Rabbit Hole Sessions with Abe Ovadia

Growing up surrounded by jazz, today's guest was introduced to the music by his father, Bill Miner—a respected jazz record collector and discographer. From an early age, he absorbed the sounds of classic records, attended live performances, and studied with some of the finest teachers, shaping him into one of the most in-demand bassists on the New York City jazz scene. With a career spanning decad...

Hailing from the mountains of East Tennessee, today’s guest was immersed in the world of great guitar playing from an early age. With a deep connection to the instrument through his uncle, renowned Martin historian and luthier John Arnold, he had the rare opportunity to watch and learn from legends like Norman Blake and Doc Watson up close. Blending the traditions of bluegrass and folk with later...

A three-time GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist and composer, today’s guest has become one of the most in-demand musicians of his generation. Equally at home in a variety of styles, he has recorded and toured with legends like Joey DeFrancesco, Van Morrison, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Orrin Evans, Kurt Elling, and Veronica Swift, solidifying his reputation as a first-call saxophonist. With sixteen releases as a...

A forward-thinking guitarist with deep roots in the jazz tradition, Randy Napoleon has spent decades shaping the sound of modern jazz. Currently an Associate Professor at Michigan State University, he honed his craft on the road with legends like Benny Green, The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Michael Bublé, and spent thirteen years with Freddy Cole. With over seventy recording credits, includin...

Today, I’m joined by a drummer and composer whose work bridges the worlds of Black American music, African rhythms, and contemporary European jazz. Whether as a sideman, bandleader, or co-director, he has performed and recorded with some of the most innovative voices in modern music, including David Murray, Archie Shepp, Oliver Lake, and Joëlle Léandre. From co-leading the African jazz ensemble Be...

Today, I’m joined by an award-winning pianist and organist whose playing is deeply rooted in jazz, soul, R&B, gospel, Latin jazz, and classical music. Originally from Boston, he made his mark in Philadelphia, where he studied at Temple University and went on to perform and record with artists like Seal, Roy Ayers, Curtis Fuller, Nicholas Payton, Macy Gray, and many more. With three solo albums...

Marianne Solivan is a jazz vocalist known for her rich tone, soulful delivery, and fearless improvisation. She has performed with top musicians like Christian McBride, Jeremy Pelt, and Peter Bernstein, captivating audiences with her dynamic stage presence. With multiple album releases, including Prisoner of Love, she brings a fresh yet classic approach to jazz vocals. Whether leading her own group...

Mike Lee is a saxophonist, composer, and educator who has been a key figure in the New York City and Northern New Jersey jazz scenes for many years. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he has performed with legendary ensembles such as The Jimmy Heath Orchestra, The Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra, and The Roy Hargrove Big Band. He appears regularly at top venues like The Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola,...

Brad Whiteley is a versatile pianist, organist, and music director known for his ability to elevate any musical setting. He has toured with Regina Spektor, conducted on Broadway, and played on a Grammy-nominated track. As a jazz musician, composer, and improviser, his debut album Pathless Land earned a four-star DownBeat review and was named an Editor’s Pick. Based in the Bronx, he serves as music...

Today, we’re joined by Max Light, a Brooklyn-based guitarist whose innovative playing has earned him accolades as one of the most promising voices in modern jazz. His latest release, Chaotic Neutral (AGS Recordings 2024), was described by Downbeat Magazine as “complex, shrouded in mystery and endlessly intriguing,” solidifying Max as a true trailblazer. From earning 2nd place in the prestigious He...

Anthony Nelson, Jr. is a saxophonist, flautist, clarinetist, and composer known for blending jazz, gospel, funk, and neo-soul into a unique and captivating sound. A versatile musician, he has performed with legends such as Billy Hart, John Hicks, Regina Carter, and the Count Basie Orchestra. His recordings, including Testament: Live at Cecil’s and Tenor for Two, showcase his deep musical storytell...

Jeff Williams is a drummer, composer, and educator born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, on July 6, 1950. He started playing drums at age seven and later studied at Berklee School of Music. Over his long career, he has performed with jazz legends like Lee Konitz, Stan Getz, Dave Liebman, and Richie Beirach. He has led his own groups, including Coalescence and Circadian Rhythms, and has also been part of the...

“Abe Ovadia is one of the true treasures of the Jazz Guitar world. Renowned as a leader among contemporary Jazz artists. He headlines on the stages of the most famous Jazz Venues…this man has been a dedicated supporter of directly educating our youth in schools and adults in public centers. He believes the art of jazz guitar belongs to all people to know and enjoy, not a select elite. Abe Ovadia c...

Noah Jackson is a bassist, cellist, composer, and curator from Detroit, Michigan. As a member of NEA Jazz Master Abdullah Ibrahim's ensemble Ekaya, Mr. Jackson has performed internationally to critical acclaim and recorded the latest album, The Balance, released in 2019 which reached #3 on the Billboard Jazz Charts (July 2019). He has also recorded Nnenna Freelon’s latest release- Time Traveler wh...

Zaccai Curtis moved to New York City in 2005 where he’s connected with and regularly performed with artists such as: Lakecia Benjamin, Christian Scott, Donald Harrison, Cindy Blackman Santana, Eddie Palmieri, Brian Lynch, the Mambo Legends, Abraham Burton, Ralph Peterson, Ray Vega, and Avery Sharpe among others. Currently Zaccai is a professor of music at the University of Hartford: Jackie McLean...

I’m thrilled to feature Julian Smith, an extraordinary jazz bassist based in New York City. Originally from Chicago, Julian brings a unique blend of tradition and innovation to his music, honed through studies at Berklee College of Music and Rutgers University. A regular performer at NYC's best venues, Julian’s captivating tone and artistry have made him a rising star in the jazz world.  

🚀 Episode 105 is here! 🎙️ We're thrilled to welcome back the incredible Benito Gonzalez to Rabbit Hole Sessions with Abe Ovadia! 🔥 We dive into: 🎶 His new trio with Lenny White & Buster Williams 🎷 His work with the legendary Pharoah Sanders 💡 Turning life’s challenges into positives Tune in for an inspiring convo! Drop a 🎵 in the comments if you're listening! #RabbitHoleSessions #JazzPod...

Ned Goold is as distinctive an inside-outside tenor player as there is, and he should be a household name given the luck he's had with employment. Besides fronting his own trio on several CDs, he has been a mainstay of Harry Connick Jr.'s bands since the early '90s. Goold's unique tone combines something of the cool, sharp delivery of Bird and Charlie Rouse with the breathy insistence of Lester Yo...

David “Fuze” Fiuczynski is an iconoclastic innovator and a rebel with a guitar. Fluent in funk, rock, fusion, wicked fretless blues slides, Eastern melodicism, Western microtonalism and everything in-between, his remarkably open-minded and versatile approach to his instrument and music in general has made him a “first call” player, and lead to tours and recording projects with a remarkably diverse...

Born in Berkeley, California in 1960, Peter Apfelbaum started playing drums at the age of three, taking up piano and saxophone in elementary school and forming his first band at age 11. A product of the Berkeley Schools' pioneering Jazz Project, Apfelbaum began performing professionally while in his early teens and was a member of the award-winning Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble under the direction o...

Since moving to New York in 2001, Frank Basile has been fortunate to establish himself as one of today's most in-demand baritone saxophonists.   Dubbed a "prized sideman" by The New Yorker, Basile has been called upon to perform with, record with, and tour the world with many of jazz's finest musicians and ensembles. Among this distinguished list are The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Dizzy Gillespi...

“Abe Ovadia is one of the true treasures of the Jazz Guitar world. Renowned as a leader among contemporary Jazz artists. He headlines on the stages of the most famous Jazz Venues…this man has been a dedicated supporter of directly educating our youth in schools and adults in public centers. He believes the art of jazz guitar belongs to all people to know and enjoy, not a select elite. Abe Ovadia c...

Welcome back to the podcast, saxophonist Nick Biello! We're excited to have him join us again for another great conversation. If you haven’t seen his previous episode, be sure to check it out to learn more about his incredible journey and deep insights into jazz.    

Welcome back to the podcast, saxophonist Eric Wyatt! We're excited to have him join us again for another great conversation. If you haven’t seen his previous episode, be sure to check it out to learn more about his incredible journey and deep insights into jazz.  

Paul Sikivie is an American jazz double bassist. Originally from Gainesville, Florida, he has lived in New York City since 2007, when he began studies at the Juilliard School. He has played with many artists of international stature, including long associations with Cecile McLorin Salvant, Aaron Diehl, Matt Wilson, Johnny O'Neal, Ted Nash, and Grant Stewart. Since 2015, Sikivie has turned attentio...