433 - Mike Dillon: His "Punkadelick" Trio, Rooting the Avant Garde in the Traditional, Making Creativity More Intentional

Mike Dillon's decades-long career as a vibraphonist, percussionist, and drummer has included work with Ani DiFranco, Les Claypool, Stanton Moore, Rikki Lee Jones, and many others. He has also led bands in his own right, the latest of which is Punkadelick, with Brian Haas on keys and Nikki Glaspie on drums. Their new record is called Inflorescence. When not on the road, Mike splits his time between New Orleans and Kansas City.

In this episode, Mike talks about:

• His new trio, Punkadelick with Brian Haas on kers and Nikki Glaspie on drums
• Finding his place at North Texas as a percussionist rather than a drumset player
• Committing to mastering the blues and jazz harmony in the improvisatory context
• The influence of Johnny Vidacovich as an improvisor
• How the scenes of Kansas City and New Orleans have shaped him
• How his wife, visual artist Peregrine Honig, has influenced his art and creative process