Master of Jack of All Trades – Newsletter vol 17

by | Dec 23, 2025 | Newsletter | 0 comments

Master of Jack of All Trades

In a recent conversation with my friend Marcus Ryle, we were talking about the idea that some of us are laser focused, highly virtuosic in a specific field, while others are more generalists – good but not necessarily standouts in a wide range of disciplines. The Germans have a word for it: tausendsassa; in English we more derisively say “jack of all trades, master of none.” I had to laugh when Marcus came back with, “you’re a master of jack of all trades.”

An article in the NY Times today cited a study: “people who reach the pinnacle of their fields typically dabbled in multiple disciplines when they were young.” Certainly it’s characteristic of the creative mind to indulge in multiple pursuits. The artist brain tends to crave diversity, to eschew boredom and monotony. Generally, the more talented and creative an artist is, the more likely they are to have a wide range of interests and outlets.

I’ve realized it’s okay to be multi-focused, to have a million things going on in your brain at the same time. Inside that cacophony are multiple symphonies waiting to emerge.

In Other News…..

i’ve been invited to join the music and audio department of UNLV as an adjunct professor. Together with my illustrious colleague Sam Friend and others in the department, we’ll be working to grow the newly launched professional audio program, including upping our video connectivity and global reach. Watch for great things.

NAMM Show: I’ll be moderating a panel called White Line Fever: Staying Grounded while the Ground Moves Beneath You, a conversation on maintaining sanity on the road. My guests will be Robert Scovill, Jeri Palumbo, Erik Zobler, and Daniella Peters. Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 3pm.

I’ll also be participating in a really fun panel, curated by my dear friend Jan Glasband at Equi=Tech, called Mind The Gap: Creativity and Conflict with Multigenerational Teams in Music. It’s a conversation on different approaches and methodologies of diverse generations, and how we can work together. Moderated by Peter Doell, it will include myself, Rick Allen, Michael Beinhorn, Suzy Shinn, and Alec Druth. Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 5pm.

Insights In Sound at AES

If I’ve been less than consistent with putting this newsletter out on any kind of a regular schedule, the above is at least partly an explanation for it. As anyone who knows me knows, I tend to stay busy and have a great many balls in the air at any given time.

Briefly recapping the last couple of months: October’s AES Convention in Long Beach was an intimate and wonderful event. I was privileged to participate in six great panels, all of which have been posted on the Insights In Sound channel. You’ll find interviews with sound designer Rick Allen and live sound legend David Morgan; a lively panel with with Ross Hogarth, Leslie Ann Jones, Suzy Shinn, and Kathleen Wirt called “Feel the Fear and Say Yes Anyway;” a great conversation on Trident Studios and Consoles with Bruce Robb, Joe Vezzetti, Adam Moseley, and Brian Kehew; a wonderful interview with Delta Records’ Julio Monroy, and a no-holds-barred presentation of Mr. Bonzai and Martin Porter‘s new book, “Buzz Me In – Legend of Record Plant.”

In November we had some great AES events at Harman‘s Imagination Center and Create Music Group‘s ultra-modern Hollywood studios. December brought us an event at Disney Studios. In January we’ll be hosting a post-NAMM presentation at Paramount from Dr. Karlheinz Brandenburg, creator of the MP3. More upcoming events include dates with Dolby, Yamaha Guitar Group, Mojave Audio, Bandrika Studios, and much more.

More Insights In Sound

Lots of other episodes of the Insights In Sound show have been posted, including Village Studios President Jeff Greenberg and engineer/producers Steve Genewick, Suzy Shinn, and Vanessa Parr. Upcoming episodes will include conversations with AEA Microphones’ own Julie Tan, Audiograph International’s Chilitos Valenzuela, live sound legend Dave Shadoan, FOH engineer Ken Newman, and Solid State Logic VP Phill Scholes, as well as a special 200th episode (!!) chat with producer Robert Margouleff talking about his upcoming memoir, and several special surprises live from the upcoming NAMM Convention.

Big thanks to our friends in the industry who continue to make the show a reality, including Roland, OBSBOT, AEA Ribbon Mics, and Pantheon Media. And thanks to the great and legendary studios who have graciously hosted us, including Las Vegas’ Hideout Studios, and L.A.’s legendary Village Studios and East West Studios.

Busy with several other projects under the radar, including several video productions, an upcoming book, and a few other surprises. See ya soon!

Artist Brain Collective and Other News

We recently did another Artist Brain Collective workshop at UNLV, with support from our friends at Solid State Logic. Upcoming workshops will include UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, USC, and more workshops at the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences.

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