Rabbit Hole Sessions with Abe Ovadia

EPISODE 34 - Benito Gonzalez

Pianist Benito Gonzalez “Two times Grammy nominee”is an internationally beloved artist who combines a long lineage of American jazz traditions with rhythms from around the world. He’s worked with dozens of the greats, and he always brings some of the best rhythm section players in the world.
Today a rising tide of young jazz pianists are attempting to find their distinct voices by taking cues from their elders. But only a few take their artistry beyond their predecessors to make bold 88-key statements on their journeys to new vistas, fresh sounds, inspired expressions. That personal-touch devotion to the wonders of the instrument brings with it a certitude of intuitive creativity.
That fortitude fuels Benito Gonzalez, an exhilarating pianist who won the 2005 Great America Jazz Piano Competition and was honored in 2020 to be a Steinway & Sons artist for “his sound [that] is recognizable for the powerful rhythm section and Afro-Latin patterns he prioritizes across his projects.” The Venezuela-born, New York-based artist grew up playing traditional Venezuelan folk music with his family before absorbing the inventiveness of such pianists as Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner,Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett who inspired him to join in the explorations on the instrument.
Gonzalez made his way to U.S. by a serendipitous route when an American cultural ambassador caught one of his trio gigs and later invited him to come to Washington, D.C. He was enlisted to play shows with Ghanaian master drummer Okyerema Asante that led to a recording. “After my first six months here, I decided to stay in this country to learn the music right,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez went on to play with Jackie McLean in 2003, then joined Kenny Garrett’s quartet for seven years until 2013—during which time he garnered two Grammy band nominations. After his stint with Garrett, he played with saxophonist Azar Lawrence’s band and then in 2019 joined saxophone legend Pharoah Sanders as his pianist/musical director.
Through the course of his career, Gonzalez has been instrumental as a sideman in performing and recording with such jazz greats as Bobby Hutcherson, Dave Liebman, Gary Bartz, Curtis Fuller, Al Foster, Lenny White, Billy Hart, Ignacio Berroa, Jeff”Tain”Watts, Buster Williams, Rene McLean, Steve Turre, Delfeayo Marsalis, Hamiet Bluiett, Ron Blake, Antonio Sanchez, Mark Gross, and Azar Lawrence.
Gonzalez also recorded his own albums, including Starting Point (2004) and Circles (2010), then continued his solo career with Dream Rhapsody (2015) with Slavic flutist/vocalist Sisa Michalidesová, and a loving tribute to McCoy Tyner Passion Reverence Transcendence (2018).
With propulsive pulse and Afro-Latin percussive drive, Gonzalez placed rhythm at the core of 2021’s Sing to the World, his fifth album and first released on the St. Petersburg, Russia label Rainy Days Records. He assembled an impressive team of collaborators, including Christian McBride, Essiet Okon Essiet, Jeff “Tain” Watts, and Nicholas Payton as well as rising stars Russian drummer Sasha Mashin, trumpeter Josh Evans.
In addition to his slow-to-upbeat originals, Gonzalez added to the set list two compositions that had never been recorded by their composers: Roy Hargrove’s soulful “Father” and the “Tain” beauty “416.” After almost seven years of touring with Kenny Garrett, Benito has added numerous festivals and international jazz club dates to his credit.

EPISODE 33 - Kevin Brown

Kevin Brown is a bass player in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut Metropolitan Area.  He also is a university teacher and professional audiobook narrator.
Recent performances and recordings include sessions at Abbey Road Studios in London with the Rock Opera Orchestra.  He has played hundreds of theatrical, pops, jazz, and classical concerts at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to the Metropolitan Museum; from the Cutting Room in Manhattan to the Bedford in London; from 42nd Street’s Signature Theater to the prestigious Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey.  He has backed entertainment acts including Joan Rivers, Bob Newhart, Marvin Hamlisch, Regis Philbin, Rich Little, and the Drifters.
He has played with the Staten Island Symphony, Metro Lyric Opera, Orchestra of St. Peter-by-the-Sea, New Jersey Pops, New Jersey Ballet, and , Monkeyworks Music Ensemble.
He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies and Master of Music degree in Double Bass from the University of North Texas.  He is an adjunct professor on the music faculty at Montclair State University; teaches music theory at Wharton institute for the Performing Arts in Berkeley Heights, NJ; lectures on popular music at Fairleigh Dickinson University; and is available for private bass lessons.

EPISODE 32 - Ron McClure

Ron McClure was born in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. He started on piano at age five, and later played accordion and bass. McClure studied privately with Joseph Iadone and, later, with Hall Overton and Don Sebesky. McClure attended the Hartt School of Music, graduating in 1963.
 
Later life and career
McClure worked in the Buddy Rich Sextet in 1963. He then joined Maynard Ferguson's big band and, afterwards, Herbie Mann in 1964; and then assumed the bass chair in the Wynton Kelly Trio vacated by Paul Chambers in 1965 (playing behind guitarist Wes Montgomery)
 
From 1966 to 1969, he was a member of Charles Lloyd's "classic quartet" with pianist Keith Jarrett and drummer Jack DeJohnette, which was voted "Group of the Year" in 1967 by Downbeat magazine.
 
In 1970, with pianist-composer Mike Nock, drummer Eddie Marshall and violinist Michael White, he co-founded the jazz-rock group, the Fourth Way. He also participated in Carla Bley's album, Escalator over the Hill, and worked with saxophonist Joe Henderson.
 
In 1974, McClure joined Blood, Sweat & Tears, staying until 1975 and performing on three albums: Mirror Image, New City and In Concert
 
In the 1980s, he joined Quest, led by saxophonist Dave Liebman, which also included drummer Billy Hart and pianist Richie Beirach.[4] He also recorded a duo album with pianist Michel Petrucciani. McClure's major engagements in the 1990s through the early 2000s were with Lee Konitz, and then with the reassembled Quest.
 
His solo output include the contributions of John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Vic Juris, Paul Bley, Michael Eckroth, Richie Beirach, and Randy Brecker.

EPISODE 31 - Oscar Stagnaro

"Oscar's technical agility, advanced harmonic and melodic knowledge, and grounding in funk and R&B--as well as his dedication to Latin traditions--give him the ultimate flexibility when it comes time to lay down a groove." - Bass Player MagazineHailing from Peru, Oscar studied at the Conservatory of Music in Lima while working extensively as a first-call session musician and live performer for many international artists and local bands. He moved to the U.S. in 1979, where he continued his studies with pianist/educator Mike Marra, and Jazz great Jerry Bergonzi. Since then, Oscar has become one of the most in-demand performers the on the East Coast. His mastery of different music styles from Jazz and Fusion to Latin, Brazilian, and South American music, has allowed him to travel the world performing with a virtual who's who in the Latin and Jazz worlds respectively. Throughout his illustrious career, Oscar has accrued four Grammy Awards with a total of six nominations.
 
 
Oscar has also been a Professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston since 1988. He's been largely responsible for the school's development of Latin education, instituting several courses on Latin and world bass styles. Oscar has represented Berklee at the International Association of Jazz Educators conferences and has held clinics in music communites all over the world, including Peru, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Spain. Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Germany Switzerland, Canada, Uruguay. He also teaches Latin Jazz Ensembles and Jazz Improvisation in the Latin Jazz Idiom at the New England Conservatory of Music. During his tenure at Berklee, Oscar has produced concerts for numerous guest artists including Israel "Cachao" Lopez, Eva Ayllon, Larry Harlow, Jorge Drexler, Ivan Lins, Issac Delgado, Rosa Passos, and Luis Enrique, among many others.
Oscar is the co-author of the “Latin Bass Book” published by Sher Music, a complete work on how to play bass lines in the Afro Cuban, Brazilian, Caribbean, and South American music styles. He has also written the Afro Cuban Slap Book published by Berklee Press/Hal Leonard. He is currently working on a a new book for Bass, Drums and Piano “New Trends in Latin Jazz” an intensive study of Latin American rhythms from Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela and Uruguay and their applications in Latin Jazz.
Oscar is a contributing writer for the Magazine “Musico Pro” for the monthly articles “Latin Bass Masters,” and “Bass Concepts.”

EPISODE 30 - Christopher Brown

 Christopher Brown is an acclaimed musician, composer, bandleader, and educator who seeks to be a voice within the advocacy of Jazz music and American culture. And through the expansive range of groups that he has assembled and/or performed with—which span from duos to Jazz big bands to military marching bands and orchestras—his musical and personal experiences have led him towards an interest in synthesizing the principles of Jazz with the day-to-day practicalities of life. However, given that businesses shape the global market economy that everyone lives and participates in, is why he has found it useful to integrate business philosophies with that of music to help develop himself and his band. Which as he likes to say, “we’re all in the same business…the people-trusting-people business. No people, no business.”   
 
 
 
The Early Years
 
       Born and raised in Portland, OR, Christopher began his life in music at age five with piano lessons before adopting the saxophone and drums by age 12. And throughout the rest of his time in middle school and high school, he’d go on to garner numerous local, state, and national awards. The first of his three most noteworthy accomplishments during this period began with the recruitment of a bassist and a saxophonist one fall afternoon for the purposes of creating a quick recording to submit to Down Beat Magazine. The recording was later mentioned in Down Beat the following spring as being the top high school small group for 1995. The second accomplishment came when he was afforded the opportunity to perform with Wynton Marsalis at the Alladin Theater in Portland, Oregon. And lastly, he was cast as an extra in the 1993 movie “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” starring Richard Dreyfuss 
 
Military
 
       After his completion from high school, Christopher’s enlistment into the U.S. Marine Corps as a drummer for four years, afforded him the opportunity to strengthen his networking skills, beginning with his association with Ellis and Jason Marsalis while stationed in New Orleans. But after one short year in New Orleans, the Corps sent him to Parris Island, SC where at the recommendation of Ellis he began working periodically with bassist Delbert Felix, formerly of the Branford Marsalis Quartet. And from that association he caught the attention of the legendary jazz bassist Ben Tucker, with whom he worked on and off with for three years. And finally, right before his discharge from active duty, he was afforded the opportunity to perform with Jazz legends Buddy Defranco and Terry Gibbs at the Jazz Corner in Hilton Head, SC.
 
       Following his discharge in 1999, he’d take a two-year break in service before re-enlisting in the 63rd NJ Army National Guard band, where he’d eventually conclude his 20 years of military service with the 234th Army National Guard Band in Clackamas, OR. 
 
Education
 
      Upon Christopher’s release from active duty in 1999, he moved up north from South Carolina to eventually settle in New Brunswick, NJ for the following 13 years. And it would be during this phase of his life where the true foundation of his understanding of music would begin to cement via Rutgers University and the streets of NYC. But it would ultimately prove to be the relationships that he developed among the faculty within the Jazz program at Mason Gross School of the Arts that would serve as the most important launching pad for so many of his past and present successes. Following his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Jazz Studies/Performance from Rutgers in 2004 and 2006 respectively, he’d go on to teach both the introduction to Jazz historiography and Jazz theory course for four years before returning home to Portland, OR in 2012. And lastly, he has had the pleasure of teaching as an artist in-residence within Wells Fargo’s “NJPAC Jazz For Teens” program (NJ), Mt. Hood Jazz Camp (OR), Mel Brown Jazz Camp (OR), Litchfield Jazz Camp (CT), Rutgers Summer Jazz Institute (NJ), Montclair Jazz Camp (NJ), and the International Summer Music Camp (Brno, Czech Republic).
 
 
 
Awards 
 
       Aside from having won the top high school small group award in 1995 through Down Beat Magazine, he was selected in 2002 to represent the U.S. in a Rutgers University sponsored performance in Fukui, Japan, in addition to being awarded the Pee Wee Russell scholarship from the NJ Jazz Society in the same year. Following that, he was also selected twice as the drummer for the intercollegiate all-star big band's performance at the NJ Music Educators Association annual convention (2003/2005). Also, his recording with Rutgers' Scarlet Knight Jazz Bones (led by Conrad Herwig), helped them take home the 2011 International Trombone Association's “Kai Winding Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition” award. And lastly, he was given the 2007 Artist of the Year award (following Esperanza Spaulding) through Portland State University’s “Leroy Vinnegar Jazz Institute.”
 
 
 
Other Accomplishments
 
       In addition to his main passion as a drummer, he has also kept up his proficiency on the alto saxophone over the years, which consequently resulted in him having performed live with the great Ralph Peterson Jr. Quintet (2002) on channel six in NJ for one of their segments called “New Jersey Talking,” as well as having headlined as a saxophonist for both the 2007 PDX Jazz Festival (OR) and the 2010 Cathedral Park Jazz Festival (OR). And lastly, he served as the principle saxophonist in the 63rd NJ Army National Guard Band from 2001-2012.
 
       Altogether, since Christopher’s enlistment in the Marines, and subsequent move to the North East, he has had the pleasure of performing and or recording with many of the world’s top recording artists, such as: Beyonce, Esperanza Spualding, Liv Warfield, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Ray Charles, Jimmy Heath, Ralph Bowen, Ralph Peterson Jr., Conrad Herwig, Steve Turre, Paquito D’Rivera, Claudio Roditi, Charles Fambrough, Benny Golson, Bobby Watson, Craig Handy, Orrin Evans, Terry Gibbs, Buddy Defranco, Vincent Herring, Javon Jackson, Stanley Cowell, Wess Anderson, Antonio Hart, Paul Bollenback, David Sanborn, Geoff Keezer, Onaje Allen Gumbs, James Genus, Don Alias, Don Braden, Victor Goines, John Benitez, Anthony Wonsey, Jim Rotondi, Valerie Ponomarev, Delbert Felix, Ben Tucker, Virgil Jones, Vic Juris, Boris Koslov, John Stubblefield, Darren Barrett, Jon Gordon, Roseanna Vitro, Lonnie Plaxico, John Cowherd, Kenny Davis, Carla Cook, David Leibman, Ronnie Mathews, Sean Jones, Marquis Hill, Arturo O’Farrill, Randy Brecker, Chuck Israels, George Colligan, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, John Pattitucci, Kamasi Washington, and Mel Brown.      
 
        Aside from Christopher’s first big musical break coming in the form of a month long European tour with Roy Hargrove’s Quintet in the summer of 2006, he has also spent some more time in front of the camera between commercials for Master Card and the History Channel, re-enactment scenes on the Maury Povich show, Beyonce’s “Count Down” video, and the big budget film “American Gangster,” starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. 
 
The Composer/Bandleader
 
       Since Christopher’s move back home to Portland in 2012, a large part of his focus has been on the continual exercising of his leadership acumen within the area of band leading. And given that this is a lot like running a business or organization, he has been able to use his band as a metric for musical and organizational excellence for other bands, organizations, and businesses to emulate. Therefore, like any leader who has to be rooted in themselves and their vision, Christopher has been intentionally using his band and the music they play as an instrument for challenging existing beliefs around “normalcy,” as applied to personal and organizational growth within schools, public performances, and private seminars. And what better way to have this all too important conversation than through the lens of music. 
 

EPISODE 29 - Barry Greene

Barry Greene began playing guitar in 1971, at the age of 10 years old. Strongly influenced by Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, George Benson and Pat Martino, Barry has developed into a world-class guitarist, arranger and composer. He has recorded or performed with such artists as Paul Bollenback, Chad Lefkowitz Brown, Seamus Blake, Danny Gottlieb, Gene Bertoncinni, Kenny Drew Jr., Adam Nussbaum, Reuben Rogers, Ron Affif, Mark Ferber, Peter Mazza, John Davis, Ulysses Owens, Jerome Jennings and Colin Bailey. Barry has eight CD’s out as a leader. Resurgence, Sojourner, At Home, Urban Jazz, In the Meantime and three other releases, Barry Greene Trio, The Other Side and Urban Jazz II.
Barry has several books published with Mel Bay Publications and has authored 3 iBooks. He proudly endorses Thomastik-Infeld strings, Benedetto Amps, and Benedetto Guitars. Barry has been invited to perform at the Long Island Guitar Show held in New York several times, as well as having performed at other notable NYC venues. He has also performed in Europe several times including concerts in Germany, and France.Barry is currently a Professor of Jazz Guitar at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, where he has been since 1995. He teaches a guitar ensemble, applied guitar, and several audio technology courses. His series of video jazz guitar lessons has gained worldwide recognition and is used by hundreds of jazz guitarists.
 
"I’ve been enjoying the guitar as an instrument and it’s amazing artists all of my life. To me Barry Greene is just about one of the best; not only as a player, but also as a writer and a teacher. I agree with others who regard him as a world class musician.”  — Pat Martino
 
“Great tone, control and musical judgment, my favorite type of player.” — Russell Malone“his improvisations were creative with impeccable technique... ” — 20th Century Guitar Magazine“Barry Greene is a fantastic guitar player. He swings his ass off. Beautiful sound...beautiful ideas. I met Barry recently at the University of North Florida when I was doing clinics and a performance there. He teaches at that school. All the students rave about him so obviously not only is he a great player but a great teacher too.” — Mike Stern“Artist/Educator Barry Greene defies – no, decimates – the adage that those who can’t, teach. Monster chops, soulful feel, full/rich classic jazz tone, and virtuosic harmonic techniques establish him as a top tier guitarist.” — Howard Paul - Benedetto Guitars

EPISODE 28 - Tom Knific

Tom Knific has performed with many of the great jazz and classical artists of our time on tour and on record. They include Michel Legrand, Gene Bertoncini, Billy Hart, Randy Brecker, Dave Brubeck, Fred Hersch, Edward Simon, and others. He and Eric Marienthal co-led the Dream Band with Toots Thielemans, Kenny Werner and Harvey Mason in the first live interactive concert multi-cast over the Internet. As a classical artist, he has recorded with Pepe Romero, Andre Watts, Philippe Entremont, and the Merling Trio. He as appeared as a soloist with orchestras throughout the U.S. and has performed as principal bassist with orchestras and chamber orchestras in the U.S. and Europe. He has appeared at chamber music festivals throughout North America and Europe and is a founding member, bassist and composer for the contemporary music group, OPUS 21. Knific is professor emeritus of double bass and director of jazz studies at Western Michigan University, and is a visiting professor at The China Conservatory, Beijing. He has also taught at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Michigan State University, Cleveland Institute of Music, and has presented over 200 hundred master classes worldwide. He received the 2016 Musical America Top Professional and Innovators award and received the 2004 Down Beat magazine Achievement in Jazz Education award. Knific has written dozens of works in a variety of idioms and is published by Editions Delatour, Paris, and ISB Publications, Dallas. He is heard on over 30 CDs including four solo projects. Knific is past president of The International Society of Bassists.

EPISODE 27 - Joe Alterman

At first glance one might not guess that this is a man hailed by greats; Ramsey Lewis describes his music as "happy music with tasty meat on the bones," Les McCann states "Joe's on a 'blow your mind' level," and Ahmad Jamal calls him "a very special artist." Journalist Nat Hentoff championed three of Alterman’s albums, as well as his writing (Joe wrote liner notes to three Wynton Marsalis/JLCO albums), calling one of Joe’s columns “one of the very best pieces on the essence of jazz, the spirit of jazz, that I’ve ever read, and I’m not exaggerating.”
Joe Alterman began at NYU with a BA and Masters in Jazz Piano from NYU and has since performed at many world renowned venues including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Birdland and Blue Note  alongside Houston Person, Les McCann, Dick Gregory, Ramsey Lewis, and his own trio, among others. Downbeat describes his sound as “rooted in the blues, and with a touch reminiscent of the great pianists of the 1950s—Red Garland, Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans.” It is clear Joe hits all of the necessary points for Jazz critics and fans alike.
 

EPISODE 26 - Charlie Sigler

Guitarist Charlie Sigler has been active member of the music community since his high school years studying and performing in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area. A recent graduate of William Paterson University with a B.A. in Jazz Performance, Charlie has performed with many greats of the music including Winard Harper, Harold Mabern, Eric Alexander, Myron Walden, Akiko Tsurga, Pat Bianci, Jared Gold, Vince Ector, Bruce Williams, Radam Schwartz, Kyle Koehler and Dave Stryker among others. He has performed at clubs and festivals throughout the region including the Montclair Jazz Festival, Litchfield Jazz Festival, Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, AFRAM and the Berks Jazz Festival. Currently residing in Bloomfield, NJ, Charlie maintains a busy schedule of performances, recording and teaching.

EPISODE 25 - Yvonnick Prené

Yvonnick Prené is a professional jazz musician, bandleader, composer, and educator based in the greater New York City area. He is one of the most unique and innovative harmonicists on the scene today.
Prené has recorded 5 acclaimed albums as a leader, including  Listen! (2023) on Sunnyside Records featuring Kevin Hays, Bill Stewart, Dayna Stephens, Jeremy Pelt and Clovis Nicholas.  His latest recording, "Jobim's World" with pianist Geoffrey Keezer, earned rave reviews (2024). 
Prené has performed and/or recorded with New York luminaries such as Peter Bernstein, Rick Margitza, Joe Farnsworth, Steve Cardenas, Pasquale Grasso, Jon Cowherd, Rich Perry, Brian Charette, Jared Gold, Rick Germanson, Jeb Patton, Jerome Sabbagh, among others. 
He has performed around the world, notably at Jersey City Jazz Fest, Exit  Zero Cape May Jazz Fest,  Winter Jazz Fest (NYC), Bern Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Festival Emoi du Jazz (Ivory Coast), Lamentin Jazz Festival (Martinique), SPAH Harmonica Fest (Tulsa), Hyde Park Jazz Festival (Chicago),  and Jazz Sur Seine Festival (Paris). 
Prené performs more than 100 concerts per year, having performed at major jazz clubs in New York City as sideman or leader — including the Blue Note, the Django, Zinc Bar, The Iridium, Dizzy’s Club, Birdland, The Jazz Gallery and Smalls. 
The harmonicist is a revered educator and the founder of the New Harmonica School and My Harmonica Studio. and to date, Yvonnick has taught more than 500 students. Additionally, Prené has written 10 methods about jazz improvisation, jazz etudes and blues harmonica. He also taught at Jazz House Kids, New York Jazz Workshop and Brooklyn Music School.
Additionally, Prené is an ambassador for Hohner; the legendary harmonica brand has chosen Prené to be the face of their brand-new, flagship 12-hole chromatic harmonica called Xpression.
Yvonnick grew up in Massy, a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris. He has earned a Bachelor of Music (2007) and a Masters of Music degree from Sorbonne University (2011) and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music (2012).
He has had the opportunity to study with Lee Konitz, Charli Persip, Charles Tolliver, and Reggie Workman, among other leading lights of the music