HFL171 Gene Dinapoli

Dane Reis, an American living in Adelaide, South Australia, discussing Australia’s strict quarantine measures and near-normal life during COVID. Dane shares his unconventional path into entertainment: starting dance at 17.5 after sports injuries, studying musical theater at the Boston Conservatory, working as the University of Montana’s grizzly bear mascot (winning Capital One National Mascot of the Year), studying music abroad in Vienna, then moving to New York. He took cruise-ship work to pay student loans, met his Australian wife, later performed in Las Vegas (including Jubilee) and worked in multiple Strip shows, stage management, and corporate production. Dane explains why he created a daily interview podcast to teach entertainers business and career fundamentals missing from arts education.

Host Larry announces the return of his long-running interview series speaks with Boston-based drummer Zeke Martin. Zeke shares his upbringing around the Paris Opera, his international childhood, and his family’s deep jazz roots. He describes starting gigging at 12, pursuing drums at 16, and favoring fusion/instrumental funk inspired by John Scofield and Dennis Chambers.

HFL171 Gene Dinapoli Interviewed October 9, 2020 Interview released August 11, 2026

HFL170 Brooks Tegler Interviewed October 6, 2020 Interview released August 4, 2026 Brooks Tegler on Leading from the Drum Kit and Gene Krupa’s Legacy studioHFL host Larry Powell interviews drummer, bandleader, and Gene Krupa historian Brooks Tegler. Brooks describes decades as a full-time musician, forming his own swing band modeled on the Benny Goodman Quartet/Sextet, and leading from behind the drum kit, praising players like Kenny McGee. The discussion centers on Gene Krupa as Brooks’s lifelong hero: Krupa’s melodic, contextual drumming, minimalist setup, innovations in feel, technique, and drum sizes, and his long Slingerland endorsement. Brooks outlines Krupa’s career arc (Goodman 1934–1938; own band success in 1941 with Roy Eldridge and Anita O’Day), the 1943 frame-up drug bust and its lasting impact, and later work with Norman Granz’s Jazz at the Philharmonic and international touring. Brooks is finishing a heavily illustrated book on Krupa’s equipment history and related biography. 00:00 Welcome Back Update 00:11 Interview Series Origins 01:09 From Brass To Everyone 02:43 Meet Brooks Intro 03:08 Career And Bandleading 06:51 Trumpet Players And Egos 10:42 Leading From The Drums 12:15 Gene Krupa Hero 14:36 Writing The Krupa Book 17:30 Critics And Showmanship 22:23 Early Style Innovations 24:21 Minimal Kits And Recording 31:12 Krupa Timeline And Goodman 35:26 Roy Eldridge And Anita ODay 36:19 Framed In 1943 37:37 The Krupa Frame-Up 38:45 Benny and Dorsey Come Through 40:05 Marriage and Aftermath 42:20 Faith and Lingering Stigma 44:56 Post-1943 Career Rebuild 46:58 JATP and World Touring 48:55 Vegas Tales and Lost Drum 50:45 Meeting Gene in Person 54:49 What Made Him Innovative 59:32 Sing Sing Sing Legacy 01:03:56 Finishing the Krupa Book 01:07:56 Wrap-Up and Thanks

HFL169 Empress (Shannon Rugari) Interviewed October 2, 2020 Interview released July 28 , 2026 From San Francisco Ballet to Broadway to “Empress”: Shannon on Owning Your Crown Host Larry returns to his Studio HFL interview series and speaks with Shannon, a former San Francisco Ballet dancer who later performed on Broadway in An American in Paris and now releases music under the stage name Empress. Shannon explains how “Empress” reflects taking ownership of her life and encouraging others to “own their crown,” and shares how music led her to dance, composing on piano from age four, singing publicly for the first time at 19, and creating as a “closeted” singer-songwriter during her ballet years. She discusses the physical and mental demands of ballet, career pressures around body image, how a raw foods diet helped her health and longevity, and the value of visualization, mentorship, and positive leadership from choreographers like William Forsythe. Shannon previews new releases starting in November and mentions composing a symphony during COVID. 00:00 Interviews Return 00:54 Meet The Guest 02:24 Empress Stage Name Origin 02:24 Why Empress 06:44 Own Your Crown 10:28 Composing At Four 13:13 Ballet To Broadway 19:59 Nutcracker Origins 23:34 Body Image And Health 23:39 Ballet Career & Body Image 29:34 A Ballerina Day 37:25 Mental Game And Mentors 39:14 Muscle Memory Mastery 40:01 Mentors And The Village 41:00 Dance As Meditation 42:57 Broadway Transition 42:57 Ballerina To Broadway 49:13 Broadway Confidence Vs Ballet 52:15 Building The Empress Empire 52:27 Music Career as Empress 56:15 Favorite Ballet And Leadership 01:00:44 Rite Of Spring And Music 01:03:26 San Francisco Reality Check 01:06:41 Warm Farewell And Next Steps

Harry Miedema — From The O’Jays to Building UIndy’s Jazz Program StudioHFL host Larry Powell interviews saxophonist Harry Miedema about his life and career. Harry discusses retiring from the University of Indianapolis about seven years ago, continuing to play weekly with his Florida-based Blue Heron Sextet (about 90 charts written), and missing teaching. He recounts joining UIndy as an adjunct in 1985 while touring, later directing the jazz ensemble after Jim Edison, and building concerts and a jazz series with help from Jamey Aebersold, including notable guest artists and Edison’s donated chart library. Harry describes 23 years touring with The O’Jays (1976–1998), his West Point band service, lessons with Joe Allard and David Baker, work hiring brass players, sharing a stage with Louis Armstrong in 1971, and recent projects including a clarinet analysis book and transcriptions. 00:00 Interviews Return 00:39 Sponsors Thanks 01:37 Interview Begins 02:12 Obituary Mixup 03:25 Blue Heron Sextet 04:43 Teaching After Retirement 05:19 Building UIndy Jazz 09:03 Concert Series Highlights 10:57 Life With The O'Jays 12:43 UIndy Recruiting Reality 14:34 Teaching Philosophy 15:03 Mentors Joe Allard 17:56 David Baker Influence 18:59 Indy Roots Larry Hall 21:13 Making It Happen 22:10 Learning on the Hustle 23:41 West Point Band Life 24:44 Mentors and Clarinet 25:34 Jamey Aebersold Connection 28:00 O'Jays Brass Hiring Stories 32:43 Louis Armstrong Encounter 34:29 Jazz Game Changers 36:35 Retirement Projects in Florida 38:51 Recordings and Radio Wrap-Up

HFL 167 Cliff Goldmacher by Larry Powell

Chris Van Hof | Trombone, Ball State University | Studio HFL Podcast Larry Powell sits down with trombonist and Ball State University professor Chris Van Hof to talk pandemic life, Spanish immersion schooling, a wild week hosting the International Trombone Festival, building a studio culture from the ground up, and his love of S.E. Shires instruments. Chris also shares what it was like working as a classical radio host in Rochester — and how that experience still shapes the way he plays and teaches today. A warm, wide-ranging conversation for brass players, educators, and music lovers alike. 🎙️ Studio HFL is a podcast dedicated to in-depth conversations with brass musicians, teachers, and performers. 👍 Like and subscribe — it's the only time we'll ask! Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:31 Welcome & Introduction 3:01 Pandemic Life, New House & Family 7:23 Summer Playing & Music Projects 13:22 Hosting the International Trombone Festival 46:23 Western Michigan, Eastman & Radio Career 47:00 Ball State University: Studio Goals & Teaching Philosophy 51:49 S.E. Shires Endorsement 1:03:30 Wrap-up & Closing

Glenn Drewes on Big Band Road Life, Broadway, Sesame Street & Lessons from Buddy Rich The host returns to release long-delayed Studio HFL interviews, thanks early sponsors and patrons, and begins a conversation with trumpeter Glenn Drewes (calling from Long Island) about his career and the era’s booming music scene. Drewes recalls high school with Vince DiMartino, influential teacher Ed Delulio, and early gigging before joining Lionel Hampton’s band, including an on-the-road encounter with 17-year-old John Faddis. He describes bus-travel big band life, pay and camaraderie, stints with Buddy Rich (including a tense onstage moment), and how networking led to recording work and meeting Don Sebesky. Drewes discusses Broadway work since 1981, including 13 years on Chicago, advice for young players, his Sesame Street recording job, practice and fitness habits during the pandemic, key influences (Maynard Ferguson, Blue Mitchell, Sweets Edison), and stories from commercial auditions. 00:00 Glenn Drewes Interview - Trumpet Legend on Hampton, Buddy Rich & Broadway 04:20 Early Career & Timing 11:10 Playing with Lionel Hampton 18:33 Buddy Rich Stories 36:18 Broadway & Sesame Street 41:48 Influences & Philosophy 53:09 Power of Positivity

Andrew Hitz on Boston Brass, The Brass Junkies & TEM, Mentors, and Finding Creativity in the Pandemic The host returns to Studio HFL interviews begun in 2017, thanks past sponsors and supporters, and introduces an interview with tubist Andrew Hitz. Hitz discusses navigating the pandemic while helping his first-grade son Nicholas in online Spanish immersion, his wife’s work as a middle school band director, and how stepping off the road after 14 years in Boston Brass led him to be a stay-at-home dad and later refocus creatively. He recounts how he joined Boston Brass via an emergency sub gig arranged through Sam Palafian, reflects on early musical immersion at Tanglewood, youth orchestra experiences, and meeting mentors including Palafian and Arnold Jacobs. He describes his passion for Phish (201 concerts) and parallels between musical intensity across genres. Hitz explains how his network and desire to keep collaborating with Lance LaDuke led to The Brass Junkies and later The Entrepreneurial Musician (TEM), and how business learning grew from social media and arts marketing interests while he remains selective about performing. 00:00 Welcome Back Updates 00:43 Sponsors And Supporters 01:43 Interview Kickoff Praise 05:24 Life In The Pandemic 06:23 Stay At Home Dad Shift 10:55 Spanish And Early Listening 12:10 Joining Boston Brass 16:48 Youth Orchestra Pressure 28:12 High School Band Reality 30:51 Meeting Your Heroes 33:55 Why Phish Matters 39:08 Phish Shows And Tickets 40:47 Empire Brass Origins 41:41 Meeting Sam Pilafian 42:36 Empire Brass Seminar 44:19 Inside Open Rehearsals 45:26 Rolf Intensity Story 47:32 Chamber Music Dynamics 50:25 Empire Performance Fire 51:12 Mnozil Brass Magic 53:22 Touring Life Reflections 54:53 Starting Brass Junkies 01:09:38 TEM Business Origins 01:14:02 Playing Versus Podcasting 01:20:27 Wrapping Up and Thanks