Rabbit Hole Sessions with Abe Ovadia

Grounded  in the traditions of jazz and improvisation, David Bamber is a genre blending  bassist with a focus on creating new and progressive music.  Growing up with a Puerto Rican mother and  African-American father gave him the opportunity to become familiar with a  multitude of music including, jazz, salsa, rnb, and hip-hop.  David is a graduate of Howard University, where  he had the opportuni...

Guitarist Tom Dempsey’s reputation for hard swinging sophistication and pure musicality have made him a distinct voice in the New York jazz scene. Dempsey has performed and/or recorded with a virtual “Who’s Who” of world renowned jazz musicians including: George Coleman, Kenny Barron, Roy Haynes, Bobby McFerrin, Jack McDuff, Jim Hall, John Abercrombie, Brad Mehldau, John Scofield, Tal Farlow, Budd...

Charles Owens is a master tenor saxophonist, composer, band leader, recording artist, and educator and has been performing, composing, and teaching for over 25 years. After attending the New School and working as a musician in New York City from 1992 to 2004, he is currently living in Richmond, VA. Charles is an integral part of the vibrant music scene there and in Charlottesville, VA. He also tra...

In this episode, we welcome back renowned guitarist and Berklee College of Music educator Rick Peckham to discuss his book, Guitar Chords 101. Rick shares his expertise on expanding chord vocabulary, improving creativity, and developing a deeper understanding of harmony. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, this conversation is packed with valuable insights. If you missed Rick's fir...

Steve Myerson studied jazz performance, arranging, accompanying, conducting, and musical theater music performance at the University of the Arts (BA '99) in Philadelphia, PA and at the renowned jazz school William Paterson University (MM '03) in Wayne, NJ. Some of his teachers include Trudy Pitts, Bill Charlap, Andy Laverne, Harold Mabern, Mike Longo, and the late James Williams. While in college,...

Joshua Bruneau was born June 23,1988 in Waterbury Center, Vermont. While growing up, Josh was frequently found on the baseball field. After seeing a Time Life commercial, he was instantly drawn to classical music. Josh asked for classical tapes and records by composers like Bach, Mozart, and Chopin. His life took a dramatic turn when he was introduced to the trumpet and subsequently, jazz.  Josh b...

Guitarist, composer and teacher Nat Janoff, has been working steadily in the contemporary jazz scene for the past 15 years. Nat’s earliest experience with music started with the piano. Then, he switched to bass. After hearing Eddie Van Halen, Nat had to play guitar. Growing up in the 80’s, Nat’s musical interests were all things rock and metal and Nat earned a reputation for being one of the best...

Jon Herington is a longtime New York city based guitarist, singer/songwriter, producer, and bandleader. He is the leader of the Jon Herington Band and has been the guitarist of choice with the iconic band Steely Dan for both recording and touring since 1999. With the launch of (quiet) encore, Jon now has eight solo releases in his discography. His previous release, Time On My Hands, was nominated...

Roberta Piket is a pianist who loves to swing while exploring the more adventurous harmonic possibilities of jazz and improvised music. Roberta’s father was the composer Frederick Piket, whose works were performed by the New York Philharmonic under famed conductor Dimtri Metropolis. (The elder Piket, who passed away when Roberta was eight, is also renowned for his significant contribution to the m...

Putter Smith was born in Bell, California, and began playing the bass at the age of eight, inspired by his older brother, jazz musician Carson Smith. He made his performing debut aged 13 at the Compton Community Center. He went on to perform with Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, Duke Ellington, Billy Eckstine, Diane Schuur, Lee Konitz, Bruce Forman, Jackie and Roy, Carmen McRae, Gary Foster, Art Farme...

Pennsylvania native Billy Test is a pianist, composer, arranger, and educator. Currently holding the piano chair in the Grammy award winning WDR Big Band in Köln, Germany, Billy splits his time between Europe and the United States, maintaining a busy schedule as a performer, composer, and educator. Billy’s piano playing blends the joys and sorrows of jazz and blues with the finesse and harmonic de...

Guitarist Tony Romano has been a visible part of the New York City music scene for over twenty years. Just Jazz Guitar magazine wrote “His tone is beautiful and soulful, and his remarkable technique is a servant to his rich musical imagination and broad harmonic palette.” With a wide range of playing styles, Tony has toured worldwide and performed and recorded with many notable Jazz, Latin, Pop, a...

Tom Lippincott 8- and 6- string guitarist Eight- and six-string guitarist Tom Lippincott was born in New Jersey and grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but has made South Florida his home since 1988. He has a bachelor's degree in jazz studies from the University of North Texas as well as a master's in jazz performance from the University of Miami.     Tom teaches jazz guitar at Florida International Unive...

Saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist and composer Nick Biello is developing a reputation as an exciting and artful musician. Nick has shared the stage with world-class artists, such as Slide Hampton, Cedar Walton, the Jimmy Heath Big Band, Rich Perry, Phil Markowitz, Steve Davis, Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band, Clarence Penn, John Benitez, Henry Cole, Harvie S, Victor Bailey, Jaimoe Johns...

Having spent many years deeply embedded in the vibrant jazz scenes of New York and Philadelphia, Behn Gillece has carved out a distinguished reputation as both a virtuosic vibraphonist and a prolific composer. Drawing inspiration from luminaries like Milt Jackson, Gary Burton and Bobby Hutcherson, Gillece has dedicated himself to pushing the boundaries of vibraphone artistry while leaving an indel...

Steve Cardenas began his musical career in Kansas City and has been an integral part of the New York City jazz community since 1995. Steve has performed and recorded with many well-known and highly esteemed musicians. Notably, he was a longstanding member of the  Paul Motian  Electric Bebop Band,  Charlie Haden  Liberation Music Orchestra, the  Steve Swallow  Quintet, as well as  Joey Baron 's, Ki...

Joe Albano, a Boston native, began his musical journey at 14 under the guidance of saxophonist Ray DeNice. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Joe studied with jazz greats like George Garzone, Joe Lovano, and JoAnne Brackeen, as well as accomplished composers such as Greg Hopkins and Ken Pullig. Known for his eclectic improvisational style, Joe seamlessly blends jazz, rock, classical, and mode...

Paul Deatherage is an active performer and educator in the central Kentucky area. He regularly plays with the DiMartino / Osland Jazz Orchestra, the Osland / Dailey Jazztet, the Raleigh Dailey Trio, the Ross Whitaker Trio, the Walnut Street Ramblers, and Grupo LexiSamba. Paul Deatherage is on  faculty at the University of Kentucky  as a drumset instructor, at  Centre College  as a percussion instr...

Devin is a musician whose life has been shaped by music from the very beginning. By the time he was 12, after a few years of private study, he knew that music—specifically drumming—wasn’t just a hobby; it was his purpose. Over the years, his passion evolved into a sense of responsibility, driving him to pursue excellence. That dedication earned him a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, where...

With a deep passion for jazz and Brazilian music, Ben has made a significant impact in the world of music through performances, recordings, and teaching. As the leader of the Brazilian jazz group Tudo Bem, Ben has captivated audiences at renowned venues like the Blue Note in New York and Fukuoka, as well as clubs across Moscow, Switzerland, and Germany. Ben’s career highlights include performing a...

Kerri George is an actor, singer, performer, and a dedicated voice teacher and coach. As a proud Leo (if that means something to you, great—if not, Kerri might even be a little envious), she approaches her craft and her teaching with warmth, authenticity, and a touch of humor. Kerri’s work is all about connection—whether on stage or in the studio. She’s not just here to teach techniques; she’s her...

Adam Niewood is a saxophonist, composer, drummer, and craftsman, who has been involved in a variety of different creative projects over the past 30 years, in and around the New York metropolitan area.  More recently having worked for 6 years in David Liebman’s “Elvin Jones Live at the Lighthouse” Band playing the Tenor 2 book once held by Steve Grossman in the early 1970s incarnation of the Elvin...

Eric Wyatt is a saxophonist who plays tenor, alto, and soprano sax.  Born in Brooklyn, New York, Eric was taught music by his dad, Charles Jolly Wyatt, who played in the army band in Germany.  His dad moved to Harlem in the early 50’s just in time to play with many of the world’s greatest players. Eric can recall story’s of his dad taking him to concerts where he would sometimes drive the band mem...

JJ Fajardo is a talented drummer originally from Denver, Colorado, who comes from a family of musicians and began playing club gigs before his teens. While attending the Denver School of the Arts, he showcased his exceptional talent as part of the Jazz Workshop Orchestra, competing in the prestigious Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival Competition. During his high school years, he also earned spot...

Mike DiRubbo: A Saxophonist Supreme   In a jazz world of questionable infrastructure, shrinking media and variable degrees of artistic taste, one thing remains clear: New York City-based alto saxophonist, bandleader, composer and educator Mike DiRubbo has been the most swinging and soulful artist on his instrument for nearly 30 years.    His new CD, Inner Light - his tenth recording as a leader, ...