Marina Crouse: Honoring Jazz Legends and Keeping the Music Alive

by Steven Roby
November 26, 2024

In this inspiring episode of Backstage Sonoma, host Steven Roby welcomes jazz and blues vocalist Marina Crouse for an intimate conversation about her musical journey, her passion for honoring jazz greats like Ernestine Anderson, and how she connects with audiences through her soulful performances. Marina shares her thoughts on preserving jazz traditions while adding her own ...

Doodlebug from Digable Planets: Now and Then

by Steven Roby
July 9, 2024

The interview features Craig Irwin, also known as Doodlebug, from the pioneering hip-hop trio Digable Planets. The conversation begins with a discussion about the group's influential debut single, “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)," and the creative process behind it, highlighting the group's innovative use of samples and their advantageous track development. Doodlebug shares insights into ...

Meet Drummer Jon Krosnick

by Steven Roby
June 24, 2024

This is an interview with renowned jazz drummer Jon Krosnick, who has been a significant figure in the music industry for several decades. Songs featured in this segment include “The Mean Time" and “Walk The Walk." Jon Krosnick began playing piano at age six and drums at age nine. Most of his formal musical ...

Lloyd-Hussain-Lage Trio to Perform Special Show Live from Healdsburg—Saturday, September 26, 7PM PT

September 19, 2020

On Saturday, September 26, Healdsburg Jazz presents the world premiere of Charles Lloyd, Zakir Hussain and Julian Lage playing together as a trio for the first time, to be streamed live around the world. Each musician will be driving to the intimate wine country town in Northern California for this extraordinary real-time live show. Saxophonist/flautist Charles ...

Stella Heath

Singing since the age of eight, Stella feels wholly blessed to be able to express herself through music and song, and to carry forth the torch of Jazz Music from greats such as Billie Holiday. She grew up in the North San Francisco Bay Area, steeped in her mother��s eclectic music collection; some of her early musical influences were Louis Armstrong, Edith Piaf, Buena Vista Social Club, Billie Holiday, Tom Waits, Bod Dylan and Ella Fitzgerald. Her education was primarily in Acting at Interlochen Arts Academy and Syracuse University, where she received a degree in classical acting and cultural geography

Robert Dunn

Born: December 14, 1953

I was born into the sort of family that made me want to stay by myself in my room practicing guitar & writing songs. Somehow I developed this mindset where I felt drawn to the surreal/abstract so I gravitated to music that that was that way (psychedelic, Hendrix, Doors, Beatles, etc.) I began studying jazz and as I progressed through bebop, hard bop, modal and into the 'avant garde' or free jazz I began to absorb these genres and developed my own musical approach. I did put together musical units mostly in LA, and where I currently reside - the San Francisco Bay Area that did attract some attention and this is what I am continuing to do to this day.

Ricki Rush

A talented artist in several fields, Ricki designs custom jewelry, has performed in community theater and as a professional Middle Eastern dancer at various restaurants in San Francisco. She was part of the dance troupe, "Dream Dancers", and co-choreographed many of their dances. Ricki discovered jazz in high school and loved singing along to the music. She's kept her interest in jazz alive since then, and in her 60's, rekindled her interest in singing and now performs as a soloist with her instrumental trio at local restaurants. She is also a founding/emeritus member of the vintage vocal jazz group "Lovin' Harmony" and performed with them for many years at local venues. When she's not singing, Ricki works as both a personal coach, and a jewelry designer.

Dave Haskell

Born: December 3, 1953

The history of jazz is strewn with brilliant players who have inexplicably eluded widespread recognition, flying under the radar of labels, journalists, and fans. But guitarist David Haskell��s stealth status over the past two decades isn��t hard to explain. He��s spent most of that time on the move as a commercial pilot, fulfilling a dream that took root as a child, about the same time he became enamored with the guitar. Before Haskell took to the air as a profession, he was a widely respected improviser at the center of the San Francisco jazz scene, a versatile, blues-drenched player often heard as a sideman and bandleader at high profile venues like Keystone Korner. Now that he��s hung up his wings, Haskell is once again making waves on the Bay Area scene, working with a superlative band

Dorothea May

Dorian May

Born: April 28, 1957

Dorian May��s piano artistry shapes together classic, modern and Latin jazz with Bach harmony, world and poly rhythms and he is equally at home in world music and classical music as he is with hard-swinging bebop, Cuban Salsa and down-home blues. At his shows you may hear anything from classical to TV/movie themes, children��s tunes, traditional jazz, folk songs to Cuban boleros. His diverse collection of influences include a degree in classical piano performance, keyboardist in a touring Emerson, Lake & Palmer tribute band, high-school band director, world percussionist/accompanist at world music and jazz festivals and currently leader & arranger for several Mendocino and Sonoma-county based jazz and Latin bands. When not performing, practicing or teaching he is working on his own unique improvisational system based on George Russell��s Lydian chromatic concept, which he hopes to publish in the near future. The Dorian May Trio includes Dorothea, his wife, on upright bass and veteran coastal drummer Tom Rickard.