MOHINI DEY

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 self-titled debut album.

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.

Mohini Dey 

Follow Mohini @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.

JOE SATRIANI, STEVE VAI, ERIC JOHNSON

In this first episode of 2024, Alex welcomes a trio of guests who are among the most important and influential players of electric guitar - Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson. They are also the original lineup of the iconic G3, a tour organized in 1996 by Satriani that has featured legendary players like Robert Fripp, Ynwgie Malmsteen, Phil Collen, and many more. Ahead of this year’s tour, they sit down with Alex to discuss the origins of G3, what they’ve learned from the experience of performing together, and weigh in on how to keep egos in check when playing alongside fellow giants. They commiserate over growth moments that resulted from musical projects created during the pandemic, and do a deep dive into the equipment they’re using, from string gauges to amp modelers.

Conceived in 1995 by the multi-Grammy nominated guitarist, Joe Satriani, the inaugural G3 Tour took place in 1996 bringing together three of the most iconic and virtuosic guitarists of their time: Satriani, Eric Johnson and Steve Vai. Known for their incredible technical prowess, musical innovation and unique styles, the G3 tour was a celebration of guitar mastery and proved extremely popular, captivating audiences worldwide. Though the line-up has continually changed over the last 29 years since its inception, Satriani is celebrating G3 in 2024 by reuniting the original trio: Satriani, Johnson and Vai. The tour is set to begin on January 23, 2024 in Tucson, AZ hitting eleven cities before winding up with a pair of shows at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.


Get G3 Tour information here

Follow Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson

Follow Alex @alexskolnick and @moodsandmodes

Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Final Mixes by Tom Sullivan. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media.

STU HAMM

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. Final Mix by Tom Sullivan. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media.

ADAM LEVY

Renowned guitarist and improviser Adam Levy joins Alex on this episode to talk about the many artists he’s worked with, including Norah Jones, Tracy Chapman, and Ani DiFranco. Adam and Alex discuss his approach to playing as well as the styles of the world-class musicians they both know and love, and the instrumental project he led during the pandemic lockdown that inspired some of Alex’s new music. The two dive into the early days of Adam’s career, and Adam explains how he’s seamlessly moved between being a player, a writer, and a guitar educator.


Adam Levy is a session guitarist who has played on releases by Norah Jones, Ani DiFranco, Amos Lee, Jill Sobule, Tracy Chapman, Allen Toussaint, and many others. He’s also a respected writer and educator, with the instructional courses Play the Right Stuff (book/DVD), 50 Low-Down Rhythms (DVD/online course), and Rhythm Makeover (DVD/online course) to his credit, as well as numerous articles for Guitar Player, Fretboard Journal, and other top guitar magazines.

Follow Adam at adamlevy.com and @adamlevyguitar

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.

KARINA RYKMAN

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, and the unexpected moment that led to a special gift from Rush.

Listen to Karina's debut album, Joyride.

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.

ANTONIO SANCHEZ

Four-time Grammy Award winner Antonio Sánchez joins Alex to talk about his latest release, Shift, and how he connected with the incredible list of musicians who contributed to the album. The two discuss Antonio’s recent move to Spain, his approach to building his drum parts, and where he got the inspiration to use the term “Bad Hombre”.

Antonio Sanchez began playing the drums at age five and performed professionally in his early teens in Mexico’s rock, jazz and latin scenes. Since moving to New York City in 1999, Antonio has become one of the most sought-after drummers in the international jazz scene. One of the most revered collaborators with guitarist/composer Pat Metheny, Antonio has also recorded and performed with many other most prominent artists like Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Michael Brecker, Charlie Haden and Toots Thielmans.

Sánchez’s new album SHIFT (Bad Hombre Vol. II) on Warner Music features Sánchez playing virtually every instrument on the album — in addition to being its producer. SHIFT features Trent Reznor, Dave Mathews, Kimbra, Ana Tijoux, Meshell Ndegeocello and more.

CHRIS SHIFLETT

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

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ERIC JOHNSON

Eric Johnson, the prolific Grammy-Award winning, Austin-based songwriter and guitarist, joins Alex to talk about his latest release - two separate albums: The Book of Making and Yesterday Meets Today. Alex and Eric discuss the process behind the making of the albums as well as the music that influenced his sound early on, the impact that Jeff Beck had on the world of guitar, and how he created the iconic opening to Cliffs Of Dover.
Eric Johnson has been traveling on a prolific odyssey over the course of more than four decades. Along the way, his creations have encompassed repertoire that cross-pollinate genres which include rock, blues, jazz, fusion, soul, folk, new-age, classical and even country. Among Johnson's many accolades are a Grammy award for "Cliffs of Dover ", ten Grammy nominations, a lifetime induction into the Guitar Player Gallery of Greats and his listing among the "100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century" by Musician magazine. In his hometown of Austin TX, a city full of guitarists, the readers of the Austin Chronicle have voted him the city's "Best Electric Guitarist" and "Best Acoustic Guitarist" in their yearly poll year after year. They also named him "Electric Guitarist of the Decade" and one of the top five "Musicians of the Decade". 
Listen to Eric’s two new albums here, catch him on tour this fall, then in early 2024 on the G3 tour with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Follow Eric @officialericjohnson
Follow Alex @alexskolnick and @moodsandmodes
Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer is Kirsten Cluthe. Edited and Mixed by Tom Sullivan. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media.

VIC JURIS REMEMBERED

In this jam-packed episode of "Moods and Modes," Alex remembers the late Vic Juris with special guest Kate Baker, who was Vic’s musical partner and wife. Kate discusses her partnership with Juris and how he approached working with other musicians, and the two discuss the last album she recorded with Juris, 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 Juris; and, licensed attorney & guitarist Mark Hanna tells Alex about his time spent learning from Vic, and explains how a keyboard solo from a 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 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.

BORROWED MUSIC, VOLUME 2

In this episode, Alex takes us on another journey into songs that sound the same. Borrowed Music, Volume 2 showcases tracks that possess similar musical qualities from artists like Nirvana and Yes, Leonard Cohen and Pink Floyd, Metallica and King Crimson, Phish and Pantera, and other combinations that will surprise you. As in Borrowed Music Volume 1 (https://www.osirispod.com/podcasts/moods-modes-with-alex-skolnick/moods-modes-with-alex-skolnick-borrowed-music/), Alex compares and contrasts the tracks throughout the episode and provides analysis on what makes the elements of the songs similar. He also discusses a legal battle that’s currently being fought over one of the featured songs and shares some thoughts on the ethics of “borrowing” music.

Listen to music from the episode https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0049eFmtsJhgB9FteFuTPe?si=35ea9da496514fe1
Follow https://www.instagram.com/alexskolnick/?hl=en and https://twitter.com/AlexSkolnick?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Moods & Modes is presented by https://www.osirispod.com/. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Matt Dwyer. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd.

JIM CAMPILONGO

In this episode of Moods & Modes, Alex sits down 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 https://www.patreon.com/alexskolnick
Mentioned in the episode: https://www.facebook.com/GruberGuitars/

Read Jim’s monthly column in https://www.guitarplayer.com/author/jim-campilongo
Jim Campilongo https://www.jimcampilongo.com/
Follow Jim on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jimcampilongo/?hl=en
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and https://twitter.com/AlexSkolnick?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor @alexskonick

Moods & Modes is presented by https://www.osirispod.com/. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Matt Dwyer. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd.

JEFF BECK REMEMBERED


“None of us ever imagined a world without Jeff Beck in it.” – Vernon Reid

Over a remarkable 50-year career, Jeff Beck’s style of guitar playing reshaped the world of music. One of the essential guitarists of the British Invasion, Beck possessed a mercurial, lyrical style that sounded equally at home in thunderous blues-rock and soft-focus fusion. He played both styles in his long career, channeling psychedelia, heavy metal, and jazz-rock as he did so. 


In this episode, Alex and a few special guests pay tribute to the late, great guitarist. Vernon Reid joins to talk about the impact that Beck had on the world of music, including his work with Stevie Wonder and the complicated story behind the song Superstition. Carmine Appice shares stories from their days in Beck, Bogert, and Appice, the legendary supergroup they formed in the early 70’s, and explains his decision to leave BBA to join Rod Stewart’s band. 


Beck’s longtime publicist Melissa Dragich joins the conversation and reminisces about a missed opportunity between Beck and Prince, and music journalist Dave Rubin, author of Jeff Beck: A Step-by-Step Breakdown of His Guitar Styles and Techniques, discusses his interviews with Jeff and describes what it was like to see Bec and BB King perform together.


Read Alex’s essay on Jeff Beck: “Goodbye PorkPie Strat”

Watch the 2018 documentary on Jeff Beck: “The Jeff Beck Story: Still On The Run”

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.


ROGER SADOWSKY

“I think if you're out in the boonies without interacting with a lot of working musicians, there's no way you can get better, right? You need that feedback from the players. So I'm really grateful for all the exposure I had to the players I had.” - Roger Sadowsky

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.

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.

HALESTORM: Lzzy Hale & Joe Hottinger

Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger join Moods & Modes this week to talk about the making of their latest album, Back From The Dead. Lzzy and Joe discuss their approach to writing songs in response to the pandemic, and explain some of the “happy accidents” that occurred during recording, including the broken tuning mechanism that turned into a riff. Lzzy recalls some of the emotionally charged moments she had in the studio, and explains the “Miller Halftime Show” moment that happens during their concerts.

Grammy-award winning Halestorm was formed in 1998 by Lzzy and Arejay Hale. They released their self-titled debut in 2009 and their latest album, Back From The Dead, was released earlier this year. Lzzy Hale is Gibson Guitar’s first female brand ambassador.

JANE GETTER

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 https://open.spotify.com/track/2uCoTBchR8ZphAeMmfPxT7?si=8761707ff1b9438a, 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).

Catch Alex https://janegetter.com/upcoming-dates/
Get Jane’s new album Anomalia https://janegetter.com/product/anomalia-cd/
Follow Jane on IG https://www.instagram.com/janegetter/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/janegetter
Jane Getter https://janegetter.com/
Follow https://www.instagram.com/alexskolnick/?hl=en and https://twitter.com/AlexSkolnick?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor@alexskonick

Moods & Modes is presented by https://www.osirispod.com/. 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

MY LUNCH WITH NITE BOB

Alex sits down with legendary guitar tech and sound engineer to talk Walter Becker and more.

“I remember this moment when my father said to me, 'How much money did you make this weekend?’ And I said, $225 bucks. This is like 1967. He says, I'm working on the guidance system for the Lunar Landing module and after taxes, I didn't make that much money. Maybe this music thing is not such a bad deal.” - Nite Bob

In this episode, Alex finally gets the chance to sit down with Nite Bob, whose job titles include sound engineer, guitar tech, tour manager, and production manager, to name a few. His 45-year career in the music industry is legendary as are many of the artists he’s worked with, including Steely Dan, Aerosmith, Iggy Pop, Emerson Lake & Palmer, KISS, The New York Dolls, R.E.M., and many more.

Recorded at the Ear Inn, one of New York’s oldest pubs, Nite Bob shares stories from years of working closely with Steely Dan’s Walter Becker - his proclivity for purchasing guitars on a whim, even when advised otherwise; how he brought hard rock-worthy volume to Steely Dan shows, and thought nothing of switching equipment in the middle of a song. 

Nite Bob and Alex discuss buying guitars as a collector versus as a working musician, and Nite Bob tells Alex about that time he connected Rick Rubin and Run DMC to Aerosmith, which resulted in one of the most iconic collaborations in music history.

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


BROOKLYN LUTHERIE'S MAMIE MINCH

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.

THE VAULT OF LES PAUL

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.


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MAX ZT

Brooklyn-based musician Max ZT has been called the “Hendrix of Hammered Dulcimer” and is widely regarded as one of the instrument’s most prolific and innovative performers. In this episode, he joins Alex to explain the origin and design of the instrument, which he describes as the predecessor to the piano, and demystifies how to play it with some detailed examples. Max tells Alex about discovering the instrument at an early age, and the two discuss the importance of being present and judgment-free when playing. You’ll also hear clips from the jam session that happened during the recording.

Taking his roots from Irish and American folk music, Max has transplanted his compositional techniques to both Senegal, where he studied the Mandinko technique with the Cissoko griot family, and to India, where he received the prestigious American Institute of Indian Studies Fellowship grant to study under the world-renowned santoor master Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. His fresh perspective and bold experimentalism have been the backbone to beautiful, complex, and genuine compositions, while his unorthodox playing style has been a pioneering force in revolutionizing dulcimer techniques.

Max ZT and his band House of Waters have been called “One of the most original bands on the planet,” by NY Music Daily, and have shared the stage with some of the most influential international musical leaders of the century including Pt. Ravi Shankar, Tinariwen, Jon Bon Jovi, Jimmy Cliff, Bela Fleck, Karsh Kale, Snarky Puppy, and more. 

Max’s debut solo album Daybreak will be released on April 8. 


“You don't want this to sound like a piano or a guitar. You don't want the guitar to sound like a dulcimer. They’re beautiful as separate. And when you can combine these different elements, that's what's really beautiful.” - Max ZT

Moods & Modes is presented by Osiris Media. Hosted and Produced by Alex Skolnick. Osiris Production by Kirsten Cluthe and Brad Stratton. Editing and mixing by Tom Sullivan and Justin Thomas (Revoice Media). Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd.