Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. We sit down with  veteran blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist Eric Johanson , a standout voice in the modern blues scene. Hailing from  Alexandria, Louisiana  and now based in  New Orleans , Eric discusses his new 2025 release,  Live in Mississippi  — a raw, electrifying snapshot of his live energy and soulful musicianship. With a r...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. We reconnect with acclaimed  jazz pianist and composer Yelena Eckemoff  to talk about her bold new 2025 double album,  Scenes from the Dark Ages . This project blends  progressive rock ,  modern jazz , and  medieval themes  into a surreal, nearly two-hour listening experience delivered by a top-tier ensemble. Yelena dives deep into: The...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. We sit down with  Vermont-based jazz guitarist and composer Dan Greenleaf , a rising talent in the jazz world. In this powerful conversation, Dan shares the story behind his  debut album   Live at Ford Hall , his creative journey, and how living with  cerebral palsy  has uniquely shaped his musicianship. Dan’s passion for jazz is undeni...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. We talk with  NYC-based Jazz Guitarist James Zito  about his exciting new 2025 release,  Zito’s Jump , and his fast-rising career in the jazz world. Hailed as “ The Natural ” by Artslife Magazine, James is known for his  masterful touch ,  soulful melodies , and deep musicality that channels legends like  Wes Montgomery ,  Les Paul , an...

We catch up with veteran Kansas City-based jazz musician and educator  Stan Kessler  as he prepares to perform at the  2nd Annual Lee’s Summit Jazz Festival  on  Saturday, June 28, 2025 . A beloved friend of Neon Jazz, Stan was part of the inaugural festival in 2024 and returns in 2025 by popular demand. 🎶 He'll bring his celebrated project  Horacescope  — a heartfelt tribute to jazz legend  Hora...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series! We catch up with  LA-based jazz pianist and composer Eric Scott Reed  to discuss his much-anticipated 2025 album,  Out Late . Known for his deep roots in jazz, Eric explores themes of  friendship, legacy, and late-night inspiration  on this powerful new release. Featuring an all-star quintet with  Nicholas Payton (trumpet), Eric Alexand...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series! In this episode, we talk with  NYC-based jazz vocalist Svetlana Shmulyian  about her genre-defying 2025 project,  “Reel to Remix – Night at the Movies Reimagined.” This bold, boundary-pushing  alt-jazz/remix project  reimagines standout tracks from Svetlana’s 2019 Billboard #1 album  Night at the Movies . Produced by an  all-women, mult...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series! In this episode, we talk with  Montreal-based jazz guitarist and bandleader Nicolas Ferron . We dive deep into his  debut album for the 2025 project , exploring his journey through Montreal’s dynamic jazz and indie music scenes. Known for his versatility and unique voice on the guitar, Nicolas discusses working with  Jonathan Cayer  on...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. On this episode, we talk with  Detroit-bred, NYC-based jazz violinist Gwen Laster , a nationally acclaimed musician known for her bold voice in modern jazz. We discuss her powerful new 2025 release with her quartet titled  “Keepers of the Flame.” Inspired by Clyde W. Ford’s  The Hero With an African Face  and her reflections on Joseph C...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. On this episode, we talk with  Indianapolis-based saxophonist and composer Sean Imboden  as he celebrates a major milestone with the release of his debut big band album,  "Communal Heart." This captivating project represents the culmination of Sean’s artistic journey—from his early days as a journeyman musician to becoming a bold, imagi...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. In this episode, we connect with  UK-born, Netherlands-based music producer Simon Sixsmith , the creative force behind the cinematic jazz collective  Black Gold 360 . Speaking from his studio in the Netherlands, Simon dives into the making of the band’s fifth album,  At the Still Point of the Turning World , set for release on  May 1, 2...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. In this episode, we speak with  Venezuelan-born jazz virtuoso pianist and composer Silvano Monasterios . Known for his  masterful technique, emotional depth, and genre-blending innovation , Silvano dives into the creation of his powerful new  2025 album  The River  and reflects on his inspiring musical journey from  Caracas to the U.S....

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. In this episode, we speak with  Betty Accorsi —an  award-winning Italian-born, UK-based jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and bandleader —as she shares insight into her creative journey and latest musical projects. We dive into her brand-new 2025 single  “Mary,”  a track inspired by the naturalistic poetry of  Mary Oliver , the icon...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. In this episode, we connect with  UK-based jazz singer, pianist, and songwriter Robin Phillips —a seasoned artist with a deep passion for storytelling through music. We dive into his  brand-new 2025 album,  Return from the Source —his first collection of original material in over  20 years . The album was born from a powerful motorbike...

We sit down with acclaimed  blues guitarist and singer Sean Chambers  to talk about his  2025 live album “Live From Daryl’s House Club,”  released on  Quarto Valley Records . Sean shares stories from his decades-long journey through the blues—from touring with legendary guitarist  Hubert Sumlin  to developing his signature powerhouse style. Born in Florida, Sean's love for the guitar began with th...

Welcome to a special edition of the show—something deeper than an interview or performance. This is a personal reflection on a powerful week, one marked by magic, music, and meaning. Just days ago, a long-awaited jazz journey reached its crescendo. What began as a simple email of gratitude transformed into a moving tribute to a timeless bond between a father and daughter, and to the heart of Kansa...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series.  We sit down with  jazz guitarist, composer, and arranger Russ Spiegel , speaking from his base in Miami about his  swinging new 2025 album  Nitty Gritty . With a global career that spans rock, blues, funk, Latin, and modern jazz, Russ has earned acclaim as a  respected international guitarist, bandleader, musicologist, and award-winning...

Welcome to a brand new episode of the  Neon Jazz interview series , featuring  Benjamin and Nicolas  from  Coco Rose , the Montreal-based  funk/pop collective  turning heads across Quebec. On the release day of their highly anticipated second album,  Cuddle Funk , we dive into their creative journey, the band's origins in 2019, and how their sound has evolved since their debut EP  Love Faster  (20...

In this episode of  Neon Jazz , we talk with dynamic  jazz vocalist and bandleader Shraddha Pai , the creative force behind  Shraddha Pai and the Prismaticks . Based in Toronto, Shraddha brings a fresh yet nostalgic voice to the genre with the debut EP,  Into the Moonlight  — a four-track collection brimming with cosmopolitan elegance and timeless jazz influences. Fusing a deep appreciation for  p...

In this episode of  Neon Jazz , we reconnect with award-winning  jazz saxophonist and composer Patrick Zimmerli  to discuss his stunning 2025 release,  Songs of Innocence . This marks Zimmerli’s  14th album as a bandleader  and his  debut release  on the newly launched  Emergence Music Productions (EMP)  label, co-founded with producer and polymath  Harold Bott, Jr. The album brings together Zimme...

In this episode of  Neon Jazz , we spotlight the powerful jazz partnership of acclaimed  Italian vocalist Mafalda Minnozzi  and brilliant  guitarist Paul Ricci  as they discuss their vibrant new 2025 album,  Riofonic . This project is a deep musical journey that blends  Italian romanticism  with the  soul of Brazilian jazz , creating a global sound rooted in emotion, rhythm, and authenticity. Over...

In this new episode of  Neon Jazz , we catch up with drummer  Stich Wynston  and saxophonist  Richard Underhill  of the iconic Toronto-based band  Shuffle Demons . We dive into their electrifying new 2025 album,  Are You Really Real , a project that brilliantly captures the magic of their legendary live performances. Recorded at the historic  Canterbury Music Studio  in Toronto,  Are You Really Re...

In this special edition of  Neon Jazz , we catch up with acclaimed singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and BMG recording artist  A.J. Croce . Known for his powerful voice and piano prowess, A.J. dives into his brand-new 2025 album,  Heart of the Eternal . Fresh off his widely celebrated  Croce Plays Croce 50th Anniversary Tour , A.J. shares stories from the road, his creative process, and w...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz Interview Series.  In this episode, we talk with acclaimed and Grammy-nominated jazz harpist  Brandee Younger  — a groundbreaking artist revolutionizing the harp’s place in modern music. We catch up with Brandee to discuss her upcoming 2025 album, her highly anticipated performance at  Flushing Town Hall  in Queens on May 3, and her historic rise in the j...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz Interview Series.  In this episode, we talk with acclaimed jazz singer, songwriter, and former flamenco dancer  Andy James  about her 8th studio album,  Happy People  (2025). After moving to the U.S. to pursue her passion for jazz, Andy James has created a unique sound that masterfully fuses the rhythms of flamenco with the soul of jazz. Happy People  — p...