WUSF Studio Sessions Podcast

About Dan Bremer: A freelance musician in NYC for 40 years. He plays bassoon, clarinet, sax and piano and has played venues from the Staten Island Ferry to Lincoln Center and everything in between. Dan taught at Wagner College and Staten Island Community College. As a woodwind player he's performed with the Staten Island Chamber Music Players, the Staten Island Symphony, 7th Army Band, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. As a legit pianist, he worked as an accompanist for soloists, choirs, community theater, musical director for Staten Island Children's Theater. As a jazz pianist, he played clubs, hotels and restaurants, including...

Meet Rita Bolton. She’s a singer and pianist who lives in the Tampa Bay area. She’s also a therapist and an educator, which has influenced her music. She recently released a new album: Soulful of Jazz, filled with a collection of jazz, blues, pop, gospel and show tunes. She’s collaborated with some local jazz greats like Hiram Hazley and John Lamb. Joining me in the studio is Adam Darbyshire where the three of us have a soulful conversation about music, life, and everything in between.

This concert was performed live at In Between Days in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

BJ Sam was born in Africa, but his music resonates far beyond African shores. His impact extends far beyond gospel music, influencing artists across multiple genres. He has collaborated with over 100 musicians and celebrities from all the continent of the world including famous Hollywood Oscar nominee Paul Raci, Bollywood legend Jaspinder Narula; Grammy voting pianist Charu Suri; and Monaco ballet star-singer Lorena Baricalla to name a few. The American film director Lloyd Kaufman personally selected his song "Mon Amour" for the soundtrack of the Hollywood movie Heart of Fartness. 

The USF Jazztet trio, the premier small group, is frequently featured in concerts on the USF campus, recordings and touring. This outstanding group has performed at IAJE conferences, as well as jazz festivals and with many outstanding guest artists. The trio consists of Adam Darbyshire on sax, Sydney Bridges on bass, and Matthew Korloch on drums.

Dave Koz is a celebrated American saxophonist, composer, and radio host, widely recognized for his contributions to smooth jazz. Born in 1963 in Encino, California, he began playing the saxophone in his youth and quickly rose to prominence in the late 1980s, touring with artists like Bobby Caldwell and Richard Marx. His solo career took off with his 1990 debut album and has since led to numerous chart-topping albums, Grammy nominations, and collaborations with icons such as Celine Dion, Stevie Nicks, and Barry Manilow. Koz's engaging stage presence and musical versatility have made him a staple in contemporary jazz, while his...

WUSF, Community Foundation Tampa Bay, and the Firehouse Cultural Center proudly present Stormy Weather: a concert focused on hurricane preparedness for the 2025 season.

The Firehouse Cultural Center, which suffered significant damage during Hurricane Helene, is co-hosting to highlight the financial and physical impacts of hurricanes. This event is presented by Community Foundation Tampa Bay whose mission is to build a vibrant, prosperous community through transformative vision, leadership, and philanthropy.

Trained in both traditional and contemporary jazz, American Jazz Vocalist Bryan J. Hughes mixes the seasoned sound of a classic jazz frontman with big band popular...

Meet Andrew Berish: he is an Associate Professor who holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of California, Los Angeles and B.A. in History from Columbia University. Dr. Berish’s current research focuses on the relationship between musical expression and the social experience of space and place. He recently release his book "Hating Jazz: A History of its Disparagement, Mockery, and Other Forms of Abuse."

Formed in 2022 by Trombonist James Wall and Multi-Instrumentalist T.J. Schaff, The Schaff - Wall Collective is a diverse and experimental music ensemble that performs in multiple configurations across the West Coast of Florida. The group draws influence from multiple genres and specializes in live jazz, fusion, pop, and New-Orleans style music. The band's core duo consists of James Wall (Trombone/Vocals) and T.J. Schaff (Drums/Piano) who are regularly joined by artists such as Julian Pernett (Piano), Nick Peters (Piano,) Jean Bolduc (Drums) Valentin Korniyenko (Bass), Erik Hempel (Bass), Aaron West (Sax) and Alex Ocon (Drums/Percussion). 

Meet Gabrielle Leonore: she is an autistic artist who is premiering her first one-woman show, My Life as an “Inspirational Porn” Star, that she acts, writes and produces. You may have recently seen her as “Desdemona” in TheatreFor’s production of Desdemona: A Play about a Handkerchief and as  a “Person in Charge” in Tampa Rep’s production of Straight White Men. She has played Various Roles in “A Sketch-ceptional Showcase” at the Tampa Fringe Festival (Theatre eXceptional), both Marvalynn and Rhonda in “Almost Maine” (West Coast’s Community Players), and Stella in “A Streetcar Named Desire” (Carrollwood Community Players).  She also wrote, dire...

Soul Mafia is the Tampa Bay area's hottest new dance band, featuring experienced players from across the region with a song list ranging from funk and soul classics to the latest dance hits, smooth jazz and much more. Songlist includes Bruno Mars, Dua Lipa, Chaka Khan, Daft Punk and Sade. The group performs everywhere from concert halls and nightclubs to private events, weddings and parties.

"The Tal Cohen Trio manages to combine complex, modern jazz concepts with graceful phrasing, thoughtful development and honest expression. The original ideas, high level of communication and spontaneity of the group is a breath of fresh air and proof that jazz has a bright future” – David Manson, Director of EMIT & the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival. This concert was filmed on location at the Side Door at the Palladium in St. Petersburg, FLA. as part of the 2025 St. Pete Jazz Festival produced by EMIT.

Meet Kathryn Golden & Ashley James - filmmakers of Santos: Skin to Skin, a documentary about the life of latin percussionist and educator John Santos. They sat down over Zoom to talk more about their film, which goes beyond the life of Santos and holds a lens to the profound effect that music, especially of latin influence, has on us through history, activism, grief and ultimately, love.

La Lucha is a Tampa Bay-based trio that consists of three best friends from three different parts of the world: Colombia (Alejandro Arenas), Mexico (John O’Leary), & United States (Mark Feinman). Their music ventures boldly into a wide variety of musical styles, offering an appealing and fun mix of genres under the jazz umbrella. The combination of their musical versatility and varied musical influences makes for compelling virtuosic performances. Through an engaging stage presence and a high level of interaction, La Lucha brings the audience into their world. 

Meet Dylan McHann. He is an accomplished saxophonist and composer based in Miami, Florida and plays tribute to some of the greats like Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane. He’s performed in prestigious clubs like Dizzy’s Coca Cola and at festivals like the Monterey Jazz Festival. He recently performed a show that honors two jazz giants—Horace Silver and Cedar Walton. This concert was filmed at Studio@620 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Travis Van Bumble and Stephanie Ruscito are The House Cats: a husband and wife, guitar and vocals duo, playing straight ahead-jazz, bebop, and swing. Travis and Stephanie grew up near Clearwater, and have been playing music together for over ten years. Travis’ walking baselines and chord melodies give The House Cats a big, swinging sound, but as soon as they play a ballad you’ll feel the mood shift, and see the two’s chemistry shine. The House Cats pull inspiration from many of the greatest names in American jazz including Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery and Sarah Vaugha...

Amigo the Devil is a musician and songwriter who channels a voice of unsettling beauty and raw truth. He's a master at murderfolk, the genre that combines Americana, dark folk, and metal with themes of the macabre. His songs are greatly influenced by the honesty of Leonard Cohen, the creativity of Tom Waits and the ruthlessness of Chavela Vargas. He's currently touring and will be performing his solo show at the Floridian Social in St. Pete, Florida on May 1.

Meet Daniela and Nate, a Bossa Nova duo dedicated to sharing authentic Brazilian jazz with audiences across the globe. They’ve travelled and performed hundreds of shows from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. They’re currently touring their latest show, Love and Bossa Nova, which began in the pandemic on Zoom and quickly transformed into a live concert series. They’re performing on April 23 at the Palladium. I got to sit down with them in the WUSF Loraine Rubis and Neil Frankel studio, to talk more about their show. I hope you enjoy.

Ty Scott King is an award-winning, multi-Billboard charting poet and hip hop artist and a best-selling author. Ty has successfully showcased her poetic talent on the National Poetry Slam level and hosted both an internationally aired TV show and her own radio show.

Jeremy Carter is a true study of Jazz music, Nebraska native, and understudy of the Southeast’s best professors and musicians. Jazzy funk riffs, screaming over the sounds of the BSP is truly a spectacle, for the ears and the eyes. If you find yourself stop-dancing in a dropped draw fashion, it is probably because of Carter’s riffs–his soul pouring over the speakers like sand. Carter has recorded with numerous national acts and has performed, recorded and produced solo albums and cameo appearances too many to list.

Jeremy Carter is a true study of Jazz music, Nebraska native, and understudy of the Southeast’s best professors and musicians. Jazzy funk riffs, screaming over the sounds of the BSP is truly a spectacle, for the ears and the eyes. If you find yourself stop-dancing in a dropped draw fashion, it is probably because of Carter’s riffs–his soul pouring over the speakers like sand. Carter has recorded with numerous national acts and has performed, recorded and produced solo albums and cameo appearances too many to list. Set List: 1. Frequencies - written by Jeremy Carter 2. Record Me - writ...

Meet Dylan McHann. He is an accomplished saxophonist and composer based in Miami, Florida and plays tribute to some of the greats like Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane. He’s performed in prestigious clubs like Dizzy’s Coca Cola and at festivals like the Monterey Jazz Festival.  I spoke with Dylan over zoom about his upcoming show at Studio 620 on Saturday April 5. The show honors two jazz giants—Horace Silver and Cedar Walton.

MPM is an instrumental trio based out of Tampa Bay, Florida specializing in jazz performance. Led by Alex Malkovich on guitar and saxophone, Cooper Madden on bass, and Ayrias Pedigo on drums, this ensemble performs classic bebop tunes in a modern way. This concert was recorded at In Between Days, an intimate sake bungalow house in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Sandujazz is an ensemble devoted to the sounds of the African, Caribbean, and Latin American idiosyncrasies. Since 2019, the group has released its first trilogy of albums blending Jazz Fusion and Salsa styles with psychedelic influences. They are now a prominent part of the jazz scene in Tampa led by the new generations.

Meet Steve Hunter. He's a musician, composer and guitarist who has been touring and recording with musicians like Peter Gabriel, Dr John, Jack Bruce, Lou Reed, Tracy Chapman, Mitch Ryder, Jason Becker, and Alice Cooper. Steve has contributed to ten Alice Cooper albums, starting in 1973 with Billion Dollar Babies and was recently featured heavily on the new ‘Welcome 2 My Nightmare'. He’s also had an illustrious solo career with seven solo albums with more in the making.

ERG is a new ensemble exploring the intersections of composed and improvised creative music. Four of its five members are SHIM alumni and include David Pate (saxophones & flute), Tom Kersey (cello), David Manson (trombone), TJ Glowacki (double bass), and Jim Stewart (drums). Their collective experiences include the free spirit of SHIM, the experimentalism of BONK, and the groove and grittiness of the Zappa repertoire band Bogus Pomp.

ERG is a new ensemble exploring the intersections of composed and improvised creative music. Four of its five members are SHIM alumni and include David Pate (saxophones & flute), Tom Kersey (cello), David Manson (trombone), TJ Glowacki (double bass), and Jim Stewart (drums). Their collective experiences include the free spirit of SHIM, the experimentalism of BONK, and the groove and grittiness of the Zappa repertoire band Bogus Pomp. For more information about ERG, see https://emitseries.org/erg Set List: 1. Cacoethes 2. Dür 3. Following 4. Spin Dali Personnel: David Pate - saxophone/flute Tom Kersey - cello TJ Glowacki - double bass J...

Charlee Loyst is a pianist from St. Pete Beach, FL. Influenced by Bill Evans and Wynton Kelly, Charlee Loyst has developed a sound that combines his classical background with his passion for jazz to craft musical ideas and share his story. He currently studies at Berklee College of Music and is majoring in Performance. Set List: 1. Softly, as in A Morning Sunrise - Sigmund Romberg 2. Voyage - Kenny Barron 3. 54th Ave. S. - Charlee Loyst, Erik Hempel Personnel: piano - Charlee Loyst bass - Erik Hempel drums - Ayrias Pedigo Executive Producer - Warren Buchholz Producer / Editor - Scott Wachtler ...

Harrison Jazz Ensemble performed in the WUSF Studio. Pianist and songwriter Roger Harrison played several original pieces while musicians from the Al Downing Association Henry Ashwood, Ron Gregg, and Valentyn Korniienko.

The Tampa-based jazz ensemble Crisis: The Jazz Project features musicians who play in non-jazz bands around the Tampa Bay Area and cover contemporary jazz artists like Roy Hargrove and Herbie Hancock. Their setlist also includes trumpeter and comedian Brad Gilmore performing a cover of "All of Me" with a Louis Armstrong twist. Set List: 1. Strasbourg / St. Denis - Roy Hargrove 2. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy - Cannonball Adderley 3. All of Me - Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons 4. Sandu - Clifford Brown Personnel: Brad Gilmore - trumpet Jay Aye - saxophone Dylan Chee A Tow - drums Brad Sugarman - bass Austin Llewellyn...

Meet Sarasota's Rich & Rose–a musical duo that features the guitar work of Charley Rich with the captivating vocals of Daenah Rose. For four years, this duo has been charming audiences with their blend of American Songbook classics, jazz favorites, pop, and original compositions. 

You can learn more about Charley Rich and Daenah Rose by visiting CharleyRich.com

Be sure to watch their Studio Sessions performance by going to wusfjazz.org or searching for WUSF on YouTube.

Today’s audio was recorded in the WUSF...

The St. Pete Sax Quartet is a 4-piece jazz band out of St. Petersburg, Florida. They feature Soprano Sax, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax along with musical accompaniments. They perform all kinds of genres from classic jazz to today's pop music and are noted for performing in hotels, museums, small clubs, private parties, and weddings. Learn more about the St. Pete Sax Quartet at stpetersburgsaxquartet.com. Set List: 1. "My Funny Valentine" Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart / Arrangement by Tom Gallen 2. "All of Me" Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons / Arrangement by Larry Cangelosi 3. “Straighten up and Fly Right” written by Nat...

Meet Mindi Abair. She’s a 2x GRAMMY nominated saxophonist, vocalist, author and wine entrepreneur. She’s recorded and toured with ensembles and musicians like Aerosmith, Gerald Albright, Gregg Allman, Dave Koz and Trombone Shorty. Mindi has just released a new album “I Can’t Wait for Christmas.” She’s currently touring and will be performing at the Capitol Theatre in Clearwater, FL on December 20 at 8pm. You can learn more about this wonderful holiday show at RuthEckerdHall.com

La Lucha is a Tampa Bay-based trio that consists of three best friends from three different parts of the world: Colombia (Alejandro Arenas), Mexico (John O’Leary), & United States (Mark Feinman). Their music ventures boldly into a wide variety of musical styles, offering an appealing and fun mix of genres under the jazz umbrella. The combination of their musical versatility and varied musical influences makes for compelling virtuosic performances. Through an engaging stage presence and a high level of interaction, La Lucha brings the audience into their world. Set List: 1. Por La Tarde (Arenas) 2. Blues for Houston Person (Arenas/Feinman/O...

Formed in 2022 by Trombonist James Wall and Multi-Instrumentalist T.J. Schaff, The Schaff - Wall Collective is a diverse and experimental music ensemble that performs in multiple configurations across the West Coast of Florida. The group draws influence from multiple genres and specializes in live jazz, fusion, pop, and New-Orleans style music. The band's core duo consists of James Wall (Trombone/Vocals) and T.J. Schaff (Drums/Piano) who are regularly joined by artists such as Julian Pernett (Piano), Nick Peters (Piano,) Jean Bolduc (Drums) Valentin Korniyenko (Bass), Erik Hempel (Bass), Aaron West (Sax) and Alex Ocon (Drums/Percussion). Set...

Travis Van Bumble and Stephanie Ruscito are The House Cats: a husband and wife, guitar and vocals duo, playing straight ahead-jazz, bebop, and swing. Travis and Stephanie grew up near Clearwater, and have been playing music together for over ten years. Travis’ walking baselines and chord melodies give The House Cats a big, swinging sound, but as soon as they play a ballad you’ll feel the mood shift, and see the two’s chemistry shine. The House Cats pull inspiration from many of the greatest names in American jazz including Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery and Sarah Vaughan. Their...

Studio Sessions is a jazz podcast showcasing intimate performances from Florida musicians. Recorded live at the WUSF Performance Studio in Tampa, each episode features unreleased tracks and exclusive interviews with the bands. Discover a diverse range of sounds and styles and celebrate the talented artists shaping jazz in the Sunshine State.