KBGA Something Else Artist Interviews

This is my interview with the prolific pianist, composer, improviser and bandleader Matthew Shipp in honor of his 60th birthday on Monday. Originally aired on Something Else on KBGA Missoula December 9 2020.

We had a chance to talk the day after Thanksgiving and covered a lot of ground, but still many stones were left unturned in examining his creative output over 30+ years.

We focused in particular on his latest solo release on Tao Forms, The Piano Equation and his latest trio release on ESP Disk', The Unidentifiable with Newman Taylor Baker (drums) and Michael Bisio (bass). Tracks from these releases will be included in the interview.

Photo by Anna Yatskevich

Matthew Shipp Interview on Something Else KBGA

My interview with Toronto/Berlin based trumpet player, composer and improviser Lina Allemano that aired live on Something Else on KBGA Missoula on May 20th 2020. We discuss her releases Rats and Mice, Glimmer Glammer and other upcoming projects at the time of this broadcast.

Lina Allemano Interview on Something Else KBGA

A recording of my conversation with the great Ava Mendoza based out of Brooklyn originally aired on Something Else KBGA on March 6 2024.

I've wanted to talk with Ava for a long time and I'm so happy this came together for you to hear.

We talk about her latest release on AUM Fidelity, Echolocation with Devin Hoff, James Brandon Lewis and Ches Smith, her work on Mayan Space Station with William Parker and Gerald Cleaver, her solo release New Spells on Relative Pitch Records and some upcoming projects. With lots of music placed in our conversation.

Catch the program to hear about Ava's process and music. Thank you to Ava for taking the time to make this possible!

Photo by Christoph Charpenel

Ava Mendoza Interview on Something Else KBGA

Asor

My conversation with Tricia Opstad and Dusty Shriver, two thirds of Pulse/Spasm/Vapor Trio with jonlodge. We discuss their latest release Beyond a Forgetful Green that came out March 15, 2024 on North Pole Records. We also explore the background to this ensemble, the recording process and work with some surprise technical issues in the studio. Live radio at its best! 

Thank you to Dusty and Tricia for coming by the studio!

Originally aired on Something Else on KBGA Missoula April 17 2024

Beyond a Forgetful Green

Tricia Opstad And Dusty Shriver Interview On Something Else KBGA

My conversation with William Parker originally broadcast on 1.1.2025 on my program Something Else on KBGA Missoula. 

If you're new to William's music, this will be a great show to catch as he discusses his ideals as an artist and human being from his early years to the present time with many excellent anecdotes along the way. He's a great storyteller and his music possesses so much power and healing. He's such a gift. 

Thank you so much to William Parker and Steven Joerg for making this possible.

Photographer credit: Anna Yatskevich, courtesy of AUM Fidelity

William Parker Interview On Something Else KBGA

My conversation with the great singular artist Wadada Leo Smith (photo credit Jimmy Katz) originally broadcast on Something Else on KBGA Missoula September 23 2025. 

We discuss Wadada's definition and importance of the artist in society, about courage and inspiration, and details about Wadada's recent records with Amina Claudine Myers, Vijay Iyer and Sylvie Courvoisier. It was such an honor to have this conversation and I look forward to you hearing it. 

Thank you again to Wadada for sharing his time with me to make this conversation possible. 


Angel Falls 

Wadada Leo Smith Interview on Something Else KBGA

My live in-person interview with Caroline Davis on April 2, 2025 in the studios of KBGA Missoula. 

PLEASE NOTE: There were a number of technical difficulties in the studio for this interview resulting in very poor audio quality of the music. Caroline and I also had to share one microphone. 

However, the conversation was very enjoyable! We discussed Caroline's visit to Montana to perform with Michelle Boulé and recent releases including her record Portals Vol. 2 on Intakt Records and the ensemble Student Body with Grey McMurray; Guitar and Qasim Naqvi: Drums. We also give a nod to the great George Freeman of Chicago who passed just a day before this interview aired. 

Thank you to Caroline for coming by for this conversation! 

Portals, Volume 2

Caroline Davis Interview on Something Else KBGA

In the Forest/ W boru kalinka from Uprooting/ Wykorzenienie
Release Date: 2004/ 2005
Label: JARO MEDIEN/ METALMIND
<a href="http://www.warsawvilllageband.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.warsawvilllageband.net</a>
<a href="http://www.myspace.com/warsawvillageband" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.myspace.com/warsawvillageband</a>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/warsawvillageband" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/warsawvillageband</a>


02. In the Forest/ W boru kalinka

Taken from the new album "Out Her Space", due November 17th via Bella Union.
Pre-order now: http://smarturl.it/KarlBlauOutHerSpace

Karl Blau - Slow Children

H.P.Hiby     as
M.Bardon   b
P.Hession   dr

TIMELESS

The Jazz Butcher 
Out 9th March 2018
4CD - book back

Pre-order:
www.thejazzbutcher.bandcamp.com/album/the-violent-years

Expansive book-styled package of the first four albums from The Jazz Butcher’s early Creation Records’ years – 1988-1991.

Featuring the much praised ‘Fishcotheque’, ‘Big Planet, Scarey Planet’, ‘Cult Of The Basement’ and ‘Condition Blue”.

A sonic journey that takes The Jazz Butcher from a Weather Prophets-propelled rock ‘n’ roll visionary through to a lean jazz-tinged pop exponent.

Underlining the clever lyrics, witticisms, one-liners, melancholy, irony and conceptualisation of main man Pat Fish that came to maturity across his previous four albums for Glass (collected on Fire and much praised later last year as ‘The Wasted Years’).

Hailed by the press of the day:

“Punning, clever displays of hurt and revulsion.” Select

“That rare beast, an LP of cool, laid back pop.” Record Mirror

“A vicious mismatch of outrage, black humour and sentiment.” Sounds

“If it emanated from a more in-vogue source, would currently be having its maverick genius analysed to death.” Melody Maker

Praise for The Jazz Butcher’s ‘Wasted Years’.

“They are a band well worth re-visiting or discovering for the first time. A release very much recommended.” 8/10 Louder Than War

“An incomparable genre-bending act that requires a substantive re-evaluation. Between the pages and the artwork of this reissue lies a time capsule of a time that is just as pertinent today as the time when it was created.” 9/10 Under The Radar

The Jazz Butcher - Racheland

Render Another Ugly Method

PINK

I've Tortured You Long Enough (Release Date: August 31, 2018)
https://massgothic.lnk.to/subpopmegamart

Mass Gothic http://www.massgothic.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/massgothic/
Twitter https://twitter.com/massgothic
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/massgothic/

Sub Pop Records  http://www.subpop.com
Twitter  https://twitter.com/subpop
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/subpoprecords
SoundCloud  http://soundcloud.com/subpop
MegaMart https://megamart.subpop.com/
Podcast http://subpop.fm/

Mass Gothic - How I Love You

KFGM Ballroom Sessions Season 1 Appetizer

Included here are artist interviews featured on my program Something Else live every Wednesday from 8-10pm Mountain on KBGA Missoula and streaming at kbga.org. I focus on creative and improvised music.

Also included here are recordings of some of my own recent projects.

Matthew Shipp Interview on Something Else KBGA

Bill Kautz Something Else KBGA

Related tracks