The Tonearm is putting a needle on the cultural wax. Check it out.

Episodes

March 7, 2024

Phil Haynes: a renowned jazz drummer chases the masters

The 'modernist drumming artist' chats about his experiences in the New York jazz scene, the responsibilities of a sideman, and his enlightening new memoir, Chasing The Masters.
Guest: Phil Haynes
Feb. 29, 2024

Dave Wish (Music Will): The Kids Are Alright … With Music Education

The celebrated music education innovator discusses the origin and motivations behind Music Will and how the organization teaches thousands to love playing instruments.
Guest: Dave Wish
Feb. 22, 2024

Daniel Ögren: Nordic Psychedelia & Global Beats

The prolific and genre-jumping Swedish music producer delves into his inspirations, processes, and exceptional work with bands like Dina Ögon.
Guest: Daniel Ögren
Feb. 15, 2024

Mareike Wiening: 'Reveal' Offers Jazz Rhythms of Hope

The renowned jazz drummer speaks about technique, influences, and the all-star quintet behind her latest album, Reveal.
Feb. 8, 2024

Jonathan Shank of Terrapin Station Ent.: from Mickey Hart to Peppa Pig

The founder of Terrapin Station Entertainment talks about immersive entertainment, IP-branded event production, and hitting it off with Mickey Hart.
Feb. 1, 2024

Brendan Grey (Super Duty Tough Work): hip-hop's liberation through hedonism

Super Duty Tough Work, a potent live hip-hop combo from Winnipeg, delivers to the feet and mind on the album Paradigm Shift.
Guest: Brendan Grey
Jan. 25, 2024

Susan Alcorn: Nueva Canción on Pedal Steel

The exploratory pedal steel guitarist revisits a world of protest music on CANTO, her brilliant album with the ensemble Septeto del Sur.
Guest: Susan Alcorn
Jan. 18, 2024

Kris Davis: defining jazz's vanguard

The innovative jazz pianist talks about her label, Pyroclastic Records, gender justice for composers, her connections to New York's improvisors scene, and recording an album at the Village Vanguard.
Guest: Kris Davis
Jan. 11, 2024

Angelica Sanchez: jazz keys and nighttime creatures

The acclaimed composer, educator, and pianist talks about her musical journey and corralling a jazz nonet for the album Nighttime Creatures.
Jan. 4, 2024

Adam Rudolph: conjuring music’s global essence

The legendary percussionist discusses his musical philosophy, what he learned working with the likes of Yusef Lateef, and Timeless, his album with Hu: Vibrational.
Guest: Adam Rudolph
Dec. 28, 2023

Ibrahim Maalouf: a conversation on harmony, heritage, and hope

The trumpet virtuoso talks about his father's inspiration, the Middle East's influence on symphonic music, how Bach and Mozart were punks, and the ideas behind his album Capacity To Love.
Dec. 21, 2023

Roberto Di Gioia + Max Herre: Web Web’s experiments in electronic jazz

The two musicians talk about the creative process, Munich's musical lineage, and the outstanding sounds found on Web Web's album WEB MAX II.
Dec. 14, 2023

James McKeown: Hawksmoor’s kosmische hauntology

With albums like Telepathic Heights, the Bristolian electronic music producer explores themes of psychogeography and hidden worlds.
Dec. 7, 2023

Diana Pasulka: a religious study of UFOs and nonhuman intelligences

With her books Encounters and American Cosmic, religious studies professor Diana Pasulka explores the modern edges of belief.
Nov. 30, 2023

Eric Hilton: from Thievery Corporation to Corazón Kintsugi

The prolific music producer talks about his influences, growing up in Washington, D.C., and his stunning collaborations with vocalist Natalia Clavier.
Guest: Eric Hilton
Nov. 23, 2023

Javon Jackson gives Peter Bradley's art a swinging soundtrack

The celebrated saxophonist talks about his place in the jazz tradition, playing with masters of the genre, and his soundtrack for the documentary With Peter Bradley.
Guest: Javon Jackson
Nov. 16, 2023

Tea Krulos explores hidden subcultures in American society

The author grapples with the unknown and the extraordinary in his many books, which include Heroes In The Night, American Madness, and Monster Hunters.
Guest: Tea Krulos
Nov. 9, 2023

Benjamin Koppel plays jazz with a novelist's narrative

Saxophonist Benjamin Koppel talks about Perspective, his latest album with KCB Collective, and how his collaborators in jazz are part of a family.
Nov. 2, 2023

On Minimalism: Kerry O'Brien and William Robin in conversation

Authors and musicologists O'Brien and Robin discuss On Minimalism, their comprehensive book on the history of minimalist music.
Oct. 26, 2023

Simon Berz creates art with drums, sound, and trash

The Swiss sound artist and drummer discusses Breath versus Beats, his recently released collaboration with Bill Laswell and the late Toshinori Kondo.
Guest: Simon Berz
Oct. 19, 2023

Seth Godin and The Song of Significance

The influential author, entrepreneur, and teacher digs into the empowering and empathic team-building themes of his latest book.
Guest: seth godin
Oct. 12, 2023

Dengue Fever’s Ting Mong might be our album of the year

The Los Angeles-based combo celebrates the joy of Cambodian rock music with a new album and tour.
Oct. 5, 2023

Gabriel Kennedy leads us into the Chapel Perilous

A deep dive into the life and thought crimes of Robert Anton Wilson, the subject of Gabriel Kennedy's forthcoming book.
Sept. 28, 2023

Aline Homzy plays violin in the cosmos with étoile magique

Led by Aline Homzy's ecstatic violin, a mind-expanding jazz ensemble finds inspiration in a planetary mythos.
Guest: Aline Homzy