Meet The KUSPersonality

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Photo: Stephen Laufer / KUSP

KUSP’s Brett Taylor hosts the Latin Quarter every Sunday afternoon. He’s our MC on-the-stop and the heart and soul of many of our artist interviews and live performances during the Monterey Jazz Festival. 

P.S. Brett is also a master origamist. Check out what the man can do with five one dollar bills between broadcasts:


Artist Interviews: Berklee Flamenco

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Berklee Flamenco is a crack troupe of musicians from the Berklee College of Music. Before bringing a mix of jazz, flamenco, and Mid­dle Eastern sounds to the Garden Stage, members Ariadna Castellanos Rivas and Ali Amr spoke to KUSP’s Latin Quarter host Brett Taylor.

Photo: Stephen Laufer / KUSP

Stephen Laufer / KUSP

Ariadna Castellanos Rivas, Ali Amr, Tamir Shmerling, Enrique “Kalani” Trinidad, & Sergio Martinez.

Photo: Mike Lambert / KUSP

Qanunist and vocalist Ali Amr of Berklee Flamecnco wowed the crowd Friday night on Garden Stage.

Artist Interviews: Family Pizzarelli

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Photos: Stephen Laufer / KUSP

The John Pizzarelli Quartet’s Friday night set was a relative success: Two generations and a wife of Pizzarelli charmed the audience with full band jazz standards, guitar noodling father and son duets, and rapier wit. After the set Bucky, his son John, and John’s wife Jessica made time for KUSP in the Sturgeon. They spoke with KUSP’s own MC Brett Taylor.


Artist Interviews: Poncho & Terence

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Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band were joined by jazz royalty in the form of Terence Blanchard last night on the Jimmy Lyons (Arena) stage. Together they closed out Day 1 with Cubano Be! Cubano Bop! A Tribute to Chano Pozo & Dizzy Gillespie. Before taking the stage they sat down for a chat with KUSP’s Brett Taylor in the Sturgeon:

Photo: Stephen Laufer / KUSP