Jazz Chat Podcast

Dr. Roosevelt Griffin III is the Owner and Operator of GI Music LLC, specializing in curriculum, program, and professional development. He is the Founder and CEO of the Griffin Institute of Performing Arts (NFP) where the transformative abilities of the arts are used to transform the lives of students and families throughout southern Cook County and beyond. In addition to the organizations that he lead, Dr.Griffin serves as band director for Harvey School District 152 and Chicago Jazz Philharmonic's

Steve Wiest is a multiple Grammy-nominated trombonist, composer, author, and cartoonist. The former soloist and writer for Maynard Ferguson, Steve went on to perform on the road with Doc Severinsen and the Old Tonight Show Orchestra as well as many other artists. Steve has numerous recordings out as a leader, the most recent of which is the debut album from the critically-acclaimed all-star horn bandVinyl Hampdin. Along with being the trombonist with the group, Wiest has composed and arranged all

Tony DiPasquale is the Director of Bands at Central and West Junior High in the Belleville 118 school district in Illinois. He has also published The Jazz Lictionary, an instruction book on jazz improvisation techniques. DiPasquale earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Millikin University and a master’s in jazz piano performance from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member for the jazz studies program at McKendree University. In 1999 he

Dr. Joel Vanderheyden is a versatile saxophonist, composer, and educator with tremendous passion for the unifying power of music. As a performer, he draws upon his study of jazz (M.M. with Chris Vadala) and classical saxophone (D.M.A. with Kenneth Tse), immersing himself in a variety of musical situations, ranging from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to the cinematic electro-jazz group, Koplant No. He is also a regular member of both the Jazz St. Louis Big Band and the Missouri Saxophone Quartet,