Above The Basement - Boston Music And Conversation

Coming out of Berklee College of Music, RIPE has been called many things - from neo-soul to funk/pop to jam band - but whatever genre they fall into, their infectious licks, lyrical grooves and high energy performances made us immediate fans. We sat with 3/7ths of the band out in Allston, MA a week or so after seeing them blow away the crowd at The Paradise. Singer Robbie Wulfsohn and guitarists Tory Geismar and Jon Becker joined us for a conversation about their roots, vision, and the love they have for the fans - which is a palpable entity if you have ever been to a RIPE show. This is part one of a two part conversation! Song List: Song 1: Little Lighter (upcoming release) Song 2: Downward (upcoming release) Song 3: Talk to the Moon (Hey Hello) Live Song: Little Lighter Join us at Above The Basement!   Learn more at patreon.com/AboveTheBasement

Waitress The Musical, written by Jessie Nelson with original music and lyrics by six time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles, is currently on a US tour and while the Boston show has completed its run the tour will continue throughout the US over the next year or so. We had a chance to sit at beautiful Boston Opera House and talk with conductor/pianist Jenny Cartney and cellist/guitarist Nick Anton to discuss the both the challenges and excitement of rising above the orchestra pit to perform on the stage with the actors, their diverse musical backgrounds and hitting the road with the other amazing musicians and actors. Song List: All songs from the album What's Inside - Songs From Waitress Song 1: Lulu's Pie Song Song 2: Bad Idea Song 3: She Used To Be Mine Song 4: Lulu's Pie Song

We recently published an episode with singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier and talked about her inspiring work with the organization Songwriting with Soldiers. We wanted to create a separate episode with the conversation we had afterwards with a US Marine, veteran Bill Auger, who shared the story of his first songwriting experience on the retreat with professional songwriter Darden Smith, and how the experience and the songs changed his life for the better. Bill is joined by Songwriting with Soldiers co-founder Mary Judd, who talks about the genesis, growth and unique aspects of their mission. Song List: All songs by Mary Gauthier from the album Rifles and Rosary Beads Available at www.marygauthier.com Song 1: Soldering On Song 2: Rifles and Rosary Beads

Mary Gauthier didn't pick up a guitar until later in life, and although finding success as a Boston restaurateur, certain events forced a change. Ten albums later she continues to tell stories of her past, her own healing, and the search for honesty and truth. Mary has lived through some challenging experiences and now she shares the songwriting pen and paper with US Veterans to tell their own stories through the Songwriting With:Soldiers program.  We talked with Mary prior to her acoustic show at Boston’s brand new City Winery. Afterwards we were fortunate and thankful to meet with a US Marine, veteran Bill Auger, who shared the story of his first songwriting experience with professional songwriter Darden Smith, and how the experience and the songs changed his life for the better. Bill is joined by Songwriting With:Soldiers co-founder Mary Judd, who talks about the genesis, growth and unique aspects of their mission. Song List: All songs off the Rifles and Rosary Beads album Song 1: Soldering On Song 2: Bull

Dr. Jay Keyser is known to many as MIT Professor Emeritus of Linguistics. He’s written several books and countless essays and poems throughout his prolific career centering in his love for language. Jay is a jazz trombonist in the highly regarded Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, which happens to be one of the oldest continuous jazz ensembles in the country. Whether you know Jay as a writer, poet, musician, philosopher or teacher, it’s clear when you talk with him there is a thirst for knowledge and true love of life. Jay talked to us about his experience with a life changing event in 2014, when an accident left him without any movement of his extremities at the age of 79. Defining resilience, Jay candidly reports on his incredible recovery, his difficult yet exciting new chapter in music and writing and also his relationship with his wonderful wife. Song List: All songs performed by the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra Composer Mark Sumner Harvey Song 1: Spaceways (Passages) Song 2: March of the Booboisie (Exocations) Song 3:

Massachusetts native Mark Erelli is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer and has been in the Boston music scene as a professional for almost 20 years. He just released Mixtape – a compilation of covers from musicians who inspire him. We had a great conversation covering his high school bands, the link between science and music, his move from entomology to full time musician, his thoughts on collaboration in the writing process and also the importance of reading instructions on smoke machine use. Song List Song 1: Brokedown Palace (Mixtape) Song 2: Basement Days (Little Vigils) Song 3: French King (For a Song) Live Songs Song 1: Ophelia (Mixtape) Song 2: Against All Odds (Mixtape)

Chuck and Ron know all their listeners have frequently pondered the following question: What do their Mom’s think of Above The Basement? They decided to get to the bottom of it! After a lovely brunch at Woods Hill Table they sat with professional mothers Gloria Clough and Judy Hirschberg. They pestered them with questions and let them tell embarrassing stories about them - all the while fishing for compliments that only a mother could give. Song List: Song 1: Maggie (Ron Hirschberg - 1995) Song 2: Sometimes (After The Frost - Northern Point) - 2010) Song 3: This Time (Last Call For Opinions - The Butler Frogs)

We met with David Wax and Suz Slezak - appropriately enough in a guesthouse where they were staying with their own family of four. They are on a 10 city tour as a duo - humming along the way with new creations of melodies and lyrics while at the same time teaching their kids a thing or two about language, culture and the road. Their music will both soothe and surprise you, treating the ears with harmonies and often unexpected but pleasant repetitive lines and hooks - – it is an anthropological journey into their own Mexo-Americana connection. This 2 piece is usually a 5 piece band and - spoiler alert - the upcoming touring show seems to be expanding to a 7 piece in a town near you soon. Blindfolds optional... Song List: Song 1: Every Time Katie (Guesthouse) Song 2: Wheelbarrow Baby (Electric Artifacts) Song 3: Guesthouse (Guesthouse) Song 4: Harder Before It Gets Easier (Knock Knock Get Up) Live Song 1: Time Will Not Track us Down (Guesthouse) Live Song 2: Lavender Street (Everything is Saved)

The final installment of our Boston Children's Chorus episodes!  We sat with BCC Founder Hubie Jones and a few board members, sponsors and supporters, including Joel and Sue Sherman, Meg Clough and Bob Rivers just before the Boston Children's Chorus Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at Symphony Hall Boston. We also had the unique opportunity to talk once again not only to current BCC singers, but a few alumni as well! We got their thoughts on the event, the importance of such a wonderful program and the example the kids of the BCC sets for us all. Song List: Song 1: A Change Is Gonna Come Song 2: Pride - In The Name Of Love Song 3: Before My Time Song 4: We Are One Song 5: Amazing Grace

We talked with Matthew Stubbs as he was just about to take the floor with his band Matthew Stubbs and The Antiguas for his 2017 Boston Music Award winning residency DownBeat Mondays at The Sinclair. The B-Movies showing on the TVs along with the psychedelic light show and animation coloring the band create a surreal environment – made all the more amazing by the fantastic instrumental mix of what has been called Acid Blues. While he has two great solo albums under his belt - he just released his first self titled album with The Antiguas (called Matthew Stubbs and The Antiguas). But you gotta hear these guys live to really appreciate the entire package. Song List: All songs from their self titled album Matthew Stubbs and The Antiguas. Song 1: Del Diablo Song 2: El Segundo Song 3: Unwinder

We caught Vancil just before he departed for his 18 month journey as principle drummer on Hamilton: An American Musical. Hailing from Boston, Vancil is an award winning jazz drummer, producer and musical director. Vancil, or “Coop” talked with us at Charles Haynes’s studio about academic music, sharpening the tools and becoming a listener. We spoke about his beginnings as an eager 4th grader in the Metco program in Wellesley, MA and his road to becoming a sought after professional musician embarking on a tour with the most talked about musical of our generation. Song List: Song 1: Song For My Father (Vancil Cooper/Gabriela Martina) Song 2: Open (Lindsay Lucas)

British pianist, vocalist and performer Tom Odell writes and sings from the soul and gives an unforgettable live performance with his band that is both modern and classic at the same time. We were thrilled to sit at Strongroom Studios in East London where he was putting the final touches on his latest album. The surrounding color and lighting around the instruments made up for the fact that I kicked over his tea and Ronnie left 2 very expensive microphones in the back seat of the Uber we took to get there – which we fortunately got back later that evening. This was a special trip for us at Above The Basement as two Bostonians visiting England. There was a lot of healing that needed to happen following the Boston bombing in 2013 ¬- and it’s fitting that we sat in Strongroom Studios when Tom’s song Heal was featured in the movie Stronger. To that end we would like to dedicate this episode and the inspiring music behind it to the healing victims, their families and caregivers throughout our Boston hospitals - in

We all have a voice but seldom can we come together to sing in harmony. The BCC makes this possible literally and figuratively from as early as age 7 and continuing throughout high-school. From over 100 zip codes in the greater Boston area, this group of 450 young singers meet each week to learn, rehearse and perform under the guidance of artistic director Anthony Trecek-King and executive producer Ben Hires. This is part two of our conversation as we invited some of the young singers to the conversation and got their thoughts on the wonderful experiences they’ve had with The Boston Children’s Chorus. As Dr. Martin Luther King day approaches, the BCC not only prepares for their concert in Symphony Hall, they reflect on his legacy and the everyday impact of his message on their own lives and the city of Boston. Song List: Song 1: Pride (In the Name of Love) Song 2: I Will Sing

We all have a voice but seldom can we come together to sing in harmony. The BCC makes this possible literally and figuratively from as early as age 7 and continuing throughout high-school. From over 100 zip codes in the greater Boston area, this group of 450 young singers meet each week to learn, rehearse and perform under the guidance of artistic director Anthony Trecek-King and executive producer Ben Hires. In our two part conversation, Anthony, Ben and several members of this outstanding and creative chorus discuss the connections among new friends, and the power of harmony. As Dr. Martin Luther King day approaches, the BCC not only prepares for their concert in Symphony Hall, they reflect on his legacy and the everyday impact of his message on their own lives and the city of Boston. Song List: Song 1: On My Way Song 2: Oh Canada Song 3: Pride (In the Name of Love) Song 4: I Will Sing

We sat with Lisa Rodio, Tim Steiner and Fraser Gordon at their rehearsal space in the north of London and discussed why they do what they do and what we can expect from them in the near future. When you mix musical melodies and rhythm with movement and communication, a dose of humor and shared emotion, the result can be nothing short of magic. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, based in London, has been able to make this possible through the work of professional classical musicians along with music scholars, educators, therapists and healthcare providers. They created this experience with amazing programs like Strokestra, and The Irene Taylor Trust 'Music in Prisons' through The Lullaby Project. RPO continues to provide these special experiences to groups around the UK and beyond, as well as to schools with children with disabilities, centers for autism and more. Check out our website for more information on both of these projects. Song List: Song 1: Troyte - Barry Wordsworth conducts Elgar Song 2: Dead Elvi

We traveled across the pond to London speak with legendary bassist and awesome human Leland Sklar the morning after his performance on tour with Phil Collins. We sat in his hotel room to talk music, politics (yes...politics), tv theme songs, writing, dirt, gear....the list was endless. Special thanks to our very first guest, bassist Alison Keslow, for the introductions to this episode. This is part two of two. Song List: Song 1: Your Smiling Face - James Taylor Song 2: Don't Lose My Number - Phil Collins Song 3: In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins

We traveled across the pond to London speak with legendary bassist and awesome human Leland Sklar the morning after his performance on tour with Phil Collins. We sat in his hotel room to talk music, politics (yes...politics), tv theme songs, writing, dirt, gear....the list was endless. Special thanks to our very first guest, bassist Alison Keslow, for the introductions to this episode. This is part one of two. Song List: Song 1: Stratus - Billy Cobham (off the album Spectrum) Song 2: The Rockford Files Theme - Mike Post

Boston born and raised rocker Carissa Johnson plays with energy and attitude and her quick hitting songs are a throwback to gritty punk rock and roll. Carissa is nominated for three Boston Music Awards, including Rock Artist, New Artist and Unsigned Artist of the Year. She was also the winner of the 2017 Boston Rock & Roll Rumble and has her own media label called Fuel Heart Productions. She is currently doing workshops on DIY touring with musician Vanessa Silberman of A Diamond Heart Production. We were fortunate to have Vanessa as a special guest on this episode as well. Song List: Song 1: The Fool (Long Way Down) Song 2: Sinking, Flying (Long Way Down) Song 3: Only Roses (Long Way Down) Song 4: Deleria (Long Way Down) Live songs: You Lost You and Cardinal (from the upcoming album Talk Talk Talk)

Vapors of Morphine is Boston's own Dana Colley (baritone saxophone), drummer Jerome Deupree and New Orleans transplant singer/guitarist Jeremy Lyons. Vapors continues the story of the great Boston 'Low Rock' band Morphine through their music while creating their own unique sound.  Morphine disbanded after the sudden and tragic death of frontman, composer and bassist Mark Sandman in 1999.   They shared their thoughts last week and talked the new Morphine LP, how they all came together to form Vapors, their recent tour of Europe and what they are doing now. Song List: Song 1:  If (A New Low) Song 2:  Hurricaine (Members of Morphine w/ Jeremy Lyons) Song 3:  The Other Side (A New Low) Song 4:  Pulled Over The Car (Members of Morphine w/ Jeremy Lyons) Song 5:  Renouveau--Daman N'diaye (A New Low)

Kyle Bent has been rapping in Randolph, Massachusetts since the third grade and began recording his own material soon after that. Over the years he has honed his freestyle talents and become an introspective lyricist with a positive message. The Jamaican born performer has seven albums under his belt including Dreams of God and Complex Simplicity just released in 2016. Song List: Song 1:   Life's Good (from the album Complex Simplicity) Song 2:   Conversations (Complex Simplicity) Song 3:   Higher Power (from the album Dreams of a God) Song 4:   Complexity (Complex Simplicity)