♪ When the sun is in the sky ♪ - [Narrator] Tonight on "Stage."

Take a front row seat for the inspiration, connection, and joy you've been missing.

♪ On and on and on ♪ - [Narrator] On this special edition of "Minnesota Original," hear musical performances by Dessa, Nachito Herrera, John Gorka, Jeremy Messersmith, and more.

♪ Does that make you crazy ♪ (gentle music) - [Announcer] "Minnesota Original" is made possible by The State Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota.

- [Narrator] On this special one-hour edition of "Minnesota Original."

(gentle music) A collection of musical performances recorded in an assortment of spaces.

In the TPT studio.

♪ Nuthin's gonna be all right ♪ - [Narrator] On location in familiar venues.

♪ Why do you think that I could be so cold ♪ - [Narrator] And in some unexpected settings as well.

♪ Show me now who is your favorite MC ♪ ♪ My answer's been the same since '93 ♪ ♪ I know that ♪ - [Narrator] From cultural rhythms from around the world.

(gentle music) To pop and funk.

It's all here now on "Minnesota Original Music Showcase."

♪ Get up and get out ♪ ♪ Get nasty and get loud ♪ (bright music) (upbeat music begins) ♪ Well Colorado was so nice ♪ ♪ But I'm Minnesota's son ♪ ♪ Even when the cold winds blow ♪ ♪ In the darkness and the light ♪ ♪ Well the young folks search for meaning here ♪ ♪ And the old folks know there's none ♪ ♪ Out your window you can see the world ♪ ♪ Men it's turning and it's gone ♪ ♪ And the stars at night ♪ ♪ Why do they make you cry ♪ ♪ Don't you think that I'll be coming home ♪ (upbeat music continues) ♪ Well it's not like sunny Monterey ♪ ♪ And all the Steinbeck books you read ♪ ♪ Where the hobos know the secrets ♪ ♪ The law just turns their head ♪ ♪ Well we are as close to paradise ♪ ♪ Though you might not hear it said ♪ ♪ And the Methodists all bring a dish to share ♪ ♪ With the ashes on their head ♪ ♪ And when the sun's in the sky ♪ ♪ We'll have our class outside ♪ ♪ Why do you think that I can be so cold ♪ (upbeat music continues) (audience cheering) ♪ I'm not scared of much here anymore ♪ ♪ Wait friends that was a lie ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm scared to death of losing you ♪ ♪ To be alone high and dry ♪ (upbeat music continues) ♪ And I know you worry ♪ ♪ About time and money ♪ ♪ But don't you know those things just come and go ♪ (upbeat music continues) (audience cheering) (upbeat music continues) (audience cheering) (bright music) (amplifier whirls) (bright music) - I'd like to welcome a new collaborator to stage, and her name is Mankwe Ndosi.

(audience cheering) - Come on.

(gentle music begins) ♪ Wa wa ♪ ♪ Wa wa wa ♪ ♪ Wa wa wa wa wa ♪ ♪ Girl!

♪ - Oh, my god!

♪ He was ♪ (gentle music continues) ♪ Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa ♪ ♪ Wa wa wa wa wa wa ♪ (audience laughs) (gentle music continues) ♪ Wa wa wa wa wa ♪ ♪ Wa wa wa ♪ ♪ Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa ♪ ♪ He'll be sorry in the morning ♪ ♪ He's always tender when you're home ♪ ♪ But if I was your man I'd be more than ♪ ♪ Just a cure for being alone ♪ ♪ You say you see some good in him ♪ ♪ There's some good in him ♪ ♪ You can't explain ♪ ♪ No girl I don't know why ♪ ♪ And he's somehow better ♪ ♪ Than the way that he behaves ♪ ♪ But the fact is ♪ ♪ Fact is ♪ ♪ That in practice ♪ ♪ Practice ♪ ♪ His love grinds you to the bone ♪ ♪ To the bone ♪ ♪ And you're wrapped around the axle now ♪ ♪ Afraid to let the whole thing go ♪ ♪ 'Cause you can't drain the sea ♪ ♪ And stay afloat ♪ ♪ You can't take the knot ♪ ♪ And leave the rope ♪ ♪ You say you'll stay for love ♪ ♪ Gon' make your love enough ♪ ♪ You keep you holes plugged ♪ ♪ Keep your mouth shut ♪ ♪ But your bowed back breaks ♪ ♪ Bowed back breaks ♪ ♪ Toothy illusions fall ♪ ♪ Reaching for the pieces ♪ ♪ You tore off when you left off ♪ ♪ 'Cause the fact is ♪ ♪ Fact is ♪ ♪ That in practice ♪ ♪ In practice ♪ ♪ Her love cuts you to the bone ♪ ♪ And when you look down ♪ ♪ The hand around ♪ ♪ The switchblade is your own ♪ ♪ You can't drain the sea ♪ ♪ And stay afloat ♪ ♪ You can't take the knot ♪ ♪ And leave the rope ♪ ♪ And we've all loved liars ♪ ♪ Yes we have ♪ ♪ But most have learned ♪ ♪ Oh oh ♪ ♪ Those who play with fire ♪ ♪ Spend their whole lives ♪ ♪ Icing burns ♪ ♪ Icing burns ♪ ♪ Icing burns ♪ ♪ Icing burns ♪ ♪ Icing burns ♪ ♪ Icing icing ♪ ♪ Icing burns ♪ ♪ Icing burns ♪ ♪ Icing burns ♪ ♪ Icing burns ♪ ♪ Icing burns ♪ ♪ Icing burns ♪ ♪ Icing burns ♪ (audience cheers) (bright music) (upbeat music begins) (upbeat music continues) (bright music) (upbeat music begins) ♪ Trunk pop ♪ ♪ On and on and on and on and on and on ♪ ♪ And on and on and on ♪ ♪ You know I feel like it's the sweetest taboo ♪ ♪ It sticks with you like your worst tattoo ♪ ♪ I never lied I do all this for you ♪ ♪ For you like I done had nothing better to do ♪ ♪ Here's a game I used to like more ♪ ♪ Stand at the shows and pray for an encore ♪ ♪ In the line the next night for those with more bounce ♪ ♪ Quicker than a box of condoms in a house ♪ ♪ Yeah but this is something else man ♪ ♪ It really ain't rap give it a name with tact ♪ ♪ Like the patriot act ♪ ♪ Television made you want it radio made you hate it ♪ ♪ YouTube made it the latest and the greatest ♪ ♪ And now I'm motivated like your favorite rapper ♪ ♪ Except getting paper ain't the that matters ♪ ♪ This is a play and I'm the lead actor ♪ ♪ But now I keep up my lines ♪ ♪ No label wants a real back backer you deaf ♪ ♪ And if they do than they ain't a factor ♪ ♪ I remember when head was a head ♪ ♪ And color lines were blurred ♪ ♪ 'Cause we were all Ray Charles blind ♪ ♪ But eyes open so we're all aware ♪ ♪ Push though it like a brush in my hair ♪ ♪ If we're all going out in some big flair ♪ ♪ Then put on the pounds like you just don't care ♪ ♪ And I'm glad to say that I ain't been pushed away ♪ ♪ No I ain't been pushed away ♪ ♪ 'Cause I do the pushin' pushin' ♪ ♪ And I'm glad to say ♪ ♪ That I ain't been pushed away ♪ ♪ No I ain't been pushed away ♪ ♪ 'Cause I do the pushin' the pushin' ♪ ♪ And I push back ♪ ♪ I push back ♪ ♪ I push back I push back I push back ♪ ♪ I push back I push back I push back ♪ ♪ I push back I push back I push back ♪ ♪ 'Cause I do the pushin' pushin' pushin' ♪ ♪ Because I push back I push back ♪ ♪ I push back I push back I push back I push back ♪ ♪ I push back I push back I push back I push back ♪ ♪ 'Cause I do the pushin' pushin' pushin' ♪ ♪ Remember back in the day your favorite WU joint ♪ ♪ Think about it for a second while I bring up two points ♪ ♪ You didn't have to know the dance to dance ♪ ♪ You just dance to dance or moved your hands ♪ ♪ And you didn't have to claim you was a dealer to rap ♪ ♪ Before the TV show the Fresh Prince proved that ♪ ♪ And maybe I missed the point so I ain't making it ♪ ♪ I should just be taking it get money-money ♪ ♪ Wear a white tee that's like 6 sizes funny ♪ ♪ Drive a car that make the whole hood wanna gun me nah ♪ ♪ Too late you wonder what I would be smoking then ♪ ♪ I like my shoes a little broken in ♪ ♪ Hey I'm sorry if I dress like a hipster ♪ ♪ And listen to Justice ♪ ♪ But that's just justice ♪ ♪ No shame in my game I'm in too far to come out now ♪ ♪ Without some substance ♪ ♪ And I push back I push back I push back I push back ♪ ♪ I push back I push back I push back I push back ♪ ♪ I push back I push back I push back ♪ ♪ 'Cause I do the pushin' pushin' pushin' pushin' ♪ ♪ And I'm glad to say ♪ ♪ That I ain't been pushed away ♪ ♪ No I ain't been pushed away ♪ ♪ 'Cause I do the pushin' pushin' pushin' ♪ ♪ Hey tell me now who is your favorite MC ♪ ♪ My answers been the same since '93 ♪ ♪ I know that's gonna resonate with some of y'all ♪ ♪ But not all ♪ ♪ And that's okay so just follow the ball ♪ ♪ Some rappers caught up in media hype ♪ ♪ All the rest caught up in these regional fights ♪ ♪ And these are the cats you wanna see on the mic ♪ ♪ Where's that leave room for me in your life ♪ ♪ And I'm glad to say ♪ ♪ That I ain't been pushed away ♪ ♪ No I ain't been pushed away ♪ ♪ 'Cause I do the pushin' the pushin' ♪ ♪ And I'm glad to say ♪ ♪ That I ain't been pushed away ♪ ♪ No I ain't been pushed away ♪ ♪ 'Cause I do the pushin' the pushin' the pushin' ♪ ♪ And I push back I push back I push back I push back ♪ ♪ I push back I push back I push back I push back ♪ ♪ And I push back I push back I push back I push back ♪ ♪ I push back I push back I push back I push back ♪ ♪ I push back I push back I push back I push back ♪ ♪ I push back I push back I push back I push back ♪ ♪ I push back I push back I push back I push back ♪ ♪ I push back I push back I push back ♪ (upbeat music continues) (bright music) (gentle piano music begins) - The way songs usually start for me is musical thought like chords or a rhythmic idea, and then I just quickly run to a piano or a guitar and play that idea.

♪ You love me ♪ The next thing that happens is often maybe a few lines of lyrics, like four lines of lyrics.

♪ You want me ♪ ♪ When it's easy to do ♪ So at this point, I'm looking for another piece for the song, another section or another idea, and to do that I probably need to switch to a different instrument than I originally wrote it on because it's too easy and familiar.

But going to the guitar kind of helps because it's harder to play, so says me.

Then I kind of translate (gentle guitar music) into guitar language.

And then I have those new lyrics there on the sheet, so ♪ I been keepin' it convenient ♪ ♪ For you to keep close to me ♪ (bright music) (gentle music begins) (gentle music continues) (bright music) (gentle guitar music) - [John] I think one of the things I liked about folk music was that it could be about anything.

Any part of a life could be in the music, it could be personal, it could be social, it could be political, it can be any part of being human.

Bob, are you rolling?

- [Bob] Yeah.

Okay, (indistinct) - I hope that what I do is folk music.

And what I mean by folk music, I want the music and the songs to find a helpful place in people's lives so that it's more than entertainment.

We're good.

This is a song called "Blue Chalk."

And it was inspired by some friends of mine who I'd lost touch with, and I heard rumors about them, and the rumors indicated that they were in trouble with substances, both legal and illegal, so I wrote this song in that state of mind.

(gentle guitar music) ♪ So I wonder how she's doin' ♪ ♪ I hate it when the rumors fly ♪ ♪ They give off such strange sense of mission ♪ ♪ Wing your helplessness on high ♪ ♪ She would never run from strangers ♪ ♪ She sang alone like a bell will toll ♪ ♪ Way above all the clang and clatter ♪ ♪ Out of fear of her demon soul ♪ ♪ Um-hum ♪ ♪ Oh ooh ♪ (gentle guitar music continues) ♪ Maybe none of this is my business ♪ ♪ And none of what I hear is true ♪ ♪ I am far from the mint condition ♪ ♪ Circulation's hard on you ♪ ♪ Hold tight hang tough ♪ ♪ Love's not enough ♪ ♪ To keep you off that stuff ♪ ♪ To save you ♪ ♪ Hold tight hang tough ♪ ♪ Love's not enough ♪ ♪ To keep you off that stuff ♪ ♪ To save you now ♪ ♪ Um-hum ♪ ♪ Oh ooh ♪ (gentle guitar music continues) ♪ He can always find the holes in the bottles ♪ ♪ Even with a blindfold on ♪ ♪ Never kept his seat on the wagon ♪ ♪ Rolling off like a rolling stone ♪ ♪ Blue chalk between his fingers ♪ ♪ Hustling a poolroom song ♪ ♪ He always kept a line for the singer ♪ ♪ Pointing his cue right from wrong ♪ ♪ Hold tight hang tough ♪ ♪ Love's not enough ♪ ♪ To keep you off that stuff ♪ ♪ To save you ♪ ♪ Hold tight hang tough ♪ ♪ Love's not enough ♪ ♪ To keep you off that stuff ♪ ♪ To save you now ♪ ♪ Um-hum ♪ ♪ Oh ooh ♪ (gentle guitar music continues) ♪ So I wonder how she's doin' ♪ ♪ I hate it when the rumors fly ♪ ♪ They give off such a strange sense of mission ♪ ♪ Wing your helplessness on high ♪ ♪ But she would never run from strangers ♪ ♪ She sang alone like a bell will toll ♪ ♪ Way above all the clang and clatter ♪ ♪ Out of fear of her demon soul ♪ ♪ Um-hum ♪ ♪ Oh ooh ♪ (gentle guitar music continues) ♪ Um-hum ♪ ♪ Oh ooh ♪ ♪ Hmm ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ (bright music) (soft jazz music begins) (soft jazz music begins) - Most of my career, I played in small ensembles, from brass quintets, chamber music groups, jazz ensembles, but for the past 10 years, I've been a member of the Minnesota Orchestra.

Playing in a symphony is very different than playing in a jazz ensemble in terms of the kind of refinement that it requires and the nature of playing with 80 or 100 other people on stage, but I tend to approach all music the same way.

The way I look at it, there are 12 different notes in Western music, and so we should learn to play them in as many different ways as possible.

So I try to keep it simple, and that makes it a lot easier and more fun to play too.

(upbeat jazz music begins) (upbeat jazz music continues) (bright music) (gentle drum music) (bright music) (upbeat music begins) ♪ I remember when ♪ ♪ When I lost my mind ♪ ♪ There was something so pleasant about that place ♪ ♪ Even your emotions have an echo in so much space ♪ ♪ And when you're out there without a care ♪ ♪ I was out of touch ♪ ♪ But it wasn't because I didn't know enough ♪ ♪ I just knew too much ♪ ♪ Does that make me crazy ♪ ♪ Does that make me crazy ♪ ♪ Does that make me crazy ♪ ♪ Probably ♪ ♪ And I hope that you are having ♪ ♪ The time of your life ♪ ♪ Just remember ♪ ♪ Think twice ♪ ♪ Who do you who do you who do you ♪ ♪ Who do you think you are ♪ ♪ Ha ha ha bless your soul ♪ ♪ You really think you're in control ♪ ♪ I think you're crazy ♪ ♪ I think you're crazy ♪ ♪ I think you're crazy ♪ ♪ Just like me ♪ ♪ My heroes had the heart to lose their lives ♪ ♪ Out on a limb ♪ ♪ All remember is thinking ♪ ♪ I wanna be like them ♪ (upbeat music continues) ♪ Ever since I was little ♪ ♪ It looked like fun ♪ ♪ And it's no coincidence I've come ♪ ♪ Oh I'll die when I'm done ♪ ♪ Does that make me crazy ♪ ♪ Does that make it crazy ♪ ♪ Does that make us crazy ♪ ♪ Probably ♪ ♪ Does that make you crazy ♪ ♪ Does that make me crazy ♪ ♪ Does that make us crazy ♪ ♪ Probably ♪ (audience cheers) (bright music) (gentle music begins) ♪ Door's ajar the room's in the back ♪ ♪ Gotta carry my money in a brown paper sack ♪ ♪ Mose said it in the '50s and it's true today ♪ ♪ Don't worry 'bout nuthin' 'cause nuthin's okay ♪ ♪ So many aces so little time ♪ ♪ Mama's in the corner sure lookin' fine ♪ ♪ Help a brother out with a nod and a wink ♪ ♪ I gotta pay the man by the end of the week ♪ ♪ Don't worry 'bout nuthin' ♪ ♪ 'Cause nuthin's gonna be all right ♪ ♪ Don't worry 'bout nuthin' ♪ ♪ 'Cause nuthin's gonna be all right ♪ ♪ Nuthin's gonna be all right ♪ ♪ Along a border with a high-de-high ♪ ♪ Gonna bag 'em up and sell 'em so da man won't bide ♪ ♪ Ho-de-ho 'bout to go downtown ♪ ♪ Got a losing hand in the midnight round ♪ ♪ Don't worry 'bout nuthin' ♪ ♪ 'Cause nuthin's gonna be all right ♪ ♪ Don't worry 'bout nuthin' ♪ ♪ 'Cause nuthin's gonna be all right ♪ ♪ Nuthin's gonna be all right ♪ (gentle music continues) ♪ Got one more shot it's all out on the line ♪ ♪ Goin' all in gotta let it ride ♪ ♪ Oh double or nuthin' mama ♪ ♪ We'll get through the night now ♪ ♪ 'Cause nuthin's gonna be all right ♪ ♪ 'Cause nuthin's gonna be all right ♪ ♪ 'Cause nuthin's ♪ ♪ Gonna be all right ♪ ♪ Nuthin's gonna be all right ♪ ♪ Nuthin's gonna be all right ♪ ♪ I got nuthin' ♪ ♪ Billy you got nuthin' ♪ ♪ Got nuthin' ♪ (gentle music continues) (bright music) (Shá humming) (finger snapping) (soft music begins) - This piece is for anybody out there that's ever had a mama.

Not necessarily the woman that gave birth to you but a wise soul that pulled you aside one day and imparted some kind of information or knowledge that stuck with you for years.

Could be a sister, a friend, and auntie, an ooman, nana.

Aside from my own mama, mine was my Great Granny.

Great Granny would sit us young ones down by the riverside on Sundays, and she would hold women's camp.

That's what she called it.

Great Granny say everybody always runnin' 'round lookin' for a revolution.

Most people wouldn't know a revolution if it snuck up and bit 'em on the.

Great Granny say the real revolution lies on the skins of women, and their palms, and their scalps.

Their thighs and backsides.

She said most people call 'em stretch marks.

But they be history lines tracing back to our very first ancestors.

Great Granny told us stories about strong women that led underground railroads with babies on their backs.

Women that were hosed and pushed aside that stood in long lines demanding change.

She told us stories about Nzinga's and Ansatas, Winnie's and Tubman's, Sojourner's, Mabel's, and Estelle's.

Great Granny showed me her own lines once.

"For your eyes only," she said.

And she lifted up her apron and dress, and with 2 fingers starting from the insides of her palms, leading to the tops of her shoulders, down and around her tummy, runnin' up her thighs and down her backsides, history lines!

(gentle music continues) Great Granny said the next time you see a woman, just watch the way she walks and talks, moves and cuts through space.

'Cause she ain't runnin' round looking for no revolution.

She already living and breathin' it.

They don't call that no revolution, they don't call her no revolution chile.

Granny say they don't call her no revolution chile, She just is.

(bright music) (gentle guitar music begins) - The guitar is kind of a tricky instrument.

There's a lot that you can do with it that is hidden from the audience, so there's a lot of effects that we can do that most audience members have no idea how we're doing it.

For instance, the introduction to "Minnesota Winter," most audiences come and say, "Well, who's playing?

It sounds like everybody is playing."

So it's kind of like a magic show.

The technique where the notes are separated throughout the group is called the Campanella, and we're basically playing a scale, but because there's 3 of us playing it, we can hold some notes and it sounds like bells ringing through.

I love that "Minnesota Winter" sounds like snow falling.

It sounds just like snow falling.

If you could set music to that that's what it is.

(gentle guitar music continues) (upbeat percussive music) (bright music) (upbeat drum music begins) (bright music) (upbeat music begins) ♪ Their little fingers wrapped around the bars ♪ ♪ So tightly you can see their veins ♪ ♪ Their innocence is stuck to all their movements ♪ ♪ Lurking in figure 8's ♪ ♪ And the sun it falls ♪ ♪ Into the ground ♪ ♪ And the moon it falls down too well ♪ ♪ Would you be ready ♪ ♪ Would you be ready ♪ ♪ If the panthers pray open up the cage ♪ ♪ Turn the music up just don't be afraid ♪ ♪ If the panthers pray there goes the world ♪ ♪ There goes control ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ (upbeat music continues) ♪ If you could see how still they all are standing ♪ ♪ Absorbed by every step ♪ ♪ It's so exquisitely advanced and undeniably eloquent ♪ ♪ And the sun it falls ♪ ♪ Into the ground ♪ ♪ And the moon it falls down too ♪ ♪ Well would you be ready ♪ ♪ Would you be ready ♪ ♪ If the panthers pray open up the cage ♪ ♪ Turn the music up don't be afraid ♪ ♪ If the panthers pray there goes the world ♪ ♪ There goes control ♪ ♪ But it will be beautiful yeah ♪ (upbeat music continues) ♪ When you're walking down the road ♪ ♪ And the road sucks up the tannin ♪ ♪ You're vulnerable ♪ ♪ So vulnerable ♪ ♪ Then the world turns into ocean ♪ ♪ The ocean bleeds to sky ♪ ♪ It's amazing ♪ ♪ It's amazing ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ (upbeat music continues) ♪ If the panthers pray open up the cage ♪ ♪ Turn the music up don't be afraid ♪ ♪ If the panthers pray open up the cage ♪ ♪ Turn the music up don't be afraid ♪ ♪ If the panthers pray open up the cage ♪ ♪ Turn the music up don't be afraid ♪ ♪ If the panthers pray there goes the world ♪ ♪ There goes control ♪ ♪ But it will be beautiful yeah ♪ (bright music) - I can't say I really enjoy the songwriting process.

A lot times I feel like my brain is running in circles and feels a little bit like I'm trying to crack a safe, and trying to figure out really what I'm trying to say in a song.

I mean songs are like two and half, you know three, maybe four minutes long.

And that's such a tiny amount of time.

And you have to me like so concise.

You just have to be really thoughtful.

And I always try to make sure I'm wringing every single amount of meaning I can out of every single word.

And sometimes that can be a little tiring.

(Jeremy laughs) I tend to write melody first, lyrics second, although I'll usually keep a bunch of lyrical ideas kind of in my head, like I wanna write a song called "Deathbed Salesman."

I don't know what it's gonna sound like but it just seems like a fun idea for a song.

♪ Well I can tell you've got taste ♪ ♪ You shouldn't have to settle ♪ ♪ You deserve the best ♪ ♪ So why not rest in style ♪ ♪ What's that you say ♪ ♪ You're feeling fine ♪ ♪ Well if you want my opinion ♪ ♪ In this line of work ♪ ♪ It never hurts to plan ♪ ♪ Is this is how it has to end ♪ ♪ So love somebody while you can ♪ ♪ Oo-oo-oo ♪ (gentle music) ♪ And you won't feel a thing ♪ ♪ All your friends are there already ♪ ♪ You don't have to wait if you don't want to ♪ ♪ And you won't need to pack ♪ ♪ You've got a reservation ♪ ♪ You don't need to wait if you don't want to ♪ ♪ And this is how it has to end ♪ ♪ So love somebody while you can ♪ ♪ Oo-oo-oo ♪ (gentle music continues) ♪ But this is how it has to end ♪ ♪ So love somebody while you can ♪ ♪ Oo-oo-oo ♪ (gentle music continues) (audience cheering) ♪ This is how it has to end ♪ ♪ So love somebody while you can ♪ ♪ This is how it has to end ♪ ♪ So love somebody while you can ♪ ♪ This is how it has to end ♪ ♪ This is how it ends ♪ ♪ Love somebody while you can ♪ ♪ Love someone ♪ ♪ This is how it has to end ♪ ♪ This is how it ends ♪ ♪ So love somebody while you can ♪ (audience cheers) (gentle drum music) - My little pride-and-joy drumbeat.

(gentle drum music) It's interesting having me as a drummer because I'm not that good and I've always had really good drummers to work with.

And it's now almost as though I'm playing in a band with an okay drummer.

(gentle drum music continues) Dan the drummer is like the soulful part of the band, whereas, Dan the piano player is like, irritated and Dan the piano player doesn't really make mistakes.

Was good to have Dan the drummer in the band because it keeps things kind of a little dumber and looser than it would have been.

(gentle music) ♪ When it pleases you ♪ (gentle music) - [Narrator] "Minnesota Original" is made possible by The State Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota.

(bright music) - [Announcer] "Stage" is made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, the citizens of Minnesota, and by viewers like you.