The Sound Podcast with Ira Haberman

You may not know the name, and if you do, you already know that this mysterious singer songwriter cloaks himself in an alias to stay as secretive as possible. Ironic, when you consider his songs are written and sung with such a genuine and authentic tone and mood. He is a modern day poet of the american landscape, and when we sat down to talk, I asked about just that, the potential political nature of his music, and the the reality with which he paints it. 

One of our favourites around these parts is Neal Casal. You know him as the ace guitar player with Chris Robinson's Brotherhood, but he's also the brains behind the Circles around the Sun project. We've had him on the show before and enjoyed our chat, so when news broke that there were new Circles Around the Sun dates coming, we tracked him down to talk about those dates, a potential new Circles record and of course his full time job with the CRB. 

I remember watching the tribute to Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks and Col. Bruce Hampton put on at the Peach Festival last summer, thinking that this one event didn't do those three gentlemen especially Gregg and all he had done for us enough justice. Don't get me wrong, I thought the jam was magnificent, but I wanted more. We all did. So it was so great to hear that Gregg's son, Devon was organizing his own sort of tribute, as part of his new project with Duane Betts (yes, Duane, son of Dickie).

You've heard of Karl Denson, the flutist and saxophonist who began his career with Lenny Kravitz, was involved in the Greyboy All-Stars and has guested with several other musicians both in a live and studio setting. He continues to expand his horizons with his own group, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe and the KD3. He is currently experimenting with a project he calls "Eat a Bunch of Peaches" where Karl Denson's Tiny Universe sprinkle their own versions of Allman Brothers tunes throughout their set.

Once in a while, we get thrown music our way, we play it, and sometimes are absolutely stunned about the great music that is being made everywhere. Once you hear Mapache, I think you'll agree that their debut Spiritual Pajamas is that kind of band. The whole record is a throwback to that acoustic, harmonizing California sound made so popular in 60s by bands like Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Grateful Dead, Flying Burrito Brothers amongst others.

Fresh off of three shows with Everyone Orchestra and a Fall tour with Marco Benevento I recently had the chance to sit down with bassist Karina Rykman. While she isn't yet a household name, this up and comer is taking the scene by storm. When she isn't playing, you can catch her spinning records at bars, or hanging out at many of the shows we all go to, or wish we were at. When we did sit down, I started by asking how she got involved with Marco in the first place. 

While we have the memories and the music, the fact that so many great moments in our scene's history have been captured on film in photos is another added bonus. More to the point, those that continue to document the ebbs and flows of the scene in photographs are doing incredible work. Thats the case for Bob Minkin who has spent decades following and photographing all of our beloved musicians and their fans.

For many of us who have been fans of the music of this scene, it comes down to three very basic things; the community, the musicianship and the improvisation. So it’s a no brained that a project like Everyone Orchestra exists. It combines all three of those elements, so crucial to the jam band scene. I recently discussed the Everyone Orchestra concept with Matt Butler and our conversation started when I asked him to take us back to how the whole project began....

You've heard all of the different terms for the new bluegrass music that's popular amongst the Jam Band community, whether it's new grass, progressive bluegrass, or jamgrass. Each of the bands in the re-emergence of this genre all bring a different flair to the table. The Yonder Mountain String Band, who have been at their craft since the late 90s have remained true to their original sound, though currently electrified.

When you do anything for 20 years with a group of people you spend a great amount of time travelling, sleeping, eating and working with, you begin to build not only a strong bond, but also a connection to whatever it is you are doing. Such is the case for Umphrey's Mcgee one of the most talked about bands in the jamband scene. With their 11th studio album due out in January, I had the opportunity to sit down with Joel Cummins to talk about about that record "It's Not Us", and their 20th anniversary.

The Barr Brothers, are a pair of brothers originally from Rhode Island, who now make Montreal home. While they have been at this new construct for about 6 years, you may remember their former group, The Slip. I first met the Barr Brothers almost 6 years to the day, and have watched, rather listened to the growth in the music ever since. 

Had the opportunity to sit down with Mark Karan recently. For those of you who don't know, Mark rose to prominence in the Deadhead community after stints with The Other Ones and Ratdog. A Bay area musician, Karan currently keeps busy with many very cool projects. including LiveDead69, a solo record and generally jamming with cool individuals around the Bay area.

There's busy, and then there is the Infamous Stringdusters who have already played 110 shows this year and have at least twenty more to go as they run up to a New Years Eve gig in Aspen Colorado. Amidst this torrid pace, they are set to release a collection of songs, a follow up EP to their first Undercover EP. This one, is slightly more eclectic than the first, covering songs by Marvin Gaye, Daft Punk, The Allman Brothers Band, My Morning Jacket and... the Cure.

  Lettuce a funk collective known for their infectious live performances, took a sonic turn last year at the Catskill Chill in Lakewood Pennsylvania and completed a set of music, a tribute to the late great Miles Davis one of their most beloved influences. Seven tracks from that performance will be released on October 13th, as part of a handpicked live record called Witches Stew.

Jackie Greene is one of those artists who you hear and think, "hey this guys sounds great, who is it"? And then when you find out who it is you say to yourself, “oh yeah, that guy, he’s awesome”. There is no question that Jackie has a knack for writing songs with a story. His talent as a storyteller is only surpassed by his ability to play and sing those genuine songs he creates. If you know his work, you know I’m right, if you’ve never heard him, have a listen to our conversation, and some of hi