Thoughts, Conversations and To Do Lists

For this episode Fiona Ross chats to the Trumpet Man himself, Dave Boa

Dave has been playing trumpet since aged 9 and soon caught the bug. Whilst still at school, he performed at many major UK concert venues with various youth orchestras and big bands and then gained a music degree from Ruskin University, which is where he first met and gigged with Loren Hignell, also one of Fiona’s collaborators. After University, Dave sought lessons with respected session trumpeter Brian Rance and also world renowned jazz artist Gerard Presencer. He has played with many artists, including Hackney Colliery Band, Glenn Miller Memorial Orchestra, Brazilian festival favourites The Fontanas, rock/blues icons Nine Below Zero and of course Fiona. His trumpet has taken him to some beautiful and far flung places, including Singapore, Lake Como and Tuscany in Italy, Greece and Australia to name a few. He is an experienced session musician and live performer and is loving gigging with Ms Ross. Dave likes cycling, AFC Wimbledon, geeking out over trumpet gear and Jaffa cakes. He also has a penchant for bread sticks and hummus.

Dave Boa Facebook

For this episode Fiona Ross chats to world renowned photographer Enid Farber

 Enid Farber is considered one of the world's top jazz photographers. Farber and her work were featured in Jazztimes Magazine's December 1997 "Classic Jazz Photography" issue as one of the masters of jazz photography. She was the sole female of four names mentioned in the New York Times in May 1997 as "one of the young generation of talented photographers documenting the current jazz scene".

Farber was nominated four times in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 by the Jazz Journalist's Association for Excellence in Jazz Photography" and was the first of her generation to win in 2002 as well as for "Best Photo of the Year". Farber was featured in the September 2000 issue of Photo Insider Magazine. The December 2001 issue of Jazziz Magazine featured a 12-page photo essay entitled, "Legends Who Have Passed Thru My Lens" based on an exhibition of the work. Some of Farber's classic jazz images were selected for noted filmmaker Ken Burns' historic 20 hour documentary on jazz aired on PBS in January 2001 and companion book. In the book, Bums acknowledges Farber, the sole female amongst 14 legendary male photographers, as "an extraordinary group of the finest jazz art photographers in the country".

Enid Farber website

For this episode Fiona Ross chats to drummer, vocalist, composer and social activist David Jonathan

David Jonathan & The Inner City Bedlam is a live array of different jazz inspired styles of music that catalogues original social justice. It overflows with

Born in Buffalo, NY, drummer, David Jonathan "Teaspoon" Hulett began his music career in the late 90's. A graduate of the Buffalo Academy of Visual and

David has toured with a host of artists, including The Michael Jackson Tribute Tour 2010, The Black Eyed Peas, T.I., Kendrick Lamar, Sun Ra Arkestra, Dr. Lonnie "B3" Smith, Grammy Award Nominee Eric Roberson, Philicia Collins of The David Letterman Show, Bobby Jones of BET, Joseph Wooten and Grammy

David’s website

For this episode Fiona Ross chats to journalist, saxophonist and vocalist Isabel Marquez

After graduating from Cardiff University with a BA in Music, I joined the Women in Jazz Media team and began my journalism journey. Since then I have written for various jazz (and other genre based) magazines, and have collaborated with some incredible people. 

With the Cardiff University Jazz Society, I set up the university's first all-female jazz group: 'Womxn's Group'. I also was the society's Musical

My work with Women in Jazz Media has helped me understand further what needs to be done to make the jazz genre more egalitarian, something I focus on

Isabel’s website

Fiona Ross talks to Public Relations legend Eric Alper.

For the past 25+ years, Eric Alper has been at the forefront of the Canadian entertainment industry – making the Public in Public Relations his business. His enthusiasm, encyclopedic knowledge of the past and present have made him the go-to for music in Canada. He is also host of one of the top-rated SiriusXM shows “ThatEricAlper”. With over one million followers, friends and connections across his social media platforms, it’s clear to understand why he has been named a “must follow” by Billboard, Paste and National Post among others. He has been a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week, and has represented artists that have over 135 JUNO Award nominated-albums (and 11 in 2022), including 23 JUNO Award, 38 Canadian Folk Music Award, and 65 Maple Blues Award-winning albums, and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

‘I’ve been named to Billboard Magazine, Paste Magazine and The National Post’s best on social media, and honoured to be on Canadian Music Week’s Advisory Board and The City of Toronto’s Music Industry Advisory Council. I’m also the host of (wait for it) @ThatEric Alper’s Show on SiriusXM, Channel 167 on the Canada Talks Channel. One of the go-to music commentator across Canada, I’ve been honoured to serve on jury panels for Canada’s Walk of Fame Emerging Artist Music Mentorship Program, CBC’s Searchlight, The Rockie Awards, Canadian Country Music Awards, and The JUNO Awards, among dozens of others across North America. I love to talk about music. If you’re looking for a commentator for your media outlet, please be in touch!’

https://www.thatericalper.com/

Fiona Ross talks to saxophonist, vocalist, composer, lyricist, band leader, front-person and radio host Kim Cypher.

Inspired by the funkier side of jazz and having studied alongside US saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis and internationally acclaimed

Kim has performed in New York and sold out the main stage at world-renowned Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club as well as being a regular performer at top venues on the London and UK jazz circuit. With Top-10 rated albums and award-winning music videos, Kim always delivers the highest quality performance with incredible style, warmth and passion. Kim developed her own unique ‘funky’ style of saxophone playing, built upon influences by great players such as Pee Wee Ellis, Gerald Albright, Maceo Parker, Andy Sheppard, Barbara Thompson, Dean Fraser, Courtney Pine and Grover Washington. Kim’s vocal style has been

Recent and current projects include the vast Brighter Tomorrow project – A Tribute to The Arts which features a 300-page online magazine devoted to celebrating The Arts. For the past two years Kim has been a very proud member of Women in Jazz Media, founded by Fiona Ross. The worldwide team

https://kimcypher.com/