Explore every episode of the podcast The Gifts of Improvising

Reed talks process and creativity with JRAD keyboardist Marco Benevento and Disco Biscuits keyboardist Aron Magner, and he asks fans the question "Who Is Joe Russo?"

Reed travels to Jay Lane's studio to discuss drumming with Bob Weir and John Mayer, seeing Jaco Pastorius play as a teenager, and Jay lists his favorite 80's dance jams.

Reed hangs with JRAD guitarist Tom Hamilton to discuss panic attacks, innovation, mediocrity, and Tom lists his 10 favorite Dylan songs of all time.  

Reed and Ween/JRAD bassist Dave Dreiwitz remember and honor Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, and Dave describes his mom's tuba lessons.

Reed talks jazz and copycats with Headhunters drummer Mike Clark, funk icon Robert Walter, and saxophone assassin Skerik sings the praises of Jennifer Hartswick. 

Reed talks with pianist Holly Bowling about total burnout, performing solo, Phish as an improv team, and Holly stage-crashes a Benevento show.  

Reed gets real about breakups, reconciliations, and optimism with pianist Brian Haas and drummer Jason Smart (aka the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey), and some of Brian's trash talk gets bleeped.

Reed gets a Brazillian Music history lesson from singer Natalie Cressman, and singer Elliott Peck recounts some of Phil Lesh's last wisdoms.

Reed talks improvisation and Bob Dylan with guitar guru Steve Kimock and keyboard wizard Adam MacDougall, and we hear a tragic tale of injury and resilience from The Jazz Thug. We also talk to bass player extraordinaire Giulio Xavier Cetto.

Reed sees "A Complete Unknown" and needs to talk about it, so he reaches out to Virginia songwriter Nathan Moore, New Orleans Musicologist Jeremy Korpas, and even Reed's next door neighbor Jane!  And we hear an incredible improvised rendition of "It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding"

Reed discusses the genius of drummer Bill Kreutzmann with sometime-teammates Daniel Donato, Andrew Barr, Jason Hann, and Jeff Franca in Part One of this two-part episode.