Sound of the Moment

This month, Pat talks to guitarist Eran Har Even. They discuss his new record World Citizen, combining lively takes with effects and production on the recording, and the journey that lead him to put together this band and release music under his own name after many years as a busy co-bandleader and sideman. Note that this conversation was recorded a few months ago, before we were aware of the COVID-19 crisis, so the tour dates are no longer relevant. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

This month Pat speaks with Mexican vocalist and bassist Fuensanta Méndez. They discuss her early love of dance, singing and poetry, how improvisation naturally leads to "accurate" intention in her music and her band the Ensamble Grande. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

The podcast is back after a few months off! In this episode, Pat speaks with drummer Guy Salamon about his debut record Unfollow the Leader. They discuss the varied musical environment he grew up in, how he came to lead an octet, and the parallels he draws between band leading and hosting a dinner (or board game night...). Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

In this episode Pat welcomes violinist and composer Myrthe van de Weetering to the show. She discusses her decision not to play on most of her debut album, featuring herself as a composer rather than a performer, the series of film noir style photography that inspired the music and how limiting herself to writing short pieces was liberating. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Saxophonist and clarinettist Natalio Sued joins Pat on this week's episode. They discuss his love for the saxophone/bass/drums format, the sources of inspiration he finds outside of music, and how he went from rejecting to embracing tango and Argentinian folk music. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Bassist Raoul van der Weide is the guest on this week's episode. He joins Pat to discuss his new record with the Xavier Pamplona Septet, his approach to free improvisation, how it relates to societal constructs, and the importance of musicians organising and curating their own concert series. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Bassist and pianist Ernst Glerum is on the show this week. He is currently crowdfunding a combined book and album that collects his drawings accompanied by music. He tells Pat about the parallels between the pencil and the bow, maintaining a sense of wonder in musical improvisation, and his love of "homey" piano music. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Guitarist Teis Semey joins Pat to discuss his record "Where the Fence is the Highest", how he was inspired to write suites of music based on Van Gogh's japonism as well as Nietzsche's three metamorphoses, featuring several bands on his album and his plans for an upcoming self produced EP. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Keyboardist Felix Back joins Pat to discuss his band Son Swagga and their new album Dark Magic. They talk about Felix's love of fusion and the recent resurgence of the genre, the challenges of leading a nine piece band and the importance of entertainment value in live performance. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Drummer Sun-Mi Hong talks to Pat about discovering the drums at a relatively late age, how she decided to move to Europe to pursue her passion for music, and how she has been embraced as one of the Netherlands' most promising young bandleaders. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Composer and orchestra director Tijn Wybenga is Pat's guest on this episode. They discuss Tijn's ensemble AM.OK, each of its talented members and the opportunities he's been afforded as young artist in residence at the Bimhuis. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Vocalist Sanne Rambags is on the show to discuss her collaborative trio Mudita, Under the Surface's new live record Trinity, her instrumental approach to singing and her plans to bring together all kinds of musicians in her European Colours Group during this year's Young VIP tour. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Pianist Franz von Chossy just released a new record entitled "Life Theater". He joins Pat to discuss his return to the trio format 9 years after his last trio record, his love of Bach and counterpoint and his recent move to China. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment  

Guitarist, composer and arranger Alisdair Pickering joins Pat for a special episode discussing "Red Light Solo", the documentary he produced featuring up and coming jazz musicians from the Amsterdam scene. He tells Pat about his decision to study composition and arranging rather than performance, his project orchestrating music from the Commodore 64, and his work with film director Ryan Smith. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Saxophonist Jasper Blom is on the show to tell Pat about his new record Polyphony. They talk about what it's like to lead a band for almost 15 years, how medieval music has influenced Jasper's composing and his decision to feature various guest soloists. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Clarinettist and saxophonist Alex Simu leads the quintet "Echoes of Bucharest". In this episode we discuss the clarinet and how he is contributing to the manufacture of new forms of the instrument, his love for Bucharest and the music it has inspired, as well as his approach to film composing. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Pianist Floris Kappeyne has just released his second trio album Synesthesia. We talk about how he dove deep into jazz tradition at a young age but then chose to study classical music, the parallel he draws between the human voice and synthesizers, and the addition of live visuals to his performances. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Trumpeter Gidon Nunes Vaz is releasing a new quartet album entitled There's No End. In this episode he joins Pat to discuss the legacy of his late mentor Peter Guidi, touring Japan as a soloist and playing with local musicians, as well as how his research into Kenny Dorham lead him to spend an afternoon with the legendary Jimmy Heath. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Guitarist Reinier Baas recently released "Smash Hits", an album with his longtime collaborator Ben van Gelder and the prestigious Metropole Orchestra. In this episode he tells Pat about the process of translating his small ensemble compositions into orchestral pieces, his particular voice on the guitar, as well as his new project "Minute music", a series of one minute pieces written specifically for Instagram video. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Vocalist Laura Polence is releasing her debut album "Side by Side"' this week. She and Pat discuss the making of her new record and the process of recording for the native DSD format, the Latvian scene and how the fall of communism affected the current generation of musicians, and her love of Brazilian music. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Bassist Marco Zenini just released his debut album "Brighter Times Ahead". On this episode he talks to Pat about his return to Rome after years of absence, his busy international career as a sideman, and the process of making his very first album as a leader. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

New York based drummer Philippe Lemm is the guest on this episode. Amongst other things we discuss his new trio album "City Birds", how he came to live and work in New York, and modern television as a source of inspiration. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Saxophonist Efraim Trujillo and his organ trio The Preacher Men just released their second album Blue. In this episode we discuss the blues and its many forms, the importance of rhythm in Efraim's music and how the band got to record with legendary producer and engineer Al Schmitt. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Drummer Gerri Jäger is one half of the duo Knalpot, and they have a new record out called Dierendag. In this episode, Gerri discusses his hybrid electronic/acoustic drums setup, the history of Knalpot, as well as his new project as a leader STUG. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Stephanie Francke is a member of the Spoken saxophone quartet. In this episode of the show she talks to Pat about their new album Arctic Monsoon, how she came to be a jazz musician, and taking a step back from the stereotypical role of saxophonist as leader and soloist. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

Bassist Mark Haanstra joins Pat to discuss his duo project with viola player Oene van Geel. They talk about this unusual instrumentation, creating music based on the photography of Udo Prinsen and their new record Shapes of Time. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

There's no new episode of Sound of the Moment this week (regular schedule starts again in two weeks), but I recommend a couple of other podcasts that deserve your attention and downloads! Find links to said shows at soundofthemoment.com. Please support this show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

In this episode, my guest is drummer Kevin van den Elzen. We discuss the scene in Los Angeles, why he chose to move there and what that has meant for his career, as well as his love for Big Band music. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com. Please support the show at patreon.com/SoundoftheMoment

In this episode my guest is the Israeli saxophonist and EWI player Itai Weissman. We talk about his band Used to be New and their record Popular Emotions as well as his love of the EWI, its history and its status as a misunderstood instrument. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode, bassist Camiel Jansen joins me to talk about his band Ikarai, working with both jazz and classical musicians and their new boxing themed project MUHAMMAD. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode, drummer/percussionist Joost Lijbaart is my guest on the show. We talk about his long lasting musical relationship with Yuri Honing, the origin story of his latest project Under the Surface, and his approach to musical entrepreneurship. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode my guest is (bass) clarinettist Joris Roelofs. We discuss his choice to focus on the clarinet, his study and love of philosophy (Nietzsche in particular), and how his new duo with drumming legend Han Bennink came to be. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode, saxophonist, composer and bandleader Marike van Dijk is on the show to talk about a new album by her ensemble the Stereography Project. We discuss how she got into writing for large ensembles, her collaboration with singer songwriters Jeff Taylor and Katell Keineg, and working with both Amsterdam and New York based bands. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode, pianist and composer Kaja Draksler is my guest. We discuss her choice to study contemporary classical composition, her various projects from octet to solo, her love of vocal music and the upcoming Doek festival. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode, flautist Mark Alban Lotz joins Pat to talk about his new record "Food Foragers". They discuss how his collaboration with Alan Purves came about, Mark's cross-overs with world music, the challenges of solo performance, and how embracing the accidents of life has benefited his work. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode, Turkish vocalist Sanem Kalfa joins me to talk about her new album "Dance". We discuss how she went from studying classical cello in Turkey to jazz singing in the Netherlands, the 10 year collaboration with her bandmate George Dumitriu, and how they drew inspiration from the poetry of Rumi for this album. Detailed show notes and links are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode I’m joined by pianist, bandleader and booking agent/promoter Robert van der Padt. We discuss his band Tyranni Flock’s new EP, the process of recording and releasing his music, and how he founded and runs his own booking agency Bird Call Bookings. Detailed show notes are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode, pianist, keyboard player and beat maker Dominic J Marshall is on the show to talk about two new releases: his beat tape Compassion Fruit, and his trio record Cave Art vol. 2. We discuss his love of hip hop and beat music, how he brings produced music from the studio to the stage, and his decision to make a record with only covers. Detailed show notes are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode, South African guitarist Vuma Levin joins me to talk about his latest quintet record "Life and Death on the Other Side of the Dream". We discuss the themes of identity and history intrinsic to his work, as well as its political nature, his experience of coming to and eventually leaving Amsterdam, and his recent return to Johannesburg. Detailed show notes are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode, German drummer Felix Schlarmann is on the show not only to discuss his music, but also the yearly festival that he founded and organizes: Jazzfest Amsterdam. We talk about this year's edition and some of his approaches to booking the festival, his latest collaboration with Jasper Blom and Sean Fasciani around the music of Stevie Wonder and a new quartet project in the making. Detailed show notes are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode, pianist and composer Christian Pabst is on the show to talk about his new trio record Inner Voice. We discuss his choice to return to the pure piano trio format, his intuitive and image based approach to composing and how his work as a film composer differs from that of an improvising musician and bandleader. Detailed show notes are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode, saxophonist, composer and bandleader Bernard van Rossum joins Pat to discuss his project the BvR Flamenco Big Band and their most recent album Luz de Luna. We talk about how he started writing for and leading his own large ensemble, his approach to melding jazz and flamenco music and the recording of their second album (featuring some very special guests). Detailed show notes are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode, trumpet player Allison Philips is on the show to discuss her eponymous trio EP. We talk about her studies at the New School as well as the Amsterdam conservatory and the differences between the two scenes, how she composed for and recorded her trio EP, and the do-it-yourself attitude that lead to Flea Boy Records, the label and musical collective she co-founded. Detailed show notes are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode, pianist Xavi Torres joins me to discuss his recent trio album Unknown Past. We talk about his studies of both classical music and jazz, working with a steady band despite not being based in the same country, finding his place in the Amsterdam scene and the difficult choice he made to pursue music rather than professional tennis. Detailed show notes are available at soundofthemoment.com

In this episode, saxophonist Maarten Hogenhuis comes on the show to talk about his latest trio release Mimicry. Besides his trio, we discuss his band Bruut!, appealing to more than the typical jazz audience, paying attention to the way a band presents itself and the value of simplicity in music. Detailed show notes are available at soundofthemoment.com.

In this episode, drummer and cellist Kristijan Krajnčan comes on the show to talk about his solo project DrummingCellist and the inspiration he draws from myth, Jungian philosophy and the traditional form of the Hero's Journey. We also discuss his work in film as a composer, screenwriter and director. Detailed show notes are available at soundofthemoment.com.

In this episode, drummer Pit Dahm comes on the show to discuss his trio/quartet record Omicron. We talk about the people on his record and his choice to form a collective of musicians to work with, his open ended approach to performance and the treatment of his compositions, as well as the story behind the formation of his band and the recording of his debut album. Detailed show notes are available at soundofthemoment.com.

In this episode, drummer Bobby Petrov (of Tin Men & the Telephone) comes on the show to talk about his own band Jazzanitza. We discuss his background and choice to study abroad, the details of how he and his colleagues integrate Bulgarian folk music into their jazz playing, and his advocacy for jazz education in his country of origin. Detailed show notes are available at soundofthemoment.com.

In this episode, guitarist and composer Bram Stadhouders comes on the show to talk about his latest project The Big Barrel Organ. We discuss his love of vocal music and combining musicians from different backgrounds, triggering electronics, synthesizers, and even robots directly from his guitar, as well as the details behind his fascinating new project featuring a mechanical dance organ. Detailed show notes are available at soundofthemoment.com.

In this episode, guitarist, violinist and viola player George Dumitriu comes on the show to talk about his latest trio record Proverbe. We discuss his use of romanian proverbs to inspire improvisations, adding strings and electronics to the traditional guitar trio and his increasing love for and exploration of the viola. Detailed show notes are available at soundofthemoment.com.