Fresh Coast Jazz Backstage

In today’s episode, your host Carl Brown is joined by Vandell Andrew. Hailing from the "Birthplace of Jazz" New Orleans, Vandell Andrew is a part of the new generation of the jazz genre. With two commercially released albums, 8 Billboard Top 25 singles, a #1 Ranking on Billboard's Smooth Jazz Chart and a 2014 Soul Train Award Nomination for "Best Contemporary Jazz Performance", Vandell is no stran...

In today’s episode, your host Carl Brown is joined by Kirk Whalum. Kirk was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He attended Melrose High School and Texas Southern University, where he was a member of the renowned Ocean of Soul Marching Band. In addition to singing in his father's church choir, he learned to love music from his grandmother, Thelma Twigg Whalum, a piano teacher. Kirk has recorded a series o...

In today’s episode, host Carl Brown is joined by Adam Hawley, Adam was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. At a young age, he developed a keen interest in music, taking up piano lessons at eight and guitar lessons a year later. He eventually attended the University of Southern California where he graduated with a Ph. D. in Music. Adam shares how he became successful at an early age in his career....

Carl is joined by Lao Tizer. Lao is keyboardist and band leader who has been making records since the 1990s. He was named the best new smooth jazz artists in 2002 and he and his band have continued to be staples on smooth jazz radio and the touring scene. His music is an ever-evolving melding of jazz, classical, fusion and more. Lao shared his experiences in his career. He explained the difference...

In today’s episode, your host Carl Brown is joined by Catie Waters. Catie Waters is an up-and-coming American actor/singer/songwriter. From a very young age, she has trained to be a leading force in the arts. She grew up in both Arkansas and Texas and now resides in Los Angeles, California. Hailing from Arkansas, breakout artist, Catie Waters, is fulfilling her dreams by becoming a multi-hyphenate...

In today’s episode, your host Carl Brown is joined by Steve Oliver. With a career spanning over 25 years in music, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer Steve Oliver is still being heard each day on contemporary and smooth jazz radio around the world. His career has produced multiple #1 hits on the Billboard charts and countless radio staples over nearly two decades - including w...

In today’s episode, Carl is joined by Tom Braxton. Tom has been making an impact in the smooth jazz scene for over two decades. His music has been on all major smooth jazz charts and he’s been a regular on smooth jazz radio and the touring scene over the years. He’s a saxophonist and composer from Texas. This episode is about Tom’s dad sparking his interest in jazz, practicing, performing a show,...

In today’s episode, your host Carl Brown is joined by Chris Standring. Chris is a guitarist and composer and is one of the most successful artists on the smooth jazz scene. He has 14 CDs to his credit and he’s had 13 billboard top ten singles including 6 billboard number one hits. His music is a blend of jazz, soul, retro, pop. He has one of the most distinctive sounds out there. When you hear his...

In today’s episode, your host Carl Brown is joined by Judah Sealy who started playing music in middle school. He's a billboard charting saxophonist and keyboardist. He released his first smooth jazz album entitled "The Arrival" in 2015 and his song “Stylish” in September of 2021 cracked the billboard Smooth Jazz Top 10. Judah is a very much in-demand musician that plays in various groups around hi...

In today’s episode, Carl interviews Oli Silk. Oli is a UK-based keyboardist, producer and composer, and a part time DJ. He released his first album 2000 and continues to establish himself as a top contemporary jazz artist. He’s had several songs that reached the billboard Top 10 and multiple number 1 hits and he’s played many of the big smooth jazz events and is a regular in Smooth Jazz radio. Thi...

In today’s episode, your host Carl Brown is joined by Jazmin Ghent, a multi-awarded national smooth jazz and gospel recording artist as well as a proud music educator. She is fast becoming a sought after name in the jazz scene with 4 studio albums and multiple Billboard chart topping singles. She won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album, “The Story of Jaz,” in 2019 and is again nominat...

In today’s episode, your host Carl Brown is joined by Derwin Daniels who started his great musical journey when he was six years old. Derwin performed five years on saxophone with the Legendary “Sugarfoot” and the Ohio Players. He started on the clarinet and later played drums. He has played all around the world from Japan to Brazil and he’s now making his mark on the Smooth Jazz world.  Derw...

In this episode, host Carl Brown welcomes Taylor Moore who is dubbed the Princess of Percussion. Taylor is a member of the Kandace Springs band and she is a drummer, a DJ, a comedian, a motivational speaker and a follower of God. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign where she received her Bachelor’s in Music Performance and Production. Taylor has an unwavering passion...

Host Carl Brown talks with Nick Colionne who’s the only artist in Smooth Jazz with 5 consecutive Billboard #1 hits from the same album. He’s been playing professionally since he was 14 and Carl affectionately describes him as “the best dressed man in all of music”. Nick spends a lot of time volunteering his time hanging out with kids to help guide them through their lives. Carl and Nick emphasize...

In today’s episode of Fresh Coast Jazz Backstage, host Carl Brown chats with Chris Crain, a musical chameleon who is a vocalist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer. Chris has been playing since he was seven years old and has a passion for raising up the next generation through his Better Project Awareness Foundation, which provides free summer music camps. He transitions effortlessly between bl...

Today’s guest has one of the most beautifully distinctive voices in contemporary jazz. Her first US project Wanting catapulted her onto the jazz charts, and she has continued to make some of the most special music in contemporary jazz to this day. Ms. Gabriela Anders was born in Argentina and moved to New York when she was 18.  She grew up listening to Miles Davies, Dexter Gordon, Cuban music...

In this very first episode of Fresh Coast Jazz Backstage podcast, your host Carl Brown welcomes one of the most successful artists in all of contemporary jazz, Najee, a multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated saxophonist and flautist with six No. 1 albums, and five No. 1 singles. Najee shares about his career, songs and albums, plans, playing with some great musicians, like Shaka Khan, Prince, and others...

In today’s episode, your host Carl Brown introduces us to Phil Denny who has been making hits for about 10 years now. He’s got 5 releases to his credit, and he’s had 10 songs hit the Billboard charts. Phil has also worked with some of the top emerging artists in the genre. He found out that music is his true calling at a very young age and his journey has been very inspiring.  Phil talks abou...

In today’s episode, your host Carl Brown introduces us to Lin Rountree who has 16 singles on the Billboard Jazz charts. He is a soul/urban jazz trumpeter, record producer and composer. He has numerous collaborations with some of the industry’s top R&B/Contemporary Jazz artists to his credit and he is poised to be one of the most renowned artists of his generation.  Lin talks about his jou...

In today’s episode, you host Carl Brown introduces us to Jeff Ryan who is one of the Smooth Jazz world’s breakout new artists. His debut single Up and Up reached number one on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart. He’s gone on to release several other songs that many smooth jazz fans know and love. In 2020, he was named Billboard’s number one Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year. He has played some of...

In today’s episode, your host Carl Brown introduces us to David P. Stevens who’s an LA Bass Guitarist with 8 albums in his credit and who's worked with some of the top artists in the genre. He has played some of the country’s top jazz festivals and is becoming known for his high energy stage shows.  David talks about his love of music and how it started when he was young. He also shares some...

In today’s episode, your host Carl Brown introduces us to Roberto Restuccia who’s a serious up and comer in this genre. He is a UK based guitarist who is quickly becoming a musical force. Roberto’s debut release in 2021 featured the song Arrival which was one of the most added songs according to Billboard Smooth Jazz airplay chart.  Roberto talks about his journey with music and art. He share...

In today’s episode, your host Carl Brown introduces us to Rob Zinn who first picked up a trumpet when he was only nine years old. He has honed his craft by playing a wide variety of musical styles, everything from swing to rock and roll to funk and contemporary jazz. He landed in the contemporary jazz scene back in 2016. He is very serious about his craft and gives music a different flare.  I...

In this episode, your host Carl Brown introduces us to Tony Exum Jr who is a saxophonist that is starting to make a name for himself in the smooth jazz world. He has a couple albums in his credit already and is working on his third. He is a multi-talented man hosting a radio show in his hometown in Colorado Spring. He’s a global brand ambassador and is also acting in an independent film. Mr. Exum...

In this episode, host Carl Brown introduces us to two guests, Greg Manning and Paula Atherton. They both have been at the top of the contemporary jazz charts over the several months. Greg is a composer, producer and keyboardist. He was born in Nigeria and was raised in Switzerland. He moved to Los Angeles in 2002 and has had an incredible career. He is a multi-faceted musician who loves to play wi...