Thoughts, Conversations and To Do Lists

The multi award winning artist, journalist and founder of Women in Jazz Media Fiona Ross talks to saxophonist, musical director, arranger, educator, and community-music project leader Nichola Pope Nichola Pope is a saxophonist, musical director, arranger, educator, and community-music project leader.   Nichola’s multifaceted career has earned her a reputation as one of the UK’s leading saxophonist...

The multi award winning artist, journalist and founder of Women in Jazz Media Fiona Ross talks to the award winning author, journalist and critic Jane Cornwell   Jane Cornwell is an author, journalist and critic and raconteur writing mainly about jazz and global music, arts and culture, and also about travel and luxury travel. Jane writes for major newspapers, magazines and online platforms in the...

The multi award winning artist, journalist and founder of Women in Jazz Media Fiona Ross talks to writer, publisher, connector, artist manager, music producer and legend Tulani Bridgewater-Kowalski Daughter of Jazz legends,  Dee Dee Bridgewater  and  Cecil Bridgewater , Tulani Bridgewater-Kowalski was born into the business of show. She was behind-the-scenes from the start, napping as an infant in...

The multi award winning artist, journalist and founder of Women in Jazz Media Fiona Ross talks to the Professor of Chemistry and Jazz radio programmer Dr Bradley Stone Jazz Radio Programmer/ Host/Producer of The Creative Source and Professor of Chemistry Brad Stone has been a radio programmer and music director for the past 40+ years and is the host of the brilliant ‘The Creative Source’ on www.so...

The multi award winning artist, journalist and founder of Women in Jazz Media Fiona Ross talks to the legendary Denise King Artists aren’t made, they are born; born with an innate sense of wonder and a unique perspective of the world. Denise King is no exception. Always having a love of music, it wasn’t until the age of thirteen that she was introduced to Jazz by an uncle, Herbert Tatum, who had a...

The multi award winning artist, journalist and founder of Women in Jazz Media talks to pianist and composer Charu Suri Pianist and composer Charu Suri treads fearlessly between genres, pulling global influences that range from the mood-anchoring Indian ragas, Sufi music, to the trio. Her ground-breaking albums, The Book of Ragas, and its sequel, The Book of Ragas vol. 2 have often elicited the res...

The multi award winning artist, journalist and founder of Women in Jazz Media talks to Mr London himself, CEO of TalentBanq, Ray Jones. Ray Jones is often described by colleagues and friends as “Mr London”. He is a passionate advocate for live music and theatre which can be clearly seen by his career to date. First as Head Concierge in several top London hotels before founding Centre Stage. In 199...

In the 2nd episode since being nominated for ‘Best Podcast’ by the World Entertainment Awards, Fiona talks to the inspirational singer/songwriter/producer and legend China Moses Singer, songwriter and producer China Moses evolves her artistry in truth. Defiantly real, her music resists what so many labels and critics desire: category. She captivates listeners with her deep pocket, sensitivity and...

In the first episode since being nominated for ‘Best Podcast’ by the World Entertainment Awards, Fiona talks to the inspirational singer/songwriter Ola Onabule Ola Onabule ’s last album, POINT LESS was listed on many international publications as one of the best albums of 2019 including Downbeat Magazine (US), All About Jazz (US) and Jazz in Europe (Europe) amongst them.  The project has now been...

Fiona talks to composer, lyricist and theatre maker Colin Ross Waterson. Colin has been writing music for fifteen years in the traditional music industry space.  He released three solo albums as WATERSON, but has now returned to the theatre—his first love.  He started working professionally in the theatre at thirteen, performing on Broadway and the West End during his adult career—including a long...

Fiona talks to Jazz power couple Charlotte Keeffe and Lara De Belder . Musician, trumpeter and flugelhorn player Charlotte Keeffe wears her love for freely improvising, free jazz and abstract music-making on her (brightly coloured) sleeve. Whether performing regularly as a soloist (Sound Brush), or leading a variety of different ensembles, including her RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW Quartet, with Ashley J...

Fiona talks to Mexico Woman of the year and drummer Migdalia Van Der Hoven. Mexico’s Woman of the Year for arts and culture, Migdalia van der Hoven is an International Award winning Mexican drummer currently touring with SIX the Musical across the UK and Internationally. She is also a Vater Drumsticks, Bosphorus Cymbals and RTOM Corporation artist. A Berklee College of Music graduate (where she st...

Fiona talks to the melodic maverick, saxophonist, composer and educator Hannah Horton! Award winning, official Henri Selmer Artist, Melodic Maverick, Hannah Horton is a visionary jazz saxophonist, composer, bandleader and journalist. Hannah’s music is rooted in jazz, folk and funk and her established individual and sophisticated sound is edging through boundaries and creating waves worldwide. An o...

Fiona talks to Magdalene Adenaike about her incredible work with the Music Relief Foundation. Magdalene Adenaike FRSA, Charity Founder & CEO of Music Relief Foundation . The charity was inspired by Magdalene's first-hand experiences of the hardships, isolation, and challenges faced by becoming a teenage parent. During this period, she discovered the transformative power of music and the im...

Fiona talks to the truly inspirational Dr Tammy L Kernodle. Tammy L. Kernodle is University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Music, who specializes in African American music and gender studies in music. She is also an affiliate of the American Studies Program, Critical Race and Ethnic Studies Program, and the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program.  Her scholarship explores the i...

In this very special not to be missed episode, Fiona talks to legendary Maxine Gordon live in Paris, in her first ever podcast! Maxine Gordon is an independent scholar with a lifetime career working with jazz musicians. She is an oral historian and archivist in the fields of jazz and African American cultural history whose award-winning book  Sophisticated Giant: The Life and Legacy of Dexter Gord...

Very happy that this podcast series is now at number 8 in the 'Top 60 UK Music Podcasts' for Feedspot! In this episode Fiona Ross talks to Tony Barnes , Producer and lead software engineer. Tony is currently a bedroom music producer experimenting with a unique style of music - blending various types of genres and sounds. Although a fan of almost all genres, Tony has a particular love for t...

Heralded by the Ivor Novello Academy and Apple Music as one of the next rising stars of songwriting, Fiona Ross talks to Ashaine White. Just when you thought every genre mash-up had been done, Ivor Novello Rising Star Nominee Ashaine White arrives with a brand new hybrid: grunge-soul. Inspired by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Lianne La Havas, D'Angelo, Radiohead and Nirvana, Ashaine’s moody, s...

Fiona talks to bassist Derek Daley! Derek Daley is an accomplished musician, known for his exceptional skills on both electric and double bass. With a Bachelor's degree in music composition and arrangement as well as musical performance. Derek has been practicing music for over a decade. He has recorded on a number of studio albums, showcasing his versatility and musical range. Derek has also...

For this episode Fiona Ross chats to the composer, keyboardist, synth player, pianist and vocalist Jemma Freese.   Jemma Freese is a full-time musician and composer who plays keyboards/synth/piano and vocals. She is a graduate of Leeds Conservatoire where she studied Pop Composition and Jazz vocals and graduated with First BA Honours and received The Directors Prize. Jemma is involved in; J Frisco...

For this episode Fiona Ross chats to the Trumpet Man himself, Dave Boa Dave has been playing trumpet since aged 9 and soon caught the bug. Whilst still at school, he performed at many major UK concert venues with various youth orchestras and big bands and then gained a music degree from Ruskin University, which is where he first met and gigged with Loren Hignell, also one of Fiona’s collaborators....

For this episode Fiona Ross chats to world renowned photographer Enid Farber  Enid Farber is considered one of the world's top jazz photographers. Farber and her work were featured in Jazztimes Magazine's December 1997 "Classic Jazz Photography" issue as one of the masters of jazz photography. She was the sole female of four names mentioned in the New York Times in May 1997 as &q...

For this episode Fiona Ross chats to drummer, vocalist, composer and social activist David Jonathan David Jonathan & The Inner City Bedlam is a live array of different jazz inspired styles of music that catalogues original social justice. It overflows with tones of social justice reform, love, happiness, and anger of a past that has yet to be repaired. What does the soundtrack of such magnitud...

For this episode Fiona Ross chats to journalist, saxophonist and vocalist Isabel Marquez After graduating from Cardiff University with a BA in Music, I joined the Women in Jazz Media team and began my journalism journey. Since then I have written for various jazz (and other genre based) magazines, and have collaborated with some incredible people.  With the Cardiff University Jazz Society, I set u...

Fiona Ross talks to Public Relations legend Eric Alper. For the past 25+ years, Eric Alper has been at the forefront of the Canadian entertainment industry – making the Public in Public Relations his business. His enthusiasm, encyclopedic knowledge of the past and present have made him the go-to for music in Canada. He is also host of one of the top-rated SiriusXM shows “ThatEricAlper”. With over...