Five Questions with Ray Vega

Native New Yorker, trumpeter, and composer Ray Vega is one of the innovators of the international jazz and latin music scenes. The Puerto Rican musician grew up immersed in the heart of two vibrant New York City music scenes,jazz and salsa. Vega has performed and recorded with Mongo Santamaria,Ray Barretto and New World Spirit, including the […]

Five Questions with Kristin Pluhacek

Artist Kristin Pluhacek’s work is represented in numerous public and private collections, such as Lauritzen Gardens, Museum of Nebraska Art, Wayne State College, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Creighton University, Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, and the list goes on and on. Kristin is a BFA graduate of Creighton University, a roster artist for the […]

Five Questions with Frank Catalano

Downbeat Magazine said of Frank Catalano’s playing: “full throttle front and center, a modal rocker that suggests John Coltrane energy in the 21st century.” High praise for the Chicago saxophonist, who began playing at age 7. He severed his right middle finger while working on a car engine when he was 16, but forced his hands […]

Five Questions with Steve Slagle

Multi-GRAMMY®-nominated, saxophonist/flutist, Steve Slagle was born in Los Angeles, CA, where he got his first saxophone, and later attended Berklee College of Music in Boston on a DownBeat scholarship. One of his first gigs, at the age of 18, was in the Stevie Wonder Band, in Boston. Often featured as a sideman, Slagle is a consummate leader, a bop […]

Five Questions with Bryant “Bizzy B” McCain

Bryant “Bizzy B” McCain created an Urban radio station from his own music collection, and that station grew into a top rated station in a market, Omaha, that wasn’t used to the format. I met Bryant when we were both working for NRG Media, and Bizzy lived up to his name. A no – nonsense, […]

Five Questions with Keith Fertwagner

He’s toured all over the country and the world, and his music has been featured in shows such as “Big Love” and “One Tree Hill” as well as movie trailers for “Clerks 2” and “Knocked Up.” Keith Fertwagner, former Music Director at Omaha’s School of Rock, as well as front man with bands The Beat Seekers, […]

Five Questions with Eric Harland

Eric Harland Multi-GRAMMY®-nominated drummer, Eric Harland is one of the most in demand drummers of his generation. He has already been on close to 200 recordings at the age of 36. He leads his own group, Voyager, and has played and recorded with greats Betty Carter, Charles Lloyd, Dave Holland, Josh Redman, McCoy Tyner, and Kurt […]

Five Questions with Houston Alexander

MMA fighter, Houston “The Assasin” Alexander, is a native of East St. Louis, Illinois, whose career took off after relocating to Omaha, Nebraska. He organized the ‘Scribble Cru’, a collection of graffiti artists, as well as the ‘Alliance Allstar B-boys and B-girls’ (who have toured with legends: Ice T, Salt & Pepa, Foxy Brown, Juvenile, Vanilla Ice, Tone-Loc, […]

Five Questions with Darren Keen

Beats music maker Darren Keen, formerly/aka The Show is the Rainbow, is a one-man-band/DJ, who is known as much for his passion on and off stage as he is for his sound. Keen gained notoriety for his commentary on indie fashion and scene icons such as Conor Oberst and Saddle Creek Records. His song, “Up a Creek Without […]

Five Questions with Rachel Tomlinson Dick

Omaha has no shortage of artists who are women. There are plenty of places to play/show, and many supporters to bolster a young artist’s hopes and dreams. Rachel Tomlinson Dick is one young woman who is striving, and succeeding at getting her voice heard. I first became aware of Tomlinson Dick years ago, while booking a series of […]