Jazz Flyte Podcast

Some artists create timeless songs. Others create timeless collaborations. George Benson has done both. On this special edition of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I celebrate the extraordinary career of George Benson by highlighting a collection of memorable duets that showcase the depth and versatility of one of jazz's most influential artists. Rather than focusing on his biggest solo hits, I revisit som...

On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with saxophonist, keyboardist, composer, and recording artist D.S. Wilson for a conversation about second chances, musical reinvention, and what it means to fully commit to your calling. D.S. shares how his musical journey began with piano lessons as a child before discovering the saxophone and eventually spending years performing in rock bands...

Some opportunities change the course of your life forever. For drummer Reggie Jackson, one phone call did exactly that. In this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with acclaimed drummer Reggie Jackson to discuss his journey from playing in church and local jazz bands in Columbus, Ohio, to spending more than two decades touring and recording with legendary vocalist Diane Schuur. Reggie s...

Most people associate the violin with classical music. Karen Briggs changed that perception one note at a time. In this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with world-renowned violinist Karen Briggs to explore the extraordinary path that took her from a junior high school orchestra program in Virginia to stages across more than 50 countries around the world. Karen shares how an inspiring...

What happens when a Cleveland native, poet, drummer, and arts leader is handed the keys to one of the most respected jazz festivals in the country? In this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with Orlando Watson, the newly appointed Executive Director of the Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, for a conversation about music, community, leadership, and coming home. Orlando shares his journey from g...

In this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with Nils to talk about his journey from Germany to becoming one of the most recognizable names in contemporary jazz. Nils shares how growing up on rock bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple eventually led him toward funk, fusion, and artists like Earth, Wind & Fire, Herbie Hancock, Larry Carlton, and Steps Ahead. We talk about the succes...

Some musicians spend their entire lives chasing balance. Others somehow learn how to live inside the chaos and still create beautiful music. In this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with George Franklin of GTF for a conversation about music, discipline, creativity, and what it really takes to sustain a lifelong passion while managing a completely different full time career. George sha...

What does it really take to build something that lasts? In this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with Bob Mintzer and Russ Ferrante of Yellowjackets, a band that has remained relevant, creative, and respected for over four decades. This is not just a conversation about music. This is a conversation about commitment. We talk about what it means to be part of a true collective, where th...

Some artists find their sound early. Others spend a lifetime building it. This conversation is about the second path. In this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with Reza Khan, a guitarist whose journey spans continents, cultures, and decades of quiet dedication. We start at the beginning. Growing up in Bangladesh, surrounded by Indian classical discipline while being exposed to Western...

Some stories stay with you long after the conversation ends. This is one of them. In this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with Willie Bradley, a trumpeter whose journey is built on faith, perseverance, and second chances. We go all the way back to the beginning. A young kid in South Carolina surrounded by music, inspired by legends like Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, discovering hi...

Fifty years. Let that sit for a moment. In this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with Jay Beckenstein, the leader of Spyro Gyra, a group that has shaped the sound of contemporary jazz for generations. We go back to the beginning. A name that came from a late-night moment and stuck. A band that was never supposed to last this long but did. And a journey that started with a dream of pla...

What happens when talent meets opportunity and pressure at the same time? In this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with Patches Stewart, a world-class trumpeter whose journey started in New Orleans and led him to stages alongside legends like Al Jarreau, Marcus Miller, and Quincy Jones. We talk about what it really looks like behind the scenes. The early days of struggle. Learning how...

Some instruments support the music. The bass defines it. On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with Brendan Rothwell, a bassist whose sound carries both legacy and evolution. From hearing Marcus Miller for the first time to building a career across continents, Brendan shares how one moment can shift everything. We talk about his early beginnings in the UK, his move to Canada, and h...

On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with saxophonist Wayne Gutshall, and this conversation is a reminder that sometimes all it takes is one moment to change your life. Wayne takes me back to his early days in Miami, where his musical journey didn’t even start on the saxophone. His first love was bass, inspired by funk and groove, but everything shifted the day he was unexpectedly...

On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with saxophonist Dee Lucas, and this conversation goes far beyond music. It is about identity, ownership, and the discipline it takes to build something that lasts. We start at the beginning, where Dee shares how his first love was actually bass guitar before discovering the saxophone in college. What drew him in was not just the sound, but the...

After more than a dozen projects and a catalog that spans over a hundred songs, what keeps the creativity alive? On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with saxophonist Paul Taylor to explore what it really means to evolve as an artist while staying true to your sound. Paul joins me to talk about his latest release and why he describes it as the start of a new cycle. We dive into ho...

Some musicians follow a path that feels safe. Others create a path that leaves them no choice but to succeed. On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with guitarist and composer Chris Standring to talk about the journey that took him from rural England to the heart of the jazz scene in Los Angeles. Chris grew up far from the bright lights of London, living on a farm in the English co...

Every musician has a story, but not every story follows the traditional path. On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with trumpeter Melvin Pierce, a New Orleans-born musician whose life proves that passion and responsibility can exist side by side. Melvin’s musical journey began as a teenager growing up around the deep musical culture of New Orleans. At fourteen years old, he picked...

What if the person holding the saxophone is also the one holding the dental drill—and both roles are fueled by the same kind of precision? On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with saxophonist Phillip “Doc” Martin, a dentist with a private practice who’s also a Billboard charting artist with major momentum behind him. We get into the origin story: a nine-year-old hearing Kenny G’s...

Welcome back to The Jazz Flyte Podcast. On this episode, I’m joined by saxophonist Doug Jones, and before we even get into the music, we have to clear something up. No, he’s not the baseball pitcher, the actor, or the senator — he’s the Doug Jones who’s been quietly building a powerful body of work in smooth contemporary jazz for years. Doug takes me through his journey, starting in rock and pop b...

Welcome back to The Jazz Flyte Podcast. Every once in a while, I get to sit with an artist whose music has been part of the culture for so long that you don’t just hear it, you recognize it. This episode is that kind of conversation. I’m joined by Bobby Broom, and we go all the way back to the beginning, before careers, before stages, before the industry. Back to the moment a kid fell in love with...

Welcome back to The Jazz Flyte Podcast. When I say I’ve got a special guest, I mean it, because this episode hits on two things that matter to me deeply: the music and what the music is used for when life gets real. I’m welcoming back Johnny Britt, Cleveland’s own trumpet player, vocalist, and storyteller, and we go places in this conversation that every listener can feel. Johnny takes me through...

Some careers take decades to heat up. Mo Louis is proof that when preparation meets the right moment, things can move fast. On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I’m joined by Mo Louis, an international recording artist who has been capturing the hearts of smooth jazz fans worldwide. In 2023, he reached a major milestone with his first Billboard number one hit, “Static,” and he was also recog...

Welcome back to The Jazz Flyte Podcast. On this episode, I’m joined by guitarist Deepak Thettu, an artist whose journey proves that musicians are often much more than what we see on stage. Deepak is not only a smooth jazz guitarist, but also a longtime occupational therapist, and this conversation explores how those two worlds connect in powerful and unexpected ways. We start with his early relati...

Welcome back to The Jazz Flyte Podcast. On this episode, I’m joined by Donald Hayes, a Memphis-born saxophonist, arranger, composer, and creative force whose sound is rooted in gospel, blues, funk, and soul. Donald has played on stages around the world, worked with some of the biggest names in music, and scored for film and television, yet he’s never lost the essence of where he comes from. We div...