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In this episode Monica reflects on the first of her two trips to NYC for the Creative Residency Series. She talks about both the nerves and excitement of improvising with everyone, how she felt building relationships with other women, and walking in the footsteps of musicians in NYC.  Bonus Video with Andromeda Turre - https://youtu.be/OEIPkPpgwTg?si=wq6m2qLGpH8S32R8 Have a question you want answered on the podcast? Visit https://monicashriver.com/bravemusician and send it to Monica This is episode 11 in the Creative Residency series, "Here, There, and Everywhere" where Monica talks and plays saxophone with 18 fellow jazz instrumentalist bandleaders who are women. This series is made possible by the Jazz Road Creative Residency grant organized by South Arts with support from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. ___ Brave Musician® is a space for all musicians to share their stories and talk about what it means to be a human making music.  Created and facilitated by saxophonist, composer, visual artist, and bandleader Monica Shriver, Brave Musician® includes the Brave Musician® Podcast, various resources for creative confidence and artistic/personal development, and opportunities within the community to connect and support. https://monicashriver.com/bravemusician

In this episode, Monica talks and plays with saxophonist, bandleader, and composer, Sharel Cassity at the Blue Note in NYC. They talk about how important it is to connect and have a message that you can give to people, her journey from growing up in OK, moving to NYC, teaching in Qatar, doing it all in Chicago (including starting the non-profit Jazz Up) and now being the Director of Jazz at the University of Virginia. They discuss how losing touch with yourself can cause the art to suffer, removing the voice in your head that is constantly judging what you do, and how having no plan and following the music has allowed some of the best things to happen. They talk vulnerability in life and playing, about her latest album, Gratitude, what we write songs about, and liking what we do and how we do it.  https://www.sharelcassity.com https://www.instagram.com/shah_relle https://www.facebook.com/sharelc https://music.virginia.edu/people/sharel-cassity https://www.jazzupinstitute.com This is episode 10 in the Creative Residency series, "Here, There, and Everywhere" where Monica talks and plays saxophone with 18 fellow jazz instrumentalist bandleaders who are women. This series is made possible by the Jazz Road Creative Residency grant organized by South Arts with support from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. ____ Brave Musician® is a space for all musicians to share their stories and talk about what it means to be a human making music.  Created and facilitated by saxophonist, composer, visual artist, and bandleader Monica Shriver, Brave Musician® includes the Brave Musician® Podcast, various resources for creative confidence and artistic/personal development, and opportunities within the community to connect and support. https://monicashriver.com/bravemusician

In this episode, Monica talks and plays with NY saxophonist and flutist Jenny Hill. They talk about being in the same Chamber Music America Performance Plus grant cohort in 2023 and how they executed their projects. Jenny's resulted in her latest album, Floating, which featuring all her original compositions. They discuss Jenny's brave decision to transfer schools in college, moving to NY after graduation, her composition process and her over 20 years of experience as a bandleader. They also talk about the fluidity of the saxophone, navigating the back and forth between the busy and slow times, and seeing more women appearing at jazz festivals.  https://www.jennyhilljazz.com https://www.instagram.com/liquidhorn/ This is episode 9 in the Creative Residency series, "Here, There, and Everywhere" where she talks and plays saxophone with 18 fellow jazz instrumentalist bandleaders who are women. This series is made possible by the Jazz Road Creative Residency grant organized by South Arts with support from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. _____ Brave Musician® is a space for all musicians to share their stories and talk about what it means to be a human making music.  Created and facilitated by saxophonist, composer, visual artist, and bandleader Monica Shriver, Brave Musician® includes the Brave Musician® Podcast, various resources for creative confidence and artistic/personal development, and opportunities within the community to connect and support. https://monicashriver.com/bravemusician

In this episode, Monica talks and plays with Brooklyn-based trombonist, writer, bandleader, and vocalist, Ginita (Benalcázar-López). We covered so many topics, including mentorship and breaking into a scene, reframing neurodivergent distractions as something to embrace rather than shame, how everything we do serves the art, and having some audacity to reach for the things we want. We also talked about the making of her new album - LA ORQUESTA ESA - recorded LIVE at The Jazz Gallery, advocating for yourself and for music you know will land with an audience, documenting the journey, and finding space to be seen. This episode is full of inspiration, laugher, and a guest appearance by one of her sweet cats!  https://ginabenalcazarlopez.com/ https://www.instagram.com/laorquestaesa https://www.instagram.com/ginitaontrombone This is episode 8 in the Creative Residency series, "Here, There, and Everywhere" where she talks and plays saxophone with 18 fellow jazz instrumentalist bandleaders who are women. This series is made possible by the Jazz Road Creative Residency grant organized by South Arts with support from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. ___ Brave Musician® is a space for all musicians to share their stories and talk about what it means to be a human making music.  Created and facilitated by saxophonist, composer, visual artist, and bandleader Monica Shriver, Brave Musician® includes the Brave Musician® Podcast, various resources for creative confidence and artistic/personal development, and opportunities within the community to connect and support. https://monicashriver.com/bravemusician

In this episode, Monica talks and plays with Lisa Parrott, a saxophonist, composer, and bandleader based in New York City, about how much we both love Ornette Coleman - she has a band called "We love Ornette!" - and how we each incorporated his "Harmolodics" concept into our playing and approaches. Lisa talks about growing up in Australia, and practicing with other people, while also being somewhat isolated. We talk about the composing process and how things take different lengths of time to become things. We talk about her time playing Bari sax in the DIVA Jazz Orchestra and what made her accept being a role model when previously resisting the idea. This episode is full of humor, heart and a little musical nerdiness!  https://lisaparrott.com https://www.instagram.com/lisapazparrott https://www.facebook.com/Lisa.Paz.Parrott This is episode 7 in the Creative Residency series, "Here, There, and Everywhere" where Monica talks and plays saxophone with 18 fellow jazz instrumentalist bandleaders who are women. This series is made possible by the Jazz Road Creative Residency grant organized by South Arts with support from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. ___ Brave Musician® is a space for all musicians to share their stories and talk about what it means to be a human making music.  Created and facilitated by saxophonist, composer, visual artist, and bandleader Monica Shriver, Brave Musician® includes the Brave Musician® Podcast, various resources for creative confidence and artistic/personal development, and opportunities within the community to connect and support. https://monicashriver.com/bravemusician

In this episode, which is episode 6 in the Creative Residency series where Monica talks and plays saxophone with fellow jazz instrumentalist bandleaders who are women, Monica speaks with Marta Sánchez, a pianist, composer, bandleader based in New York City.  https://www.martasanchezmusic.com https://www.instagram.com/martasanchezpiano This series is made possible by the Jazz Road Creative Residency grant organized by South Arts with support from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. ___ Brave Musician® is a space for all musicians to share their stories and talk about what it means to be a human making music.  Created and facilitated by saxophonist, composer, visual artist, and bandleader Monica Shriver, Brave Musician® includes the Brave Musician® Podcast, various resources for creative confidence and artistic/personal development, and opportunities within the community to connect and support. https://monicashriver.com/bravemusician

In this episode, which is episode 5 in the Creative Residency series where Monica talks and plays saxophone with fellow jazz instrumentalist bandleaders who are women, Monica speaks with Arcoiris Sandoval, a pianist, composer, and bandleader based in New York City.  https://www.instagram.com/arcopolo/ This series is made possible by the Jazz Road Creative Residency grant organized by South Arts with support from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. ___ Brave Musician® is a space for all musicians to share their stories and talk about what it means to be a human making music.  Created and facilitated by saxophonist, composer, visual artist, and bandleader Monica Shriver, Brave Musician® includes the Brave Musician® Podcast, various resources for creative confidence and artistic/personal development, and opportunities within the community to connect and support. https://monicashriver.com/bravemusician

In this episode, Monica reflects on her time in New Orleans for the first part of her Creative Residency.  This series is made possible by the Jazz Road Creative Residency grant organized by South Arts with support from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. ___ Brave Musician® is a space for all musicians to share their stories and talk about what it means to be a human making music.  Created and facilitated by saxophonist, composer, visual artist, and bandleader Monica Shriver, Brave Musician® includes the Brave Musician® Podcast, various resources for creative confidence and artistic/personal development, and opportunities within the community to connect and support. https://monicashriver.com/bravemusician

In this episode, which is episode 3 in the Creative Residency series where Monica talks and plays saxophone with fellow jazz instrumentalist bandleaders who are women, Monica speaks with Zahria Sims, a saxophonist, composer, and bandleader based in New Orleans.  This series is made possible by the Jazz Road Creative Residency grant organized by South Arts with support from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. https://zahriasims.com https://www.instagram.com/theezahriasims/ https://www.facebook.com/zahriasims ___ Brave Musician® is a space for all musicians to share their stories and talk about what it means to be a human making music.  Created and facilitated by saxophonist, composer, visual artist, and bandleader Monica Shriver, Brave Musician® includes the Brave Musician® Podcast, various resources for creative confidence and artistic/personal development, and opportunities within the community to connect and support. https://monicashriver.com/bravemusician

In this episode, which is episode 2 in the Creative Residency series where Monica talks and plays with fellow jazz instrumentalist bandleaders who are women, Monica speaks Amina Scott, a bassist and composer based in New Orleans.  This series is made possible by the Jazz Road Creative Residency grant organized by South Arts with support from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation.  https://www.aminascott.com  http://instagram.com/aminascottmusic  https://www.facebook.com/aminascottmusic/ ___ Brave Musician® is a space for all musicians to share their stories and talk about what it means to be a human making music.  Created and facilitated by saxophonist, composer, visual artist, and bandleader Monica Shriver, Brave Musician® includes the Brave Musician® Podcast, various resources for creative confidence and artistic/personal development, and opportunities within the community to connect and support. https://monicashriver.com/bravemusician

The podcast has returned! In this episode, Monica shares what she's been up to since the last episode and talks about the creative residency series, "Here, There, and Everywhere" where she talks and plays with 18 fellow jazz instrumentalist bandleaders who are women. This series is made possible by the Jazz Road Creative Residency grant organized by South Arts with support from the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. ___ Brave Musician® is a space for all musicians to share their stories and talk about what it means to be a human making music.  Created and facilitated by saxophonist, composer, visual artist, and bandleader Monica Shriver, Brave Musician® includes the Brave Musician® Podcast, various resources for creative confidence and artistic/personal development, and opportunities within the community to connect and support. https://monicashriver.com/bravemusician

In this episode, Monica and Quez Cantrell (an artist, MC, producer, and web designer from Nashville, TN) continue their conversation where they left off in Part 1. They dig into their personal experiences with isolation, emotional incarceration, self-guilt, forgiving, and moving through deeply painful experiences. They talk about reading and sharing books they have found helpful and figuring out how to rest when needed. They talk about collaboration, lifting up others, being sure of your story and figuring out what a moment sounds like. They share their mutual respect for Rakim and Kendrick Lamar, being unconventional, and making sure that the things you do are sitting right with your spirit. They talk about the importance of trusting people and letting them do what they do, learning how to say no and be told no, motivation and inspiration, setting intentions, and Quez answers the "Behind the Curtain" questions. _____________ To support Brave Musician, including the production of this podcast, please visit BraveMusician.com for information on our Pay-It-Forward model and how you can help. The Brave Musician podcast is a part of BraveMusician, which includes a variety of workshops, a blog, and other opportunities to connect within this community. Please visit BraveMusician.com to find out more. _____________ See the show notes at BraveMusician.com/podcasts.

In this episode, which is part one of a two-part series, Monica has a profoundly honest and deeply vulnerable conversation with Quez Cantrell, an artist, MC, producer, and web designer from Nashville, TN. They talk about how they met (it all started with an NPR article about the Nashville Hip Hop scene that came out during the pandemic) and Quez's unconventional journey that led him to put his brutally honest music out into the world. Quez shares some of the challenges that he's encountered growing up Black in Nashville and trying to build a career when you're not a country music artist. We dive into his writing process, influences, and how they both want to know the backstory of how a song comes together. Quez also shares how playing football prepared him for being on stage, but it was music that helped him deal with and process his brother's murder. They talk about building a community that values what different people bring to it, being ok with being vulnerable, self-reflecting, growing as a person and learning how to feel emotions and face them. _____________ To support Brave Musician, including the production of this podcast, please visit BraveMusician.com for information on our Pay-It-Forward model and how you can help. The Brave Musician podcast is a part of BraveMusician, which includes a variety of workshops, a blog, and other opportunities to connect within this community. Please visit BraveMusician.com to find out more. _____________ See the show notes at BraveMusician.com/podcasts.

In this episode Monica is joined by drummers Matt Crouse (from Nashville, TN) and Zack Albetta (from Atlanta, GA) who are the hosts of The Working Drummer podcast. They talk about some of the challenges and rewards of producing a podcast, the story of how Matt and Zack started working together and what they each bring to the table. They share how they both enjoy talking about making a living playing drums and the logistical, psychological, physical and emotional obstacles that are inherent within the profession. They discuss some of the misconceptions of the music business, the desire to learn and understand one's options, the art of asking questions and why it can be hard for some to open up. Matt and Zack also answer the "Behind the Curtain" questions. _____________ To support Brave Musician, including the production of this podcast, please visit BraveMusician.com for information on our Pay-It-Forward model and how you can help. The Brave Musician podcast is a part of BraveMusician, which includes a variety of workshops, a blog, and other opportunities to connect within this community. Please visit BraveMusician.com to find out more. _____________ See the show notes at BraveMusician.com/podcasts.

In this episode, Monica chats with singer and songwriter, Chelcie Jette about her journey as a songwriter, how she ended up in Nashville after graduating with a degree in music business from Berkeley, and all of the different odd jobs that she has done. They talk about being inspired by others, learning from co-writing, researching and finding sounds that resonate. Chelcie shares her songwriting process for the songs on her up-coming EP (which drops August 18) including some audio clips and the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with putting work out into the world. We talk about our individual recording experiences, the important contributions of others, and getting creative with funding projects. Chelcie answers the "Behind the Curtain" questions, and we try not to get too distracted by her two extremely cute cats. _____________ To support Brave Musician, including the production of this podcast, please visit BraveMusician.com for information on our Pay-It-Forward model and how you can help. The Brave Musician podcast is a part of BraveMusician, which includes a variety of workshops, a blog, and other opportunities to connect within this community. Please visit BraveMusician.com to find out more. _____________ See the show notes at BraveMusician.com/podcasts.