Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Trumpeter, Tap Dancer & All-Around Entertainer Lonnie McFadden  .. He was born and raised in Kansas City and has spent decades traveling the world performing and representing Kansas City Jazz at major jazz festivals and shows .. These days, he’s just as busy as he always has been .. He’s promoting his newest CD Live at the Gr...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Saxophonist Azar Lawrence – So, his first professional gigs abroad were at 17 with Clarke Terry and Muddy Waters. From there, he would become a sideman to McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Woody Shaw .. and ultimately grew up in a prolific era of transcendence in Jazz that to this day has stood the test of...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Based Jazz Saxophonist Stephen Martin .. On July 27, 2018 he is set to release his debut 2018 CD called Vision his independent artist label SubtleStreet Records – He was born in Champaign, IL and raised in St. Louis, MO, Martin & started playing saxophone at age 10 – He would come to KC via the University of Missouri –...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Percussionist Steve Kroon – He opened up with Neon Jazz about his latest 2018 CD – In Your Dreams – and so much more .. He’s been a professional musician for the last 50 years - Born in Harlem, and lived there until the age of nine. In 1957, we moved to St. Albans Queens. He has appeared on seven platinum albums, fiftee...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Multi Instrumentalist, Producer, Arranger and Podcaster Leo Sidran – In a very open conversation, he spoke about his latest 2018 CD – Cool School featuring the Music of Michael Franks and growing up as the son of the legendary music man and jazz interviewer Ben Sidran in Madison, Wisconsin .. He delved into quite a bit about his...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with the Master Bassist & Educator Anthony Wellington .. He came through Kansas City on July 9, 2018 to play at the Black Dolphin and talked to Neon Jazz about his life as a musician and educator that has taken him around the world in a variety of capacities .. including being the 2nd bassist in the Victor Wooten Band – His very s uniq...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with saxophonist, flautist, percussionist, singer, and teacher Jim Mair  ..  Born and raised in Canada, these days he is a Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Music and Jazz Studies at Kansas City Kansas Community College, along with so much more .. He graduated from the University of Mary (Bismarck, North Dakota) with bachelor...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Trumpeter and Flugelhornist Eddie Henderson .. He opened up with Jazz about his latest 2018 CD Be Cool .. it’s #2 on the charts and pays respects to his roots in jazz .. and they run deep from parents that were very musical .. So, at 9 he was given an informal lesson by Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis was a family frien...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Chicago based Jazz Vocalist Keri Johnsrud .. Along with Grammy nominated pianist Kevin Bales .. they combined their jazz powers to create a new album called Beyond the Neighborhood: The Music of Fred Rogers. She succeeded in reimagining and rearranging the music that has been heard by numerous generations on the beloved children’s tel...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Bassist Corcoran Holt .. He is promoting his latest 2018 CD The Mecca .. He is from Washington, DC and began West African percussion at 4 and begin studying upright bass at the age of 10 with the renowned DC Youth Orchestra and over a very rich and storied career he is in the midst of making .. he has played with jazz legends and...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Jazz Drummer Jerry Pollock .. He is a key piece of the Waldo Jazz Collective that performs each Monday night at the Piano Room off 84th and Wonall .. He started his professional career at 14 and over the years he has played all styles of music with symphonic orchestras, jazz bands and ensembles, and theater pit bands. He w...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Jazz Guitarist Jeff Shirley  .. He grew up in Liberty, Missouri and is a solid part of the KC jazz scene .. on his latest album called Point of the Story he  performs 14 original compositions that mix guitar jazz and European jazz. Joined by Roger Wilder on piano/Rhodes, Bob Bowman on upright bass, Matt Leifer on drums and...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer Aaron Comess.. He’s a well versed musician who just released his 2018 CD Sculptures fulla sonic textures .. He talked to us about his childhood in Dallas, Texas and being influenced by the likes of miles davis, john coltrane, rolling stones, the beatles, led zeppelin, and so many others .. He’s a founding member of the Gr...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with New York City Jazz Guitarist Charlie Apicella .. He grew up in New York and these days he is promoting his newest 2018 CD – One Night Only – A tribute to Jack McDuff .. His love of guitars came in 1977 with a Starfire IV that was signed by his idol BB King – From there, he studied improvisation and composition with Pat Martino, Yusef...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drum Legend Peter Erskine .. He took some time to speak about a wide range of projects he is involved with these days .. from new albums to apps to books and teaching .. Peter is always a force in music .. On April 6, 2018 he is set to release 'On Call' – his 3rd album with The Dr. Um Band, a double-CD package with six studio and...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Jazz Pianist Max Groove .. He is a Kansas City institution and of the pioneers of the smooth jazz style that has thrilled listeners for years - He has twelve internationally released CDs, three in the top twenty Billboard Jazz and over the years he has been on national tour appearances with the likes of Joe Sample & th...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Vocalist Michelle Coltrane .. There just released her 2nd CD - 2017's Awakening … So, she was born in Paris, France, and is the only daughter of Alice and John Coltrane – As that backdrop to her life, she was always surrounded by music and encouraged to get involved .. She would go on to live in Japan and work as a DJ – along wit...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Guitarist Abe Ovadia .. In 2017 he released his hit single, "Afro Blue" and there is more to come .. He spoke with Neon Jazz about his childhood in New Jersey .. He has a  bachelor's degree from Berklee College of Music and a master's from New York University – To date, he has 3 albums under his belt and has gained the...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Trumpeter Dave Scott .. He talked about a recent recording session .. about about growing up in Kansas City .. Living in Los Angelse for 11 years and going to school at USC .. He currently lives in New York and has been composing for and performing with his own jazz quintet and also has a new project featuring violin, piano, guit...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Saxophonist, Composer -& Educator Dafnis Prieto .. He has a new album – 2018’s Back to the Sunset and it’s a great new album .. he’s originally Cuba where his revolutionary drumming techniques and compositions had a powerful impact on the Latin and Jazz music scene – He came to New York in 1999 and has played wit the best sin...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Guitar Legend Pat Martino .. We caught up with him to discuss his 2017 CD  Formidable and so many other things .. He discussed his in Philadelphia and how he was first exposed to jazz through his father, Carmen "Mickey" Azzara, who sang in local clubs and briefly studied guitar with Eddie Lang. He began playing guitar w...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Kansas City Jazz Guitarist Rod Fleeman .. He is always a busy cat on the KC scene .. whether with Deborah Brown, Bram at the Majestic or as a part of the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra .. He developed a love for jazz while a freshman at Southwest High School growing up in KC and would go on to attend  the University of Utah and th...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Lead Guitarist and Vocalist James ‘Jimbo’ Mathus of the Swing Revial Jazz Band The Squirrel Nut Zippers .. They are gearing up to release a brand new album .. their first new studio album in 18 years - slated for March 23, 2018 via their own label Southern Broadcasting called Beasts of Burgundy .. And will kick off a huge tour .. and...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Saxophonist Wayne Escoffery .. He’s back at it with another gem .. 2018’s CD  Vortex .. So, he was born in London - at 6 his mother emigrated to the United States and settled in New Haven, Connecticut – When he was young he attending the Jazzmobile in New York City and during his senior year in high School, he attended the Artist...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Vibraphonist, Composer,  Bandleader &  Educator Steve Hobbs  - He’s always busy with the music and his latest CD is 2018’s Tribute to Bobby – in honor of his friend and mentor Bobby Hutcherson – He’s originally from Raleigh, North Carolina and started hand drums at age 7, and trumpet and drumset at 11 –then  switched from...