Fresh Coast Jazz Backstage

In this episode, Carl talks to Lemek, an emerging guitarist and New Orleans-based musician, whose father is veteran saxophonist Quintin Gerard W. Beyond simply using a different instrument, what makes this generational hand off unique is the way Lemek builds upon the soul and jazz foundation of his father yet takes his own music into new directions. They talk extensively about Lemek's musical journey and he is determined to make his stamp on the music industry and move it forward.

After a long dabble in the studio, Lemek is ready to put on his showstopping performance again. The pandemic has meant that he hasn't been able to get back on stage yet, so it's time for him to take center stage. He wants to make sure all those hard hours in the recording studio are worthwhile - by crafting unique music and showing off everything he can do with an audience of fans once more.

Listen to Carl and Lemek discuss the most challenging thing about being a musician and his deep connection to his music. Lemek also shares advice to aspiring young musicians. Tune in to discover how Lemek's music is designed to cause positive change and bring people out of darkness and into creativity.

Episode Highlights

18:32 - There's a bunch of people in the city that are fantastic musicians, even better than me. You know what I mean? So, those dudes are going to take your spot, if you can't hang with them so it kind of humbles you in that regard.

35:41 - One of the things that he was always telling me about, he was like, "Whatever field you go into, just make sure that you're the best at it. The best that you could be exactly. Don't go halfway or anything. Just follow that path and get to the end, and make sure that you learn every lesson that's along the way."

52:34 - It's a very intellectual genre, but the format of jazz in all the sub genres, I think it's making somewhat of a resurgence. Especially as of recently because my generation, I guess – this is from what I've seen among people that are around my age – is that they have a little bit of appreciation for things that are moving the boundaries per se.

Contact

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Lemek

In today's episode, Carl talks to Quintin Gerard W., who has made quite a splash in the music scene, as an amazing saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist from Louisiana. His single "Broken Promises" reached the top five on all major smooth jazz charts, and that's not even mentioning how both he and his son, Lemek, have been at number one simultaneously.

They discuss the importance of recording and having the right energy in a song. They talk about Quintin's music career and how he combined jazz and funk to create his own style, as well as about how supportive the New Orleans jazz scene is to musicians. As a saxophone player, Quintin knows that a song must have three parts to it: rhythm, melody, and harmony.

Tune in to hear about how much work goes into being a successful musician, including financial investment, and listen to Quintin share how going to concerts has changed for him now as he is always analyzing and learning while watching a performance.

Episode Highlights

20:35 - This music business game is not cheap. So, when you're talking about production fees, studio time, mixing, mastering, promotion, marketing, it's a business just like anything else.

34:36 - Like we talked about earlier, energy. It always has to have something about it. It can't just be a song. There's got to be something unique within that song and if that song does that, then typically that feeling that I get, I'll consider, "Hmm, what was that feeling about that song and what did it make me feel?" If it made me feel that way, it should make other people feel that way as well.

42:20 - That's the message I want to send to everybody. Be a good person, be moral, be ethical, have values, and don't ever give up and teach your children to do the same and you'd be surprised at what can happen when you teach them those basic principles because they're in you.

Contact

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Quintin Gerard W.

In this episode, Carl speaks with guitarist Andrea Lisa, a new artist to the American smooth jazz scene. She sings with passion, conviction, and purpose. She shares the story of how she got started in music at 15, starting a band in 2011, moving from New Zealand to Australia, and what it was like to leave everything to chase her passion.

Andrea talks about the musicians who influenced her music and how, instead of just recording a guitar solo, she ended up recording an original song with Kirk Whalum. She tells the story of how "Get Your Wings Off" came to be and while taking vocal lessons, realized that her voice needed to be treated with the same care as her guitar playing. Listen to Andrea and Carl as they talk about the lifestyle of a musician, which involves a lot of travel and little sleep.

Episode Highlights

23:14 - Whenever those feelings are a little stronger than normal, whatever it might be, and my mind starts thinking. When I'm in the mood, I'll just pick up my phone or pick up a pen and paper, or the guitar. That's where it starts. It's never really me wanting to write music, intentionally going to write music. Just me expressing whatever I'm going through.

32:34 - For a long time, the guitar was basically everything to me, especially while I was studying guitar. I took vocals as a second study. I did have vocal training, all of that.

49:21 - I think that even though I'm pretty ambitious and quite a go-getter, I often have these ideas years before I even do them or months before. When we have these ideas, we should do them immediately. We should do them like as soon as we can.

Contact

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Andrea Lisa

In this episode, Carl interviews Ellis White, a Florida-based guitar player who experienced contemporary jazz success as a member of the group, Catch The Groove. Their single, "Shaken Not Stirred," reached the Billboard Top 20. Ellis talks about how he decided to become a solo artist in 2019 and released his first single, "Keeping It Real." He also reveals how he recognizes when a song is ready for release.

Ellis shares what it was about contemporary jazz that drew him and who his top musical influences are. He continues to describe what it was like the first time he heard his song playing on the radio and how it felt to have success on the charts. He also discusses what his process for making music is, how it comes to be, how he gets started, and how he makes it come to fruition.

Ellis explains how seeing people get into his music impacts his show and how the pandemic has changed the music industry. He plans to continue writing music, release new stuff in 2023, push the festival markets and venues, and increase the number of performances. Listen to the episode to hear Ellis' music and find out something about him that you'd be surprised to know.

Episode Highlights

03:24 - It was the integration of so many different styles of music. I mean, you listen to my music or some other artists, and you hear not only Jazz, but you hear an R&B influence in some songs. You hear some Blues. You hear some Latin. You hear some Pop. It allows you to kind of mix up some music. Then the art of improvising. That's probably what really drew me in.

12:11 - Once I take a final listen to everything that's in there as the song has been built, and when I close my eyes and I hear everything the way that I had envisioned hearing it from the very beginning, then I know this is ready to go to the public.

26:31 - It's a major accomplishment. And it's like, "Wow. This song really had an impact. It made it to the charts." In "Keeping It Real," I didn't have the ability to capture one of the big four or five radio promoters with "Keeping It Real." So, it was a lot of self promotion. But that song has been on multiple charts itself and been on a couple of different Top 100s. It's been number one in England. It's made a mark all on its own without the big radio promoters. And maybe next time I can go back to that way of doing business.

Contact

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Ellis White

In this episode, Carol Albert, an Atlanta-based pianist and composer, is our special guest. Her new single, "Paradigm Shift," from her latest album, Magic Mirror, is at the top of all smooth jazz charts right now. She and Carl discuss how this particular song captures the profound change in consciousness that has taken hold of society in response to the pandemic.

Carol talks about the different genres of music that have influenced her music and what it was like working with the best of the best. She says she gets inspiration for her music from a variety of sources, including travel and life experiences. According to her, it is very important to surround yourself with individuals who are gifted because they bring more to the table.

During the conversation with Carl, she answers what she would do if she weren't a musician, shares what it was like traveling the world playing while on tour, mentions the receptiveness of the different audiences that listen to her songs, how long she practices, and how she spends her time if she's not making music. Listen to Carol and Carl also talk about chasing perfection and the Seabreeze Jazz Festival when you tune in.

Episode Highlights

06:57 - In the beginning of a project, I just kind of start one song at a time. If I feel like if I get bogged down with that kind of stuff, I never will get anywhere. I don't really think about that. I think about how can I be an artist? How can I really make this song the best it can be? And a lot of our songs are like that.

23:35 - I found European audiences very, very receptive. They were very receptive, especially to all kinds of music and very full of gratitude or appreciative. And they would still play stuff that would blow my mind. Like they would ask for, "Hey, do you know any Elvis or do you know any Beatles?" That was so long ago, but they still play just music that is timeless. For the United States, it's always the latest, greatest, and what's new.

28:22 - But I would say it's okay to not put so much pressure, that it's all about progress, and felt like I had to be perfect. And of course, none of us are perfect. So, striving for perfection really can – it's just – you're never going to win because it's not perfection. And I think that's the biggest lesson is to put yourself in a position where you can keep making progress, you can keep learning, and you can keep growing.

Contact

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Carol Albert

In this episode, Carl chats with drummer and percussionist Bobby Sanabria. Bobby has been nominated for eight Grammys and is also a composer, arranger, documentary filmmaker, educator, and radio host. He discusses how he has managed to keep the passion alive all these years and how music has been a consistent source of inspiration for him.

Bobby paints a colorful story of how he developed his love for jazz and what it was like being immersed in several cultures while growing up, which influenced his musical taste from a jazz perspective. He describes how music on radio and FM stations has evolved over the years, as well as how he got started with playing the drums. Bobby also shares the process of how West Side Story Reimagined became such a hit. Listen to this episode and enjoy the repository of knowledge that only Bobby Sanabria can deliver.

Episode Highlights

01:58 - The music inspires me constantly. And you mentioned that I'm an educator. So, I've been teaching on the college level, particularly at the New School University for 28 years. And my students always inspire me.

13:25 - Expose them to all the different, various flavors that jazz has to offer. Because jazz is really fascinating. Jazz, in my opinion, is the only art form that can encompass and draw upon every other art form that exists.

16:37 - Every culture all over the world uses improvisation. But the way we use it in jazz and the way we tell stories in jazz is a very unique, special thing. And that's why it always has to have at least some element of the blues in it.

18:00 - I try to impart that I'm a musician and also on my students. I tell them you have a big responsibility when you get up on the stage because you're representing hundreds of years of struggle, survival, and strength. So, that's what the music exudes always for me.

20:24 - When you see great bands on stage, it's because the musicians trust each other. The leader trusts the musicians. You take it from there and the result was the great performance that we did for you, for the audience.

Contact

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Bobby Sanabria

In today's episode, Carl interviews New Zealand-born saxophonist, flutist, and pianist Alex Churchill. They talk about R&B and Smooth Jazz, working with other jazz artists, and how they both fell in love with the genre. Alex goes on to discuss the many instruments he plays and how they differ in terms of inspiration.

Alex describes his current career, his long-term plans, and his extensive experience in the cruise ship industry. Having recently been promoted to musical director, Alex also discusses the process he uses to choose the songs he covers and how he creates his original music. Carl and Alex talk about working in a studio and on stage, sipping wine or whiskey, and consuming dark chocolate.  Tune in to hear Alex play a brilliant song from his recently released album.

Episode Highlights

11:35 - I'm going to be spending a lot of time in Miami and it's starting in 2023. So, that's another stepping stone I think is going to help me. I'm going to be in the United States a lot more. I'm still working on my visa status right now.

18:57 - For example, for Alicia Keys and Un-thinkable, Alicia Keys is a huge favorite of mine and I've just always been a huge fan. It's probably my favorite song from her. Again, it just comes back down to me and just what resonates with me the most. It's just a beautiful song and the lyrics. And I really just try to emulate that when I play the saxophone.

22:19 - I think performing for me, there's just no greater feeling. You know when you can feel the energy from the audience, you can see what their reaction is, you can feel their reaction. Even if it's a small club with like 50 people, or if I'm in a theater where there are like about a thousand people.

29:16 - Over the years, every time I heard a song that I absolutely loved and I felt, with the lyrics especially, that I had a really strong connection with, it's not really like, "Oh, I like that song. Let's let's record that one." It has something that I can personally connect with the song, whether it is a life experience or something I'm particularly going through. So, that's where I draw the inspiration for that.

41:49 - I'm always going to be the nicest person, the best person I can possibly be. I'm always going to give my 100%, all of what I've got when I'm on the stage.

Contact

Fresh Coast Jazz FestivalAlex Churchill

In today's episode, Michael Palazzolo shares with Carl the story of how he got started in music and playing the bass. Michael performs alongside renowned American Jazz composer Bob James all over the world with their band. He and Carl discuss the Detroit music scene and how it influenced Michael's career by allowing him to work with so many different musicians, as well as Michael's ultimate aspirations regarding original music compositions. He explains the meaning and inspiration of the pieces featured in this episode called "Follery Returns from Time, Dreams Remembered" and "Abbey." Michael is currently teaching Jazz and Pop Bass at the University of Windsor.

Tune in to this episode and listen to Michael talk about his preferences between working in the studio versus being on stage, his gig preparations, his relationship with the bass, the time he spends practicing, world travels, favorite places that he's been to while playing music that exposed him to different cuisines, and his serious wine-making hobby and love for gardening and cooking.

Episode Highlights

19:06 - I have actually recorded a whole album that isn't released yet. So, I'm in the mixing, mastering process of it. But I definitely have some original music. And I want to be like Bob. That's my goal. I want to have all kinds of gigs, with my own music, with my own band, and have just those world experiences.

32:57 - I think it was Ray Brown who said, learn your instrument first and then when you when you're about to perform, kind of like forget all of it."

33:29 - It's honestly a meditative moment every time I play. It brings me to a state where it's just hyper focused, you know, for quite some time. And that's why I say it's meditative because that's what you're doing when you're meditating. You're focusing on not focusing or whatever it is you're meditating on.

47:18 - So, I really enjoy teaching. In terms of scheduling my students – I have a lot of freedom. So, I tell my students ahead of time like, "hey, this semester, I got, like, a lot of touring dates. So, I'm going to give you these dates. You mark them in your calendar in stone.

54:33 - I'm in the process of composing more music. That's my intention to, you know, eventually be like a Bob James, get to a point where I can have my own gigs, and hire people and travel the world with my music and reach a lot of people with my music because that's, I mean, that's what we're here for.

Contact

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Michael Palazzolo

In this special 50th episode of Fresh Coast Jazz Backstage, we will be learning more about the founder of the Podcast, Carl Brown. Carl shares his background, the business that he retired from, personal development, and how he is preparing for the upcoming Fresh Coast Jazz Festival.​

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival founders Carl and Nicole Brown felt compelled to make a positive 

impact on the community.  Just before Carl’s father, James Brown, passed away from cancer, he instructed Carl to, “Always think of others more highly than yourself.”  Carl and Nicole had already started the James and Reopa Brown Scholarship to honor his parents, but they wanted to make a greater philanthropic impact on their community. They began brainstorming how to raise the necessary funds. 

In 2017, while Carl and Nicole were attending the Indianapolis Jazz Festival, Nicole got a glint in her eye. She leaned over to Carl and said, “This is what we should do, start a jazz festival to benefit our community.” And, the concept of the Fresh Coast Jazz Festival was born! ​

The Fresh Coast Jazz Festival aims to establish a world-class, annual jazz festival in the City of Festivals.  The philanthropic goal is to raise $1 million dollars, to provide deserving underserved young people with financial assistance for college, to provide grants to area public schools to help support their music programs, and to provide funds for medical research and to assist those suffering from serious/terminal illnesses.

Highlights:​

10:09 - The biggest part about it for me is faith. I try to make sure in my life, I have given my life to God. God will be the most important in my life.​

20:08 - Music is my muse, it is my companion. My wife is certainly the most important 

companion that I have but other than my wife, my family, my relationship with God. Music is the thing that I turn to.​

33:08 - We work hard at it and it was really born out of a tragedy in my life. The Bible talks about God giving us beauty from ashes. ​

59:38 - One of the things that I do is that I teach marketing classes for entrepreneurs and I'm actually in the process now of getting those classes put up online.​

Contact 

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Silvano Monasterios is a pianist-composer born in Caracas, Venezuela. He promptly began his professional career at the age of 18 by performing and recording with some of the most prominent Venezuelan artists of the time. He spent his formative years of musical training at the Jose Angel Lamas Conservatory while he encountered the great American jazz tradition in all its diversity.

In the conversation, Silvano discusses his motivation for being a musician as well as his creative process and many other topics. In the ‘Bout it or Doubt it’ segment, Silvano shares his opinions about the category of Adventure. Tune in to this episode and listen to his music. A Song for Jacques, Partly Sunny and Mira La Luna.

Highlights:

02:47  - And when I was four years old, I picked it up by ear as well and started playing with him.

03:18 - I discovered Jazz when I was 14, thanks to a neighbor of mine that was my age.

04:47 - The thing is that I've been exposed to so many musical styles throughout my life and obviously growing up the music that I grew up with, in Caracas, the music that my parents listened to, Latin music, all music.

26:01 - Another thing that brought me to this genre is the level of communication that you can actually achieve when you are with great music. Here it is truly magical.

36:46 - I remember getting up and my mom was in the kitchen and the radio was on and that's how I became familiar with all these melodies.

Contact

Fresh Coast Jazz Festival

Silvano Monasterios

Website