Max ZT of House of Waters Interview: Hammered Dulcimer and Manu Delago "Deuce"
Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman
04/26/26
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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
Previous Episode
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
Next Episode
This is my second conversation with Grammy-winning producer Ian Brennan, whose work continues to make a meaningful impact around the world. If you missed Part 1 of our interview, be sure to check the link in the show notes.
In this episode, we explore Ian Brennan’s remarkable approach to recording music in some of the most remote and overlooked places on Earth. You’ll hear stories from his travels to Ghana, where he recorded in witch camps, as well as projects in Bhutan and within unhoused communities in Oakland, California—near where he grew up.
This ongoing series within my podcast highlights more than 50 albums Ian Brennan has produced, many of which have helped local musicians gain international recognition and perform outside their home countries for the first time.
In addition to his work in music production, Ian Brennan is also an accomplished author and a respected expert in nonviolent crisis resolution. In this conversation, we also discuss his book Peace by Peace and the philosophy behind his work.
The excerpts from the albums featured in this episode are linked in the show notes.
The show notes also take you to: transcript, YouTube video, Ian Brennan's website, Marilena Delli Umuhoza's videos, other episodes you'll enjoy including with Ian Brennan, newsletter sign-up, podcast merch, and how you can buy this indepedent podcaster a coffee to keep this going! Show Notes!
(00:00) Intro
(01:32) Bhutan Balladeers with clips (album and film linked in show notes)
(18:35) experience recording “Not a Homelless Person, just a person without a home” with the Homeless Oakland Heart Collective with clips (album linked in show notes)
(31:34) non-violent crisis resolution, book Peace by Peace
(44:14) recording Witch Camp in Ghana (album linked in show notes)
photo: Marilena Delli Umuhoza
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