After Hours featuring Dean Grech, air date Nov. 10, 2021

Join me at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10, for After Hours Alaska on KRBD-Rainbird public radio in Ketchikan, Alaska, as I’m joined in conversation with jazz guitarist, composer boca and producer Dean Grech.

As with many artists of his caliber, Grech’s music career and his long road to success started at a young age. Grech began his devotion to music and guitar at age 7. He played his first paying gig at age 11. His dedication only increased when he took lessons from world-renowned classical guitarist, and Decca recording artist, Rey Delatorre, at the age of 14.

With the advanced technique that comes with classical training, Dean later found his niche playing jazz and emulating guitarists who would become Grech’s guide to improv in the years to come. His interest started with a gift. Grech’s jazz influence can be traced back to a friend of the family who gave him a stack of records. In that stack, Grech found “Kaleidoscope” by Johnny Smith and “Boss Guitar” by Wes Montgomery. The passion was placed. The sounds of these two guitar players haunted Grech relentlessly from that point on. Dean is extremely talented and well versed in many facets of music.

Click here to visit Dean’s personal website. Click here to listen to this episode of After Hours.

After Hours Special featuring Austin Hays, air date July 28, 2021

PHOTO BY JEFF FITZWATER

Please accompany me for a very special edition of After Hours as I’m joined in musical conversation with Ketchikan’s own drummer, composer, arranger, producer, pianist and singer Austin Hays as we explore making music for video games, the connection between music and math, and exploring bipolar through music.

Tune into this exclusive interview at 9 p.m. on Wednesday evening, July 28, on KRBD Rainbird Radio in Ketchikan.

Born and raised in Ketchikan, Austin has been playing drums since age 5, and also has taken up piano, composing/arranging, and singing. Austin attended Cornish College of the Arts from 2008-13. He enjoys producing his own shows, and currently resides in his hometown as a private music teacher and working musician.

Missed the show? Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Austin Hays, originally broadcast on July 28, 2021. Click here to visit Austin’s Facebook page for his Austinato music studio, and click here for his SoundCloud music page.

After Hours featuring John Beasley, air date March 1, 2021

Join me for the March 1, 2021, edition of After Hours on KCAW Raven Radio (and later broadcast on KRBD Rainbird Radio and KSTK) as I’m joined with multi-Grammy-nominated and Emmy-nominated pianist, composer, arranger, music director and producer John Beasley.

John was born in Shreveport, La., and grew up in Texas. His parents and grandfather taught music, and in his teens he played guitar, saxophone, drums, oboe, and piano.

John played keyboard for Freddy Hubbard and Miles Davis and has performed with a wide variety of artists like Dianne Reeves, Sergio Mendes, Ivan Lins, Christian McBride and so many more. He was the lead arranger for 10 years on American Idol. When not involved in his projects or others, John conducts master classes and clinics around the globe.

Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring John Beasley, originally broadcast on March 1, 2021. Click here to visit John’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Larry Klein, air date Nov. 9, 2020

Join me for the Nov. 9, 2020, edition of After Hours on KCAW Raven Radio as I’m joined in conversation with multiple Grammy winning record producer, musician/songwriter/label executive Larry Klein.

Larry has produced artists like Joni Mitchell, Melody Gardot, Madeleine Peyroux, Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding, Norah Jones and so many more. He started out playing jazz bass with Freddie Hubbard and Carmen McRae in the 70’s. You don’t want to miss this exclusive interview.

Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Larry Klein, originally broadcast on Nov. 9, 2020. Click here to visit Larry’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Matt King, air date Feb. 24, 2020

Join me for the Feb. 24, 2020, edition of After Hours on KCAW Raven Radio as I’m joined for an uplifting and stirring conversation with pianist, organist, vocalist, composer, arranger and producer based in the NYC area Matt King.

His latest recording as a leader, “Monk In Brazil,” features the iconic compositions of jazz legend Thelonious Monk, arranged by King in various Brazilian genres. This trailblazing music is earning rave reviews from notable artists in both the American and Brazilian jazz worlds:


“A brilliant triumph, melding the wittiness of Monk’s melodies and the infectiousness of Brazilian rhythms. Matt King’s piano playing is always stellar; his solos sparkle with such clarity and solid creative ideas. If you love Monk and Brazilian music, get ready to party! BRAVO!” (Rufus Reid)

Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Matt King, originally broadcast on Feb. 24, 2020. Click here to visit Matt’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Anne Phillips, air date Jan. 20, 2020

Join me for the Jan. 20, 2020, edition of After Hours on KCAW Raven Radio (and later broadcast on KRBD Rainbird Radio and KSTK) as I’m joined in conversation with American singer, songwriter, pianist and producer Anne Phillips.

Anne’s career has covered almost every area of the music business. In addition to recording several solo albums, from the classic Born To Be Blue, to her most recent release, Ballet Time on which she sings with such old friends as Dave Brubeck and Marian McPartland, she  has worked  as a singer, choral arranger and conductor with many of the music world’s leading artists and is  widely known in the industry as the writer-arranger-producer of many national commercials.

Anne has worked with Burt Bacharach, Carole King, Mahalia Jackson and has arranged and produced jingles for the Four Tops and Martha and the Vandellas. She started working in demo recordings for songwriters in the 1950s. She was also a member of the Ray Charles Singers on the Perry Como Show.

Join me on this odyssey into the musical heart and soul into this fabulous artist.

Click this link to listen to the After Hours show featuring Anne Phillips, originally broadcast on Jan. 20, 2020. Click here to visit Anne’s personal website.

After Hours featuring Lori Williams, air date Dec. 30, 2019

Join me for the Dec. 30, 2019, edition of After Hours on KCAW Raven Radio in Sitka, Alaska, when I was joined in conversation with “out-of-the-box” jazz vocalist Lori Williams

Lori blends straight ahead, contemporary, soul, inspirational, and urban, creating a truly unique smooth mix of sound. She also is an educator, songwriter, producer, support vocalist, and musical theater actress with five well-received CDs to her credit (a sixth is scheduled for release in 2020) — all of which she self-produced.

As an educator for more than 25 years, Lori has received many honors including Outstanding Music Teacher in the October 2000 issue of Teaching Music, the 2007 Superintendent’s Arts Teacher of the Year Award, and the 2010 Vincent E. Reed Teacher of the Year. As a performing artist, Lori was nominated for a 2014 Helen Hayes Award as an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Resident Musical for her role as Ella Fitzgerald in “Ladies Swing the Blues: A Jazz Fable” (directed by Thomas W. Jones). Lori has received letters of recognition for her performances by Vice President Joseph Biden, former Speaker of the House John Boehner, and Maryland Senator C. Anthony Muse.

Click this link to listen to the KCAW After Hours show featuring Lori Williams, originally broadcast on Dec. 30, 2019. Click here to visit Lori’s personal website.