Musicians in their own words

Series produced by David Schulman

Series image
Image by: David Schulman 

David Schulman's award-winning series of first-person musician portraits

Yo-Yo Ma plucks his cello with a hotel room key ... Cecilia Bartoli remembers her past life as a flamenco dancer ... Cyro Baptista takes us to his percussion garage, scats a samba rhythm, and swings a vacuum-cleaner hose over his head.

Moments of surprise, moments of insight — that's the idea behind Musicians in their own words.

It's the public radio project that brings listeners inside the creative lives of lyric sopranos, bassists, congueros, concert violinists, and more ...

The project, launched with CPB support, has created dozens of pieces for the NPR newsmagazines and other national broadcasters, including APM's The Story, PRI, and Hearing Voices. Many pieces also are designed specifically for station use, and work especially well in a station context when used to preview a local performance.


48 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Piece image
In words and in music, the jazz pianist shows how Bob Marley's late song of slavery and freedom is "almost like a hymn."

Bought by PRX Remix, KMHD, KLCC, KNAU, and WHQR


  • Added: Oct 01, 2004
  • Length: 01:30
  • Purchases: 5
Piece image
A portrait of the guitar-playing legend who helped create ska and reggae — turning 80 June 19, 2012!

Bought by PRX Remix, KUT, KMHD, and KNAU


  • Added: Oct 06, 2004
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 4
Piece image
A master testifies on the sacred steel guitar

Bought by KFAI Minneapolis, PRX Remix, KMHD, KNAU, WHQR and more


  • Added: Oct 26, 2004
  • Length: 03:30
  • Purchases: 6
Piece image
Taking a traditional Puerto Rican beat from the cane fields to the age of cell phones ...

Bought by PRX Remix, KFAI Minneapolis, KMHD, and KNAU


  • Added: Nov 11, 2004
  • Length: 03:00
  • Purchases: 4
Piece image
A salsa hero teams up with a leader of Puerto Rico's plena revival.

Bought by KMHD and KNAU


  • Added: Nov 30, 2004
  • Length: 01:30
  • Purchases: 2
Piece image
Gillian Welch is known in Nashville for songs that echo the sounds of the Carter Family and the Stanley Brothers. But Welch isn't after nostalgia -...

Bought by PRX Remix, KMHD, KNAU, East Village Radio, WVPE and more


  • Added: Dec 29, 2003
  • Length: 03:07
  • Purchases: 9
Piece image
The Grammy-nominated vocalist talks about finding a place in jazz for funk, gospel, and pure joy.

Bought by WMPG, KMHD, KNAU, East Village Radio, WVPE and more


  • Added: Jan 12, 2004
  • Length: 04:27
  • Purchases: 6
Piece image
In a room across from Carnegie Hall, the exuberant young piano phenom demonstrates how he approaches a lovely Brahms Intermezzo -- and wonders whet...

Bought by PRX Remix, The Story, KMHD, KNAU, WKSU and more


  • Added: Jan 19, 2004
  • Length: 04:07
  • Purchases: 7