Backstage Pass: Conversations with Trombonist Ozzie Melendez

on DRUMS, with John Simeone

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Catching up with Ozzie Melendez, our second trombone player, is like being teleported into the heart of the music industry. From his musical beginnings in fourth grade to landing the big gig with Willie Colon's band, Ozzie shares the essence of a musician's journey, and why it’s crucial to seize every opportunity to prove oneself. We swap hilarious anecdotes featuring fellow musician Terry Nigrelli and reminisce about Ozzy's inaugural gig tour in Peru.
Striding onto the bigger stage, Ozzy takes us backstage, revealing his experiences with big band legends like Bruce Springsteen, Mark Anthony, and Blood Sweat and Tears. The essence of a good gig, he believes, lies in preparation and keen attention. The conversation takes a nostalgic turn as we compare the club dates of the past to the gigs of today and the unique challenges a trombone player faces.
As we move towards the end of our discussion, Ozzy peels back the curtain on his collaborations with various musicians, the challenges and the opportunities encountered as a free musician, and the four phases of a musician's life. Tune in to be enlightened about the music industry, the evolution of recording music, and how the industry has drastically changed over the past two decades.
Check out Ozzie's publication "Dynamic Flexibility" and his full bio at https://ozziemelendez.com/
Check out our collaboration at
https://youtu.be/yUqwLFUmg8g
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Chapter

1. Backstage Pass: Conversations with Trombonist Ozzie Melendez (00:00:00)

2. On Drums (00:00:03)

3. Springsteen's Tour Schedule and Work (00:11:24)

4. Musicians and Collaborations (00:16:30)

5. COVID Creativity and Musician's Life (00:20:03)

6. Impact of Musicians on Trombone Players (00:31:57)