Explore every episode of the podcast WUSF Studio Sessions Podcast

In this episode, Warren Buchholz sits down with Eric Mullins and Jimmy Michaud, co‑founders of Swamp Sounds Florida, a Florida‑rooted vinyl collective dedicated to preserving music, history, and community through records. The conversation explores their journey into vinyl culture, the origins of Swamp Sounds Florida, and their commitment to education through workshops, events, and hands‑on experiences. Eric and Jimmy also share the story behind their annual Vinyl Record Crawl, held on Record Store Day, which blends music history, record grading education, and visits to independent record stores across the Tampa Bay region. Together, they discuss the power of vinyl as a social connector and their vision for giving “Old Florida” a lasting home in the record space.

Host: Warren Buchholz, Jazz Brand Manager, WUSF

Guests:

Rita Batiste – Sommelier / Wine Attendant, Piccolo Buco

Alex – Brand Manager, The Zest

Location: Piccolo Buco, Tampa, FL

In this special on-location episode of Studio Sessions, WUSF Jazz Brand Manager Warren Buchholz sits down with Sommelier Rita Batiste at Piccolo Buco in Tampa to explore the sensory connection between classic jazz albums and carefully selected wines. Each pairing is designed to mirror the mood, texture, and emotional depth of iconic jazz recordings, blending music appreciation with wine education in a relaxed, conversational setting.

Jazz and wine share the same language—emotion, structure, improvisation, and personal taste. There is no “right” pairing, only what resonates with the listener and drinker.

Album & Wine Pairings

🍾 Thelonious Monk –  Monk's Dream  →  Camille Brilliant Champagne (France)

🍷 Miles Davis –  Kind of Blue →  Petite Sirah

🍓 Oscar Peterson –  Night Train →  Strawberry Rhubarb Spritzy Sangria

🍷 Nina Simone –  Gifted and Black →  Vin Velouté Wine

🍷 Frank Sinatra –  My Way →  Super Tuscan Blend

🍾 Ella Fitzgerald –  Like Someone in Love →  Riesling

🍷 Dave Brubeck –  Time Out →  Cabernet Sauvignon & Zinfandel Blend

Recorded by: Natalie Jarrin

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Gustavo Matamoros is a sound artist and composer who has lived and worked in Miami since 1979. His compositions have earned two Venezuelan music awards and have been performed by prestigious ensembles in his home country. His sound art installations have been commissioned and exhibited throughout the U.S. and Europe by notable institutions, including the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), Miami-Dade Art in Public Places, Atlantic Center for the Arts, the Polk Museum of Art, and the Deering Estate. Matamoros has performed at prominent venues such as the Dali Museum, the Lloyd Foundation, and the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery in West Florida, as well as Roulette and Experimental Intermedia in New York City, the Experimental Sound Studio in Chicago, and LAXart and Mills College in California. Since 1988, Gustavo Matamoros has served as the artistic director of the Subtropics Organization. The college campus is located at 6605 5th Ave. North in St. Petersburg. Funded by St. Petersburg College & EMIT.

Led by founder Holly Cordero, Steamin’ Jazz is made up of players from the Central Florida area with a sense of New York Flair. Steamin’ Jazz plays tunes from jazz standards to brazilian to Funk to arrangements of pop tunes in a Jazz fashion. 

Holly received her Master’s in Jazz Performance from New York University playing with Jazz greats such as Kenny Werner, Chris Potter, Jean Michel-Pilc, Brad Shepik, Tony Moreno, among others. She learned under the tutelage of Mike Richmond who tours with the Mingus Big Band. She now resides in Florida continuing to compose and arrange, constantly learning more from the jazz idiom. She continues to be a strong force in the jazz world performing with multiple ensembles and for multi styled events from Burlesque to Symphony to Country to Funk.

Mike Harris - Sax
Joe Barone - Piano
Ken Shadrake - Drums
Holly Cordero - Bass/composer/bandleader
Camera/Editor - Warren Buchholz
Audio Engineer - Jackson Harpe
Assistance / Setup - Chandler Balkcom

Learn more about Studio Sessions at wusfjazz.org. Studio Sessions is made possible by WUSF, Community Foundation Tampa Bay, and viewers like you. Thank you for your support!

Consisting of Chris Kottke on trumpet, John Wheatley on tenor sax, Jim Lemli on guitar, Don Colladay on bass (Steve King on bass substituting on the Arts Axis Studio Session recording) and Pete Szujewski on drums. The SRQuintet is committed to carrying on the tradition of the great jazz quintets of the last 60 years. Playing everything from songbook standards to bebop classics, blue note gems, bossa nova favorites, and many new original tunes, the quintet is a can't-miss feature of the Sarasota jazz scene. 

Don Was has left his mark on music, producing the Rolling Stones, playing bass for Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Grateful Dead, and leading Blue Note Records. He joins us ahead of his Clearwater show with Don Was & The Pan-Detroit Ensemble to discuss new music, collaborations and stories from his career. This was originally broadcasted on WUSF 89.7fm as part of the Florida Matters episode dated February 9, 2026.

Established in 2022, Sokołowski Trombone Project is a Trombone Band made up of 4 trombonists and 3 rhythm section players. The band’s goals consist of promoting innovative arrangements for the trombone of popular jazz standards, while also aiming to contribute original and modern music in various styles. STP recently won the International Trombone Association’s "Kai Winding Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition" as well, where the group was given a featured performance at the International Trombone Festival in Salt Lake City.

Meet Al Di Meola. He’s a GRAMMY® Award-Winning American jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitarist/composer, working as a solo artist on hit albums like Casino and Land of the Midnight Sun and performed with Chick Corea’s Return to Forever. He recently released a new album Twenty Four and is currently on tour where he’ll be performing at the Nancy & David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre in Clearwater on January 17 at 8pm.

Meet Laila Biali. She’s a Multi award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter, pianist and CBC Music national radio host of the program Saturday Night Jazz. She is a JUNO award winner and has recently released a new album Wintersongs. She will be performing at the Carrollwood Cultural Center in Tampa on January 16 at 7:30pm. I hope you enjoy.

Gumbi Ortiz a 30 year veteran of The Al Di Meola Group, was born and raised in The South Bronx, Gumbi has Recorded, performed, and/or Produced, some of today’s most diverse and acclaimed  musicians on the Planet  including : Phillippe Saisse, Jeff Berlin, Steve Vai, Nat Adderley, Joel Taylor, Cyril Neville, Irvin Mayfield, Bill Summers, Armand Sabal-Lecco, Senri Kawaguchi, Chick Corea, Gato Barbieri, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, The J.U.S.T.I.C.E League,Jeff Lorber, Dave Weckl, Eric Marienthal, Brandon Field ,Jay Beckenstein, Barry Miles, Joel Rosenblatt ,The Black Honkeys, Nick Brignola, Jim Pepper, Ted Shumate, Fred Johnson, Irene Cara, kamau kenyatta, Walter Booker, Jimmy Cobb, Rachel Z, Lenny White, kei Akagi,Leonid Agutin, Roman Miroshnichenko, Rick Braun, The Allen Carman Project, Tom Brechtlein, Luis Alicea, New Groove City, The Electrik Rendezvous, Marc Quiñones and Sammy Figueroa, to name but a few. The college campus is located at 6605 5th Ave. North in St. Petersburg. Funded by St. Petersburg College & EMIT.

Welcome to the Studio Sessions Holiday Special! I’m Warren Buchholz, jazz brand manager here at WUSF. It’s been a wild year, but now it’s time to slow down and celebrate the holidays—with friends, family, pets, that one uncle who comments on every Facebook post, and even your mail carrier. This season is full of joy, traditions, and of course… some incredible jazz. Listen to some music by local artists like Julián Pernett Castilla, The House Cats, Jeremy Carter, and Dan Bremer along with interviews and music from Dave Koz and Mindi Abair.

Meet Mindi Abair. She’s is a 2x GRAMMY nominated saxophonist, vocalist, author and wine entrepreneur. She’s recorded and toured with ensembles and musicians like Aerosmith, Gerald Albright, Gregg Allman, Dave Koz and Trombone Shorty. She’s currently touring with Peter White and Vincent Ingala for the 2025 Peter White Christmas show where they will be performing at the Capitol Theatre in Clearwater on December 11 at 8pm. You can find tickets for this wonderful holiday show at RuthEckerdHall.com

Meet jazz bassist Ron Carter. He is a performer, band leader, author, and educator with a prolific record of performing with some of the greats like Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Eric Dolphy, Cannonball Adderley, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, and so many more. He has recorded over 2,200 albums and has a Guinness world record to prove it! He is releasing a brand new album, Sweet, Sweet Spirit, which is a love letter to his mom. Pre-sales begin December 5. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Ron Carter.

Meet Dave Koz. He’s an American saxophonist, composer, and radio host. Over the past 30 years, he’s earned nine Grammy nominations and performed with artists like Celine Dion and Stevie Nicks–to say the very least. He recently released a new album with his friend Bob James and is currently on tour with his Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour, which stops at Ruth Eckerd Hall on November 29–the perfect start to the holiday season.

In the late ’60s, Robert Callender — then recording as Bobby Callender — was a young singer-songwriter with a vision that defied his era. On Rainbow (1968, MGM), he fused Eastern raga textures with Western psychedelic rock, crafting a concept-driven song cycle long before such albums became common. The sessions brought together some of New York’s finest: bassist Richard Davis (Astral Weeks), guitarists Eric Gale and Hugh McCracken, and sitarist Colin Walcott of Oregon. 50 years later, Callender finally performed and recorded the album live for the first time. Rainbow Live will be released on November 14, 2025. Rainbow: The Anniversary Concert is more than a rediscovery — it’s a long-overdue validation of Robert Callender’s role in the psychedelic movement. Once whispered about only in collector circles, his music now takes center stage.

Rod Alnord is Haitian-born drummer with multiple musical influences including Jazz, Gospel/Worship, and Afro-Caribbean Music. He studied at the University of South Florida under Ric Craig and Bob McCormick. He has since developed his playing style, inspired by the explosive Elvin Jones and modern-day drummer Brian Blade.

Hayes Carll isn’t preaching or teaching. He’s not interested in telling the rest of us what to do or think. But he is charting out a personal guide for his life, quieting the noise, and sitting with his real voice – the one that’s candid, consistent, and often inconvenient.

We’re Only Human is Carll’s tenth album. Like his best lyrics, it is also an understated masterpiece, an honest snapshot of one man’s confrontation and delight with humanity’s biggest and most intimate questions. Where do we find forgiveness for ourselves and grace for others? How do we hold on to peace of mind and stay present? What can we—and should we––trust? And how can we moor ourselves to, well, ourselves, in the midst of confusing, trying times? We’re Only Human offers audiences the chance to listen to Carll as he listens to himself.

Meet Stanley Jordan, a jazz guitarist and composer who has performed in 70 countries on 6 continents. His Magic Touch album was an instant classic, and it stayed at #1 on Billboard’s jazz chart for 51 weeks. He is widely regarded as the foremost exponent of the touch, or tapping technique on guitar. To date Jordan has been nominated for four Grammys, and he’s performed in 70 countries. He made a cameo appearance in the movie Blind Date with Bruce Willis and Kim Basinger, and numerous TV appearances through the years, including Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, David Letterman and Jimmy Fallon. He has collaborated on the stage or in the studio with a diverse array of artists including Phil Lesh, Miles Davis, Kenny Rogers, Herbie Hancock, Dionne Warwick, Dave Matthews, Sharon Isbin, and Carmen McRae.

Stanley is performing at the Palladium in St. Pete on October 31. Stanley Plays The Dead is not just a concept-it’s a real band that truly works as a unit, with each member contributing something unique and important. All the members sing as well as play instruments. Learn more at mypalladium.org

Singer, composer, and creator Ona K envelops you in a mist of beauty. Once you enter, you won’t want to escape. With the sensuality of her voice, the elegance of her compositions and arrangements, her powerful aesthetics, and the strong community of musicians she has created around her music, she moves the listener’s soul in a way that they will always remember.

Her music pushes stylistic boundaries. It is born in the roots of descriptive cinematic music, connected to poetry (in English and Spanish), with a voice and arranges that navigate between r&b, and jazz, and a string quartet that is rooted in her to her classical origins. 

Jon Batiste is a five-time GRAMMY® and Academy Award®-winning singer, songwriter, and composer known for his time on Late Night with Stephen Colbert, his film scores on the Disney film Soul and Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night, and the Netflix documentary “American Symphony,” which explores a year of Jon’s life, his career, and his wife’s struggle with Leukemia. He’s currently released 9 solo albums and has collaborated with a plethora of musicians like Willie Nelson, Madonna, Prince, and many many more. He’s performing at Ruth Eckerd Hall on October 8. Be sure to see him live. Go to RuthEckerdHall.com to learn more.

Boogie-woogie, jazz, and blues pianist Craig Brenner is a performer, composer, teacher, and recipient of many arts grants. He leads Craig & The Crawdads, is a member of The Ragin' Texans, and has released seven albums. The founder of Bloomington Boogies: The Bloomington Blues & Boogie Woogie Piano Festival, Craig keeps boogie-woogie and similar non-classical styles alive through concerts, compositions, recordings, and hands-on music educational activities, including workshops, master classes, and in-school performances.

Meet Jeff Babko. He is a multifaceted musical talent renowned for his work as a composer, arranger, and keyboardist. Based in Los Angeles, Babko’s career spans live performances, studio recordings, television, and film. He is widely recognized as a member of the house band for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where his dynamic and versatile keyboard stylings contribute to the show’s vibrant musical identity.

Babko has collaborated with a variety of artists, including Sting, Sheryl Crow, Frank Ocean, James Taylor, John Mayer, and Beck. Notably, he recorded and performed with Sheryl Crow in 2010 and contributed to Frank Ocean’s acclaimed Channel Orange album, showcasing his adaptability across genres.

In his solo work, Babko explores the depths of jazz fusion in albums such as Mondo Trio and Crux, where his improvisational prowess and unique compositional voice are his main focus. His artistry extends into film and television scoring, with contributions to soundtracks for films like Encanto, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Superbad, Toy Story 4, Frozen 2, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and Luca. He has also worked on series such as Better Things and Cobra Kai, solidifying his reputation as a composer.

Beyond his performance and scoring work, Babko runs his own studio, TudorTones, where he collaborates on projects and records with his wife, Songa Lee, a distinguished studio violinist. They contribute to both independent and commercial music initiatives by combining their talents in an engaging manner. TudorTones acts as a creative center where Babko not only developed his skills but also guided aspiring musicians, encouraging creativity and teamwork in the music business.

Learn more about Jeff Babko.

Led by founder Holly Cordero, Steamin’ Jazz is made up of players from the Central Florida area with a sense of New York Flair. Steamin’ Jazz plays tunes from jazz standards to Brazilian to Funk to arrangements of pop tunes in a Jazz fashion.

Critically-acclaimed singer, songwriter & artist  Julie Black  writes expansive music rooted in early blues & jazz. A kindred spirit of free and fiery souls, she’s a songwriter whose personal story is deep, complex, and inspiring. Her soulful voice, intuitive approach, and fiery emotional intensity conjure up live performances that are passionate and profound. Deeply-rooted influences like Solomon Burke and Etta James flavor her sound, as do elements of blues, jazz, soul, swing, and rock. Filled with emotional truth, clarity, and vision, Julie Black offers a musical experience that is one-of-a-kind.

Ross Strauser is a saxophonist, composer and educator who serves on the music faculties at University of South Florida and Hillsborough Community College. He’s in process of creating his second album, Going to the Sun, a 15-movement suite of original works inspired by the Glacier National Park. He recently sat down with me and Adam Darbyshire in the WUSF studio, where we got to talk about his work and what inspires him.

About Dan Bremer: A freelance musician in NYC for 40 years. He plays bassoon, clarinet, sax and piano and has played venues from the Staten Island Ferry to Lincoln Center and everything in between. Dan taught at Wagner College and Staten Island Community College. As a woodwind player he's performed with the Staten Island Chamber Music Players, the Staten Island Symphony, 7th Army Band, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. As a legit pianist, he worked as an accompanist for soloists, choirs, community theater, musical director for Staten Island Children's Theater. As a jazz pianist, he played clubs, hotels and restaurants, including Birdland, the 21 Club, the Riverside Cafe.

Meet Rita Bolton. She’s a singer and pianist who lives in the Tampa Bay area. She’s also a therapist and an educator, which has influenced her music. She recently released a new album: Soulful of Jazz, filled with a collection of jazz, blues, pop, gospel and show tunes. She’s collaborated with some local jazz greats like Hiram Hazley and John Lamb. Joining me in the studio is Adam Darbyshire where the three of us have a soulful conversation about music, life, and everything in between.

This concert was performed live at In Between Days in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

BJ Sam was born in Africa, but his music resonates far beyond African shores. His impact extends far beyond gospel music, influencing artists across multiple genres. He has collaborated with over 100 musicians and celebrities from all the continent of the world including famous Hollywood Oscar nominee Paul Raci, Bollywood legend Jaspinder Narula; Grammy voting pianist Charu Suri; and Monaco ballet star-singer Lorena Baricalla to name a few. The American film director Lloyd Kaufman personally selected his song "Mon Amour" for the soundtrack of the Hollywood movie Heart of Fartness. 

The USF Jazztet trio, the premier small group, is frequently featured in concerts on the USF campus, recordings and touring. This outstanding group has performed at IAJE conferences, as well as jazz festivals and with many outstanding guest artists. The trio consists of Adam Darbyshire on sax, Sydney Bridges on bass, and Matthew Korloch on drums.

Dave Koz is a celebrated American saxophonist, composer, and radio host, widely recognized for his contributions to smooth jazz. Born in 1963 in Encino, California, he began playing the saxophone in his youth and quickly rose to prominence in the late 1980s, touring with artists like Bobby Caldwell and Richard Marx. His solo career took off with his 1990 debut album and has since led to numerous chart-topping albums, Grammy nominations, and collaborations with icons such as Celine Dion, Stevie Nicks, and Barry Manilow. Koz's engaging stage presence and musical versatility have made him a staple in contemporary jazz, while his popular syndicated radio show and annual Dave Koz & Friends At Sea cruises have expanded his influence beyond music. With a legacy built on innovation, collaboration, and a passion for performance, Dave Koz remains one of jazz’s most enduring and influential figures.

WUSF, Community Foundation Tampa Bay, and the Firehouse Cultural Center proudly present Stormy Weather: a concert focused on hurricane preparedness for the 2025 season.

The Firehouse Cultural Center, which suffered significant damage during Hurricane Helene, is co-hosting to highlight the financial and physical impacts of hurricanes. This event is presented by Community Foundation Tampa Bay whose mission is to build a vibrant, prosperous community through transformative vision, leadership, and philanthropy.

Trained in both traditional and contemporary jazz, American Jazz Vocalist Bryan J. Hughes mixes the seasoned sound of a classic jazz frontman with big band popular stylings and a contemporary R&B smoothness that breathes life into songs both old and new.

Meet Andrew Berish: he is an Associate Professor who holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of California, Los Angeles and B.A. in History from Columbia University. Dr. Berish’s current research focuses on the relationship between musical expression and the social experience of space and place. He recently release his book "Hating Jazz: A History of its Disparagement, Mockery, and Other Forms of Abuse."

Formed in 2022 by Trombonist James Wall and Multi-Instrumentalist T.J. Schaff, The Schaff - Wall Collective is a diverse and experimental music ensemble that performs in multiple configurations across the West Coast of Florida. The group draws influence from multiple genres and specializes in live jazz, fusion, pop, and New-Orleans style music. The band's core duo consists of James Wall (Trombone/Vocals) and T.J. Schaff (Drums/Piano) who are regularly joined by artists such as Julian Pernett (Piano), Nick Peters (Piano,) Jean Bolduc (Drums) Valentin Korniyenko (Bass), Erik Hempel (Bass), Aaron West (Sax) and Alex Ocon (Drums/Percussion). 

Meet Gabrielle Leonore: she is an autistic artist who is premiering her first one-woman show, My Life as an “Inspirational Porn” Star, that she acts, writes and produces. You may have recently seen her as “Desdemona” in TheatreFor’s production of Desdemona: A Play about a Handkerchief and as  a “Person in Charge” in Tampa Rep’s production of Straight White Men. She has played Various Roles in “A Sketch-ceptional Showcase” at the Tampa Fringe Festival (Theatre eXceptional), both Marvalynn and Rhonda in “Almost Maine” (West Coast’s Community Players), and Stella in “A Streetcar Named Desire” (Carrollwood Community Players).  She also wrote, directed, and produced her acclaimed play, “(Re)union,” which was featured at the Tampa Theatre Festival, as well as earning the Social Good award at the Tampa Fringe Festival. Gabrielle  holds a double major in Communication and Film from the University of Tampa.

Soul Mafia is the Tampa Bay area's hottest new dance band, featuring experienced players from across the region with a song list ranging from funk and soul classics to the latest dance hits, smooth jazz and much more. Songlist includes Bruno Mars, Dua Lipa, Chaka Khan, Daft Punk and Sade. The group performs everywhere from concert halls and nightclubs to private events, weddings and parties.

"The Tal Cohen Trio manages to combine complex, modern jazz concepts with graceful phrasing, thoughtful development and honest expression. The original ideas, high level of communication and spontaneity of the group is a breath of fresh air and proof that jazz has a bright future” – David Manson, Director of EMIT & the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival. This concert was filmed on location at the Side Door at the Palladium in St. Petersburg, FLA. as part of the 2025 St. Pete Jazz Festival produced by EMIT.

Meet Kathryn Golden & Ashley James - filmmakers of Santos: Skin to Skin, a documentary about the life of latin percussionist and educator John Santos. They sat down over Zoom to talk more about their film, which goes beyond the life of Santos and holds a lens to the profound effect that music, especially of latin influence, has on us through history, activism, grief and ultimately, love.

La Lucha is a Tampa Bay-based trio that consists of three best friends from three different parts of the world: Colombia (Alejandro Arenas), Mexico (John O’Leary), & United States (Mark Feinman). Their music ventures boldly into a wide variety of musical styles, offering an appealing and fun mix of genres under the jazz umbrella. The combination of their musical versatility and varied musical influences makes for compelling virtuosic performances. Through an engaging stage presence and a high level of interaction, La Lucha brings the audience into their world. 

Meet Dylan McHann. He is an accomplished saxophonist and composer based in Miami, Florida and plays tribute to some of the greats like Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane. He’s performed in prestigious clubs like Dizzy’s Coca Cola and at festivals like the Monterey Jazz Festival. He recently performed a show that honors two jazz giants—Horace Silver and Cedar Walton. This concert was filmed at Studio@620 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Travis Van Bumble and Stephanie Ruscito are The House Cats: a husband and wife, guitar and vocals duo, playing straight ahead-jazz, bebop, and swing. Travis and Stephanie grew up near Clearwater, and have been playing music together for over ten years. Travis’ walking baselines and chord melodies give The House Cats a big, swinging sound, but as soon as they play a ballad you’ll feel the mood shift, and see the two’s chemistry shine. The House Cats pull inspiration from many of the greatest names in American jazz including Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery and Sarah Vaughan. Their repertoire consists of timeless tunes from The Great American song book; the pair hopes to breathe new life into these songs with original and inspired arrangements.

Amigo the Devil is a musician and songwriter who channels a voice of unsettling beauty and raw truth. He's a master at murderfolk, the genre that combines Americana, dark folk, and metal with themes of the macabre. His songs are greatly influenced by the honesty of Leonard Cohen, the creativity of Tom Waits and the ruthlessness of Chavela Vargas. He's currently touring and will be performing his solo show at the Floridian Social in St. Pete, Florida on May 1.

Meet Daniela and Nate, a Bossa Nova duo dedicated to sharing authentic Brazilian jazz with audiences across the globe. They’ve travelled and performed hundreds of shows from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. They’re currently touring their latest show, Love and Bossa Nova, which began in the pandemic on Zoom and quickly transformed into a live concert series. They’re performing on April 23 at the Palladium. I got to sit down with them in the WUSF Loraine Rubis and Neil Frankel studio, to talk more about their show. I hope you enjoy.

Ty Scott King is an award-winning, multi-Billboard charting poet and hip hop artist and a best-selling author. Ty has successfully showcased her poetic talent on the National Poetry Slam level and hosted both an internationally aired TV show and her own radio show.

Jeremy Carter is a true study of Jazz music, Nebraska native, and understudy of the Southeast’s best professors and musicians. Jazzy funk riffs, screaming over the sounds of the BSP is truly a spectacle, for the ears and the eyes. If you find yourself stop-dancing in a dropped draw fashion, it is probably because of Carter’s riffs–his soul pouring over the speakers like sand. Carter has recorded with numerous national acts and has performed, recorded and produced solo albums and cameo appearances too many to list.

Meet Dylan McHann. He is an accomplished saxophonist and composer based in Miami, Florida and plays tribute to some of the greats like Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane. He’s performed in prestigious clubs like Dizzy’s Coca Cola and at festivals like the Monterey Jazz Festival.  I spoke with Dylan over zoom about his upcoming show at Studio 620 on Saturday April 5. The show honors two jazz giants—Horace Silver and Cedar Walton.

MPM is an instrumental trio based out of Tampa Bay, Florida specializing in jazz performance. Led by Alex Malkovich on guitar and saxophone, Cooper Madden on bass, and Ayrias Pedigo on drums, this ensemble performs classic bebop tunes in a modern way. This concert was recorded at In Between Days, an intimate sake bungalow house in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Sandujazz is an ensemble devoted to the sounds of the African, Caribbean, and Latin American idiosyncrasies. Since 2019, the group has released its first trilogy of albums blending Jazz Fusion and Salsa styles with psychedelic influences. They are now a prominent part of the jazz scene in Tampa led by the new generations.

Meet Steve Hunter. He's a musician, composer and guitarist who has been touring and recording with musicians like Peter Gabriel, Dr John, Jack Bruce, Lou Reed, Tracy Chapman, Mitch Ryder, Jason Becker, and Alice Cooper. Steve has contributed to ten Alice Cooper albums, starting in 1973 with Billion Dollar Babies and was recently featured heavily on the new ‘Welcome 2 My Nightmare'. He’s also had an illustrious solo career with seven solo albums with more in the making.

ERG is a new ensemble exploring the intersections of composed and improvised creative music. Four of its five members are SHIM alumni and include David Pate (saxophones & flute), Tom Kersey (cello), David Manson (trombone), TJ Glowacki (double bass), and Jim Stewart (drums). Their collective experiences include the free spirit of SHIM, the experimentalism of BONK, and the groove and grittiness of the Zappa repertoire band Bogus Pomp.