This week, Mike chats with Randy Pitchford. Randy owns Gearbox Software which produces the Borderlands game series among others. He is incredibly smart and insightful. Mike and Randy talk about the creative music kids are making these days and how it relates to the music earlier generations created. Randy grew up in a musical family and plays the piano himself. But that’s not all! Randy is also an accomplished magician and performer. It’s fascinating to hear his take on music from the perspective of a technical and creative visionary like him.

More info for this episode:

Peacock Theater of Frisco, Texas

Fleetwood Mac

Frank Sinatra

The Black Box

opera singer Timur

Tony Fitzpatrick

Magic Castle

Irma ghost piano player

We are so excited to have Eric Mingus on this week’s episode! In fact, that Mike stammers through the first part of the episode because he’s so excited! Luckily he gets past that and he and Eric have a wonderful discussion about his own recent projects and a little about growing up as a member of jazz royalty with his dad Charles Mingus. Note: Occasionally you hear some dogs in the background. Eric was fostering a bunch of dogs when we talked. Mike's cat, Ella, gave her meow of approval.

Eric talks about his heritage and his experiences with music growing up. He shares his feelings on the experience of live acoustic instruments. He talks about his collaboration with Yoyo Ma. Through it all he’s a lovely guy!

More info for this episode:

The Mill - collaboration between Yoyo Ma and Eric Mingus

Hal Willner

Weird Nightmare (plays in YouTube)

Mingus Mill in North Carolina

Harry Smith Collection of folk music

Illinois Jacquet - Jumpin At Apollo

bassist Red Callender

Dimitri Toimkin

well-known phot with Monk, Charlie Parker, Roy Haines, Charles Mingus

Charles Mingus in the Library of Congress

Beneath the Underdog (Charles Mingus autobiography)

The Ertegun Brothers

bassist Gary Karr

guitarist Hubert Sumlin

pianist Don Pullen

Billy Gibbons guitarist in ZZ Top

Karen Mantler and My Cat Arnold

David Sandborn’s Night Music TV show (YouTube clips)

Michael Brecker

Jeff Friedman - Ellington Effect

Berklee College of Music

Susan Berk

Today we are excited to have Tim Jenison on the podcast. If we were looking for guests who would literally embody the name of this show, Tim would be the perfect guest. He is an inventor, filmmaker, musician, and amazing technician who’s current project is to build a recording studio using only analogue gear. He knows his tech and he knows his music too.

You might have heard of him from his Tim’s Vermeer documentary but I talk with him more about one of his latest projects. He’s building a recording studio near his home but he’s using only analog gear. It’s fascinating to hear about the challenges he’s facing and why people still look for that analog experience in todays digital world.

More info for this episode:

Tim's Vermeer (IMDB)

Monty Alexander

Shure 55 Elivs Mic (Wikipedia)

Herbie Hancock - Empyrean Isles (YouTube)

Bosendorfer Pianos

Weber Duo-Art Player Piano (YouTube)

Art Tatum Solo Masterpieces (YouTube)

Switched on Bach (YouTube)