The Keyboard Chronicles

Gigging, Gear and Great Music

David Bowie

Dave Weiser, Sound Designer and Kurzweil expert

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Dave Weiser is one of those players who makes the difference between a show going ahead or otherwise. Dave’s main gig is ensuring a smooth keyboard sound experience for some of the world’s biggest stage musical productions. On top of that, Dave is a Kurzweil subject matter expert and children’s book author.

To listen / watch:

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

The Boy Who Wanted To Rock (and The Girl Who Wanted To Rock) books

Partnering with Stuart Andrews to work in musicals

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hands-on approach to sounds

Stage musicals and evolving entities in relation to sounds

Worldwide transition from Kurzweil PC3K to K2700

How the Kurzweil PC3K was essentially created for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals

Rod Argent’s role in Phantom of the Opera and Cats

The end-to-end process from planning to opening night, including the Sitzprobe

Dave’s favourite musical

Experiences of first job in stage musicals and programming circa 2100 patches for 3 players.

Working with David Bowie

Working with Jon Carin (Roger Waters / Pink Floyd)

Heart – Misty Mountain Hop

Working at Kurzweil

Is Kurzweil’s VAST architecture actually that hard to use?

Dave’s start in music

Dave’s train wreck story, and it’s the most unique one yet. 

Tips for those wanting to get into the industry

Working with Darian Sahanaja on Brian Wilson’s Smile album

NBC 2018 Production of Jesus Christ Superstar

Rig tour 

Desert Island Discs: Stage – David Bowie, Man-Child – Herbie Hancock, Never For Ever – Kate Bush, Stop Making Sense – Talking Heads, Drama – Yes.

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

Key links:

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

Richard Hilton, Nile Rodgers and CHIC

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Richard Hilton has had one rich, ongoing career as a keyboard player and producer.  This career and dedication to the craft has created a great musician with an amazing outlook on life and music more broadly. 

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):

Nile Rodgers and Chic Live

Working with Nile Rodgers

Playing guitar with Eric Clapton

How and why Chic are ‘loaded with love and forgiveness’ for each other

Historical division of keyboard duties in Chic with current line-up and previous line-ups (Russell Graham, Phillipe Saisse, Katreese Barnes)

Rich’s rig

Chic Live at the Budokan 1996

Admiration for Kerry Minnear, Steve Winwood, Elton John, David Bowie

Jump They Say – David Bowie

Working with a Synclavier for Bowie

Gentle Giant – ‘Proclamation’ Official Fan Video

Working with Ric Ocasek

Ric Ocasek – Rockaway (from Fireball Zone)

Rich’s tips for upcoming players (highly recommended listening)

Tag a keyboard player: Cory Henry

Cory Henry playing the Harpejji

Rich’s obsession with the Roli Seaboard (and chamber music)

Desert Island Discs: Meet The Beatles – The Beatles, Are You Experienced? – Jimi Hendrix, The Inner Mounting Flame – Mahavishnu Orchestra, A Love Supreme – John Coltrane, Debut: The Clef / Mercury Duo Recordings 1949-1951 – Oscar Peterson

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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.