Vocalist 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 recording, ‘Wake Up, Fall Asleep’ was selected directly by renowned saxophonist Greg Osby for release on his Inner Circle Music label.

She also has a healthy list of work available for viewing on YouTube ranging from VideoSongs with Israeli Prog Rock Keyboardist, Eyal Amir and Project RnL to her own solo and ensemble projects.

Most recently she has released an exciting and innovative EP with the jazz and rock driven trio, Morning Bound, comprised of Tammy on vocals and loops, Panagiotis Andreou, Bass and Vocals, and Ronen Itzek, on Drums.

Tracks Featured Throughout Episode #009:

• Morning Bound – Morning Bound, Morning Bound EP
• 9 to 5 – The Tammy Scheffer Sextet, Wake Up, Fall Asleep
• Welcome to Brooklyn - The Tammy Scheffer Sextet, Wake Up, Fall Asleep
• I Did Fine - Morning Bound, Morning Bound EP
• Latin Dream – Eyal Amir w/Tammy Scheffer
• Rega Rega! (Wait a minute, wait a minute!) - The Tammy Scheffer Sextet, Wake Up, Fall Asleep
• I Want For Nothing - Morning Bound, Morning Bound EP
• Im Kvar Levad - Morning Bound, Morning Bound EP
• Let Your Freak Flag Fly - Morning Bound, Morning Bound EP

We 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 Spellbinder. We will speak more about this group and its future plans.

It is in Part 2 that we get to hear about important collaborations with Klaus Schulze, David Beal, Andy Summers, Steve Roach, David Torn, Jonas Hellborg, Bill Frisell, Mark Isham, Wayne Horvitz, and Marty Fogel. The resultant recordings of which outline an extremely productive and important output of creative music inspired by electronic music developments, jazz, film, and a return to his roots.

Tracks Featured throughout Episode #008 Part 2 of 2:

• Communique: Approach Spiral – Michael Shrieve, Transfer Station Blue (With Klaus Schulze and Kevin Shrieve)
• Izibongo – Michael Shrieve and David Beal, The Big Picture
• Tribes – Michael Shrieve and Steve Roach, The Leaving Time
• Four Winds – Michael Shrieve, Stiletto
• Las Vegas Tango – Michael Shrieve, Stiletto
• Stiletto – Michael Shrieve, Stiletto
• Unlikely Beast Slayer – Marty Fogel, Many Bobbing Heads at Last
• Flamingos – Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder, Live at Tost
• Trilloni – Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder

Legendary 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 Rolling Stones’ Emotional Rescue (on percussion) in 1980, and later on Mick Jagger’s “She’s the Boss” album.

To illustrate the type of forward thinking musicians he associates with, collaborations include Stomu Yamashta, Steve Winwood, Al Di Meola, Klaus Schulze, David Beal, Andy Summers, Steve Roach, David Torn, Jonas Hellborg, Bill Frisell, Mark Isham, Jeff Beal, Wayne Horvitz, Zakir Hussain, Airto, and Jack DeJohnette.

We begin by speaking about the new release, Santana IV, featuring the remaining members of the original Woodstock era of the band, with- 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.

With such a storied career, it is inevitable that there is much to mine in these conversations. In Part 1, you will get to hear some of the inside scoop on Santana IV, encounters with Bassist, Jaco Pastorius, while residing in New York, his forthcoming recording with Jack DeJohnette, Zakir Hussain, and others, as well as Shrieve’s experience meeting the classic John Coltrane Quartet, and his longtime friendship with Drummer, Elvin Jones.

Tracks Featured throughout Episode #008 Part 1 of 2:

• Darkside – Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder
• Yambu – Santana IV
• Renewal – Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder
• Pop Raladrao – Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder
• Fillmore East – Santana IV
• Crossing The Line – Go (Stomu Yamashta, Steve Winwood, Michael Shrieve)
• You and Me - Go Too (Stomu Yamashta)

Trumpeter, 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, Drummer, Ted Poor, feature prominently in Cuong Vu's works as a trio and quartet.  With the expanded palate of musicians such as Bill Frisell, Myra Melford, or Chris Speed, and opportunities to work with boundary pushers such as Laurie Anderson and David Bowie, Cuong has added his signature approach on numerous recordings.

His latest reunites him with, Guitarist, Pat Metheny, having recorded on and performed in support of The Pat Metheny Group's grammy award winning albums, Speaking of Now, and, The Way Up.  The Cuong Vu Trio Meets Pat Metheny is an energetic outing that places the voice of the trio on equal footing with Metheny's meticulous improvisation.

Under a flight path of the SEA/TAC airport, we discuss the new record, Wynton, Charles Ives, Music Industry Secrets, A Cautionary Tale about Smoking Pot, and the Seattle Improvised Music Scene.

cuongvu.com

Warren 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 went on to graduate from Berklee College of Music in Boston, and quickly became a fixture on the performing and recording scene there.

He came to prominence as a member of bassist/composer Christian McBride’s “Inside Straight” band. Most recently, he has been a member of the SF Jazz Collective and was featured on live recordings from the Collective’s last two seasons, and will be performing and recording in support of the new season addressing the music of Miles Davis.

We spoke about the above, along with family, career, fitness, and his secret desire to become a professional wrestler.  He also released his third recording for Mack Avenue with an all-star line up entitled "Convergence".

EDITORS NOTE: The song "King of Two Fives" was originally released in error to read "Kind of Two Fives" through digital media. 

For 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 Bose Troubadour, writer/director and performer in the comedic web series, inDIYe, and featured artist on the subscription oriented creator platform, Patreon. We also return to an earlier conversation conducted by Andrew Lion and Kevin Weber in 2011 at the time Megan released her full-length recording, ‘A Token of the Wreckage’.

She also recently released her second Matthew Ward Directed music video in support of the single “Bones Live Forever” from her 2015 release, ‘Running on Machinery’.

Click on photo to view the video.  (Megan Slankard - Bones Live Forever - OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Vadim 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 trio, 'Agricultural Dreams', with Isreali Drummer, Ronen Itzik, and Bassist, Dan Loomis, that he is most excited to present.  A new recording with the trio can be expected in 2016/17.

We resume our discussion with Composer, Arranger and Bassist, Marcus Shelby.

A 2011 conversation at the time he recorded and released material featuring new arrangements of familiar spirituals and protest songs as well as original music inspired by the 1960's Civil Rights era, called 'Soul of the Movement'.

Marcus shares anecdotes of early experiences on the bandstand, and highlights the African-Amercian experience through detail of prior commissions and music works.

We 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 well as original music inspired by the 1960's Civil Rights era, called 'Soul of the Movement'.

Buckle in, and stay tuned for Part 2!

A 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.