Why Music Matters With Jeff Miers

A Conversation with Chris "Bulldog" Parker

Today’s guest is Chris ‘Bulldog’ Parker, the voice of Buffalo Sports radio, co-host of the afternoon show on WGR 550, and our conduit to all things Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres for as long as most of us can remember. Bulldog knows sports, and his passion for our Buffalo teams knows no limits. But he’s just as passionate about music, and the role it has played in his own life, the lives of his kids, and in the broader community. Whether he’s talking about the boundless athleticism of Bills quarterback Josh Allen, or extolling the virtues of bands like Wilco and the Clash, Bulldog wears his heart on his sleeve. And that’s why we love him.

Singer & Songwriter, Alison Pipitone on The 'Best Things' in Life

Hello music lovers! Welcome to Why Music matters, a podcast where we examine the power and influence that music can wield in our lives. I’m your host, Jeff Miers. Today’s guest is an old friend of mine, a veteran of the Western New York Music Scene, and a 2016 inductee into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. Alison Pipitone has been writing songs, playing gigs and releasing albums since she formed her first band, as a teenager in the late 80s. Over that time, she’s fine-tuned an astute blend of rock ’n’ roll, roots music, and raw Americana influences. She recently released “Best Things,” her 10th album with the Alison Pipitone Band, and our conversation touched on the writing and recording of that album, Alison’s earliest musical experiences, what being an educator has taught her about songwriting, and what continues to inspire all these years into her career. Thanks for joining us!

Jazz Musician, Bandleader & Educator, Walter Kemp

Hello music lovers, and welcome to another edition of Why Music Matters. I’m your host, music journalist and musician Jeff Miers. Today, my guest is the jazz musician, bandleader and educator Walter Kemp. Walter just released an astounding new album, called Black Whole Live, a fiery, dynamic live set featuring a band that includes saxophonist Brent Birkhead, violinist Scott Tixler, bassist Rishon Odel and drummer Allan Mednard. Kemp describes the sound this ensemble makes as “Afro-Terrestrial Sonic Interplay,’ and he’s right - in this mix, you can easily hear the jagged edges of forward-looking improvisation milestones from jazz history, and the sounds of the music of the future. As a performer, composer, producer, touring musician and educator, Walter Kemp has crystallized the positive force that music can be in our lives. He’s got a lot to say about why music matters, in his life and in the culture as a whole. Let’s get to it!

Karina Rykman: ‘I’m like a jukebox. I’m like a weird chameleon. I’m a music junkie!’

My guest today is the bassist, songwriter, bandleader and all around awesome human being Karina Rykman. 
A self-taught bassist and guitarist, Karina started playing in bands in and around New York City when she was barely a teenager, and was touring as a member of legendary keyboardist Marco Benevento’s band while still attending college. 
The stint in Benevento’s band prepared Karina for forming her own trio and hitting the road, a period during which she caught the eyes and ears of some major players, among them Phish guitarist and band-leader Trey Anastasio. 
Last year, she released her debut album, ‘Joyride,’ a dizzying collection of psychedelic indie, alternative and jam-based tunes that made my top 10 list of rock albums for 2023. Anastasio co-produced the album, and lent his inimitable guitar stylings to half of the tracks. 
Throughout ‘Joyride,’, Karina’s bass playing reveals the depth and breadth of her musical influences, and her always vibrant, sometimes playful, and occasionally dreamy vocals lead the listener on a journey through her colorful imagination. 
Listeners in the Buffalo, NY area will be able to catch Karina and her trio as part of the Rail Rider Jamboree Festival on Saturday, March 23, at Holiday Valley in Ellicottville. Learn more and grab your tickets at railriderjam.com. 
Welcome to Why Music Matters, Karina Rykman!

Cellist, Creator and Collaborator, Alex Cousins

My guest is cellist, creator and collaborator Alex Cousins.  A classically trained musician and Peabody Conservatory graduate, Alex has performed as a soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, played with a variety of original alternative bands, and been seen and heard in venues from Western New York to Italy.  But what sets Alex apart is his passion for the electric cello, a unique instrument that he employs in his quest to stretch the envelope and challenge the notion of what a 21st century musician can be.  Alex is a musical seeker whose tastes run from Bach to Alternative rock, and so many genres in between. Today, he’ll tell us his story, and introduce us to the magical world of the electric cello. Take it away, Alex!

Musician and DJ, Chelsea O’Donnell

Today on Why Music Matters, my guest is musician and DJ Chelsea O’Donnell. Chelsea began her career in radio as host of the local show on 107.7 FM Alternative Buffalo, where she helped that station celebrate the rich variety of local and regional indie rock from Western New York. These days, you can hear Chelsea on WBFO The Bridge, where she hosts The Scene, a show focusing on original independent music from Western New York and Southern Ontario, every Sunday. Concurrent with all of this, Chelsea writes, records, performs and tours with her indie rock band, Stress Dolls. This immersion in independent music has granted Chelsea a unique perspective on Why Music Matters - to cities, to scenes, and to each of us individually. 
Join us! 

Super-Fan Ray Wawrzyniak, on Why RUSH Music Matters Most

Today on Why Music Matters, I have a conversation with Ray Wawrzyniak. Ray is a devout music lover. Musicologist, author and collector whose main passion in life aside from his family, of course, is the Canadian progressive rock trio RUSH. Ray joined me to chat about our shared love for that band, about RUSH co-founder Geddy Lee's new memoir, and about why All music matters but in Ray's world, RUSH music matters most.
 

A Conversation With Barron Ryan

Today on why music matters, my guest is composer, author, storyteller, and Recording Academy 2023 class member, Barron Ryan. Whether he's working on commissioned compositions to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the Tulsa race massacre, collaborating on music meant to help us deal with personal loss, or ruminating on music's ability to help us discover and present the beauty we're uniquely positioned for, Barron has significant insight into why music matters.

A Conversation With Fernanda Lastra of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

Today on Why Music Matters, I spend some time with Fernanda Lastra of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. 
Hired as Conductor Diversity Fellow by the Orchestra in September of 2022, Fernanda quickly made her mark, combining her fiery presence at the podium with a passion for community engagement, overseeing the BPO Kids and Music for Youth programs, working as cover conductor for Maestro JoAnn Falletta, and serving as a member of the BPO Diversity Council. 
In recognition of her abundant talent, the BPO extended Fernanda’s contract as Diversity Fellow and promoted her to Assistant Conductor of the Orchestra in October of this year. 
Born and raised in Argentina, and a graduate of the Penn State School of Music, Fernanda has led orchestras around the US, in Argentina and in Brazil. Along the way, she’s gained keen insight into the power music holds to connect us and speak to our better selves. 
Welcome to Why Music Matters, Fernanda Lastra!

Willie Nile, Rock ’n’ Roll Poet

Today on Why Music Matters, I’m hanging out with my old friend, singer, songwriter, and true believer in the power of rock ’n’ roll to lift our spirits and enrich our lives, Willie Nile. Praised by The New York Times as “one of the most gifted singer-songwriters to have emerged rom the New York scene,” Nile was born in Buffalo, but moved to New York City decades back, where he launched a  career that would eventually make fans of the likes of Bono from U2, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townshend of The Who, and Lou Reed, many of whom Nile has shared the stage with over the years. Join us as Willie shares stories from a life that, in many ways, reads like a rock ’n roll fairytale.