WUSF Studio Sessions Podcast

Meet Lesley Mok. They are a drummer and composer living in Brooklyn, New York and are known for their work across jazz, chamber music, and electronic experimentation. Lesley’s artistic approach explores the intersection of social conditions, queer and feminist art practices, Chinese philosophy, and Afro-Cuban musical traditions. They will be performing at the Far Forest in Tampa on November 18, 20...

Born and raised in the American Southwest, Eliana Joy is a jack of all trades (master of…some!). After a euphonium degree and a spell with the Santa Fe Opera, she moved to Brooklyn to explore The Great American Songbook. Eliana developed a tender, subtly comedic set of vocal standards - and promptly received the diagnosis of a jaw condition requiring major surgery. In 2024, she had the operation i...

Aliqua, “to some extent”, is a jazz fusion band formed in Tampa, Florida. With members originating from all walks of life and different corners of the world, they blend their cultures and passions into a musical dialogue that listeners can resonate, engage, and change their lives with.

Rafael "Ruffus" Silva is a Boston based Jazz piano player with nearly two decades of experiences. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and majored in Performance. He plays about 15+ instruments and is proficient in Jazz piano, saxophone, flute, and bass. He specializes in Jazz music from the early to mid 20th century and performs with a repertoire of over 900+ songs.

Julián Pernett Castilla’s pronounced natural talents in music, specifically in Afro-Latin percussion instruments are the result of his valuable cultural heritage from the Colombian Caribbean Coast. These abilities have always provided him with an abundance of musical gifts to share with the world. He is a passionate instrumentalist, concert pianist, and educator. Trained in the Western European mu...

Bela Souza is a seasoned singer living in St. Pete, FL. She has been performing in the Tampa Bay area since 2011. Bela studied Musical Theatre at the University of Tampa, which led her to pursue a career in music and vocal coaching. Her sultry, soulful sound and Brazilian roots have influenced her love for singing jazz and bossa nova.

USF Latin Jazztet

Meet Chuck Owen. He is a jazz composer, arranger, conductor, and educator. Best known as the leader of the big band The Jazz Surge , which he founded in 1995, Owen has earned five individual Grammy nominations for his evocative and genre-bending compositions. He is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus from the University of South Florida , where he taught for 40 years, and serves as the founding Pre...

Daniela Soledade is a rising star among legends in the Brazilian music scene. Downbeat Magazine calls Daniela a “master of classic samba and bossa nova.” An heir to the Bossa Nova legacy, Soledade is highly acclaimed for her poignantly expressive vocal style and intimate aesthetic.. With a tremendous talent for paying tribute to her musical heritage while staying true to her own artistry, Soledade...

The Nick Peters Quartet is a dynamic jazz ensemble led by pianist Nicholas Peters, who has been performing since age four and immersed in jazz since middle school. Based in the Tampa Bay area, Nicholas has performed at renowned venues such as the Straz Center, Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Clearwater Jazz Festival, the Mahaffey Theatre, Crowbar, and Sparkman Wharf. Alongside his quartet, he delivers vibra...

Golden Flower is a progressive jazz quintet that’s pushing traditional genre boundaries. Their unique sound is rooted in a wide range of influences including Jazz, Funk, Afro-Latin, Indian Classical, Grunge, and Experimental Music. The ensemble consists of Shawn Villanueva on trumpet, Caitlin Pequignot on violin, Cameron Gholami on drums, Brandon Miller on bass, and Patrick Moreno on keys. Personn...

With The Palladium closed for renovations through 2027, local musicians are losing valuable performance space. Green Light Kitchen & Lounge in downtown St. Pete is helping fill the gap, hosting free jazz performances and weekly jam sessions featuring some of the area's top talent.⁠ ⁠ Owner Michael Hazlett hopes the venue can serve as a welcoming hub for artists, film lovers, and music fans whi...

Mutant Fusion Collective (MFC), the jazz/rock sonic conquistadors, have set sail from Dunedin, FL. Fronted by guitarist and bandleader Kirk Yates, MFC has earned a reputation for its genre-blending prowess. Their signature sound seamlessly melds original compositions with classic jazz standards and ‘90s alt-rock anthems. Known for their bold bond of jazz’s improvisational freedom and grunge rock’s...

Led by bassist and founder Holly Cordero, Steamin' Jazz is a dynamic ensemble hailing from Central Florida. Known for their versatile performances, they blend jazz standards, Brazilian rhythms, funk grooves, and jazz-infused renditions of pop tunes. With a rotating lineup that includes configurations like the Steamin' Quartet, Trio, or Duo, the group brings a fresh and engaging experience to every...

In the pursuit of finding a voice in his art, Jose Pineiro has grasped tightly the evocative and emotional genre of Jazz. Burgeoning from a fertile music scene in Gainesville, FL honed his discovery of a true musical identity. Jumping the gap between peace and mania, the Jose Pineiro Trio means to reach the depths of human interactions to relay the beauty in life.   Keshia Banks is a poet who has...

As a collective of Tampa based musicians and songwriters that started as a jam band in an auto shop, Tha Banned are committed to spreading the spirit of live music and community. Tha Banned plays every genre of music and specializes in improvisational jazz. They play events at venues across the Tampa Bay area including Rock the Park at Curtis Hixon and the St. Pete Saturday Morning Market. Tha Ban...

Music is therapy. Live jazz offers a meaningful way to support well‑being by reducing stress, uplifting mood, and bringing people together through shared experience. In this episode, Warren talks about using music as therapy and speaks with different therapists and musicians on the topic.

In this episode, Warren Buchholz sits down with Eric Mullins and Jimmy Michaud , co‑founders of Swamp Sounds Florida , a Florida‑rooted vinyl collective dedicated to preserving music, history, and community through records. The conversation explores their journey into vinyl culture, the origins of Swamp Sounds Florida, and their commitment to education through workshops, events, and hands‑on exper...

Host: Warren Buchholz, Jazz Brand Manager, WUSF Guests: Rita Batiste – Sommelier / Wine Attendant, Piccolo Buco Alex – Brand Manager, The Zest Location: Piccolo Buco, Tampa, FL In this special on-location episode of Studio Sessions , WUSF Jazz Brand Manager Warren Buchholz sits down with Sommelier Rita Batiste at Piccolo Buco in Tampa to explore the sensory connection between classic jazz albums a...

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Gustavo Matamoros is a sound artist and composer who has lived and worked in Miami since 1979. His compositions have earned two Venezuelan music awards and have been performed by prestigious ensembles in his home country. His sound art installations have been commissioned and exhibited throughout the U.S. and Europe by notable institutions, including the Adrienne Arsht...

Led by founder Holly Cordero, Steamin’ Jazz is made up of players from the Central Florida area with a sense of New York Flair. Steamin’ Jazz plays tunes from jazz standards to brazilian to Funk to arrangements of pop tunes in a Jazz fashion.  Holly received her Master’s in Jazz Performance from New York University playing with Jazz greats such as Kenny Werner, Chris Potter, Jean Michel-Pilc, Brad...

Consisting of Chris Kottke on trumpet, John Wheatley on tenor sax, Jim Lemli on guitar, Don Colladay on bass (Steve King on bass substituting on the Arts Axis Studio Session recording) and Pete Szujewski on drums. The SRQuintet is committed to carrying on the tradition of the great jazz quintets of the last 60 years. Playing everything from songbook standards to bebop classics, blue note gems, bos...

Don Was has left his mark on music, producing the Rolling Stones, playing bass for Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Grateful Dead, and leading Blue Note Records. He joins us ahead of his Clearwater show with Don Was & The Pan-Detroit Ensemble to discuss new music, collaborations and stories from his career. This was originally broadcasted on WUSF 89.7fm as part of the Florida Matters episode dated Febru...

Established in 2022, Sokołowski Trombone Project is a Trombone Band made up of 4 trombonists and 3 rhythm section players. The band’s goals consist of promoting innovative arrangements for the trombone of popular jazz standards, while also aiming to contribute original and modern music in various styles. STP recently won the International Trombone Association’s "Kai Winding Jazz Trombone Ensemble...

Meet Al Di Meola. He’s a GRAMMY® Award-Winning American jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitarist/composer, working as a solo artist on hit albums like Casino and Land of the Midnight Sun and performed with Chick Corea’s Return to Forever. He recently released a new album Twenty Four and is currently on tour where he’ll be performing at the Nancy & David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre in Clearwater on J...