The Keyboard Chronicles

Peter Dasent is an incredibly versatile pianist, composer, and musical director best known for his long tenure as the resident keyboardist on ABC’s Play School, a role he has held for over two decades. While he is well known for his daily on-set improvisations for children, his impressive resume also includes leading his chamber-jazz ensemble The Umbrellas for over 30 years, as well as composing soundtracks for early Peter Jackson films like Meet The Feebles and Heavenly Creatures. We chat with Peter about that amazing history, his approach to playing and composing across so many different genres, and lots more.

To listen / watch:


Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:

Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel




Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

The iconic, and Cookie Monster endorsed, Play School, turns 60

Peter’s musical upbringing

Forming SPATS alongside Fane Flaws

SPATS – New Wave Goodbye

Joining The Crocodiles alongside the brilliant Jenny Morris

The Crocodiles – Telephone Lover

The very interesting Kim Fowley

Peter’s admiration of Steve Nieve’s work

The Crocodiles – Tears

The underadmired (and according to Peter, Mushroom Records’ worst selling album ever): I Am Joe’s Music (Self-Titled)

The inimitable Lobby Loyde

Formation of The Umbrellas

The Umbrellas live

Some timely advice from Don Burrows

Moving into film composition

Peter’s work on Peter Jackson’s Meet The Feebles

The composition and recording process for Meet The Feebles

Working on Peter Jackson’s  Braindead / Dead Alive

The legendary E-mu Proteus 2

Working on Peter Jackon’s Heavenly Creatures

Working as the Pianist on Play School

Discussion on the level of improvisation required on set of Play School

Pivoting on the fly between musical genres on Play School

Working with Justine Clarke

Peter in action live with Justine Clarke

Peter’s solo work including Songs for Solo Piano

Peter in action in Studio 3 at Abbey Road

Sterling Sound in New York

Desert Island Discs: Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles, Satie: Works for Piano – Aldo Ciccolini, Plays Duke Ellington – Thelonius Monk, The Fellini Album: The Film Music of Nino Rota: Nino Rota, Hot Rats – Frank Zappa.

Key links:

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Buy some keyboard related merchandise





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Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.
The post Peter Dasent, Pianist / Play School / The Umbrellas appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.

Peter Sandberg is a Swedish neo-classical and electronic pianist and composer based in Uppsala. Known for his minimalist, felt-piano compositions and atmospheric textures, he has released several acclaimed albums including Motion, Återvända, and Midnattssol. Beyond his solo work, Sandberg’s music has reached a wide audience through high-profile placements in television series such as Stranger Things, as well as collaborations with artists like Henry Green and Arctic Lake. We chat on Peter’s career as a whole and his new album Temporary Coexistence of Humans.

To listen / watch:


Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:

Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel




Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

Peter’s album Temporary Coexistence of Humans

A discussion on the album themes and ‘sitting at the piano’ approach to recording

Developing an intimate sound for piano

Milab / Pearl Microphones

Peter Sandberg – Motion

Peter’s recording keyboard rig beyond the piano

Hologram Electronics

Peter Sandberg – Deep

Peter’s song Deep as featured on Stranger Things

How Peter’s song was found and placed on the show

Peter’s musical upbringing and a key ‘sliding doors’ moment

Peter’s live performance rig

Desert Island Discs:  None (explained by Peter in the interview)

Key links:

Become a member of our YouTube channel and receive extra content

Buy some keyboard related merchandise





Drop us a line via the website, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Threads, BlueSky, TikTok or LinkedIn

Complete our audience survey to help us improve!





Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.
The post Peter Sandberg, Pianist and Composer appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.

Greg Kane is one half of iconic outfit Hue And Cry, which has been producing music for well over 40 years. We chat with Greg on that amazing history, his approach to production and playing, and lots more.

To listen / watch:


Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:

Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel




Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

Hue And Cry’s latest album, Everybody

Working with the brilliant Yoad Nevo

Thoughts on Behringer and the Deepmind 12

Hue And Cry – Stronger

Greg’s love for the ASM Hydrasynth and the Moog DFAM

Sam Battle’s museum: This Museum Is (Not) Obsolete

When you connect 27 synths with MIDI clock

The formation of Hue And Cry

Hue And Cry in action live in 2025

Hue And Cry – Here Comes Everybody

Hue And Cry – I Refuse

Hue And Cry’s iconic song Labour of Love

Hue And Cry appear on Top of the Pops

Dealing with a hit and travelling to New York for recording

When you’re in the vicinity of Sam Fox and David Byrne

Breakfast with Petrocelli

The Possible Twenty bar in New York

The joy of custom DX7 and D-50 cartridges from Manny’s Music

A chat on instrumentation and Hue And Cry’s 1995 album ‘Piano & Voice‘

Hue And Cry – Looking for Linda

When Michael Brecker asks you to play in front of McCoy Tyner

Arranging brass/horns and working with Harold Wheeler and Lenny Pickett

Hue And Cry’s Jazz Not Jazz

Greg’s current keyboard rig with Hue And Cry – 100% live, no backing tracks

Desert Island Discs: Do It Yourself – Ian Dury & the Blockheads, Look Sharp! – Joe Jackson, Self-titled – The Specials, Kind of Blue – Miles Davis, I Heard That Noise – quickly, quickly.

Key links:

Become a member of our YouTube channel and receive extra content

Buy some keyboard related merchandise





Drop us a line via the website, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Threads, BlueSky, TikTok or LinkedIn

Complete our audience survey to help us improve!





Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.
The post Greg Kane, Hue And Cry appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.

Erik Deutsch is an American keyboard player currently touring with The Black Crowes. While he is well known for his extensive live and session work—including time spent with Leftover Salmon and Charlie Hunter—Erik is also a dedicated solo artist with a diverse catalogue of original jazz and funk releases. We chat with Erik about his career to date, how he balances major touring commitments with his solo output, and the gear he relies on for the road. A huge thanks to guest co-host Sandy Soon for joining us as well!

To listen / watch:


Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:

Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel




Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

Erik’s website

Erik Deutsch – This Was Then

Erik playing Martha live in 2025

The music scene in Mexico City versus New York York

Erik’s musical upbringing

Erik’s first band Fat Mama

Erik in action with Fat Mama (2000)

Joining County Road X

Working in a trio with the brilliant Art Lande

Joining the Charlie Hunter Trio

Erik in action with the Charlie Hunter Trio 

Charlie Hunter – Baboon Strength

Joining Shooter Jennings

Erik in action with Shooter Jennings in 2011

Working with Citizen Cope

Erik’s keyboard rig with Citizen Cope

Joining Leftover Salmon

Erik playing with Leftover Salmon, 2017

Approach to long touring periods

Erik joins The Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks) and perhaps sets the record for the shortest gigging employment with a band

Erik in action on the one and only song he played with The Chicks

Discussion on female instrumentalists and barriers / opportunities

Joining The Black Crowes

Erik in action with The Black Crowes

The level of playing freedom at a Black Crowes gig

Erik’s keyboard rig with The Black Crowes

Erik’s work on The Black Crowes’ album Happiness Bastards

Erik’s ‘front of stage’ train/bus wreck

Erik’s own amazing podcast – Sounds of Brooklyn and Beyond

Desert Island Discs:  Moon Safari – Air, Kind of Blue – Miles Davis, Treasure Island – Keith Jarrett, Illmatic – Nas, Music from Big Pink – The Band

Key links:

Become a member of our YouTube channel and receive extra content

Buy some keyboard related merchandise





Drop us a line via the website, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Threads, BlueSky, TikTok or LinkedIn

Complete our audience survey to help us improve!





Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.
The post Erik Deutsch, The Black Crowes / Solo Artist appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.

J. Willgoose, Esq. is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer best known as the founding member of the conceptual electronic rock group Public Service Broadcasting. Blending vintage synthesizers, samplers, and traditional instrumentation with extensive archival audio, he is recognized for constructing thematic musical narratives based around historical events. Known for his focused approach to sequencing and live looping, Willgoose effectively integrates old broadcast samples and public information films into atmospheric electronic and rock textures across albums like The Race for Space and Every Valley. We chat his and PSB’s career to date and get some great insights into what is an incredibly complicated live show.

To listen / watch:


Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:

Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel




Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

Night Flight – The Last Flight Remixes

Electra – Late Night Final Remix

J. Willgoose Esq’s musical upbringing

The Manic Street Preachers

The genesis of Public Service Broadcasting

The Yamaha CS6x

Public Service Broadcasting – People Will Always Need Coal

Public Service Broadcasting – The Now Generation

Expanding Public Service Broadcasting to a full band

J’s love for Reaper as a key component of PSB’s live performances

J’s keyboard rig and love of the Roland Fantom series

The challenges (and documentation) involved in a highly complex and integrated rig set-up amomgst multiple musicians

Public Service Broadcasting – Sputnik

Redundancy and backups

Operating a keyboard and guitar rig and level of integration

Public Service Broadcasting – Towards The Dawn

Public Service Broadcasting live at the Royal Albert Hall

Public Service Broadcasting with the London Contemporary Orchestra

A discussion on orchestras and experimentation

Public Service Broadcasting – Bright Magic

The SOMA Labs Ether

The next Public Service Broadcasting album

J. lists some key musical inspirations

Datassette

OMD – Second Thought

J’s train wreck stories

Desert Island Discs: Endtroducing – DJ Shadow, In Rainbows – Radiohead, Blade Runner – Vangelis, Symphony No. 6 “Pathetique” – Tchaikovsky, Intermezzo (Cavalleria Rusticana) – Monleone and Mascagni

Key links:

Become a member of our YouTube channel and receive extra content

Buy some keyboard related merchandise





Drop us a line via the website, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Threads, BlueSky, TikTok or LinkedIn

Complete our audience survey to help us improve!





Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.
The post J. Willgoose Esq., Public Service Broadcasting appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.