The Pace Report

08/27/2026

For over four decades, Grammy-award winning drummer, composer and educator Jeff "Tain" Watts was a "Young Lion" during the 1980's New York City Jazz scene. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native busted out of the gate playing with both a young Wynton and Branford Marsalis.

Tain attended the famed Berklee School of Music in Boston but was mentored by the legendary Roger Humphries, Alan Dawson, Art Blakey, and Billy Higgins.

He's recorded, toured, and played with the likes of Terence Blanchard, Michael Brecker, Kurt Elling, Alice and Ravi Coltrane, Greg Osby, Courtney Pine, Betty Carter, Kenny Kirkland, Danilo Perez, Joe Locke, and Stanley Jordan.

In this edition of The Pace Report, Jeff sits down with Pace and reflects on his career, his role and as a band leader and composer, and some of musical influences.

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08/12/2026

2026 Blue Note Jazz Festival; Ibrahim Maalouf

Closing out this year's 2026 Blue Note Jazz Festival is trumpeter and bandleader Ibrahim Maalouf. The Beirut, Lebanon born, Paris, France raised Grammy-nominated musician played to a sold-out audience playing music from his latest album. "On Trumpets of Michel-Ange II" pays homage and tribute to his father and continues to explore the music and rhythms of Ibrahim's Lebanese roots. The new album features guest performances with pianist Gonzalo Rubacaba, percussionist Pedrito Martinez, pianist Jon Baptiste, and trombonist Trombone Shorty.

Over the last 30 years Ibrahim has recorded and collaborated with Elvis Costello, Sting, Quincy Jones, and Angelique Kidjo.

He's been hailed as "the Master of the Quarter Tone Trumpet" and plays the four valve trumpet that was created by his dad as a way to play Arabic music on trumpet.

In addition to being one of the top selling European international musician, Ibrahim is a prolific movie composer scoring over 20 films.

Ibrahim sat down with Brian before his set to discuss the concept of the four valve trumpet, his new record, his exploration of playing Arabic while fusing other musical styles, and what inspires him when he composes for movies.

For more info on Ibrahim's upcoming Fall tour dates or to order his new album please visit him online at www.Ibrahimmaalouf.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze63ZsXk3Bg&t=247s

Welcome to this special edition of The Pace Report reporting live f...

07/30/2026

Welcome to another edition of The Pace Report featuring pianist, composer, and educator Donald Vega.

These days Donald Vega wears many shoes. He's a professor of music at The Juilliard School here in New York City, a member of Ron Carter's Golden Stryker Trio(a seat he's held down for almost 16 years, and leader of his own sextet which he wrote new music for his upcoming album.

The Nicaraguan born and Los Angeles raised musician had the best of both worlds growing up.Donald was classically trained in his homeland but during civil war he was forced to move to LA where he was immersed in a heavy musical environment where he was mentored by jazz luminaries such as Al McKibbon, John Clayton, and Francisco Aguabella.

Donald was named a Guggenheim Fellow in 2023 and is a Grammy award nominee.

Earlier this summer Donald premiered the music for his new sextet at Jazzcultural. Brian and Donald sat down to discuss this new music, reflects on his musical upbringings in both Nicaragua and LA, him being mentored by the great Kenny Barron, and him playing with Ron Carter.

For more information on Donald's upcoming club dates or to order his latest CD, please visit him online at www.DonaldVega.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT8fd7w97ro&t=604s

Welcome to another edition of The Pace Report featuring pianist, co...

07/07/2026

Welcome to this special edition of The Pace Report live from the 2026 Jersey City Jazz Festival featuring saxophonist and educator Melissa Aldana.

Melissa's latest Blue Note Records release "Filin" was produced by legendary record producer Don Was, also President of the label. Don suggested she collaborate with legendary Grammy-award Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and the result was the album "Filin" which features Gonzalo, Peter Washington on bass, and Kush Abadey on drums.

The Santiago, Chile native began playing the saxophone when she was six. Her father Marcos Aldana was also a professional saxophonist.Aldana began playing the alto saxophone and was influenced Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, and Michael Brecker. When she heard saxophonist Sonny Rollins, she eventually switched to tenor saxophone. Her first tenor saxophone she played was a Selmer Mark VI that had belonged to her grandfather.

Moving to the United States she attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston where Melissa was mentored by Greg Osby, Joe Lovano, and George Garzone. When she moved to New York she was mentored by heavyweights George Coleman and Jimmy Heath.

In this edition of The Pace Report, Melissa and Brian sit down and talk about her collaborating with both Gonzalo and Don Was, her recording her first jazz ballad album, and her role as an educator and bandleader.

For more info on Melissa's upcoming club dates or to order her new album, please visit her online at MelissaAldana.net

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-QedB4SBaU&t=452s

Welcome to this special edition of The Pace Report live from the 20...

06/26/2026

Welcome to another edition of The Pace Report featuring jazz pianist, educator, composer, and bandleader Helen Sung.

Helen's latest album "Oracles" is her first big band project. The music composed on the new album is dedicated to the jazz luminaries who impacted her life both musically and professionally. Legends that mentored her including Clark Terry, Ron Carter, Jimmy Heath, Wayne Shorter, Barry Harris, Kenny Barron, Herbie Hancock and Sir Roland Hanna, a during her time in t the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, now known as the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. The music was funders by a grant from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation along with additional support from the New York State Council on the Arts.

Recently Helen performed the new music with the big band along with a special duo performance with NEA Jazz Master and bassist Ron Carter.

Brian sat down with Helen to discuss the new music, her time writing the assigning the musicians to play the music, as well as the leading a big band for the first time.

For more info on Helen's upcoming performances or to order "Oracles", please visit her online at HelenSung.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYeMtEmj7nY&t=508s

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06/25/2026

Man…I’m just getting word that the legendary David Clayton-Thomas joined the ancestors this morning at the age of 84.

I’m gonna keep it buck, Blood, Sweat & Tears was one of the funkiest, most soulful, and hard driving “rock horn” bands that ushered in jazz, rock, and soul. David’s lead vocals was the icing on the cake. He and Joe Cocker were coming from school of brother Ray Charles. It was CLEARLY evident on BST’s iconic hits including “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”, “Spinning Wheel”, “And When I Died”. He held his own with the same iconic soul vocalists of his generation ranging from Joe Tex to James Brown. David took “blue-eyed soul” with BST and elevated it to crossover commercial pop and R&B success.

My pops played the bejesus out if some Blood, Sweat & Tears as a kid and loved his voice. I’ve always thought BST rode the charts high and crumbled fast due to the changes of rock and soul in the early 1970s.

There’ll never be another David Clayton-Thomas. His voice was one of a kind.

Rest in Power.

Paceface

04/29/2026

Welcome to another edition of The Pace Report.

Vocalist Ana Hoffman has a new view on how Black American Music needs to be presented and where it needs to go. She performs as The BLCK Madonna and not only is her stage presence and selections of songs she performs draws packed houses, Ana is a beautiful spirit inside and out. Her debut album "Between The Lines" is a reflection of how the traditional American songbook needs to revisioned as well received to new and younger music fans.

Ana who hails from Texas set out to become a pharmacist like her mother and father while in college but became bit by the music bug. She earned a scholarship in music performance and soon switched majors. It was there where she was exposed to jazz music and pursued the music as a career. After graduation Ana was casted in the national touring production of the Tony Award winning musical "Dream Girls" where she got her real footing as an actress and vocalist.

The BLCK Madonna just released her debut album "Between The Lines" at Aman Jazz Club in New York City recently to two sold out performances.

Ana sat down with Brian after her performance to discuss her new album, her Ghanian roots, and how she chooses to put her band together.

To order Ana's debut album to find out her upcoming club dates please visit her online at www.TheBLCKMadonna.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5gMXuXHDjk&t=1978s

5 likes, 1 comment. "The Pace Report: "On Being The BLCK Madonna" The Ana Hoffman Interview"

03/26/2026

Welcome to another edition of The Pace Report featuring saxophonist and composer Tivon Pennicott.

By way of Marietta, Georgia, saxophonist Tivon Pennicott has been on the frontlines as a leader as well as sideman who's played on three Grammy-award winning projects by vocalists Gregory Porter and Esperanza Spaulding. He's also toured and recorded with bassist Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, and Kenny Burrell.

As a leader he leads his quartet featuring Lex Korten on piano, Dean Torry on bass, and Kenn Salters on drums. Tivon's latest album "Roots to Branches" showcases his Jamaican heritage, featuring his his vocals and some outstanding musicians and compositions.

Tivon sat down with Brian to discuss his role as a composers and bandleader. he reflects on his saxophone hero Joshua Redman, and playing with some of the most important jazz musicians of this generation.

For more info on Tivon's upcoming club dates or to order his music, please visit him online at www.TivonPennicott.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH0BGwRCIMY&t=590s

Welcome to another edition of The Pace Report featuring saxophonist and composer Tivon Pennicott.By way of Marietta, Georgia, saxophonist Tivon Pennicott has...

03/20/2026

This year I wanted to profile a talent that represents the past, the present, and the future. Vocalist and actress Georgia Heers is not only prepared to release her debut album this summer, her talent is warm, generous, and passionate about relating to lineage of the elders while being relative to the music of her generation.
Raised in Greer, South Carolina, Georgia knew as a teenager that she was destined to become an entertainer.

After graduating high school she attended undergrad at Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio where she was mentored by vocalist LaTanya Hall and jazz legends and instructors Dr. Eddie Henderson, Gary Bartz, and Billy Hart.

It was her moving to New York City where she earned her Masters in performance at the famed Julilard School.
Georgia's big break came when she played Ella in George Clooney's Broadway adaptation of "Goodnight and Good Luck".

She's been playing clubs around the world and was a grantee if Chamber Music America which helped her fund recording her first album which will be release later this summer.

In this special Woman's Month edition of The Pace Report, Georgia and Brian sit down live from Dizzy's to discuss her upcoming debut album, leading and fronting her own band, and reflect on her experience of performing on Broadway.

For more info on Georgia's upcoming tour dates and album release please visit her online at www.GeorgiaHeers.com.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTj2sh598wY

Welcome to another edition of The Pace Report celebrating National Woman's Month. This year I wanted to profile a talent that represents the past, the presen...

02/27/2026

Welcome to another edition of The Pace Report featuring drummer and composer Brandon Sanders.

Brandon's current Savant Records release "Lasting Impression" has been on the top of the jazz radio chart and received a lot a positive press from the international and national press. His third album and most progressive, "Lasting Impression" was produced by Willie Jones III and features Grammy-nominated vocalist Jazzmeia Horn and some of jazz music's accomplished leaders and sidemen in the business. Musicians Warren Wolf, Stacy Dillard, Eric Scott Reed, and Eric Wheeler.

The Kansas City born, Compton, California native is a social worker but has been in demand as a leader as his hit recordings have lead him to his real calling, music. It was Kansas City where his grandmother owned a jazz club and established Brandon's roots in music. While on college he played on the basketball team he eventually transferred to Berklee College of Music in Boston where after finishing school he moved to New York and became a sideman and eventually was mentored by drummer Lewis Nash. While in school he was classmates with vibraphonist Warren Wolf who's appeared on all three of his recordings.

In this edition of The Pace Report you'll see highlights of Brandon's official NYC "Lasting Impression" Record Release Performances at Dizzy's and The Jazz Club in NYC. The two sit down and discuss Brandon's Compton and Kansas City roots. how the music and his journey led him to this new album, and reflect on some of his musical influences.

For more info on Brandon's upcoming club dates or to order his latest CD, please visit him online at www.BrandonSandersMusic.com.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqabOF_s26Y&t=788s

Welcome to another edition of The Pace Report featuring drummer and composer Brandon Sanders.Brandon's current Savant Records release "Lasting Impression" ha...