Backstage at the hi hat podcast
Backstage at the hi hat is a conversational podcast series about all things jazz produced by the Akron Symphony Orchestra and co-hosted by Thomas Moore, Director of Marketing for the Symphony, and Theron Brown, an Akron-based jazz musician and Artistic Director of the Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival.
Episode 11: Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival
Theron and Tom sit down to talk about the annual Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival, which takes place this year in Akron, Cleveland and online from August 26 through August 28. (Click for full episode guide.)
Episode 10: A Life in Time
Theron and Tom are backstage with Philip Clark, a music journalist and author of Dave Brubeck – A Life in Time, which was selected by BBC Magazine as one of the 20 best books on music in 2020. (Click for full episode guide.)
Episode 9: A Journey on Guitar
Theron and Tom are backstage with guitarist Dan Wilson to talk about his musical career, his new album Vessels of Wood and Earth, the brilliance of Coming to America and more.The episode concludes with a performance of Be Nimble from Dan’s album Balancing Act. (Click for full episode guide.)
Episode 8: One Love DEEZY
Theron and Tom hang out backstage with saxophone player Nathan-Paul Davis, talking about his music career, influences, writing, and his latest album, Aquarius Lofi DEEZY, which features beats by HR3. The episode includes a performance of Day 21, featuring HR3 and Joey Skoch, from Aquarius Lofi DEEZY. (Click for full episode guide.)
Episode 7: The NE Ohio Sound
Theron and Tom are kicking it backstage with vocalist Evelyn Wright, drummer Robert Hubbard Jr., and performer Reggie Kelly, talking about the soul of the Northeast Ohio sound, influential musicians from the area, how Gospel musicians express themselves through jazz, and the importance of not taking your art for granted in the second of a two-part series. (Click for full episode guide.)
Episode 6: An Akron Original
Theron and Tom are backstage with trumpeter and vocalist Tommy Lehman to talk about his music career, how he made the switch from accounting to music, the collaborative nature of local musicians, and his upcoming album, Faith > Fear. (Click for full episode guide.)
Episode 5: Reminiscing
Theron and Tom are backstage with vocalist Evelyn Wright and drummer Robert Hubbard Jr. talking about the rich history of jazz music in Akron and Cleveland in the first of a two-part series. (Click for full episode guide.)
Episode 4: Remembering a young lion
Theron and Tom sit down backstage to talk about the life and legacy of drummer Ralph Peterson Jr., as well as the art behind composing music. (Click for full episode guide.)
Episode 3: A lasting impact through music
Theron and Tom head backstage to talk with Chris Anderson, a musician and executive director of Open Tone Music in Akron, about performing in India, South Africa and other countries; the lasting impact of music education; and the growth of the Amistad Caribbean Arts Camp. (Click for full episode guide.)
Episode 2: The Essence of Jazz
Theron and Tom head backstage with Chris Coles, a musician, composer and educator from Cleveland, to talk about his career, dive into the entry points for exploring jazz music, and discuss his Nine Lives Project, which deals with the Charleston church shooting in 2015. (Click for full episode guide.)
Episode 1: Welcome to Backstage at the hi hat
In the debut of Backstage at the hi hat, co-hosts Tom and Theron discuss the origins of the podcast name, talk about the historic jazz entertainment district in downtown Akron, and reflect on the life of legendary jazz pianist Chick Corea. (Click for full episode guide.)