Jazz Flyte Podcast

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...

On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I had the honor of sitting down with one of jazz’s true pioneers—John Klemmer. From the first few moments of our conversation, I could feel the weight of his experience, passion, and humility. John shares how his journey started with a guitar at five years old, and how he eventually found his voice through the saxophone, playing in Chicago jam sessions be...

On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with the incredible Antoine Knight—a powerhouse saxophonist and military veteran who's making serious waves on the Smooth Jazz charts. You’ve heard “Step 2 Me Baby,” now hear the story behind it and the man who co-wrote it with multi-award-winning guitarist Adam Hawley. From grooving to Junior Walker on 8-tracks as a kid to playing the tenor sa...

On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with the legendary Quintin Gerard W., also known as The Fnkysax Player. Quintin is more than a saxophonist — he’s a creative force who blends funk, gospel, blues, and jazz into a powerful urban contemporary sound that speaks to both heart and culture. From playing sax since the age of eight to co-writing with jazz greats like James Lloyd of Pie...

On this powerful episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with Billboard-charting saxophonist, pianist, producer, and now actor — Judah Sealy. Known for his smooth jazz hits and solo production style, Judah takes us behind the scenes of his unexpected leap into Hollywood as he portrays Clarence Clemons in the upcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. Judah opens...

On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with the legendary Will Downing — the smooth baritone voice behind timeless R&B and soul classics like “A Million Ways,” “Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This” with Rachelle Ferrell, and “I Go Crazy.” Known as The Prince of Sophisticated Soul, Will has released 29 albums over 38 years, building a legacy grounded in authenticity, grit, and undeni...

What happens when you’ve dedicated your entire life to music—without ever clocking into a “regular” job? On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I sit down with multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, and producer Steve Oliver, a true force in contemporary jazz for nearly 30 years. From radio airwaves to festival stages to composing scores, Steve has built a career fueled entirely by his pas...

What happens when a soulful voice meets a purpose-driven mission? On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I’m joined by Marcel Anderson, a multi-talented neo-soul artist, bestselling author, and public speaker who brings a unique blend of gospel, jazz, and soul into every note he sings. From growing up in a family of seven with strong musical roots to sharing stages with legends like Stevie Won...

On this soulful episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I have the pleasure of welcoming Will Donato, a powerhouse saxophonist, award-winning composer, and dynamic spirit in the smooth jazz world. With a Billboard-charting hit like Grand Slam, a string of collaborations with musical greats like Ricky Lawson, Al McKay, and Gerald Levert, and a long career of live shows and heartfelt music, Will has live...

On this episode of The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I’m joined by genre-defying guitarist and composer Grant Geissman, a name synonymous with both jazz innovation and unforgettable television soundtracks. We kick things off with the story behind one of the most iconic solos in contemporary jazz—Grant’s performance on Feels So Good by Chuck Mangione. He shares how that opportunity came about and how Chuck e...

This week on The Jazz Flyte Podcast, I’m joined by one of the most essential voices in today’s smooth jazz scene—saxophonist Jeff Ryan. Jeff shares how he picked up the sax at age 10, inspired by the soulful sound of Grover Washington and the raw power of Michael Brecker. Coming from a family of musicians, Jeff knew early on that music wasn’t just something you play—it’s something you feel. With f...

Welcome back to The Jazz Flyte Podcast! This week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Lemek, a genre-defying guitarist who’s already stacked an impressive resume at just 26 years old. Signed to Trippin’ N Rhythm Records, Lemek has had a combined 9 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz charts and over a million streams on Spotify—all off his debut album Emergence. Now, with his sophomore al...

Welcome back to The Jazz Flyte Podcast! I’m honored to be joined by the legendary Michael Paulo, one of the most versatile and cosmopolitan saxophonists in contemporary jazz, soul, and pop for nearly five decades. You’ve heard his iconic “saxpertise” alongside greats like Al Jarreau, Kenny Loggins, James Ingram, Jeff Lorber, and many more. Now, Michael shares the untold stories behind the music—an...