Moods & Modes

In this episode, Alex welcomes pianist, composer, and educator Kenny Werner, author of the landmark book Effortless Mastery. Kenny’s teachings have revolutionized the way musicians think about practice, performance, and creativity. Though widely respected for his playing, Werner's profound influence as a teacher has often eclipsed his musical output—something this episode sets out to correct. Alex and Kenny dive deep into the philosophy behind Effortless Mastery, a system of learning and unlearning that helps musicians quiet their inner critics, accept where they are, and move forward with intention and ease. They also explore how spirituality, rhythm, and breathing all play essential roles in accessing “the space”—that elusive zone where creativity flows freely. Follow Alex @alexskolnick and Moods & Modes @moodsandmodes Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick and the Alex Skolnick Trio. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Studio Kairos. Resources & Links: Kenny Werner’s website & music: https://kennywerner.com Effortless Mastery (book and courses): EffortlessMastery.com Berklee’s Effortless Mastery Institute: Berklee.edu Alex’s Patreon: patreon.com/alexskolnick Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Borrowed Music, Volume 3! Join Alex as he dives into another fascinating mix of music "inspired by" others, uncovering hidden connections across genres from classical and country to iconic film scores, TV themes, and radio hits we all know and love. Alex illustrates the threads binding songs and styles—hear how Nazareth and Heart share an unexpected arrangement, how Van Halen took a cover song to new heights, and how a classic TV theme inspired a reggae legend. As always, there are plenty of surprises! Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick and the Alex Skolnick Trio (and in this episode, PAKT). Episode cover photo by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Studio Kairos. Cover photo by Alex Skolnick. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Al Di Meola is a pioneer of blending world music, rock and jazz. His ongoing fascination for complex rhythmic syncopation, combined with provocative lyrical melodies and sophisticated harmony, has been the heart of his music throughout a celebrated career that has spanned over four decades. In this incredible episode, Al joins Alex to talk about his musical journey, the evolution of his guitar vocabulary, and the importance of work ethic. Alex and Al discuss the impact of technology on creativity, and Al reflects on the evolution of music and the enduring legacy of iconic musicians. Al Di Meola is a Grammy award winning musician who has achieved worldwide fame for both, being a solo artist and for his collaborations with Frank Zappa, Jimmy Page, Stevie Wonder, Chick Corea, Paco De Lucia, John McLaughlin, Jean-Luc Ponty, Stanley Clarke, Luciano Pavarotti, Paul Simon, Phil Collins, Santana, Steve Winwood, Herbie Hancock, and many more. Al Di Meola holds the highest amount of Guitar awards in different categories from Guitar Player magazine (US). Follow Al Di Meola Follow Alex @alexskolnick @moodsandmodes @alexskolnicktrio @testamentofficial Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick and the Alex Skolnick Trio. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Studio Kairos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mohini Dey is a renowned bassist, producer, and vocalist who has gained international recognition for her extraordinary talent and versatility. She joins Alex to talk about growing up in an independently-minded musical family, the challenges she faced as a female musician in India, and the difficult decisions she had to make in the early days of her career. Mohini discusses the lessons she learned from her musical elders, explains her approach to teaching young musicians, and provides a track-by-track breakdown of her debut album “Mohini Dey”. Mohini Dey began performing at the age of 11 and first appeared on record at age 14 after being discovered by film composer and jazz drummer Ranjit Barot. Since then she has played alongside Alex Lifeson, Steve Vai, Marco Minnemann, Dewa Budjana, Jordan Rudess, A.R. Rahman, Jason Richardson, Zakir Husain and various other notable figures in international jazz, rock, and classical Indian music. Her first, self-titled solo album (featuring her husband, saxophonist Mark Hartsuch, as well as Minnemann and other famed fusion drummers Narada Michael Walden and Simon Phillips) was released in 2023. This episode is dedicated to Jerome H. Skolnick and Sujoy Dey. Follow Mohini Mohini Dey and @dey_bass Follow Alex @alexskolnick and @moodsandmodes Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Tom Sullivan. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legendary bassist Stu Hamm joins Alex on this episode to talk about Hold Fast, Stu’s latest album, on which Alex is a featured player. Recorded in Estonia during Stu’s Bass Oasis, the two discuss the tracks on the album, the role of bass in musical composition, and Stu shares his approach to playing and collaboration. Alex reflects on the first time he saw Stu perform and how he handled auditioning to tour with Stu, and the two reminisce about touring together in the nineties. Stu Hamm is known for his technical prowess, melodic creativity, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of the bass. He rose to prominence as the bassist for Joe Satriani and his playing became synonymous with innovative tapping and slapping techniques, setting him apart as a trailblazer in the world of bass guitar. He has also had a prolific solo career and has worked with a wide array of artists, including Steve Vai, Frank Gambale, and many others. Stu is also a music educator and leads clinics and workshops around the world. Listen to Hold Fast here Follow Stu at stuhamm.com and @stueybass Follow Alex @alexskolnick and @moodsandmodes Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Tom Sullivan. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Karina Rykman plays bass, sings, jumps around, and laughs a lot. Straddling the worlds of jam rock and indie pop drenched in psychedelia, Karina’s effervescent presence comes to life in musical form. She joins Alex on this episode to talk about the making of her debut album Joyride, learning to hustle as a musician at a young age, and the impact that Pat Metheny had on her playing. Karina tells Alex about working with Trey Anastasio on the new record, and the unexpected moment that led to a special gift from Rush. Listen to Karina's debut album, Joyride. Follow Karina karinarykman.com and @karinarykman Follow Alex @alexskolnick and @moodsandmodes Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Tom Sullivan. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Shiflett is best known as the lead guitarist for the Foo Fighters, but he’s also an acclaimed solo artist and longtime podcast host. On this episode, Chris joins Alex for a conversation about guitars and the players that have influenced him, from Randy Rhoads to Mattias Jabs to Nile Rodgers. The two discuss why evolving as a musician means pushing boundaries, the importance of being exposed to different genres, and agree that it’s a good move to be the worst player in the band. Follow Chris at ChrisShiflettMusic and @shifty71 and check out his podcast Shred With Shifty. Follow Alex @alexskolnick and @moodsandmodes Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Tom Sullivan. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media. Moods & Modes will be live at The Cutting Room in NYC on Thursday, October 19! Get tickets and more info here / thecuttingroomnyc.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"He's one of these guys who's not necessarily a household name to music appreciators, but among people who were in the game and really know their stuff, there's a universal respect. It goes without saying that Vic was the real thing.” - Scott Metzger In this jam-packed episode, Alex remembers the late Vic Juris with special guest Kate Baker, who was Vic’s musical partner and wife. Kate discusses her partnership with Vic, how he approached working with other musicians, and the two discuss the last album they recorded together, 2022's Return To Shore. Alex is also joined by Joe Russo’s Almost Dead guitarist Scott Metzger, who shares his experience of being a student of Vic's; and, licensed attorney and guitarist Mark Hanna tells Alex about his time spent learning from Vic, and explains how a keyboard solo from a Vic Juris song ended up on a classic hip hop track. Listen to Kate Baker and Vic Juris’ album Return To Shore Listen to music from the episode on Spotify Follow Alex on IG and Twitter Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Additional production by Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Matt Dwyer. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Alex chats with guitarist Jim Campilongo, who has been called a “Master of the Telecaster”. Jim and Alex discuss what it means to be a musician in New York, their shared influences and how the standards of guitar playing have evolved, and Jim tells Alex about the time that he ended up walking home with Lou Reed after a gig. Jim then flips the script and asks Alex some questions, and shows Alex a few tricks that he uses to get his unique sound, including one inspired by Johnny Marr of The Smiths. Billboard Magazine calls Jim Campilongo, "an American treasure", an accolade this guitarist's artistry and influential career has richly earned him. With seven albums of original material and guest appearances on dozens of recordings, he’s also a published guitar teacher and contributing editor for Guitar Player Magazine. Campilongo's virtuosity and originality has inspired a generation of guitar players. His songwriting uses a palette of the best in Blues, Country, Jazz and Rock with a sensitivity and wit that has also earned him a broad and devoted fan base. To hear the extended version of the episode, go to Alex’s Patreon page Mentioned in the episode: Gruber Guitars Read Jim’s monthly column in Guitar Player Jim Campilongo website Follow Jim on Instagram @jimcampilongo Follow Alex on IG and Twitter @alexskonick Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Matt Dwyer. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Alex visits Roger Sadowsky of Sadowsky Guitars, one of the preeminent names in handmade guitars and basses. As they walk the shop floor, Roger shares stories of some of his famous customers, explains the challenge of using endangered woods in the process of instrument building, and discusses the moment when he decided to make the shift from repairing guitars to building his own. Bassists Tanya O’Callaghan and Nathan Peck also drop into the episode, to talk about the instruments that Roger has created for them. Roger Sadowsky is one of the most highly respected instrument makers in the world. His instruments are played by many of the world’s greatest artists including guitarists Jim Hall, John Abercrombie, Pat Metheny, Lee Ritenour, Chuck Loeb and bass players Marcus Miller, Will Lee, Rickey Minor, Michael Rhodes, Verdine White and Jason Newsted. Roger Sadowsky website Sadowsky on YouTube Follow Alex on IG and Twitter @alexskonick Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Matt Dwyer. Editing and mixing by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before heading out on tour with Jane Getter Premonition, Alex sat down with Jane to talk about her new album Anomalia, the diverse musical influences that are woven into her music, and the evolution of her sound. Jane reminds Alex of the time when he taught her how to play metal and shares the story of the New York moment that inspired the song Train Man, from her album “On”. NYC-based Jane Getter is a “triple-threat” (Geoff Wilbur)—guitarist, singer, and award-winning composer. Getter’s 6th release, Anomalia, coalesces a lifetime of musical exploration into intricate arrangements, powerful playing, and killer solos. Her band, Jane Getter Premonition, has carved out a niche at the intersection of jazz, metal, rock and singer-songwriter with masterful playing of Getter’s “complex, sophisticated, and dynamic” compositions (All About Jazz). On tour, JGP has dazzled audiences at ProgStock, Outreach Music Festival (Austria), San Francisco Jazz Festival, bFlat Bar (India), Guitar City (Poland), Borderline (UK), North Sea Jazz Club (Netherlands) Iridium, and opened for Allan Holdsworth and Brand X. Catch Alex on tour with Jane Getter thru November 13 Get Jane’s new album Anomalia here Follow Jane on IG @janegetter and Twitter @janegetter Jane Getter website Follow Alex on IG and Twitter @alexsklonick Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe. Editing and mixing by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Alex visits Brooklyn Lutherie, the only woman-owned and operated guitar shop in New York City. While there to pick up his double SG, he chats with Mamie Minch, the shop’s co-founder, about the repair on his guitar and learns something new about it in the process. Alex, Mamie, and co-founder Chloe Swantner discuss what it was like to start a guitar repair business in what has traditionally been a very male-dominated field, and how Brooklyn Lutherie is changing the ratio. Mamie and Alex also discuss her musical career and her influences, which include two relatively unknown but fascinating female musicians, Connie Converse and Judee Sill. You’ll also hear a bit of Mamie’s music. Mamie Minch is a longtime staple of New York City’s blues scene. She began playing guitar as a teenager in her bedroom listening to reissues of class country blues on repeat. She would try her hand at picking out the songs of legends like Mississippi John Hurt, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Memphis Minnie and Bessie Smith. She loved the steady thumb and percussive right hand of these blues players, but she also devoured lots of different styles of music, from soul to psychobilly and old time to punk rock. When she’s not making music, Mamie spends her days as a guitar repair luthier at Brooklyn Lutherie, the shop she and her business partner, Chloe Swantner, opened in 2014. It remains one of the few women-owned and -operated shops around. She also teaches, writes articles about luthiery and guitar playing for She Shreds and Acoustic Guitar magazines, and runs the annual Ukulele Building Camp for Girls in Brooklyn, NY. Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Matt Dwyer. Editing and mixing by Matt Dwyer. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate, and review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Les Paul was an inventor, an award-winning musician, an innovator and a creative genius. In this episode, Alex pays tribute by taking us on a journey through the life of Les Paul - his music, his inventions, and the recent recovery of one of his missing Gibson Les Paul prototypes. Alex visits Mahwah, NJ with Benny Goodman, host of The Neurotic Guitarist, and musician Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, where they meet Jim Wysocki, mayor of Mahwah and longtime friend of Les Paul. Jim - a former police officer who befriended Paul in the early 80s - invites the group into his home, containing a vault of items that Les left behind, including instruments, journals, hand-wound pickups, memorabilia and more. The group also visits the Les Paul exhibit at the Mahwah Museum, home to select vintage guitars, artifacts and musical relics of Les’s. Mayor Jim shares incredible stories about his time with Les Paul and helps identify Les’s long lost G5 prototype. Alex and Ron jam on Les’s personal guitars in the museum, some of which are available for visitors to play. Les Paul was best known as a skilled guitarist, and as one of the most important figures in the development of modern electric instruments and recording techniques. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar (the Gibson Les Paul, which he helped design, is one of the most famous and enduring models), multitrack recording, and various reverb and echo effects. You can also see a video of their visit on The Neurotic Guitarist. Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Matt Dwyer. Editing and mixing by Matt Dwyer. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices