Pull up a chair, grab your beverage of choice, and welcome to the inaugural gathering of The League of Extraordinarily Caffeinated Gentlemen.

In this high-octane roundtable edition of You Dig?, Steve Wiest is joined by:

• Glenn Kostur – saxophonist, composer, and longtime collaborator of Maynard Ferguson (Big Bop Nouveau) •

Art Bouton – Director & Founder of the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra (CJRO) •

Tom Matta – composer and bass trombone professor at DePaul University

What follows is equal parts jazz wisdom, pop culture detours, tool philosophy, Minnesota Vikings trauma, Hank Mobley reverence, David Letterman nostalgia, mashed potato theology, and a surprisingly profound meditation on the meaning of life.

Yes — Warren Zevon shows up.

So does Office Space.

And possibly the greatest jazz radio station on the planet.

A good time is had by all. You dig?

Chapter Markers

00:00 – Welcome to the League (coffee levels rising)

03:45 – Office Space, Initech & Inside Baseball

08:20 – The “Dig You Inquisition” Begins

09:10 – Art Bouton: Heroes & Role Models (Bob Mintzer)

12:40 – Tom Matta: Vikings, Fran Tarkenton & Sports Trauma

17:10 – Glenn Kostur: Hank Mobley’s Soul Station 21:40 – Streaming Corner: Shrinking, The Pitt & Grumpy Harrison Ford

24:15 – Mashed Potatoes vs Ice Cream (serious culinary philosophy) 26:00 – The Meaning of Life: Tools, Warren Zevon & Mindfulness

30:30 – Jazz Language, Late Night TV & David Letterman Memories 32:10 – KUVO, KUNM & The Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra

33:15 – The League Adjourns (Next Week: John Clayton)

Mentioned In This Episode

• Hank Mobley – Soul Station (Blue Note Records) • Bob Mintzer • Warren Zevon – “Enjoy Every Sandwich” • KUVO Jazz (Denver) • KUNM (University of New Mexico) • Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra • DePaul University Jazz Studies

Subscribe & Connect

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🌐 Steve Wiest: https://steve-wiest.com/

📺 Watch full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@YouDigPod

You Dig? is a production of WIESTWORLD Productions © 2026

You can see the4 VIDEO version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/@YouDigPod

Please click LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to help us grow the You Dig? podcast adventure!

About this episode: The great Bob Mintzer stops by and we have a blast talking about his mighty oeuvre in general, and specifically his newest release "Bob Mintzer and WDR Big Band Cologne "Soundscapes" Plus Bob takes the "Dig You Inquisition!" A good time was SHO NUFF had by all — deep stories, laughs, and serious jazz wisdom.

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Links from this Episode:

Bob Mintzer's website: https://bobmintzermusic.com/

A good place to purchase "Soundscapes" https://bobmintzermusic.com/blog/new-...

Bob's classic album "Incredible Journey • Incredible Journey

Purchase the album! https://bobmintzermusic.com/shop/p/rx...

The EWI Guru Matt Traum https://www.patchmanmusic.com/MattTra...

The first show of 2026 with the NEW NAME! It's You Dig? with special guest FRANK GREENE!!

LINKS FROM THE SHOW:

Frank's Site: http://www.frankdavidgreene.com/

Frank Greene Bio: https://www.adams-music.com/en/artist...

One of Frank's Current "Go-To" album s: Caleb Hudson "Nothing Less" https://calebhudson.bandcamp.com/albu...

Frank Discography: https://www.discogs.com/artist/136301...

Happy New Year Y'all!

LOTS of cool things in store this year...including a STORE, you dig?! and HEY, "You Dig?" is now our new name. Imma STICK with this one folks because this opens things up completely for the entire community of creative souls in our cray-cray village of love.

Yep, this means, trombonists (of course) ALL instrumentalists, ALL genres, and also...other areas of creative endeavor! I'll be bringing you all kinds of interesting people that have one thing in common...they are INSANE! Well...not always insane... but quite often :) No, the area in common shared by all the guests is creativity, and the nurturing, and harvesting of said.

So, stay tuned, everyone! It is going to be a WILD ride.

You Dig?

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O49knZBe3YA&t=1340s

Our final show of 2025 with our special guest Blue Lou Marini! Blue has played with EVERYONE and has one of our music's most stellar resumes as both performer and composer. We had a great time on the show, and I think you will too!

Here are some of the things we referenced:

LUÍS COLOMA & BLUE LOU MARINI

"We Like to Groove" Lluís Coloma - Piano Blue Lou Marini - Tenor Sax, Flute & Clarinet Kid Carlos - Guitar Manolo. Germán - Bass Arnau Julià - Drums Video: Carlos Moreno ______________ "

Fat Man" From "Out of the Blue" Lou Marini and BluBand

Lyrics by Joe Randazzo

Fat Man tell me true Exactly why you look so blue? Or is there something I can't see That makes you sad And hangs your head Mr. Fat Man It was said That you could look Inside my head But when another plays your game It's not the same You close the door No one knows quite for sure What you mean By your smile and bright eyes Fat Man don't be sly Come on and look me in the eye Or are you just too far inside To let me see Just what you are

Mr. Fat Man

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Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares - Full Performance (Live on KEXP) • Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares - Full Perfor...

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To hear Lou's tune "Hip Pickles, check out these links:

BS&T:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCwSANUTxP8

The UNT One O'Clock Lab Band (Directed by Steve Wiest)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cKH5y71GBU

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Learn more about all things Blue Lou at his website: https://www.blueloumarini.com/

Video Version Can Be Found Here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv8yhsfJuFzth_3JaGx6sc561I_kFZMAY

In this episode, I bring back my dear friend Paul McKee to go deep into his composition and arranging persona which has generated some of the most enjoyable and iconic works in the modern large jazz ensemble cannon of today.

We go into SO much, in fact , that I've generated a helpful time stamp outline below so that you can surf around and snack on all the goodness at your leisure. Below the time stamp list you'll also find some links for a few of the things we discussed.

So dive on in and have fun!

Some links from the show: Paul's Impact: https://www.colorado.edu/music/2025/03/13/impact-influence-jazz-polymath-paul-mckee

"Here's to Life" Shirley Horn (a McKee Go-To Recording) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ8tozU5JII

Thad Jones Mel Lewis "Consummation" (Another McKee Go-To Album) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHFVQLjwXPE&list=PLm4I8tP6UbWawkiCStUlMGEmUGoqGpQJ1

The Individualism of Gil Evans (Another Got-to McKee Recording) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAdT7NAFiSw

00:00 Intro

00:54 Introducing Paul McKee!

02:16 Enjoying Retirement

03:48 The Composition Discussion Begins

04:06 How and When Did Paul Begin Writing?

06:45 Paul’s First Big Band Chart (Studying with Hank Levy at the Stan Kenton Jazz Camp)

09:18 Paul’s Earliest Writing Years — Learning by Asking

10:28 In the Days of Pencil and Paper

14:38 Writing in College

16:46 Paul’s Early Influences in Writing 22:05 Playing and Writing: Two Sides of the Same Coin

27:57 Norman Returns!

29:07 Paul Talks About the Writing Process

6:37 The Tsunami vs the Narrative

39:44 Paul Takes the WIESTWORLD Inquisition!

56:25 INTERMISSION

57:12 Discussion: “Bitter Jug”

01:04:27 Performance: “Bitter Jug”

01:10:20 Discussion: “The Messenger”

01:17:25 Performance: “The Messenger”

01:28:12 Discussion: “Higher Ground” (Stevie Wonder)

01:35:04 Performance: “Higher Ground”

01:42:15 Discussion: “Naima” (John Coltrane)

01:50:35 Performance: “Naima”

01:57:51 The Powerhouse Wrap-Up!

Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv8yhsfJuFzth_3JaGx6sc561I_kFZMAY

On this episode, I welcome my dear friend Brad Leali. One of the most important alto saxophonists on the scene today, Brad has a long and stellar resume as a leader, educator (Currently Professor of Jazz Saxophone at UNT), and stints with Harry Connick Jr, The Count Basie Orchestra, The Kennedy Center Honors, and currently Lyle Lovett and His Large Band. One of the nicest guys on planet Earth (or beyond), Brad and I discuss his life, influences, career path journey, and even inaugurate the newest feature on the podcast: "The WIESTWORLD Inquisition!"

A great time was definitely had by all ...and YOU are invited!

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Links and Info From Today’s Show:

Brad Leali’s Website: https://bradleali.com/

Brad’s Music: https://bradleali.com/works/

North Texas Jazz: https://music.unt.edu/jazz/index.html

Lubbock Jazz: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/music/programs/study/jazz-studies.php

Harry Connick Jr: https://www.harryconnickjr.com/

The Count Basie Orchestra: https://thecountbasieorchestra.com/ Lyle Lovett: https://www.lylelovett.com/

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. https://www.pbs.org/show/finding-your-roots/

Steve Wiest Website: https://steve-wiest.com/

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The WIESTWORLD Theme Song:

“A Stern Talking Too”

Composed by Steve Wiest

Performed by Phröntrange on their album: "The High Road"

Steve Wiest: Trombone

Art Bouton: EWI

Eric Gunnison: Keyboards

Mike Abbott: Guitar

Mike Marlier: Drums and Percussion

Bijoux Barbosa: Bass

https://steve-wiest.com/ T

The great Gregg Bissonette joins me for a soirée-DELUXE of high octane joyfully fun, shenanigans, stories, and wisdom! Join us as we discuss all things Bisso and check out some of Gregg's great music as well. It's a hoot AND a nanny!

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Links for stuff discussed on this episode:

Gregg's Website: https://greggbissonette.co/

Gregg's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCT8Zj5o-nCxJpG99yq3hviw

Matt Bissonette's Site: https://mattbissonette.com/

Matt/Gregg/Paul "Song in a Day Show" YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCqndRuwiVyQpE1EIXS6lrsQ

Dixon Drums: https://playdixon.com/gregg-bissonette/

Chicago Drummer Dan Leali (Tributosaurus) https://tributosaurus.com/bios

Chicago Drummer George Fludas: https://georgefludas.com/