Clarinetist Glenn Dickson and synthesist Bob Familiar discuss their serendipitous meeting, patient creative process, and how they transform studio improvisations into the luminous compositions on 'All the Light of Our Sphere.'

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Today, the Spotlight shines On clarinetist Glenn Dickson and electronic musician Bob Familiar.

When a cutting-edge klezmer artist meets a former rock synthesist, you might expect creative tension. Instead, Glenn and Bob found something else entirely—a shared language that turns clarinet and electronics into the most unlikely yet inspired pairings.

Their new album All the Light of Our Sphere layers acoustic clarinet with synthesizers and loop devices to create what they describe as orchestral ambient music. The tracks were recorded live with no overdubs, no click tracks, just two musicians finding their way through inspired improvisations.

Glenn brings decades of experience from klezmer to microtonal jazz, while Bob's electronic landscapes draw from science fiction and years in Boston's rock scene. Together, they're creating something that sits between Brian Eno and Eastern European folk traditions.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Dickson and Familiar’s album All the Light of our Sphere)

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[00:01:46] - How Glenn and Bob first met at an electronic music concert
[00:02:05] - Glenn explains what caught his attention about Bob's evolving loop work
[00:03:00] - Bob describes finding someone who shared his musical worldview
[00:03:46] - The timeline from meeting to making music together
[00:05:01] - Glenn discusses movement vs. stagnation in electronic music
[00:06:00] - Technical deep dive: delays vs. loopers and real-time creation
[00:07:13] - Why mastering your gear as an instrument is essential
[00:08:02] - Bob's literary inspirations and science fiction influences
[00:09:57] - Glenn's intuitive approach to improvised narrative
[00:11:09] - The crucial role of patience in their collaborative process
[00:13:39] - Philosophical constraints: no overdubs, no click tracks, no sync
[00:15:04] - Glenn's approach to simplicity and control in electronics
[00:15:47] - Bob's instrument choices: Rhodes piano and Expressive E Osmose
[00:18:58] - Translating studio creations to live performance
[00:21:30] - Using backing tracks like jazz standards for improvisation
[00:22:15] - The Miles Davis connection: studio jams becoming compositions
[00:24:19] - How they signal transitions and structure live sets
[00:27:03] - The story behind their album title "All the Light of Our Sphere"
[00:27:43] - Glenn's unique process of titling tracks with Dante quotes
[00:29:56] - The role of titles in guiding listeners through instrumental music
[00:32:57] - Bob's perspective on electronic music tradition and community
[00:36:10] - Electronic music influences: from Brian Eno to Nils Frahm
[00:39:06] - Glenn's journey with clarinet: from conservatory to electronics

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Visit Glenn Dickson at https://www.glenndicksonmusic.com
and follow him on Bandcamp → https://glenndickson.bandcamp.com
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@GlennDicksonMusic
Instagram → https://instagram.com/glenndicksonmusic
and Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/Glenn.Dickson.clarinet

Follow Bob Familiar on Bandcamp → https://bobfamiliar.bandcamp.com
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/bobfamiliar
and Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/bob.familiar

Purchase All the Light of Our Sphere from Bandcamp → https://dicksonfamiliar.bandcamp.com/album/all-the-light-of-our-sphere
or Qobuz → https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/all-the-light-of-our-sphere-dickson-familiar/r9eun5g7vyoxb
and listen on your streaming platform of choice → https://album.link/i/1803238456

For extensive show notes, links, and podcast information, go to https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com

Be sure to check out The Tonearm, our new magazine site featuring fascinating perspectives and conversations with creative people → https://www.thetonearm.com

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