Meaningful Musical Conversations
Music:Music Interviews
Our guest this episode started playing piano at 10, and played his first professional gig at 14. He also plays a bit of trumpet, drum kit, and bass. His piano studies began with classical and ragtime, and soon after, he discovered Jazz. He still loves classical piano, has a passion for the music of George Gershwin and is known for playing a mean stride piano.
At 25, he is currently the pianist for The Billie Holiday Project, led by Stella Heath, and has played at most of the top local Bay Area venues, including Blue Note, Napa, The Back Room, Red Poppy Arthouse, Occidental Center for the Arts, Healdsburg Hotel, and the Mystic Theater in Petaluma to name a few. He has numerous gigs lined up with The Billie Holliday Project in New York City as well as other parts of the country.
He is a humble and generous man with a lot of talent, a great work ethic and a charming sense of humor. Our guest today is Neil Angelo Fontano.
In this episode we hear lots of stories from Neil, including what happened one day when he was sent to his room as a kid for four hours, the surprising experiences that helped him overcome stage fright, and his thoughts on numerous subjects that fascinate him.
We hope you enjoy this episode! Please subscribe and spread the word if you do!
Links:
The Billie Holiday Project
Cinnabar Theater
George Gershwin
Episode 20 Kendrick Freeman: Drummer, Percussionist & Teacher, Developing Your Personal Voice, Haitian Polyrhythms, Clarifying Misconceptions about Vodou, Healing and Presence.
Marc Farre: Singer/Songwriter and Guitarist, The Craft of Songwriting: Where do Songs Come From? The Value of Self-Discipline and Perils of Perfectionism, Being Your Own Benefactor.
Episode 18 Ken Cook: Professional Pianist, Composer, & Beloved Jazz Faculty Member at Sonoma State, Improvisation and Free Play, Dirty Little Secret between Instrumentalists & Vocalists Unpacked.
Episode 17 Nancy Hayashibara: Life as a College Piano Accompanist, Comic Relief: Cultivating Well-Being Through Drawing Comics & Creating Variety Shows, Thriving as a Gay, Female Musician.
Episode 16 Briony Greenhill: Vocal Improvisation - Surrendering to the Fountain of Creativity, Earth-Based Spirituality & Healing, Paradigm Shift - From Fear & Trauma to Nourishment & Belonging.
Episode 15 Nate Lopez: 8-String Guitar; Playing Bass, Melody, & Chords Simultaneously, Practice Techniques Using Your Good Friend, the Metronome, Gig Culture, & NAMM-What's it All About?
Episode 14 Mimi Pierce: A Parisian Chanteuse and Her Band, SonoMusette, The Long Road Back; Recovery from Vocal Injury, Bee Keeping.
Episode 13 Stephanie Ozer: A Love Affair with Brazilian Jazz, Music & Spirituality, All Love: Joys & Challenges of Parenting a Child on the Autism Spectrum & Tips for Neurotypicals.
Episode 12 Stella Heath: The Artistry, Nuts & Bolts of Being a Working Singer & Band Leader, Bandjango Collectif, Growing up as a Bi-Racial Child, The Billie Holiday Project.
Episode 11 John Simon: Improvising in a Jazz Combo; Listening, Responding, Leaving Space, The Art of Accompanying a Vocalist, Moog Synthesizers & the Early Days of Electronic Music.
Episode 10 Brodie Cumming: A Teacher and a Student, Ups and Downs of a Career in Music as a Guitarist, Composer and Teacher, Meaning and Purpose in Music and Life.
Episode 9 Reed Maidenberg: The Meandering Odyssey of a Musician and His Day Job as Audio-tech, Sound Engineer, Singer/Songwriter and Recording Artist.
Episode 8 Skyler Stover: Learning Bass - In School and Out of School, Touring Europe, Connecting with the Spirit of a Loved One through Music.
Episode 7 Devi Daly: The Healing Power of Singing, Sound Orchard, Owning your Creativity, Creating Community.
Episode 5 Paul Olguin: Life and Tales of a Session Player Bassist, Touring, For the Love of Music, Wisdom from a Teacher.
Episode 4 Michael Fortunato: The Art of Entertaining, Relationship between Performer and Audience, Innovation in Music and Life, Musicians as Community Leaders.
Episode 3 Dena DeRose: Life as a Master Jazz Pianist & Vocalist, Learning the Language of Jazz, A Symbiotic Relationship - Touring the World Performing & Teaching.
Episode 2: Lisa Stano; Living Life to the Fullest, Songwriting and Lyric Writing Tips, A Common Bond; Lisa & Jill on Losing a Brother to AIDS.
Episode 1: Hosts Jill Minyé and Daniel Townsend get to know each other in the first episode of Meaningful Musical Conversations.
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