8vbebop 8vbebop Music

This week we are excited to interview legendary bassist, educator, and composer Rufus Reid! In this interview we discuss touring before and after 2001, some of the best practices for composition, as well as many of the life lessons learned from playing with jazz giants like Eddie Harris, JJ Johnson, Dexter Gordon and a myriad of other musicians.

This week we have the pleasure of having our mentor and leading trombonist Michael Dease. Professor Dease teaches Jazz Trombone at Michigan State, and has performed with legendary musicians like Alicia Keys, David Sanborn, Christian McBride, and many many others. This interview talks about the importance of mentorship, how to double on different instrument types, as well as the importance of inclusivity and diversity in music.

Joining us for this episode we have saxophonist, composer/arranger, recording artist and educator Diego Rivera talking to us about recording your own record, the importance of mentorship and the role of dignity in music.

This week we had the pleasure of speaking with bass trombonist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and all around amazing person Jen Hinkle. We discuss starting your own ensemble, creating a multimedia children's show, the issues of implicit bias, as well as the experience of being a highly successful woman in the music industry.

Based out of Jacksonville, Florida, Mica is a composer, arranger, producer, and band leader in the jazz vein. He received his graduate and undergraduate degrees, both in music, from the University of North Florida. In 2012, he received the undergraduate arranger award from Downbeat Magazine and was featured in an article on their November 2017 issue. He is co-owner of the Cue Note, a billiard room and jazz venue, a boardmember of the Jazz Discovery Series, a board member of the Jacksonville University LBC of Fine Arts Committee, and recently opened NFS Ranch, a 40 acre location for a high end recording studio/ recording label (NFS Records)/ and wedding/destination venue.

Though he writes for many mediums of ensembles, most of his music is set to the big band format and is primarily written for his own amusement. He has released three albums with his own group that show his fervor for this instrumentation: the self-titled Mica Bethea Big Band, Stage n' Studio, and Suite Theory.

His big band incorporates some of the highest level of performers in the North Florida region, and the occasional special guest. Chris Potter, Rene Marie, Michael Dease, Dennis Marks, Todd DelGiudice, Linda Cole, and Charles Turner are just some of the many elite musicians that he has worked with and have played his music.

Interviewing one of NYC's most in demand doublers, we have the legendary Ron Wilkins joining us this week. To find out more about Ron to to his websites ronwilkins.net and ronsroadtorecovery.com