Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a fresh edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series , where we dive into the music and stories of the world’s most dynamic jazz artists. In this episode, we sit down with  jazz guitarist & oudist Mustafa Dill , leader of the fusion group  Love Explode the Sun , to talk about his highly anticipated  2025 album,  Explode Yourself . From his home base in  Santa Fe, New Mexico , Mustafa shar...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series.  In this episode, we sit down with  Kansas City jazz pianist & vocalist Jackie Myers  to discuss her highly anticipated  2025 album,  What About the Butterfly . A veteran musician with a deep love for jazz, Jackie’s new album blends  modern compositional techniques with traditional jazz , embracing  spectral composition and microtonality...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series ! In this episode, we sit down with  Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter & Count Basie Orchestra Director Scotty Barnhart  to discuss the  90 Years of Count Basie Swing Show  at  The Music Hall on April 30, 2025 — International Jazz Day . Now in his  22nd year with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra , Scotty Barnhart is an  acclaimed lea...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series.  In this episode, we talk with  Kansas City icon Lonnie McFadden  about the highly anticipated  90 Years of Count Basie’s Swing Celebration  on  April 30, 2025 — International Jazz Day . Kansas City is set to make history once again with a  trio of events honoring the legendary Count Basie : 🎶  7 PM Main Event at the Music Hall  – Featu...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. In this episode, we catch up with  renowned jazz vocalist Sachal Vasandani  to discuss his  2025 album  Best Life Now —a dynamic project featuring  drumming powerhouse Nate Smith . This new release also showcases  special guest vocalists Gretchen Parlato and Shayna Steele , alongside an all-star band: 🎷  Dayna Stephens  – Saxophone, EW...

🎷  Welcome to another edition of the Neon Jazz interview series!  This time, we head to  Ann Arbor, Michigan  to connect with the  renowned Detroit-native jazz saxophonist, flautist, and vocalist Paul Vornhagen . 🔥  His latest release,   Live at the Blue Llama (2025) , captures the magic of a  working jazz combo  in full swing, recorded live at Ann Arbor’s premier jazz venue. The album delivers...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series , featuring  Kansas City jazz advocate, local historian, and leader of the "90 Years of Count Basie’s Swing" events, Anita Dixon-Brown . In this exclusive interview, we discuss her role in preserving KC's jazz legacy, her contributions as a  UNESCO Creative Cities Network  member, and Kansas City’s distinction as the first and only  UNESC...

🎷  Welcome to another edition of the Neon Jazz interview series.  This time, we head to  Mexico City  to catch up with jazz improviser, composer, writer, and artist  Jacob Wick . 🔥  His new 2025 album,   a veces me veo en el espejo y pienso en ti  ( Sometimes I look in the mirror and think of you ), is a  love letter to jazz , blending rich improvisation with deeply personal and political themes...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series . In this episode, we speak with  veteran jazz musicians John Lentz & Harvey Diamond  about their  2025 album, "How Strange the Road Should Be So Easy"  on  Orchard of Pomegranates Records . 🔹  Harvey Diamond  – A  Boston jazz legend , Harvey has been an  unsung hero of the jazz scene since the 1960s  and was one of the last students of...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series . In this episode, we talk with  New York-based jazz saxophonist & composer Randal Despommier  about his new  2025 album,  South , his deep musical roots, and his journey in jazz. Some of Randal’s  earliest performances  were at  Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans , playing alongside his father—a drummer who studied under the legendary  Ja...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series . In this episode, we speak with members of the  modern jazz group The Empress , a powerhouse ensemble that is redefining the jazz landscape. Their  highly anticipated 2025 album,  Square One , showcases their deep chemistry, innovative sound, and the vibrant movement of  women in jazz . Produced by  award-winning jazz artist Pureum Jin ,...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz Interview Series , featuring  Professor of Music and Author Aaron Johnson . His latest book,  Jazz Radio America  (2025), delves into the rise and decline of jazz on the airwaves. Currently an  associate professor of music at the University of Pittsburgh , Johnson traces jazz radio from its roots in  Black radio (1948)  to its disappearance from commercia...

Welcome to a fresh edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series.  This time, we catch up with  jazz composer, musician, and educator Gabriela Martina  alongside  pianist Maxim Lubrasky , as they take us inside their  2025 album  Explorations in Sound . Speaking from the road in  Switzerland , the duo reflects on their  musical journey together , the inspiration behind the album, and how the challeng...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series ! This time, we sit down with  LA-based jazz vocalist, composer, arranger, and musician Mon David  to talk about his  2025 album  DNA Continuum —a powerful follow-up to his acclaimed  2020 release  DNA . Expanding on the original  duo project  with pianist  Josh Nelson , this new album adds the masterful touch of  guitarist Larry Koonse ,...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series ! In this episode, we sit down with  jazz saxophonist Kevin Sun  to discuss his  2025 album  Lofi at Lowlands —a groundbreaking project that marks a  bold new chapter  in his musical evolution. After nearly a  decade in New York City , Kevin continues to  redefine jazz , embracing  radical post-production techniques  that transform  live...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series.  In this episode, we talk with  recording artist Jeanie Bryson and pianist/arranger/producer Barry Miles  about the  2025 project  Sing You a Brand New Song —a long-awaited tribute to the late  Coleman Mellett . Sixteen years after the world lost jazz guitarist  Coleman Mellett , his  solo album  Sing You a Brand New Song  is finally bei...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series.  In this episode, we catch up with  stellar NYC jazz trumpeter and vocalist Benny Benack III  ahead of his  April 4, 2025, visit to Kansas City  as part of the  Midwest Jazz Collective Tour . From  March 22 to April 10, Benny Benack III Quartet —featuring  Tyler Henderson (piano), Caleb Tobocman (bass), and Charles Goold (drums) —will hi...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. In this episode, we sit down with  Montreal-based jazz pianist and composer Ariane Racicot  to discuss her highly anticipated 2025 album,  Danser avec le feu (Dancing with Fire) . This second album ignites with passion and intensity, blending  jazz fusion, Latin music, metal, classical, and progressive rock  into a dynamic and electrify...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. This time, we sit down with acclaimed jazz vocalists  Kate McGarry  and  Rondi Charleston  to discuss their new album,  Suspended in Time  (2025). Originally conceived by Rondi Charleston and legendary pianist  Fred Hersch , this deeply personal  song cycle  was born from the isolation of the pandemic. However, due to long COVID, Rondi...

Welcome to a  brand-new edition  of the  Neon Jazz  interview series, where we sit down with  jazz bandleader, musician, and copyist Russell Anixter . We dive into the journey behind his highly anticipated  2025 album,  What Is , with the Hippie Big Band —a project that has been a  lifelong dream  and is already earning  rave reviews . With over  30 years in the NYC music scene , Anixter has made...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. In this episode, we talk with  seasoned UK jazz-soul songstress Rachael Calladine  about her highly anticipated  2025 album,  The Game. Marking her  first recorded work in over a decade , Rachael makes a stunning return with a  mesmerizing acoustic jazz and blues album  that showcases her  distinctive vocal talent and deep-rooted jazz-s...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. In this episode, we talk with  South Korean-born, Germany-based Jazz Composer, Pianist & Singer/Songwriter Younee . We dive into her latest  2024 album,  Younee Improvisations Live In Germany , and explore her incredible journey in jazz. Celebrated as a  star pianist , Younee is renowned for her  virtuosic piano skills, improvisational...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series! In this episode, we talk with  Canadian Jazz Guitarist & Educator Ron Ledoux  about his  2025 album  Views, Visions & Destinations . This marks the  second release from the Ron Ledoux Quartet , featuring  nine original compositions  that highlight his renewed creative partnership with  arranger and bassist Gilbert Joanis . With  Paul Sh...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. In this episode, we catch up with  jazz trombonist, composer, arranger, and bandleader Sean Nelson  to discuss his  highly anticipated 2025 album,  Don't Stop Now , with The New London Big Band . This new release features  eight previously unrecorded charts from the legendary Thad Jones , bringing his compositions to life with an all-st...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series! In this episode, we speak with  Dublin-based jazz saxophonist Michael Buckley , a  leading figure in contemporary Irish jazz  and an in-demand  producer, arranger, and performer . We dive into his  new 2025 album,  Ebb & Flow —a stunning collection of original compositions featuring an all-star lineup:  Greg Felton (piano), Barry Donohu...