Music Life and Times

EP45: Composer and Pianist Randy Hoexter

Kevin talks with Randy Hoexter upon the debut of his latest album, Tomorrowsville. They discuss his musical upbringing and how he became enthralled with the creation of music—that is, composing as well as playing. His style is described, at least on one hand, as “intricate,” a definition that is well supported in his playing and recordings. But while intricacies are central to his compositions, the end result is unquestionably musical, pleasing and listenable, even to the untrained ear.

EP44: Jazz Journalist Ralph Miriello

Ralph Miriello has been reviewing new—and old—jazz recordings since 2007 for publications like Downbeat and currently through his blog, Notes on Jazz.com. A passionate fan of jazz, Ralph spent much of that time in Atlanta before moving to the West Coast, in Washington State just outside of Portland, Oregon. In this episode of Music Life and Times, Ralph talks about his work as a jazz journalist and about the universality of the music, and shares his passion for everything jazz.

EP43: Giving Back or Welcoming In?

A tradition among jazz musicians is bringing along younger players, giving them a chance to mature and grow their skills as well as their love of playing. The tradition plays itself out in many ways, such as in jam sessions, university jazz programs, and private lessons, but also through organizations like the Hilton Head Island Junior Jazz Foundation. Kevin is on the board and this year again, assembled five young musicians from around the country to perform for audiences, first at the Velvet Note jazz club outside of Atlanta then in Hilton Head for the annual Junior Jazz Foundation celebration. Kevin and Mike talk about the uniqueness of the jazz community, which includes supporters and audiences, as well as musicians, in how welcoming they are and dedicated to nurturing new, young talent—and about the lifelong relationships those assemblies lead to.

EP42: On The Passing of Russell Malone

Russell Malone was not only a world-class jazz guitarist but someone known for reaching out to other musicians, showing interest in them, and encouraging them, as he did so frequently with our podcast host Kevin Bales early in his career. Kevin shares some memories of his times with Russell and talks about mentoring and music, and how common it is for great players like Russell to mentor the up-and-coming.

EP41: Persistence: Another Life Lesson Music Teaches.

Persistence: You won’t get far without it. Learning to play music well is hard; progress can be slow, very slow; you can be tempted to quit. Kevin and Mike share experiences of their own as well as stories of some of the greatest musicians of all time, including Charlie Parker and Ludwig von Beethoven, and how they worked to overcome obstacles and persisted when it might have been easier to give up.

EP40: Music Teaches Resiliency

It’s not easy to learn to play music, especially to learn how to play well. It takes a great deal of work—we call it practice—and practicing in a way that leads to meaningful progress. As well, the more you learn, that is, the better you play, the more work it takes to make progress. You also learn by making mistakes, and if you make mistakes on the job, that’s a hard lesson; it can be humbling. That’s where your resiliency comes into play. So yes, learning to play teaches you to be resilient, which will help you learn to play well, and when you learn to play well, it’s a joy for life.

EP39: Your Instrument: Let’s Talk Pianos

The relationship between player and instrument can be life-long. You might go through several instruments as you learn to play and learn what you like in your instrument, but once you find the one, it’s a marriage that endures. Some players even assign names and genders to their instruments. On a recent trip to the Steinway factory in New York, Kevin was hosted for a tour of the entire facility and was able to observe the craftsmen and women as they built some of the world’s finest pianos. What makes a great instrument and how do instruments, in particular pianos, differ? These insights will be particularly enlightening to people looking to buy a piano.

EP38: Guest Joe Alterman

A Joyful Sound
As a child taking piano lessons, Joe Alterman was impressed, more so bowled over, by a guitar player named Doc Watson and his boogie style. From those seeds emerged the joyful sound that characterizes Joe’s playing. Among his idols, his mentors, was the incomparable Les McCann. Much of Joe’s work today, including a recent album, “Big Mo & Little Joe,” and several ongoing projects, involves giving new life to the incredible wealth of music McCann created.

EP37: Guest Saxophonist Matt Miller on Playing and Teaching

Matt Miller, a native of the Philadelphia area and a graduate of the heralded The New School in New York City, is a busy member of the Atlanta jazz community, featured regularly in various combinations of musicians, from trios to big bands. Matt talks about his responsibilities as a performer to his fellow players and his audiences, and how learning to play music teaches his young students responsibility and other life lessons. 

EP36: Guest Karla Harris

Jazz Vocalist and Music Educator Karla is in the midst of an admirable career, not only as a performer and recording artist with top billing at some of the country’s most notable venues and festivals but also as an educator ensuring that future generations have access to the arts. Well-known for her performances, she has also been recognized now for her work in the area of education as one of Atlanta Magazine’s “Women Making a Mark in 2024.”