Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Veteran Jazz Guitarist Heather McKay . We catch up with her to talk about her long journey in music and her long-awaited  debut 2025 album,  Life Got in the Way . With over 25 years in the industry, Heather has performed across a wide spectrum of styles — from  Latin jazz to rock, R&B to Afro-Caribbean, and even Persian music . Now...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with veteran  Philadelphia-based Jazz Drummer Tom Cohen . We talk about his brand-new 2025 album  Embraccable Brazil  and a life fully devoted to jazz. This marks his sixth album as a leader — a heartfelt tribute to his lifelong passion for  bossa nova . Tom’s love of Brazilian music began in childhood, listening to  Sergio Mendes and Br...

Welcome to a very special edition of the Neon Jazz interview series  - On this edition, we had the honor of interviewing the legendary tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins – During a very open, raw and revealing conversation, Sonny spoke about quite a bit .. Beginning with his new live albums that have been dispersed in 3 volumes – Road Shows – and moving on into what it’s like to play live, what he le...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Vocalist Marisa Balistreri  and  Guitarist Stefan Hall  from Madison, Wisconsin. We dive into their debut single from the upcoming album  Curve Veloci  — Italian for  “Fast Curves.”  The song is an upbeat twelve-bar jazz blues written by Stefan Hall, with Italian lyrics by Marisa Balistreri. A former professional opera singer, Mari...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Toronto-based Jazz Pianist Anthony D'Alessandro  on his 2025 album  City Lights . We dive into this powerful sophomore release — a vibrant, original jazz project inspired by the many cities that have shaped Anthony’s musical journey.  City Lights  features an exceptional lineup including trumpeter  Summer Camargo , NYC-based rising...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Jazz Bassist, Composer & Recording Engineer Mike Pope . We dive into his new 2025 album  The Parts You Keep  and a life well-lived in music. The album reflects on pivotal moments from his 30-year career and the deep emotional ties that connect life and art. One special highlight — Mike traveled to Atlanta to record his 85-year-old...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Vancouver-based Jazz Pianist, Drummer & Composer Neil Gray . We dig into his brand-new 2025 album  In the Streets  — released on Halloween 2025 — featuring  Cory Weeds, Bruno Hubert, and Julian Borkowski . The record is described as a  love letter to Vancouver , capturing the city’s vibrant and soulful energy. A 15-year veteran of...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Australia-based Jazz Guitarist, Composer & Educator Nick Freer . We caught up with him to discuss his new 2025 jazz trio album  "Apperceptions" , featuring  Justin Humphries  on drums and  Anton Davidyants  on bass. Nick’s music bridges the boundaries between contemporary and traditional jazz while exploring experimental soundscape...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with Montréal-based Jazz Vocalist, Composer & Guitarist  Saku Mantere  on his evocative 2025 album  Divine Apology  .. This poetic and immersive project journeys through purgatory, memory, and longing with lyrical and philosophical depth. Drawing inspiration from poet Norman Cristofoli’s metaphysical play  The Pub , the album explores th...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Netherlands-based Jazz Bassist & Composer Zack Lober . We caught up with him from his base in  Utrecht  to talk about his  new 2025 album  So We Could Live  and his lifelong journey in jazz. A  native of Montreal, Canada , with creative chapters in  New York City and Boston , Zack has built an impressive career performing with lead...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Toronto-born, Ohio-based Jazz Saxophonist Pete Mills . We dive into his  brand-new 2025 album  For the Record  and his rich journey through the world of jazz. On this soulful and high-energy project, Pete delivers a  love letter to the classic tenor saxophone and Hammond B3 organ quartet sound . With deep roots now planted in the ...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Cleveland-based Jazz Guitarist & Composer Dan Bruce  of  Ohm!  We talk about his new trio, the debut album  The Architects , and his creative life in jazz. Following two critically acclaimed releases with his ensemble  :beta collective , this new album — out  October 31, 2025  via  Shifting Paradigm Records  — explores  funky groov...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Toronto-based Jazz Guitarist & Composer David Occhipinti . We talk about his brand-new  2025 album  Camera Lucida  and his remarkable journey through music. This new recording features  eight original compositions  blending chamber music textures and jazz guitar improvisations with some of  Canada’s finest musicians . David’s 2012 ...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Guitarist Zacc Harris, Bassist Chris Bates and Drummer Pete Hennig  of the  Twin Cities Jazz Quartet Atlantis Quartet . We dive into their electrifying new album,  Live at Berlin , and explore the group’s deep collective history and creative chemistry. Recorded during the opening week of  Minneapolis’s newest jazz venue, Berlin , t...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Fifth-Generation Mariachi Musician Alvaro Paulino Jr.  and  Dynamic Singer & Pianist Linda EPO . We talk about the upcoming  MexFest  on  November 1, 2025 , at  Flushing Town Hall , celebrating  Día de los Muertos  with music, art, and culture. This  inaugural festival  honors Mexican art, community, and remembrance — featuring exh...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  5x GRAMMY Nominated Saxophonist, Arranger, Composer & Educator Lakecia Benjamin . We catch up with this powerhouse of modern jazz to talk about her  November 1, 2025 show at the historic Folly Theater in Kansas City  and so much more. From her early days performing with legends like  Clark Terry  and  Terri Lyne Carrington , to her...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Vocalist Ben Jones  and  Pianist Laurence Hobgood . We dive into their stunning new 2025 album  Ben Jones & Laurence Hobgood  — a raw, honest, and emotionally charged work recorded live at  Skywalker Sound  with no overdubs or safety nets. This intimate voice-and-piano collaboration captures 75 minutes of pure musical storytelling,...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Drummer Hannah Johnson  and  Guitarist Ben Dameron  of the Milwaukee-based jazz quartet  Heirloom . We dive into their brand-new debut 2025 album  Familiar Beginnings , exploring the band’s story, creative chemistry, and the making of this emotionally rich and melodically captivating project. Featuring  DownBeat Award-winning saxop...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Canadian-born, Chicago-based Jazz Guitarist Kevin Brown . We caught up with him to talk about his new 2025 album  Adventus  and his life in jazz. This thoughtful new collection reimagines music traditionally used during the Advent season — offering space for reflection, preparation, and peace through a jazz lens. Kevin began studyi...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  UK-based Jazz Saxophonist Dom Franks . We catch up with Dom to talk about his brand-new 2025 album  Duality Pt. 2 , recorded with  Dom Franks’ StrayHorn  and featuring  The Carducci String Quartet  and  Aiden Pope . A former student of Jazz Messenger  Jean Toussaint  and winner of the  Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Musician  competiti...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Bassist  Wojciech  and Drummer  Nikoderm  of the Polish Jazz Outfit  Omasta . Based in Poland, these bold newcomers have shaken up the Polish and European jazz scenes with their debut album  Jazz Report from the Hood  — a powerful, groove-driven record reflecting the rhythms of city life. We talk about their creative process, the band...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Canadian Jazz Vocalist & Songwriter Angela Verbrugge  on her 2025 album  In the Wonder of the Night . Fresh off a tour in Italy, Angela dives into this new release, her musical journey, and what’s next. Teaming up with acclaimed NYC pianist  Ray Gallon , the album delivers a collection of intimate voice–piano duets that blend her o...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with Slovenia-born, NYC-based Jazz Saxophonist  Jan Kus . We dig into his new 2025 EP  Night Rides  and his creative journey in the modern jazz world. Alongside Puerto Rican multi-instrumentalist  Dan Martínez , Jan co-founded  Play_Ground , an eclectic musical project that blends global sounds and cinematic moods.  Night Rides  takes li...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with Avant-Garde Guitarist  Ethan Margolis  — also known as  Emaginario . He opens up about his new 2025 album  The Blues Around Us , his creative partnership with acclaimed pianist  Chano Domínguez , and his life in music. Released on  Unifying Sounds , this debut album captures the spirit of global connection — bridging Cleveland and C...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Distinguished Jazz Educator, Composer, Musician & Interviewer David Schroeder . A celebrated force in jazz education and oral history, David has launched his new podcast series  “From the Minds of Jazz Musicians.”  The show offers an intimate journey through jazz, filled with personal stories from his career and heartfelt conversat...