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 5: Rick Holmstrom
Rick Holmstrom is probably best known for his work as the musical director for Mavis Staple's band. However, he spent many years playing with some of the finest west coast blues musicians (William Clarke, Johnny Dyer and Rod Piazza) before establishing a career of his own. His "Hydraulic Groove" album is a stunning example of how one can expand the language of the blues and his "Cruel Sunrise" album on MC Records is another example of his versatility as a guitarist. I sat down with Rick in August of this year at the Kitchener Blues Festival to talk about his life in music. For more information on Rick, please go to: <a href="http://www.rickholmstrom.com">www.rickholmstrom.com</a> (music: "Lord Please" by Rick Holmstrom. Special thanks to Andrew Galloway, the Kitchener Blues Festival and Mark Carpentieri of M.C. Records)<br>