Eric Krasno Plus One

On this episode of Eric Krasno Plus One, Kraz talks with Snarky Puppy founder and bassist Michael League. League has led Snarky Puppy from an ambitious group of college musicians to become one of the most dynamic and proficient bands in the world. The group is so talented that during this interview, League lists himself as the “4th best bast player” in the band. Snarky Puppy’s daring fusion of an eclectic range of music has earned them three Grammy Awards over the last 8 years. In this...

This week on Eric Krasno Plus One, Kraz talks with acclaimed saxophonist Karl Denson, who is best known for co-founding The Greyboy Allstars. He also founded Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, a relentlessly funky septet that has made their presence known in all corners of the music world with their dynamic touch and irresistible grooves. Denson also plays sax for The Rolling Stones, has played with Lenny Kravitz, Slightly Stoopid, and many other world-renowned artists. In this episode Kraz and...

This week on Eric Krasno Plus One, Eric talks with world-renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis. Marsalis is a one-of-a-kind musician with a profound understanding of his craft, and in this episode his connection with his art form is on full display. At an early age Marsalis’ talents were recognized by other musicians, and as a result he’s amassed a discography that extends far beyond his own name to include collaborations with fabled superstars such as Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Ornette...

This week on Eric Krasno Plus One, Eric talks with low-end legend Christian McBride. McBride has been a standout jazz bassist since the late 80’s, and has performed with a wild list of fellow superstars such as James Brown, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Ray Brown, and Chick Corea. McBride is often praised for his ability to make swinging jazz bass lines sound funky, which they discuss in-depth in the conversation. In one of Kraz’s most intimate interviews to date, he and his longtime friend...

This week on Eric Krasno Plus One, Eric talks with drum-phenom Joe Russo. Russo has been involved in many extraordinary musical ventures throughout his career- Furthur, Benevento/Russo Duo, and Shpongle to name a few- but he has gained monumental praise from jam band fans over the last 8 years for his sensational drumming in Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. JRAD takes the music of The Grateful Dead to new heights through deeply experimental improvisation and sky-brushing peaks, and Russo has been at...

On this week’s episode, Kraz talks with G. Love, frontman of G. Love & Special Sauce. G. Love & Special Sauce have made a name for themselves by fusing together blues and hip hop influences to create a unique sound of their own- their style is soulfully inclusive, and a standout example of the 90’s phenomenon that is the birth of niche genres. G. Love’s big touring plans for 2020 were put on hold due to coronavirus, but the group’s patience was rewarded with a Grammy nomination for their...

On this week’s episode Kraz talks with Robert Randolph, frontman of Robert Randolph and the Family Band. Randolph is one of the most galvanizing performers in modern music. His band brings an invigorating swagger to the blues, and the way that Randolph combines gospel, funk, and high-energy rock n’ roll makes for an exhilarating listening experience. They have been critically recognized with four Grammy nominations, and Randolph was ranked as one of the top 100 Greatest Guitarists by Rolling...

On this episode of Plus One Eric talks with Duane Betts and Devon Allman, founding members of The Allman Betts Band. Devon and Duane each have had distinguished solo careers, but it was inevitable that one day the two would team up to revitalize their long-running familial musical connection. The Allman Betts Band formed in 2018 and kicked off their new musical endeavor with a well-received 2019 tour of the U.S., including several European dates. Having grown up on the road enraptured with...

On this episode of Plus One Eric talks with Dave Schools, founding member and powerhouse bassist of Widespread Panic. Widespread Panic has been an elite-level act in the jam scene for over three decades, and they are known for their ​lively fusion of southern rock, funk, and good time rock n’ roll​. The band has gone through numerous lineup changes over the course of their lengthy career, and Schools has bumped the band along with his multifaceted six-string bass style since the very...

On this episode of Plus One Eric talks with George Porter Jr., funk-master and founding member of The Meters. Porter is a New Orleans legend, but his slick playing and deep-pocket grooves have made him a 4-string-fable across the globe. While Porter has touched on many musical styles throughout his career, there is an undeniable hint of Crescent City soul in just about every word he speaks during this colorful conversation. In this episode, Porter and Kraz talk about the origin story of The...

On this episode of Plus One Eric talks with bass-extraordinaire Oteil Burbridge, who is best known for his playing with the Allman Brothers Band and Dead & Co. Oteil’s musical resume is next-level; in addition to playing with the aforementioned groups, Oteil is also a founding member of The Aquarium Rescue Unit and Tedeschi Trucks Band, and has worked with Col. Bruce Hampton, Trey Anastasio, Page McConnell, Bill Kreutzmann, and many other legendary artists. The conversation is too lively to...

On this episode of Plus One Eric talks with keyboard and organ virtuoso Cory Henry. Best known for his masterful keyboard playing with Snarky Puppy, Cory has recently gained recognition for his music with the Funk Apostles and for his new solo album, Something to Say. We already knew that Henry is an improvisational mastermind, and the new album showcases his ability to blend contrasting colors of the musical palette in a studio setting. Henry has taken advantage of quarantine by making as...

On this episode of Plus One Eric talks with guitarist, singer, and songwriter John Oates of the legendary pop duo Daryl Hall & John Oates. Hardly requiring an introduction, Daryl Hall & John Oates created music that has defied generational confinement, and since their formation in 1970 they’ve solidified themselves as one of the greatest pop acts of all time, selling an estimated 40 million records including six No. 1 hits. This jam-packed hour guides the listener through the dynamic...

On this week's Plus One, Eric speaks with the one and only Reggie Watts. Reggie and Kraz go way back, having toured together in the early 2000s. Reggie has gone on to a successful career as a band leader for both a fake late night talk show and now a very real one. Reggie spent several years on the show COMEDY BANG BANG before being asked to serve as bandleader and comic foil to James Corden on THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH JAMES CORDEN, airing weeknights on CBS. Eric and Reggie discuss Reggie's...

On this episode of Plus One Eric talks with guitarist and songwriter ​Denise Kaufman​ of Ace of Cups,one the first all-female rock bands. Coming up in the late 60's ​in the Haight-Ashbury scene, The Ace of Cups made a splash in clubs throughout the Bay Area, and opened at larger venues for legendary acts including Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, and The Band. Ace of Cups have also contributed backup vocals on several albums including Jefferson Airplane's Volunteers​ and Mike Bloomfield's...

On this episode of Plus One Eric talks with guitarist and songwriter Cory Wong, whose intricate rhythmic style and eclectic solo projects have propelled him to prominence in the jazz and funk world. Widely exalted for his ambitious and genre-fusing solo projects, Wong has also received critical recognition for his playing with Vulfpeck, who have erupted through the underground indie scene to plant themselves as a modern-day staple for funk music listeners. In 2019, Vulfpeck became the first...

On this episode of Plus One Eric talks with legendary banjo player Béla Fleck, whose innovative style and extensive discography have cemented his legacy in the bluegrass community and beyond. Fleck is best-known for his playing with New Grass Revival and with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, and is widely acknowledged for fusing elements of bluegrass, jazz, and traditional African music. Throughout the Covid pandemic Fleck has been working on various recording and mixing projects, while...

On this episode of Plus One Eric talks with guitarist and folk singer Ani DiFranco, who’s gained critical recognition in the neo-Americana folk world for unaffectedly blending her eclectic sound with socially and politically charged lyrics. She is also widely accredited for mothering the DIY movement in music. DiFranco started her own record label, Righteous Babe, when she was 19 and has since released 22 studio albums. In 2019 she put out a memoir, titled No Walls and the Recurring Dream,...

On this episode of Plus One Eric welcomes Theo Katzman, drummer, guitarist, and vocalist for the funk band Vulfpeck, who’ve used masterful marketing and creative music videos to amass an enormous underground following. In 2019 Vulfpeck became the first band without a manager or record label to sell out Madison Square Garden, and in 2020 they’re continuing to push the boundaries of independent music. Earlier this year Theo released his third solo record entitled “Modern Johnny Sings: Songs...

On this episode of Plus One Eric welcomes singer and songwriter Son Little, whose blend of sonic and production styles hits a new level with his latest record “Aloha”, which he calls “aggressive lounge R&B”. Little talks with Kraz about how Stevie Wonder and Prince were breakthrough influences for him, and the two reminisce about first meeting each other at a recording session with The Roots, who have featured Son Little on multiple albums. Eric and Son have collaborated on other projects...