Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Ottawa-based Jazz Pianist & Composer James McGowan on the 2023 CD Reaching In .. This new project is the first half of an extended story told through music, spoken-word program notes and visual art. It depicts a protagonist's journey from struggles of isolation, low self- worth, social anxiety, addiction and loss, to finding peace, ac...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Spain-based Bassist, Composer, Arranger, Orchestrator, Producer & Writer Gustavo Gregorio .. He talked about his new 2023 CD Anagrama from his base in Spain. He has played and/or recorded and/or arranged for countless artists of various styles in countries on several continents in addition to his own bands, with whom he has recorded 6...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Organist Mitch Towne .. He opened up at length about his new 2023 CD SRT – Vanguards of Groove. On SRT’s debut album, it is the work of three seasoned and accomplished pros who are still hungry. It’s an all-instrumental outing, as tight, funky and thunderously rocking as it is warm and nuanced. Featuring the legendary Joh...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with LA-based Jazz Drummer, Composer, Educator & Bandleader Tina Raymond .. She opened up about her new 2023 CD Divinations, COVID survival and much more. On her newest release, she leads her trio through a set of new and original compositions that showcase her stellar musicianship, and broad musical imagination. Originally from Detroit, t...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Composer, Guitarist & Producer Noshir Mody.. He opens up about his new 2023 CD A Love Song that is a collection of contemporary instrumental jazz that pays tribute to love and life. Born in Bombay, India, his passion for music was evident from an early age. He immersed himself in the rich tapestry of Indian classical music and wa...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC Jazz Bassist Craig Akin on the 2023 CD Me, My Bass & I .. He began playing bass professionally while in college and since completing my Music Education degree in 1997, he played over 5,000 gigs of everything imaginable and been featured on 100+ albums. About 99.97% of his activity has been as a hired sideman to accompany others. A...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based Jazz Guitarist, Composer & Educator Roni Ben-Hur .. We primarily caught up with him about his new 2023 CD Love Letters, surviving COVID and his long life in music .. Born in Israel, he has earned a sterling reputation as a musician and educator, renowned for his golden tone, improvisational brilliance, compositional lyricism...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Improviser, Composer-Arranger & Band Leader Edward Simon on the new 2023 Album Femeninas: Songs of Latin American Women .. On this project, he is joined by Adam Cruz on drums and Reuben Rogers on bass, and special guests Mexican vocalist Magos Herrera, Venezuelan percussionist Luis Quintero, and Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Ireland-based Executive Producer & Jazz Radio Host  Dermot Rogers .. We caught up with him about his efforts to release the 2023 CD Some Other Blues from two accomplished Irish jazz musicians in guitarist Louis Stewart and pianist Noel Kelehan. This previously unreleased material is regarded as a Holy Grail of Irish Jazz as it's the o...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Los Angeles-based Jazz Keyboardist & Composer Kait Dunton on the 2023 Album Keyboards .. The album features a new trio with drummer Jake Reed and bassist Sean Hurley on a set fusing vintage grooves and sophisticated songwriting .. As the straight-to-the-point title suggests, the album celebrates the palette of colors and moods that Du...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Montreal-based Pianist François Bourassa on the 2023 album Swirl – Live at Piccolo .. Leading his award-winning Jazz Quartet, he etches a very inspired live performance .. He gets into the chemistry of the band on this album, surviving COVID, the future and so much more .. Dig this interview ..  Get Swirl -  https://franoisbourassaqua...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Marimba / Vibraphone Virtuoso Taiko Saito on the 2023 Album Tears of a Cloud .. On this new solo album, she throws the spotlight on a major talent in improvised new music. Most of the album is totally improvised with no preconceived ideas. Anything might happen once she starts and does so in spectacular fashion .. We cover this a...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with St. Louis-based Jazz Trombonist, Bandleader & Educator John Covelli with Hard Bop Messengers on 2023 Happenings .. It has been a year since we last spoke here at Neon Jazz. A whole lot has happened as we enter into this new post-COVID reality. He talks about his Grateful Dead shows and so many other things that have happened and that...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Acclaimed Jazz Saxophonist Peter Epstein .. We talked at length about his new 2023 CD Two Legs Bad. It's his first album as a leader in nearly a decade and introduces a musical approach that builds on past work but forges new directions compositionally, sonically, and conceptually. He has released eight albums as leader and co-leader...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Japanese Pop Singer-Songwriter Turned Jazz Pianist Senri Oe on the 2023 CD Class of ’88 .. He revisits that superstar past on this jubilant new piano trio album joined by Bassist Matt Clohesy and Drummer Ross Pederson .. With seven jazz albums to his name since his 2012 re-debut Boys Mature Slow, he continues to grow as a jazz musicia...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Singer, Percussionist & Guitarist Nanny Assis .. He opened up about all things related to his new 2023 CD Rovanio – The Music of Nanny Assis .. He presents a panorama of Brazilian & Jazz musical styles highlighting his 40-year career as a bossa/jazz vocalist, percussionist, and guitarist .. Based in New York and South Florida, he...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Vibraphonist & Label Owner Matt Moran on the 2023 CD Audible Spirits .. Originally created as a live theater piece, Audible Spirits is grounded on the bedrock idea that public performance of jazz with a pre-recorded rhythm section is heresy. It is a performance between the past and the future as musicians push the boundaries for...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series Jazz Baritone Saxophonist Claire Daly on the new 2023 CD VuVu For Frances .. She plays standards with George Garzone on this latest release, along with a grand cast of musicians .. In the 1940s, Frances Ballantyne discovered live jazz in Harlem and on 52nd Street, befriending and socializing with many creators of the music. She became a li...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Trombonist & Composer Michael Davis .. He talked about his new 2023 CD Open City at length. This album is his14th as a leader and his 2nd fronting the acclaimed Hip-Bone Big Band. He has assembled his usual star-studded cast of New York jazz and studio.. Mike is well known for touring the world with The Rolling Stones fiv...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran & Celebrated Jazz Multi-Instrumentalist Peter Hess .. he opens up about his new 2023 CD by Diskonife Records with Matt Moran and Darrent Johnson .. Peter is a member of the Philip Glass Ensemble, Slavic Soul Party, Kite Quartet, Bang on a Can’s Asphalt Orchestra, Barbez, and was a part of Balkan Beat Box for a decade. As the c...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC Jazz Guitarist & Vocalist Freddie Bryant .. We delved into his upcoming album ‘Upper West Side Love Story’ out on July 7th, 2023. It chronicles the NYC’s Upper West Side Gentrification and features the talents of Steve Wilson, Donny McCaslin, Regina Carter and many others .. Inspired by his first-hand experiences as he witnessed t...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series Pianist, Arranger & Composer Scott Dunn .. Marking the 10th anniversary of the death of celebrated composer Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, I Watch You Sleep is a newly curated album conceived by Scott Dunn that features award winning British jazz vocalist Claire Martin OBE, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, produced by Grammy Award winning Jo...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with The Hazelrigg Brothers Who Are Jazz Pianist George and Bassist Geoff .. As the designers and builders of high end audio gear used by top producers/engineers around the world, they have also reimagined The Police’s “Synchonicity” in commemoration and celebration of the iconic album’s 40th anniversary .. We cover quite a bit in this tan...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Bassoonist Michael Rabinowitz .. He opened up at length about his new 2023 Album Next Chapter .. While jazz is not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of a bassoon, during the past 40 years he has shown that the bassoon can certainly be a viable jazz instrument, when played by the right person. He has perfo...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with San Francisco-based Jazz Pianist & Flautist Gaea Schell .. She delved into her new 2023 CD In Your Own Sweet Way. She is known among her peers for swinging eighth notes, subtle phrasing and contemplative writing. She is originally from Alberta, Canada, where she grew up playing music from an early age. Recorder lessons at age 6 with f...