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. 140: Leslie Mandoki, "Music is the greatest unifier.."

Nov 30, 2020

Ep. 140: Leslie Mandoki, "Music is the greatest unifier.."

Let's Talk Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan.

In this episode rockstar Leslie Mandoki talks about his early years in Hungary, being a refugee in Germany and eventual rise to stardom.

In 1991, Ian Anderson, Jack Bruce, and Al Di Meola became founding members...

Ep. 139: Rose Gear, executive director and bassist.

Nov 23, 2020

Ep. 139: Rose Gear, executive director and bassist.

Let's Talk Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan.

In this episode Rose speaks about her passion for hiking, capoeira, professional career as a bassist, move to PNW to work with the Seattle Symphony and Ludovic Morlot, finding a new bass, working as a Executive Director...

Ep. 138: Jovino Santos Neto - pianist, composer, arranger, educator.

Nov 17, 2020

In this episode Jovino speaks about his long relationship with Hermeto Pascoal, background in biology, teaching, composing and performing. We also talk about Pascoal's boxing encounter with Miles Davis and much more.

Three-time Latin Grammy nominee Jovino Santos Neto, a master pianist, composer and arranger, is among...

Ep. 137: Joseph Young, conductor. "Don't wait for people to open doors for you."

Nov 2, 2020

Ep. 137: Joseph Young, conductor.

"Don't wait for people to open doors for you."

Let's Talk Off The Podium with Tigran Arakelyan.

In this episode Joseph talks about his early career as a high school band conductor, studying with Marin Alsop at the the Cabrillo Festival, attending the Peabody Conservatory and working as...