The great Vincent Gardner is here! 2014 Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll WINNER for rising star (turns out they were CORRECT!) lead trombonist with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra directed by Wynton Marsalis, director of the JALC Youth Orchestra, five records as a leader with Steeplechase Records, recording artist in many other projects as well as with his brother Derrick Gardner's group The Jazz Prophets, and since 2017: Artistic Director at Jazz Houston! Yep. Vince is BUSY! But he found time to come hang with us today on the podcast and we covered LOTS of ground! Vince's background, development, career, and his music. So dive on in and ENJOY!

It's Paul McKee Day! Man-Oh-MAN, I've been lookin' forward to THIS one! Paul and I have known each other since we were on the road back in the '80s. He is one of my all-time favorite jazz trombonists, composers, arrangers, educators, and he's just a great guy! In a review for the Jeff Benedict Big Band Album "Holmes" where Paul contributed some charts and trombone playing,"The Jazz Reader" website described Paul's playing like this:

"McKee is a born lyricist on the trombone, that dazzles with "slide of hand" and is the heir apparent to former slide masters like Carl Fontana and Frank Rosolino."

I couldn't agree more folks! So, dig in and enjoy my conversation with my blood-brother Paul McKee as we discuss trombone, his influences, and background, his writing, and go deliciously "off the rails" LOTS!

It's Mike Dease Day! Woo Hoo! This episode is all about the swingin' tour de force that is trombonist Michael Dease. Winner of the 2023 Downbeat Critic's Poll (#1 Trombonist) virtuoso, composer, orchestrator, educator, superlative speaker, and nice guy! MAN! We talked about SO much that I've divided this one up into Chapters so you can dance back-and-forth and go wherever you'd like in our in-depth conversation. Enjoy!

The amazing and inspirational Carol Jarvis joins us for a fabulous discussion of her polymath world. Carol is a stellar trombonist, keyboard player and programmer, arranger, composer, voice-over artist, pod-cast host ("In My Veins") and current president of the International Trombone Association. She's performed with hundreds of great artists and organizations such as Sting, Michael Bolton, Seal, Taylor Swift, The London Symphony and BBC Orchestra, as well as West End shows. We also get into the incredible story of her epic battle with Hodgkin Lymphoma cancer ...and THAT is a tale that simply must be heard.

Join us for a delightful soirée with examples of her diverse body of wonderful musical work!

Carol Jarvis Links:

Carol's Website:

https://caroljarvis.com/

Carol's Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1TbvYjSBvPm8PPihpMoOwT

We rejoin the discussion with the great Marshall Gilkes, only this time–presented with a bit more Podcast time–I include FULL TRACKS of some of the pieces in The Lightning Round! Come check out the fun folks...and while you're at it, pick up Marshall's NEWEST project that just dropped:

"Life Songs"

https://www.marshallgilkes.com/category/all-products

Here's Part One of an in depth and HUGE fun conversation with the great Marshall Gilkes: trombonist DELUXE, composer, orchestrator, leader, and all-around nice cat! We get into Marshall's background and begin "The Lightning Round" where I pick one piece from each album in his already profound canon of work and we do a deep dive as to what he was thinking when he wrote it, the people he played with and how he approached performing each one. After you dig this (or whilst you are digging it!) go to Marshall's website and BUY his music. WOWZA!

https://www.marshallgilkes.com/

We return for Part Two of our wide-ranging discussion with the Count Basie lead trombonist and Renaissance man Dr. Isrea Butler! Included in this one is some talk with the great Dr. John "Doc" Marcellus of the Eastman School of Music, along with Dizzy and Maynard stories and an unintentional visit by UNLV's Dave Loeb. MAN! We had a blast. Jump in and join us...the water's fine!

Our DEBUT podcast! This one features Renaissance man DELUXE Dr. Isrea Butler: lead trombonist with the Count Basie Orchestra and Director of the School of Music at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (among MANY other things!) Also on board for this episode is the legendary trombone teacher-performer-conductor Dr. John "Doc" Marcellus. A good time was had by all!