Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Liverpool-born, Australian Jazz Saxophonist & Composer Ken Stubbs .. We talked in the Fall of 2020 during the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic about quite a bit .. Like his latest 2019 CD Big Hush .. He became involved with music after being ‘reborn’, after a near death experience. He was 14. It involved a Football ‘Special’ Train, hun...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Kansas City Jazz Saxophonist Bill Crain .. We interviewed him on September 16, 2020 as the backdrop of COVID-19 roared on .. He talked about his debut 2020 CD Self Titled on the KC ARC label ..  He is the director of The Institute of Audio Engineering Arts (IAEA) program, recording engineer and managing member of BRC Audio Pro...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Actor, Minister Jazz Singer & Songwriter Clifton Davis .. We spoke with him during November 2020 amidst the COVID-19 lockdown about his latest 2020 CD Never Can Say Goodbye with Beegie Adair .. He has had quite a career in the entertainment industry and was made famous by The Jackson 5 and has been recorded by dozens of other arti...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Musician and Composer Eddie Daniels  .. Prior to the 2020 Election in the COVID-19 pandemic world we talked to him about his latest 2020 CD Night Kisses featuring Dave Grusin and Bob James that came out on Resonance Records. This new album comes off the heels of 2018’s Grammy-nominated album, Heart of Brazil .. He was b...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with New Orleans-based Grammy Award Winning Jazz Artist, Composer, Educator & Producer Adonis Rose .. We spoke with him about quite a bit .. like his latest 2020 CD Piece of Mind – It is Rose’s first released live album. While it was recorded in the late Spring of 2019, he feels the project is being released at a pivotal time amidst to...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Bassist & Composer Eric Revis .. We spoke with him on August 27, 2020 during uncertain COVID-19 times about quite a bit .. Like his latest 2020 CD Slipknots Through a Looking Glass .. It is his eighth solo-led album, and first release on Pyroclastic Records — exploring new territory. He is one of the most talented and accompl...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Arts Advocate, Jazz Historian, Archivist, Scholar, Manager & Producer Maxine Gordon ... We caught up with her from her New York home on December 3, 2020 to talk life during this strange COVID-19 world of ours .. She was in Kansas City back in mid-March with Deborah Brown promoting her book on her legendary late husband Dexter Gord...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Trumpeter Derrick Gardner  .. We caught up with him on July 13, 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown to talk about his latest 2020 CD Still I Rise ..  He was inspired by the finest hard-blowing funky bop bands of the 1960‟s and made his mark upon arriving on the New York jazz scene in 1991. Over the last 18 years, he has worked with...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist, Composer & Educator Donald Vega  .. We spoke with him on July 24, 2020 during the heat of the COVID-19 lockdown about quite a bit .. like his latest 2020 CD You Can See .. The Best of…  He was trained classically in piano in his native Nicaragua. He emigrated to the United States at age 14 and found a musical home wi...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Los Angeles-based Jazz Pianist & Composer Jordan Seigel  .. We talked with him on July 20, 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown about his latest 2020 CD Beyond Images .. This musician possesses an expressive, original voice in a stunning variety of media. Whether scoring projects for film and television or performing and improvising...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer, Arranger, Composer & Educator Jeff Hamilton .. We caught up with him on July 8, 2020 during the COVID-19 swirl to talk about his latest 2020 CD with your trio – Catch Me If You Can… He has spent quite a while in the jazz world recording or performing with his trio, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, the Clayton Brothers or c...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Saxophonist & Composer Greg Ward .. We talked to him on June 13, 2020 during the COVID-19 world of no live jazz about a great many things .. He was born in Peoria, Illinois and is now based in Chicago. He has had the opportunity to perform and record with a varied group of artists like Prefuse 73, Lupe Fiasco, Tortoise, Willi...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer Greg Fox .. We talked with him on June 7, 2020 about his latest 2020 CD Contact amidst the COVID-19 world lockdown. He remains a student himself, open-minded, honest, and willing. He has worked with with the best in jazz and has a great story .. So please get to know him and dig this interview. Hosted by Simplecast, an Ad...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer, Composer and Educator Steve Fidyk ... We caught up with him in early 2020 to talk his latest 2020 CD Battle Lines during this new COVID-19 world of no live jazz .. He is well-known for his versatility and musical approach earning national and international acclaim as an artist, author, composer and columnist. Enjoy… Host...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer & Composer Jake Reed .. We caught up with him on June 2, 2020 to talk about his latest 2020 CD Reed Between the Lines – an album that features a wishlist of collaborators from the L.A. studio scene, jazz greats and his bandmates in the acclaimed trioKAIT (Kait Dunton, Cooper Appelt) among others. Like many of his fell...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Jazz Flautist, Band Director, Vocalist & Educator Amber Underwood .. We talked to her on November 20, 2020 about quite a bit during this COVID-19 world we live in. We focused on the October 28th release of her new CD This is Me .. The album is a touch of her feelings, life journeys and an inside look into the person be...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City-based Jazz Singer Joanna Berkebile  .. We spoke with her about her newest 2020 Love Me or Leave Me – it was Self-Released and out on November 2, 2020 .. She is always sought out for her compelling vocals and personable stage presence in the jazz clubs - Since arriving on the jazz scene, she has always sought out the fresh...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Vibraphonist & Composer Joel Ross .. We caught up with him at the end of October to talk about his latest 2020 CD Who Are you Along with his twin brother, he started to play drums at the age of 3 .. At the age of ten he switched to playing the xylophone in the school band; in high school he learned percussion, vibraphone and...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist, Organist, Vocalist, Composer, Master Improvisationalist, Actress and Educator Amina Claudine Myers  .. We caught up with her in May 2020 as the COVID-19 world was ramping up to talk about quite a bit .. Over her storied career, she has performed nationally and internationally throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia an...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Singer Linda Purl  .. We talked to her in May 2020 about quite a bit .. She was born in Connecticut, grew up in Japan and became the only foreigner to have trained at the Toho Geino Academy. She’s got quite a road in jazz etched so far and there is much more to do .. Enjoy… Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pc...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Singer Miguel de León  .. We interviewed back on May 6, 2020 and talked about his newest  2020 CD Malandro ..He was raised in a musical Mexican American family and connected deeply to the sounds of music he heard around him while growing up. As a child he responded strongly to the radio hits of Mexican artists in his parent's rec...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Russian Jazz Guitarist & Composer Evgeny Probozhiy  .. We caught up with him in the early stages of the COVID-19 lockdown from his based in Moscow .. His fame is on the rise as a jazz and fusion virtuoso guitarist and composer .. These days he is on a fast path in his solo career by creating international projects with young jazz...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Drummer Akira Tana .. We caught up with him on May 6, 2020 during the early phases of the COVID-19 lockdown to talk about what has been going on and his life in music .. He was born and raised in California and earned degrees from Harvard University and the New England Conservatory of Music. He’s gigged with legends like...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Saxophonist, Composer, Bandleader & Educator Greg Tardy .. His newest 2020 CD out on September 18th is called If Time Could Stand Still and was done with the great Alex Norris, Keith Brown, Alex Claff and Willie Jones III .. It is an impassioned recording that reflects on the changing seasons of life, and surges with his love...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with The Creator and Host of Neon Jazz – Yours Truly – Joe Dimino .. This was an interview conducted by a great friend and guest columnist for Link 2 Lee’s Summit .. News coming out the new home of Neon Jazz .. Lee’s Summit .. Mr. Beaudion is the owner of KC Media Matters and has spent his life dedicated to quality journalism and all the p...