Playin' Around With Playbook: Recent Episodes
Playbook Jazz
From the online jazz education conservatory, Playbook Jazz, Sammy Miller interviews educators and performers on their life experiences and knowledge. Episodes are live from the @playbookjazz Instagram!
Playbook Presents: Unlocking The Rhythm of Learning w Mickey Smith Jr. and Bethany Robinson
Playbook offers teachers the tools to inspire lifelong musician. Learn more: https://www.thisisplaybook.com/ Meet our special guests:
Those are two words that describe Mickey Smith Jr. A 7-time Teacher of the Year and recipient of the GRAMMY Music Educator Award, Mickey inspires children and adults alike through a motivational mixture of music and message. Mickey is not only an international keynote speaker and presenter, but is also a full-time teacher at The King’s Academy (West Palm Beach, FL) blending the roles of educator and entertainer to create a dynamic experience that entertains, educates, and elevates everyone to excellence. No matter the challenge, Mickey encourages others to keep on going. Find out more at https://mickeysmithjr.com
Bethany Robinson is a Yamaha Performing Artist, 2022 Grammy Music Educator Award Finalist, Chair for the National Association for Music Education Jazz Council, President of the Indiana Jazz Educators Association, and serves on the Jazz Education Network Board. She is the Jazz Band Director for Noblesville Schools in Noblesville, Indiana, Essentially Ellington Finalists 2021 and 2022. Her awards include 2014 Indiana Jazz Educator of the Year, 2015 Noblesville Teacher of the Year, 2016 Indiana Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist, 2022 Jazz Journalist Association Jazz Hero and 2023 IMEA High School Music Educator of the Year. Robinson helps to lead the annual Indiana Jazz Girls Day, building leaders through jazz. She has presented at the Australia National Band and Orchestra Conference, Oklahoma Bandmasters Conference, Indiana and New York Music Educator Association Conferences, and the Midwest Clinic. She is an avid clinician, adjudicator, and performer on upright bass, electric bass, and vocals.
Preston Pierce is a Band Director at Plano West Senior High School in Plano, Texas. His duties include directing the Wind Symphony, Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Band, Jazz Small Groups, assisting with the Marching Band, and coordinating the jazz program for the Plano West Cluster. He is a past President of the Texas Jazz Educators Association (TJEA). Additionally, he is a Consultant/Clinician for Jazz at Lincoln Center. The Plano West Jazz Orchestra is a five-time finalist in Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival in New York City. Since 2020, the Plano West Jazz program has won a combined 21 DownBeat Student Music Awards in the annual competitions. In 2022 & 2018 the Jazz Orchestra was selected to perform at the Jazz Education Network Conference (JEN). The Plano West Jazz Orchestra was also selected as the 2016 TMEA Invited High School Jazz Ensemble. While teaching in Plano, his students have earned spots in NYO Jazz, The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, Vail Jazz Workshop, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Summer Jazz Academy (SJA), named National YoungArts winners in jazz, Music for All-Jazz Band of America, selected to tour in the NEA/Herbie Hancock Institute All-Star Peer-to-Peer Jazz Sextet, and have consistently earned spots in the TMEA All-State Jazz Ensembles. In 2017 the Plano West Jazz program was selected by the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz (formerly known as the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz) to take part in a new initiative that supports the jazz program by providing educational materials, clinicians, guest artists, and performance opportunities.
Summer Camargo, 21, is a trumpet student at The Juilliard School and Jerome Greene Fellowship recipient, is in her fourth year of college majoring in Jazz Studies. Summer, born and raised in Hollywood, Florida, most recently joined Lenny Pickett and The Saturday Night Live House Band on NBC, recorded her debut album (which will be out in spring 2023) under Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Blue Engine, won first place in the International Trumpet Guild’s Ryan Anthony Trumpet Memorial Competition, covered for Wynton Marsalis on the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s 2022 Big Band Holidays Tour, and has been performing with her sextet in prestigious venues in NYC such as Dizzy’s and Birdland. She is the first ever triple crown winner in the history of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington, winning in 2018 the Ella Fitzgerald Best Soloist award, the J. Douglas White Student Composition Contest, and winning first place in the festival with her high school, Dillard Center for the Arts. As a composer, she has had two of her original big band compositions performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in Rose Hall, one of them performed during their gala in spring of 2022. Summer is a proud Conn Selmer/Bach artist.
John Liner is a passionate educator, leader and musician that believes ALL children can learn and achieve greatness. Mr. Liner is presently the Fine Arts Department Chair and Director of Bands at Morton Ranch Junior High School in Katy, TX. A high-energy instructor, Mr. Liner has been named the Teacher of the Year in 2021 for Morton Ranch Junior High School and 2022 for MRJH by the Houston Area Association for Black School Educators. An alum of Berklee College of Music, John is an active member in numerous organizations including TMEA, TBA, TJEA, and NAfME, John Liner’s research has most recently been featured in the Massachusetts Music Journal. Mr. Liner is the founder of the Virtual Band Director Conference, a professional development resource for music educators. To date, the Virtual Band Director Conference has reached over 40 states, 13 countries, 6 continents and is archived via podcast.
Mr. Liner presents to educators nationwide on integrating music of the African Diaspora into their curriculum. His presentations have been featured in six different state music conferences. An advocate for Jazz education, John believes that Jazz is critical to the development of any student-musician.
In episode one of our new season, Playbook founder Sammy Miller chats with Jazz Saxophonist, David Moyer!
Dr David Moyer is a professional saxophonist/woodwind doubler, arranger/composer, educator, and producer based in his hometown of Los Angeles, CA. He is currently Director of Jazz Studies, Instrumental Music, and Applied Music, and Assistant Professor of Music at El Camino College in Torrance, CA. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from UCLA, and earned his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Jazz Studies from the Thornton School of Music at USC.
David maintains a dynamic career as a performing and recording musician, and has performed with The Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Anthony Wilson, Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin, John Beasley’s MONK’estra, John Legend, Big Daddy Kane, DJ Premier, Dakah Hip Hop Orchestra, Tears For Fears, Weezer, Sara Bareilles, and Father John Misty amongst others. He has performed internationally at venues such as The Glastonbury Festival (UK), Coachella Music and Arts Festival (USA), The Istanbul Jazz Festival (Istanbul, Turkey), La Defense Jazz Festival (Paris, France), Billboard Live (Tokyo, Japan), the Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles, CA), The Hollywood Bowl, and The Barbican Theatre (London, UK), and has performed live on myriad television shows.
Moyer co-leads contemporary jazz quintet DD Horns along with trumpeter Danny T Levin,. Their self-titled debut recording DD Horns was released independently in March, 2017 to critical acclaim. DD Horns released their follow up recording entitled Cali Shine on June 17th, 2022.
Moyer’s robust sound, creative arrangements, and unique approach to work in the studio can be heard on recordings including Jimmy Cliff’s Grammy winning record ‘The Rebirth,’ Snoop Dogg’s ‘Snoop Lion’, Iggy Pop, Florence And The Machine arranged by Kamasi Washington, U2, Gary Clark Jr, Haim, Mavis Staples, Regina Spektor, and 21 Pilots, and on popular film/TV productions including Netflix’s “Outer Banks” among many more.
Playin' Around With Playbook: Stephen Cox, Grammy Educator 2023
Stephen T. Cox is the director of bands at the Advanced Learning Academy, Fox Tech, and Cast Tech Schools in San Antonio, TX as of fall 2022. For the previous decade he served as the director of bands at Eastland High School in Eastland, TX A graduate of Howard Payne University, Mr. Cox has been featured in the School Band and Orchestra Magazine's 50 Directors who make a difference and is the winner of the 2022 Grammy Music Educator Award.
As a speaker he has given clinics on the topics of educational technology, community engagement, small school education and preparing students for majoring in music at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, the Technology Institute for Music Education, Minnesota Bandmasters Association, and the Midwest Clinic. In his time at Eastland, the high school band has been a consistent UIL sweepstakes band, advanced to state marching contest, won multiple State OPS concert band titles, and performed as a demo group for the Midwest clinic and Texas Bandmasters Association conventions.
Core to his teaching philosophy, Mr. Cox believes that fine arts programs should be integral to their communities, that students should have as much control as possible, and that our ultimate goal is to give students the skills they need to chart their own path in life.
A hectic touring schedule; eighteen recordings as a leader, including his newest release, Junkyard Duo; countless sideman recordings including Ray Brown, Bobby Hutcherson, Roger Kellaway; soundtrack performances on three of Clint Eastwood’s distinguished films—most notably Academy Award-winning Million Dollar Baby; producer, arranger, acclaimed educator, in residence at USC’s Studio/Jazz Guitar Dept., when does Bruce Forman rest? Deep immersion in American culture inspires Forman to contribute to the traditions that he drew from. Formanism (his trio project); original works like The Red Guitar; his popular podcast with Scott Henderson, GuitarWank; Cow Bop and the “road challenges” down historic byways like Route 66; JazzMasters Workshop; his newest project: Junkyard Duo…these are only the latest answers to the endless question that underlies Bruce Forman’s creativity. His music and life reflect every step of his journey, and demonstrate the awareness of an artist who’s very much at home in the world, and at the top of his form.
Jon Lampley has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting multi-instrumentalists in the world. His musical journey began by playing at church on Sunday mornings in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Eventually he went on to hone his skills at The Ohio State University. Lampley is currently based in Brooklyn, New York.
While best known for his soulful playing on trumpet and sousaphone, he’s also a vocalist and songwriter. His resume is already filled with collaborations featuring some of the biggest names in music (Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Gary Clark Jr.).
Lampley is co-founder of the genre bending band Huntertones. He’s also a touring member of the platinum selling rock band O.A.R and a holds down the trumpet/tuba chair in Jon Batiste and Stay Human, best known as the house band for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Most recently, Lampley has joined Cory Wong’s band, Cory and The Wongnotes.
Corey Fonville, an influential drummer in today's music scene, has dedicated his life to learning the craft and its history in order to be one of the best drummers of his time. As an artist and music-enthusiast, he studied a variety of genres, mostly through his father’s music collection, which generally consisted of jazz, R&B, alternative, and funk. His skills are rooted in an eclectic background and call attention to the fact that music is hard to typify. Originally from Virginia Beach, VA, Corey has played with recognized musicians whom have not only helped him develop as a drummer, but also introduced him to the life of a touring artist. Since the age of 2, Corey hasn’t been able to put the sticks down -- music was always his passion. He first started creating a buzz after high school when he attended New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.
While he lived in New York City, he played almost every night with prominent artists from the city and quickly made close connections with influential musicians. He eventually left New School to study at the Dave Brubeck Institute in Stockton, CA where he received a full scholarship to play drums. The Brubeck Institute gave Corey the opportunity to network with many artists whom he aspired to be and to whom he listened when he was a child.
Jason Polise is multi-instrumentalist specializing in saxophones, woodwinds, and guitars.A Stamford resident now, he grew up in Nevada and moved here after graduating from theEastman School of Music. Jason currently co-owns/operates Stamford Recording where hecreates/produces music for many local/regional artists as well as commercial and film music.He performs regularly in the Connecticut/New York area with jazz, rock,and pop groups including Joe Scarborough from MSNBCs band.
Adam Levy is widely respected as a musician’s musician, with many featured turns to his credit. His understated yet memorable solos on Jones’ album Come Away with Me are shining examples of his handiwork. His bluesy lines on Tracy Chapman’s hit “Give Me One Reason” tell a juicy story, with not a single note wasted. He’s also a nuanced accompanist, as can be heard on Allen Toussaint’s recording of “American Tune.” You can also hear him on records by Vulfpeck, Anaïs Mitchell (composer of Hadestown), Allen Toussaint, and Amos Lee.
An imaginative songwriter and composer, Levy’s songs have been recorded by Norah Jones, Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket), and others, though his writing can best be appreciated on his own recordings — including Blueberry Blonde, Accidental Courage, and Washing Day.
"Even the thorniest jazzbo snobs can recognize Levy’s potential to pen material for the next Great American Songbook." —Offbeat magazine
Tina Raymond is a drummer based in Los Angeles, CA. A unique voice in the Los Angeles contemporary improvised music scene, Raymond blends traditional jazz vocabulary with African polyrhythm and classical percussion technique. She performs, adjudicates, and presents workshops world wide and has shared the stage with many jazz luminaries including Bobby Bradford, David Binney, Rova Saxophone Quartet, Jeff Parker, Art Lande, and Vinny Golia. She can be heard on many records including Cathlene Pineda’s “A Weeks Time”(Orenda Records), The Harold Trio’s “Harold Trio” (Edgetone Records), Nick Mancini’s “The Long Game” (self released), Alex Sadnik’s “Londelius” (Big Ego Records), Dan Rosenboom’s “Trio Subliminal” (Orenda Records), Jon Armstrong’s “Burnt Hibiscus” (Orenda Records), and her debut album featuring Art Lande and Putter Smith entitled “Left Right Left” (Orenda Records).
Raymond is the director of Jazz Studies at California State University, Northridge. She attended the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (B.M Double Performance - Classical Percussion and Jazz Studies) and California Institute of the Arts (M.F.A Jazz Studies). Raymond studied African ewe music with Ghanaian chief Alfred Ladzekpo, classical percussion with the members of Percussion Group Cincinnati, and jazz drum set with Joe LaBarbera, Jeff Hamilton, and the late John Von Ohlen. She is also an educational artist endorsed by Sabian, Regal Tip, and Remo. She is an active member of the Jazz Education Network.
Key of She Jazz was founded in 2012 by Olivia Hughart and a friend who noticed they were among the only female players in their middle school jazz big band, despite nearly equal numbers of girls and guys in band and orchestra. With the help of their director (Dr. Neff!), they brought together girls in jazz throughout their district, built connections, and inspired the younger girls to keep playing. In high school, Key of She continued to grow, including girls from across the district. As a high school senior, Olivia expanded her vision and held an amazing live Key of She Jazz conference in April 2019 that featured phenomenal women in jazz, performers, panelists, and speakers and was attended by more than 200 girls and their bandmates, band directors and educators, parents, and supporters.
She is a Women in Jazz Organization (WIJO) mentee and performed in the WIJO virtual big band’s release of “Alone Together” in 2020. She was also a feature artist on WRTI Philadelphia/NPR Music Live Sessions. Most recently, she has been playing with the NYChillharmonic and Aberdeen in New York City, and is writing and rehearsing her own band and original music.
Hailed as a “Sax Phenom” by the New York Daily News, Chad LB has toured globally as a bandleader, and with superstars ranging from Chris Botti to Taylor Swift. He has been a featured soloist with premiere ensembles like the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, and he was formerly a prominent member of the multi GRAMMY-winning Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra. At only 31-years-old, Chad has now become one of the first jazz headliners of his generation, amassing a loyal social media fanbase of over 250,000 followers across platforms. Despite his demanding tour schedule, Chad continues to be a visiting artist at the renowned San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he gives monthly masterclasses during the scholastic year.
Chad went on to pursue a formal education in the arts at the Brubeck Institute, a prestigious fellowship program created by jazz legend Dave Brubeck. While studying at the institute, he performed regularly with Brubeck and was a member of the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet.
Los Angeles-based bassist and vocalist Katie Thiroux has clearly established herself as one of the most exciting and in demandmusicians today. Thiroux’s unique gift of simultaneously balancing sultry vocals and virtuosic bass playing leaves audiences worldwide in awe. Her most recent album, “Off Beat,” was awarded a “Best Album Of 2018” by Downbeat Magazine as well as "Rising Star" 2018 & 2019. Thiroux is dedicated to jazz education and outreach for students and audiences conducting masterclasses, workshops and in July 2019 released an online course for the renowned website, Discover Double Bass and was asked to start a jazz camp in Maui, Jazz Maui Camp. In addition, Katie is the director of "Women in Jazz" for the Monterey Jazz Festival and is the #1 selling artist on Capri Records. Upcoming performances includethe 2022 SF JAZZ "Leading Women" and a performance at Stockholm Concert House April 2022.
Alex Hahn is a multi-award winning saxophonist and composer based in Los Angeles, California. Still early in his career, Hahn has had the opportunity to perform with many renowned artists such as Herbie Hancock, Esperanza Spalding, Bob Mintzer, Russell Ferrante, Bob Reynolds, and John Daversa. He also recorded on Michael Bublé’s last two albums, “Nobody but Me” and “love.” In addition, Hahn has performed and taught all over the world including the Panama Jazz Festival, Sitka Jazz Festival, and at International Jazz Day in Havana, Cuba and St. Petersburg, Russia.
Hey everyone!
This week on Playin' Around With Playbook, I spoke with Saxophonist, woodwind doubler, educator, and composer, Adison Evans.
"Adison Evans combines pure excitement with a soulful saxophone sound and a contagious smile to create one compelling performance after another..
Grammy-nominated saxophonist, Evans transcends genres as she has toured the world and shared the stage with legendary including Beyoncè, JayZ, Robin Thicke, Christian McBride, Terrence Blanchard, Frank Wess, Demi Lovato, Trisha Yearwood, Nicki Minaj, and many more. In addition, Adison recently made her debut on stage on Broadway in “Home for the Holidays” at New York City’s historical, August Wilson Theater.
Evans' pursuit to create harmony in humanity through the universal language of music continues after a successful debut album release, “Hero”, and sophomore work inspired by the interconnectivity of all things, “Meridian”. Evans’ compositions contain an expressive mixing of colors, rhythms, and textures similar to those found in nature.
A graduate from New York City’s, The Juilliard School, and Manhattan School of Music, Evans can be heard on the album that crashed iTunes, “Beyoncé” and seen in many of her music videos including “Countdown”, the HBO Beyonce specials, and Beyonce dvds.
As a prominent educator, composer, and orchestrator, Evans continues to push musical boundaries and is a champion for love, healing, and community that sharing in a musical experience creates."
Enjoy!
Trista.
Hey everyone!
Sammy took over for the week and Trista became the interview guest.
Trista Ford is a tenor saxophonist and woodwind doubler from Fairfield County, Connecticut. She is a Sophomore at New York University, Studying Jazz performance in the studio of Timo Vollbrecht. Additionally, she is also pursuing her master's in music education at NYU.
Throughout her time at NYU, Trista has performed with the New York Youth Symphony at Birdland Jazz Club, Dizzy’s at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and will be performing at The Times Center in May. She was selected to receive the NYYS Vargas-Vetter Ukena Fellowship in 2020 and in 2021, through which she is mentored by Alexa Tarantino.
In the fall of 2021, Trista joined the team at Playbook Jazz, a platform for joyful jazz learning in the virtual world. Here, she has created her own jazz education talk show and podcast: Playin’ Around With Playbook!
Enjoy!
Hey everyone!
This week on Playin' around With Playbook, we spoke to Paul Contos. With over thirty years in jazz performance, education, and faculty positions at UC Santa Cruz, CA State University Monterey Bay, and Monterey Peninsula College, Paul’s talents and abilities encompass worldwide performance, recording, production, conducting, and mentorship.
Paul served as saxophone clinician with The Monterey Jazz Festival for 30 yrs, as Director of the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra & Monterey County All-Stars for 20 yrs, and as Education Director for the Monterey Jazz Festival (2011-2019). He continues as Director of the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Orchestra (2009-present), and is an annual guest artist in Japan, Brazil, and the United States annually.
Under Paul’s direction, many of the ensembles he has conducted have been awarded first place at competitions and festivals throughout the U.S. In 2017, Paul was awarded Downbeat Magazine’s national Jazz Education Achievement Award for Jazz Educator, and in 2015 was awarded the Champion of the Arts: Educator Award by the Monterey Arts Council.
Enjoy, Trista.
Hey everyone! This past week on Playin’ Around With Playbook, we had the chance to break up the slew of saxophonists and have on drummer and educator Colleen Clark.
Drummer, composer, educator and bandleader, Dr. Colleen Clark is the first drummer and woman to earn a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Jazz Performance at the world-renowned University of North Texas, the oldest jazz institution in America.
As a player, Clark has been described as “someone to watch” and “someone who will be turning heads in jazz for years to come.”
Clark was invited by the ASCAP Foundation to lead her band, the Colleen Clark Collective, at the Kennedy Center. Dr. Clark has performed in prominent NYC venues including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland and the 55 Bar. Her debut album, consisting entirely of her original music, Introducing Colleen Clark, was produced by Gordon Stout and engineered by ten-time Grammy Award nominee/winner, Brian Dozoretz. Clark proudly joined the Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo on their premiere performance at the Jazz Education Network in 2019. Clark can most recently be heard playing on SteepleChase record #900, Allegra Levy’s Lose My Number: Allegra Levy Sings John McNeil.
Enjoy, Trista.
Hey everyone! This week on Playin’ Around With Playbook, we had the opportunity to talk to Tanner Guss, drummer, educator, and composer.
Tanner graduated from Indian University Jacobs School of Music in 2019, as a recipient of the Kenny Aronoff Scholarship program. He was also awarded the 2017 Hal Leonard Collegiate Scholarship by the Jazz Education Network. Since then, Tanner has founded the uplifting podcast, The Happy Musicians in 2019, and continues to share his music with the New Orleans community.
Enjoy!
Trista.
Hey everyone! This week on Playin’ Around With Playbook I was able to speak with the award-winning composer, producer, entrepreneur, educator and trombonist Nick Finzer. Finzer is bringing the joy and power of Jazz to traditional fans and the most modern 21st-century audiences. He’s on a mission to be a passionate voice defining the sound of Jazz in this age.
Born into the musical world (his mother, Sherry Finzer, is a flutist), Finzer developed a fascination for the music of Duke Ellington and found himself, in high school, performing at the annual Essentially Ellington competition of Jazz at Lincoln Center. It was then that he decided to pursue a life in music himself. His budding talent was recognized by Wycliffe Gordon who began a mentorship by writing four pieces for the young Finzer while he attended the Eastman School of Music. Nick went on to get his masters at Juilliard’s prestigious Jazz program where he was mentored by trombone legend Steve Turre.
2020 saw two new honors for Nick; a Grammy nomination with Anat Cohen’s Tentet and topping the Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll in the “Rising Star Trombone” category. Finzer’s 5th album as a leader “Cast of Characters” with his sextet Hear & Now was welcomed to critical acclaim, and a nationwide album release tour.
Enjoy!
Trista.
Hey everyone! This past week on Playin’ Around With Playbook, Sammy and I stepped out of our comfort zone to speak with classical bassist Nathan Farrington to get his perspective on jazz.
Nathan Farrington has been the principal bassist for LA Opera since 2016. He regularly appears in the bass sections of many of America’s top orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the East Coast Chamber Orchestra, and the Seattle Symphony.
He also pursues chamber music and solo opportunities avidly. He has appeared at the Marlboro Music Festival, the Aspen Music Festival, the Olympic Music Festival, the Chamber Fest in Cleveland, and at the Da Camera Society. Wherever he is performing, Nathan makes sure to take along his trusty guitar and paris singing and playing operatic arias and folk songs alongside his bass playing.
In addition to his performance interests, Nathan is deeply interested in cinema. His LA based audio company, Hazard Audio, connects top classical minds with the artistic minds in movie and TV production. His life in each of these fields has helped him engage in new and interesting projects highlighting the natural strengths of each of the two worlds.
Enjoy!
Trista.
Hey everyone! This past week on Playin’ Around With Playbook, we spoke with the amazing educator and performer Matt Wilson.
Wilson has released thirteen albums as a leader. His latest recording, Honey And Salt (Music Inspired By The Poetry Of Carl Sandburg), was recognized on over thirty worldwide “Best of 2017” lists, including Top Ten in the National Public Radio Critics Poll, JazzTimes, Irish Times, Boston Globe, Jazziz and All About Jazz. The album received a coveted 5-star review (masterpiece) in DownBeat. Wilson has made thirteen recordings as a leader for Palmetto Records since 1996, including acclaimed releases by the Matt Wilson Quartet, Arts & Crafts and the Christmas Tree-O.
As an educator, Wilson has led workshops and masterclasses at colleges and universities, jazz festivals and conferences around the world. He has served numerous residencies, including at the Centrum Jazz Workshop, Stanford Jazz Workshop, Litchfield Jazz Festival, Jazz St. Louis and Cornish College of the Arts. In addition, he is a faculty member at the New School, San Francisco Conservatory, LIU Post, Sarah Lawrence College and the Prins Claus Conservatory in Groningen, Holland.
Enjoy!
Trista.
At the center of my Ideal Educational Community, music is accessible to all. I am constantly seeking how I can achieve this. In my search, I had come across Just Accessible Music, also known as JAM. JAM aims to “provide a forum for music and research that is inclusive for all regardless of background, age, disability, skill-level or musical interests.”
This week on Playin’ Around With Playbook, I had the opportunity to talk with the head of NYC Jam, Laura Ziegler. It was incredibly informative and inspirational in my pursuits to create a music classroom that can reach and teach everyone.
Until next week,
Trista.
Hey everyone! This week on Playin’ Around With Playbook, Sammy and I spoke with saxophonist and educator Walter Smith III.
“The New York Times describes tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III’s work as “fabulous.” 2022 brings Smith to new heights with his most compelling and reflective album to date. In Common III is set for release the Spring of 2022 featuring some of the most important and talked about artists on the scene including Matt Stevens, Kris Davis, Dave Holland and Terri Lyne Carrington.
Walter is currently leading ensembles in a number of configurations for performances from trio (TWIO), quartet, or quintet (IN COMMON).. Walter is also a Vandoren Artist, appearing in workshops, and guest residencies.”
Enjoy, Trista.
Hey everyone! This past week on Playin’ Around With Playbook, I had the opportunity to talk to percussionist and educator Sean Dobbins.
Sean Dobbins got his start as sought-after Detroit area jazz sideman at a young age, when he would regularly play with Blue Note artist Louis Smith. As Sean’s Career progressed, he found himself the recipient of many awards and accolades including the “Woody Herman Jazz Award,” an award for outstanding musicianship, as well as the Louis Armstrong Scholarship. Due to Sean’s great talent both as a player and an educator, he has been the focus of countless news articles, jazz radio programs, and documentaries. Currently, Sean is on faculty at the University Of Michigan, Oakland University and Wayne State University. He has served as the Artistic Director of Jazz Ensembles for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and is currently the Executive/Artistic Director for the Southeastern Music Academy (southeasternmusicacademy.org)
In 1999, Sean was asked to become the director of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Summer Jazz Program. This program was designed to help educate and inspire young artists as they began their quest of learning jazz. In 1998, a year before Sean’s arrival, the program was in jeopardy of being canceled due to low enrollment. In 2000, a year after Sean took over the reins, the enrollment more than tripled and a year later, the group was featured on WEMU, a national jazz radio program.
Dobbins has amassed an impressive list of playing companions. He has performed/toured/recorded with Johnny Basset, Benny Golson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Frank Morgan, Joey DeFrancesco, George Cables, James “Blood” Ulmer, Marcus Belgrave, Larry Willis, Rodney Whittaker, Claude Black, Johnny O’Neal, Paul Keller, Tad Weed, Kurt Krahnke, Jon Hendricks, David “Fathead” Newman, Donald Walden, Cyrus Chestnut, Barry Harris, David Baker, Randy Johnston, Marion Hayden, Mose Allison, and a host of other great musicians.
Enjoy, Trista.
Hey everyone! This week on Playin’ Around With Playbook, Sammy and I spoke with trumpet player and educator Todd Stoll.
“An experienced performer, Duke Ellington expert, and jazz advocate, Mr. Stoll founded the Columbus Jazz Youth Orchestra (CJYO) in 1991 to give young people the chance to cultivate a love of jazz through performance. He served as the director until 2011. Under his direction, the CJYO released six CDs, participated in the prestigious Essentially Ellington competition at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and toured Europe and South America. His students have achieved successes that have taken them to The Juilliard School, Carnegie Hall, and The New
York Philharmonic.
In 2011, Mr. Stoll became the Vice President of Education at Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) in New York City, which continues to afford him the opportunity to bring jazz education programs to thousands of people of all ages and socioeconomic levels. Since he joined the organization, JALC has produced more than 10,000 education events in the US and around the world. The innovative Essentially Ellington high school jazz band program has expanded during his tenure, providing nearly 200,000 free scores to 4,000 high schools in all 50 states and 46 countries, reaching more than 500,000 students.”
Enjoy,
Trista.
Hey everyone, welcome back to another Playin’ Around with Playbook. Tristatesax here. Super excited today, we are going to be talking with Dave Linard from Playbook. He’s a playbook mentor, and an amazing pianist.
“David Linard is a Brooklyn-based pianist, composer, educator, and musical director who loves timeless feel-good music. Currently a member of Sammy Miller and the Congregation, David has traveled the world with the Congregation, playing venues such as Monterey Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Jazz à Juan, Jazz à Megève, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, SF Jazz, and the Bowery Ballroom. He has also toured playing piano with saxophonist Grace Kelly, and playing drums with Gracie and Rachel. When home in New York, David enjoys playing with blues artists such as SaRon Crenshaw and Junior Mack.
David teaches in schools in across the five boroughs of NYC as a member of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz for Young People program. He has worked as a musical director with Ars Nova in their Makers Lab program.”
Enjoy,
Trista.
Hey everyone! This past week on Playin’ Around With Playbook, Sammy took the reins and interviewed our very own, Ben Flocks.
Saxophonist and educator, Ben Flocks captivates audiences around the world with his soulful sound. Born in Santa Cruz, California, and residing in Brooklyn, Ben leads his own group and plays as a sideman in a variety of musical settings.
Currently, a member of the smash-hit ensemble Sammy Miller and the Congregation, Ben and the band have received acclaim for their joyous, entertaining blend of music and theater. Ben has led his band at the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland and has had the honor to perform with Joshua Redman’s Trio, with Dave Brubeck as a Brubeck Institute Fellow, and with Antonio Sanchez and Migration.
Ben holds a bachelor’s degree from the New School in New York and serves on faculty at the Stanford Jazz Workshop and at the Calhoun School. He leads workshops in schools around the country through Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Louis Armstrong House Museum’s educational programs, teaching all ages through interactive concerts tracing the history of jazz.
Enjoy!
Trista.
Hey everyone! After our time at JEN and Denton High School, we made our way down to Waltrip High School. With tens of their students beyond eager to learn, Playbook spent several days reaching and teaching students to make #joyfuljazz.
Former Trumpet Player for the United States Army Band, Jesse Espinosa is the Band Director at Waltrip High School. Under his direction, the Waltrip High School band program is recognized as one of the top 5 Title I music programs in the United States. Their Jazz Ensemble 1 has also won many 1st Divisions and special awards at various Contests and Festivals. Most recently, The Waltrip RamBand Jazz Ensemble 1 won the 2019 Bob Mintzer Jazz Band Award, a national competition. The band is currently in the works to schedule a concert featuring the band and Grammy Musician, Mr. Mintzer, once the Corona Virus is over. Jesse was also a quarter-finalist for the Grammy’s Music Educator Award 2020.
This week on Playin’ Around With Playbook, I had the opportunity to talk with Jesse about these experiences.
Enjoy!
Trista.
Hey everyone! After spreading #joyfuljazz with Denton High School, Sammy and I were eager to interview the band director responsible for it all: Jesse Woolery!.
Jesse Woolery has served as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Jazz Studies at Denton High School since 2007. He is the music caption head for the DHS Pride of Bronco Country Marching Band, directs the Symphonic Band, and guides all aspects of the jazz program which includes three full big bands and the newly formed DHS gospel ensemble.
Woolery also is the Founder and Co-Director of the Chet Baker Educational Jazz Festival which is hosted each spring in Denton. As well as UIL success in both concert/ sight-reading and marching band, Mr. Woolery has directed groups from DHS at the Texas Music Educators Convention, Apex Jazz Festival, the University of North Texas Educational Leadership Conference, the Thinline Film Festival, and the Southwestern American Music Therapy Conference.
Additionally, the jazz band has been selected as a main stage performer at the Jazz Education Network Conference, was a national finalist in the Swing Central Jazz Competition in conjunction with the Savannah Music Festival, and was the 2017 national commended winner of the Foundation for Music Education’s Mark of Excellence National Jazz Honors and named the National winners in 2016 and 2018.
We are so thrilled to continue Playbook clinics at Denton High School in the near future!
Enjoy, Trista.
Hey everyone! Trista back with another Playin’ Around With Playbook update. To kick off the new year, I spoke with trumpeter and educator Bijon Watson.
Bijon Watson’s career as a musician and educator spans more than 25 years and has taken him around the globe to perform for audiences worldwide. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Bijon began playing the trumpet at the age of 8. He attended the New England Conservatory of Music Preparatory School, and the University of Southern California, and was a member of the 1994 Disney All-American College Band and 1995 Disney/Grammy All-American College Jazz Band.
Bijon’s love for big band and Latin jazz inspired him to become a student of the great bands of the past and present and he has become a sought-after and in-demand lead trumpet player. Bijon is the lead trumpet for the Grammy-nominated Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, the Grammy-nominated John Daversa Progressive Big Band, the Grammy-nominated John Beasley’s Monkestra, José Rizo’s Jazz on the Latin Side All-Stars, the late Gerald Wilson Jazz Orchestra, and many other jazz, salsa, and pop bands throughout the United States.
We are so grateful to have a relationship with Bijon and his wealth of knowledge and wisdom here at Playbook!
Enjoy!
Trista.
Hey everyone! This week on Playin’ Around With Playbook, I spoke with the dynamic duo Beth Fortune and Kelly Clingan from The Beth and Kelly Show.
Dubbed “the Beth and Kelly Show” by colleagues, they’re teaching soulmates who love to talk shop and laugh their asses off. They don’t have all the answers, but they do have a ton of experience and are willing to ask questions and make mistakes.
Kelly is currently the Director of Education at Seattle JazzED and a frequent adjudicator at local and regional jazz festivals, including the Lionel Hampton and Reno Jazz Festivals. She also presents and teaches at regional and national music conferences including JEN, MMEA, HMEA, ASTA, CWU, Arts Schools Network, and Berklee City Music. In 2018, Kelly served on the ‘Expanding Opportunities to Learn Jazz in After-school’ Taskforce at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Elizabeth Fortune is the Director of Orchestras at Seattle’s Ballard High School. Fortune’s work has been at the forefront of National Content Music Standards-based curriculum development. In 2015, Fortune was one of 25 semi-finalists out of 7,000 nominations for the Grammy Music Educator Award. She is a long-time member and contributor to the American String Teachers Association and serves on the National Association for Music Education’s Council for String Education.
Thank you to Beth and Kelly for the laughter and knowledge!
Enjoy!
Trista.
Hey everyone! As a studying musician, the various bands I play in often receive masterclasses. One of the most recent masterclasses featured Saxophonist Lucas Pino! Lucas had great energy and presence in his teaching.
For those of you who are not familiar with Pino: As a high school junior, Pino won the Downbeat award for Best Instrumental Soloist in 2004. He attended the Brubeck Institute from 2005-2007, where he studied closely with Dave Brubeck. Lucas then finished his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Jazz Performance at The New School in 2009. He attended Juilliard from 2009-to 2011, where he received a Master of Music
On Playin’ Around With Playbook, I was fortunate to interview Lucas about his concepts as an educator and performer. See below for an excerpt from our conversation on December 9, 2021. Click here to view the full interview.
This conversation was especially fun and special for me, so I know you’ll enjoy it!
Trista.
Hey everyone! This week I had the opportunity to talk to the great and very grand “Tall Sam.” Sam Crittenden is the Director Of Education here at Playbook and is essential to the operation.
Born amid the cornfields of Northern Illinois, “Tall Sam” shucked his agricultural roots for the allure of the trombone at age ten. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 2012, he continued east to New York City. He has consistently spent much of his life on the road and currently tours with Sammy Miller and The Congregation. “Tall Sam” has worked with the Jazz at Lincoln Center education programs “Jazz For Young People” and “Webop” in NYC and is as passionate about teaching as he is performing. He has worked with students throughout the U.S. and has penned several charts for Middle School and High School Big Band
With a passion for trombone, composing, and education, Sam is incredibly knowledgeable and eager to share his passion with students.
Below is an excerpt from our conversation on December 2nd, 2021.
Enjoy!
Trista.
Hey everyone! Tristatesax here with the latest Playin’ Around with Playbook, an IGTV series where Sammy and I interview educators, performers, and artists on their life experiences and knowledge. This past week, I spoke with educator and bassist Bethany Robinson.
Bethany Robinson began teaching music in 2005 at Noblesville Schools and currently serves as the Jazz Band Director and Assistant Band Director. She is Chair-Elect for the NAfME Jazz Council and President of the Indiana Jazz Educators Association. Robinson was named 2014 Indiana Jazz Educator of the Year, 2015 Noblesville Teacher of the Year, and was a 2016 Indiana Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist. She is a 2-time Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellow, receiving grants to study jazz and culture in both the US (2011) and Brazil (2019). Each spring, Bethany helps to lead the Indiana Jazz Girls Day Event, hosting workshops and side-by-side concerts for students around the state of Indiana alongside professional musicians to elevate leaders through jazz. Bethany is a Finalist for the 2022 Grammy Music Educator Award and was a keynote speaker for the 2021 Australia National Band and Orchestra Conference in September. She spends her time outside the classroom playing upright and electric bass in the Indianapolis area.
Bethany is a source of inspiration and knowledge for jazz educators and bassists, and we are so glad we got to speak with her this past week. See below for an excerpt from our conversation.
Enjoy!
Trista.
Growing up as “the woman” in my school band, I did not feel encouraged to pursue music as a career. It was the female figures of jazz that inspired me to keep going. Today, we have more amazing female role models and inspirations in jazz, such as Dr. Molly Miller.
This week, we had the pleasure of talking to Molly on Playin’ Around With Playbook, an IGTV series where Sammy and I interview educators, performers, and artists on their life experiences and knowledge.
Since Dr. Molly Miller picked up a guitar at age seven, she’s been captivating audiences with her sophisticated and raw style. She’s one of Los Angeles’s most sought-after musicians, recording and touring with artists such as Jason Mraz, Black Eyed Peas, Donna Missal, and Morgxn, at venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Royal Albert Hall, Coachella, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. In her feature in the renowned magazine, Guitar, Michael James Adam notes, “she slings the guitar like a wordsmith, wry and sarcastic with a playful slant and flows from hushed whisper to bursts of elation with aplomb”. She is in the house-band on The Bachelor’s newest ABC primetime show, Listen To Your Heart. Soon after earning her Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Southern California in 2016, she became the chair of the Guitar Department at Los Angeles College of Music, a position she still holds. When Miller’s not on tour, running a guitar department, or in the studio, she heads her own trio, Molly Miller Trio, showcased on NPR’s Fresh Air.
We are so thankful to have Molly as a mentor here at Playbook! Get started learning from Molly today with a free trial.
Enjoy!
Trista Ford.
At the peak of the pandemic and virtual school, many educators lost their drive. One educator stayed as inspired and inspiring as ever. Our friend and mentor, artist and educator Tony White. When it comes to his approach he says, “the most important thing in teaching is engaging the human experience and engaging human beings.” This can never be replaced and is at the forefront of the Playbook approach.
This week on Playin’ Around With Playbook, Sammy and I sat down to talk with Tony about his experience teaching and fostering the human connection in his band room. Tony White has been honored with the prestigious Bravo Award Finalist and Fulfillment Fund for his work in music education. He has also received a UC Riverside Chancellor Award, a Humanitarian Award from the Omni Youth Music Awards and Outstanding Soloist Awards from The National Association of Jazz Educators. As director of the LAUSD All Marching Band, he has spent over 30 years uplifting generations of students.
We are so glad to have Tony as a friend and source of wisdom here at Playbook!
Enjoy!
Trista Ford.
I was 16 years old when I first heard Grace Kelly play the saxophone. I was attending a concert for The Grammy High School Band at The Vic in Los Angeles. I was there to see my friend, classmate, and singer extraordinaire, Lauren Desberg.
I was a junior at LOS ANGELES COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS so I had heard skilled young musicians before. What I hadn’t heard was a musician my age play with such sophistication and soul. I was floored by Grace. She showed me that we might be young, but we didn’t need to play like kids. Grace was a seasoned veteran, lifting up the entire band. Her passion for music was genuine and infectious.
Since then she’s been tearing up the music world. From performances at The Newport Jazz Festival to the Hollywood Bowl, being part of the house band for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and being a featured soloist with the Boston Pops.
She is a blast to be around and one of the great educators of our generation. I’m blessed to call her a collaborator and a dear friend.
Grace joined our Playbook Ambassador, Trista Ford on our weekly IGTV show, Playbook Interviews full interview here).
Enjoy!
Sammy Miller
As a music educator, my guiding principle is: if you believe in students, they will believe in themselves. You must arm them with the self-confidence and inner drive to reach their full potential on their own volition. This isn’t always an easy task.
When I learned of Mickey Smith Jr. and his mindset, I was uplifted. As a source of inspiration for the music education community, Mickey encourages us all to “keep on going!” Educators must push for purpose in their lessons and approach the classroom with “mindfulness, resilience, and significance.”
As a motivational speaker, musician, and the 2020 Grammy® Music Award Winning Educator of the Year, Mickey’s knowledge, and passion for music is endless. After his tenure at Maplewood Middle School in Sulphur, LA, he is now the music director at the Greene School in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he continues to inspire us all. This week on Playin’ Around With Playbook, Sammy and I were able to sit down and speak with Mickey.
We are so glad to have Mickey as a friend here at Playbook!
Enjoy!
Trista Ford.
Throughout my journey as a musician and educator, I’ve had many sources of inspiration. I’ve been lucky enough to meet many of them. However, there have always been moments where I wished I could find out more; find out what kept them going, and why they did what they did.
For this reason, Sammy and I decided to create the Playin’ Around With Playbook IGTV Series, in which we interview educators, performers, and artists on their life experiences and knowledge. Sammy and I decided to connect the Playbook community to their mentors.
To start us off, we decided to interview the man himself, CEO and Founder of Playbook: Sammy Miller. A native of Los Angeles, Juilliard trained-Grammy® nominated drummer Sammy Miller has been hailed as “the perfect player scholar” (The Wall Street Journal). He has spent the last decade touring with his joyful-jazz band, The Congregation, working with over 60,000 students in 350 schools. Miller has developed and consulted to build music curriculum for institutions including Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Whitney Museum, Los Angeles Unified School District, JazzED (Seattle), FirstWorks (Rhode Island), and The Juilliard School.
After a decade of innovative work, Miller founded PLAYBOOK to bring conservatory music education into K-12 schools. He currently lives in New York City, where PLAYBOOK is headquartered.
Trista Ford