Let's Talk Off The Podium

The mission of this podcast is to create discussion on a variety of topics in music, culture, and arts. In my discussions there will be many questions, answers, comments, critique and ideas. For far too long many in the media, musicians, and artists from all backgrounds have been hesitant in their approach to criticism. As Wole Soyinka said, “The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism.” Alongside my observations I will invite guests from a variety of artistic backgrounds to tell their story, ideas and perspective on all things in the world of music.

Hope you join me on this journey and raise awareness to topics that have been buried for decades.

Past guests include: Kronos Quartet founder David Harrington, Christian McBride, George Walker, Robert Dick, Ian Pace, Martin Bresnick, Project Trio bassist Peter Seymour, Andrey Kasparov, Craig Sheppard, Adrienne Albert, Juan Maria Solare, Marc Yeats, Mark Rowan-Hull, Stanford Thompson, The Villiers Quartet, Dr. Haig Mardirosian, Frances Wilson, James Gardner, Daniel Rosenboom, Sylvia Hinz, Joan Arnau Pàmies, among others.

Ep. 101: Miguel Harth-Bedoya, conductor

May 30, 2020

Ep. 101: Miguel Harth-Bedoya, conductor.

Let's Talk Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan.

Celebrating more than 30 years of professional conducting, Miguel Harth-Bedoya is a master of color, drawing idiomatic interpretations from a wide range of repertoire in concerts across the globe. He has amassed considerable...

Ep. 100: Robert Dick, revolutionary composer and flutist

May 25, 2020

Ep. 100: Robert Dick, revolutionary composer and flutist.

Let's Talk Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan.

World renowned as the leader in contemporary music for flute, Robert Dick embodies the ideal of the Renaissance artist. With equally deep roots in classical music old and new and in free improvisation and new jazz,...

Ep. 99: Wadada Leo Smith, trumpeter and composer

May 21, 2020

Ep. 99: Wadada Leo Smith.

Let's Talk Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan.

Wadada Leo Smith, trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and improviser is one of the most acclaimed creative artists of his times, both for his music and his writings. For the last five decades, Mr. Smith has been a member of the historical...

Ep. 98: Diane Schuur, Grammy winning jazz vocalist

May 15, 2020

Ep. 98: Diane Schuur, Grammy winning jazz vocalist

Let's Talk Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan

Schuur’s much-laureled career includes two Grammy Awards---each for Best Jazz Vocal Performance---on Timeless (1986) and Diane Schuur and The Count Basie Orchestra (1987). Both were released by GRP Records, the label...

Ep. 97: Martin Kuuskmann, Estonian-born bassoon virtuoso

May 12, 2020

Ep. 97: Martin Kuuskmann, Estonian-born bassoon virtuoso

Let's Talk Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan

Grammy nominated Estonian-born bassoon virtuoso, Martin Kuuskmann’s charismatic and commanding performances throughout the world have earned him repute as one of the leading solo instrumentalists of his generation....