Episodes

  • Kenny Werner

    Kenny Werner
    Apr 8 2025
    In this episode, Alex welcomes pianist, composer, and educator Kenny Werner, author of the landmark book Effortless Mastery. Kenny’s teachings have revolutionized the way musicians think about practice, performance, and creativity. Though widely respected for his playing, Werner's profound influence as a teacher has often eclipsed his musical output—something this episode sets out to correct. Alex and Kenny dive deep into the philosophy behind Effortless Mastery, a system of learning and unlearning that helps musicians quiet their inner critics, accept where they are, and move forward with intention and ease. They also explore how spirituality, rhythm, and breathing all play essential roles in accessing “the space”—that elusive zone where creativity flows freely. Follow Alex @alexskolnick and Moods & Modes @moodsandmodes Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick and the Alex Skolnick Trio. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Studio Kairos. Resources & Links: Kenny Werner’s website & music: https://kennywerner.com Effortless Mastery (book and courses): EffortlessMastery.com Berklee’s Effortless Mastery Institute: Berklee.edu Alex’s Patreon: patreon.com/alexskolnick Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • Moon Zappa

    Moon Zappa
    Dec 21 2024
    Alex welcomes Moon Zappa to discuss her book, Earth To Moon, which explores the complexities of growing up in families characterized by narcissism and fame. Alex and Moon reflect on the legacies of their fathers, the impact of parental influence on artistic expression, and the notion that genius does not always translate into practical life skills. Moon shares her experience of finding refuge in artistic expression during her upbringing, recounts her journey of self-discovery, and tells Alex about her latest creative projects. Moon Unit Zappa is the daughter of legendary musician Frank Zappa and his second wife, Gail. At the age of fourteen, Moon appeared in Frank Zappa’s career defining music video, “Valley Girl,” which later helped jump-start her own career. Since then, Moon has worked as an actress, writer, comedian, artist, businesswoman, and podcaster. Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick and the Alex Skolnick Trio. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Studio Kairos. Follow Moon @iammoonunitzappa Follow Alex @alexskolnick @moodsandmodes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Borrowed Music, Volume 3

    Borrowed Music, Volume 3
    Oct 25 2024
    Welcome to Borrowed Music, Volume 3! Join Alex as he dives into another fascinating mix of music "inspired by" others, uncovering hidden connections across genres from classical and country to iconic film scores, TV themes, and radio hits we all know and love. Alex illustrates the threads binding songs and styles—hear how Nazareth and Heart share an unexpected arrangement, how Van Halen took a cover song to new heights, and how a classic TV theme inspired a reggae legend. As always, there are plenty of surprises! Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick and the Alex Skolnick Trio (and in this episode, PAKT). Episode cover photo by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Studio Kairos. Cover photo by Alex Skolnick. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • Carmine Street Guitars

    Carmine Street Guitars
    Aug 23 2024
    In this episode, Alex visits the iconic Carmine Street Guitars in New York City with his bandmates Percy Jones and Tim Motzer from PAKT. The shop, established by Rick Kelly, crafts distinctive guitars from reclaimed wood salvaged from the city's historic buildings. These guitars, known for their unique sound, have caught the attention of celebrated musicians such as Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Jim Jarmisch, Jamie Hince, and Daniel Kessler, to name a few. During their visit, Rick Kelly and his apprentice, Cindy Hulej—who has since launched her own brand, Cindy Guitars—delve into the shop's history, their meticulous guitar-making process, and anecdotes about their custom instruments and notable clients. This episode offers a rare glimpse into a one-of-a-kind shop where each piece tells a story of New York’s past, marrying craftsmanship with music history. Watch the Carmine Street documentary Listen to the Carmine Street podcast, The Bones of Old New York Follow Cindy Hulej @cindyguitars Follow Alex: @alexskolnick, @moodsandmodes, @alexskolnicktrio, @testamentofficial Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick and the Alex Skolnick Trio (and in this episode, PAKT). Episode cover photo by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Studio Kairos. See PAKT on tour! Upcoming dates: 8/26 at The Milestone Club, Charlotte, NC. 8/27 at The Grey Eagle, Asheville, NC. 8/28 at Kings Raleigh, Raleigh, NC. 8/29 at The Loft 129, Cumberland, MD. 8/30 at Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA. 9/1 ProgDay at Storybrook Farm, Chapel Hill, NC. 9/7 Williams Center, Rutherford, NJ. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Al Di Meola

    Al Di Meola
    Jul 5 2024
    Al Di Meola is a pioneer of blending world music, rock and jazz. His ongoing fascination for complex rhythmic syncopation, combined with provocative lyrical melodies and sophisticated harmony, has been the heart of his music throughout a celebrated career that has spanned over four decades. In this incredible episode, Al joins Alex to talk about his musical journey, the evolution of his guitar vocabulary, and the importance of work ethic. Alex and Al discuss the impact of technology on creativity, and Al reflects on the evolution of music and the enduring legacy of iconic musicians. Al Di Meola is a Grammy award winning musician who has achieved worldwide fame for both, being a solo artist and for his collaborations with Frank Zappa, Jimmy Page, Stevie Wonder, Chick Corea, Paco De Lucia, John McLaughlin, Jean-Luc Ponty, Stanley Clarke, Luciano Pavarotti, Paul Simon, Phil Collins, Santana, Steve Winwood, Herbie Hancock, and many more. Al Di Meola holds the highest amount of Guitar awards in different categories from Guitar Player magazine (US). Follow Al Di Meola Follow Alex @alexskolnick @moodsandmodes @alexskolnicktrio @testamentofficial Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick and the Alex Skolnick Trio. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Studio Kairos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Adam Dubin

    Adam Dubin
    May 20 2024
    In this episode, Alex welcomes filmmaker Adam Dubin, whose work includes iconic music videos by the likes of the Beastie Boys and Metallica, as well as documentaries such as Murder in the Front Row, about the SF Bay Area thrash scene of the ‘80s and “A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica.” Adam discusses working with his former NYU roommate, producer Rick Rubin, and the creative process behind projects with both The Beastie Boys and Metallica. Adam and Alex explore the intersection of music and film, and we get a sneak preview of Adam’s latest project, Traction Park Massacre, which includes Alex as composer of the film's score. Follow Adam Dubin Follow Alex @alexskolnick and @moodsandmodes Moods & Modes is hosted and produced by Alex Skolnick. Executive Producer: Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas. Music by Alex Skolnick. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Distributed by Osiris Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 41 mins
  • Mohini Dey

    Mohini Dey
    Mar 29 2024
    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 debut album “Mohini Dey”. 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. Follow Mohini Mohini Dey and @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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 27 mins
  • Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson

    Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson
    Jan 4 2024
    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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 25 mins