Fresh Coast Jazz Backstage

In today’s episode, your host Carl Brown introduces Marqueal Jordan who has been making music since the mid-1990’s. He spent 10 years touring the world and recording as a member of Brian Culbertson’s band before striking out on his own. Marqueal is a saxophonist, a vocalist, a songwriter, an arranger and producer. He inspires many by being so passionate about his music. 

In today’s episode, he talks about various things such as the effect of Covid on him, his learning and experiences from his music inspirations and a story about being a fan of other artists. In the 'Bout it or Doubt it’ segment, he gives us his opinion about TV News and Cartoons from the TV Shows Category. In the last segment of the show, you’ll be enlightened about the things he enjoys doing aside from music, surprising facts about him, and much more. You can listen to Last Call, Between The Sheets and The Edge from his “All We Have Are Moments” album. 

Episode Highlights:

2:29 I think personally, it was what everybody is kind of going through, the ups and downs and just trying to figure out how to be okay with the reality. 

3:28 I’ve learned that, for better or for worse, I’m driven by emotion. 

5:52 All people that are great are very humble and appreciative of everybody they encounter.

12:02 I just want to portray to people that what I was trying to be about is soulful vocally and soulful musically. 

20:00 The turning point really was meeting Brian Culbertson

25:41 It became an education from looking at Brian as an artist and how he moves musically and his relationship with his fans. 

44:06 When I approach people and when people approach me, I’m very cool and laid back. 

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Marqueal Jordan 

In this episode, your host Carl Brown introduces Mr. Merlon Devine who is part of a musical family that loves to play a lot of gospel music and who has gone on to make music that soothes the soul and uplifts the spirit. Mr. Devine’s music consists of gospel, soul and jazz music. In his latest release called “Soul Jazz”, Mr. Devine brings groovin’ music that gives us a refreshing sound. He is a saxophonist who loves to minister to the hearts of people through divine, inspired music. 

In this episode, he talks about why he chose to make gospel jazz, his inspirations and influences, the path that led to his music and the benefit he experiences while playing music for a living. In the 'Bout it or Doubt it’ segment, he gives us his opinion about golf and jet skiing from the Sports and Leisure category. In the last segment of the episode, you’ll hear about his concert experiences now that he’s a professional musician, his kid’s musical talent and much more. You can listen to Move, The Platform and Breathe from his album “Soul Jazz”. 

Episode Highlights:

1:31 I found out that learning about music growing up in a musical family and of course, in church, that that was a rich part of living. We were so integrated into what we did every day, not just a church, but even in my home. 

3:15 I love that about music, that it's able to tell a story and translate so many thoughts and images and feelings without words.

4:04 Music has such a powerful force to just ignite memories. Ignite and release endorphins in our bodies. Its’ just powerful. 

7:54 For years before I even started introducing my music to the smooth jazz community, I was introducing smooth jazz to churches all over the world.

25:13 It allows us to still take a lot of those core principles. The improv and creativity and fuse it with another skill set, so to speak, or another type of genre of music and it’s just kind of growing and evolving.

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Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Merlon Devine

In this episode, your host Carl Brown introduces Mr. Keith Slattery who is the writing partner, musical director and keyboardist for Smooth Jazz star Lindsey Webster. His natural talent became obvious at an early age and he has been one of the fastest emerging singers of the past decade. In the past years, he has been working on his own music wherein he freely expresses his love for music. In this episode he talks about his journey in the musical industry, how he started loving and playing music, his experiences on stage, and his musical influences. In the ‘Bout It or Doubt It’ segment, he gives his opinion about Sushi and Mimosas, from the Food and Beverage category. In the last segment of the show, he talks about his career path into becoming a musician, the musicians he wants to work with in the future, and many more. You can listen to Love is All You Need, The Last Minute, and 24 Hours from his Duality album. 

Episode Highlights:

02:11 The idea was to take some exact songs and reimagine them in a whole different way. 

05:08 My thinking is that if I have an idea, I just put it down. I don’t spend a lot of time on it. 

11:24 I do all this stuff behind the scenes, that makes me happy. It’s a good time to make a little shift and put something out on my own. 

16:25 I do very much enjoy putting down the ideas. It’s a quick process for me, it may just be a few chords or a little melody and then I just make a demo. The best songs that I’ve ever written have just come and flowed very easily. 

17:20 The whole process of going into the studio with the musicians is also my favorite when I’m making an album. It’s when some magic happens. It’s when you get influence ideas from other musicians. 

34:19 I don’t really have a recollection of the first time I laid my hands on a piano but I know that it just came to me naturally. 

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Keith Slattery

In this episode, your host Carl Brown introduces Mr. Julian Vaughn who is becoming one of the most popular artists on the contemporary Jazz scene today. He effortlessly blends Jazz, R&B, Funk, Calypso, and others into music and makes his own sound. He is a songwriter, a producer, and a bassist. Mr. Vaughn got some of his musical inspirations from Wayman, with the way he approaches a song which is as a soloist which is a huge deal for fans in order to connect. In this episode, he talks about keeping relationships, his musical influences, how he makes his music, and his performances on stage. In the 'Bout it or Doubt it segment, he gives his opinion about Soccer and Milwaukee Bucks, from the Sports category. In the last segment of the show, he talks about what he listens to in the car, the things he never has done and would want to do in the future, and many more. You can listen to Black Dynamite, Your Mine, and Ya Dig from his Supreme album.

Episode Highlights:

03:27 The important thing I pulled from Wayman was the structure, the approach to a song. A lot of guys basically get in and they don’t approach it the right way.

07:34 I think that the relationships that I’ve built there are legit. These are people that are fans at the same time, but they’re just good people. They don’t want anything from you.

30:48 I keep it going because I don’t feel like I have reached my full potential yet. Even when learning different things about different instruments. There is a level in my head and I know where it is and I just don’t feel like I am there yet. It drives me because I have something to prove each record.

32:31 Independent all the way. I would never sign a deal. We’re signing away our masters, we’re signing away our creativity and you’re never going to get the bigger stick in these deals. Once you’re in it for the period of time I’ve been in it, you learn the business.

34:16 I hope they walk away humming what they’ve heard. When you catch them humming it means they’re hooked to the song. It’s sticking, it’s stuck in their head and it won’t leave. So I want my fans to walk away with a good feeling.

50:15 The first thing I play is what I keep because it’s raw. Instead of just going back and keep messing with it, that first thing you played, it’s like it’s what’s supposed to be on there.

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Julian Vaughn

In this episode, your host Carl Brown introduces Ms. Kandace Springs who is one of the freshest voices on the contemporary jazz scene. She is a singer, a keyboardist, and a car enthusiast. In her latest release called “The Women Who Raised Me”, she paid tribute to some of her musical inspirations which led her to the musician that she is now. Ms. Spring grew up listening to jazz and soul singers like Nina Simone which became one of her inspirations. In this episode, she talks about her musical influences, her memories growing up in a musically inclined family, how she portrays music, and the experience of performing and making music. In the 'Bout it or Doubt it’ segment, she gives her opinion about Beach Vacation and Travelling by Train, from the Travel and Leisure category. In the last segment of the show, you can hear about her reaction the moment she first heard her song on the radio, her three favorite albums of all time, her vision for the rest of 2021 and the year 2022, and many more. You can listen to Don’t Need the Real Thing, Angel Eyes, and Thought It Would Be Easier from her album The Women Who Raised Me.

Episode Highlights:

3:55 I remember my dad playing Nina Simone. Highly influenced by her and the way she played, I didn’t realize she was playing the piano and the more I dug into her. She’s just one of my all-time favorites.

10:07 I thank them and that’s what this tribute was for. I took bits and pieces of some of the way they portray their voice. Now, I see music in colors. I picture beautiful images when I hear their voices or tones. I’m also an artist, I paint. So, it all connects like an energy that you can’t explain. It’s like beautiful energy.

11:39 I see jazz, it’s like a full huge palette of every color you can think of and you can just mix it and the chord changes, you get a nice cluster of chords. Each music makes its own vibrations make a different shape and that’s how I see music.

17:58 My favorite part of making music is laying the tracks down when you got their song and they push the record and it’s like here we go.

31:58 I like collaborating with other artists. It’s really cool to see someone else play the piano and it's kind of similar to what you do.

36:37 We’ll just see where life goes, where things are going to go but I absolutely love doing festivals. That’s probably my favorite thing, I’ll be just happy doing those. I like to perform and connect with people. Create timeless music, keeping jazz alive, and writing new stuff and I am hoping to put another album out.

55:55 The experience working with a huge orchestra was just amazing. There’s nothing quite like it. You got all these fantastic musicians behind you or surrounding you. It’s almost spiritual. It takes you into another realm when you’re in that moment that the strings just carry you, your soul. It’s something I’ll never forget. 

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Kandace Springs

Today’s guest is a two-time Grammy nominee with 12 #1 radio hits, Mindi Abair. She is a very successful saxophonist, vocalist, and author, and she is also an entrepreneur. She was the featured saxophonist on American Idol for a couple of seasons and the first solo saxophonist touring with Aerosmith since 1973.  Her father was a saxophone and a keyboard player in the Blue-Eyed Soul band. Her grandmother was an opera singer. Seeing her father having so much fun on stage while playing saxophone, she also chose to play saxophone, and she chose well. She loves playing for the masses, and she says she has always been a live music girl. In 2019 Mindi and her husband, Eric, launched Reserve Tasting Wine Company. 

Listen to this episode to learn more about her, her music, her life, business, hobbies, passion; what she likes to listen to, and much more. In the ‘Bout it or Doubt it segment, you can find out what she thinks about skydiving and mounting climbing. Enjoy this conversation and listening to three of her songs: April, Flirt, and Be Beautiful.  

Episode Highlights

08:38 – In my music, you can hear that pop influence on certain records. Certain records are more blues-influenced, a lot more organic sounding, or rougher. I try to take what’s in my heart at the time. Art should reflect life.   

13:54 – I was going to make music that moves people, that moves me. We recorded April right as the world was shutting down for the pandemic. That song tells the story. 

17:46 – I felt the same as I feel now, that I became a better saxophonist on that tour and making that record because you’re surrounded every night on stage and backstage with these incredible players. 

25:02 – I’ve spent my life creating music and playing music. But my husband has spent his life running very cool vineries. He is quite knowledgeable. He goes and finds incredible wines, and I create the artwork for it. And I put together a playlist for each bottle.

35:56 – I spent about ten years on the board of The Recording Academy. I became a national Trustee for the organization. I really love to be a part of that, and it became a huge part of my life because they do so much good. 

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Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Mindi Abair website

http://www.prettygoodforagirl.net/

Reserve Tasting Wine Company

In this episode, your host Carl Brown welcomes Blair Bryant, a multi-instrumentalist who is making a name for himself as a bass player. He also plays in the band and serves as musical director for the amazing Najee. Blair grew up listening to gospel and smooth jazz, and he always wanted to become a jazz musician. He considers it a big honor to be respected by other prominent musicians.  

Blair talks about his music, his new projects, the creative side of it, who he collaborated with, who he would like to collaborate with. He talks about his music, his hobbies, covid time, his live routine, and other interesting things. In the ‘Bout it or Doubt it segment of the show, you can find out what he likes or dislikes to eat.  You can listen to his songs B’s Bounce, Power UP, and Morning Prayer featuring Blake Aaron.

Episode Highlights

05:19 – I thought I was going to be a piano player. When I started really playing the bass and really listening to those guys, I realized that bass can actually be a lead instrument. There are a lot of piano players, a lot of saxophone players, but there is not a lot of bass players.

09:15 – We all look at each other as family. We’re not trying to outshine one another. Everybody gets to shine, there is room for everybody. 

17:50 – I’m pouring my heart and soul into the music, trying to put my personality into things. Instead of trying to imitate, I take what I love from them and just try to put it into what I’m doing.  

21:28 – Most of my covid time I took a time to do a lot of writing, I did some production work.  

35:55 – For the most part, my music is my craft and hobby, but I do have a couple of hobbies. I really like to play basketball. I used to really enjoy sports and I love anything where there is a competition. I like to compete. 

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Blair Bryant website

In this episode, your host Carl Brown welcomes Mr. Marcus Adams, a saxophonist, and a vocalist. His latest project Reset is reflective of what everybody is going through right now. His career was started and rooted in the church. Gospel music was his first love. He describes himself as a Soul/Jazz artist. Mr. Adams is a school teacher and also a mental health advocate. In this episode, he describes his music, talks about the process for creating music, collaboration with other musicians, and his top musical influences. In the 'Bout it or Doubt it segment, he gives his opinion about All Night After Parties and Rollercoasters, from the Fun and Leisure category. In the last segment of the show, you can hear about the artists he would like to work with, three people he would like to invite to a dinner party, what are his plans for the rest of 2021 and 2022, and more. You can listen to Simple, Long Way from Home, and Sounds of Art from his album Reset.  

Episode Highlights

02:44 – I released two projects; I have two pandemic CDs. The first one is Love Letters, released last year, 2020, July 4th. And then, after that, coming out of the pandemic, Reset. 

13:27 –– The process for writing in the industry nowadays with the advent of the loop - that is the industry standard - now the loop dictates the song. But with Reset, I let the voice dictate the song. 

26:58 – When I hear music, I see colors. Each song has a mood, has a color. When I’m playing, that’s what I’m trying to produce. I was choosing a certain sound to produce a certain vibe and a mood in a moment. 

32:00 – I believe that in the African American community, mental health is one of the most understated things that we deal with. There is no health more important than mental health. 

55:26 – I’m starting a couple of business ventures. One of them is, I’m trying to create a space in the City of Milwaukee for artists like myself. Nothing big, just something that is intimate and something that allows us to evolve and speak that soul-jazz.  

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Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Marcus Adams

Today’s guest is one of the most captivating voices in all of music today. Lindsey Webster is a singer and a songwriter. She grew up in Woodstock, NY, listening to different genres of music, like Gwen Stefani, Mariah Carey, Whitney Huston, Chaka Khan, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Ella Fitzgerald, and others. In this episode, Lindsey talks about her music, influences, inspiration, and many other things from her personal life and interests. She shares a story behind the album A Woman Like Me and explains the way she writes songs. She is also going to start her podcast about consciousness, awareness, and mental health. Songs you can listen to in this episode are: Feels Like Forever, Only You, and Close To You from her most recent album A Woman Like Me.

Episode Highlights

03:35 – I believe that all of my favorite artists have influenced my sound. My inner journey is directly connected to my music. The more comfortable I get with myself, the more comfortable I am writing lyrics that are true to myself. 

18:19 – We are taking it a little slower; we’ve had a couple of shows, and they’ve been amazing. But this is OK for me because I’m working on a new album. 

21:33 – A Woman Like Me is about a journey from the outside to the inside. If you are not right inside, then the outside is not going to be right. 

30:29 – Normally, the last thing that I write is the bridge. If I cannot come up with the bridge, the song is not ready for the world. 

39:23 – ‘Bout it or Doubt it – the Movies category. Lindsey shares why she does not like horror films and why she likes The Godfather. 

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