Neon Jazz Interviews

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...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Kansas City-based Jazz Guitarist Jeff Shirley  on his 2025 album  “Trio Live at Green Lady Lounge.”  A familiar face around the Neon Jazz world, Jeff continues to shine as a cornerstone of the vibrant KC jazz scene. This live recording showcases tunes from his deep catalog of compositions, spanning six albums over 13 years. Joined...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Acclaimed Jazz Multi-Instrumentalist & Composer Roger Glenn  on his remarkable career .. In part two of our conversation, we explore his charmed life in the jazz world following the release of his 2025 album  My Latin Heart . Roger is the “ingredient X” — the secret sauce behind so many legendary sounds. Across four decades, he’s e...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Brooklyn-based Bassist & Composer Gui Duvignau  .. We talk about his 2025 album  Listen In  — a dynamic and intimate trio project featuring Jacob Sacks and Nathan Ellman-Bell. As a follow-up and extension to their 2024 release  Live in Red Hook , this new record offers a fresh and immersive listening experience that captures the sp...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Houston-based Jazz Pianist, Organist & Composer Ben Clifton  .. We talk about his debut 2025 album  Overlook  and his inspiring life in jazz. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Ben’s musical roots in classical, gospel, and jazz give him a rich and soulful sound that shines across every performance. His emotional depth, versatility, an...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Brooklyn-based Jazz Alto Saxophonist, Composer & Bandleader Connor Sobieri . We caught up with this rising jazz talent to talk about his debut single  “Love Song”  and his growing life in the jazz world. Recorded just days before graduating from NYU,  Love Song  features a singable melody inspired by the  rock power ballads and psy...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  American-Canadian Jazz Vocalist & Producer Peter Campbell  discussing his deeply personal  2025 album  Haunted Melody . We first caught up with Peter during the height of the 2020 pandemic, and now he returns with a project that reflects both artistic growth and emotional depth. Following his acclaimed 2020 release  Old Flames Neve...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Brooklyn-based, Award-Winning Latvian Jazz Vocalist, Composer & Arranger Arta Jēkabsone . Originally from Latvia and now thriving in New York City, Arta is living her jazz dream. We talk about her  upcoming 2025 album,  Dziesmu Kamoliņš  — a stunning collection of 11 original arrangements of traditional Latvian folk songs, blended...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Acclaimed Jazz Singer, Producer & Composer Sacha Boutros . We talk with this dynamic artist about her  new 2025 CD  Paris After Dark  — a lush, global journey through the worlds of jazz and romance. Known for performing in  14 languages , Sacha is a  global peace ambassador  who uses music to build bridges between cultures. Beyond...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Jazz Saxophonist Timo Vollbrecht  discussing his 2025 live album  Bremen New York.  We first caught up with Timo back in 2022, and now he returns with his  first-ever live recording  — an album that’s entirely live yet showcases a rare kind of perfection. Composed specifically for the concert hall he knew so well,  Bremen New York...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with acclaimed  NYC-based Jazz Singer & Actress Juliet Ewing.  We talk about her brand-new 2025 album  Simply S’Wonderful – Magic of Gershwin  and her inspiring journey through the performing arts. A  former Broadway performer  turned passionate  jazz vocalist , Juliet’s career spans  NYC jazz clubs, Broadway stages, and international to...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with Spokane, WA-based  Trumpeter & Composer Tim Larkin . We caught up with this acclaimed musician to discuss his brand-new 2025 album  Setting Standards  and his rich life in music. This project features  jazz arrangements of pop classics  and includes collaborations with members of  Earth, Wind & Fire  and top studio musicians. Tim’s...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with Salt Lake City-based Jazz Vocalist, Performance Coach & Educator  Jennifer Madsen . We talk about her brand-new 2025 CD  Reimagine  and a life dedicated to music. This fifth studio album features innovative arrangements and collaborations with  Brent Edstrom ,  Clipper Anderson , and  Mark Ivester , showcasing Jennifer’s modern inte...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Artistic Director of the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra (CJRO), Drew T. Zaremba . We catch up with this dynamic composer, arranger, and bandleader to talk about his work with CJRO and their new 2025 album  Golden Lady  — a soulful, funk- and R&B-infused big band project featuring powerhouse vocalist  Tatiana “LadyMay” Mayfield ....

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Swiss-born, UK-based Jazz Guitarist Nicolas Meier . We caught up with this prodigious talent to talk about his new music, creative journey, and what the future holds. Known for blending  Turkish, Eastern, Middle Eastern, Flamenco, and Tango influences  with modern jazz, Nicolas has established himself as one of the world’s most ori...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Vancouver-born, NYC-based Jazz Bassist Marshal Herridge . We caught up with him to discuss his brand-new 2025 CD  Midsummer Lullaby  and his evolving journey through the world of jazz. Over the years, Marshal has shared the stage with many of North America’s finest jazz artists, including  Anthony Wonsey, Kirk MacDonald, Joe Sulliv...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. On this episode, we talk with  NOLA-based Jazz Saxophonist, Composer & Arranger David Bode . We take a deep dive into his debut album  Good Hang  and his life in jazz. Supported by a grant from the  Threadhead Cultural Foundation , this project was released  20 years to the day after Hurricane Katrina  struck New Orleans—a city whose ti...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. On this episode, we talk with  Acclaimed Chicago-based Jazz Artist Brian Culbertson . We dive into his brand-new 2025 album  Day Trip , his upcoming  national tour kicking off October 17th in Rockford, Illinois , and his celebrated life in music. This project showcases Brian’s  genre-bending artistry , blending contemporary jazz, funk,...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. On this episode, we talk with  Jazz Violinist, Educator, Composer & Improviser Richard Carr . We dive into his new 2025 album  The Escarpment  and his celebrated life in music. This new project blends jazz improvisation, classical elegance, and global traditions. Richard holds a Doctorate in Music Education from Columbia University and...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series! On this episode, we talk with  COO & Guitarist Zach Larmer, Bass Player & Student Director Noah Orlowsky, and Singer Valentina Koehler  of the  Young Musicians Unite (YMU) Jazz Collective  in Miami. This inspiring youth-driven group has been performing, recording, and sharing their love of jazz throughout Florida—while learning the craft...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  legendary jazz multi-instrumentalist Eddie Daniels  on his  2025 Resonance Records release  To Milton with Love . This  master clarinetist & saxophonist  pays homage to Brazilian great  Milton Nascimento  with a bold re-creation of his 1969 CTI Records classic  Courage .  To Milton with Love  marks Eddie’s  third tribute album  to...