David Fleming

Near the end of October 2023, Chris Thayer put together a poster which represents - in order - bands and projects going from great 90’s rock, to love songs and lullabies, to the blues bands - both jump swing show bands and grittier, greasier explorations. An album with a guest or two on every track, and more introspection with other releases… 20 albums over the last 29ish years.When David Fleming and Chris spoke recently about his novels - and graphic novels, they also took the time to address the poster - in order - hearing about each band or project represented.We’ll hear about Stillwater Black, Chris Thayer Band, Chris Thayer and the TCB, Depravity Brothers, The Storybook Villains, C. W. Thayer and music to accompany a haunted pumpkin patch… personal music, and music share and to celebrate…

David Fleming speaks with Yngwie Malmsteen once again. On this edition of the program they touch on his newest, called "Parabellum." A PHENOMENAL release. We spoke a lot about his release prior to "Parabellum," "Blue Lightning." Three original tracks, the rest being covers which were not traditional blues tunes, but rather rock and pop tunes which leaned heavily in that direction. As he said, "It's not blues per se, but it's BLUESY," with covers of The Beatles, Clapton, ZZ Top, Hendrix and more. All with a hard, heavy drive, with an Yngwie stamp (to say the least). Just incredible! We also spoke about a really cool night sharing the stage with Steve Vai, an evening filled with incredible talent, and at time great humor.

Jazz vocalist Jonathan Karrant will be in the region QUITE soon! He'll be at Herb Alpert's Vibrato Grill Jazz on Thursday the 30th, and will be in San Diego in early December. His CD releases are all wonderful, wonderful, wonderful... and his latest, called "Eclectic," continues in the same vein - beautiful jazz arrangements on pop tunes, and thoughtful and moving arrangements on some of the standards. To see him live is special as well, with the delivery of just as much a storyteller as a singer. David Fleming continues his conversation with Jonathan focusing mainly on his newest release, and a couple singles out there as well. More at jonathankarrant.com.

David Fleming speaks with jazz vocalist Jonathan Karrant, mainly focusing on his newest release, "Eclectic." Once again we get a few sweet, sweet takes on a couple of standards (but again, not the overly used), as well as pop songs transformed into what should be some of the new jazz standards, and several which really paints Jonathan Karrant as not just a singer with a fantastic sense of arrangement and delivery, but also - a storyteller!

David Fleming speaks with Antonia Bennett about some of her past recordings, with a bit of a focus on "Embrace Me," a collection of standards. QUITE a collection here, filled with wonderful delivery and interpretation which comes from soaking in songs her entire life from The Great American Songbook. Just a BIT of course about her father, the late Tony Bennett as well.Also - as a child being around greats like Rosemary Clooney, Count Basie and more. WE touched on a few (a couple wonderful originals and one standard) from her upcoming album, which should be out in the early part of 2024, as well as a few NON-standards from her past. Oh yeah. "Love Is a Battlefield."

David Fleming speaks once again with Alberto and Tyler about Astronaut Samurais - with a bit of a new sound with Death Mountain, and examining what they may be doing in the near future.

From David Fleming: The celebration of KVC-Arts #500 continues!You've easily read something similar on a previous post or three. Every time I speak with Al Pitrelli (Music Director for, and one of the lead guitarist with, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), we're speaking about TSO's upcoming tour. Also every time, if I have 3, 5, 12 minutes left, I'll ask for a quick mention of one part or another of Al's extensive and varied career. Last time we spoke I just finally asked if we could do a NON-Trans-Siberian Orchestra at some point, to which he agreed. We not only arranged for such an interview, but it was also set to go for an extended length of time to be used for KVC-Arts #500. I was hoping for an hour... I closed at an hour and a half.Last KVC-Arts we heard primarily about Pitrelli's work with Randy Coven. Tonight we have a special one-hour edition of the program talking about music from, or his work with - get ready - Alice Cooper (where I ask if one of his most searing and soulful solos was, well, a segue), Dee Snider & Widowmaker, Asia, Morning Wood, lightly on Savatage, a bit of session work, a REALLY cool grouping with O'2L, touching only SLIGHTLY on TSO, and one more from his work with Randy Coven...I skipped over Megadeth, and other Savatage and TSO material...I'm sure there's some material in there I've forgotten to mention, but I can say confidently that the first half hour has (for the most part) more of the hard rock kinda stuff, and the second half more acoustic material. This was a FUN one to assemble!

On this edition of the program it's David Fleming in conversation with guitarist Ray Russell.It was Jimi Hendrix tapping at the window at 3 AM which made Ray Russell wake up. Jimi had locked himself out of the hotel and needed to be let back in. He was dressed pretty much how he would be on stage, which was pretty similar to how he dressed anyway. Ray let Jimi in (through the window) and over the next few hours they had a cup of tea and a wonderful conversation."The Conversation" is one of the tunes on "Fluid Architecture," Ray's newest release as of the time of OUR conversation. This collection of instrumentals ranges from jazz, some hard fusion, as well as some drifting, ethereal sonic soundscapes. Most of the tunes have multiple players, including the wonderful Simon Phillips. One is a beautiful acoustic piece which serves as a nice remembrance for a special friend.The different pieces represent more that just the sounds heard. They also reflect the changing - and fluid - situations and places which shape the music and emotions during which it was created. As Ray says, "The musicians that helped interpret the many 'moments' and helped the music 'become' are as important as the composition... for what they play is fluid architecture."I've loved many of Ray's releases. This one, the newest, is no different.

David Fleming welcomes Ben Stewart once again to talk about new Benjiphonik material, collaborations, covers, film scoring and more... AND an in studio performance of one of Benjiphonik's most recent releases! benjiphonik.com for more.

On this edition of KVC-Arts, David Fleming speaks once again with Ashley Eddy. She was on the previous edition of the program talking about the recent production of Little Shop of Horrors, and the exciting opportunities that led to. Now, among other things we’ll hear about The Redlands theatre festival. This year the Redlands Theatre Festival is running in repertory Arsenic and Old Lace, Anton Chekov’s The Seagull, Urinetown – The Musical, Head Over Heels, and The Curious Incident of The Dog In the Nighttime. rtfseason.com for more.