Free Association with Brian Carpenter

26/01/2024

Tonight trumpeter/composer/arranger Steven Bernstein joins me to talk about his fantastic new record with S*xmob and many other subjects, including his work with Laurie Anderson, Hal Willner, John Lurie, and more. Steven and I have been friends for well over 25 years...needless to say, this was a lot of fun and I learned a lot on this one!

Tune into WZBC 90.3FM Friday night at 8pm EST.

Photo by Jacob Blickenstaff.

08/08/2023

ICYMI...my wide-ranging conversation with composer J.G. Thirlwell on his new record Dystonia with Mivos Quartet (Cantaloupe Music). We talk about composing, rehearsing, collaboration, how his Foetus project evolved, composing for film and TV, and much more.

Composer J. G. Thirlwell is a man of many interests and talents, with wide-ranging projects including the decades-long Foetus, large ensemble Steroid Maximus, chamber ensemble Manorexia, collaborations and compositions for Kronos Quartet, Alarm Will Sound, and Bang on a Can, plus his scores for the....

21/07/2023

Tonight composer JG Thirlwell joins Free Association at 8pm EDT to discuss his new string quartet record Dystonia and myriad other projects. Full show runs 7-10pm EDT on WZBC

14/07/2023

Tonight on Free Association. Guitarist/composer Stephen Ulrich of the NYC guitar noir trio Big Lazy joins me at 8pm EST. Also new music from JG Thirlwell, Brandon Seabrook, Penguin Cafe, S*x Mob, ANOHNI, Kate Carr, and more 7-10pm EST on WZBC.

03/03/2023

Tonight on Free Association. A tribute to the late great Wayne Shorter. Plus new music from Yo La Tengo, Askak Maboul, Max Richter, James Holden, Arnold Kasar, and more. 7-10pm EST on WZBC.

Photo by David Redfern.

10/02/2023

Tonight on Free Association a tribute to the great Burt Bacharach, one of the most prolific and influential songwriters who passed away this week at the age of 94. Featuring conversations, rehearsals, deep cuts, and imaginative renditions by Marc Ribot, Sean Lennon, Fred Frith, Mike Patton, and more.

Plus new music from John Cale, Jon Hopkins, Biosphere, Alva Noto, Yo La Tengo, Meg Baird, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and more. 7-10pm EST on WZBC.

11/03/2022

Tonight on Free Association. New music from
Kee Avil, caroline, bassist/composer Avishai Cohen, Sharon Van Etten, Roedelius & Tim Story, Portico Quartet, David Ornette Cherry, and more. And featuring the music of the late great cornetist Ron Miles throughout. 7-10pm EST on WZBC

07/02/2022

In the latest episode of Free Association I speak with David Harrington of the legendary Kronos Quartet about American composer George Crumb, who died yesterday at 92. Crumb's otherworldly piece Black Angels sparked the formation of Kronos Quartet in 1973. https://bit.ly/3HDOggf

21/01/2022

Tonight on Free Association…

The music and sound design of plus new music from Josephine Foster Kramer Hailu Mergia and more. 7-10pm EST on

14/01/2022

Tonight...

New music from Tomutonttu (Finland), Howe Gelb and The Colorist Orchestra, Robin Guthrie, Eve Adams, Mabe Fratti (Mexico), Chris Corsano and Bill Orcutt, Peter Zummo, Olivia Block, and more 7-10pm EST on WZBC with interludes by Ryuichi Sakamoto.

08/01/2022

In case you missed it...

Alan Licht is a writer, musician, and curator based in NYC. He is known for his solo guitar work and long-time collaboration with guitarist Loren Connors and rock bands Run On and Love Child and the experimental group Text of Light. He is also the author of several books, including his new book Comm...

07/01/2022

Tonight…

My conversation with writer/musician Alan Licht on the subject of his new fascinating book of interviews Common Tones. Plus new music from Mario Batkovic, Daniel Wyche, Bonnie Prince Billy, Body/Dilloway/Head, Wendy Eisenberg, and reimaginings of the music of Burt Bacharach. 7-10pm EST on WZBC

31/12/2021

Airing tonight! Happy new year!

John Vanderslice I Get a Strange Kind of Pleasure From Just Hanging OnJohn, I can't believe civilization is still going here in 2021! Congratulations to all of us. Love, DCB Tiny Telephone 2021

17/12/2021

Tonight 7-10pm EST on WZBC

10/12/2021

Tonight on Free Association...

Joan Wasser joins me at 8pm EST to chat about her new Joan As Police Woman record, an amazing collaboration with legend Tony Allen and Dave Okumu from The Invisible.

Plus new music from Body/Dilloway/Head, Ben Chasny, Daniel O'Sullivan, Ben LaMar Gay, and featuring the music of Mark Hollis and Talk Talk throughout. Full show 7-10PM EST on WZBC.

Photo by David A. Fitschen.

03/12/2021

Tonight on Free Association. A tribute to the late avant-garde composer Alvin Lucier, pictured here with a sound installation in the late 80s. Plus new music from Ben LaMar Gay, Richard Dawson and Circle, Dylan Mattingly, Olivia Block, and more. 7-10pm EST on WZBC

19/11/2021

Tonight on Free Association...

New music from Olivia Block, Body/Head, Joan As Police Woman, Ben LaMar Gay, Daniel O'Sullivan, Ben Chasny, and more. 7-10pm EST on WZBC

12/11/2021

Tonight on Free Association. New music from Thollem, Marissa Nadler, Joan As Police Woman, Insect Ark, Dear Laika, Circuit Dee Yeux, Richard Young’s, and more. 7-10pm EST live on WZBC

05/11/2021

Tonight on Free Association Marissa Nadler joins me at 8PM EST for a discussion about her fantastic new record The Path of the Clouds. Plus new music from Joan as Police Woman, Grouper, Mary Lattimore, Richard Youngs, Pelt, and more. 7-10pm EST tonight on WZBC

29/10/2021

Tonight on Free Association..

Our annual fright night guaranteed to chill your bones plus new music from Marissa Nadler, Circuit Des Yeus, Colin Stetson, Faust, Richard Youngs and more. Write in your most terrifying requests live on wzbc.org 7-10pm EST.

22/10/2021

Tonight on Free Association. Composer/pianist/singer Judith Berkson joins me at 8pm EST to talk about her beautiful new record. Plus new music from Marissa Nadler, Circuit des Yeux, Jessica Pavone, and more. 7-10pm EST on WZBC. Photo by Philip Greenberg.

10/09/2021

Tonight on Free Association...

New music from Low, Grouper, Tindersticks, new orchestral suites from Michael Mantler, guitarist Rob Noyes, a free improv record from Susan Alcorn and Ingrid Laubrock, composers Sarah Davachi, Corey Mwamba and Daniel Lanois. Plus a short tribute to the late Susan Anway (V, Magnetic Fields) and music from Moondog throughout. 7-10pm Eastern on WZBC.

27/08/2021

Tonight I'll be hosting Free Association on WZBC from 7-10pm Eastern...

Special guest Thalia Zedek joins me at 8 to talk about her fantastic new record, plus new music from Low, Ashley Shadow, Sam Gendel and Blake Mills, Marissa Nadler, John Vanderslice, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, and music from the films of Wim Wenders throughout the program. 7-10pm EDT on WZBC

Photo of Thalia Zedek by Naomi Yang

23/07/2021

Tonight on Free Association…

John Vanderslice joins me starting at 8PM EDT to discuss his new EP, a new compilation of rarities from his Tiny Telephone recording studios, songwriting, touring, covers, and myriad other topics. Plus new music from Clark, Penelope Trappes, Joep Beving, Thalia Zedek Band, Daniel Lanois, and more. Full show runs 7-10PM EDT and streams live on WZBC

21/05/2021

Tonight I'll be hosting Free Association on WZBC 7-10pm EST. New music from Henri Salvador, Valgeir Sigurðsson, Sufjan Stevens, Simon Goff, Adrian Crowley, Superwolves by Bonnie Prince Billy and Matt Sweeney, and more...

07/05/2021

Tonight on WZBC...

New music from composer Scott Wollschleger and pianist Karl Larson, bassist/composer Tristan Kasten-Krause, sound artist and composer Claire Rousay, Danish singer/songwriter Kira Skov, a lost recording of the brilliant Brazilian songwriter José Mauro, Secret of Elements, the latest collaboration between Marianne Faithfull and Warren Ellis, plus the music of the late songwriter Anita Lane.

Incidental film music throughout from Ennio Morricone...7-10pm EST on WZBC

26/03/2021

Tonight on Free Association...

New music from guitarist Daniel Lanois, James Yorkston & the Second Hand Orchestra, Jane Weaver, of Montreal, BMOP Plays Elliott Carter, Buke & Gase and So Percussion, plus music by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yellow Magic Orchestra. 7-10pm EST on WZBC.

19/03/2021

Tonight on Free Association.

New music from Bill Callahan and Bonnie Prince Billy, Turkish band Altin Gun, Tana Quartet plays Philip Glass, Kid Congo Powers, Ari Balouzian, Joan as Police Woman, Johnny Jewel, Boston’s Ex-Hyena and more...7-10pm EST on WZBC

12/03/2021

Tonight on Free Association. New music from Sam Gendel, Jim Ghedi, Shame (London), Maceo Plex, Ex-Hyena (Boston), and much more. 7-10pm Eastern on WZBC