Arts Axis Florida Podcast

Be sure to see Mindi Abair live in concert on Friday, December 20 at the Capitol Theatre in Clearwater, FL. You can learn more at RuthEckerdHall.com.

“ She’ll Move You” – Keb’ Mo’

“Forget You, Who’s Your Sax Player? – Steven Tyler on American Idol

“21st Century Sophistication, A Gritty, Raucous Spirit, And Exceptional Creative Imagination” – Allmusic.Com

During her remarkable 24-year recording career, saxophonist/vocalist Mindi Abair has garnered 2 GRAMMY nominations, recorded with some of the biggest names in music, and built a substantial following among jazz and blues audiences with her soaring melodies and powerhouse style. In 2014, Mindi received her first GRAMMY nomination in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category for Summer Horns with Dave Koz, Richard Elliot and Gerald Albright, followed by a 2015 GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for her solo LP Wild Heart featuring the late Gregg Allman, Joe Perry, Trombone Shorty, Booker T. Jones, Keb’ Mo’, and Max Weinberg.

You might know her as the featured saxophonist on American Idol, sitting in with Paul Shaffer on The Late Show with David Letterman and The Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, or from moonlighting on tour with Duran Duran or Aerosmith. As a solo artist, she has consistently topped the Billboard Contemporary Jazz and Blues charts. In 2018, Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers won 8 Independent Blues Awards including Artist of the Year, and an Independent Music Award for Best Blues Song Fan Award for “Pretty Good For A Girl” featuring Joe Bonamassa. They won the 2019 LA Critics Award for Best Holiday Album for All I Got For Christmas Is The Blues. And in 2019, 2020 and 2021 Mindi was nominated by the Blues Music Awards as the Best Instrumentalist: Horn.

As creator, designer and owner, Mindi launched www.wineandjazz.com in 2019 as a lifestyle concept that brings together the worlds of wine and music through members-only exclusive wines paired with personally curated music playlists, label art and branded wine and music worldwide adventures and festivals.

Mindi wrote the book “How To Play Madison Square Garden – A Guide To Stage Performance” and served 10 years as an LA Chapter Governor, President and National Trustee for The Recording Academy.Mindi has toured and/or recorded with: Aerosmith, Joe Bonamassa, Smokey Robinson, Joe Perry, Trombone Shorty, Booker T. Jones, Gregg Allman, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Fantastic Negrito, Waddy Wachtel, Bobby Rush, Keb’ Mo’, Teena Marie, Lee Ritenour, Adam Sandler, Duran Duran, Bill Champlin, Richard Elliott, Jimmy Webb, Max Weinberg, Dave Koz, Peter White, Gerald Albright, Mandy Moore, Lalah Hathaway and the Backstreet Boys.

Today’s audio was recorded over Zoom. Production assistance by Chandler Balkcom, Adam Darbyshire, and Arantza Romero. Host and editor: Warren Buchholz. Arts Axis Florida is a product of WUSF and is sponsored by Community Foundation Tampa Bay, the Gobioff Foundation with support from the Palladium by you. Thank you for your support. Learn more about Jazz on Arts Axis Florida by visiting our website at wusfjazz.org. Copyright 2024 WUSF.

Dallas Clark is a junior Music Technology major who always had a passion for music. He continues to learn more about music and technology at the University of Tampa while also starting his own music collective, Stratus Sound. Learn more about Dallas and his journey.

HANNAH SAM

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Through the power of social media I was able to connect with our next student artist, Darcy Espirutu. A fine art student originally from the Philippines her social pages are filled with beautiful, emotional art using watercolors. In this episode, she gives us a glimpse of her start studying art in the Philippines, to taking the leap to come to Canada to continue learning and growing in her artistry.

For more information on ARTS AXIS FLORIDA, visit: artsaxisfl.org

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Thank you for listening! In this episode, we speak to MaKenna Kirsch, a Bachelor of Fine Arts Major and Dance Minor at the University of Central Florida. I happen to already know MaKenna, as we both used to be former students at the same dance studio. Now as a senior in college, we talk about her love of music, theater and dance, her college experience during Covid, and her goals to reach new heights in her art.

You can listen to more episodes on artsaxisfl.org/studentartists

You can follow Makenna here on https://www.instagram.com/makennakirsch/?hl=en

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To watch this episode on youtube, visit: https://youtu.be/32cqIAY0Xqs

For more information on ARTS AXIS FLORIDA, visit: https://www.artsaxisfl.org/

For more information on Dalia Colon, visit: https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/people/dalia-colon

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To watch our interview on Youtube, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFbX_gitCk0

For more information on ARTS AXIS FLORIDA, visit: https://www.artsaxisfl.org/

To contact Lillie Samuels email her at [email protected]

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African American Historical and Genealogical Society

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Thank you to our sponsors: The Community Foundation Tampa Bay and Gobioff Foundation

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To watch our interview on Youtube, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXUYwDtboQw 

For more information on ARTS AXIS FLORIDA, visit: https://www.artsaxisfl.org/

For more information on Dr. Hollist , visit https://pede-hollist.com/

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Dr. Arthur Hollist

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Thank you to our sponsors: The Community Foundation Tampa Bay and Gobioff Foundation

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To watch our interview on Youtube, visit https://youtu.be/85nJGMxSCFI

For more information on ARTS AXIS FLORIDA, visit: https://www.artsaxisfl.org/

For more information on Wanda Raimund-Ortiz , visit https://www.raimundiart.com/

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Malaika Hollist 

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Thank you to our sponsors: The Community Foundation Tampa Bay and Gobioff Foundation