People.Of.Earth

Bobby Sanabria

I am very excited to have the incomparably multifaceted Bobby Sanabria as this week’s guest. For those who don’t know, Bobby is a GRAMMY-nominated drummer, percussionists and all-around renaissance man who has performed and recorded with nearly every great jazz and latin-jazz artist imaginable as both a leader, and as a sideman. In this interview, Bobby and I talk about his life and career, his development as an educator and bandleader, and also the changes in the musical climate of New York City he has observed over a lifetime of living here.

Leo Traversa Part II

Welcome to Part II of my super interesting chat with the great Leo Traversa. In our second half of the interview, Leo covers a wide variety of topics including his experiences working with bandleaders like Tania Maria and Don Byron, his methods of teaching and the various books he has written for The Collective. He also adds some fun insight into is passion for African music and other world-music styles.

Leo Traversa Part I

Our guest for the next two weeks is veteran bassist/educator Leo Traversa. Leo’s numerous performance credits include Tania Maria, Don Byron, Renaissance, Bobby Sanabria, The Birdland Big Band and countless others. In the first part of this two-part interview, Leo talks about his musical upbringing, education as well as his early fascination with world music.

Fernando Garcia

Our guest for today is drummer/percussionist/composer Fernando Garcia. Originally hailing from Puerto Rico, Fernando now calls New York City home and has made a name for himself as a both a consummate sideman and bandleader. In our conversation, Garcia reflects on his education, his time at Berklee’s Valencia campus, his amazing cast of musical mentors as well as his various recording projects with his own group, the Fernando Garcia Sextet. 

Victor Pablo

Our guest this week is People of Earth’s very own Victor Pablo. Victor is a highly in-demand percussionist who’s versatility has taken him from the pits of Broadway to Carnegie Hall and everywhere in between. He also serves as People of Earth’s musical director and writer of a considerable amount of POE’s repertoire. In this episode, Victor reflects on his development as a composer/arranger as well as his role in the formation of People of Earth.

Rachel Therrien

Our guest this week is none other than the mighty Rachel Therrien. Rachel is an acclaimed trumpeter, composer and bandleader originally from Quebec and now resides in NYC. She has four recordings under her own name and tours extensively with her own group as well with DIVA Jazz Orchestra among others. She is also a member of People of Earth's amazing horn section. In this interview we talk about her career in both Canada and the US, her recordings, her adventures abroad and how she came to be a member of POE.

Josh Deutsch

In today's episode we are joined by trumpeter/composer Josh Deutsch. Josh plays regularly with a variety of different artists and groups including Lila Downs, Sofia Rei, Pedro Giraudo's Expansions Big Band, Juancho Herrera and Nathan Parker Smith's Large Ensemble. He is also the leader of several original projects, especially the band Pannonia which is the subject central to this interview.

Yayo Serka Part II

This episode is the second half of our two-part interview with Chilean drummer Edgardo "Yayo" Serka. In Part II, Yayo reflects on his experience touring with Lila Downs, how it forced him to develop his own creative voice on the drum-set as well as how it has affected his approach to playing with many of the other groups he has and continues to work with.

Yayo Serka Part I

This episode is the first half of a two-part interview with Chilean drummer Edgardo "Yayo" Serka. Yayo is currently the drummer/percussionist with Mexican pop singer Lila Downs and Beninese singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo. He has also performed with Claudia Acuña, Bobby Watson, Frankie Paris, the Chico O’Farrill Orchestra, the gospel choir of the Walker Memorial Baptist Group, and various other artists. In this interview, Yayo speaks openly about his fascinating journey from Chile to Cuba to NYC and how it has shaped his identity as a musician and as a person. 

Keita Ogawa

In this episode we'll be sitting down with Grammy awarding winning percussionist Keita Ogawa. Keita is one of the most versatile and sought-after percussionists/drummers in New York City and can be seen on stages all over the world with Snarky puppy, J-Squad, Banda Magda, Bokantè, Camila Meza and the Nectar Orchestra, Clarice Assad and numerous other groups. In this interview he refelcts on his personal journey from Japan to the US and many of the experiences that have contributed to the exciting career he now enjoys.