Art Lives

Season 3 - Episode 6: Josanne Francis

Josanne Francis is a Trinidadian Steelpan performer and educator based in Maryland, USA. In the episode, Josanne talks about Cultural Academy for Excellence (CAFE) and Steel on Wheels, two arts education organizations she directs. We also discuss the challenges of keeping one’s artistic brand relevant, and why and how Josanne performed at the Haiti International Jazz Festival in January. Josanne’s website is: josannefrancis.comJosanne was recently featured playing pan on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert in a music feature put together by Jon Batiste & Stay Human for Mardi Gras/Carnival 2021. Art Lives Theme and Incidental music composed by Nicholaus Meyers, and performed by Nicholaus and Ken Jimenez. Art Lives Logo created by Eduardo Moreno. Art Lives is available here, on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher. Art Lives Podcast RSS

Season 3 - Episode 5: Bruce Jacoby

Bruce Jacoby has worked in the music industry for over 30 years. Based in southern California, he specializes as a drumset technician for touring and recording ensembles. In this episode Bruce talks about touring with popular music artists, including Michael Macdonald, Stevie Wonder, Fleetwood Mac, and Gloria Estefan. He also outlines how the LA recording studio scene has changed in the past 20 years, recounts some favorite experiences, and describes recent work with Tool and Avenged Sevenfold . At the end of the episode, Bruce tells a great story about his first experience working a concert, in 1982 with the Dixie Dregs. Art Lives Theme and Incidental music composed by Nicholaus Meyers, and performed by Nicholaus and Ken Jimenez. Art Lives Logo created by Eduardo Moreno. Art Lives is available here, on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher. Art Lives Podcast RSS

Season 3 - Episode 4: Yuko Asada

Yuko Asada is a Japanese American musician who specializes in the steelpan. She builds and tunes steelpans, composes and arranges music, teaches, and performs on multiple steelpan voices as well as the piano.In this episode Yuko describes her duties at Northern Illinois University, and how they have changed since the pandemic. She also speaks about how the pandemic has affected her artistic and personal life, and has advice for younger artists, especially those who study cultures other than their own.Some of Yuko’s most recent performance and educational projects include:Pan In Unity, a virtual steelband of 691 performers from 23 countries, produced in 2020 by Yuko Asada, Dr. Mia Gormandy Benjamin and Tracy Thornton.Virtual Steelband (2015) and Virtual Steelband II (2017) were the first large online mass-steelband projects, founded and produced by Yuko Asada, Abram Breiling, Dr. Mia Gormandy Benjamin, and Scott McConnell.Yuko’s composition for traditional Thai instruments and steelband, "Forn Dueng Khrok Dueng Sak," was premiered in 2016. Art Lives Theme and Incidental music composed by Nicholaus Meyers, and performed by Nicholaus and Ken Jimenez. Art Lives Logo created by Eduardo Moreno. Art Lives is available here, on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher. Art Lives Podcast RSS

Season 3 - Episode 3: Malika Green

Download Episode 3:3 Transcript Malika Green is an American jewelry designer and maker who lives in Trinidad & Tobago. Malika tells us how her art has been influenced by her move to a new country, how the pandemic has affected her business, and how jewelry design contrasts with her previous musical career.Malika’s jewelry can be found on her instagram page, malikarachelledesignsand her website: malikarachelledesigns.comIn the podcast Malika describes watching her mother, Lorna Green, found the Cultural Academy for Excellence in Baltimore in 1996. Since that time CAFE has become a widely-celebrated youth enrichment program that uses the performing arts to promote leadership and academic achievement. Please visit cafeyouth.org for more info. Art Lives Theme and Incidental music composed by Nicholaus Meyers, and performed by Nicholaus and Ken Jimenez. Art Lives Logo created by Eduardo Moreno. Art Lives is available here, Apple Podcasts and Stitcher. Art Lives Podcast RSS

Season 3 - Episode 2: Li-Hsuan Hsu

Download Episode 3:2 Transcript Li-Hsuan Hsu is an art educator and researcher whose interests lie at the intersection of arts and leadership.In this episode, Li-Hsuan tells us how she uses art to teach students leadership and coping skills for difficult times. She also speaks about how the practice of making art can create a space to pause, recalibrate, and process our emotions. Some of Li-Hsuan’s recent research can be found here.Some recent artwork can be found here. Art Lives Podcast RSS Art Lives Theme and Incidental music composed by Nicholaus Meyers, and performed by Nicholaus and Ken Jimenez. Art Lives Logo created by Eduardo Moreno. Art Lives is available here, Apple Podcasts and Stitcher.