved in the music industry.  She headed to LA when she was only 15 years old to pursue her own career in music, which is where she met Michael McDonald, who co-produced her first album and eventually became her husband.  Amy was on top of the world with her top 40 hit “How Do I Survive” and a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 1981, along with a follow-up album in 1983.  After a lengthy and difficult battle with cancer, Amy returned to music and released her third studio album in 2008 titled “The Journey To Miracle River.”  Amy’s musical journey continues and a few weeks ago she released the brand new album “Light On My Path.”  Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Amy Holland.

Six years ago, Inside MusiCast discovered an incredible band out of Minneapolis called Terramara.  When we heard their music, we just knew we needed to invite the band’s front man, Rob Meany, to be a guest on our show.  Since that interview, Rob has focused his efforts on writing songs for a brand new album, but not for Terramara.  This time Rob has created a debut solo album titled Ferris Wheels Unbound which he released on May 1 and contains 12 new tracks that explore Rob’s singer/songwriter approach, as well as some tracks reminiscent of Terramara.  Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome back to the show, Rob Meany.

On this episode of Inside MusiCast, we welcome back Jon Herington to discuss his new album, “Adult Entertainment” that will be released tomorrow - June 14. This is Jon’s first studio release since “Time On My Hands”, which was released four years ago. Since then, Jon has been busy touring with Steely Dan, Madeleine Peyroux, completing his book of arrangements and tablature for guitar, as well an instructional video. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Jon Herington!

Since 1992, Don Breithaupt has steered his band Monkey House on a path of musical progress.  In 2012 when we first connected with Don, the band had just released their third album “Headquarters,” which caught the attention of all us here at Inside MusiCast – most notably how their songs contained a heavy melodic approach reminiscent of Steely Dan. The band’s latest album “Left,” which will be released on June 3, picks up where “Headquarters” left off and includes contributions from some incredibly talented guest musicians, including Elliott Randall, Drew Zingg, Michael Leonhart, Jay Graydon. Kim Mitchell, and Lucy Woodward.  “Left” contains brilliantly crafted songs that may be the band’s finest collection to date.  In fact, during our chat with Don today, you’ll hear the world premiere of a few songs from the album.  Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Don Breithaupt.

On this episode of Inside MusiCast, we welcome one of the greatest voices in the history of popular music, Jon Anderson. The original voice of Yes, Jon has been creating music for close to five decades and shows no signs of slowing down. He is currently on the road with Jean Luc Ponty and will soon reunite with Rick Wakeman and Trevor Rabin to create more Yes inspired music. But that’s only the beginning, as Jon’s musical spirit is filled with galaxies of music with his best work yet to come. Inside MusiCast is honored to welcome a music legend, Jon Anderson.

In cooking, there’s always that secret ingredient that make a dish special. In the LA music scene, Lenny Castro has been that secret ingredient for decades.  Lenny has recorded and toured with hundreds of major recording artists throughout his amazing career. His mastery of percussion has made him a first-call studio musician and one of the most recorded in the history of popular music.  Lenny had the good fortune to not have to “pound the pavement” for his first gigs in LA. It was Melissa Manchester who encouraged the teenage New York native to follow her to LA. He didn’t think twice and took the job.  One contact led to another and he found himself playing gigs on a regular basis. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome the legendary  Lenny Castro.

Michael Sherwood hails from a deep lineage of musicians, and similar to his family members, Michael has formed a solid career in the music industry. From his early days growing-up in Las Vegas and forming the band Lodgic, Michael eventually befriended the Toto band members, which led to his long-time friendship with Steve Porcaro. In addition to his songwriting collaborations with Steve, Michael has also worked with Air Supply, Anderson Bruford Wakeman and Howe, Chris Squire, Conspiracy, Circa, Lisa Loeb and Andrew Rosenthal and their incredible Swifty’s Bazaar album project. Recently, Michael was involved with both David Paich and Steve Porcaro with writing duties on Toto XIV and has co-produced Steve Porcaro’s soon to be released debut solo album titled “Someday Somehow”. Inside MusiCast welcomes Michael Sherwood.

While Inside MusiCast has focused on bringing you the legendary musicians who have helped to shape the world music, we’re always keeping our ears peeled for the next generation of musicians who will keep this spirit alive and ongoing. On today’s episode, we turn our attention to the Los Angeles based jazz, funk and soul trio, Organ Freeman. While the band’s name might make you snicker, their music will definitely put a smile on your face and a new groove in your soul. This fresh, new band is starting to make a name for themselves in Southern California and the Bay area, so we thought we’d help spread their music and their story. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome organist and key bassist Trevor Steer of Organ Freeman.

Great musicians make great albums, but when you add a world class recording engineer and producer to the mix, you can take your project to another level. For nearly six decades, this is exactly what Al Schmitt has done for the world of music. Since the late 1950’s, Al Schmitt has engineered and produced thousands of album projects for some of the most well-known artists in the world, such as Henry Mancini, Sam Cooke, Jefferson Airplane, George Benson, Steely Dan, Toto, Michael Franks, Pablo Cruise, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Al Jarreau, Larry Carlton, Joe Sample, Tower of Power and so many more. Al’s approach to recording and producing music is as much about simplicity as it is about technicality. His ears and his instincts are the heart of his craft, as well as his ability to be the musician’s best friend in the studio. At 85 years young, Al Schmitt continues to be a first call engineer and his plate is full for the coming year. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Grammy award-winning engineer and producer, Al Schmitt.

When we last spoke to Keiko Matsui in March of 2011, she had just released “The Road”, which featured an incredible lineup of musicians, such as Vinnie Colaiuta, Richard Bona, James Hara and Kirk Whalum. Since then, Keiko has released another solo project titled “Soul Quest”, as well as teaming up with the legendary Bob James for their album “Altair & Vega.” Outside of the studio, Keiko is a passionate and relentless world traveler, bringing her music to her fans all over the world. In doing so, she captured an incredible performance in her native country of Japan that has recently been released as a CD/DVD combo titled “Keiko: Live In Tokyo”. It’s her first live release in many years and it features past Inside MusiCast guest Kirk Whalum and guitarist Chuck Loeb. Here to talk to us more about this project is Keiko Matsui.

The influence of West Coast AOR runs deep in the souls of many career musicians. Ask any studio or touring musician about their inspirations and you’re bound to hear an answer that would include the talented players who laced the liner notes of the great albums from the 70’s and 80’s. Tim Cashion is no exception. For the past 15 years, Tim has provided keyboard and vocal support to the legendary band Grand Funk Railroad. Prior to that, he has toured with the likes of Takanaka, Robert Palmer, Jon Secada and Bob Seger. Yet deep in his musical soul there lied a passion for West Coast AOR. In 2005, Tim began to explore this musical path and created the tracks that became his personal Sargent Pepper’s titled “Find Us On The Dial.” The album sat in silence – until now. To tell us more about this incredible album and the unique story about its release is Tim Cashion.

Peter Friestedt is one of Sweden¹s premiere musicians and guitarists. Having studied music at several conservatories in Sweden, Peter eventually landed in Los Angeles to study at the Los Angeles Music Academy. There he studied under Frank Gambale and his guitar staff, but sometimes education will only get you so far.  Peter wanted his music in the hands and ears of Bill Champlin, so he borrowed a friend¹scar, drove to Bill¹s house and delivered a cassette tape that contained some of his music.  This was the start of Peter’s “LA Project” - his first album project that was eventually distributed all over Europe and garnered the attention of his peers and fans worldwide.  It also catapulted Peter to various projects over the past two decades - his latest being the recently released CWF album that features Champlin and Toto vocalist, Joseph Williams.  Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome both Peter Friestedt and Bill Champlin.

Tom Canning. You know him best for his excellent writing, arranging and for his amazing keyboard touches on most of Al Jarreau’s music. But the native New Yorker’s music career started well before Al, when he performed and recorded with John Klemmer, Freddie King, T-Bone Burnett and others. But as we all know, it was an unsigned Al Jarreau who hired Canning as his music director in 1974 and the rest is history. You know the tracks, Roof Garden, Breakin’ Away, Never Givin’ Up - all containing Canning’s masterful arranging and performing. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Tom Canning

Sometimes being an incredibly talented musician is only half the battle when you want to make it into the music industry.  Drummer Tom Brechtlein’s rise to success is the classic tale of hard work, perseverance and self-promotion.  From his  big break of landing a steady gig with Chick Corea in 1978, he has gone on to perform with some heavyweights, such as Wayne Shorter, Al Dimeola, Jean Luc Ponty, Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, Christopher Cross and many others.  Over the past eight years, Brechtlein has toured extensively with Kenny Loggins and has also found a new niche with teaching drums and percussion. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Tom Brechtlein.

On this episode of Inside MusiCast, we welcome back Steve Porcaro. When we first interviewed Steve in 2009, he broke the news to us that he was working on his first solo album project. If you heard the interview, you were also treated to two demos that Steve allowed us to share. After a busy six years with touring with Toto, his ongoing scoring project for the TV show “Justified”, along with his involvement in the production of Toto’s latest studio album, Steve is more determined than ever to finish the solo album that has taken a back seat these other projects. Inside MusiCast is once again pleased to welcome Steve Porcaro.

Bill Maxwell’s talents stretch far beyond his drumming skills. Over the years, the Oklahoma native has become a first call LA session drummer, arranger, composer, and producer whose career began in a blues band and continued to a producer/drummer role with Andraé Crouch and The Disciples. His career blossomed as he collaborated with artists such as Luther Vandross, Kirk Whalum, the Crusaders, Freddie Hubbard and The Winans. Bill has recently played the role as music director for performances at the White House by playing for President Obama and the First Lady. His abilities and discography are vast and we welcome Bill Maxwell to Inside MusiCast.

Jimmy Haslip is a renaissance man who hasn’t let boundaries define him. As an original band member of the Yellowjackets, his pronounced influence over the past 3 decades is seen in musicians today. He has demonstrated an uncanny ability to deliver a groove in not only fusion, but also Latin, pop and international genres. Haslip today has evolved from musician-composer to an in-demand, producer extraordinaire. Inside MusiCast welcomes back Jimmy Haslip.

Since the release of their debut album ‘Full Power’ in early 2014, Tristan is enjoying an ever-increasing fan base. The Netherlands-based soul, R&B, and jazz fusion band definitely has a sound that even Steve Lukather describes as “The best of the ‘70’s brought to 2015!” In fact, before vocalist Evelyn Kallansee joined the band, Tristan had already been creating great fusion and jazz with stellar musicianship. With the release of their latest album titled “2nd Phase”, we find Tristan’s sound evolving and maturing, delivering some of the freshest blend of pop, soul and jazz that we’ve heard in quite a while. Here to talk to us about Tristan and their brand new record, Inside MusiCast welcomes band members Evelyn Kallansee and Sebastiaan Cornelissen.

When it comes to West Coast music, Tommy Funderburk has been an icon for decades. If you’re familiar with Airplay, The Front, What If, Richard Marx, Steve Lukather, REO Speedwagon, Starship and Yes, then you’ve heard either his voice or his compositions over the years. He and past Inside MusiCast guest Bruce Gaitsch collaborated to form a songwriting partnership called King of Hearts in the late 80’s with their debut album loaded with West Coast gems. After several delays, it was finally was released in Japan. It was a hit and launched them on a successful Japanese tour. Today they are collaborating again as King of Hearts and will soon be touring Japan, bringing the duos musicianship to the stage once more. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Tommy Funderburk.

A new Toto album doesn’t come along too often, so when one does it’s a pretty exciting topic for all of us at Inside MusiCast. In fact, Inside MusiCast began in 2006 – a few months after the release of the band’s last album “Falling In Between.” So yes, we’re as stoked about Toto XIV as Toto fans are from around the world and we’re not going to miss this opportunity to discuss it. The album was released this past Friday in Europe and is being released this week in the USA and a few other parts of the world. To gather even more insight on what has shaped-up to be arguably one of the band’s finest albums, Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome a cat who was the foundation behind Toto XIV – CJ Vanston.

It’s been nine years since Toto last released a new studio album and many fans thought that Falling In Between might have been the band’s final chapter. Now, the story continues. Toto XIV is set to launch in Europe on March 20, the UK and Oceana on March 23 and North America on March 24. The album features eleven tracks and a line-up that is as close to the original band as we’ve seen in many years, including David Paich, Steve Porcaro, Joseph Williams, David Hungate and here to talk about this fantastic new album, Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome back Steve Lukather.

Until they had won their first Grammy for Best R&B Performance last year, Snarky Puppy was flying under the musical radar. Not anymore. The Grammy for their “Family Dinner” performance with Lalah Hathaway singing the track “Something” changed things for the band that formed a decade ago at the University of North Texas. Today, the highly acclaimed jazz/fusion/funk/pop ensemble has exploded onto the global touring scene and they’re taking no prisoners. Bassist Mike League is Snarky Puppy’s leader, heading-up a cast of amazing musicians who are seemingly on tour and making music non-stop. The past tens years have been an amazing ride for Mike and the band, but this is only the beginning. Inside MusiCast welcomes Snarky Puppy’s Mike League.

In the world of recording and session musicians, there are names that are staples on hundreds of major recordings – names like Purdie, Lukather, Mathieson, Phillinganes, Porcaro, Kunkel, Sklar, Kortchmar, Raine, to name a few.  One name that stands large amongst these session giants is today’s guest, Jerry Hey.  Having played since the age of three, Jerry followed his passion for music to Indiana University, then on to Hawaii to form Seawind, and eventually landed in L.A. where his trumpet skills have graced some of the biggest selling albums of all-time for artists such as Quincy Jones, Earth Wind and Fire, Al Jarreau, Toto, Michael Jackson, The Tubes, George Benson, The Manhattan Transfer and so many others.  Inside MusiCast is pleased to kick off 2015 with Jerry Hey. 

Tris Imboden not only knows the meaning of gratitude, but he lives with it every day. As a self-taught musician, Tris worked his way into the world of music at a young age and never looked back. From high school surf bands, to his band Honk, to his studio and touring connections with Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Steve Vai, Neil Diamond, Roger Daltry, Richard Marx, Al Jarreau, Firefall and Crosby, Stills and Nash, along with his long-standing gig as the drummer for Chicago, Tris has rarely had any down time throughout a career that has spanned more than four decades. But gratitude comes not only from this success with music. Tris is a cancer survivor and has developed a heightened sense of gratitude for all that encompasses him – from surfing, to music, to life. Inside MusiCast welcomes Tris Imboden.

On this episode of Inside MusiCast, we take you back to Norway for a chat with past guest Ole Børud. We last spoke to Ole back in 2011 when he released his second solo album, “Keep Movin.” Since that time, he has been involved in other projects, including reuniting with his band Extol and released their fifth studio album titled “Extol”. He also had the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas to perform with Santa Fe and the Fast City Horns. His latest efforts have focused on the conception and release of his new solo project “Stepping Up”, a brand new collection of West Coast oriented songs that is arguably some of his best work to date. Inside MusiCast welcomes back Ole Børud.

On this IMC New Artist Profile, we take you across the pond to the home of the UK’s own Nathan Williams. When we recently discovered his music, we were spellbound at the maturity and quality of his sound and musicianship at such a young age.

From blue-eyed soul to pop, R&B and standards singer/songwriter, Bobby Caldwell is still at the top of his game. The center of his musical world is the huge 1978 R&B hit “What You Won’t Do For Love”. You know the song well - the hooks, the horns and the groove. The track has become one of the most beloved R&B hits in the world and is constantly on global playlists. From Japan to Australia to Denmark, Bobby Caldwell’s ability to tour continuously is proof that there is still demand for his smooth, sultry and addictive vocals. The multi-instrumentalist has worked with the best of the best, from TOTO to Chicago to Boz Scaggs, Peter Cetera and Al Jarreau to create compositions that end up as hits. Whether singing big-band classics or R&B grooves, Bobby Caldwell continues to be the real deal. Inside MusiCast welcomes Bobby Caldwell.

On this episode of Inside MusiCast, we’re focusing our attention on a Swedish band whose music lives and breathes West Coast/AOR – Work Of Art. Keybord and vocalist Lars Säfsund, guitarist Robert Säll and drummer Herman Furin are a trio of best friends and dynamic musicians whose music epitomizes the melodic rock genre that has heavily influenced them for several decades. On September 19, Work Of Art will release their third studio album in Europe, followed by the US release on September 22. The album is titled “Framework” and it’s quite possibly their most sophisticated collection of songs since their debut album “Artwork” in 2008. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome all three members of Work of Art.

Bill LaBounty keeps creating great albums. It’s proof that his musical mind is constantly active and sharp as ever. With his new release, ‘Into Something Blue’, LaBounty delivers a collection of work that includes original tunes, but he also finds inspiration in songs by The Drifters, Ray Charles and even Bob Dylan. Think of these songs as wet clay in the hands of a master potter. And, with a little help from guitarist Larry Carlton, that’s what Bill LaBounty does with music - he makes it his own with his own touch. As always, Bill never disappoints. He delivers. Inside MusiCast welcomes our good friend, Bill LaBounty.

Inside MusiCast guests are like a who’s who in the world of music. Names like Lukather, Sklar, Loggins, McDonald, Wooten, Purdie, Page, Parsons – and the list goes on. But the world of music is always evolving with new, amazing talent coming onto the scene with regularity, such as today’s guest Jarrod Lawson. Jarrod has been honing his keyboard and vocal chops since he was a kid and is a prominent player in the jazz scene in Portland, Oregon. He recently released his debut, self-titled solo album and it’s burning up the soul chart in the UK, as well as ranking very high on various charts on Amazon. Like Terramara, Gabe Dixon, Samuel Purdey, Ole Borud and Kere Buchanan – to name a few - Jarrod Lawson is an emerging talent that we’re fortunate to include on our guest list. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Jarrod Lawson.

It’s Father’s Day here in the States and in many other countries around the world and Inside MusiCast is celebrating the day with Kiki Ebsen and her brand new album project titled “Scarecrow Sessions”.  The album is a tribute to her late father, Buddy Ebsen, who was a well known actor for his roles in many film and television projects, including his role as the lovable Jed Clampett on “The Beverly Hillbillies.”  “Scarecrow Sessions” is Kiki’s foray into jazz and standards and is a labor of love in memory of her father.  Joining us to chat more about the album is our good friend and past Inside MusiCast guest, Kiki Ebsen.

Brent Bourgeois is back - at least in the recording sense. As half of the ’80s West coast band Bourgeois Tagg, the keyboardist-writer had connected with Todd Rundgren to produce some great records. Then, after a move to Nashville, he released his CCM record Come Join The Living World - his last recording since 1994. It spawned hits songs that caught the ears of many in the Nashville scene. Twenty years later, Brent Bourgeois returns with a new album “Don’t Look Back and it seems as if he never missed a beat. Inside MusiCast welcomes Brent Bourgeois.

Growing up in Van Nuys, California, Marty Walsh hit his stride in music just as his dad, and brothers did - they were all naturals. With that said, it’s no surprise that Jay Graydon was the bass player in his brother Dan’s band.  As it pans out, Jay soon encouraged Marty to study music in college and he took the advice. This led to a series of events that would have Walsh playing sessions with Graydon, Seals and Crofts and Yvonne Elliman.  In the early ’80s, he found himself on the hits “9 to5” by Dolly Parton, “She Works Hard for the Money” by Donna Summer  and “Heartlight” by Neil Diamond. In ‘85, he played guitar on Supertramps’ “Brother Where You Bound” and then toured with the band until1988, when they released “Free As A Bird.” He’s a veteran musician who still continues to gig and is faculty member at The Berklee College of Music in Boston – an impressive way to give back to new, emerging talent. And he recently released his debut solo CD titled “The Total Plan.”  Inside MusiCast welcomes Marty Walsh.

Having spent the past four decades immersed in the music business, John Oates’ passion for music has never wavered. Since the heyday of Hall And Oates, he has continually discovered new musical avenues to explore, including his latest solo release “Good Road To Follow”, which was assembled as a collection of three EP’s and features collaborations with Vince Gill, Hot Chelle Rae, Ryan Tedder of One Republic and the legendary Jerry Douglas. And if that’s not enough, he and Daryl Hall have recently been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Inside MusiCast welcomes back John Oates.

After two decades of steady work as a solo artist, as well as a session and touring guitarist and vocalist, Tony Spinner continues to quietly leave his impressionable mark on everything he touches. You might have become acquainted with him for his touring role with Toto that lasted nearly a decade. During those years, he proved to be a consistent presence as he toured with them to all parts of the globe. He’s also worked extensively with artists such as Mr. Big and Pat Travers. But Tony’s musical heart is much more complex. This bluesy guitarist explores a fresh musical direction for he and his band with his latest solo release, Earth Music For Aliens. Inside MusiCast welcomes one of the best guys in the business, Tony Spinner.

Born into a musical family, mainly focusing on classical music, Mikael Engström soon realized that his mission was to protect the interest of other genres. At the age of nine he entered the local record store and bought his first LP, “Chicago Transit Authority”.

Nathan East is arguably the busiest bassist on the planet. With over 40 years of performing at the highest level, Nathan continues his musical journey with touring and sessions for artists such Eric Clapton, Daft Punk, Fourplay, and Toto. He has also touched the music of so many incredible artists, such as Barry White, Phil Collins, Kenny Loggins, Michael Jackson, Sting, Babyface, BB King, Patrice Rushen, Al Jarreau and the list goes on. Having spent his entire career as an A-list bassist, he never took the time to create his own solo album – until now.  Nathan’s self-titled, debut solo project will be released tomorrow, March 25 by the Yamaha Entertainment Group. The album brings together just what you would expect – a stellar line-up of musicians and guests, impeccable production quality, and well-crafted arrangements and musicianship on fourteen tracks. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Nathan East.

Over the past decade, Keith Carlock has gained worldwide notoriety through his steady gig with Steely Dan. In uncharacteristic fashion, Keith has held the reigns behind Steely’s drum set since joining the band for the recording of their 2003 album “Everything Must Go.” Since then, Keith has been a hot prospect and has performed with high profiles artists, such as Sting, John Mayer, James Taylor, Chris Botti, Oz Noy, Wayne Krantz, Diana Ross, Faith Hill and many others. And soon, Keith will be taking over drumming duties for Toto this year for both the upcoming world tour, as well as performing on the band’s long awaited album project. Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Keith Carlock.

For the first time on Inside MusiCast we turn our focus to the land down under and one of its extremely talented artists, Kere Buchanan. Having been heavily influenced by his father, Kere began playing piano at the age of three, picked-up the drums at 10 and by the age of 12 he was already diving into sessions. He has worked with some of the finest artists in Australia, including Tina Arena, Marcia Hines, Kasey Chambers, Bella, Rick Price and Delta Goodrem, to name a few. Kere was the founding member of The Bodacious Cowboys, a Steely Dan tribute band, as well as duo Kerosene with his writing partner Glenn Bidmead. In 2009 Kere released his first solo album titled ‘Starting Over’ and has recently released his second solo project, ‘Goodbye Yesterday.’ Inside MusiCast is pleased to welcome Kere Buchanan.

SEAWIND. The name in the LA music scene is legendary. Maybe it was the smooth jazz sound in the 70’s that captivated people. Maybe it was the monster musicians who were playing in the band. Maybe it was the lead singer’s sultry and sexy vocals. And maybe it was all about timing. But SEAWIND made it’s presence known starting with a gig at the famous Baked Potato in LA in front of some of the most heavy-hitting people in the music biz. And that was the beginning of the SEAWIND sound that eventually took the LA music scene by storm. When Bob Wilson connected with Larry Williams, Jerry Hey and Kim Hutchcroft, and a few others musicians, he never realized that today the SEAWIND sound would be alive and well. But it is. On this episode of Inside MusiCast we chat with Bob Wilson, founder of the group that today needs no introduction to music aficionados.

Like his brilliant ability to scat his way through a tune, Al Jarreau’s musical career has been a colorful journey of constant creation, discovery and rediscovery. His vocal style is a unique artistry that is unmistakable. From his early beginnings in the 60’s performing in a small jazz trio in San Francisco that included the late George Duke, Jarreau’s career has delivered 15 studio albums, as well as several live albums, compilations and collaborations. Inside MusiCast kicks off 2014 in style, as we’re pleased to welcome Al Jarreau.

On this episode of Inside MusiCast we’ll explore an album that was recorded and produced in 1995, but failed to get support from its label and fell flat in terms of its overall sales.  Aside from the record label snub, this album was a diamond in the rough – a true blue-eyed, late 70’s soul album that was the right album at the wrong time. The album is “Musically Adrift” by band mates Barney Hurley and Gavin Dodds, otherwise knows as Samuel Purdey. Influenced by the likes of Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, and Earth Wind and Fire, “Musically Adrift” revisits this great genre of music and the ten original tracks stacks-up with the likes of these iconic predecessors. Today on Inside MusiCast we welcome Barney Hurley from Samuel Purdey to go inside the magic of “Musically Adrift”. 

Dominic Miller is riding his own wave of success. Although he’s Sting’s primary guitarist since 1990, Miller is clearly a musician who has made his mark on delivering his own sound while bringing a wide breadth of cultural experiences to the collaboration table.  He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, spending his first ten years there. Soon, he and his family relocated to Racine, Wisconsin, where he took interest in the guitar with a little encouragement from one of his older sisters. He had found his passion. He went on to study music formally in the US and also in England, where he met other musicians who would become lifelong collaborators, such as Mike Lindup of Level 42. After playing in various groups during his teens and beyond, his first real break came when he worked on Phil Collins’ ‘But Seriously’ album. That was all it took for Sting to take notice of his extraordinary guitar playing and sound. Before long, Sting’s ‘Soul Cages’ album was released and Miller was launched into the global spotlight as a serious player. As one who has a passion for Brazilian, Spanish, and classical music, Miller still finds time for self-expression with his own solo work that is expressive, yet technical. Inside MusiCast welcomes Dominic Miller.

On this episode of Inside MusiCast, we welcome back two of our past guests – Jeff Lorber and Jimmy Haslip – to discuss their new Jeff Lorber Fusion collaboration “Hacienda.” Jeff will also announce the winners of the “Hacienda” CD contest. We’re pleased to welcome back Jeff and Jimmy to Inside MusiCast!

Marc Jordan considers his life as a conduit of the arts. It includes sound, sight, and form. But as a musician, song writer and producer, he has worked with the best. It all started when as a young musician, he landed in LA where his musical road would cross with Steely Dan Producer Gary Katz at Warner Brothers. That was the beginning of a solo career what has honed Jordan’s career as a singer, songwriter, and producer. But his creativity didn’t stop there. He has honed his skills as an actor and painter too. Inside MusiCast welcomes the complete artistry of Marc Jordan.