Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Tellkujira , the Italian avant-garde collective bringing together violist Ambra, guitarists Francesco and Stefano, and cellist Francesco. We dive into their 2026 album, La lucha es un poema colectivo , explore how the quartet came together, discuss why their creative chemistry works, and discover the ideas and musical instincts b...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with London-based award-winning instrumentalist, composer and producer Danny Keane.  We catch up with Danny to explore his brand-new 2026 sophomore album, Kinesis , and the remarkable musical journey that has brought him to this point. Following his 2020 debut, this new project reflects the shape-shifting nature of his life and artist...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Nashville-based guitarist and composer Harry Bartlett and Toronto-based electronic music producer Kurtis Perrie as we explore their 2026 album, This Is Living . Over two weeks in Ontario, these two artists brought their distinct compositional voices together to create something unexpected. With a limited understanding of each oth...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Florida-based Pianist, Vocalist, Organist and Educator Dr. Gianni Bianchini.  We dig into his brand-new 2026 album, A Study in Songbook , a deeply personal project inspired by the songs his father loved and shaped by Gianni’s understanding of jazz, its traditions and its early days. This album brings together musical history, fam...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Argentine-born Vocalist, Guitarist, Songwriter & Arranger Tom Ricci . Tom joins us to talk about his brand-new 2026 album, Happening in Buenos Aires , his career in jazz, and the international musical journey that has shaped his sound. Born in Buenos Aires and of Italian descent, Tom now calls Southern California home, bringing a...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Scotland-based Jazz Composer, Producer & Pianist Andy Alston as we dig into the exciting new Glasgow Speakeasy at the historic Glasgow Art Club . Andy joins us to talk about this brand-new monthly jazz club, designed to bring intimate live jazz to one of Glasgow’s historic cultural spaces. The first Speakeasy featured In Dreams ,...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City saxophonist Ernest Melton of Blue Devil Revival , presented through Mutual Musicians Music Group. We dig into the group's 2026 four-track EP, Birth of a Revival . This contemporary Kansas City jazz recording draws inspiration from the legendary Blue Devils and the enduring musical tradition of the Mutual Musicians Foundati...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with musician, comedian and theoretical physicist Brian Wecht , better known to smooth jazz fans as Trey Magnifique. We caught up with Trey on the road for a deep dive into his remarkable journey through music and entertainment, his lifelong appreciation for jazz, and his 2026 album, Bebop Cowboy . Many fans know Brian Wecht as “Ninja Bria...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with jazz singer Lisa Rich talking about her powerful 2026 album I Still Rise.  The last time Lisa joined us was in 2024 with the release of Long As You're Living , a remarkable comeback following 33 years of forced inactivity due to serious health problems . When she returned, her voice was in prime form, resulting in one of the stan...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with dynamic New York-based jazz duo Zohar & Adam . One of the most highly anticipated young acts in the jazz scene, Zohar & Adam blend virtuosic musicianship with elements of neo-soul, hip-hop, electronica, jazz, and beyond . In this conversation, we get into their musical history, their creative partnership, and their exciting ne...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with jazz bassist Dan Loomis of the Joel Frahm Trio talking 2026 music, albums, touring, and the story behind this stellar trio. Dan Loomis joins us to talk about the history and evolution of the Joel Frahm Trio , featuring Joel Frahm on tenor saxophone, Dan Loomis on bass, and Ernesto Cervini on drums . The trio has released two acclaimed...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based jazz tenor saxophonist Andrew Rathbun on his 2026 album Episodes . For Episodes , Rathbun teams up with pianist Gary Versace , his longtime collaborator on several acclaimed SteepleChase sessions, for the first time as a duo. The result reveals a striking new dimension in their musical partnership. The interplay between Rath...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer Robert Jospé . On this episode, we get into his new 2026 album, The Night Sky , and a decorated career in the world of jazz. Born in Manhattan to Belgian parents with a deep love of music, Robert began playing drums at fourteen and had his first professional performance in France at just sixteen. He went on to study with...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City-based jazz trumpeter and composer Nick Hmeljak . Nick is preparing to release his upcoming 2026 album, Alive , with his band Open Channel — a Kansas City collective he formed in 2024 to explore original music and standards through the wide-open lens of jazz, R&B and rock. With a rotating lineup featuring vibraphone, gu...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with jazz musician, composer, educator and founder of Creative Sound Play, Hayes Greenfield . We dig into his third release for Sunnyside Records , Painting in Sound , and the fascinating journey that has taken Hayes through the worlds of jazz, composition, education, improvisation and electroacoustic music. With Painting in Sound , Hayes...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Armen Donelian , discussing his remarkable 2026 album Inquiry . With Inquiry , Donelian takes another bold creative step on his 15th album , released by Sunnyside Records . The project is the result of a four-year studio process that was carefully conceived, patiently developed and painstakingly exe...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with GRAMMY-winning Engineer & Producer Jim Anderson and Distinguished Trombonist, Composer & Educator Jim Pugh on New American Symphonies . We get into their work on this remarkable project, which reunites two old friends and brings a long-abandoned piece of American musical history back to life. New American Symphonies features t...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Brooklyn-based jazz saxophonist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Barry . We dig into his compelling new 2026 album If I Did Not Speak Out and the artistic world behind it. This is an album that captures Ryan at a defining moment — bringing together lyrical tenor saxophone playing, original compositions and a close-working quin...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed jazz trombonist and composer Ryan Keberle , discussing his new 2026 album Here Is Donato! . We first caught up with Ryan back in 2020, and now we're back together to explore his latest project, a flurry of activity in his musical world, and his ongoing connection to Brazilian music. Alongside his São Paulo-based band Collect...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based Swedish jazz artist, composer, vocalist, and visual artist Sophie Dunér . In this conversation, Sophie Dunér joins us to talk about her bold and fearless new collaborative project with legendary New York pianist Anthony Coleman , Messed-Up Stride . We get into the making of this exciting new album, Sophie's history in music...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Ohio-based in-demand jazz hornist, composer and educator Will Schneider . On this episode, we dig into his new 2026 album Convergence and the fascinating career trajectory that brought him to this point. Will has built a reputation as a versatile and highly respected voice in the horn community, performing modern jazz as both a bandle...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed Luxembourg-based jazz pianist Michel Reis . In this wide-ranging conversation, we dive into the 2026 album from Reis Demuth Wiltgen , the renowned Luxembourg jazz trio featuring pianist Michel Reis, bassist Marc Demuth and drummer Paul Wiltgen. This latest project represents the most ambitious musical statement the trio has...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Arranger, Orchestrator & Bandleader Russ Anixter on his 2026 project What’s Next? On this new release, Russ Anixter’s Hippie Big Band transforms familiar rock, funk, fusion and jam-band repertoire into something entirely new — music driven by orchestration, groove, humor and improvisation. Rather than simply recreate the orig...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Germany-based Jazz Pianist & Composer Andrew Moorhead . Dig this fascinating conversation as we explore his new 2026 album Mirage , his journey through jazz and beyond, and the unique intersection of music, physics, discipline, improvisation, and creative risk that shapes his work. Mirage is a strikingly personal suite of etudes —...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Japanese-born, New York-based flutist & improviser Haruna Fukazawa . Dig this interview as we get into her brilliant new 2026 album, Plays at the Wrong Time , her journey through the world of jazz, and the creative philosophy behind bringing the flute forward as a complete jazz voice. Clear, swinging, lyrical, and rhythmically pla...