Check out the video of the episode HERE.

Kenny Rittenhouse is a major contributor to the Washington, DC jazz scene. He's a gifted trumpet player, bandleader, fantastic composer and arranger, as well as a well-respected educator.

In this episode, we dig into my tune "Kenny's Groove," which I wrote for him, as well as Kenny's compositional offering "Waltz For a New Day." We finish off the music with Dave Brubeck's classic "In Your Own Sweet Way."

In conversation, we also talk about Kenny's process for composing, and how trumpet master Clifford Brown turned him from a casual listener into a deep practitioner of this music.

EPISODE INDEX

Intro [0:00]
Conversation - Tim talks about composing "Kenny's Groove" [1:30]
Song 1 - "Kenny's Groove" [2:40]
Conversation - Finding the trumpet & jazz [9:35]
Conversation - Clifford Brown changed everything [13:10]
Conversation - Kenny's composing process [14:48]
Song 2 - "Waltz for a Lovely Day" [19:41]
Conversation - Kenny's website, recordings & gigs [26:23]
Song 3 - "In Your Own Sweet Way" [29:18]
Outro - "What Does Music Mean to Me?" [34:57]

Check out the video of the episode HERE.

Amy Shook is one of the most in-demand bassists in Washington, DC area. She plays with everyone, and is a wonderful presence on the bandstand. When I play with her,  I’m reminded of the great drummer Billy Higgins. Billy radiated pure joy when he played, and I get that same vibe from Amy. Her wonderful spirit lifts any musical or hang situation. Combine that with a deep pocket and endlessly creative ideas, and you have a recipe for lots of fun.

In this episode, she tells us about how she found the bass and jazz growing up in Idaho. She also talks about her incredible 3D Jazz Trio, featuring Amy along with pianist Jackie Warren and drummer Sherrie Maricle.

And OF COURSE, we play some music! I wrote something called "Lilt," and Amy brought in a very fun tune called "Gate Check."

EPISODE INDEX

Intro [0:00]
Song 1 - "Lilt" (comp Tim Whalen) [1:23]
Conversation - Amy's Background [7:32]
Conversation - The 3 Divas [15:50]
Song 2 - “Gate Check” (comp Amy Shook) [25:10]
Outro [30:10]

Check out the video of the episode HERE.

Michael Kramer is a Washington, DC based guitarist, composer, arranger and bandleader. His trio "Superstring and the Cosmic Vibrations" released it's debut album (featuring Nathan Kawaller on bass and Steve Fidyk on drums) in December of 2018. Michael is the co-leader of the KW Big Band, along with pianist and composer Tim Whalen.  Michael began his career with a weekly solo guitar gig at a local Italian Restaurant walking distance from his childhood home in Germantown, MD which began at age 16 and ran until he began his studies at The University of Maryland, College Park. He has remained busy ever since as a performer in Washington DC and all over the East Coast. Michael has performed professionally with Joe Chambers, Lee Konitz, Wycliffe Gordon, Sean Jones, Ignacio Berroa, Bobby Shew, Steve Davis, Carmen Bradford and many more.   Education has been fundamentally important in Michael's career. He is currently adjunct faculty at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA.

In Episode 5, we talk about how he discovered the guitar and jazz. 

We also dive into talking about his upcoming new album, which was recorded in my home studio, AceTone Studios. As for music, we play a piece of his called "Dysphunktional," one of mine called "All For Naught," and we also explore the chord changes to an old standard...you'll have to guess which one it is.

EPISODE INDEX

Intro [0:00]
Song 1 - "Dream Changes" [1:26]
Conversation - Growing Up [5:17]
Conversation - Finding Music [5:55]
Conversation - Michael talks about "Dysphunktional" [11:18]
Song 2 - "Dysphunktional" [14:36]
Conversation - Michael's New Album [23:13]
Conversation - Tim talks about "All for Naught" [27:44]
Song 3 - "All For Naught" [30:55]
Outro [39:19]

Check out the video of the episode HERE.

Bassist Herman Burney has played with some of the most legendary musicians past and present. He's traveled all over the world as a bassist with with Nnenna Freelon, Marcus Roberts, Freddy Cole, Wynton Marsalis, Sonny Fortune, Harry Pickens, Eric Alexander, Wycliffe Gordon, Rene Marie, Monty Alexander, Etta Jones, Oscar Brown, Red Holloway, Natalie Cole, Cedar Walton, and Eric Reed, Hank Jones, Milt Hinton, Ellis Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Terrell Stafford, Frank Wess, Carl Allen, and Etta Jones, and many others.

He's played at jazz venues including the Blue Note, the Village Vanguard, Yoshi’s, Sweet Basil, Iridium, Smoke, Birdland, the Jazz Showcase, the Jazz Bistro, Jazz Alley, the Jazz Bakery, Vartan’s Jazz, the Kennedy Center, Alice Tully Hall, the Stanley Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center, the Dakota, and countless others.  Internationally, Herman has toured South America, Australia, Europe, Canada, and the Far East.  Some festivals include the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, the Cherry Hill Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, the JVC Festival, the East Coast Jazz Festival, the Melbourne Arts Festival, the San Javier (Spain) Jazz Festival, the Atlanta Jazz Festival, and the Clearwater Jazz Holiday Festival where Herman’s image was featured on both the 2001 Festival poster and T-shirt.

In Episode 4, we talk about how Herman came to music, the bass, and the ever-present inspiration of George Duvivier. We also get the scoop on what's behind his infamous social media response of "uh oh."

We play his beautiful composition "Drizzle," as well as my composition I wrote for him called...you guessed it..."Uh Oh!"

EPISODE INDEX

Intro [0:00]
Song 1 - "Drizzle" (comp Herman Burney) [1:39]
Conversation - Herman's upbringing [5:05]
Conversation - Herman's discovery of music [6:22]
Conversation - The Importance of George Duvivier [10:00]
Conversation - The inspiration for "Drizzle" [13:34]
Conversation -  The story behind "Uh Oh" [15:09]
Song 2 - "Uh Oh" (comp Tim Whalen) [18:52]
Outro [24:00]

Check out the video of the episode HERE.

Saxophonist Tedd Baker has worked with a wide variety of jazz greats and contemporary artists including Barry Harris, David Sanborn, Arturo Sandoval, Slide Hampton, Eddie Daniels, Victor Lewis, Jason Moran, Sean Jones, Wycliffe Gordon, Fitz and The Tantrums, Michael Mossman, Warren Wolf, and Donny McCaslin among others. He has also performed and/or recorded with New York Voices, Bobby Caldwell, Bohemian Caverns All-Stars, Amina Figarova Sextet, Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra under the direction of David Baker, John LaBarbera, George Russell, and the Artie Shaw Orchestra.

In this episode, we play a composition of mine written specifically for Tedd's soprano sax called "Bastogne." We also dig into Tedd's beautiful tune "One for Cedar," a tribute to the late master pianist Cedar Walton.

In conversation, Tedd remembers growing up in the great music scene in Boston, and how his family influenced his musical upbringing. And, we get to hear about his exciting new album "Duos Volume 1" which is available now!

EPISODE INDEX

Intro [0:00]
Song 1 - "Bastogne" (comp Tim Whalen) [1:07]
Conversation - Tedd's Upbringing [9:14]
Conversation - Tedd's New Album [15:56]
Conversation - Background on "One for Cedar" [19:48]
Song 2 - "One for Cedar" (comp Tedd Baker) [22:15]
Outro [28:35]

Check out the video of the episode HERE.

Paul Pieper first caught the attention of the music community in 1995 when he captured second place from over 200 competitors at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar Competition, a global event whose judges included Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, and Pat Martino.

In this episode, we play a tune of mine written with Paul in mind called "January Beginning," as well as Paul's fun and rhythmic "Manabí." The final tune is an older piece I wrote in 2004 called "Waltz for Someone."

In conversation, Paul recalls how growing up in Washington DC shaped his musical life, and what is was like winning second place at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar Competition in 1995. We also talk about the great tradition of jazz in Washington DC, as well as his unique school The Jazz Workshop.

EPISODE INDEX

Intro [0:00]
Song 1 - "January Beginning" (comp by Tim Whalen) [1:07]
Conversation - Growing Up in DC [10:31]
Conversation - The Monk Competition [14:18]
Conversation - "Manabí" Background [21:54]
Song 2 - "Manabí" (comp by Paul Pieper) [25:17]
Conversation - The Jazz Workshop [30:43]
Song 3 - "Waltz for Someone" (comp by Tim Whalen) [38:02]
Outro [43:37]

Check out the video of the episode HERE.

Zack Pride is one the most in-demand bassists in the Washington, DC area. He has performed with such greats as Mulgrew Miller, Lou Rawls, Dorothy Norwood, Robert Shaw, Louis Lane, Robin Eubanks, Vanessa Rubin, Marcus Belgrave, Houston Persons, Frank Morgan, comedian Dave Chappelle, Cyrus Chestnut, Freddy Cole, Wycliffe Gordon, Robert Glasper, Stefon Harris, Mark Whitfield, Lizz Wright, Joshua Redman, Kenny Garrett, Mark Murphy, Sharon Clarke, Cassandra Wilson, Tom Browne, Ronnie Laws, Lonnie Liston Smith, Marcus Printup, Eric Reed, George Cables, Winard Harper, Jimmie Ponder, Johnny O’Neil, and Earl Klugh.

In this premiere episode, we play an older tune of mine called "For Chick,"  as well as Zack's piece "Khemit." The last tune is "Cedar," which I wrote specifically for this episode. It is dedicated to the late Cedar Walton.

Zack tells us about how he discovered music and came to love the bass. We also remember the late Mulgrew Miller, and hear a CRAZY story about Zack meeting Charlie Haden on the streets of New York.

EPISODE INDEX

Intro [0:00]
Song 1 - "For Chick" [1:09]
Conversation - Zack's Background [10:17]
Song 2 - "Khemit" [18:49]
Conversation - Mulgrew Miller and Charlie Haden [25:23]
Song 3 - "Cedar" [33:10]
Outro [40:40]