The Keyboard Chronicles

Gigging, Gear and Great Music

Chick Corea

Jenny Conlee-Drizos, The Decemberists

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Jenny Conlee-Drizos is keyboard player with iconic band The Decemberists, as well as being a member of Black Prairie, KMRIA and more. We talk all of that and more, including some great chat on accordions and one of the best keyboard accessory invention suggestions we’ve heard!

To listen / watch:

  1. Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:
  2. Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel

Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):

Jenny discovers the piano

Caleb Klauder

Calobo live

The Decemberists – A Cautionary Song 

Meeting Colin Meloy and joining The Decemberists

The Decemberists – Once in My Life  (warning – you may need tissues when watching)

Jenny’s playing William Fitzwilliam

Jenny playing Burial Ground with The Decemberists live

Next recording sessions with The Decemberists

Jenny Playing with Black Prairie

Jenny playing with KMRIA (Kiss My Royal Irish Ass), a Pogues cover band

James Fearnley – The Pogues

Casey Neill and the Norway Rats -All You Pretty Vandals

Black Prairie – NPR Tiny Desk Concert

Jenny’s love for her Petosa Futura accordion (and here’s Jenny playing her other Petosa accordion)

Jenny’s touring rig with The Decemberists

Jenny’s solo upcoming accordion creation: The Seaview Suite (details here)

Jealous Butcher Records

Chick Corea – Children’s Song No. 1

Tag a keyboard player: Jay Gonzalez (Drive-By Truckers)

Keyboard amp discussion

Jenny’s garden

Desert Island Discs: Security / Self-titled – Peter Gabriel, Without A Net – The Grateful Dead, Houses of the Holy – Led Zeppelin, Automatic for the People – REM, Kind of Blue – Miles Davis.

Thanks to our supporters for this episode: Brother Paul Brown , Musicplayer.com forums, Tammy Katchur’s Musical Stew and Radio Grande

Cover pic from Eric Mayers via Jenny’s Instagram

Key links:

Buy some keyboard related merchandise

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Chris Norton, Cirque Du Soleil and Zappa Plays Zappa

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Chris Norton arguably has been part of two of the more stressful gigs a keyboard player can be involved in: band leading a Cirque Du Soleil show and playing as part of Dweezil Zappa’s Zappa Plays Zappa. Chris has not only manage to pull off both with aplomb, but has a career full of highlights and lots more on the horizon.

To listen / watch:

  1. Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:
  2. Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel

Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

What it’s like auditioning for Cirque Du Soleil (and getting the gig nine years later!)

Cirque Du Soleil: Axel

Timely cues or death!

Zappa Plays Zappa

Peaches En Regalia

Michael Whalen episode talking Zappa’s Synclaviers

Auditioning for Zappa Plays Zappa by making a video playing G-Spot Tornado

Playing with Chick Corea and Rachel Flowers

Chick Corea on a Viscount VIntage Vibe piano

Rachel Flowers plays ‘Montana’ with Zappa Plays Zappa

Tips for new players

Composing for film and TV

Composing for video games

Tag a keyboard player: Ty Bailie

Desert Island Discs: Either / Or – Elliott Smith, Whatever and Ever Amen – Ben Folds Five, A Wizard A True Star – Todd Rundgren, Waiting for Columbus – Little Feat, Joe’s Garage – Frank Zappa. Runners-up: Toy Matinee – Toy Matinee, Original Soundtrack – Undertale

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To help us keep the podcast running like a finely oiled machine, we do have a Patreon account if you’d like to contribute the cost of a small cup of coffee a month and receive bonus content

Finally, check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.