New York-based Percussionist, Recording Artist, Researcher and Educator Michael Jones stops by to talk about his current teaching job at Bard College (NY) and his work throughout the school (04:40), how his graduate studies at UC-San Diego influenced his solo CD projects (17:30), his philosophical research on ontology and percussion instrument ideology and modernity, and questions about what “total percussion” means today (30:30), growing up in Connecticut, his progressive metal music background, high school band, and his involvement in the Live Action Role-Playing community (58:25), his undergrad years at the Hartt School of Music (CT) and studying under Ben Toth and many of the other faculty there (01:12:45), more about his graduate work at UCSD, studying under Steven Schick, and many of his UCSD student colleagues (01:25:35), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on the impact of YouTube on young musicians, discussions of mental health, metal music, great books, and the San Diego Superbloom (01:39:40).
Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 documentary Earth, Wind & Fire (02:08:20).
Michael Jones Links:
Michael Jones’ Bard College page
Previous Podcast Guests mentioned:
Other Links:
The Percussionist’s Art - Steven Schick
Unsound Supplies - Fanny Gribenski (editor)
Writing the Implosion - Joseph Dumit
From Me Flows What You Call Time - Toru Takemitsu
“Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird” - Lukas Foss
“Bone Alphabet” - Brian Ferneyhough
“Persephassa” - Iannis Xenakis
Zen and the Art of Archery - Eugene Herrigel
Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer
Rakesfall - Vajra Chandrasekera
Swann’s Way - Marcel Proust (Lydia Davis translation)
Raves: