Moods & Modes

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Legendary bassist Stu Hamm joins Alex on this episode to talk about Hold Fast, Stu’s latest album, on which Alex is a featured player. Recorded in Estonia during Stu’s Bass Oasis, the two discuss the tracks on the album, the role of bass in musical composition, and Stu shares his approach to playing and collaboration. Alex reflects on the first time he saw Stu perform and how he handled auditioning to tour with Stu, and the two reminisce about touring together in the nineties.  Stu Hamm is known for his technical prowess, melodic creativity, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of the bass. He rose to prominence as the bassist for Joe Satriani and his playing became synonymous with innovative tapping and slapping techniques, setting him apart as a trailblazer in the world of bass guitar. He has also had a prolific solo career and has worked with a wide array of artists, including Steve Vai, Frank Gambale, and many others. Stu is also a music educator and leads clinics and workshops around the world. Listen to Hold Fast here Follow Stu at stuhamm.com and @stueybass 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

On this episode, renowned guitarist and improviser Adam Levy joins Alex at a cafe in Brooklyn to talk about the incredible list of artists he’s worked with, including Norah Jones, Tracy Chapman, and Ani DiFranco. The two discuss his approach to playing as well as the styles of the world-class musicians they both know and love, and the instrumental project that Adam led during the pandemic that inspired some of Alex’s new music. Adam and Alex dive into the early days of Adam’s career, and Adam explains how he’s seamlessly moved between being a player, a writer, and a guitar educator. Adam Levy is a session guitarist who has played on releases by Norah Jones, Ani DiFranco, Amos Lee, Jill Sobule, Tracy Chapman, Allen Toussaint, and many others. He’s also a respected writer and educator, and has written numerous articles for Guitar Player, Fretboard Journal, and other top guitar magazines. Follow Adam at adamlevy.com and @adamlevyguitar 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.

Karina Rykman plays bass, sings, jumps around, and laughs a lot. Straddling the worlds of jam rock and indie pop drenched in psychedelia, Karina’s effervescent presence comes to life in musical form. She joins Alex on this episode to talk about the making of her debut album Joyride, learning to hustle as a musician at a young age, and the impact that Pat Metheny had on her playing. Karina tells Alex about working with Trey Anastasio on the new record, and the unexpected moment that led to a special gift from Rush.  Listen to Karina's debut album, Joyride. Follow Karina karinarykman.com and @karinarykman 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.

Four-time Grammy Award winner Antonio Sánchez joins Alex to talk about his latest release, Shift, and how he connected with the incredible list of musicians who contributed to the album. The two discuss Antonio’s recent move to Spain, his approach to building drum parts, and where he got the inspiration to use the term “Bad Hombre”. Antonio Sanchez began playing the drums at age five and performed professionally in his early teens in Mexico’s rock, jazz and latin scenes. Since moving to New York City in 1999, Antonio has become one of the most sought-after drummers in the international jazz scene. One of the most revered collaborators with guitarist/composer Pat Metheny, Antonio has also recorded and performed with many other most prominent artists like Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Michael Brecker, Charlie Haden and Toots Thielmans.  Sánchez’s new album SHIFT (Bad Hombre Vol. II) on Warner Music features Sánchez playing virtually every instrument on the album — in addition to being its producer. SHIFT features Trent Reznor, Dave Mathews, Kimbra, Ana Tijoux, Meshell Ndegeocello and more.. Follow Antonio at AntonioSanchez.net and @antoniodrums1 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.