Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Nigerian-born, New York-based artist Lawrence Udeigwe , a fascinating musician, composer, vocalist, pianist, mathematician, educator, and interdisciplinary thinker. In this episode, we dive into his remarkable new 2026 album, Four Lemmas , and the extraordinary intersection of jazz, mathematics, neuroscience, music, teaching, percepti...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed Bay Area jazz guitarist and composer George Cotsirilos . In this episode, we take a deep dive into his remarkable career and his beautiful new 2026 album, In The Wee Hours . On his seventh recording, George returns to the intimate sound of solo nylon-string jazz guitar , bringing beloved jazz standards and two original compo...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed jazz pianist, accordionist, composer, and bandleader Ben Rosenblum . In this episode, we take a deep dive into his exciting new 2026 album, The Longest Way Round , his Nebula Project, touring, composition, and the many global musical influences that shape his sound. The Longest Way Round marks an important milestone for Ben...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with jazz singer and voice-over artist Marsha Bartenetti . In this episode, we explore her remarkable career in music, voice-over, recording, and broadcasting, along with her new 2026 single, "New York Minute," and her upcoming album arriving later this year. Marsha is a smooth, rich, and expressive vocalist whose heartfelt delivery brings...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with award-winning Bulgaria-based jazz vocalist, poet, composer, and educator Gergana Velinova . In this episode, we dive into her remarkable musical journey and her powerful new 2026 album, Free . Now her seventh album , Free is a deeply personal project shaped by motherhood, resilience, transformation, and the search for freedom through...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Bay Area bassist, guitarist, arranger, composer, producer, and recording engineer Frank Swart , the creative force behind the acclaimed jazz fusion band Funkwrench Blues . In this episode, Frank joins us to discuss his exciting 2026 album, This Is the One! (raison d'être) , a vibrant recording co-produced with Brian Brinkerhoff t...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed Brazilian jazz guitarist, composer, and bandleader Sergio Pereira . In this episode, we explore his outstanding 2026 album, Colors of Time , along with his remarkable musical journey from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil , to New York City , where he has continued to shape his distinctive voice in contemporary jazz. Born and rais...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring legendary New York City-based jazz bassist, composer, and bandleader Tom Kennedy . One of the most respected bassists in modern jazz, Tom returns to the show to discuss his outstanding 2026 album, The Summit , released on Autumn Hill Records . On his seventh solo recording, Tom presents an exciting collection of original composit...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader Rich Willey . In this episode, Rich returns to the show to discuss his vibrant new 2026 album, Laid Back, Vol. 1 , along with his recent move from North Carolina to West Virginia, the creative process behind the record, life as a working jazz musician in America today,...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring UK-based jazz bassist, composer, and bandleader Michael Bede Dunlop . In this episode, we dive into Michael's debut album as a leader, Bede (2026) —a beautifully crafted recording that bridges the rich traditions of Northumbrian folk music with the adventurous spirit of Scandinavian-influenced contemporary jazz . Recorded at The...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Los Angeles-based composer, actor, producer, and arranger Laurent Ziliani . In this episode, we take a deep dive into Laurent Ziliani's remarkable 2026 album, Anyone Can Whistle: A Sondheim Journey —a stunning jazz reimagining of Stephen Sondheim's timeless love songs. Drawing music from nine of Sondheim's legendary Broadway musi...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Montréal-based drummer, composer, and producer Alexis Martin . In this episode, we dive into Alexis Martin's 2026 debut as a bandleader , Les pôles Volume 1 , a stunning instrumental jazz recording that marks the beginning of an ambitious new series of albums. Long celebrated for his work in film and television scoring , Alexis b...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring musician, producer, DJ, and Jazztronica creator Samir (FKAjazz) Zarif . Six years after our last conversation in the summer of 2020 , Samir returns to Neon Jazz to discuss his captivating new 2026 EP, Intrepid Sun: You Are the Sun, Again , along with the evolution of his groundbreaking musical vision, becoming a father, creating...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring New York City-based jazz pianist, keyboardist, composer, and arranger Kevin Du . In this episode, we catch up with one of jazz's exciting emerging voices to discuss his beautiful 2026 album, Somewhere, a Butterfly Sings , along with his remarkable musical journey that spans continents, cultures, and genres. Born in Chicago and ra...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring pianist Christophe Magnan-Bossé and vocalist Roxane Reddy of the acclaimed Montreal-based Greenhouse Ensemble . In this episode, we dive into the making of the ensemble's captivating 2026 album, Mezzanine —a bold and immersive recording that pushes the boundaries of contemporary jazz through rich orchestration, collective composi...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring jazz singer, visual artist, and cultural architect Tamara Rivelle . In this episode, we connect with Tamara from her home base in Nashville, Tennessee to discuss her upcoming 2026 album, Love Letters , her heartfelt single “My Superman,” and a remarkable creative journey spanning music, art, education, and community building. “My...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Phoenix-based jazz drummer, composer, and dentist Dr. Scott Sadlon . In this episode, we dive into Scott's captivating 2026 album, Songs from Thin Air , an adventurous recording built entirely around the spirit of spontaneous improvisation. By day, Dr. Scott Sadlon practices dentistry after earning his bachelor's degree in biolog...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring pianist/composer Ruthie Dineen and bassist/composer Andrew Lion , the creative forces behind Negative Press Project . In this episode, we reconnect with Ruthie and Andrew—whom we first interviewed back in 2018 —to discuss their ambitious new 2026 album, Cycles I , created in collaboration with the acclaimed Friction Quartet . The...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed New York City jazz pianist, composer, educator, and arranger Ted Rosenthal . A longtime friend of Neon Jazz , Ted returns to discuss one of the most ambitious projects of his career—his remarkable four-album collection, Trios in 4 Acts . In this conversation, we take a deeper dive into the inspiration behind the complet...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Mexican-born jazz bassist, composer, arranger, vocalist, and educator Gabriel Espinosa . From his home base in Iowa, Gabriel joins us to discuss his outstanding 2026 release, The Brazilian Project —a vibrant recording that celebrates the rich traditions of Brazilian music, Latin jazz, and contemporary jazz while showcasing his si...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed jazz guitarist, composer, and returning guest Tomas Janzon . We welcome back a good friend of the show to discuss his remarkable 2026 album, Jazz Diary —a deeply personal project that captures the everyday creative process behind his music. The inspiration for Jazz Diary came from early morning practice sessions, late-n...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed jazz pianist and composer David Janeway . In this episode, we talk with David about his outstanding 2026 live album, Live at the Blue Llama Jazz Club , featuring an all-star trio with legendary bassist Robert Hurst and master drummer Billy Hart . Recorded live at Ann Arbor, Michigan's renowned Blue Llama Jazz Club in Ju...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Kansas City-based jazz musician, composer, vocalist, and creative visionary E.E. Pointer . We caught up with E.E. to discuss his compelling new 2026 album, Downstream Impressions , an imaginative collaboration with poet and storyteller James Benger , along with new music planned for later in 2026 and his ever-evolving creative jo...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed Brazilian jazz pianist, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Ricardo Bacelar . In this exclusive interview, Ricardo discusses his inspiring 2026 album, Maracanós , a remarkable collaboration with legendary Brazilian percussionist and composer Airto Moreira . Bringing together two of Brazil's most celebrated mus...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed Bay Area jazz vocalist Faye Carol , one of the most respected and enduring voices in American jazz, blues, and gospel. In this exclusive interview, we celebrate the release of her outstanding 2026 album, Forever Dynamic —a 20-song collection that showcases the depth, soul, and emotional power that have made Faye Carol a...