All That's Jazz

This is the first definitive biography of the pioneering drummer and bandleader , Gene Krupa, who brought percussion from back to center stage, influencing generations of musicians from jazz to rock - and beyond. In this episode, I go behind the pages with author/historian Elizabeth J. Rosenthal, to discover what led her to write ‘The Master Of The Drums' and unravel the complicated and tumultuous story of the man who was indisputably the most controversial, influential, and famous drummer of his time. 

In this episode, I sit down with pianist/vocalist Champian Fulton and saxophonist/clarinetist/composer Klas Lindquist to discuss their latest release, “At Home,” the concept for which began with an event held in a home owned by Turtle Bay Records founder Scott Asen, who suggested they actually record in in his living room.  Oklahoma native and New York based Champian Fulton is the daughter of trumpeter and flugel hornist Stephen Fulton. She began her career at the age of 10, performing for Jazz legend and family friend Clark Terry's 75th Birthday Party. A Jazz pianist and vocalist for more than 20 years, Champian has now released 19 albums as a leader and has performed in more than 25 countries, both in concert and on TV. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including Album of the Year in the NYC Jazz Record (2018, 2020, 2023) and Pianist and Vocalist of the Year (2019) by Hot House Magazine, among other prestigious accolades. A world-renowned ambassador of Jazz excellence, alto saxophonist, clarinetist and composer, Klas Lindquist, was born  in Göteborg, Sweden.  Klas is considered one of Sweden's most exciting Jazz musicians. He is the recipient of the “The Golden Sax” award, “The Alice Babs Award,” “The Stockholm Stads Kulturstipendium”, and the “Gavatin Foundation Prize for Jazz Music.” Recognized for his technical brilliance, imagination and style, Klas is in demand as a recording artist, and has appeared on over 40 albums as a featured soloist and five albums as a leader.  These two seasoned artists with impressive resumes are very fond of the duo format, which is what led them to develop their latest release. And this is where we start our conversation. 

This episode is about a story that needs to be heard. It's the tale of an amazing individual and jazz artist named René Marie.  Her story has been portrayed in an award - winning short documentary by Rachel Kessler, a Brooklyn-based director, screenwriter, and producer with over a decade of experience deeply rooted in her artistic and creative beliefs.  The beauty and soul of René Marie has been captured in this film called, ‘Tuning René Marie', that weaves you through the early life of this GRAMMY-nominated jazz vocalist. It premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Woodstock Film Festival in 2022 where it was nominated for Best Short Documentary;  it's now available for all to see on the prestigious short film channel, Omeleto.  It's an extraordinary story that we're honored to share as we speak to both women about how it came to be, and the impact it's had on them, and on everyone who's seen it.

Fado is a powerful and poignant musical expression of the Portuguese soul, often associated with the hardships of everyday life and characterized by melancholy, expressive vocal performances with a strong emphasis on emotional, poetic storytelling. The unique sound of Fado is highlighted by the guitarra portuguesa, or Portuguese guitar - a pear-shaped cittern with 12 wire strings - and is usually accompanied by a wire-strung acoustic guitar. In many ways, its' free-form style is reminiscent of early Blues and Jazz.  Intrigued by what we learned from our research, we sought out a specific Fado performance while visiting the city of Porto.  This turned out to be a serendipitous experience.  We were the only two audience members in what ended up being a private concert. This allowed us to dig deeper into the history and soul of this music deeply rooted in Portuguese tradition. The session featured the outstanding talents of noted Fado vocalist, Ana Margarida, and her two musicians, Artur on Portuguese guitar, and Antonio on classical acoustic guitar.  With apologies in advance for the less-than-perfect audio, we couldn't pass up the chance to record this unexpected, once-in-a- lifetime session with a cell phone since we were without our professional audio equipment.  By sharing our experience, we hope to give you an insight into this extraordinary musical genre through our conversation recorded in the majestic Grand Salon of Porto City Hall. 

This is a  is the story of how New York-based pianist, composer, arranger and educator, Caili O'Doherty, developed and recently released an album called ‘Bluer Than Blue' which honors the overlooked genius of Lillian “Lil” Hardin Armstrong. If that name is somewhat familiar to you, it's because this highly talented artist and composer in her own right was married to none other than Louis Satchmo Armstrong. Lil was Armstrong's second wife, and they collaborated on many recordings in the 1920s.   But it was actually Lil who wrote many famous, classic tunes of that early jazz era.  Caili discovered Lil's prolific background while taking a course  from Ricky Riccardi, the Director of Research Collections for the Louis Armstrong Museum titled, “The Music of Louis Armstrong.” Not only did it whet Caili's appetite to learn more about this unsung Jazz heroine, but also led  to assembling her core trio of Tamir Schmerling on bass, drummer Cory Cox ,and saxophonist Nicole Glover, along with special guest vocalists Tahria Clayton and Michael Mayo, to record Lil Hardin Armstrong's music. My conversation  begins with Caili diving into even more about Lil's  early career as she unravels for us details of this  little-known magical, musical history.

Israeli born jazz drummer, composer and bandleader, Dan Pugach, grew up not far from Tel Aviv. His Jazz education and service as a drummer in the IDF Air Force Band and attending Israel's Rimon School of Music led him to The US to attend the Berklee College of Music. Dan moved to New York City where he began building an impressive musical resume with his original music and arrangements. Along the way, he formed the Dan Pugach Nonet, and the Dan Pugach Big Band; both leading to award-winning recognition for his talents and musical collaborations.   The most notable collaboration in Dan's life, however, came in 2009 when he met stunning singer/songwriter Nicole Zuraitis.  Nicole and Dan flourished individually - and together - collecting numerous awards, including several Grammy nominations.   Along the way, their partnership in the studio and on stage, became more permanent when they married in 2018. Nicole went on to win her first Grammy award for her 2023 vocal album “How Love Begins,” which was co-produced by jazz giant Christian McBride and featured her drummer-husband.  Not to be outdone, Dan took to the stage for his first Grammy win this year with his Big Band as winner of the 2024 award for  Best Large Jazz Ensemble album titled “Bianca Reimagined.”  And, you guessed it, the album also features the love of his life, his wife Nicole. The album was inspired by their pit bull rescue dog named Bianca, and 15 years of dedicated efforts by this couple to rescue and rehabilitate pit bulls from shelters in New York City.  It's a fascinating and unique backstory, highlighted by cuts from the Grammy-winning album, we know you'll enjoy. 

Ryan Middagh is not only a composer, arranger, baritone saxophonist and educator, as Chair of the Department of Jazz and Global Music at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music, he has delivered all that, and more, in his latest release called “Tenor Madness.” This album is a love letter to both the saxophone itself, and the abundance of saxophonists found in the vibrant and growing Nashville music scene.  To bring the music to this release, Ryan gathered together an amazing group of his talented friends and saxophone colleagues like Jeff Coffin, Joel Frahm, Don Aliquo, Jovan Quallo, Alex Graham, vocalist Jenna McLean, trombonists Jeremy Wilson, and special guest Roy Agee, as well as members the Ryan Middagh Jazz Orchestra.   Join me for a conversation about the development of this stunning album, “Tenor Madness,” and the man behind the music.  If you're  like me, a fan of big band music and have a keen interest in the sound of the saxophone as a stand-out instrument to deliver that dynamic genre of music, then you are in for a treat with this episode.

Pittsburgh has a strong connection to the world of jazz; in fact, you might say it is sacred ground for this music genre. Many of the legends of jazz - like Billy Eckstine, Billy Taylor, Ray Brown, George Benson, Stanley Turrentine, Mary Lou Williams, Ahmad Jamal, Art Blakey and dozens more - are from this Pennsylvania “burg.”   In this episode, we talk with co-founder and executive producer of MCG Jazz, Marty Ashby, about how MCG Jazz grew out of the organization founded in the 1960's by Bill Strickland as Manchester Craftsman Guild. What started as Strickland's dream to serve and give back to the community, has since grown into a powerhouse program.  As a Craftsman Guild, MCG initially provided a space to develop ceramics, photography and digital design education for urban youth. In the late 80's, Strickland joined forces with jazz guitarist Ashby. Together as co-founders, they started MCG Jazz, where Ashby also continues to grow this legacy program as its executive producer.  Our conversation begins with Marty Ashby telling me about the backstory to this incredible organization, its history, present projects and their vision for the future of keeping Jazz alive for generations to come

Jazz Manouche is a style of music that mixes jazz with traditional French dance music and Romani, also known as Gypsy music. Django Reinhardt is considered to be the pioneer of jazz manouche in the 1930s. Django is, in fact, one of the most influential guitarists of all time. His music and recordings are classics and they have touched the hearts and minds of others for decades. One such artist moved by this legendary figure is vocalist Tatiana Eva Marie.  Tatiana's latest project, a celebration of the music of Django Reinhardt called “Djangology,” sprang from a desire to reconnect with her Romani (Gypsy) origins.  Born into a family of musicians, painters, and poets, Tatiana was immersed in a world of show business, arts, and culture. Moved by the music she grew up with, her Gypsy soul carried her on a musical journey that took Tatiana from her birthplace of Switzerland to a bohemian lifestyle at the young age of 15 when she entered college in Paris. From there, Tatiana continued to travel across the globe, eventually winding up in New York City where she continues to develop new projects when she's not traveling.  Join me in exploring the colorful and fascinating story of this artist who the New York Times calls,  “The Gypsy jazz warbler.” 

Band of Other Brothers is a stellar, multi genre supergroup whose members boast incredible associations with a Who's Who of A-listers. There's pianist Jeff Babko (Jimmy Kimmel Live, Sheryl Crow), saxophonist and woodwind wizard Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones), drummer Keith Carlock (Steely Dan, John Mayer), guitarist Nir Felder (Esperanza Spalding, Jack DeJohnette), and bassist, vocalist Will Lee (Late Show with David Letterman, The Brecker Brothers).   While they've joined forces before, this is their first holiday release.  It's called “This Year At Christmas” on Ear Up records, and offers Christmas standards delivered in a unique, and even unconventional manner, by this all-star group of multi Grammy®️ winning musicians. The album also features two very special guest vocalists, as well as Keith Carlock's own Carlock Family Choir, all highlighted by an amazing string ensemble that offers the perfect complement the joubilant selection of tunes.   My guests for this fun and more than occasionally frenetic conversation are Jeff Babko, Jeff Coffin, Nir Felder and Will Lee. Drummer Keith Carlock was tending to the reindeer and sadly couldn't join in the Christmas chaos.  Join me for a whimsical journey through the backstory behind this one-of-a-kind holiday release.

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, we turn our attention to that holiday time of the year which is filled with the music that we all know and love. And I can't think of a better way to kick off the season than with a reprise of an episode we did in 2023 featuring the members of the Grammy®️ nominated a cappella group called Kings Return.   When you listen to their first holiday album release, “We Four Kings”, it's easy to see why this is the most wonderful time of the year.  Join me again for this conversation with tenor Vaughn Faison, bass Gabe Kunda, tenor J.E. McKissic, and baritone Jamall Williams.

Trombone-playing singer-songwriter Aubrey Logan hails from the Seattle area. Raised by her two music-educator parents, she began her artistic endeavors as a child singing in theatre and in church. She credits her  singing mother and trumpet-playing father for early influences like  singers/songwriters  Billy Joel and Carole King, as well as the soulful musicianship of American horn bands such as Chicago, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Steely Dan, and more.  And, at the age of 12, things took an intriguing turn when she picked up the trombone, igniting her passion for the jazz tradition.  Aubrey possesses a distinct yet truly unique voice, able to take a song from practically any era or genre and really making it her own. Her accolades are as impressive as they are extensive, from clinching victory in the prestigious Shure Montreux Voice competition in 2009 to securing a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music, where she stands as an alumna. The media refer to Aubrey Logan as “The Queen of Sass,” and it's easy to see why. Her concerts are a mix of excellent musicality, jaw-dropping vocals, expert trombone-playing, a breathtaking array of originals and original takes on cover songs and, well…fun! Her heart wrenching musical stories has audiences in tears just before her comedic relief has them in stitches. Both of these elements can be found in her latest album “Aubrey Logan & Her Bigger Than Average Band” dropped November 1 via MWO Records.  Our delightful and enlightening conversation, coupled with samples from her new release, will surely make you want to know and hear more from this self-described, genre bending artist who calls herself “a pop singer who uses a contemporary voice and sings jazz.” 

Jim Morgan is a dynamic music industry professional with over two decades of experience spanning performance, event management, and competition oversight. He began as a drummer in Australia at age 16, later transitioning to the U.S. music scene in 2000. Jim played a pivotal role in the Boston Music Awards and NEMO Music Conference, and co-founded the International Songwriting Competition and Unsigned Only Music Competition. Currently, he oversees operations for both competitions, including the recruitment and management of high-profile celebrity judges. He is passionate about fostering new talent and promoting musical excellence. The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is an annual contest whose mission is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring and established songwriters - covering all genres of music  - to have their songs heard in a professional, international arena. ISC is designed to nurture the musical talent of songwriters on all levels and promote excellence in the art of songwriting. Amateur and professional songwriters and musicians from anywhere in the world are invited to participate, and 74 winners share in awards that include cash and prizes. Categories include: AAA (Adult Album Alternative), AC (Adult Contemporary), Americana, Blues, Children's Music, Christian, Comedy/Novelty, Country, EDM (Electronic Dance Music), Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Hip-Hop/Rap, Instrumental, and Jazz - both instrumental and vocal. Importantly, entrants retain all ownership rights to all submitted songs. ISC will not have any ownership rights to any songs or lyrics submitted. Highlighted by a truly stellar panel of celebrity artist judges from all music genres, and also a wide array of music industry professionals including representatives of major recording labels and publishing companies, ISC offers a great opportunity for songwriters, musicians, and performers to further their music careers.  For complete details, including how to enter, the specific categories in all genres, who past winners have been, and the impressive list of world-renowned judges, go to https://www.songwritingcompetition.com/ While ISC covers the breadth and depth of all music genres, the role it plays in finding new talent is a story we couldn't resist amplifying, and one that's truly inspiring. 

More than 25 years ago, I met tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson who was raised in Denver Colorado and that meeting made a wonderful memory and a deep impact that still resonates with me today.  It impressed me that he took the time out of his very busy and impressive career to offer his time in a very giving manner to help a small-town, non-profit radio station.  But that is just the kind of person he is, one who gives back and makes a difference.  He is still doing that today as the Chair of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the University of Hartford since 2013.   Besides being a dedicated educator, Javon has also been a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers; he has recorded over two dozen albums as a leader and has also recorded with such jazz legends including Ron Carter, Elvin Jones, Freddie Hubbard, Louis Hayes and of course, Art Blakey and others.  It was serendipity that led to Javon forming a friendship and collaboration with the influential poet and activist Nikki Giovanni.  Giovanni was invited by Javon to lecture at the University. Discovering they had a shared love of jazz music which resulted in this duo recording an album together called ‘The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni.' The relationship between the two has only deepened through the years, and from that, other shared passions have emerged. One of them, American cinema, is referenced in the title of their recent and much-anticipated follow-up album called ‘Javon and Nikki Go to the Movies.”  This is the subject of my conversation with Javon Jackson which begins with a reference to another one of Jackson's musical influences...Sonny Rollins.

New Orleans is a place where virtuosity is always deployed with a celebratory spirit, and Crescent City Jewels is like a Gratitude Journal in song, a rollicking collection that expresses NEA Jazz Master, Grammy-winning producer, trombonist and bandleader, Delfeayo Marsalis, appreciation for the good things in life at a time when so much attention seems to focus on doom and gloom.  In this latest album, Delfeayo set out to celebrate the undersung heroes in his own hometown. To accomplish that, he's brought together a host of veteran and rising New Orleans musicians, as well as a number of guest stars, including big brother Branford Marsalis for a pair of jaw-dropping sax showcases, Rebirth Brass Band co-founder and Big Easy ambassador Kermit Ruffins, “Piano Prince of New Orleans” Davell Crawford, drummer extraordinaire Herlin Riley, and trombonist Maurice “Miracle Meaux” Trosclair. “One of our goals is to show the breadth and the dynamic possibilities of New Orleans music. Our philosophy is to take the important ingredients from past generations and use them in the gumbo that we're creating today.”  That's where our conversation begins. 

There are times when you get a sense that you're talking with an old friend that you've actually never met. There are shared times and memories that travelled on parallel lines but somehow never managed to intersect. That's the best way that I can describe the conversation I had with Shelly Berg. From places lived and mutual friends, to times spent working with Jazz Aspen Snowmass in Colorado, our off-mic discussion created “allegría,” the Spanish word for joy, which is not only the name of his new album, but the foundation of his perspective on life.  Shelly feels that the more an audience feels included in the music, the better time everybody has, the more opportunity there is for the music to reach - and move - them. That's the foundation of ‘Allegría,' a collaborative album of  Berg originals, plus fresh takes on classics from Leonard Bernstein and The Beatles, performed with longtime friends, bassist Carlitos Del Puerto, drummer Dafnis Prieto and special guest, Melvin Butler.  Shelly draws inspiration not only from his experiences as a leader in higher education as dean of the University of Miami's Frost School of Music since 2007 - and before that  as a professor at USC's Thornton School for 16 years - but also as a collaborator with jazz legendary international artists, including Gloria Estefan, Arturo Sandoval, Steve Miller, and Pharrell Williams, among others.  All of that rich backstory is brought into ‘Allegría,' creating an understanding of joy, and all its co-existing chambers — sorrow, longing, faith, peace, reflection.  Shelly describes it as, “A big narrative made up of smaller ones,” that allows listeners to feel “connected to the music and the arc of the album.” That's where our joyful conversation begins.

From an early age, acclaimed and accomplished vocalist, Alexis Cole, not only knew what she wanted to do in life, but also how she was going to do it - her way.  Both Alexis' father and maternal grandmother were pianists and singers, and her business-minded mother helped Alexis learn how to carve her way through the financial side of show business. Thanks to their guidance, Alexis not only succeeded in honing her professional career,  she also followed a serious educational path, gaining a Bachelor of Music degree that led her to global life experiences including a year as an Americorp volunteer and studying music in Mumbai, India. Alexis also  worked the cruise ship circuit as an entertainer, and that was followed by years of travelling extensively through Europe.  Deciding to continue her education, Alexis earned a Masters of Music degree which resulted in her moving in and out of the higher education world as a jazz voice professor.  But then things really began to change for Alexis. First, she took a year's long music gig in Tokyo, Japan.  Then, in 2009, she enlisted in the U.S. Army to become the lead singer for the West Point Jazz Knights Big Band.  Our conversation covers all this and much more, including how - and why - she came to make her new album, ‘Jazz Republic: Taiwan, the United States, and The Freedom of Swing' with the Taipei Jazz Orchestra. 

The style of the undeniably talented bassist and composer, Ben Wolfe, is truly unique. His approach to music and performance has led to a path of development and success that can be attributed to collaborations with the likes of Harry Connick JR, Diana Krall and Wynton Marsalis.  Ben also distinguished himself through a significant catalogue of original music, including well over a hundred songs across ten albums as a leader.     With his 11th release titled “The Understated”, Ben presents a collection of new original compositions paired with the re-imaginings of some of his classic material. This album, with a particular emphasis on the ballad song-form, is a reflection of his philosophy that music is all about the sound of the band as ensemble players.    In this episode, our conversation explores Ben's musical journey, from a serendipitous experience of becoming a member of his school band playing tuba and trombone, to being a current faculty member at The Juilliard School of Music, an award-winning composer and critically acclaimed  musician.

The music of professional harmonica jazz musician, bandleader, composer, and educator, Yvonnick Prené , is both unique and innovative.  A transplant from France, Yvonnick is now based in the greater New York City area. He made his professional debut in France in 2007. But it wasn't until moving to the Big Apple that Yvonnick had that “wake-up call” to really learn the art of jazz by furthering his educational pursuits,  immersing himself in the New York jazz scene, and eventually honing his chops to become the widely recognized and skilled band leader he is today.  This fascinating musician has now released seven albums as leader, including his latest project , a  duo recording with piano virtuoso Geoffrey Keezer, called “Jobim's World.”  In this episode, we take a look at the compelling  backstory behind Yvonnick's musical journey, and hear samples of his most recent and exquisite new release on Sunnyside Records. 

As a part of our “Catching Up With” series, I recently re-connected with Azerbaijani-born, New York-based pianist/composer Amina Figarova, and her musical collaborator partner and husband, the exceptional flutist Bart Platteau. This dynamic duo has recorded more than more than a dozen albums, and have travelled the world performing at jazz festivals and engagements, all of which has led to a diverse body of work filled with rich influences from their global experiences.  Even though Amina and Bart are deeply rooted in the U.S., it's been their travels  - and most notably their visits to South Africa - that brought them to their latest album release. Amina  was inspired to compose and create “Suite for Africa” through her experiences working with students during her travels. However, it was a chance encounter on a rescheduled flight with the Matsiko World Orphan Choir, an ensemble of orphaned and at risk children from war-ravaged Liberia, that brought the stirring piece fully to life.  In this episode we talk with Amina and Bart about the fascinating backstory of this album's development and how a chance meeting on a flight from Brussels to New York became the icing on the cake for this musical project.

Jacqui Naylor is not an easy artist to categorize. Naylor is known for a technique she coined, “acoustic smashing,” There are times when she performs straight-ahead vocal jazz, but at other times she favors more of an alternative and diverse approach. Her  groove-based vocals and smoky sound have a subtle, intimate quality that conveys the emotional depth of a song without resorting to vocal pyrotechnics.  Very  jazz-friendly but far from a rigid jazz purist, Jacqui brings a long list of influences to her work — influences ranging from Billie Holiday, June Christy, and Nina Simone to Tracy Chapman, Natalie Merchant, Carole King, and Sheryl Crow. That is an unlikely combination of influences, certainly, but it is one that works well for Jacqui, who has used all of them to fashion a personal, recognizable style of her own. Our conversation is as far-reaching as her smoky, alto vocal style. We discuss everything from studying Jazz as a side gig while obtaining her marketing degree, to a stint in New York's fashion industry; starting a fan-based virtual project during pandemic called Home2Home where she and her husband wrote more than 200 compositions, to having her subscribers decide which songs should be recorded - a practice that Jacqui feels is critical to how she presents music today.  All of this is intertwined with sample songs, including those from her latest release, ‘Treasures of the Heart,' the title of which is a story all its own. 

The best description of Ben Sidran comes from his son, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and fellow podcaster, Leo Sidran: “In a career spanning over fifty years and thirty five records, Ben Sidran has established himself as a philosopher poet. Equally celebrated for his precise, probing writing style as he is for his improvised spoken word jazz raps, he has carved out a truly unique space for himself. The Times of London aptly described Ben as ‘the world's first existential jazz rapper,' and The Chicago Sun Times once referred to him as ‘a renaissance man cast adrift in the modern world.' He is one of a kind.” This is my third episode with Ben, who graciously allows us to use his piece “Mr. P's Shuffle” as our theme song, and my second with Leo. To have them together discussing Ben's latest album titled ‘Rainmaker' is not only a thrill, but an honor.  Ben describes how ‘Rainmaker' started this way: “The original idea for Rainmaker was to throw a party in a Paris recording studio in honor of my 80th birthday. I saw it as a way to celebrate the survival of so many things, including myself, a life without borders, and my friendship with so many musicians abroad.” Of course, it's only the beginning, because that's how conversations with Ben and Leo go. So, sit back and immerse yourself in this freewheeling conversation with samples from  ‘Rainmaker.' By the end, you'll be jumping on your favorite platform to hear more. 

Being Guided By The Light  is the fifth album by pianist/ composer  Mamiko Watanabe, featuring heralded bassist Santi Debriano and legendary drummer Billy Hart.  Born in Fukuoka, Japan, Watanabe began playing the piano at the age of four under instruction at the Yamaha School of Music. Her inspiration was Tashiko Akiyoshi, the boundary-smashing Japanese-American pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader noted for wide-ranging powerful, complex compositions. Mamiko received a scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music where she received several awards for Jazz piano and Composition. She was also a semi-finalist at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition both in 2002 and 2003. She has toured Germany, Italy and Japan and has performed with jazz greats such as Joe Lovano, Kevin Mahogany and Bobby McFerrin while in college. After moving to New York, Mamiko performed at notable venues including Blue Note, Dizzy's Club at the Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Jazz at the Kitano and more. The story of Mamiko unfolds in this episode as we discuss and sample music from her latest release. This album is her premiere with JoJo Records - created by jazz musician Simon Belelty - with an emphasis on high quality audio and vinyl.

Chris DiGirolamo could be called “The Accidental Publicist.”  A lifelong drummer from age 5, Chris was hooked. His mother took him to Jazz from a young age, but he truly fell in love with the genre at 14, when a friend's uncle introduced him to Jean Luc Ponty's “Rhythms of Hope.”  Chris attended Berklee College of Music and New York Institute of Technology. From there, he went on to work as assistant engineer at the legendary Systems Two Recording Studio, followed by a turn in Sausalito, California at Record Plant Studios (“The Plant”).  Moving back to the East Coast and looking for something new, Chris became a freelance writer for several small music publications. But post 9/11, work in that field was nearly nonexistent. However, one unexpected phone call from a guy who said “Are you Chris? You were recommended to me as a publicist,” changed his life. And that's where the story of Two For The Show Media begins. 

For their seventh outing together as a close-knit, collaborative rhythm tandem, bassist Leon Lee Dorsey and drummer Mike Clark tapped pianist Michael Wolff as third man in their ongoing trio adventures. Wolff, who had previously appeared with Dorsey and Clark on 2020's Play Sgt. Pepper, completes the triumvirate on this heartfelt tribute to the late, great pianist-composer in the new album titled “A Letter to Bill Evans.”  These renderings of Bill Evans classics contain the kind of sparkling energy and improvisational freshness that always animates these trio sessions between Dorsey, Clark and their third partner. And this time around they hit on the perfect choice with pianist Michael Wolff, who first heard Evans live at Davies Hall in San Francisco when he was 18, and got the only available tickets which were actually on the stage, where he got to experience the concert close up.  “A few years later, when I was 20,” Wolff explained, “I went on the road with Cal Tjader . I ran into Bill Evans a lot in various cities where we all were playing; I befriended him and, of course, hounded him for information about his music. He was very open and understanding with me. And whenever he was performing in the Bay Area, I would go hear him every night.”  Wolff's connection with Mike Clark, who is celebrating his 50th anniversary as a member of The Headhunters, goes back to the late ‘60s on the Bay Area jazz scene  when Wolff was house pianist with Bishop Norman Williams' Sunday afternoon jam at a great SF club called the Both/And. “I was 17 years old and still in high school, I wasn't old enough to get into most clubs then. But I had this gig and Mike came by one Sunday to sit in. And that was the beginning of a long working relationship.”  While the music of “A Letter to Bill Evans” captures the spirit of the great pianist, Wolff/Clark/Dorsey take some liberties with this classic Evans material, interpreting it through their collective musical lens. In my conversation with all three musicians, we talk about how the album came together, their concept for each track, and how it's truly their “love letter” to the music and the man who is one of the giants of jazz.

Jay Bordeleau, the owner, creator, and mastermind behind one of the top Jazz venues in San Francisco, Mr. Tipple's, has always loved the arts and is constantly driven by his “it's-so-crazy-it-just-might-work” ambition. He was able to combine this deeply rich cooperative leadership style with a profound passion for hospitality while designing, building, and operating his first restaurant: Maven.  Jay's collaborative work style was formalized while playing drums behind the orchestra as a music performance major at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. And his life-long passion for wine also led him to earning his Certified Sommelier and Advanced Wine Specialist title from Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). Mr. Tipple's is a cozy yet elegant jazz club, cocktail bar and restaurant with three distinct - but also overlapping- types of clientele. Some come in for the music, others for the expertly crafted and carefully poured drinks and a third group for the dumplings, bao and clay pot rice. Adding to that is its alcohol-free CBD cocktails, and gratuity-free pre-calculated tipping policy, all of which make the club feel honest and welcoming. Join us for a deep dive into Mr. Tipple's with Jay and hear why it's been rated the best jazz club by San Francisco Magazine; one we personally enjoy each time we visit “The City by the Bay.”

A singer-saxophonist-songwriter-composer and band leader, this American-born unequivocal musical prodigy of Korean descent, with the memorable name Grace Kelly,  has rocked the jazz world.  With sold-out concerts, 14 acclaimed albums and a resume that includes performing at the Hollywood Bowl as well as being part of the house band for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” – all before reaching her mid-twenties, Grace is touted for her scorching saxophone stylings and purring vocals. She's performed and recorded with renowned artists including Lin Manuel- Miranda, Dave Brubeck, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Huey Lewis, Harry Connick Jr., Gloria Estefan, Questlove, and Wynton Marsalis. Grace's newest project, “ Grace Kelly with Strings: At the Movies” with her fifteen piece large ensemble is inspired by “Charlie Parker with Strings” - one of Kelly's all time favorite albums -  as well as her love of classic and contemporary movies. With this album, Grace reimagines her favorite movie music, as well as songs by legendary film composers John Williams, Ennio Morricone, and contemporary artist Billie Eilish ‘s ‘No Time To Die' from the latest James Bond film, with fresh arrangements fully merged into her signature sound.  In this first episode of Season 5, we talk with Grace not only about her background, name (and, yes, that actually is it), and her dizzyingly impressive accomplishments, but also explore the backstory of her album and how she's taken classics and made them her own. 

Singer-songwriter, pianist, arranger, New York-based bandleader and winner of the prestigious 2021 American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal, Nicole Zuraitis, had been there once before. But when the presenters at the 2024 Grammy®️ Awards announced her name as winner of the Best Jazz Vocal Album for her release, “How Love Begins,” her immediate reaction was “Holy Cow!”    To many of her friends and supporters, however, it was an affirmation of what they've known for more than a decade of working with, for and beside her. Nicole is an undeniable force- in music and in life.  Besides leading her quartet, Nicole is the premier vocalist for the Birdland Big Band and frequently headlines iconic NYC jazz clubs like Dizzy's Club at Lincoln Center, Birdland, the Blue Note, the Carlyle,  54 Below and the late, great 55 Bar. She's collaborated with an extensive list of luminaries, including Christian McBride - who co-produced her Grammy-winning album - and worked with David Cook, Gilad Hekselman, Veronica Swift, Benny Benack, Stephen Feifke, Cyrille Aimee, Antonio Sanchez, Dave Stryker, Omar Hakim,  Rachel Z, Helen Sung, and Bernard Purdie. And Nicole is also a proud educator, currently serving on the vocal faculty at NYU, SUNY Purchase and the Litchfield Jazz Camp.  In this last episode of Season 4, we focus specifically Nicole's Grammy-winning album because its story is a microcosm of who and what she is as an artist, composer, vocalist - and person. As Jazz Police aptly put it, Nicole has a “heart as big as her remarkable voice,” and Broadway World added, she's one of the top "prolific songwriters" to watch in the genre of jazz and beyond.   To learn more about Nicole,  visit her website https://www.nicolezmusic.com

Trumpeter, flugelhorn player, composer, educator, and recording artist Jun Iida (Joon Ee-da) has quickly established himself as a highly sought after musician. A recording and performing artist, Iida has appeared extensively throughout the U.S. at notable jazz clubs, theaters, and festivals with his sextet and as a sideman.   This gifted musician born in St Louis of Japanese parents,  has lived literally coast-to-coast - from his hometown, to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Seattle, and most recently relocating to New York City. All these moves afforded him the opportunity to experience and internalize the different styles of music from each region, making his approach to composing and arranging appealing and unexpected with his subtle amalgamation of contemporary jazz, blues, pop, hip-hop, soul, and classical music.   Jun's debut CD, EVERGREEN, is a showcase for his modern, edgy originals, along with imaginative re-workings of other compositions. In our conversation, we talk with Jun about his life, influences, incredibly diverse background, as well as about the backstory of EVERGREEN, which released January 19, 2024 on Origin Records.

Whatever  Gordon Goodwin touches, whether it's in his role as pianist, saxophonist, composer, arranger, conductor - or any combination of these gifts - it's all about his love of music. That love, and prodigious talent has brought him 25 Grammy® nominations, including three this year: Best Jazz Vocal Album: Patti Austin Featuring Gordon Goodwin's  Big Phat Band - For Ella 2. Best Instrumental Composition: Quartet San Francisco Featuring Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band - Cutey and The Dragon, Composed by Raymond Scott and Gordon Goodwin. Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals: Patti Austin ft. Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band - April in Paris, Arranged by Gordon Goodwin.   Gordon's collection already includes a Grammy® for ‘Best Instrumental Arrangement' for “Incredits” in the film The Incredibles and has been honored with 3 Emmy awards for his work on the Steven Spielberg-produced shows Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain. His work has been featured/utilized in more than 80 film & TV productions spanning the gamut of pop culture, amplifying the likes of National Treasure, Star Trek: Nemesis, Snakes on a Plane, Get Smart, Remember the Titans, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, The Majestic (starring Jim Carrey), The Lion King, The Incredibles and Ratatouille.   “I look at that number and it shocks me every time. I still find it difficult to believe that the members of the Recording Academy have given me 25 Grammy® nominations for my work. I don't think you ever get used to it and the three most recent nominations seem somehow more precious than ever. I had the good fortune to be involved in two projects that were close to my heart in the past year, and happily, both were acknowledged by the Recording Academy.”   While this episode focuses primarily on the nominations for the current Grammy® season, we cover a lot of ground with Gordon in our conversation. 

Swedish musical sensation Gunhild Carling is an internationally acclaimed superstar whose show is a can't-miss event! Whether she's singing favorite swinging jazz standards, playing one of many 11 instruments (trumpet, trombone, harmonica, oboe, harp, flute, recorder, or jazz bagpipe!) or juggling and tap dancing, Gunhild is not only the consummate show-woman, in Jazz terms she's definitely “The real deal.”    She performed with her 'Carling Big Band' at the Royal Palace in Stockholm in the celebration for King Carl XVI Gustaf's Ruby Jubilee, and has performed at the iconic Birdland in New York multiple times, the most recent being January of 2024.   Noted Jazz journalist Scott Yanow said, “Gunhild Carling has always been quite a character. Her musical abilities are simply brilliant (whether playing trombone, trumpet, flute or even bagpipes); she is a joyous singer who can put across a heartbreaking ballad or a joyous romp. She seems to have limitless energy, and her performances are always quite great fun with her foundation being New Orleans jazz and swing.”   We couldn't think of a better way to kick off 2024 than with “The Party” that is Gunhild Carling! 

 ‘The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Live From The Northwest, 1959' is a collection of never-before-released recordings from the archives of Brubeck Editions of two electrifying concerts recorded on April 4, 1959 at the historic Multnomah Hotel in Portland and on April 5th in the auditorium at nearby Clark College.  The legendary quartet of Dave Brubeck on piano, alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, bassist Eugene Wright, and drummer Joe Morello are further testament to their unprecedented skills. What master sound engineer, Wally Heider, was able to capture from these diverse and challenging venues  are two performances that embody the very sound of the Dave Brubeck Quartet that audiences first fell in love with - described as “lightning in a bottle.”   We talk with multi-instrumentalist and Grammy-nominated composer, Chris Brubeck, about discovering this stellar collection in the archives, the backstory of how it happened, and why Brubeck Editions chose it as the label's third release in continuing the legacy of Dave Brubeck.  

Over the years, Tony-nominated, multiplatinum-selling pop/jazz singer-songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway's compositions have been recorded and performed by some of the biggest names in the business – among them, Carole King, Patti Lupone, Liza Minnelli, Karrin Allyson, and Michael Feinstein, to name a few. Her newly released album, Finding Beauty, Originals Volume 1, released on Sept. 29 via Shanachie Entertainment, is  a milestone for this incredibly and  diversely talented artist who was recently inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame. It features 16 tracks of original songs - all produced and arranged by Trey Henry and Paul Viapiano - and is highlighted by select tracks of Ann singing alongside a number of notable guests that include Melissa Manchester, Tierney Sutton,  jazz legend Kurt Elling, pop and R&B singer Niki Haris, singer Jarrett Johnson, and her frequent musical partner (and real-life sister), the Tony-nominated and Emmy-winning Liz Callaway.  Not only do we talk about this intricate and beautifully constructed album that Ann describes as “my most personal record,”  but about the three year path that got her there.,adding “ I realized that I wanted to tell my story and share the deepest part of me. What better way than by sharing and singing songs I've written?” We think you'll wholeheartedly agree. 

British singer-songwriter and composer Rebecca Poole's story is one of a musical journey that began as a child on a farm in Oxfordshire, England.  The family lived in a house on an estate owned by Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond.  Their simple farm home was always filled with music, two of her brothers became professional musicians, her mother sang a bit and she also had an aunt and uncle who played gypsy jazz professionally.   Choosing initially to take a different tack, Rebecca became an avid writer of poetry and loved the creative arts and painting which she studied in college.  Though she never formally studied music, she eventually became interested in singing after hearing a recording of Nina Simone and also listening to other great jazz vocalists.  Friends encouraged her to sing with a contemporary/pop band that playing gigs during après ski in Zermatt, Switzerland, where in the evenings she also sang at a jazz club she discovered in the town.  But despite all that jazz influence, Rebecca's path led her to the commercial realm. Changing her name professionally to Purdy, she  recorded two widely acclaimed albums and garnered a large following. Her instincts, however, were telling her to return to her jazz roots. So for now, she's set the Purdy moniker aside, and returned to using her birth name, Rebecca Poole.  Her new album called “Dreamers Ball” is the main focus of my conversation about Rebecca's fascinating musical journey.

With their newly-released first album of a cappella Christmas music, GRAMMY nominated, Dallas TX based Kings Return continue to defy expectations. Tenor Vaughn Faison, bass Gabe Kunda, tenor JE McKissic, and baritone Jamall Williams , whose bare-bones a capella stairwell singing went viral on social media, have been compared to some of the iconic groups like Take 6 and Boyz ll Men. Their brand of R&B is entwined with free moments of jazz, soulful bursts of gospel, and bright touches of pop—all built on a solid, classical foundation. Our music-filled conversation introduces their new release titled “We Four Kings,” allowing you to meet these talented, dedicated and engaging men and learn the backstory to what is sure to become a new holiday tradition.

In September, as part of their 75th anniversary celebration, Smithsonian Folkways Records re-released two albums by the poet and activist Sarah Webster Fabio, often referred to as “the mother of Black studies.” The albums, “Jujus: Alchemy of the Blues,” and “Together: To the Tune of Coltrane's ‘Equinox'” contain poems authored and read by Sarah Webster Fabio, who, in her just 51 years, wrote more than 500 poems and recorded four albums for Folkways, in a style that reflects “a funky blend of Black poetry, spoken word, and jazz/blues” that were not only forward thinking, but in many ways a precursor to Hip-Hop's distinctively African-American form of poetic expression. We talk with her daughter, Cheryl Fabio, a documentary filmmaker, educator, and former Program Director at Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in Oakland, California, about her mother and her impact, the albums,  and the far-reaching importance of these works.

This All That's Jazz episode is a conversation with three diverse and virtuosic musical masters - renowned saxophonist Jeff Coffin, venerated drummer Jordan Perlson and bass legend Viktor Krauss - have joined together  for a nine-track debut of all original music that's been described as “a thrilling sonic odyssey that showcases undeniable musicianship and boundless artistic expression.”   Coffin, Perlson and Krauss first started playing together in 2020. The connection between them was evident instantly. During the pandemic, the three Nashville based musicians formed a social pod, and made playing together a regularity as long as they were safe to do so. Using this unexpected time, the trio decided to record at Krauss' home studio to officially document this special collaboration, eventually settling on seven compositions and two solo works.  The result is their first album as a trio, self- titled ‘Coffin /Perlson/Krauss. 

‘Searching For a Memory' is a truly remarkable album. Released in July, legendary GRAMMY-nominated percussionist Sammy Figueroa brings together a stellar group of GRAMMY winning and nominated friends to musically tell the story of his late father, Charlie Figueroa, a singer of romantic boleros back in the 1950's, one of the best, whose records still sell to this day. Charlie passed away as a young man, when Sammy was just a small boy, as he describes it “a victim of his bohemian lifestyle. “   We talk with Sammy about his remarkable musical journey in ‘Searching For a Memory,' and how the song choices and arrangements allowed him to make his peace. This is an album of cathartic strength, and a backstory takes you on a journey that isn't soon forgotten.

All That's Jazz catches up with drummer Richard Baratta to talk about his newest release, “Off The Charts,” a departure from his previous two albums that focused on music from the movies. It's a subject he knows well having spent upwards of 35 years as a film producer. We pick up with Richard where we left off in 2020, Season 1-Episode 30,  that focused on his incredibly rich background and how it led him to his album “Music in Film: The Reel Deal”.  This time, we drill deep into the backstory of album number 3, “Off The Charts” and why he chose to change course to present music mined from the catalog of his youth, focusing on the 1960's and 1970's, a period he describes as “full of intense musical creativity and experimentation.”

Pianist, composer, and educator EUNMI LEE brings a distinct compositional flair with her debut album, INTROSPECTION. Originally from South Korea, Eunmi has been living in New York City since 2020.   In this episode, we talk about how Eunmi crafted INTROSPECTION from the disparate musical traditions of big band jazz, post-bop, chamber music and even Brazilian music. Though her compositions are very contemporary, they are also subtly shaded with Eunmi's Korean culture, creating a unique and musically diverse palate.

In this episode of All That's Jazz, we talk with Shana L. Redmond, professor of English and Comparative Literature at the Center for the Study of Ethnicity & Race at Columbia University. She is past president of the American Studies Association and a recipient of a 2023 Guggenheim Fellowship. Dr. Redmond is the album notes author for the critically acclaimed Verve Record's new release titled ‘Nina Simone: You've Got To Learn.'   Here's the backstory: On July 2, 1966, the Newport Jazz Festival witnessed a legendary six-song set by Nina Simone that has remained etched in the memory of music aficionados for over half a century. Now, this previously unknown and unreleased recording of the unforgettable concert is available for the world to hear.  Our conversation is centered on the backstory of Nina Simone's Newport set, but it is also wide-ranging discussion of the woman, songstress, and ardent activist who spoke truth to power for her generation.   We learned a lot. We know you will, too. 

One of the most intriguing albums we've recently encountered is also the subject of our conversation with one of our most intriguing guests.   Javier Nero has many titles: trombonist, composer, arranger, educator; Doctor of Musical Arts  with a cognate (minor) in classical trombone performance at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, and. along the way, he's also a Staff Sergeant in the US Army with the Army Band's premier musical unit: “The Pershing's Own” and  as part of the pop element with the US Army Blues, a big band comprised of some of the nations most talented musicians. His musical career has been shaped by such jazz luminaries as Carl Allen, Steve Turre, John Daversa, Shelly Berg and Brian Lynch.  Javier has two album releases as a leader to his credit, the 2020 recording “Freedom”, and his recently released second album on the Outside In Music label called “Kemet:the Black Land” which is a tribute to this ancient Egyptian, highly-advanced Black civilization. It's a backstory as fascinating and diverse as the man himself.

Ricky Riccardi is the director of research collections at the Louis Armstrong House Museum, located in the Corona section of the Queens in New York. In 2022, Ricky won a Grammy Award for “Best Album Notes”  The Complete Louis Armstrong Columbia and RCA Victor Studio Sessions 1946-1966 on Mosaic Records.   In this “Catching Up With” episode, we find out what he's been up to and also learn about the newly opened Louis Armstrong Center, located directly across the street from Armstrong's fabled home-turned-museum. 

We had the great fortune of meeting saxophonist Keith Loftis when he was playing with The Baylor Project this spring at Earl Klugh's 20th Weekend of Jazz at The Broadmoor. We knew then that we wanted to continue our backstage conversation in a formal ATJ episode.     Over the course of his musically wide-ranging career, Keith's performed with the likes of Benny Carter, Cedar Walton, Nancy Wilson, Frank Foster, Alvin Batiste, Clark Terry, Bobby Shew, Joe Williams and Ray Charles; he's traveled extensively around the globe performing regularly throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and parts of the Middle East with legendary South African Jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim; master drummer Michael Carvin; the Roy Hargrove Big Band and the Frank Foster Loud Minority Big Band. As we found out when we met him, he's also a main fixture in the 6x Grammy nominated The Baylor Project featuring other great friends of ours, Jean & Marcus Baylor. And if that weren't enough, Keith's also a touring member of 4x Grammy award winning bassist Christian McBride's A Christian McBride Situation and The Christian McBride Big Band.     We talk with Keith not only about his eclectic and fascinating background, but about one of our personal favorite albums, his 2021 release ‘Original State'.

 Anthony Hervey is a trumpeter, composer, and teacher who Wynton Marsalis described as a “beautiful trumpet player of the first magnitude.” Recently chosen as one of Grammy.com's 10 Emerging Jazz Artists to Watch in 2023, Anthony holds both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from and the Juilliard School; he has performed all over the world with some of the best in jazz, including Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, Jon Batiste and Michael Bublé. Anthony has opened for the Branford Marsalis Quartet, is also on Christian McBride's Grammy Award winning Big Band Album, “For Jimmy, Wes, and Oliver,” and he is prominently featured acting and playing trumpet in the anthology series, Monsterland, airing on Hulu. What makes this body of work even more impressive is that Anthony is just 26 years old.     The June 9, 2023 release of Words From My Horn on Outside in Music is Anthony's debut album. The 12-tracks highlight not only 10 of his original compositions, but also Anthony's personal, musical, and spiritual voice.     The individual threads of these experiences are fascinating by themselves, but together they form the fabric of the backstory to Anthony's prodigious talent and remarkable new release. 

Born on the Massachusetts North Shore, critically-acclaimed singer-composer and lyricist Lauren Henderson has been a key part of the New York scene for the past decade. Among Jazz Charts Top 5, and the Year End Jazz Week Top 50 (2020), Lauren accesses elements from a range of influences, delivering a distinct, versatile sound that uncovers layers of her cultural heritages and her diverse background in English and Spanish.  Across her ten albums as a leader, Lauren's own compositions share stories that reflect  journeys of the movement, migration, and scattering of people away from their ancestral homes and how that interplays with Lauren's Panamanian, Montserratian and vast Caribbean roots and her North American upbringing.  In addition to discussing her latest release, CONJURING, we talk about her Jazz, Latin American styles, Flamenco, R&B and Soul roots, as well as her love of, and respect for the sound and lyrics of Jazz standards. “I don't feel like I can give a strong interpretation and representation of the song, “ Lauren told Downbeat Magazine, “if I can't find some way of connecting to it.”  There are so many highlights in our conversation that it's difficult to just pick one. But what our biggest takeaway, besides her prodigious talent, is what a warm, diverse and interesting person she is. We're sure you'll feel that way, too.

After living in New York City for a decade, JUNO nominated Lebanese-Canadian drummer, composer, educator and producer, Sanah Kadoura, has quickly risen to prominence as a first-call drummer and an inventive composer. She has a special approach to her playing, one that exhibits a rare musicality that infuses melody and nuance into all of her work.      Sanah received her Masters of Music in Jazz Drum Set  Performance from S.U.N.Y. Purchase in New York. She  has produced, recorded or shared the stage with a number of legendary artists including Jon Baptiste, Joe Locke, Frank Lacy, Kirk Lighstey, Philip Harper, Ed Cherry, Mark Whitfield, Roy Hargrove, Jeremy Pelt, Johnny O'Neal, Jazzmeia Horn, Ronnie Foster, among many others. As a member of the Canadian All-Star group Ostara, Sanah recorded drums on their debut album, releasing in 2022.       Her new release, ‘Duality', by her description is a blend of modern jazz, neo-soul, and Lebanese influences that weave a balance between dark and light to tell the story of hope and resilience. We discuss the theme, how they intertwine, and the inspiring message of “the flow of life” conveyed through the story. 

What if a magical place existed in an undisclosed location; a place of great beauty, serene and quiet enough to capture a whisper in the breeze. Imagine this place as one that serves as a light to the future, but existing in the present. Carbon neutral, energy producing, and state-of-the-art, a musical sanctuary that combines old-school acoustics with modern technologies and a recording process that honors both artistic performance and authentic audience experience.                                             That place exists.    Manifold Recording is, in fact, located in an undisclosed location near Pittsboro, North Carolina. It is the brainchild of  Michael Tiemann, a professional singer as a child who - as an adult - turned “open source” software creator and in 1989 revolutionized the software industry paving the way for the popularization and commercialization of the Internet.     So, how did this eclectic background lead to a a recording  Nirvana in the woodlands of North Carolina that's hosted artists from across the musical spectrum, from Béla Fleck and Brooklyn Rider, to Sirintip, to Branford Marsalis and Joey Calderazzo, Nnenna Frelon,  to the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, the Indigo Girls, Carole King, and James Taylor? We find the answer to this, and more, in our conversation. 

GRAMMY award winning Leo Sidran is a multi instrumentalist on drums, percussion, bass, guitars, keyboards, piano and vibraphone. He's a lead and backing vocalist, producer, arranger, composer, recording artist, and podcast host of ‘The Third Story' who - in his spare time - just released his 8th solo album titled ‘What's Trending.'       There is so much to this mind bogglingly diverse man that one episode simply isn't enough, so look for a “to be continued” in the future. But for now, Leo and I chose to focus on the rich backstory of ‘What's Trending.' It's a fast-paced, fun and fascinating conversation, with highlights from the tracks we know you'll enjoy.

How does a JUNO-nominated trumpeter from Canada who lives and works in New York form a band called Latin Jazz Project and record an album called MI HOGAR, which translated means “my home”? Fair question.       Mi Hogar represents a special release for Rachel Therrien, who has honed her skills playing in Latin Jazz ensembles for years, and whose love for the genre compelled her to travel to Cuba to research and study the music more than a decade ago.      The accomplished trumpeter is a regular fixture on the New York jazz and Latin jazz scene. A bonafide virtuoso on the horn and an expert in numerous musical styles, she's shared the stage with many luminaries including Tony Allen, Pedrito Martinez, Claudio Roditi, Billy Drummond, Anat Cohen and works regularly as a core member of Arturo O'Farrill's GRAMMY® Winning Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra among many others. A prolific bandleader, her five previous releases (including the JUNO-nominated 2020 release Vena) have garnered critical acclaim, solidifying Rachel's status as an ingenious composer and inspired improviser.      In our conversation we explore just how influential living in Cuba has been for Rachel's latest album and her current musical direction..and she also reveals a secret about what comes next from this incredible artist.

Bass player DEWAYNE PATE is so busy working as a sideman that it has taken him 14 years and a pandemic lockdown to find the time to record his second album as a leader. ON THE UPSIDE comprises funk, blues, and jazz tunes performed with a variety of instrumentations. Besides being an in-demand bass player, Pate is also an accomplished composer and included five of his original compositions.   A master of many styles, Dewayne has performed around the world with a variety of top acts, like Arturo Sandoval, Huey Lewis, Boz Scaggs, Tower Of Power, Maria Muldaur, and Robben Ford, to name a few. In talking about his experience he told us, “I love the variety. It keeps me fresh and it keeps my playing fresh. It's a challenge.”   From jazz to fusion to Latin to funk to the blues, Dewayne's superb musicianship has been an essential component of so many different recordings and live performances that audiences may not have realized just how accomplished and versatile he is.   In our kickoff to Season 4, you'll not only hear Dewayne's take on being a sideman to some of the greats in the industry in a number of genres, but you'll also get to sample some of the music from ON THE UPSIDE - a musically rich, formidable introduction to his talents as a composer and performer.