Performer
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Interview with Jazz Trumpeter James Suggs
At 9 years old James Suggs made two casual choices which dictated the rest of his life; he chose band over chorus and the trumpet because his friend was playing the trumpet. At 10 he was ushered backstage to meet Wynton Marsalis who gave this 10 year old trumpet player a 20 minute lesson and that sealed the deal. Before settling in St Pete he had a very long and prestigious trail of credits including touring and recording with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and later performing with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. He spent 8 years playing and touring in Buenos Aires, Argentina He has shared the stage with Kenny Burrell, Robin Eubanks, Dick Hyman, Sean Jones, Chuck Mangione, Maria Schneider, and Frankie Avalon to name a few. In 2015, James was awarded the Best of the Bay’s Critic’s choice for “Best Jazz Transplant.” Listen to this talented, self deprecating man talk about his commitment to the instrument and the music he loves, hear cuts from his first solo album “You’re Gonna Hear From Me,” and come see/hear him play at this years Sarasota Jazz Festival.
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Interview with Multi Genre singer Katt Heffner
3-4-19 Multi genre singer Katt Heffner says that “music was coming out of the pores of her family.” Her father was in a band, her uncle Frank was a song writer, her mother played the piano at church, and they made every kind of music “from church to Doo Wop.” Katt and her 5 brothers “would take turns entertaining and applauding each other.” They soon became a band and their uncle Frank was their manager. Katt says she just “loves to play with the boys in the band,” and so it is no surprise that she has made a life with music, performing virtually every genre with virtually every kind of performer including the following Patti LaBelle, Ronnie Spector, Al Hibler, The Four Aces, The Count Basie Quartet, The Temptations, Sandra Reaves, Luther Vandross, Dick Hyman, John Lamb, Buster Cooper, Roger Humphries, Fred Johnson, Kenny Drew Jr., Richard Drexler, The Warren Covington Orchestra, The 42nd Street Big Band, and The Ybor City Underground Orchestra, the 16th Annual Moscow International Jazz Festival, Jeffrey Sexton. The 35th Birthday Celebration of the Clearwater Jazz Holiday,. Listen to this charming, talented, hard-working woman describe making a life in what we all know is a very difficult business and come see why these entertainers wanted to work with her when she performs on the Classic Stage as one of the Afternoon Theme Performers at the Sarasota Jazz Festival.
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Interview with Jazz trumpet and guitar player Randy Sandke
Jazz trumpeter and guitarist. Randy Sandke was playing in local cover bands by the time he was 13. Never expecting to make a living as a jazz musician, he nevertheless continued to play, just because he loved it. And although he had to deal with many twists and turns on the way to his goal, he did in fact make a living as a player and arranger. He played with Michael Brecker, Ken Peplowski, Kenny Barron, Marty Ehrlich, Bill Charlap, Uri Caine. Dan Barrett, Marvin Smith, Ted Rosenthal, and done arrangements for the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra. He was a member of Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks Orchestra , Bob Wilber’s, Bechet’s Legacy, the Widespread Depression Jazz Orchestra, and Benny Goodman’s last band. He recorded on Stash, Jazzology, Concord Jazz, Nagel-Heyer, Arbors and played on the scores for The Cotton Club, Bullets over Broadway, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion. Listen to this thoughtful, gentle man describe a life dedicated to the music he loves and knows so much about and listen to cuts from two of his CD’s and come see/hear him play in this year’s Sarasota jazz Festival
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Interview with Jazz Musician, Painter and Poet Bill Buchman
2-4-19 Jazz Musician, Abstract Artist, Poet, and Educator Bill Buchman began his career as an artist by drawing on the wall beside his crib and, in the 2nd grade when he was given a “tonette,” he discovered that he could “immediately understand and play it.” Although he has given his life to pursuing both the visual and musical arts, his path was not a smooth one. There were no teachers in his community who could teach him to play Jazz, which was all he wanted to play. And, later when he wanted to explore abstract art, “there was no one on the planet who could teach him what he wanted to learn.” A self-described “contrarian,” Bill followed his own muse and became the artist and musician he always wanted to be. Listen to this passionate, determined, stubborn, talented man describe a life that led him to live as an ex-pat American artist for 20 years primarily in Scandinavia , play music all over the world, and teach creativity to others who want to express themselves in an art. And come hear him speak about Poetry, at the Poetry in Paradise event sponsored by Bookstore1 on Feb, 18 at Florida Studio Theatre.
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Interview with Florida Studio Theater Associate Artist Catherine Randazzo
1-28-19 Florida Studio Theater Associate Artist Catherine Randazzo bounded into life. She decided to play the piano at two, by four she was demanding that her family listen while she described and acted out her dreams, but that was just the beginning. A good student, she was also an actor, a singer, a dancer, a volleyball star, president of school government, member of the chorus/choir, accompanist to same. There isn’t room on the page for all of her skills and accomplishments, all of which was achieved with a positive, open, self-deprecating, warm energy. Listen to this, talented, charming, remarkable woman talk about a life in which everything is possible
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Interview with Grammy Award Winning Record Producer Val Garay
1-21-19 Because his father was a well-known singer and actor and his uncle was a popular guitarist, Grammy Award Winning Recording Engineer and Record Producer Val Garay was surrounded by music during his childhood. But he didn’t even think of making a life with music until he realized that Medical School was not for him. Listen to this charming, thoughtful man describe the ironic journey which led him to create some of pop music’s most iconic records with Kim Carnes, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Eric Burdon, Dolly Parton, Jackson Brown, Elton John, Pablo Cruise, Neil Diamond, Ringo Starr, Kenny Rogers, The Motels, Queensrÿche, Randy Meisner, Sarah Brightman, Nicolette Larson, , Santana, Mr. Big, Reel Big Fish, Dramarama, EZO, Joan Armatrading, and Katrina,
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Interview with Glenn Schudel
1-14-19, a scholar, rhetoric and Shakespeare specialist Glenn Schudel is a multi-faceted, multi-talented man. Although he didn’t take a straight path, over time Glenn discovered his interest in and passion for acting, writing, directing, and teaching. Disciplined and conscientious he studied and became all of them and more. Listen to this thoughtful, articulate man describe his circuitous route to become all that he is. And come see him perform his one man show based on one of his delightful, if arduous experiences at 1:00 on Jan 26th at this year’s Sarasolo festival.
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Interview with Synia Carroll – Finding Sass – Sarasolo
Synia Carroll knew she could sing. Although delighted when, in the 2nd grade, the Nuns picked her to sing Silent Night in the Christmas pageant– she didn’t think it was anything special – she thought everyone could sing. It wasn’t until her “first grown up boyfriend,” an up and coming rock musician, told her she was a singer that she began to take it seriously. While working as a teacher she found time to sing in a variety of formats – including developing a storytelling career which included movement as well as music. But it was just in the last two years that Synia “found her voice,” and that voice sings Jazz. Listen to Synia talk about her various attempts to define herself as a singer and describe and the challenges she faced when finding herself as the only woman of color amongst a sea of white faces. Listen to cuts from her first CD – in which she is accompanied by the Billy Marcus (named the best musician in So FL) on piano, Don Mopsik (the sage) on Bass and blazing drummer Steve Bucholtz., and come see her perform her first one woman show “Finding Sassy” on Sat Jan 26th 7PM at this year’s Sarasolo Festival
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Interview with Andrei Maleav Babel
Andrei Maleav-Babel is a Russian Immigrant. The son and grandson of writers and artists, Andrei wrote musicals and directed his parent’s friends in his plays, by the time he was 10 or 12. Luckily coming of age as Perestroika was occurring in Russia, Andrei was able to start his own theater as a very young man. Barely able to speak English, he met, courted and married an American sociology student and became a Professor of Acting at the prestigious FSU Conservatory for Actor Training, one of the top ten actor training companies in the United States. Listen to him tell his amazing story and talk about his direction of the Conservatory’s production of Ibsen’s’Ghosts opening on Jan 4th
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Interview with Sheldon Rhoden – Marvin Gaye
11-25-18 – By popular demand Sheldon Rhoden is reprising his role as the iconic performer Marvin Gaye in the Westcoast Black Theater Troupe’s next production, Marvin Gaye – Prince of Soul. Sheldon clearly remembers the very first time he sang in public. He was six years old and singing in front of his church congregation. He sang with his eyes closed, simply concentrating on the song. When he opened his eyes he was surprised to see the reaction of the congregation – they were smiling. Sheldon can still remember the delicious feeling of bringing a smile to the faces of his audience. Today he is still motivated by his desire to use his gift to make people smile. Listen to this thoughtful young man talk about his intention to bring pleasure and joy wherever he can, and to strive always to be better. And come to see Marvin Gaye – Prince of Soul and let Sheldon put a smile on your face.
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Part 2 – Interview with actor, author, lecturer, editor, reggae archivist, photographer and, producer Roger Steffens
9/10/18 The radicalization of Roger Steffins. Part 2 of my 3 Part interview with Roger takes him through his service in the army during the Vietnam War. Listen to Roger describe his extraordinary experiences, including; training in Psyops, having had the Tet Offensive happen all around him, and being responsible for tons of food and clothing delivered to displaced refugees. Listen to him talk about the impact his war-time experience had on his beliefs, the life he then chose to lead as a result, and the work it spawned. This segment ends with my asking Roger about his relationship with the legendary Bob Marley.
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Interview with actor, author, lecturer, editor, reggae archivist, photographer and, producer Roger Steffins Part 1
9/3/18 This is the first of a 3 part interview with the indescribable Roger Steffins. It seems impossible that one person would have had the time, energy or talent to care about and/or do all the things that Roger has both cared about and done. Truly Roger demonstrates what we humans are capable of, but which few achieve. In this segment Roger describes his early love of, interest in, passion for all things visual which begins at the age of 5 with stamp collecting, all things written, beginning with newspapers, he wrote his first newspaper at seven both the copy and the editorial cartoon, and the serendipitous way in which he created his one man show “Poetry for people who hate poetry”’ which took him all over the world. This segment ends with my asking Roger if he was drafted during the Viet Nam war.
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Interview with writer, a painter, a musician, an actor, a singer, a dancer; light and sound designer Eliza Ladd
Many artists describe themselves and their work with one or a few adjectives, they’re a writer, a painter, a musician, an actor, a singer, a dancer; they work with light or sound or design. Eliza Ladd uses all these adjectives and more to describe herself and her art. She has spent her life exploring every possible way a person can express themselves creatively. Although she didn’t know how she was going to use all the skills she pursued, Eliza followed her curiosity and instinct and has created an art which synthesizes all of the skills she studied, trained in and developed. Listen to this spontaneous, guileless, breathless woman describe a journey for which there was no roadmap, a life in which she had to be her own guide and in which she created an Art which is uniquely her own
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Interview with actor, singer, dancer, musician Kyle Branzel
Actor, singer, dancer, musician, educator Kyle Blanzel realized that he was performer when his 2nd grade costar, Mrs. Claus, sang his line instead of hers and he went on with the show, just like a professional. Years of training and understudying Joe Kinosian, one of the writers of Murder for Two, in the National Tour of the show, made him the absolutely best choice to portray the role/s (12) he is currently playing in the Florida Studio Theater production. Don’t miss this!
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Interview with Harpsichordist Mark Kroll
When he was five years old and had never taken a piano lesson Mark Kroll could play by ear the pieces his eight year old brother was studying. His brother was so embarrassed by his baby brother’s ability that he gave up the piano, but Mark never did. Dreaming of being a concert pianist Mark filled his life with music, studying, practicing and listening to his favorite works, by his favorite pianists and composers. At seventeen he fell in love with “early music,” but thought it didn’t sound quite right played on the piano. Then he heard Harpsichordist Ralph Kirkpatrick play and his fate was sealed. Listen to Mark tell the story of his parents moving his bed out of the bedroom to make room for his harpsichord. And get a taste of Mark playing.
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Interview with Musician Jerry Bilik
5-28-18 Jerry Billik is a composer, arranger, songwriter, conductor, and director of stage productions. Although he downplays his skill and accomplishments Jerry’s career is extraordinary. A musical virtuoso by the age of 13, he has composed more than 50 pieces of music, from popular ballads to marches to his ‘Symphony for Band’. His concert march “Block M” composed for the University of Michigan Marching Band when he was a senior there has been voted by band composers as one of the top 100 marches of all time. He wrote the “M Fanfare” which is still played by the University of Michigan marching band prior to their playing the famous fight song. He has worked with many popular artists, including Danny Kaye, Dick Van Dyke, Leonard Bernstein, Barbra Streisand, and Neil Diamond. He has arranged music for several television series and serves as Vice President of creative development for Disney on Ice, having arranged all the music for the Disney on Ice shows, which he also writes and directs. Listen to this self-deprecatory charming man tell delightful stories of a life spent with music and theater like the ironic reason he taught himself to play piano.
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Interview with actor, singer, dancer Jared Joseph
5-21-18 Actor, Singer, Dancer Jared Joseph never actually decided to be a musical theater performer. His first love was art, he drew and painted and won awards while still in elementary school. But his mother encouraged him to join the choir and a teacher invited him to a poetry class – which seemed to lead to a drama club. And then they needed boys to sing… So somehow he wound up at the New York University Musical Theater Program, and the rest as they say – is history. It was a fortunate choice as anyone who has seen his portrayal of Coalhouse Walker Jr. in the Asolo production of Ragtime will attest. The production is so popular that an additional performance has been scheduled – this is no small part due to Jared’s powerful performance. Listen to this charming, spontaneous man talk about his ironic way to the musical theater stage.
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Interview with Actor, Dancer, Singer, Writer, Educator Marie Thomas-Foster
5-14-18 Interview
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5-14-18 Marie Thomas-Foster knew by the time she was twelve years old that she didn’t want to follow in her families tradition – and become a teacher – she wanted to perform. She began taking dance lessons as soon as she could and convinced her friends to create “shows” in which they sang and danced. She misled her mother into thinking she was majoring in Education when she was actually studying Theater. And her determination paid off as her career has taken her to roles on Stage and Screen (big and little). But apparently the power of her early training never quite left her as she also taught theater at the City College of New York and created Theater Workshop where she gave hundreds of youngsters and opportunity to learn to sing and dance and act. Today she is staring in Having Her Say at the Goodman Theater in Chicago directed by Chuck Smith. -
Interview with Bill Selby Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits
4-30-18 Bill Selby was 11 years old when his mother asked him to accompany her to an audition. Bill had no idea that he would be auditioning. Listen to Bill describe how his “competitiveness” asserted itself the moment he understood that he was auditioning for the role of young Patrick in a production of Auntie Mame, He decided he would win the role, he did and the course of his life was set. Come see Bill demonstrate what that long ago director must have seen when he steps on the stage at Florida Studio Theater in the cabaret production of Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits,
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Interview with Leon Pitts of West Coast Black Theater Troupe
4-23-18 Leon Pitts was nine years old when he met his mentor, his “rabbi,” Nate Jacobs. Nate was a teacher at Leon’s school and although, neither knew it at the time, one day Nate would be the founder of The West Coast Black Theater Troupe and Leon would be one of its founding members. Today, decades later, Leon is a seasoned performer, he has sung, danced and acted in dozens of productions; recently getting his actors equity card. Listen to Leon describe the magical way he was convinced to turn his back on the career everyone thought he should pursue and follow Nate into the “fire’ where he discovered his passion, his commitment and the life he was meant to live. And come see the result of that courageous leap as Leon becomes one of the “Soul Men” in the current production at the West coast Black Theater Troupe.
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