Meet Chenitha Reddick | Trombone Artist/Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chenitha Reddick and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chenitha, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
The most important habits that helped me succeed is being consistent, diligent, and never giving up when I need to get something done. Never procrastinating. You have to push through until its done, then figure out a way to make it better after that. Staying positive and self-motivated is very important, too. You’re not always going to have people around to motivate you, so you have to be fluent in doing it on your own.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
At the end of my 5th grade year, my mom enrolled me in middle school band class. My band director tested all of his students with different instrument mouthpieces to see how well we could bring out a natural sound. The next day, the band director had a list with everyone’s name by their instrument. I saw that my name was by ‘Trombone’, and I said, “iiiieeewwww, Trombone?! Oh no!” I was upset because I wanted to play the saxophone like my big brother when he was in the 5th grade. But I stuck with it and grew to love it, and I still play to this day! I am a member of the Atlanta Federation of Musicians and Delta Omicron International Professional Music Fraternity, Inc. I was awarded the Golden Herald Award in Music in 1999 (Albany, GA) and participated as a musician on board the Norwegian Star Cruise Ship and movies, such as ‘Drumline’. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Morris Brown College with a Bachelor of Arts in Music in 2003 where I received several academic and music scholarships while being a part of the Morris Brown College Wolverine Band. It was not a smooth road by far. Of course, when just starting out, you’re not as savvy of certain techniques and ways of the professional musician corporate world. Also, being a double minority didn’t help. We, as young Black Woman, have to fight a little bit harder than most. As a caterpillar morphs into a butterfly, so will you. Keep the faith and get a great mentor!

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
If you want fine Dining in the city, my favorite spots are Soul Crab, Milk & Honey, Sweet Auburn Seafood, Old Lady Gang, Paschal’s, Le Petit Marche, Pretti Plates, Slutty Vegan, Tassili’s, and Soul Vegetarian. On any given night, Kat’s Cafe and St. James Live has THE best Live Band Entertainment in Atlanta, HANDS DOWN! There’s a Live band Open Mic Jam Session almost every night of the week in Atlanta. Sunday, there’s Cafe 290. Monday, there’s Pals. Tuesday, there’s Pizza Bar Camp Creek. Wednesday, there’s Pizza Bar Stone Mountain. Thursday, there’s Kat’s Cafe. On Friday’s and Saturday’s, Kat’s Cafe Brings in the best Live Bands in Atlanta to entertain, and they have great food and drinks!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutouts to a few very important people in my life who have molded my musical career. My mom (Ms. Vinitha Reddick) for putting me in band class in the 6th grade. My dad (Mr. Bobby D. James) for being a musical vocal legend in the industry. My grandmother (Mrs. Eva Reddick) for buying me those piano books to practice with when I was a little girl. My step-father (Mr. Greg Robinson) for always encouraging me to be the best at what I do. My Director of Bands’ that have had the biggest influence on my musicianship and encouraged me to be the best are Ms. Eartha Watkins, Mr. Darren Johnson, and Mr. Eddie Ellis. Mr. David Watson (Alicia Keys Saxophonist) of Chops Horns, also, gave me valuable nuggets of how to make it in the industry. I appreciate him greatly for that. My absolute favorite trombone influences are Melba Liston, Delfeayo Marsalis, Trombone Shorty, Jeff Bradshaw, Wycliffe Gordon, and Fred Wesley.