When it comes to finding out what makes musicians tick, Mako Funasaka has proven himself to be a master interviewer capable of relaxing and opening up his subjects, revealing valuable insights into their careers and musical pedigrees. At the same time, his reputation for providing an audience with intelligent, penetrating portraits that help define, if not explain, each artist's influences and approach. Historically, Funasaka has focused on illuminating blues artists, helping to define this oft-neglected genre through illustrating its role in much of today's music. Yet this new series will go well beyond the blues, embracing many categories of music which will include folk to classical, jazz to funk and most things in-between, Funasaka, a self-confessed 'non-musician', has been documenting music since 2001, originally indoctrinated back in 1970 with his first exposure to Top 40 radio.
http://www.podcasts.com/the-talkinblues-podcast-7b759d2bf
The Talkin'Blues Podcast Episode 9: Bernie LaBarge
Bernie LaBarge is a well-respected session musician based out of Toronto who has performed and composed many North American and Worldwide jingles. He played guitar on a number of television project including Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock TV series. He has also lead and played in a number of bands including Stem, Stingaree, The Dexters and The Stickmen. Bernie has also been a sideman on over 100 recordings. He’s worked with Kim Mitchell, Long John Baldry, David Clayton-Thomas, The Shakers, Walter Zwol, Cassandra Vasik, The Irish Rovers, Doug Riley, Frank Biner of Tower of Power, John Sebastian, David Cassidy, Joel Feeney, and Sass Jordan, among many others. He is the musician's musician. I got a chance to talk to him at his home last summer about his amazing career in music.<br>(Music: "Overnight Sensation" by Bernie LaBarge Special thanks to Bruce Greenaway, Gary Vaughan and the incredible Domenic Troiano who is the reason I got to know Mr. LaBarge.)<br>