Sketches in Blue

Elena Gilliam is quickly becoming celebrated as an extraordinary jazz vocalist of our time. This became apparent after delivering a sensational show at the KKJZ 88.1 2018 Summer Jazz Series held at the Segerstrom Center for The Arts in Costa Mesa, CA and followed by a sold out performance at the Fall 2018 SoCal Jazz … Continue reading Elena Gilliam →

Dr. Susan Boettger has been very active as a performer, both as a soloist and as a chamber musician. Her genre- defying trio Take 3 has an active upcoming season as they embark in their upcoming tour across the US. She is currently the Director of Education in Lyceum Village, SPC, a position which creates … Continue reading Dr. Susan Boettger →

Edmund Velasco is a saxophonist, bandleader, and composer from Southern California. His quintet, which has been active for two decades, has released four CDs under his direction. Edmund has served on the Executive Board for the Orange County Musicians Association, Local 7, for the past 15 years and was recently elected Vice President in 2016. … Continue reading Edmund Velasco →

Dr. David Rentz is Associate Professor of Music at Chaffey College and Adjunct Professor of Music at Claremont Graduate University. He is music director and principal conductor of the Orchestra Collective of Orange County, visiting artistic director of the San Gabriel Valley Choral Company, and a founding co-conductor of C3LA.

Wes Perry is a saxophonist, composer, and educator based in Long Beach, California, who originally comes from Columbus, Ohio. We talked about his recent release, Point of Departure, his path that brought him to Southern California, and his projects from Wes Perry Quartet to work with various genre bands on the local music scene. Follow … Continue reading Wes Perry →

Aristides Rivas is a Grammy nominated multi-genre cellist, public speaker, lecturer, and teacher. We talk about his musical journey from Venezuela to the United States, his ongoing performance engagements and other creative projects that he is involved in! For more check out his website at http://www.aristidesrivas.com/

Jazz pianist Chris Reyman is an improviser, prolific composer, and educator who currently serves as Assistant Professor of Commercial Piano at the University of Texas at El Paso. We talk about his approach to improvisation, community organizing, and musical lessons from his upbringing.

Our guest is the Chair and Professor of Jazz Performance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Grammy-winning jazz tenor saxophonist and composer/arranger, Mr. Chip McNeill.