Guthman Musical Instrument Competition Highlights with Trombonist Jeff Albert
Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman
04/19/26
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Trombonist Jeff Albert joins me for a two-part conversation. The beginning of this episode explores the unique Guthman Musical Instrument Competition at Georgia Tech which celebrates musical inventors from around the world. You’ll be hearing some of these instruments from this year’s competition and you’ll find that information linked in the show notes. The second half of this episode is about Jeff’s life as a trombonist, improvisor, music technologist and professor. You’ll hear about his many years playing and recording in New Orleans across many styles and how digital media pairs with his interest in experimental music. All the music excerpts you’ll hear are linked in the show notes for you, from several of Jeff’s albums. Whether you play in a laptop orchestra or have only the vaguest idea what that means, you’ll enjoy Jeff’s great stories and insights.
I’ve been following the Guthman competition for a couple of years and I’ve also linked several previous episodes for you with musical instrument inventors in the show notes, as well as some of the other trombone players I’ve featured.
You can watch the video on my YouTube or listen to the podcast, and I’ve also linked the transcript. It’s a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity. Have a look at the complete show notes of this episode on my website, where you’ll find all the links, including different ways to support this podcast.
(00:00) Intro
(02:12) Guthman Musical Instrument Competition
(06:14) clip of USAWI, video linked
(06:56) College of Design at Georgia Tech
(10:20) clip of Masterpiece, accessible instruments
(13:09) Guthman competition, clip of Demon box, Letheliam Lateef Martin
(20:29) Fiddle Henge with clip
(22:45) Gajveena Debjit Mahalanobiswith clip, remembering Mark Deutsch’s Bazantar
(25:49) VERTO with clip Michael Doron, about Klimchak
(29:14) Krzysztof Cybulski post-digital Sax with clip
(31:53) Jeff Albert, trombonist, New Orleans career
(32:10) linked episodes, newsletter, podcast merch
(32:58) New Orleans scene, improvised music, New Normal album with clip of Sidereal Will
(35:24) Jeff’s blog, changes in the internet for musicians
(41:24) pandemic, album Alone Time with track Grocery Run
(43:47) life of a trombonist, album Unanimous Sources, with clip of Oregano with Intent
(48:05) New Orleans music scene, unexpected path to academic life
(54:37) laptop music, wife trumpeter Alexandria Smith, Atlanta Georgia Tech
photo: Dennis McDonough
Previous Episode
I’m delighted to welcome back Gaelynn Lea, the disability rights advocate, author, singer-songwriter, and fiddler. If you missed my first conversation with her last year it’s linked in the show notes. I really enjoyed reading her memoir It Wasn’t Meant to be Perfect, and if you haven’t ordered it yet we hope you will after listening to this episode. Gaelynn goes into some of the themes in the book and you’ll be hearing great stories that didn’t make it into the final edits. In fact, you’ll hear about the editing process and about her new book project as well! We start with the documentary Crip Camp which focuses on Judy Heumann and disability rights. You’ll also hear about Denis Huna and inclusive music making, the importance of ASL and other sign languages. We got into the importance of improving communication with medical professionals with people living with disabilities and also why Gaelynn chose to write about love, sexuality and marriage in her memoir. We also did a deep dive into motivating and encouraging music students. We’re including clips from 3 of Gaelynn’s music videos and the full videos on her YouTube are linked in the show notes.
Complete Show Notes with ALL the links!
(00:00) Intro
(02:22) Memoir"It Wasn't Meant To Be Perfect”
(05:56) dealing with medical professionals
(08:23) stories from childhood, ASL and deaf culture
(21:09) Medicaid, about Gaelynn’s song “I Wait” with clip (video linked in show notes)
(26:09) Judy Heumann, film “Crip Camp”, disability rights
(32:06) inclusive music performances Denis Huna
(37:52) sexuality, “It Wasn’t Meant To Be Perfect”
(41:48) other linked episodes and ways to support this series
(42:41) husband Paul, with clip “The Long Way Around” (video linked in show notes), artist Lee Zimmerman
(48:13) problems with pressure and perfectionism in music education
(55:18) Gaelynn’s approach to teaching
(01:02:19) accessible book tour
(1:04:18) clip of “Lost in the Woods” (video linked in show notes)
(01:05:25)making the video, touring, accessibility, Ian Brennan
(01:11:47) love of dancing, childhood story
(01:13:27) next book, editing process for the memoir
Next Episode
Max ZT is a superb Grammy-nominated hammered dulcimer player. I am really inspired by his broad and deep musical approach, improvisation skills, and virtuosity. You’ll be hearing inspirations and clips from his recent album with the handpan virtuoso Manu Delago, and in fact this was recorded during their album release tour of the U.K. and Europe. Max explained fascinating details about his approach to building hammered duclimers with the guidance of David Lindsey. If you’re a fan of Manu’s handpan playing you’ll also be gaining more understanding into his creative approach to performing.
You’ll hear the inspiring stories of how Max came to be a student of both the Cissoko Griot family in Senegal, and the late Pandit Shivkumar Sharma in India.
Max has also with us shared clips of House of Waters grammy-nominated album “On Becoming” as well as some great behind the scenes moments in the recording studio. Among Max’s collaborators, you’ll hear about the brilliant Moto Fukushima, the 6 string electric bass player in House of Waters, and Max’s wife the wonderful singer and athlete Priya Darshini.
I feel that Max’s insights into mindfulness and creativity apply broadly to all of us.
Complete Show Notes with all the Links!
(00:00) Intro
(02:59) “Deuce” with Manu Delago, clip of track 5 Inhale
(05:16) Manu Delago, recording album “Deuce”, touring
(15:36) different techniques on dulcimer and handpan, with clip of track 4 “Break” from “Deuce”
(23:41) the innovations in tuning the dulcimer
(27:00) building and designing dulcimers with David Lindsey
(33:18) life-changing encounter, clip of track 6 “Rally” from “Deuce”, India, student of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma “Shivji”
(37:50) other linked episodes and ways to support this podcast
(38:47) India, student of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
(46:04) House of Waters, album “On Becoming” clip of track 1 “Folding Cranes”
(47:07) Moto Fukushima, Avaloch Farm Music Institute with clip of track 2 Avaloch, album “On Becoming”
(53:18) creative process, importance of improvisation House of Waters, clip of track 8 Improv 13, On Becoming: the Improv Sessions
(01:00:41) rewards of improvisation, Mike Stern, with clip of track 4, Hang in the Air, On Becoming House of Waters
(01:04:39) Priya Darshini, with clip of track 8, The Wall, On Becoming, House of Waters
(01:07:57) Senegal Cissoko Griot family, kora
(01:11:48) celebrating the uniqueness of the dulcimer, Bard
(01:14:56) upcoming shows
photo: David Sosnow
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