Paradigms

Carla Gover and Friends have released a new cycle of songs about the lives of Appalachian women. Penned by Si Kahn Williams Branch is Hard to Find offers 17 songs sung by 12 women. The musicianship is excellent. The songs tell stories that are relatable and relevant.

Carla Gover is an 8th generation Kentuckian, so this music is particularly meaningful for her. At Si’s suggestion Carla assembled the musicians and produced the record. Si Kahn is a prolific and accomplished performer, activist, and union organizer, and a prolific songwriter. This collaboration was in the cards for some time an...

Michael Marra and bandmates brother Dan Marra, Cameron Hamilton and Nathan Coats comprise Oran Ra. The band has released a new album Live from Nowhereland.

Michael joins Baruch and shares his inspirations, musical and otherwise, and some of his personal story.  Michael’s music is expansive and bold, drawing from exposure to a rich variety of music from an early age, and a human life replete with beauty and pain and everything else. He is committed to art and nature and family.

• Oran Ra on YouTube

Music by: Oran Ra

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Olya Prohorova of Fugu Dugu talks about their new album Bucky Wanko and The Legend of Baba Yaga just released as the band is about to embark on a northeast US (and one show in Canada) tour.

The album title says it, this is a story involving a powerful mythic figure and a human.  The music is energetic, invoking a range of emotions and images.  You will move to this music whether it’s tapping a finger or dancing your brains out, which is recommended.

“Fugu Dugu doesn’t preserve Eastern European folklore. They make it dance...

Grammy winners Opium Moon have released another glorious album,The Time Has Come, a 10 piece cycle inspired by and offered with love and hope for the family of humanity.

This four-piece ensemble has been coming together for the last decade creating luscious intentional vibrations and sending them out into the world. Lili Haydn has been an artist for her whole life, mostly but not only with the violin. Itai Disraeli, accomplished bassist and composer, brings a grounded pragmatic quality to the bass. Hamid Saeidi is a master Santoor player and composer. M.B. Gordy is a renowned...

Red Spirit Singers have released a recording of traditional and new songs. Land of the Sun (Ute Nation Utah) brings Pow Wow rhythm and intention to songs both ancient and new.

A.J. Kanip, Daniel Cesspooch and Grammy winner Ian Brennan talk with Baruch about this record, focusing on a few of the songs, some ancient and some recent; their meanings, and the role of the music and the drum in Native America.

• Red Spirit Singers on YouTube

Music by: Red Spirit Singers

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Charlton Singleton is a Grammy-winning Trumpeter, Composer, and Band Leader.  One of his musical ventures is as part of the group Ranky Tanky who have just released a new record This Village.

Ranky Tanky is Kevin Hamilton on Bass, Quiana Parle Vocalist, Clay Ross playing Guitar and Vocals, and Charlton Singleton on Trumpet and Vocals.

Ranky Tanky “draws on the living well of Gullah music from the Sea Islands and carries it forward with jazz verve, gospel fire, blues feeling, and soul-deep groove. Their very name, from the Gullah language, means “work it” or “get funky,” w...

Jeremy Green hails from Toronto, Canada where he’s been playing music for much of his life.  Inspired by music, Jeremy has been exploring genres and writing his own songs.  He’s given himself permission to play what he wants rather than what others expect and it’s led him to a joyful musical career.

The new album In Motion is a celebration of guitar grooves. If you love the instrument it’ll thrill you, and if you love melody this album is a melodic journey.

• Jeremy Green on YouTube

Music by: Jeremy Green

Mélisande is a musician from Quebec where she was exposed to lots of different kinds of music growing up. Always listening to her own inner music, Mélisande has become a performer who electrifies audiences and gets people moving!

Sur la même longueur d’onde is the new album bringing together elements of traditional Quebecois and Acadian music with modern beats and synthesizers, the result is a rich tapestry of energies and colors that bring out one’s inner dancer.

Mélisande is a musical co-creator.  Husband Alex designs and implements the electronic aspects o...

Larry Vellani is part of a community of musicians called Mebanesville, and they’ve just released an album of songs by the prolific and wonderful Si Kahn, with a couple of Larry’s in the mix as well.  ICE Fishing in America is a collection that speak to the current political situation in the United States, like immigration, the manufactured trade war with Canada, the attempts to rename parts of the world, and more. The songs are humorous yet direct, and the musicianship is world class and down home.

Larry Vellani has known Si Kahn for years, colla...

Lynn Hollyfield has been making music for many years, sharing personal stories and experiences in order to communicate about life with other humans. Her newest album Diving In is an exploration of thoughts and feelings about what is happening in the world today.

Some of the songs are about the hard things and some of them are about beauty and aliveness. Lynn is on a mission to bring people together through music and this album can do that.

• Lynn Hollyfield on YouTube

Music by: Lynn Hollyfield

The post Lynn Hollyfield – “Diving In” ap...

Frederico Forte aka Frederico7 offers a musical magical journey of integration and celebrating the human experience, inspired by living in different places, with an innate sense of sacred theater that started in childhood,  is driven by rhythms and harmonies that take the listener along for a ride!

This record Brasileirôu is an inspired piece of art, from the lyrics, music, and musicianship, to the cover art’s symbols and dimensionality, art by Vivienne Forte. The songs are driven by rhythms and harmonies that take the listener along for a ride! Most of the songs are in Port...

Lance Cowan has been writing songs for many years, but worked mainly as a publicist for other musicians.  Now he’s released his third album The Air That You Breathe, 11 songs about living in this world.

Lance knows a lot of great musicians, some of whom are on this record, songwriting and playing; Janis Ian, David Mallett, Karen Leipziger, and more.

Lance travels around, performing, bringing music that stirs the heart, beyond just the personal to the transpersonal and global.

• Lance Cowan on YouTube

Music by: Lance Cowan

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Basya Schechter leads Pharaoh’s Daughter an ensemble that has just released an album Song of Desire which is a new approach to The Song of Songs which is an ancient text that addresses human love and divine love.

The music is a truly exciting encounter inspired by this revered poem, focused through the lens of the person that is Basya, her experiences and perspectives. This art is moving and colorful and deep.

• Pharaoh’s Daughter on YouTube

Music by: Pharaoh’s Daughter

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Kevin Smeltzer has surprised himself by making this amazing record Fabricated Worlds, a collection of songs, a variety of sonic experiences inspired by Life behind the mask.  What is it to be one’s authentic self in this world?  How do we avoid and embrace our own realness?

The music is complex and pretty exciting, influenced by music from the 70’s and 80’s, ranging from danceable to contemplative.

• Kevin Smeltzer on YouTube

Music by: Kevin Smeltzer

The post Kevin Smeltzer – “Fabricated Worlds” appeared first on Paradigms Podcast.

AurallaurA has just released a new record The Critique of Capital: An Engaging Revue. Thirteen songs, mostly originals, exploring themes of culture, relationship, and community.

Laura Chu Wiens has been making music for much of her life.  This is her second record, sharing her own compositions, invoking the cabaret of 1930s Shanghai.  These songs offer a juxtaposition of past and present that is engaging and thoughtful, while being musically exciting and culturally relevant.

• AurallaurA on YouTube

Music by: AurallaurA

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Mayday! is the new album from George Mann and Si Kahn.  At 82 Si has a career as a songwriter, performer, and labor union organizer and activist spanning a lifetime. George has spent decades writing and performing. He’s been a journalist, a union organizer, and  regularly does shows in veteran’s homes and retirement homes.

Mayday! is a collection of ethically strong, musically fun, smart and timely songs. Some were written by Si Kahn years ago, some are new songs by Si and/or George Mann. The title expresses the call for help many in the US are fe...

Emie R. Roussel has just released a new record TERR with her trio, Nicolas Bédard on Contrebasse & basse électrique, and Dominic Cloutier on Drums.

This record, made by good friends who have played together for years, is inspired by love of Earth, of friends, of life.  The music is lovely and surprising, passionate and surreal.

Emie has a long relationship with music and with the piano, starting with classical and then jazz and then creating her own thing. Her bandmates are both accomplished players, and together they create beautiful musical space.

• Emie R. Ro...

Jane Fallon has been making music for decades. Inspired by the magic of music itself and her fascination with words and meaning, Jane fashions songs with messages, exploring points of view, feelings, and events.

Jane’s latest album is Sweet Resilience and she has a new one coming out soon!

The through line in Jane’s music is a realistic optimism that revels in truth telling, not preaching, offering listeners something to relate with as they make up their own minds regarding the message.

• Jane Fallon on YouTube

Music by: Jane Fallon...

Tara Fortier is a Canadian physicist, originally from Quebec, currently living in Colorado working as Project Leader in the Time and Frequency Division at National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Tara does her best to answer a few of Baruch’s Physics questions. Tara will be on Paradigms again so if you have questions for her please email [email protected]

Music by: Randy Hoexter, Astor Piazzolla, Patti Smith, Imogen Heap, Sameer Gupta, and Rosanne Cash.

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Lewis Stubbs Junior has just released his first collection of original songs West Nashville Sky. A Nashville native, Lewis grew up with a musical Dad in a music city, He started playing guitar as a pre-teen and never stopped.  The music is bluesy rock with a tinge of country.  The songs are personal and relatable and pull no punches.  There’s some pretty raw emotion in this music.

Before this solo project Lewis has been playing and recording with the band Natchez Tracers for many years.

• Lewis Stubbs Junior on YouTube

Music by: Lewis S...

Katie Bull grew up in an artistic family surrounded by the music of brilliant players jamming in her living room. It is only natural that she would become an amazing musician herself. Katie’s new record The Hope Etudes is a vibrant excursion into Katie’s world of sound and meaning.

The album is a collection of original songs with a few familiar songs interpreted through Katie Bull’s mind and heart, reworked beautifully, creating a new experience.

Katie and Baruch discuss some of her inspiration and passion for life.

• Katie Bull on YouTube<...

Ernest Aines started playing guitar as a child in Australia.  Songwriting came later, drawing inspiration from the Singer Songwriters of earlier decades. He’s recorded an EP Already Found, an album Spiral Bound and a number of singles, and is currently working on his next recordings.

Ernest has gone from busking in Melbourne to touring the US. Some shows are already sold out but you can still get tickets in a few cities.

Ernest’s music is alive and harmonic, layered with the organic dimensionality of the 12-string guitar. There is a comfortable familiar quality to th...

David Coller has just released an album with long-time collaborator Diane Chodkowski When Summer Comes. David has been making music for most his life but disappeared from “the scene” some years ago, but now he’s back!

This is music in the folk tradition of the early to mid 20th century, with other colors and flavors that may surprise you. This is folk music for today!

• David Collar on YouTube

Music by: David Coller & Diane Chodkowski

The post David Coller & Diane Chodkowski – “When Summer Comes” appeared first on Paradigms Podcast.

Ron Wilkins and Rebecca Patterson have just released a record The Vigil and The Sleeping Giant from their project Trombocalists. The album includes a four-movement Covid Suite and four additional compositions.  This is big band music taken to a whole new level of consciousness!

Both Rebecca and Ron are accomplished musicians and composers, involved with many musical projects from Broadway to Big Band and more.

Ron’s Covid story is powerful, and one of millions.  People continue to contract the disease. Some have a brief encounter, for others it can be very serious, even fatal, or l...

While Sue Cahill has an extensive and accomplished background as a Bassist with The Colorado Symphony, and she is also into Jazz. Her new record Evanstonia is her first album of her own compositions.

Sue is Professor of Bass at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music. She was Principal Bass of the Louisiana Philharmonic in New Orleans, has toured in South America and Europe, Canada and the US. Sue’s music vibrates with her intention, to engage people’s aliveness.

Music by: Sue Cahill

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Kim Moberg has released her fourth album All That Really Matters, 8 original songs with 2 very personal covers.  In 2023 Kim released The Seven Fires Prophecy Suite for Humanity. Kim ancestry is Tlingit, which heritage informs her art. Both albums are intimate and deep. Kim is sharing powerful inspirations with us, it’s worthwhile to spend time with this music.

Music has been part of Kim’s life forever, as a listener and creator.  Kim is also very involved in musical community as an active member in Folk Alliance International, also as a Board member of the Billy Conway Artist...

Joe Troop & The Truth Machine have a new EP out, The Truth Machine 5 songs for right now, this week!  If you love bluegrass you’ll enjoy this 5 piece ensemble of excellent players and their fun political humor and gravity, both. Check them out.

Joe Troop has many musical projects going, another one is Larry & Joe, with Larry Bellorín from Monagas, Venezuela.

• Joe Troop on YouTube

Music by: Joe Troop & The Truth Machine

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James Houlahan has just released his seventh album On a Wing a collection of mostly original songs, and two beloved covers, inspired by life!

Since following his muse from Boston to Los Angeles some years ago, James has been making music and finding musical community, and now he and his partner have started a family!  All of this aliveness comes across in the music.

This album has a theme which is in the title and the cover art; literal and metaphorical. Winged creatures!

• James Houlahan on YouTube

Music by: James Houlahan

Nani Vazana has been making music for much of her life, first as an instrumentalist and then as a singer and songwriter.  Nani grew up speaking with her grandmother in Ladino, the nearly-extinct language of the Sephardic Jews. This led to learning traditional songs in Ladino and her 2017 record Andalusian Brew.

Always interested in growing as a person and as an artist, Nani eventually started writing her own songs in Ladino, resulting in the 2023 release Ke Haber.  Currently Nani is currently in post production on Nani sings Nina a tribute to Nina Simone.

Nani and Ba...

Natalie Bogwalker and Chloe Lieberman have written a great book The New Natural Food Garden: A Comprehensive Guide to Growing a Bountiful Harvest with Less Work, in Partnership with Nature. Having worked and gardened and taught gardening together for years at Wild Abundance, this book was an organic next step.

This book is a significant contribution to the body of work on sustainability, an impressive collection of visual, text, and organized information. A person with no experience gardening will find more than enough to get started growing their own food. An experienced gardener will find lots of...

John Clay has just released his first album, after decades of playing and recording with other peoples’ bands.  This very intentional collection of songs brings us the sounds of talented friends playing beautiful music together.

The title About Time refers not just to John finally making a record but to the reality of life on Earth, it’s about time we humans learn to co-exist peacefully, so we can prioritize the well-being of all life on Earth!

John is a warm caring person, and that comes across in the conversation as well as the music.

Rafe Pearlman is a human who creates magical healing spaces with poetry and music, and friends.  His personal story is archetypal.  Out of his life experience and who he is, Rafe brings us Kanu which is a story cycle; songs and narrative that give us a taste of the power of nature as source, friend, and healer.

Kanu is available to download and as a physical CD, but it is also available as a beautifully crafted video presentation which you are encouraged to watch. It will nourish you.

Rafe is also a Voice Coach, and he...

Doctor Nativo has released a new record Barriokandela a collection of songs that are intended to celebrate and explore our shared human journey. The music is juicy and alive!

These songs invite us to feel our common humanity and to share that with our fellow humans.

Doctor Nativo grew up steeped in music, and now he plays big festivals as well as in the street.  He’s living true to his mission, making music that tells true stories while envisioning a better future.

Doctor Nativo on YouTube

Music by: Doctor Nativo

Javier Jara has been working on his latest album for a number of years, and it is now done! Our Rhythms, Our Voices is a collection of 12 songs, each the story of a real person, honoring Latin Americans for their contributions to The United States, while also exposing the scapegoating and oppression Latin Americans experience in the United States, especially in recent years from prominent politicians and media moguls.

The music is lush and beautiful. Javier is masterful on the guitar and his accompanists are likewise masters of their crafts.  This music is joyful to listen to, an...

Serious Child is the artist name of Alan Young, who discovered music later in life and now travels around the UK performing original songs.  His latest record is What Lies Beneath, 12 original songs about life. Alan also produces other artists and, with his partner Kate, runs a not for profit musical venue in the UK, Petworth Sessions.

Serious Child offers songs that reflect personal experience and also look at societal issues like isolation, community, and relationship. Alan has also begun to make videos of his songs, well worth looking into.

• Serious Child on YouTube

M...

Kray Van Kirk has a new record, Empire which is a heartfelt collection of songs addressing the current state of things.  These poems are to the point, reminding us of our mythic past as we contend with how to intentionally create a sustainable and just future for humanity.

Kray is on an interesting journey of conscience which he shares with us in the conversation with Baruch. Both scientist and artist, Kray’s perspective is rich and deep.

• Kray Van Kirk on YouTube

Music by: Kray Van Kirk

The post Kray Van Kirk –...

Teresa Tudury has stories to tell!  She is known for her musicality and her humorous wit. A traveling musician for decades, Teresa has spent time with Janis Joplin, Leonard Cohen, Rickie Lee Jones, Charlie Musselwhite, Dave Clark and many more.

Teresa’s most recent record is Perhaps You’ve Heard Of Me 11 original songs both serious and amusing, with a thread of human foibles and beauty connecting them.

It’s a pleasure to welcome Teresa back to Paradigms!

• Teresa Tudury on YouTube

Music by: Teresa Tudury

The post Teresa Tudury –...

Diane Coll is a prolific writer and composer. On her new album Strangely in Tune Diane continues to explore her own musicality, electrically rockin’ her folk roots, with lush vocal arrangements and songs that speak to the current state of humanity.

This is Diane’s fourth visit to Paradigms, and her fourth record since 2022. And while Diane is creating all this great music she is also a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist specializing in Creative Therapies.

Altruism and honesty inform Diane’s work both as a Counselor and as an Artist.

• Diane Co...

Gilmar Gomes has just released his first solo album 11:11 after touring with Enrique Iglesias for many years. Gilmar is originally from Brazil but has been living in the US for over 25 years, making music with great artists like Angelique Kidjo, Harry Belafonte, Shakira, Rihanna, Meshell Ndegeocello, and more.

This new record is a collection of sounds that bring light and gravity together. Gilmar is on a path of listening to inspirations and bringing them to us through his music.  He is very intentional in his composing and playing, and he’s assembled wonderful artists to join him on...

Jeff Lofton has released a new album of original and well known songs exploring the essence of Texas, ATX Rhythm. Some of these songs may not have seemed like Jazz pieces until Jeff played them.

Jeff Lofton is originally from South Carolina where he got his start as a musician.  Now he’s part of the Austin Jazz Scene. He is not only a talented player but a Jazz Scholar, learning from other great artists while bringing his own personal magic to the music.

• Jeff Lofton on YouTube

Music by: Jeff Lofton

The...