Shows
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #020 with Levi Gillis With several past episodes recorded from Seattle, we return to a previously unreleased conversation (2018) with saxophonist, improviser, and band leader, Levi Gillis. Originally from Northern California, you could now find Gillis based in Los Angeles after having continued on his developmental journey from the University of Washington Jazz and Improvisation program, chaired by Cuong Vu (episode #007, Cuong Vu 4-Tet, Pat Metheny Group), to the CalArts MFA School of Music program. We begin our discussion in 2018, but conclude during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. It is a study in contrast, or lack thereof, considering escalating social justice, economic dispa...2020-10-201h 17Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #019 with Edward SimonA document of our time, as well as an exploration into a celebrated career, Venezuelan pianist and composer, Edward Simon joins us. Now based in the San Francisco Bay Area, but long associated through his work with the all-star SF JAZZ Collective, Simon is celebrating over 30 years in music with his Ridgeway Records release, 25 Years. His work has found him collaborating with prominent jazz, vocals, and chamber groups, such as Gretchen Parlato, Imani Winds, Mark Turner, David Binney, Scott Colley, and Brian Blade. The latter of which includes celebrated trio recordings alo...2020-09-291h 27Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #018 with Romain PilonAnother archived discussion, this time with a jet lagged (at the time of meeting in March of 2018) Romain Pilon. The french guitarist began his journey in Southeastern France at the base of the Rhone Alps; now Paris based. A Parisian in New York for a short while, he preceded his big apple residency with matriculation through Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Credited as performing with Christian Scott, Esperanza Spalding, Warren Wolf, and Lionel Loueke, Pilon also has a number of recordings under his leadership featuring key collaborations with modern saxophone colossi S...2020-06-161h 02Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #017 with [Lauren] Elizabeth Baba Part 2 of 2While much has changed in society since this archived discussion from 2018 with [Lauren] Elizabeth Baba, we still manage to cull through some of the more universal aspects of creative and musical development, philosophical themes, and the deeply inspiring sources of Baba’s imaginative compositions and arrangements. As you may have learned from Part 1 of our two-part discussion with Baba (Part 1 a more recent 2019 conversation), she is a violinist, violist, composer, and improviser, based in Los Angeles, California. She has asserted herself as a prolific contributor throughout many musical categories such as original improvisatory, jazz, classical, folk, pop, avant-garde, chamber, and exper...2020-05-121h 12Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #016 with [Lauren] Elizabeth Baba Part 1 of 2 At first listen, theBABAorchestra works immediately to enlighten the percipient that LA Jazz is not all studio polish, R&B, and smooth. In fact there are many examples that disavow that notion, but [Lauren] Elizabeth Baba’s 17-Piece experimental big band is particularly visceral and thematic in its through-composed and improvised moments. The conductor/composer/arranger of its namesake, [Lauren] Elizabeth Baba is a violinist, violist, and improviser living in Los Angeles specializing in performing and composing creative improvised music as well as jazz, classical, folk, avant-guarde, chamber, pop, and experimental styles. Inspired by Baba’s family immigration story, hailing from Syri...2020-04-1437 minRidgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #015 with CLAUDIO PUNTINMarch 2020 What unusual times we all find ourselves in. With what started as a world away (COVID-19), now at everyone’s doorstep, the music community faces uncertainties similar to many other service-oriented vocations. While live in-person performance to audiences of size are curtailed, we can still learn about the different ways our creative sisters and brothers are expressing for the sake of social justice, humanity, and beauty. OTSSFO kicks off its new season with an archived discussion from several years ago with German based Swiss-Italian clarinetist Claudio Puntin. Widely known as a member of th...2020-03-241h 20
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFORidgeway Radio Presents: OTS SFO #013 with Moorea Dickason and Tarik Ragab of MoeTar Singer and creativity enthusiast, Moorea Dickason, is one half of the San Francisco/East Bay original art-rock super group, MoeTar, along with amazing musician and artist husband, Tarik Ragab. Striving to always serve the music, she shows up passionately and professionally in all that she participates in; to the extent of fearlessly baring her soul to appreciative audiences. MoeTar put 2 albums out with Magna Carta Records but struck out on their own as an independent project in January 2016. Moorea and Tarik are presently producing consistent video songs every two weeks for their growing patrons on...2017-11-171h 16
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #012 with Ben Allison BONUS Clinic Excerpt Part 3 of 3 As a complement to our two part conversation with New York Based, Bassist, Composer, Recording Artist, and Educator, Ben Allison, with his permission, we are providing a special peek into a portion of a discussion held at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, California. This preceded a performance of material from his new recording with the Think Free Band entitled ‘Layers of the City’; now available. Also in the room was his touring band for the occasion, Steve Cardenas on Guitar, Allan Mednard on drums, and Kirk Knuffke on Cornet. Tracks featur...2017-06-2722 min
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #012 with Ben Allison - Part 1 of 3 New York Based, Bassist, Composer, Recording Artist, and Educator, Ben Allison has a career that spans several decades. Ben has established himself at the forefront of modern jazz and creative music. A disciple of the jazz canon, rock, folk, 20th Century Classical music, and improvisational music from around the world, he firmly believes in the notion that the tradition of jazz is to move the music forward. He was a founding member of the Jazz Composers Collective that produced more than 100 performances in New York and abroad, new music, and annual concerts in the...2017-06-271h 14
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #011 with Matthew Szlachetka Matthew Szlachetka, guitarist, singer-songwriter, and producer. Originally from the state of Massachusets, Matthew is now Nashville based after being a long-time resident of Los Angeles. His roots rock and Americana style is familiar with audiences all around the U.S. through his various songwriting partnerships, and ultimately as a diligent touring solo artist. At home playing lead on electric guitar in his studio recordings, he is more likely to have an acoustic guitar in his hands with songs that fit neatly into the sensibilities of giants like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Bob D...2017-06-131h 09
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #010 with Hristo Vitchev- Part 2 of 2- BONUS EPISODEWe continue Part Two of our conversation with Bulgarian born guitarist and composer, Hristo Vitchev. While in Part One we highlighted his acclaimed 2 Disc release, “In Search of Wonders”, not to mention a foray into Hristo’s love of metal guitar and music in his youth, in Part Two, we continue the discussion into how he channeled his business acumen in the music industry through foundational marketing strategies and early adoption of social media tools to become a recording artist, label owner, clinician, and internationally touring musician. Hristo offers his experience as a virtual master class...2017-01-191h 12
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #010 with Hristo Vitchev- Part 1 of 2What happens when you transport a Bulgarian born, metal loving guitar player to San Jose, CA by way of Venezuela and "small-town" Utah? You get impressionistic jazz composer, bandleader, and guitarist, Hristo Vitchev. Making the San Francisco Bay Area his home, Hristo can be found producing a prodigious amount of recordings with longtime collaborators in his own, Hristo Vitchev Quartet. With a variety of Duet and Quartet recordings under his belt on the label, First Orbit Sounds, that date back to 2009, one can explore his steady output. In 2016, he released an ambitious double CD entitled “In S...2017-01-191h 22
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #009 with Tammy SchefferVocalist and Composer Tammy Scheffer visited On The Scene SF/O in Berkeley, CA. One of the foremost creative voices on New York City’s vibrant jazz scene, Scheffer is an increasingly difficult musician to classify. She has found equal cohorts in modern jazz, progressive rock, acoustic music, and solo, duo, or trio vocals and looping projects. Born in Belgium and raised in Israel, she studied music at the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music before moving across the globe to attend the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts. The Tammy Scheffer Sextet’s 2010 reco...2016-12-021h 10
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #008 with Michael Shrieve-Part 2 of 2We continue on with Part 2 of our discussion with original Santana drummer, Michael Shrieve. As we discussed in Part 1, Shrieve is documented on the studio album, Santana IV, released in March of 2016, featuring members of the original Santana band from that Woodstock era group- Guitarist, Carlos Santana, Guitarist, Neal Schon, Vocalist and Keyboardist, Gregg Rolie, Percussionist, Mike Carabello, with newer Santana collaborators, percussionist, Karl Perazzo, Bassist, Benny Rietveld, and guest vocalist, Ronald Isley. Earlier in the year Michael also released his latest recording of latin, rock and funk inspired fusion with his group...2016-11-141h 03
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #008 with Michael Shrieve-Part 1 of 2Legendary Drummer, Michael Shrieve spends time with On The Scene SF/O for a 2-Part conversation. Shrieve is often hailed as one of the highlights for his fiery drum solo during Santana’s “Soul Sacrifice”, as captured in the 1969 Festival’s film, Woodstock. He seeks out interesting people, and artists to embolden his creative output. Considered a music experimentalist, the drummer, percussionist, producer, and composer, has been involved in a wide array of innovative projects since his tenure in Santana, ranging from electronic music, to fusion, jazz, improvised music, and appeared on notable commercial outings, such as the Rollin...2016-11-141h 14
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #007 with Cuong VuTrumpeter, Composer and Educator, Cuong Vu joins the conversation for Episode #007. Originally born in Vietnam and having grown up largely in Seattle, WA, Cuong went on to attend the New England Conservatory of Music, and experienced more than a decade on the New York City jazz and avant garde scene. Now a Professor of Jazz Studies back in his home town of Seattle at the University of Washington, he remains a critically acclaimed musician for his innovative approach to the Trumpet, Timbre, and Improvisation in performance and on recordings. His longtime collaborators, Bassist, Stomu Takeishi, and...2016-10-111h 38
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #006 with Warren WolfWarren Wolf took a break from a week long series of classes, workshops, and performances with the SF Jazz Collective in Sonoma to speak with OTS SFO. Best known for his work on Vibraphone, he has also performed or recorded with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Bobby Watson, Nicholas Payton, Tia Fuller, Terri Lynn Carrington, Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and many more. Wolf grew up in Baltimore, MD., and trained on vibraphone, marimba, drums, and piano beginning at age three. After attending prestigious regional arts schools, he...2016-09-191h 26
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #005 with Megan SlankardFor Episode #005, we lean towards the Pop and Rock side of the fence. Our guest is Singer/Songwriter and Performer, Megan Slankard. She has been a steady presence as a touring solo artist nationwide, and in top San Francisco venues with her highly polished band, amusing stage banter, and melodic hooks. Her songs have its roots in Americana, Album Oriented Rock, and clever Pop. This along with energetic and emotive performances have established her a devoted following of all ages. We get to mine Megan’s recent experiences with her residency at Doc’s Lab, tours as a Bo...2016-09-051h 25
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #004 with Vadim NeselovskyiVadim Neselovskyi joins us this time. The Ukrainian pianist reveals his process as composer, solo performer, and bandleader, to arrive at dazzling displays of virtuosity and memorable melodicism. His skills as an improvisor and composer continues the thread of his own mentors, and collaborators, in the field: Vibraphonist, Gary Burton, and Pianist, Fred Hersch. A Professor at Berklee College of Music, Vadim still enjoys a full schedule of collaboration and performances throughout the world. While fervent duets with Bassist, Jeff Denson, or Flugelhorn player, Acardy Shilkoper, can be heard on his itinerary, it is his tri...2016-08-222h 10
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #002 with Marcus Shelby Part 1 of 2We speak with Composer, Arranger and Bassist, Marcus Shelby. His Marcus Shelby Orchestra is a long time San Francisco Bay Area Institution with numerous appearances, commissions and recordings. In a special two part series of episodes, we start with a 2016 discussion surrounding his work with 'Beyond the Blues: A Prison Oratorio' that highlights music, art, poetry, and lecture to act as an agency of change in ending the prison industrial complex. Then we return to a 2011 conversation at the time he recorded and released material featuring new arrangements of familiar spirituals and protest songs as...2016-07-191h 20
Ridgeway Radio Presents: On The Scene SFOOTS SFO #001 with Dayna StephensA tireless performer, educator, and beloved figure throughout the jazz community, Saxophonist, Dayna Stephens, has established himself as a distinct voice amongst his generation. His stage and studio experiences span across contemporaries and legends, including Taylor Eigsti, Julian Lage, Gerald Clayton, Linda Oh, Aaron Parks, Gretchen Parlato, Becca Stevens, Brad Mehldau, Brian Blade, John Scofield, Herbie Hancock, and many more. Dayna recently overcame a rare kidney disease after securing a transplant in 2015. He discusses this and other topics of everyday performing, composing, leading and creating in the jazz idiom.2016-06-141h 30