Fresh Coast Jazz Backstage

In today’s episode, host Carl Brown is joined by Ilya Serov. Award-winning trumpeter /singer / guitarist /band leader Ilya Serov has a passion for jazz that knows no bounds. A talented young musician with an old soul, Ilya brings an infusion of imagination, vision and energy to the many shades of America’s original musical art form. Possessing both chops and charisma, his live performances and recordings have attracted a solid following among jazz fans and seasoned musicians alike.

Ilya shares his career evolution and where he wants to go with his music. He also describes his music and explains how his personal life and personal responsibilities impact his process of making music. In the ‘Bout It or Doubt It' segment you`ll hear Ilya’s answer about the categories “Lottery and Poker”. Tune in to this episode and enjoy some of his music - Heat, Chillin and Ironic.

Episode Highlights:

How do you describe your music?

04:06 - It's so hard these days to describe something in a sense of genres because everything has just been so mix and match and it's like a melting pot.

How do you determine when a song needs your vocal expertise versus your trumpet?

14:02 - There are few factors that come into play here. First of all, recording trumpet and vocals at the same time on the track takes a little bit longer, depending on the song, depending on track, depending on how I feel.

If you weren’t doing music for a living what do you think you would be doing?

29:37 - I was considering to quit music and becoming a soccer player, because being a cool soccer player especially when you`re a teenger, it was fun and I literally considered it for a while.

What advice would you give your 13 year old self about life?

45:54 - There are things that you can't cut corners, you just can't do it. Sometimes you get some of the quick results if you do it and it seems that you got it.

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Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Ilya Serov

In today’s episode, host Carl Brown is joined by Adam Hawley, Adam was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. At a young age, he developed a keen interest in music, taking up piano lessons at eight and guitar lessons a year later. He eventually attended the University of Southern California where he graduated with a Ph.D. in Music.

Adam shares how he became successful at an early age in his career. He also shares who inspired him in his journey. In the ‘Bout It or Doubt It' segment you`ll hear Adam`s answer about T.V shows.  Listen to this episode and enjoy some of his music – Risin’ Up, Escape feat. Rick Braun, and Gotta Get Up. 

Highlight

How old were you when you started working professionally as a musician?

06:07 - I started playing at 8 or 9 and pretty early on, I would say I was about 11, when I started touring and I was touring all over Oregon and Washington and I was in the Bluegrass Band.

Having worked with so many stars, do you ever get star struck anymore?

11:20 - I have only been star struck once and it is not because I`m not appreciating the greatness of all these incredible artists but the one time I got lost for words is when meeting Chick Corea.

What are you like before you go on stage?

31:26 - I`m usually very calm just because I`ve been doing this so long, I`ve been on the road now for 26-27 years.

How do you know when a song is ready to be released to the world

40:21 - I think there's an important thing in deadlines. I think deadlines are very important because at some point you have to turn the record in.

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Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Adam Hawley

Carl Brown is joined by a producer, guitarist and a radio DJ, Gregory Goodloe. Gregory is a self taught musician, Denver native and U.S. Army Veteran. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School where he received a music scholarship to Paul Quinn College in Dallas Texas. Gregory has also opened for and played with gospel greats such as Shirley Caesar, Angela Spivey, The Gospel Keynotes and the Rance Allen Group. 

Gregory discusses a variety of topics, including his life experiences, musical influences, the creative process he uses, working with other artists, and much more.  In the “Bout it or Doubt it” segment, Gregory shares his opinions on Self Help Books and Newspapers. 

Highlights: 

06:56 I'm trying to create my own element. I love Wes Montgomery. I try to have an influence of the style of where he's playing octaves when I can.

08:06 I might start off with me tapping on the table. I used to do that when I was a kid and it drove my sister mad. And then I used to drag out the pots and pans at my mom's house and just beat on them finally.

09:00 Hit jazz records is also another dream. I've always believed that if you wait, you wait too late.

16:20 I wanted to go into the army and serve my country. It's influenced me a lot because those are the kind of important things that I believe that we need to have the support there for our troops and be supportive to our nation.

21:45 He gives the music into the atmosphere and we have to reach and grab it. 

Contact

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Gregory Goodloe

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Eric Essix began as a fusion and contemporary jazz bandleader in the early 90s. He appeared on the scene with two recorded albums of light pop, fusion, and modern material for Nova. His subsequent releases for Zebra Records showed a shift from his established smooth funk “1998's Small Talk” to a more mature, bluesier style with a distinct Southern feel “Southbound, released in 2000”.

Eric talks about his experiences throughout the years, his process of making music, his musical influences, his experiences collaborating with other artists and much more.  In the “Bout it or Doubt it” segment, Eric shares his opinions on Virtual Reality and Electric Cars. 

Highlights: 

02:13 I reach a point invariably, over about a 12 to 16 month period, where I just have to write and create and get something out.

07:26 I was a senior in high school and started off when I was a freshman being really, really into Jimi Hendrix.

10:40 That was a great band called Modern Man, we had so much fun and the improvisational aspects of it was great but I just felt like there was something missing for me personally as a musician and I figured it out in 1999.

16:38 Having my own record label and feeling that that was something that I not only wanted to do but needed to do has blessed me in a lot of ways to be able to put out the music that I want to put out. 

19:00 Wanting to express myself through my instrument in this manner is what I've always wanted to do. 

Contact

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Connect with Eric

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James PJ Spraggins is a drummer, composer and producer. He developed a love for music at an early age in the church while growing up in Bessemer, Alabama. He received a music scholarship to Alabama State University. After graduating, PJ began chasing his dream of making music a full-time career.

In this episode, PJ shares what led him to choose smooth jazz music. He also discusses how he characterizes his smooth jazz music and his musical inspiration. In the “Bout It or Doubt It” segment you will hear his thoughts on the topic “amusement parks” and “backyard cookouts”. Listen to this episode and enjoy some of his music - Nocturnal Drive, Grace Mercy, and Downtime.

Highlights: 

02:56 When I got my first drum set at the age of eight, I just wanted to play along with some other music so I would listen to the radio and just play along to whatever came on the radio.

04:08 As soon as I walked in the church, I saw and heard drums. I heard this rhythm coming from the front and it was a guy playing a blue drum and I'll never forget it.

08:06 It's different from what I would like on my own music. So, seeing those differences helps me create a balance.

24:00 When I finish a project, being that I'm independent, I have to do everything myself.

36:21 I love to drive, I love to fly my drone. I’m really big into drones.

Contact:

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

PJ Spraggins

Alexander Zonjic was born in Windsor, Ontario in 1951. He is a radio host and a versatile professional flutist with an extensive and varied career recording and performing jazz and classical music. Alexander learned to play the guitar and performed as lead guitarist in a local rhythm and blues band by age 15.

In this episode, Alexander shares his experience on how he got the great opportunity for his musical career. In the “Bout It or Doubt It” segment you will hear his thoughts on the topics of “Gardening” and “Baseball games” Listen to this episode and enjoy some of his music  - Motor City Sway, Jazz Cafe and Memphis Underground. 

Highlights: 

03:25 If you got an opportunity to play at Baker's that was a career move. 

05:35 And there I am in Baker's playing my show, you know, playing like I normally do like it's the last gig of my life and we never leave anything not on that stage.

15:15 The cliche and all of that is, it's more about the journey than it is the destination or even the arrival at a destination because, again, they just keep moving the finish line. 

36:52  We all start out with the fantasy that we're going to get signed by a major label. We're going to get this amazing manager. I'm not gonna worry about anything.

01:00:59 For people like us, we can conveniently go down this road and I don't think for one minute that it's easy.

Contact:

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Alexander Zonjic

Today’s guest is Nathan Mayfield. He has been making quite the name for himself and his band the Jazzmen in our hometown of Milwaukee. He will be providing the entertainment on our Fresh Coast Cruise and he and the Jazzmen will be entertaining at the Fresh Coast Jazz Festival Night Cap.

In this episode, Nathan shares his musical journey, why he chooses to be a trumpet player, his process for creating music and much more. In the “Bout It or Doubt It” segment he talks about his thoughts about the topic “Travel and Leisure “. Tune in to this episode and hear his music – Black Star, NBS and Vibe.

Highlight 

02:57 – I have an ear for music. It was kind of a natural thing for me honestly. It wasn’t even that difficult for me, it was more fun than anything.

07:20 – I take a lot of popular R&B, pop songs and I transpose them by ear and what I`ll do is I`ll add a jazz feel to it, kind of turning it into my own thing.

09:23 – My main goal is to put a lot of positive energy out there and promote positive energy and good vibes through my music.

19:31 – One of the challenges for me personally, I would say, is just certain opportunities aren't always available to me.

39:06 – I wanted to sound 100% like me, I wanted to give the world something they haven't quite seen yet.

Let’s Connect!

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Nathan Mayfield

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Carl is joined by Doobie Powell. Doobie is an independent gospel music artist. He has worked with other gospel artists such as Kim Burrell, The Clark Sisters, Tonex, Tye Tribbett, Kelly Price, Tramaine Hawkins and John P. Kee. He has released three independent albums and is the founder of Chip Off The Block Productions.

In this episode, Doobie shares what made him decide to play smooth jazz music. He also talks about how he describes his smooth jazz music and his inspiration in creating music. In the “Bout It or Doubt It” segment you will hear his thoughts on the topic “Food, Beverage and Fancy Restaurants”. Listen to this episode and enjoy some of his music - OK, Imagination, and Peace and Love.

Highlights:

01:53 – He was responsible for my mind being vast and when it comes to the musicality of going beyond the norm.

05:33 – I feel that that’s what I've been called to do. My music is not churchy but I feel like my message is always clear.

15:01 – You can still serve God and still love God and still be who you are as a Christian and have respect for that and still do what you need to do.

21:58 – The most rewarding thing for me is the possibilities are endless for what you can create for, what you can display for, what you can say through your instrument and through your music.

Contact:

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Doobie Powell

It takes a lot of faith to go out and be the artist that you wanted to be. But, when opportunity comes along your way, be sure to grab it like Nathan Mitchell did. Nathan shares how having the right blend of being a great performer and an amazing musician is necessary in the industry. 

Listen as he shares his other passions when he is not doing music and find out how being a good performer and musician is about more than just playing instruments well. It’s about being someone that promoters and producers can trust. 

Highlights

02:35 The door has just opened up and it’s been a journey since then. 

11:14 Being a performer and a musician, you have to have the right blend and that’s one of the things that I’ve been taking myself through school on. 

25:47 My goal is to try to limit the amount of mistakes, limit the amount of challenges in my presentation and my music, whether it’s on vinyl or streaming or whether it’s on stage, so that the promoters trust me to be on their stage. 

29:26 It wasn’t a matter of me deciding, (moving into Smooth Jazz genre), I feel like it found me in shows. 

41:29 I like going outside and just experiencing nature. 

Let’s Connect!

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Nathan Mitchell

https://www.nathanmitchellmusic.com/

Carl Brown is joined by a Grammy-winning contemporary jazz and R&B guitarist and composer, Freddie Fox. He is recognized worldwide for his own solo work, featuring multiple Top 20 Billboard hits including the #1 single “Too Tuff”. He is a front man, he’s a sideman and he has lent his talent to several tv shows over the years.

Freddie talks about his experiences throughout the years, his process of making music, his musical influences, his experiences collaborating with other artists and much more. In the “Bout it or Doubt it” segment, Freddie shares his opinions on Leisure Activities and Camping.

Highlights

04:22 – You learn more when you leave your country and you respect more of the country if you go to other countries.

12:41 – For me it just starts with my heart and I`ll write it down and will listen to it and now with the technology today you can hear it before it actually gets out.

27:31 – I`m proud of what I`ve done. I had to do it myself. I`m doing the best I can while I can.

28:43 – Look at the crowd, see what they do like and what they don’t like and for me, if it feels good you take a shot and go out there.

32:55 – My grandmother raised me and she said “do whatever you can that you love “.

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Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Connect with Freddie

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