Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

Leah Roseman
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Society & Culture

There’s a fascinating variety to a life in music; this series features wonderful musicians worldwide with in-depth conversations and great music. Many episodes feature guests playing music spontaneously as part of the episode or sharing performances and albums. The inspiration and connection found in a meaningful creative life, the challenges faced, and the stories from such a diversity of people will draw you into this weekly series, with many topics that will resonate with all listeners. Available also as video and transcript: https://www.leahroseman.com/about

  1. 2d ago

    JoVia Armstrong: Shaping the Future of Sound through Innovation and Education

    JoVia Armstrong is a an award-winning percussionist, composer and educator whose work blends rhythm, technology, and experimental composition. This year she was voted as one of the best percussionists in the world by DownBeat Magazine’s 74th Annual Critics Poll. She leads the electroacoustic ensemble Eunoia Society which explores sound as a healing tool and you’ll be hearing music from their first two albums, The Antidote Suite and Inception, which are linked in the show notes for you. In fact, I found out about JoVia when I interviewed Leslie De Shazor a couple of years ago for this podcast, and my episode with her is linked for you along with a few other suggested episodes. Today you’ll learn about JoVia’s collaborators and mentors including Nicole Mitchell and Francisco Mora Catlett as well as her development as a musician with the encouragement of her family. JoVia spoke with me about the importance of mentoring youth, self-reflection and self-care. She is currently Assistant Professor of music at the University of Virginia, where she teaches in the Composition and Computer Technology Program while researching the intersection of Black contemplative music, technology and urban space. You can also watch this video on my YouTube, and I’ve also linked the transcript. It'ss a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity. Have a look at the show notes of this episode on my website, where you’ll find all the links, including JoVia Armstrong, the albums featured in this episode, how you can support this podcast, podcast merch and other episodes you’ll enjoy: All the links! (00:00) Intro (03:10) keyboards, Leslie DeShazor, her teaching at the University of Virginia, managers (14:09) Eunoia Society, elements of contemplative music with clip of Meditations on Oya from The Antidote Suite (18:38) Nicole Mitchell, Black Earth SWAY (24:00) The Antidote Suite, Bridget Cooks, with clip of Breathe (29:44) grad school in California, sisters, remembering Joyce (37:30) cajon, Francisco Mora Catlett, suggested episodes and ways to support this independent podcast (37:41) Elizabeth Catlett, Francisco Mora Catlett, cajon, Musique Noire (45:20) The Antidote Suite, about Shades and Shapes with clip of the music, Herbie Hancock influence (50:49) working with women, self-reflection, reverb and caves, self-care (01:05:08) Inception album, Eunoia Society, problem with audiences in classical music concerts, clips of track 1 and 2 (01:13:16) supportive parents, mentoring youth

    JoVia Armstrong: Shaping the Future of Sound through Innovation and Education

  2. Sep 4

    Sound and Motion: Cellist Coleman Itzkoff

    Cellist Coleman Itzkoff joins Leah Roseman to discuss his multi-disciplinary career spanning baroque music, contemporary ballet, and theatre. Discover the surprising links between his youth as a competitive skateboarder and his physical artistry on stage. He shares insights into co-founding AMOC, accessing peak creativity, and how family and mentors shaped his unique path. You can also watch the video on my YouTube - Have a look at the show notes of this episode on my website, where you’ll find all the links. CLICK for ALL the LINKS! photo: Titilayo Ayangade (00:00) Intro (02:12) musical family, aunt Kris Yenney, PACO (07:46) AMOC Matthew Aucoin, with clip of “Dual” from live performance with Lizzie Burns (13:56) first dance experience with Or Schraiber, AMOC (19:38) Procession, dancing, Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber, Lost Mountain, NACO (33:44) Dall’Abaco caprices, baroque cello with clips of No. 6 and 1 (39:24) other linked episodes and ways to support this independent podcast (40:27) experimentation with endpins and standing, skateboarding (48:22) Coleman’s youth with musician parents, Greenwood Music Camp, skateboarding skills and music (55:54) accessing more creativity and ease, earplugs, polyvagal theory, meditation (01:04:48) Ruckus early music, 12th Night (01:07:53) variety in his career, Cerrone concerto, Anthony Marwood (01:10:06) Sonic Alchemy album, Peteris Vasks, Mina Gajič (01:12:42) Broken Theater, Or Schraiber (01:15:21) teachers Eric Kim, Desmond Hoebig, Ralph Kirschbaum, Timothy Eddy

    Sound and Motion: Cellist Coleman Itzkoff

  3. Aug 21

    Jesse Jones: Luthier, Composer, and EZRA Bluegrass Fusion

    Internationally renowned composer and Oberlin professor Jesse Jones joins host Leah Roseman. Jesse has been awarded the Guggenheim and Rome Prizes, he also thrives in bluegrass-fusion with the group EZRA, and we're featuring music excerpted from several albums. We explore Jacob Jolliff’s album of Jesse's music—including his recent mandolin concerto—and also feature clips from Xak Bjerken’s performance of Variations on Oklahoma Rooster. Jesse discusses building instruments, his personal approach to microtonality, and how a sudden accident completely transformed his musical path. You can watch the video on my YouTube or listen to the podcast, and I’ve also linked the transcript. Have a look at the show notes of this episode on my website, where you’ll find all the links. There you can sign up for my newsletter to get access to exclusive information about upcoming guests, consider buying me a coffee on my Ko-fi page, or buying some unique podcast merch. I've linked several suggested episodes for you with Banjo player Adam Hurt, mandolinist Joe K. Walsh, instrument innovator, and improvisor, creator of the Bazantar, the late Mark Deutsch, Irish composer Karen Power, who uses nature recordings from some of the most remote places on earth, Jesse Stewart the Canadian composer, percussionist, visual artist, researcher and educator, and composer and pianist Michael Stephen Brown, among so many episodes since 2021. You can also review this podcast, share it with your friends, and follow on your podcast app, YouTube, and social media. Click here (00:00) Intro (01:55) connecting to his roots, Ezra Froggy’s Demise, Craig Butterfield clip of McLaughlin (06:41) Ezra, discovering Bluegrass, learning different instruements, Jacob Joliff, Max Allard, clip of Sobreandando from Froggy’s Demise (15:12) Jacob Jolliff, mandolin with clips of Jolliff Plays Jones, Prelude, Tune Book Finale (18:26) development of Jesse’s compositional style, clip of Tamborine from Tune Book (24:08) Lutherie (31:49) love of banjo, clip of Golden Hill (34:47) Xak Bjerken with clip track 6 Whippersnap (39:09) Commissions, Xak Bjerken Variations on Oklahoma Rooster with clips of Procession and Riffing with Xak Bjerken, video linked in show notes (44:42) Whippersnap with clip of My Point eXAKtly from Whippersnap by EZRA (45:45) linked episodes and ways to support this independent podcast (46:45) Whippersnap, clip of Milk on Tap, Max Allard (48:56) need for contrast, Gossamer with a clip, why the band hasn’t performed much (53:41) Professor at Oberlin, fascination with microtonality, Mark Deutsch Bazantar (59:55) musical memories, Jesse’s youth and family, String Helix (01:09:04) vocal music, Sharon Harms, first symphony (01:12:08) Rome Prize experience

    Jesse Jones: Luthier, Composer, and EZRA Bluegrass Fusion

  4. Aug 9

    Donna Weng Friedman: Interdisciplinary Artistry and Music Education with the Award-Winning Pianist and Film maker

    The award-winning pianist Donna Weng Friedman enjoys a distinguished career as a soloist, chamber musician, educator, curator, producer, and filmmaker. She spoke to me about many of her inspiring projects, including the Joy Luck Trio, Microvids with composer Stefania de Kenessey and collaborators including violinist Curtis Stewart. You’ll hear how she got into film making and her award-winning personal film Never Fade Away about her parents, featuring Chun Wai Chan, the New York City Ballet's first Chinese principal dancer. Donna shared great advice for fellow music educators and students, how she came to be mentored by Radu Lupu, and perspectives on her career choices as a parent and many initiatives to amplify women composers and conductors. You can also watch the video on my YouTube: show notes bring you to Donna Weng Friedman's music and projects, suggested episodes, newsletter sign-up to get access to exclusive information,podcast merchandise, transcript, suggested episodes and how you can buy me a coffee to help keep this podcast going! All Links Here (00:00) Intro (02:42) Microvids, Stefania de Kenessey with clips of number 7 En Llamas Lola Lopez Guardone and clip of 9 Running on Empty Krystal Joy Brown (09:35) Curtis Stewart improvisations, with clip of number 8 The Grand Opening (14:19) Stefania de Kenessey, Anne Lundy, Virago Symphonic Orchestra, Pascale VAn Os, Brava Maestra, clip of number 11 Pura Alegria (21:39) Joy Luck Trio, Karen Han erhu, Gao Hong pipa with clip of Pastorale (33:21) racist encounter, Asian identity, Harmony and Heritage (38:26) linked episodes, podcast merch, newsletter (39:26) Never Fade Away and making the film, Chun Wai Chan (50:56) exploring different forms of artistic expression, with clip of Clouds with Curtis Stewart from Microvids, Migrant museum Fenix (58:42) teaching music, stage fright (01:08:34) Heritage and Harmony Silver Linings album, Chinary Ing with clip of Space Between the Fish and the Moon (01:10:08) Indira Mohajan with clip of Night by Florence Price, Her Music Her Story women composers (01:12:42) composer Kim Sherman Quiet Poems album with clip of Water Circles, need for new music for young students (01:17:18) teachers, Nadia Boulanger, Radu Lupu (01:23:14) balancing career with parenting, duo with Carter Brey, classical music apps The Music Bee Club

    Donna Weng Friedman: Interdisciplinary Artistry and Music Education with the Award-Winning Pianist and Film maker

  5. Jul 31

    "Brahms Comes to Dinner": Interview with Author Boman Desai

    I was honoured to record this interview with Boman Desai, whose wonderful recent novel “Brahms Comes to Dinner” I highly recommend. You’ll hear how this work came out of Boman’s larger novel “Trio” and he shared stories about several of his other acclaimed novels including “The Memory of Elephants”, “Portrait of a Woman Madly in Love” and his book about the Lennon-McCartney Beatles songs “Dancing About Architecture”. Some of Boman’s writing comes from his Parsi family history and the life of his grandmother, and you’ll hear about several life-changing moments including with the legendary editor and writer Diana Athill. You can also watch the video on my YouTube and I’ve also linked the transcript. Have a look at the show notes of this episode on my website, where you’ll find all the links I've also linked suggested episodes with Martha Anne Toll, Heather Taves, Michael Stephen Brown, Thomas Cabaniss, Yale Strom, Gabriel Kahane, Scott Nygaard among so many episodes since 2021. Sign up for my newsletter, where you’ll get exclusive information about upcoming guests, consider buying me a coffee on my Ko-fi page, or buying some unique podcast merch. All the links! (00:00) Intro (02:08) Brahms, Clara and Robert Schumann (18:28) excerpt from “Brahms Comes to Dinner”, research letters, diaries (31:21) excerpt from “Trio” Robert and Clara Schumann (35:26) Boman’s musical memories from childhood in India, Tovey writing about music (42:27) Parsi community, Diana Athill (45:24) other linked episodes and supporting this podcast (46:14) editor Diana Athill, “The Memory of Elephants”, Zoroastrian Parsi family, grandmother’s life (57:16) “The Elephant Graveyard”, the life of an author (01:06:30) “A Googly in the Compound” (01:11:56) editing and publishing his books (01:14:12) “Portrait of a Woman Madly in Love” (01:19:59) “A Googly in the Compound” (01:23:43) Diana Athill, life of a writer (01:29:28) Beatles book “Dancing About Architecture”, song analysis, writing about music (01:35:43) move back to India

    "Brahms Comes to Dinner": Interview with Author Boman Desai

  6. Jul 22

    Tamsin Waley-Cohen: Violinist, Artistic Director on Motherhood and Creativity

    I have been so inspired to discover the brilliant British-American violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen’s wonderful discography and I so enjoyed this opportunity to talk to her about her creative life. She spoke to me about the debut of her sister’s violin concerto and you’ll hear about Freya Waley-Cohen’s earlier work Permutations. Tamsin has performed and recorded extensively with the great pianist and composer Huw Watkins and you’ll also be hearing short excerpts from their album “Reflection” including two works written for Tamsin: Huw’s Violin Sonata and the late Oliver Knussen’s Reflection. She opened up about postpartum anxiety, depression,and also the creativity parenting requires, and connected to that, her upcoming album with Cordelia Williams “Dreamscapes and Lullabies”. Tamsin is Artistic Director of the Two Moors Festival in the U.K. and she shared her thoughtful curation of their upcoming October programming. We also talked about the satisfaction and intensity of touring and her wholistic approach to playing the violin. Finally, Tamsin shared some powerful musical memories with some of her great mentors. Complete Show Notes with all the LINKS! You can also watch the video on my YouTube, I’ve also linked the transcript along with Tamsin's website, other suggested episodes, newsletter, podcast merch: LINKS (00:00) Intro (02:13) Freya Waley-Cohen composer and sister, Permutations and Unveil with clips, new concerto (17:05) album Reflection with Huw Watkins with many clips of music by Oliver Knussen, Watkins, Prokofiev, Stravinsky (32:27) C.P.E. Bach sonatas, playing on gut strings (37:04) other suggested episodes and ways to support this podcast (38:05) motherhood, anxiety and depression, matrescence with clip of 3rd mvt Prokofiev F minor Sonata (50:28) new project “Dreamscapes and Lullabies” with Cordelia Williams (56:37) balancing her performance career, (59:28) Two Moors Festival 2026 programs (01:05:53) ECHO award, approach to music making with clip of Stravinsky 5th mvt Duo Concertante (01:13:41) practicing violin, Prussia Cove, András Keller. Ruggiero Ricci, Stephen Kovacevich (01:18:16) Tüür’s Memoirs with Colin Currie

    Tamsin Waley-Cohen: Violinist, Artistic Director on Motherhood and Creativity

  7. Jul 13

    Mary Beth Orr: The Singing Horn, Appalachia and Resilience

    Mary Beth Orr is a wonderful award-winning horn player and folk vocal artist. Throughout this moving episode you’ll be hearing short excerpts from her album “The Singing Horn” which celebrates traditional Appalachian songs with Mahler and contemporary works composed for Mary Beth through Vox Novus’ Fifteen Minutes of Fame Project. Mary Beth is currently 3rd Horn of the Grand Rapids Symphony, and she shares the best advice I’ve heard about succeeding at orchestral auditions. Mary Beth also experienced a serious accident that threatened her life and then her ability to play the horn and she shares many other difficult personal challenges. I was so moved to hear her story and wisdom and I encourage you to come back and listen to the end. You can watch the video on my YouTube or listen to the podcast, and I’ve also linked the transcript. Have a look at the show notes of this episode on my website, where you’ll find all the links (suggested episodes, podcast merch, newsletter, and of course Mary Beth and her album). SHOW NOTES: IMPORTANT LINKS! (00:00) Intro (01:43) The Singing Horn, with clips of tracks 1,2,6,3 (12:37) 15 Minutes of Fame project Robert Voicsey with clips of tracks 15, 13 (16:26) Mahler, The Singing Horn album inspirations, clips track 4 (22:45) becoming a mother, creative process, clip of her song Good and True track 25 (28:51) live experience, connecting with audiences, arrangements and collaborators with clips track 7, 24, 26 (40:41) other suggested episodes (41:50) Appalachian singing style, why the horn is hard (50:13) female brass mentors (53:11) the accident and recovery with clip track 12 (01:07:24) grief and living life with joy with clip of track 18 (01:14:06) Mary Beth’s sister Ann Marie Orr, disability awareness (01:19:31) audition and career advice

    Mary Beth Orr: The Singing Horn, Appalachia and Resilience

  8. Jul 6

    Recording Global Music with Producer Ian Brennan Part 3: Azerbaijan, Malawi, Parchman Prison

    This is my third conversation with Ian Brennan in this mini ongoing series with him, within my podcast. If you missed Parts 1 and 2 they are linked in the show notes for you. Today you’ll hear about how he recorded some of the oldest voices in the world in Azerbaijan, and some of the bonus tracks including the Kronos quartet and The Good Ones. Ian shared how he met the Malawi Mouse Boys and then brought them to international attention, and what that has meant for them. We talked about the Chicago Gunfire Survivors project, Ian’s book Peace by Peace, 99 Steps Toward Violence Prevention and De-escalation, and the powerful Parchman Prison albums. At the end I asked him about his Grammy-nominated album with Ramblin’ Jack Elliot “I Stand Alone”. In the show notes you’ll find photos from the album covers by Ian’s wife the Italian-Rwandan filmmaker and photographer Marilena Umuhoza Delli. You'll find the track information for the excerpts in the timestamps and everything is linked in the show notes on my website. You can also watch the video on my YouTube or listen to the podcast on your preferred platform and I've also linked the transcript. Have a look at the show notes where you'll find all the links, including different ways to support this podcast . Please note that I’ve linked suggested episodes you’ll find interesting along with other episodes with Ian, each focusing on different albums he’s recorded. Complete show notes (00:00) Intro (02:40) Azerbaijan “The Oldest Voice in the World” album with clips tracks 1, 5, album linked in show notes (13:13) Ageism, Azerbaijan, clips of tracks 23 Kronos and 26 The Good Ones (17:58) the Malawi Mouse Boys with clips, In Memory of a Hungry Child and tracks 2, 5 “Score for a film about Malawi without music from Malawi”, NPR Tiny Desk (26:30) Malawi Mouse Boys touring, WOMAD, daily struggles (34:50) Other suggested episodes (35:51) Malawi Mouse Boys homemade instruments, Track 14, album linked in show notes (46:17) Chicago Gunfire Survivors clips track 3, 2, 6 (55:23) book Peace by Peace, non-violent crisis intervention, great advice for all of us (01:08:12) Parchman Prison Project with clips from 2 albums linked in show notes Break Every Chain, MC Hammer, Parchman Prison Blues (01:17:20) Ramblin’ Jack Elliott “I Stand Alone”, Grammy nomination

    Recording Global Music with Producer Ian Brennan Part 3: Azerbaijan, Malawi, Parchman Prison
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There’s a fascinating variety to a life in music; this series features wonderful musicians worldwide with in-depth conversations and great music. Many episodes feature guests playing music spontaneously as part of the episode or sharing performances and albums. The inspiration and connection found in a meaningful creative life, the challenges faced, and the stories from such a diversity of people will draw you into this weekly series, with many topics that will resonate with all listeners. Available also as video and transcript: https://www.leahroseman.com/about

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