Rod Alnord is Haitian-born drummer with multiple musical influences including Jazz, Gospel/Worship, and Afro-Caribbean Music. He studied at the University of South Florida under Ric Craig and Bob McCormick. He has since developed his playing style, inspired by the explosive Elvin Jones and modern-day drummer Brian Blade.

Hayes Carll isn’t preaching or teaching. He’s not interested in telling the rest of us what to do or think. But he is charting out a personal guide for his life, quieting the noise, and sitting with his real voice – the one that’s candid, consistent, and often inconvenient. We’re Only Human is Carll’s tenth album. Like his best lyrics, it is also an understated masterpiece, an honest snapshot of one man’s confrontation and delight with humanity’s biggest and most intimate questions. Where do we find forgiveness for ourselves and grace for others? How do we hold on to peace of mind and stay present? What can we—and should we––trust? And how can we moor ourselves to, well, ourselves, in the midst of confusing, trying times? We’re Only Human offers audiences the chance to listen to Carll as he listens to himself.

Meet Stanley Jordan, a jazz guitarist and composer who has performed in 70 countries on 6 continents. His Magic Touch album was an instant classic, and it stayed at #1 on Billboard’s jazz chart for 51 weeks. He is widely regarded as the foremost exponent of the touch, or tapping technique on guitar. To date Jordan has been nominated for four Grammys, and he’s performed in 70 countries. He made a cameo appearance in the movie Blind Date with Bruce Willis and Kim Basinger, and numerous TV appearances through the years, including Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, David Letterman and Jimmy Fallon. He has collaborated on the stage or in the studio with a diverse array of artists including Phil Lesh, Miles Davis, Kenny Rogers, Herbie Hancock, Dionne Warwick, Dave Matthews, Sharon Isbin, and Carmen McRae. Stanley is performing at the Palladium in St. Pete on October 31. Stanley Plays The Dead is not just a concept-it’s a real band that truly works as a unit, with each member contributing something unique and important. All the members sing as well as play instruments. Learn more at mypalladium.org

Singer, composer, and creator Ona K envelops you in a mist of beauty. Once you enter, you won’t want to escape. With the sensuality of her voice, the elegance of her compositions and arrangements, her powerful aesthetics, and the strong community of musicians she has created around her music, she moves the listener’s soul in a way that they will always remember. Her music pushes stylistic boundaries. It is born in the roots of descriptive cinematic music, connected to poetry (in English and Spanish), with a voice and arranges that navigate between r&b, and jazz, and a string quartet that is rooted in her to her classical origins. 

Jon Batiste is a five-time GRAMMY® and Academy Award®-winning singer, songwriter, and composer known for his time on Late Night with Stephen Colbert, his film scores on the Disney film Soul and Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night, and the Netflix documentary “American Symphony,” which explores a year of Jon’s life, his career, and his wife’s struggle with Leukemia. He’s currently released 9 solo albums and has collaborated with a plethora of musicians like Willie Nelson, Madonna, Prince, and many many more. He’s performing at Ruth Eckerd Hall on October 8. Be sure to see him live. Go to RuthEckerdHall.com to learn more.

Boogie-woogie, jazz, and blues pianist Craig Brenner is a performer, composer, teacher, and recipient of many arts grants. He leads Craig & The Crawdads, is a member of The Ragin' Texans, and has released seven albums. The founder of Bloomington Boogies: The Bloomington Blues & Boogie Woogie Piano Festival, Craig keeps boogie-woogie and similar non-classical styles alive through concerts, compositions, recordings, and hands-on music educational activities, including workshops, master classes, and in-school performances.

Meet Jeff Babko. He is a multifaceted musical talent renowned for his work as a composer, arranger, and keyboardist. Based in Los Angeles, Babko’s career spans live performances, studio recordings, television, and film. He is widely recognized as a member of the house band for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where his dynamic and versatile keyboard stylings contribute to the show’s vibrant musical identity. Babko has collaborated with a variety of artists, including Sting, Sheryl Crow, Frank Ocean, James Taylor, John Mayer, and Beck. Notably, he recorded and performed with Sheryl Crow in 2010 and contributed to Frank Ocean’s acclaimed Channel Orange album, showcasing his adaptability across genres. In his solo work, Babko explores the depths of jazz fusion in albums such as Mondo Trio and Crux, where his improvisational prowess and unique compositional voice are his main focus. His artistry extends into film and television scoring, with contributions to soundtracks for films like Encanto, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Superbad, Toy Story 4, Frozen 2, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and Luca. He has also worked on series such as Better Things and Cobra Kai, solidifying his reputation as a composer. Beyond his performance and scoring work, Babko runs his own studio, TudorTones, where he collaborates on projects and records with his wife, Songa Lee, a distinguished studio violinist. They contribute to both independent and commercial music initiatives by combining their talents in an engaging manner. TudorTones acts as a creative center where Babko not only developed his skills but also guided aspiring musicians, encouraging creativity and teamwork in the music business. Learn more about Jeff Babko.

Led by founder Holly Cordero, Steamin’ Jazz is made up of players from the Central Florida area with a sense of New York Flair. Steamin’ Jazz plays tunes from jazz standards to Brazilian to Funk to arrangements of pop tunes in a Jazz fashion.

Critically-acclaimed singer, songwriter & artist  Julie Black  writes expansive music rooted in early blues & jazz. A kindred spirit of free and fiery souls, she’s a songwriter whose personal story is deep, complex, and inspiring. Her soulful voice, intuitive approach, and fiery emotional intensity conjure up live performances that are passionate and profound. Deeply-rooted influences like Solomon Burke and Etta James flavor her sound, as do elements of blues, jazz, soul, swing, and rock. Filled with emotional truth, clarity, and vision, Julie Black offers a musical experience that is one-of-a-kind.

Ross Strauser is a saxophonist, composer and educator who serves on the music faculties at University of South Florida and Hillsborough Community College. He’s in process of creating his second album, Going to the Sun, a 15-movement suite of original works inspired by the Glacier National Park. He recently sat down with me and Adam Darbyshire in the WUSF studio, where we got to talk about his work and what inspires him.

About Dan Bremer: A freelance musician in NYC for 40 years. He plays bassoon, clarinet, sax and piano and has played venues from the Staten Island Ferry to Lincoln Center and everything in between. Dan taught at Wagner College and Staten Island Community College. As a woodwind player he's performed with the Staten Island Chamber Music Players, the Staten Island Symphony, 7th Army Band, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. As a legit pianist, he worked as an accompanist for soloists, choirs, community theater, musical director for Staten Island Children's Theater. As a jazz pianist, he played clubs, hotels and restaurants, including Birdland, the 21 Club, the Riverside Cafe.

Meet Rita Bolton. She’s a singer and pianist who lives in the Tampa Bay area. She’s also a therapist and an educator, which has influenced her music. She recently released a new album: Soulful of Jazz, filled with a collection of jazz, blues, pop, gospel and show tunes. She’s collaborated with some local jazz greats like Hiram Hazley and John Lamb. Joining me in the studio is Adam Darbyshire where the three of us have a soulful conversation about music, life, and everything in between.

This concert was performed live at In Between Days in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

BJ Sam was born in Africa, but his music resonates far beyond African shores. His impact extends far beyond gospel music, influencing artists across multiple genres. He has collaborated with over 100 musicians and celebrities from all the continent of the world including famous Hollywood Oscar nominee Paul Raci, Bollywood legend Jaspinder Narula; Grammy voting pianist Charu Suri; and Monaco ballet star-singer Lorena Baricalla to name a few. The American film director Lloyd Kaufman personally selected his song "Mon Amour" for the soundtrack of the Hollywood movie Heart of Fartness. 

The USF Jazztet trio, the premier small group, is frequently featured in concerts on the USF campus, recordings and touring. This outstanding group has performed at IAJE conferences, as well as jazz festivals and with many outstanding guest artists. The trio consists of Adam Darbyshire on sax, Sydney Bridges on bass, and Matthew Korloch on drums.

Dave Koz is a celebrated American saxophonist, composer, and radio host, widely recognized for his contributions to smooth jazz. Born in 1963 in Encino, California, he began playing the saxophone in his youth and quickly rose to prominence in the late 1980s, touring with artists like Bobby Caldwell and Richard Marx. His solo career took off with his 1990 debut album and has since led to numerous chart-topping albums, Grammy nominations, and collaborations with icons such as Celine Dion, Stevie Nicks, and Barry Manilow. Koz's engaging stage presence and musical versatility have made him a staple in contemporary jazz, while his popular syndicated radio show and annual Dave Koz & Friends At Sea cruises have expanded his influence beyond music. With a legacy built on innovation, collaboration, and a passion for performance, Dave Koz remains one of jazz’s most enduring and influential figures.

WUSF, Community Foundation Tampa Bay, and the Firehouse Cultural Center proudly present Stormy Weather: a concert focused on hurricane preparedness for the 2025 season. The Firehouse Cultural Center, which suffered significant damage during Hurricane Helene, is co-hosting to highlight the financial and physical impacts of hurricanes. This event is presented by Community Foundation Tampa Bay whose mission is to build a vibrant, prosperous community through transformative vision, leadership, and philanthropy. Trained in both traditional and contemporary jazz, American Jazz Vocalist Bryan J. Hughes mixes the seasoned sound of a classic jazz frontman with big band popular stylings and a contemporary R&B smoothness that breathes life into songs both old and new.

Meet Andrew Berish: he is an Associate Professor who holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of California, Los Angeles and B.A. in History from Columbia University. Dr. Berish’s current research focuses on the relationship between musical expression and the social experience of space and place. He recently release his book "Hating Jazz: A History of its Disparagement, Mockery, and Other Forms of Abuse."

Formed in 2022 by Trombonist James Wall and Multi-Instrumentalist T.J. Schaff, The Schaff - Wall Collective is a diverse and experimental music ensemble that performs in multiple configurations across the West Coast of Florida. The group draws influence from multiple genres and specializes in live jazz, fusion, pop, and New-Orleans style music. The band's core duo consists of James Wall (Trombone/Vocals) and T.J. Schaff (Drums/Piano) who are regularly joined by artists such as Julian Pernett (Piano), Nick Peters (Piano,) Jean Bolduc (Drums) Valentin Korniyenko (Bass), Erik Hempel (Bass), Aaron West (Sax) and Alex Ocon (Drums/Percussion). 

Meet Gabrielle Leonore: she is an autistic artist who is premiering her first one-woman show, My Life as an “Inspirational Porn” Star, that she acts, writes and produces. You may have recently seen her as “Desdemona” in TheatreFor’s production of Desdemona: A Play about a Handkerchief and as  a “Person in Charge” in Tampa Rep’s production of Straight White Men. She has played Various Roles in “A Sketch-ceptional Showcase” at the Tampa Fringe Festival (Theatre eXceptional), both Marvalynn and Rhonda in “Almost Maine” (West Coast’s Community Players), and Stella in “A Streetcar Named Desire” (Carrollwood Community Players).  She also wrote, directed, and produced her acclaimed play, “(Re)union,” which was featured at the Tampa Theatre Festival, as well as earning the Social Good award at the Tampa Fringe Festival. Gabrielle  holds a double major in Communication and Film from the University of Tampa.