Go with Elmo Lovano

94. Jimmy Jam: Drum Machines, Synths, Tape to Digital, AI & the Future of Music (Plus MJ, Janet, Prince)

Episode 94: Jimmy Jam. Our first live audience interview! Jimmy Jam has lived through every major jump in music technology over the last five decades: drum machines, synths, MIDI, sampling, tape to digital recording, DAWs, and now AI. Together with Terry Lewis, he helped shape entire eras during these transitions, from Prince to Janet, Michael and beyond. Again and again, he showed that technology does not kill music. Musicians adapt, and the music adapts with them. In this conversation, we explore the real history behind the tools that changed everything, the fear curve that always appears during each breakthrough, and what today’s AI moment looks like through the eyes of someone who lived through many of the most important shifts in music technology. If you want to understand where music is going, you have to understand how we got here. Jimmy Jam has one of the clearest perspectives in the world on that journey. We recorded this in front of a sold out audience at the Abundance Institute’s Creative Frontiers event, and I could not imagine a better guest to talk about this moment in music history with. This is an important conversation, let's keep it going. Join us in the comments with your thoughts and questions, and let’s keep learning together. 'Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights. Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated! https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, Zoom hangs, invite only events, and discussions about music and music careers. Listen to the audio form of this podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://elmolovano.komi.io/ The Abundance Institute is a mission-driven nonprofit focused on creating space for emerging technologies to grow, thrive, and have a chance to reach their full potential. Abundance hosts Creative Frontiers to bring artists, builders, and policy-influencers together to shape the future of creativity. Subscribe: https://creativefrontier.substack.com/ Website: https://abundance.institute/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abundanceinstitute/ Filmed LIVE at The Recording Club in Santa Monica https://www.therecording.club/ Follow Jimmy Jam: https://www.instagram.com/flytetymejam/ Follow Go With Elmo: https://www.instagram.com/gowithelmo/ https://www.tiktok.com/@gowithelmo https://x.com/gowithelmopod Follow Elmo Lovano: https://Instagram.com/elmolovano https://x.com/elmolovano Follow Jammcard: https://www.youtube.com/@jammcardhttps://www.instagram.com/jammcard/ jammcard.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

93. Christian McBride Pt. 2: Chick Corea, James Brown, GRAMMYs, Drummer Legends, Leadership

Episode 93: Christian McBride Part 2. He's back! Nine-time GRAMMY winner Christian McBride returns for Part 2 of our conversation. In this episode we pick up where he becomes a bandleader and makes his first album. From there we cover his journey through leadership, creativity, and legacy. We talk about his work with Chick Corea, his solo albums, and the moments that earned him nine GRAMMY Awards. Christian shares stories about the drummer greats he has played with including Jack DeJohnette, Tony Williams, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Brian Blade, as well as his collaboration and relationship with James Brown. It is a two-hour conversation full of stories, laughter, and insight from one of the most influential figures in jazz. Christian is an amazing storyteller and we had a blast recording this one. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Here's Part 2 of my interview with the legend, Christian McBride! ‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights. Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated! https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, Zoom hangs, invite only events, and discussions about music and music careers. Listen to the audio form of this podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://elmolovano.komi.io/ Follow Christian: https://www.instagram.com/chrmcbride/ Follow Go With Elmo: https://www.instagram.com/gowithelmo/ https://www.tiktok.com/@gowithelmo https://x.com/gowithelmopod Follow Elmo Lovano: https://Instagram.com/elmolovano https://x.com/elmolovano Follow Jammcard: https://www.youtube.com/@jammcard jammcard.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

92. Joe Lovano: Grammy-Winning Jazz Saxophonist, Blue Note Icon, Berklee Legend & His Career Journey

Episode 92: Joe Lovano. Joe Lovano is one of the greatest musicians of all time. A Grammy-winning saxophonist who's been on the cover of DownBeat magazine multiple times (as well as many others), a Blue Note Records legend with 25 releases, a Berklee alum, and he holds the Gary Burton Chair in Jazz Performance at Berklee College of Music, which he’s had since 2001. He also happens to be my cousin and one of the biggest inspirations and mentors in my life. This was our first time ever doing something like this together. A 3-hour deep dive interview that covers (nearly) his entire career. We go into our family history, growing up in Cleveland, our Sicilian roots, his father Tony “Big T” Lovano, and how that shaped his sound and spirit. We talk about his time with Elvin Jones, Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Charlie Haden, Esperanza Spalding, Michael Brecker, McCoy Tyner, Paul Motian, Bill Frisell, Hank Jones, Dave Holland, Joshua Redman, Al Foster, and many more. Joe shares lessons from decades of leading bands, developing tone, mentoring young players, and living a full creative life with his wife of 50 years, Judi Silvano. Joe is one of the greatest musicians alive, a music historian, and an incredible educator and mentor. Here is my interview with one of my favorite people, Joe Lovano.The Music Settlement Scholarship Donation: https://www.themusicsettlement.org/donate?utm_source=Master+List&utm_campaign=a5cff9ca09-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_JoeLovano2025&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1bd2f9c4a7-a5cff9ca09-434756824 ‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights. Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated! https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, Zoom hangs, invite only events, and discussions about music and music careers. Listen to the audio form of this podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://elmolovano.komi.io/ Follow Joe: https://www.instagram.com/joelovanojazz/ Follow Go With Elmo: https://www.instagram.com/gowithelmo/ https://www.tiktok.com/@gowithelmo https://x.com/gowithelmopod Follow Elmo Lovano: https://Instagram.com/elmolovano https://x.com/elmolovano Follow Jammcard: https://www.youtube.com/@jammcard jammcard.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

91. Christian McBride Pt. 1: Philly, Questlove, Wynton Marsalis, Miles Davis, Joey DeFrancesco

Episode 91: Christian McBride. Nine-time GRAMMY winner Christian McBride is one of the most influential jazz artists in the game. His collaborations span icons like Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, James Brown, and Sting. He’s the leader of multiple acclaimed bands including the Christian McBride Big Band, Inside Straight, and New Jawn. He also serves as the host of NPR’s Jazz Night in America and was the Artistic Director of the Newport Jazz Festival for a decade. His story is incredible, and we’re setting the stage here with Part 1, The Early Years. Growing up in Philadelphia, Christian was surrounded by greatness. His high school classmates included Questlove, Black Thought, Joey DeFrancesco, and Kurt Rosenwinkel, just to name a few. In this episode, we talk about those formative years, the Philly music scene, and how he broke into the spotlight with Wynton Marsalis and Freddie Hubbard, along with the wild story of his rare opportunity to play for Miles Davis. We also get into his professional mentality, early lessons on leadership, and what it took to earn respect from legends while still a teenager. Christian is an amazing storyteller, and this conversation is full of history, heart, and laughs. We had the best time recording this one, so I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Lets go! Special thanks to Apogee Electronics. We used their Apogee HypeMic and Podcast Kit in this episode and they sounded great. Check it out! Apogee HypeMic & Podcast Kit: https://hubs.li/Q03zczhb0 ‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights. Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated! https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, Zoom hangs, invite only events, and discussions about music and music careers. Listen to the audio form of this podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://elmolovano.komi.io/ Follow Christian: https://www.instagram.com/chrmcbride/ Follow Go With Elmo: https://www.instagram.com/gowithelmo/ https://www.tiktok.com/@gowithelmo https://x.com/gowithelmopod Follow Elmo Lovano: https://Instagram.com/elmolovano https://x.com/elmolovano Follow Jammcard: https://www.youtube.com/@jammcard jammcard.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

90. Chance the Rapper: The Story Behind the Biggest Independent Artist in the World

Episode 90: Chance the Rapper. Chance the Rapper is one of the biggest independent artists in the history of music. He’s a multiple GRAMMY winner, including Best New Artist, Best Rap Album, and Best Rap Performance. He’s hosted Saturday Night Live twice, been the musical guest three times, headlined the world’s biggest festivals, and done it all without a record label. He’s the definition of a creative entrepreneur and a true leader. In this conversation, we dive deep into how Chance built his career, how he operates his entire musical and business ecosystem, his mentality as an owner, and what he’s like as a leader. We talk about lessons from independence and entrepreneurship, his role as a father, a creative, and a community builder, and how he’s evolved from Acid Rap all the way to Star Line. Chance is an incredible human with amazing energy, a big heart, and a strong drive. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the great, Chance The Rapper. Subscribe for more conversations with the world’s greatest musicians. ‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights. https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, Zoom hangs, invite only events, and discussions about music and music careers. Listen to the audio form of this podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://elmolovano.komi.io/ Follow Chance: https://www.instagram.com/chancetherapper/ Follow Go With Elmo: https://www.instagram.com/gowithelmo/ https://www.tiktok.com/@gowithelmo https://x.com/gowithelmopod Follow Elmo Lovano: https://Instagram.com/elmolovano https://x.com/elmolovano Follow Jammcard: https://www.youtube.com/@jammcard jammcard.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]