Talk Music Talk With Boice

Violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins is one of those fortunate people who knew at an early age what they wanted to do with their life. She discovered her calling when she started playing the violin at age nine. Since then Kelly has hit many career highlights as a soloist and chamber musician including performances with numerous orchestras like the Dallas Symphony and the Chamber Orchestra of New York, over 800,000 YouTube views for her "Imagination" music video album and praise from the New York Times and the Strad magazine. Kelly's latest milestone is her Broadway debut in the revival of Fiddler on the Roof where she fulfills the titular role from the orchestra pit. In addition to her vast musical talent, Kelly is also a humanitarian who founded and directs Music Kitchen, a program that brings chamber musician performances to New York City homeless shelters with participation from over 100 acclaimed artists. Kelly's future plans include more music videos featuring her virtuoso playing. Visit Kelly online:           

You don't get to be on Broadway for nearly eighteen years by pure luck. You could say singer and actress Rema Webb's journey to the Great White Way began at age twelve when she first started singing lessons in our shared hometown of Clairton, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh. Along the way she participated in choirs and pageants, trained in piano and classical voice, studied her craft at the University of Pittsburgh and in Italy. Rema's consistent work ethic eventually led to a role in Ragtime, her Broadway debut. She's since added nine more musicals to her resumé including 16 1/2 years in the Lion King, the Book of Mormon and the current revival of the Color Purple. In February, Rema was featured on cast recording albums of the Color Purple and A New Brain. She is also the founder/executive director of On Broadway Performing Arts Training Program, a organization dedicated to the performing arts, mentoring and education of young aspiring artists. On April 25, Rema reprises Children Will Listen, her celebrated one wo

In between his travel and style gigs, photographer Nick Onken's musical forays have been quite impressive. He's aimed his camera at Justin Bieber, Usher, Asher Roth and Mary J. Blige, to name a few. As the official photographer for the non-profit Pencils of Promise, Nick utilizes his camera to help provide education to children in the developing world. He's also a successful podcaster with his inspiring SHOPTALKradio that features lively interviews with dynamic creatives from all fields. With Nick guiding the conversations, he's the perfect example of someone living their passions. Creative. Talented. Caring. Nick Onken is clearly the equal of his guests. Visit Nick Onken online:                                                                    http://www.nickonken.com   Subscribe to TMT on iTunes: http://bit.ly/TalkMusicTalk Or Stitcher Radio: http://bit.ly/TMTStitcher Or TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/TMTtunein If you enjoy the podcast, please take a moment to leave a review and/or rating.It Reviews and ratings

Electronica producer and artist Praveen Sharma's career is a study in fluidity. He easily moves from duos (Praveen & Benoit and Sepalcure) to his solo project, Braille. Last year, Braille was well-represented with two releases: the Everyone's Crazy EP and the full-length Mute Swan. From mysterious house tracks to brooding mood pieces featuring extraneous vocals, the common threads are innovation and melancholy. Expect a new Sepalcure release from Praveen and musical partner Machinedrum (Travis Stewart) later in the year. Visit Braille online:                                                                    https://www.facebook.com/braillesounds/                                   https://mobile.twitter.com/braillesounds Visit Sepalcure online:                                                                              https://www.facebook.com/sepalcure/                                         https://mobile.twitter.com/sepalcure?lang=en   Subscribe to TMT on iTunes: http://bit.ly/TalkMusicTalk Or Stitche

Is it too soon to call Marcus Paul James' new single "Living in Dreams" the best song you'll hear in 2016? Yes, it might be a tad presumptuous, but I stand behind my prediction that you will play this ballad 10 times in a row. The Brooklyn-native singer/songwriter comes naturally to good music with a successful career performing on Broadway in musicals like RENT and the Heights. More recently he appeared in NBC's the Wiz Live last December. Marcus is currently working on his forthcoming EP tentatively scheduled for a Spring release.    Visit Marcus Paul James online:                                 http://www.marcuspauljames.com   Subscribe to TMT on iTunes: http://bit.ly/TalkMusicTalk Or Stitcher Radio: http://bit.ly/TMTStitcher Or TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/TMTtunein If you enjoy the podcast, please take a moment to leave a review and/or rating.It Reviews and ratings help to improve TMT rankings and spread the word. Thanks!   "Liz (The Talk Music Talk Theme)"-FULL VERSION Written and Composed on an iPad by

After hearing the eclectic roster of cassette (and some vinyl) label Already Dead Tapes, it's no doubt that you'll be kicking yourself for tossing out that banana-yellow Walkman. It's okay; every ADT release comes with a digital download. But admit it, tapes are way more fun than MP3s. Based in Brooklyn via Chicago, ADT was founded in 2009 by Joshua Tabbia (and Sean Hartman). Since its inception, the label has carved out a respected reputation for its genre-defying list of artists from all over the world in small batches. Joshua says the curation process is a natural reflection of his own varied musical tastes. A graphic designer by day, the Kalamazoo-native also handles the creative design for the independent label. With dozens of releases every year from hip-hop to noise to alt-rock, ADT offers plenty to discover for music aficionados. Get a taste of the label with an exclusive 5-song sampler after our conversation. Visit Already Dead Tapes online:                                        http://alreadydeadtape

Meshell Ndegeocello's CV may include collaborations with the eclectic company of Herbie Hancock, Basement Jaxx, Robert Glasper and Madonna, yet with every project she remains resolutely herself. Whether it's through guest spots or her own releases, Meshell's sound has always been her hallmark. In 1993, Madonna's fledgling Maverick Records released Plantation Lullabies, Meshell's debut which perfectly highlighted that sound: dual pleasures of baritone singing and spoken word with her distinctive bass-playing washing over and through you. For more than 20 years and 11 albums, this restless artist has touched upon genre after genre without sacrificing her identity or style. Utilizing her laptop as a new instrument, this year Meshell plans to release a new album that aims to fuse both politics and dancing. Visit Meshell Ndegeocello online:                                              http://www.meshell.com/   Talk Music Talk Spotify Playlist: The Portable MeshellIt's no surprise that several past TMT guests have m

To say that pianist Vijay Iyer covers the musical waterfront is quite possibly an understatement. His expertise finds him comfortably traversing from his namesake jazz trio to a hip-hop-rooted project with poet Mike Ladd to a classical album, Mutations. Vijay's eclecticism has not gone unnoticed. His talent has been praised by the New York Times, Chicago Tribune and Pitchfork. Last year, DownBeat magazine named him their Artist of the Year and in 2013 he was awarded a MacArthur Fellow "Genius Grant". Vijay is currently an Artist-In-Residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art which will include multiple performances in a variety of settings along with curated works by fellow artists. Visit Vijay Iyer online:                                                                                     http://vijay-iyer.com   Subscribe to TMT on iTunes: http://bit.ly/TalkMusicTalk Or Stitcher Radio: http://bit.ly/TMTStitcher Or TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/TMTtunein If you enjoy the podcast, please take a moment to leave a

You've got to hand it to artist manager Marat Berenstein, he knows talent when he sees it. Since 2014, the Marat Berenstein Company has been shepherding the careers of young talent such as music and visual artist Daniel Bázan, Jr. and music supervisor Matt FX (Broad City, Difficult People). In addition to managing and developing content with MBC, the New York-based entrepreneur also specializes in music licensing as adjunct faculty at NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Marat is an expert in the field of licensing and has placed his clients' music in a variety of projects for major corporations including MTV, VH1 and HBO. With Marat's creative understanding of the music business and early success, it feels safe to say that it takes talent to know talent. Visit Marat Berenstein online:                                                 http://maratberenstein.com/   Subscribe to TMT on iTunes: http://bit.ly/TalkMusicTalk Or Stitcher Radio: http://bit.ly/TMTStitcher Or TuneIn Radio: http://bit.ly/TMTtunein

There's a good chance music writer Jesse Jarnow knows more about the Grateful Dead than you ever will. Understandably, he did get a head start when he was in middle school. Since then he's been on a slippery slope that would eventually lead to writing extensively about the iconic jam band. He's penned liner notes for Dave's Picks, the archive series of classic Dead shows; compiled the entire setlist repertoire for the band's 80 disc concert box set, 30 Trips Around the Sun and has a forthcoming book that explores the Dead community entitled Heads: A Biography of Psychedelic America, coming out in March. He's also the DJ of the Frow Show on freeform radio station WFMU...where, of course, he manages to squeeze in some Dead music. Visit Jesse Jarnow online:                                                         http://www.jessejarnow.com/about/                                              https://mobile.twitter.com/bourgwick Listen to the Frow Show:                                                               

As the premier opera music authority, Fred Plotkin possesses the history of Italy at his fingertips. Not by birthright, mind you, but still rooted in his DNA. A racially-diverse Brooklyn rearing included ample time spent in the homes of Italian friends which spawned a love for their rich culture. Fred also grew up on a constant diet of classical music in his own home. His love for all things Italian was set after Fred graduated high school and his mother rented a Tuscany apartment for them to spend a summer vacation. Eventually his twin passions of opera and Italian culture would lead to a storied career as journalist, lecturer and the author of nine books including Opera 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Opera and Italy for the Gourmet Traveler. Fred's expertise recently earned him the Cavaliere della Stella d'Italia, the Italian equivalent of knighthood, conferred by the president of Italy. Read Fred Plotkin's Operavore blog:                                                http://www.wqxr.org/opera

Kat Cunning is a star! There...I said it. Now catch up. Actor. Singer. Dancer. Photographer. If I've left out anything, it's only because there's nothing she can't do. Kat deftly moves from strength to strength in everything she touches. Transcendent as the Fairy Godmother in Company XIV's Baroque-Burlesque interpretation of Cinderella. Rapturous at a sold-out Joe's Pub performance in December 2015. The new year ushers in even more abundance of riches with Kat's leap to Broadway in Cirque de Soleil's Paramour as the lead actress' understudy in addition to her own character, Lila. The Portland native will also release her debut album of original material this year. Kat Cunning will own 2016! Visit Kat Cunning online:                                                       http://www.katcunning.com/   Talk Music Talk Playlist/063: Bowie TributeAt the release of this week's TMT podcast, it will be less than 24 hours of hearing of David Bowie's passing. I've been a lifelong fan since I first bought his live album, S

Drummer. Feminist. Activist. Badass. Kiran Gandhi occupies these labels and also defies and expands them to her liking. Kiran is in constant motion from studying at Georgetown University to obtaining a Harvard MBA while simultaneously touring with M.I.A. to crafting a stint as Interscope Records' first digital analyst. She's also spoken at TEDxBrooklyn on her "Atomic Living" concept of finding multiple pillars that you're passionate about and then choosing the various moments and opportunities that arise to support them. Most recently, one of Kiran's pillars, gender equality, went viral in August of 2015. She ran the London marathon sans sanitary protection to give voice to "sisters who don't have tampons" and to end "period shaming". Post-race pictures display Kiran proudly posing with clear evidence of her menstrual cycle in effect. Yeah, just another day in the life of a badass. In 2016, Kiran will bring that same rebellious spirit to her debut album. Visit Kiran Gandhi online:                                

Music writer Marshall Yarbrough closes out Talk Music Talk's final episode of 2015 with his picks of the year. The Assistant Music Editor of the Brooklyn Rail newspaper explains in detail what albums, books and events in music excited him the most. Visit Marshall Yarbrough at the Brooklyn Rail:http://www.brooklynrail.org/2015/12/music   Talk Music Talk Playlist/061: The Best of TMT Music For my final Spotify playlist of the year, I've pulled together the best music of my TMT guests since the podcast's November 2014 inception. The bulk of the selections are from 2015 with a few stray tracks from previous years due to availability. Gathered together, the collection is an aural representation for my love of various musical genres. Country. Electronica. Avant-garde. Pop. Soul. And more. Listen without prejudice to my most eclectic playlist ever. Enjoy! https://open.spotify.com/user/therattlecat/playlist/5dHunM3H4kwt78L8xMRRTd   Follow me on Instagram:                                                                h

What's not to admire about music psychotherapist Brian Harris. For over the past 20 years he's dedicated himself to improving the lives of others through music. He's a nationally certified and state licensed therapist with two degrees in music therapy. Brian's innovative analytic and vocal psychotherapy techniques have helped people from all walks of life including trauma survivors, children with developmental disabilities and also, adults dealing with Alzheimer's and related dementia. Brian's astute understanding of the mind and body connection has led to a recent tenure at Beth Israel Medical Center's Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine in New York City. He's also an adjunct at NYU where he received a Masters degree in their music therapy program. Visit Brian Harris online:                                                                  http://www.briantharris.org   Talk Music Talk Playlist/060: Oh Xmas!This week's Spotify playlist is gently used. With the busy holiday season in full bloom, I thou

Multi-woodwind player Yacine Boularès is the bandleader of Ajoyo, which means "celebration" in Yoruba. It's a fitting name for a group whose songs represent a joyous, whirlwind synthesis of jazz, soul and African music. As a Fulbright Laureate, Yacine attended the New School for Jazz, where the French-Tunisian musician first met and collaborated with vocalist/composer Sarah Elizabeth Charles. Ajoyo's self-titled debut features the two-time TMT guest (episodes #21 & #36) on six of the eight titles. Sarah served as my introduction to Ajoyo and was also my entry point to pianist Jesse Fischer. Listen to companion episode #56 of TMT to hear my conversation with Jesse. Yacine was recently awarded a French American Jazz Exchange grant to produce his new trio with cellist Vincent Segal and drummer Nasheet Waits. The project will premiere next year with an album plus performances. Hopefully, 2016 will also see the sophomore Ajoyo release. Visit Yacine Boularès online:                                               h

Singer-Songwriter Steve Garvin first picked up the guitar at age 19 when he was a freshman at Villanova University. After graduation, he landed in Chinatown where his New York-sized bedroom doubles as a DIY recording studio. The result? His recently released EP, Don't Run Away, proves that maybe size really doesn't matter. The sound? A gorgeous rush of '60s- dappled harmonies and classic songwriting dipped in an array of '80s synth influences. The Midwestern transplant is intent on growing as an artist and perfecting his craft. So far? So good. Visit Steve Garvin online:                                               http://www.stevegarvinmusic.com/                                                    https://soundcloud.com/stevegarvin   Talk Music Talk Playlist/059: Early SummerMy conversation with Steve Garvin inspired this week's Spotify playlist with his robust song "Don't Run Away" which feels like the perfect summer albeit a little late. Or maybe he's too early?! In any case, I chose a half-hour's worth of

For label head Noah Padawer-Curry, Onamazu represents the rarefied challenge of releasing electronica music that succeeds inside of the club and inside of your flat. The label specializes in Downtempo Bass music with an eclectic roster of artists from all over the world that blow up the definition of the genre. Since its April 2015 conception, Onamazu has achieved eminent signs of a bright future including 2000-plus SoundCloud followers and multiple featured placements on Spotify. For Noah and business partner/graphic designer Max Burstein, 2016 will surely bring in continued milestones with upcoming plans to expand into touring the label's acts and also, producing a clothing line that will appeal to both fans and anyone who loves graphics that are as singular as Onamazu's sound. Visit Noah Padawer-Curry and Onamazu online:                              https://soundcloud.com/onamazu Visit Max Burstein online:                                                 http://www.maxwburstein.com/   Follow me on Instagram:  

2015 has been an eventful year for pianist/composer/producer Jesse Fischer. He released two records that managed to reveal multiple aspects of his talent. First there was Vein Melter, a collaboration with horn player Sly5thAve, that was a powerful reimagining of Herbie Hancock's 70's fusion masterpiece, Headhunters. Then in September, Jesse returned as a bandleader with the diverse, poignant Day Dreamer that found him adding lyrics to his music for the time. Day Dreamer stars vocalist/composer and two-time TMT guest (episodes #21 & #36), Sarah Elizabeth Charles, on four titles. In addition to introducing me to Jesse, Sarah was also my connection to the group Ajoyo, who are led by multi-woodwind player Yacine Boularès with Sarah as the featured vocalist. Listen to companion episode #57 of TMT to hear my conversation with Yacine. Visit Jesse Fischer online:                                                        http://www.jessefischer.com/ *****In my intro and outro, I mistakenly refer to Jesse's Vein Melter

It's hardly a coincidence that the enthusiasm careening from J. Hoard's earworm of a single "Not So Fast" is an accurate portrait of the artist as a young man. Mildly pretentious James Joyce references aside, one can experience the celebration Jonathan demonstrates in his performances and on his aptly-titled debut EP, Feel Good. The Columbus, OH native currently resides in Brooklyn and is perfecting the upcoming full-length Feel Good album. Jonathan is also busy performing on stages from city to city including Gentei Kaijo's the Lesson, a Thursday nite jam at Arlene's Grocery, where you can catch Jonathan freestyle singing (and dancing) to weekly packed crowds. Just try to deny the unadulterated joy and immense talent of J. Hoard. Visit J. Hoard online:                                                              https://soundcloud.com/jhoard                                             https://www.facebook.com/jhoardmusic/                                                https://www.instagram.com/jhoardmusic/