Rabbit Hole Sessions with Abe Ovadia

EPISODE 90 - Nick Hempton

Growing up on the mean streets of Sydney, Hempton and the Jazz School system didn’t see eye to eye, and he learnt to play jazz the old-fashioned way: jam sessions at local clubs and late night practice sessions on Sydney’s famous Harbour Bridge. A year at sea working on the cruise ships raised the funds for a flight, and in January 2004 he touched down in NYC. 
From 2005 to 2016 Nick led The Nick Hempton Band, delivering “highly entertaining, hard-driving and solid swinging modern jazz,” (E–Jazz News) to most of the major New York venues, as well as touring regionally and internationally. With this group, Nick released four highly-praised studio albums: “Nick Hempton Band” (self-released, 2008); “The Business” (Posi-Tone, 2011); “Odd Man Out” (Posi-Tone, 2013); and in 2015, the innovative “Catch and Release,” which was recorded and released track-by-track over the course of a year. This was followed by the pared-back “Trio Stonk” (SmallsLive, 2017), recorded live at NYC’s famed Smalls Jazz Club.
In 2018, after years of flirting with the organ band format, Nick recorded his sixth album, the organ quartet outing, “Night Owl.” Featuring renowned guitar ace Peter Bernstein, Night Owl harkens back to the classic ‘60s organ band sound, “that greasy, funky soul-jazz popularized by the likes of Lou Donaldson, Grant Green and Stanley Turrentine... complete with a Gene Ammons-grade soul tenor sax.” (Something Else Reviews). “Night Owl” was such a gas, Nick took the same band back to the same studio, and the hotly-anticipated follow-up, “Slick,” was released to much acclaim in November 2021.

EPISODE 89 - Amanda Monaco

Amanda Monaco has performed at venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, Jazz Standard, and the Blue Note, and with artists such as Milt Hinton and the Mingus Orchestra. She has released eight albums as a leader. Her current jazz projects include her eclectic quartet Deathblow, rambunctious organ quartet Glitter, and all-female sextet Lioness. Her Pirkei Avot Project performs her original music with lyrics from selected verses (from a collection of rabbinical teachings with the same name) compiled in the third century C.E.
Monaco’s guitar playing is “well within the modernist canon, but quite distinctive: her phrasing is often made up of tartly dissonant chords and insistent yet off-kilter repetitions that remind one of Grant Green by way of Andrew Hill... her playing is utterly unique, a breath of fresh air in the cookie-cutter climes of both mainstream and free jazz.” (Clifford Allen, The New York City Jazz Record)
Monaco is an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music, where she has taught private instruction, labs, and ensembles since 2011. She also teaches for Berklee Online and recorded a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course), available worldwide at www.coursera.com. Monaco's book, Jazz Guitar for the Absolute Beginner was published by Alfred in 2004. In 2022, she joined the guitar faculty at Boston’s New England Conservatory.
Monaco is the Artistic Director of Convergence Arts, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose mission is to share the art and fun of improvisation with people of all ages. Convergence has presented festivals in New York City such at the Six String Summit (showcasing guitarists Nels Cline and Julian Lage, among others), the Queens Jazz OverGround’s Spring Jazz Fest, and the Lioness™: Women in Jazz Concert Series.

EPISODE 88 - Chris Crocco

Christopher Crocco attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and graduated Cum Laude in 1997. Since that time he has worked nationally and internationally as a full time performer, composer, and educator. With performances as a sideman and leader at every major jazz club in New York City, Crocco established himself as one the most unique improvisational voices on the scene. He has performed with Kenny Werner, Mike Mainieri, John Lockwood, Dennis Irwin, George Garzone, Greg Tardy, Sam Yahel, Antonio Farao, Frank Tiberi, Bob Gullotti, Francisco Mela, Ben Street, Kenny Brooks, Ross Pederson, Peter Slavov, Pete Zimmer, Jeremy Allen, John Sullivan, Rick Margitza, Essiet Essiet, Eivind Opsvik, Charles Blenzig, Sean Conly, Tony Moreno, and Ian Froman amongst others. Crocco's longtime relationship with master saxophonist and educator George Garzone, has helped him acquire a uniquely individual voice not only as a guitarist but also through his continued mentoring to students at all levels of music development. Crocco is the only musician qualified to fluidically perform, compose, and teach Garzone's original pedagogy called, "The Triadic Chromatic Approach". He has had the privilege of conducting master classes at music institutions and universities across Europe and the United States. In addition to teaching private students in New York City, Crocco is also an adjunct professor within the New School Jazz Department. His current group is called "FLUID". It includes a rotation of some of the finest musicians working and performing in improvisational music today. "FLUID" has released a number of highly acclaimed CDs & DVDs. Exploring every aspect of truth in music and art, "FLUID" performs with a ferocity and freedom... swing and organic color. Every show is energized with the colors of life.

EPISODE 87 - James Gibbs III

James Gibbs III who currently tours with 8 time Grammy nominated singer/song writer Joe Thomas was born in Newark, and raised in Irvington, New Jersey. He began playing the trumpet at the age of 14 and began his jazz training at The New Brunswick Jazz Institute, under instructor and legendary organist Radam Schwartz.
James performed his first professional show on December 12, 1994 for the annual WBGO Jazz membership party and Gala at The Five Spot jazz club in New York City, where he was discovered by the late great jazz singer, arranger, composer, band leader and actress Dr. Betty Carter. She invited James to audition for her annual jazz performance program called “Jazz Ahead”. After he landed the audition, he studied with Betty and performed jazz concerts at. (Brooklyn Academy of Music) and The Kennedy Center with other young amateur/professional musicians from all over the world. That experience inspired James to go forth with his music career as a band leader, composer, producer, arranger and engineer. James performs all over the world as a leader and as a side musician with other bands in many venues and festivals.
James performs many styles of music from: Jazz, Rock, R&B, Gospel, Latin, Reggae, Classical, Brazilian, and many other ethnics styles. James has shared the stage with many greats such as: John Lamb (bassist from Duke Ellington’s Orchestra), Rufus Reid (legendary bassist), Buster Cooper (trombonist from Duke Ellington orchestra) , Mark Whitfield (guitarist), Sean Jones (trumpeter formerly from The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra), John Lee (bassist formerly from Dizzy Gillespie’s All-Star Band), Kenny Drew Jr (pianist), Terrence Blanchard (trumpeter/grammy winning composer in Spike Lee films), Joe Thomas (8 time grammy nominated singer/song writer), Jerry Stiller (Broadway actor, singer and television star), Eric Roberson (grammy nominated singer/song writer), Smokin’ Joe Frazier (former heavy weight champion), Roy Hargrove (trumpeter), Wynton Marsalis (trumpeter/music director of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra), Cecil Brooks III (drummer/club owner “Cecils”), Cyrus Chestnut (pianist), TS Monk (drummer/award winning songwriter/composer/son of iconic pianist Thelonious Monk), Joshua Paul Thompson (guitarist/award winning songwriter, composer and producer), David Pic’ Conley (flutist, saxophonist, award winning song writer and producer, founder of the grammy winning R&B Group “Surface”) and many others.
 

EPISODE 86 - Jonathan Saraga

Jonathan Saraga is a New York City based, internationally acclaimed trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer, arranger, educator, band-leader and Doctor of Musical Arts. He holds 3 degrees in jazz studies/trumpet performance, has earned over 30 musical accolades from 30 different organizations, and has garnered 25+ years experience performing, recording, competing and teaching on a global scale. Jonathan appears on 30+ studio albums, in 250+ YouTube videos, and has performed extensively throughout Europe, Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, Canada and the U.S., including via multiple national tours. Saraga has worked as a trumpeter and flugelhornist for many highly acclaimed and/or Grammy nominated/winning artists such as Maria Schneider, Darcy James Argue, Orrin Evans, Arturo O'Farrill, Tyshawn Sorey, Jimmy Greene, Steve Coleman, Henry Cole, Remy Le Boeuf, Valery Ponomarev, Steven Feifke, Migiwa Miyajima, Manuel Valera, Samuel Torres, Jihye Lee, Erica Seguine, the Revive Big, the Birdland Big Band, the Mingus Big Band, the Terraza Big Band, and Brass Against. He has performed at premier NYC venues such as Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space, the Jazz Standard, Birdland Jazz Club, the Jazz Gallery, the Barclay's Center, Smoke Jazz Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Le Poisson Rouge, the Iridium, Joe's Pub, Fotografiska, Roulette, Smalls Jazz Club as well as Rockefeller Center to name only a few.Jonathan's work has been recognized and/or awarded by notable organizations such as the International Trumpet Guild, the ASCAP Foundation, Broadcast Music Incorporated, Chamber Music America, the Association for Popular Music Education, the International Society for Improvised Music, United States Artists, the Millay Colony, the International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers, the Louis Armstrong Foundation, the Banff Center, the International Songwriting Competition, the Jazz Foundation of America, the United States Navy as well as the United States Air Force and has engaged with audiences in over 500 cities, nearly 70 countries and just short of 100 different universities.Critics have remarked that Saraga's original music is "skillfully conceived", "exquisitely realized", "assertive" and "inventive" (Jazz Wise, U.K.) and that it features "an uncommon freshness" (All About Jazz, U.S.). The U.K.'s 'Jazz Journal' has called it "intriguing", and that it "comes out of the speakers with a rare confidence and finish, but without the smuggery and sheen that a lot of contemporary jazz has in place of real content." Jerry Gordon of Evidence Records has deemed it "brilliant", France's 'Jazz Magazine' notes its “astonishing maturity”, and McArthur-fellow, saxophonist and composer, Miguel Zenon has hailed it as "impressive", "very focused" and "well conceived." All About Jazz has also noticed an "uncommon freshness" from Jonathan's music and has even proclaimed it as "a stand-up-and-take-notice offering."
 

EPISODE 85 - Billy Carrión

Billy Carrión is a multidimensional bassist that has gathered musical skills from alternate realities, to become one of the hardest grooving musicians on the scene today. Billy’s mission is simple: evolve every piece of music in any genre to its highest, purest, most beautiful form, while preserving music the masters have left everyone throughout space and time. Billy has had quite the musical journey- a requirement to understanding as many aspects of music as possible.On various instruments pre pandemic, Billy was able to work with some of the most influential musicians and producers in music, including Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Tim Gilles, Henry Cole, Giovanni Hidalgo, Suit Of Lights, Alfredo Rodriguez, Papo Vazquez, Ray Santos, and many more- a 20+ year journey so far. Billy’s influences are quite wide, including jazz, Latin music, rock… but the majority come from the depth of 8 and 16 bit video games. “Music I listened to 30+ years ago that I can still hum today,” is how he explains it. “I love music from the 70’s- especially anything with a clavé, and electronic jazz, which was called fusion back then, anything from the ECM record label, etc.. and you can hear those influences in the game music I was exposed to in my youth in the 80’s and 90’s.Billy is currently performing with the electric jazz group known as U.L.T.R.A. S - Universe Less Traveled Reveals Authentic Self. The band has been lighting up the NY/NJ music scene for the last few years, and has original music slated to be released in May 2024 on all streaming platforms. Billy also has a brand new acoustic jazz quartet featuring Pete Rodriguez on Trumpet, Campbell Charshee on Piano, and Jarrett Walser on drums. For his 40th b-day, Billy recorded 4 of his favorite covers (with Jonathan Peretz on drums) that will be released at the end of 2024. As a leader, Billy has performed at places and events such as the Bergen County Music Festival, Chris’s Jazz Cafe, Trumpets Jazz Club, The Beanrunner Cafe, Crossroads, Somethin’ Jazz Club, The Watt Hotel, and even a 9 year residency at the now closed DLV Lounge, a jazz club that stood strong for 50 years in Montclair NJ. You can also catch Billy as a sideman with various acts around the NY/NJ area. Billy also has a Twitch channel where he streams the old school games that influenced him musically, as well as occasional improvised synth music and live band performances.

EPISODE 84 - Charles Ruggiero

Charles Ruggiero was born to be a drummer. The son of world renowned jazz musician Vinnie Ruggiero, Charles spent his early years surrounded by the "who's who" of jazz. There was always music around, and with musicians like Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Freddie Hubbard, and Jon Hendricks coming to spend time and play, it was only a matter of time before he caught the bug and asked his father to play the "bang-bangs." 
    As a teenager, Charles got serious about drumming, playing anywhere he could. Soon, local high schools and colleges, as well as professional theatre groups, and popular local bands throughout western N.Y. started to hire him. After winning a seat in the New York State All State Jazz Ensemble, music colleges came calling. Manhattan School of Music offered a full scholarship and a chance to study with famed jazz educator Justin DiCioccio, so he jumped at the chance. The jazz scene in New York City in the early 90's was vibrant and he was plying regularly with his own "who's who" of  jazz, including Joshua Redman, Peter Bernstein, Jane Monheit, Ryan Kisor, Joel Frahm, Sam Yahel, Brad Mehldau, Myron Walden, Chris Potter, and Dwayne Burno, to name a few.
 
    In 1994, Charles joined Chuck Mangione's group, touring with the jazz superstar for the next 4 years. The first months of his time with Mangione provided him with the chance of a lifetime - learning the ropes, playing alongside the legendary drummer Steve Gadd. "He taught me so much, and he never uttered one word about music." says Ruggiero.
 
    In late 2000, former MTV/VH1 vee-jay, Abby Gennet, asked Ruggiero to play on a demo of a few of her songs, and the rock-n-roll band SLUNT was born. The band's rise was quick. In only their second year they were on tour with Marilyn Manson. The following years found them on tour with Motorhead, Drowning Pool, and Paul Stanley (KISS) as well as releasing two albums on Repossession Records. After SLUNT Charles found himself on Ozzy Ozbourne's Ozzfest tour, replacing drummer Matt Sorum (Guns and Roses/Velvet Revolver) as a member of Circus Diablo - a band which also featured Billy Duffy (The Cult), Brett Scallions (FUEL), Billy Morrison (Billy Idol), and Ricky Warwick (The Almighty).  
 
  Home again in his adopted Los Angeles, Charles continues to thrive. Touring and recording with stoner rock powerhouse Geezer, and Rocco DeLuca, recording for The Loop Loft, filming MyMusicMasterclass videos, teaching private lessons, gigging locally, and continued recording and releasing of his own records keep him busy. 
     Spring of 2019 saw the release of two new co-lead records for Ruggiero, first "Charles Ruggiero & Hilary Gardner Play The Bird & The Bee" - a jazz-trio-plus-singer take on the iconic LA indie pop duo's music. Second will be "Slide's Blues" - a record with Frank Basile of nine  tunes arranged, and in some cases, also composed by Slide Hampton, where Slide himself guests on two tracks. Both records are on the SmallsLIVE record label. In late 2020, Charles continued collaborating and released a holiday record with Gary Matsumoto and Alex Frank called "Jazz YULE dig!" 
 
 
    2022 began a new chapter in Charles' "solo" career with the release of "Drummer. Composer." (affectionally referred to as Roo•Gee•Air•Oh!)  - an album of completely original material by Ruggiero himself.  It hit #25 on the Jazz charts and continues to receive acclaim and airplay.
    2024 showed no signs of slowing down in the touring or recording departments with Charles recording new records with Arturo Sandoval, Brian Bromberg, and Bob Reynolds, and Tony Guerrero as well as releasing his 8th album as a leader, "But of Course" a swinging affair with a couple of standards, a couple of songs by his contemporaries, and a few more originals by Ruggiero. 

EPISODE 83 - Clifton Anderson

Clifton Anderson is considered one of the leading trombonists and composers performing in Jazz today. He is not only noted for his rich personal sound on the horn but for his abilities as a melodic composer and musical interpreter.Clifton was born in Harlem, New York City into a musical family and from an early age showed an affinity for music. When he turned seven years old he received his first trombone from his uncle, Jazz Legend Sonny Rollins. Clifton attended the prestigious Fiorello LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and is a graduate of The Manhattan School Of Music. During his college years Clifton played in bands led by Frank Foster, Carlos Garnett and Reggie Workman. He was one of the original members of Slide Hampton’s revered trombone ensemble “The World of Trombones”and quickly established himself as one of the young in demand trombonists on the New York City music scene.Clifton’s extensive musical career has created the foundation to inform him as a gifted bandleader. His performances embody the fertile and varied history of musical experiences he’s been a part of, working with a who’s who of music and entertainment giants including; Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Bowie, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Barry Harris to Stevie Wonder, Keith Richards, Paul Simon, Wallace Roney, The Mighty Sparrow, Geri Allen, T.S. Monk and Terumasa Hino among others. His identifiable sound and memorable compositions have drawn a consistently expanding audience to his recordings and performances.
 

EPISODE 82 - Peter Brainin

A native of the Bronx, saxophonist, flutist, drummer, and composer Peter Brainin is a Grammy and Latin Grammy winning artist (he is also featured on 7 other Grammy nominated recordings) who has performed at major concert venues and jazz festivals all over Europe, Russia, Japan, India, North, South and Central America and the Caribbean. Some of the the bands and artists he has toured with internationally include pianist Hilton Ruiz (1989-99), Chico O’farrill Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra (with whom he recorded 2 Grammy nominated albums, the Latin Grammy winning “Final Night at Birdland” and appeared in the films “Calle 54” and “Thomas Crown Affair”), Mongo Santamaria, Valery Ponomorev, Willie Colon and Legal Alien (1992-2002), Bebo Valdez, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Samuel Torres, Mambo Legends Orchestra, John DiMartino & Quartet of the Americas, Arturo Ofarrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (with whom he is featured on the Grammy winning CD’s “Cuba: The Conversation Continues” and “Offense of the Drum”) and with his own quartet. Other artists he has performed and/or recorded with include Randy Weston, Benny Golson, Wynton Marsalis, Jeff Watts, Ray Barretto, Jerry Gonzalez, Harold Mabern, Paquito D’Rivera, Jaco Pastorious, Lionel Loueke, Joey Calderazzo, Ruben Blades, Eddie Henderson and Eddie Palmieri. He was twice awarded the BRIO Award (Bronx Recognizes Its Own) for music composition. Some of his compositions and arrangements can be heard on his original CD recordings with co-leader, drummer Steve Johns and with the quartet Native Soul.
 
As an educator, Peter has led ensembles at New York University, New England Conservatory, the New School, and has done residencies performing, teaching privately and giving master classes in Jazz and Afro-Cuban Jazz at University of California at Long Beach and University of Maine in Orono. Peter has also worked extensively for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz in the Schools Program as a clinician with Arturo O’Farrill in schools in all 5 boroughs of New York City as well as residencies with Mr. O’Farrill for Jazz at Lincoln Center at high schools and universities in California, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.
 

EPISODE 81 - Steve Picataggio

Steve Picataggio is a professional drummer and educator in New York City from Coral Springs, Florida. From the age of ten, Steve immersed himself in classical percussion, marching drumlines, pit orchestras and big band jazz ensembles. 
He then made the commitment to study with world-renown jazz drummer Danny Gottlieb at the University of North Florida. There he had the opportunity to learn the extensive hand techniques originated by Joe Morello. He focused on the history of jazz drummers, most notably Mel Lewis and his influence on big band drumming. As well as the drummers of Count Basie and gravitated towards small group drummers such as Shelly Manne, Philly Joe Jones, Jimmy Cobb, Ben Riley and Ed Thigpen. 
During his time in Jacksonville, Steve met Ulysses Owens Jr. a native Floridian and NYC based jazz drummer. For five years Owens mentored Steve on drums and the music industry. Under Ulysses’ guidance, Steve expanded his musical knowledge and mindset and was given the tools required to be a successful musician in New York.
This mentorship jump started Steve’s journey to New York City in 2011, where he studied with Billy Drummond at New York University Steinhardt School of Music while pursuing his Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance. 
After graduating from NYU in 2013, Steve Picataggio began a professional career as a bandleader and sideman. He has performed at The Blue Note Jazz Club, Birdland, The Kitano, The Bar Next Door and Feinstein’s 54 Below. 
His debut record Two Feet on the Ground features original compositions and arrangements and is available on iTunes and CD Baby. 
He performs regularly in New York with jazz and Broadway singers, straight ahead jazz small groups, big bands, cabaret, and musical theatre shows. Steve has also toured the US performing with the jazz group The Hot Sardines.
In 2018, Steve began playing drums for Suzi Shelton, an award winning children’s music singer/songwriter. Performances include Outreach morning concerts for the Brooklyn Public Schools, Fort Greene Music Festival, Madison Square Park Summer Festival, Brookfield Place and The Levitt Pavilion in Westport, Connecticut. He also played in Suzi’s band for a performance and interview on Kids Place Live at the Sirius XM Radio Studios in Washington, DC. 
Steve has been the drummer for Broadway’s Lesli Margherita since 2013 and appears on her record Rule Your Kingdom: Live at 54 Below (Broadway Records), All Hail The Queen (Feinstein’s 54 Below) and Broad (Birdland Jazz Club).  He also plays drums for Wicked Divas, a cabaret show featuring current and former actors from Wicked.
He has played the Off-Broadway shows Under The Bodhi Tree (Royal Family Theater) and About Love (Sheen Center). Currently, Steve is the drummer with Four Phantoms in Concert. A touring performance featuring former actors from the Broadway production.