Quick Chats Q&A Sessions

WUSF Public Media and Jazz on Arts Axis Florida proudly present Quick Chats Q&A Sessions with local musicians, where they explore the secrets behind their creativity and success and provide tips & tricks of the trade.

a man is holding a guitar and a woman is talking into a microphone .
08 Feb, 2024
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 repertoire consists of timeless tunes from The Great American song book; the pair hopes to breathe new life into these songs with original and inspired arrangements.
22 Jan, 2024
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 too list.
09 Jan, 2024
Born and raised in Leawood, Kansas, Angelus Matthew C. Roxas began playing piano at the age of three, and after a couple of years, he studied under Ms. Ying-Yu Emily Yeh. He began competing at a young age, and his passion and determination led him to perform four times at Carnegie Hall in New York, an invitation to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, and a performance at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, Teatro Studio, in Rome, Italy. He obtained a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance Degree in 2022 at the University of Missouri - Kansas City Conservatory where he studied under Dr. Thomas Rosenkranz. Matthew is currently studying under Dr. Svetozar Ivanov as he pursues a Master of Music in Piano Performance Degree at the University of South Florida with an accompanying assistantship. Matthew teaches as a piano instructor at the USF Community Music Project.
a man in a suit and tie is sitting in front of a piano
27 Dec, 2023
Roger Harrison started playing piano at age 9 and continued with private lessons and college study, where he studied exclusively classical music. He was always intrigued by jazz and began listening to great artists like Wes Montgomery. From there, a desire to learn to improvise was born. Years of specialized jazz training followed, and eventually, he formed a group and began performing for paid gigs in Los Angeles. As he progressed, he discovered he also had talent as a composer and wrote songs not only for his group but also for a movie.
David Manson
14 Sep, 2023
David Manson is a trombonist, composer, concert presenter and music technologist who teaches composition, world music, jazz studies and low brass courses at St. Petersburg College (SPC). A soloist and composer with diverse interests, he has worked with Sam Rivers, Burt Bacharach, Henry Mancini, Bogus Pomp and Diego Figueiredo, among others. His original music has been recently placed in the HBO series, "Looking", "Grandfathered" on Fox, "Riverdale" on CW and "The Replacement" on BBC One. He directs the nonprofit presenter EMIT, the Recording Arts Program (RAP) with Boys & Girls students at the Royal Theater in Midtown, and also the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival. Manson also composes and performs with Brazilian group O Som Do Jazz and directs the Helios Jazz Orchestra, the resident ensemble at SPC.
Cole Hazlitt
By Warren Buchholz 14 Aug, 2023
Born in the Tampa Bay area, drummer/vibraphonist/latin percussionist/composer, and educator, Cole Hazlitt, is a versatile musician covering a wide variety of musical styles and genres. Cole graduated from the Manhattan School of Music with a masters in jazz vibraphone, studying under Joe Locke, as well as completing a bachelor's degree in Jazz drum set. Cole was the drummer for the Grammy nominated Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz ensemble for four years, directed by Bobby Sanabria. Cole has composed and arranged several pieces of music for big band, orchestra, and small ensembles, as well as composing the music for short films.
By Warren Buchholz 26 Jul, 2023
Jason Atheney, also known as Jay Aye, immersed himself in the art of playing the saxophone during his entire grade school journey. However, when he entered college, the demands of "life" took precedence, and he temporarily set aside his musical passion. It wasn't until 15 years later when the urge to play resurfaced within him. In 2008, he found a Craigslist advertisement seeking a saxophonist for a ska punk band. Without hesitation, he responded, leading to an incredible journey with Victims of Circumstance. Together, they have produced numerous albums, embarked on three successful European tours, and graced the stages of multiple festivals both in the United States and abroad.
Bandleader Eric Enfield
By Warren Buchholz 23 Jun, 2023
Eric Enfield captivates Florida audiences with his skills on keyboards, guitar, drums, and vocals. With a career spanning several decades, Enfield has shared the stage and recorded with numerous musical luminaries, leaving an indelible mark on the Southeastern and Midwest entertainment circuits with his mastery of old school technique and classic song craft. However, it is his ability to seamlessly blend traditional methods with the latest music-making technology that sets him apart.
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