Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Acclaimed Jazz Saxophonist Peter Epstein .. We talked at length about his new 2023 CD Two Legs Bad. It's his first album as a leader in nearly a decade and introduces a musical approach that builds on past work but forges new directions compositionally, sonically, and conceptually. He has released eight albums as leader and co-leader...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Japanese Pop Singer-Songwriter Turned Jazz Pianist Senri Oe on the 2023 CD Class of ’88 .. He revisits that superstar past on this jubilant new piano trio album joined by Bassist Matt Clohesy and Drummer Ross Pederson .. With seven jazz albums to his name since his 2012 re-debut Boys Mature Slow, he continues to grow as a jazz musicia...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Singer, Percussionist & Guitarist Nanny Assis .. He opened up about all things related to his new 2023 CD Rovanio – The Music of Nanny Assis .. He presents a panorama of Brazilian & Jazz musical styles highlighting his 40-year career as a bossa/jazz vocalist, percussionist, and guitarist .. Based in New York and South Florida, he...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Vibraphonist & Label Owner Matt Moran on the 2023 CD Audible Spirits .. Originally created as a live theater piece, Audible Spirits is grounded on the bedrock idea that public performance of jazz with a pre-recorded rhythm section is heresy. It is a performance between the past and the future as musicians push the boundaries for...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series Jazz Baritone Saxophonist Claire Daly on the new 2023 CD VuVu For Frances .. She plays standards with George Garzone on this latest release, along with a grand cast of musicians .. In the 1940s, Frances Ballantyne discovered live jazz in Harlem and on 52nd Street, befriending and socializing with many creators of the music. She became a li...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Trombonist & Composer Michael Davis .. He talked about his new 2023 CD Open City at length. This album is his14th as a leader and his 2nd fronting the acclaimed Hip-Bone Big Band. He has assembled his usual star-studded cast of New York jazz and studio.. Mike is well known for touring the world with The Rolling Stones fiv...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran & Celebrated Jazz Multi-Instrumentalist Peter Hess .. he opens up about his new 2023 CD by Diskonife Records with Matt Moran and Darrent Johnson .. Peter is a member of the Philip Glass Ensemble, Slavic Soul Party, Kite Quartet, Bang on a Can’s Asphalt Orchestra, Barbez, and was a part of Balkan Beat Box for a decade. As the c...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC Jazz Guitarist & Vocalist Freddie Bryant .. We delved into his upcoming album ‘Upper West Side Love Story’ out on July 7th, 2023. It chronicles the NYC’s Upper West Side Gentrification and features the talents of Steve Wilson, Donny McCaslin, Regina Carter and many others .. Inspired by his first-hand experiences as he witnessed t...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series Pianist, Arranger & Composer Scott Dunn .. Marking the 10th anniversary of the death of celebrated composer Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, I Watch You Sleep is a newly curated album conceived by Scott Dunn that features award winning British jazz vocalist Claire Martin OBE, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, produced by Grammy Award winning Jo...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with The Hazelrigg Brothers Who Are Jazz Pianist George and Bassist Geoff .. As the designers and builders of high end audio gear used by top producers/engineers around the world, they have also reimagined The Police’s “Synchonicity” in commemoration and celebration of the iconic album’s 40th anniversary .. We cover quite a bit in this tan...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Bassoonist Michael Rabinowitz .. He opened up at length about his new 2023 Album Next Chapter .. While jazz is not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of a bassoon, during the past 40 years he has shown that the bassoon can certainly be a viable jazz instrument, when played by the right person. He has perfo...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with San Francisco-based Jazz Pianist & Flautist Gaea Schell .. She delved into her new 2023 CD In Your Own Sweet Way. She is known among her peers for swinging eighth notes, subtle phrasing and contemplative writing. She is originally from Alberta, Canada, where she grew up playing music from an early age. Recorder lessons at age 6 with f...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer & Composer Sanah Kadoura on the 2023 CD Duality .. This JUNO nominated Lebanese-Canadian music force comes alive on this dynamic sophomore album .. It is a follow-up to her 2018 critically-acclaimed Hawk Eyes .. On this new project, it is a balance between light and dark. This is the second time we have interviewed her .....

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with LA Jazz Producer, Composer & Keyboardist Daniel Stein & Guitarist Stuart Ziff .. They came together to talk about their latest project in the 2023 CD R For Romeo .. Daniel has had a successful career as a studio musician, composer, and producer that began after graduating from the Berklee College of Music. After a brief stint in New Y...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series Jazz Bassist Ethan Cohn & Swiss-based Trumpeter Trumpeter Sebastián Greschuk .. They opened up bout their new 2023 CD Ensemble Infinity. They offer new original compositions in powerful arrangements for octet — with voice, four horns and rhythm section. When these two first connected as colleagues in the prestigious Focusyear residency pro...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Montreal-based Jazz Vocalist Mira Choquette .. She opened up about her new 2023 CD In Real Time with some of Toronto's finest musicians and much more .. She is a premiere Canadian Jazz singer who spends a lot of her time traveling to make music. She performs all over Mexico and makes regular trips back to Canada, as well as to Spain a...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Multi Instrumentalist, Songwriter, Arranger, Engineer & Producer Leo Sidran on the 2023 CD What's Trending .. The last time we caught up with Leo was in 2021 when the pandemic was still in full force and things were up in the air .. Now, with a new album, European tour dates, a thriving podcast called The Third Story now featured on t...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series Jazz Trombonist, Composer, Arranger, Producer & Outside in Music Label Founder Nick Finzer on the 2023 Album Dreams Visions Illusions .. The new album is the result of a Chamber Music America “New Jazz Works” grant received by the ensemble in 2020. The album set out to explore the role of the muse in a creative life. The ups and the downs,...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Brooklyn-based Jazz Singer, Bandleader, Author & Actress Tatiana Eva-Marie on the 2023 CD Two at the Most .. We got into this new album, the post-COVID world, New York City and much more .. Nicknamed the Gypsy-jazz Warbler by the New York Times, Tatiana Eva-Marie is a transatlantic bandleader, singer, author, and actress based in Broo...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Philadelphia-bred Jazz Drummer Vince Ector .. We talked about his new 2023 CD - The Vince Ector Organatomy Trio + / Live At The Side Door. Coming from Philadelphia, he attended the University of Pennsylvania. Trained in Music beginning at age nine, he then began studying privately with drummers such as, Mickey Roker and Ralph...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Singer & Songwriter Dara Starr Tucker .. On this self-titled sixth album, she continues her musical evolution .. Referred to as “a fighter for social justice wielding music as a balm,” she melds her presence as a jazz and roots singer-songwriter with her growing notoriety as a social media commentator on race, cultural equity, mu...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series KC-Born / NYC Jazz Trumpeter Dave Scott on the Return to Kansas City for a June 29, 2023 Show at Westport Coffeehouse .. It's a regular occasion over the years to talk to Dave and for him to return to where it all began .. One night after the big Pat Metheny return to KC, we talk to Dave about his return to town to do what he does best .....

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Singer Jan Cronin .. We talked at length about her new 2023 CD I Thought About You .. The stripped-down arrangements and the selection of songs let her sultry voice and warm, caring personality shine through. She grew up around jazz and has always loved it .. we get into her history, future and so much more .. Enjoy ..  ...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Baltimore-based Jazz Woodwind Player Seth Kibel .. He opened up about his new 2023 CD Clown on a Stick .. The artistic approach, name and so much more .. He is one of the Mid-Atlantic's premier musicians working with some of the best bands in jazz, swing, and more.  As the featured performer with The Kleztet, Bay Jazz Project,...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series Prolific Pianist, Music Producer, Composer, Arranger & Audio Engineer Israel Tanenbaum .. He dug into his new 2023 CD Israel Tanenbaum & The Latinbaum Jazz Ensemble album called Impressions .. After producing over 50 albums for other artists in Puerto Rico, Colombia and the U.S., participating as pianist-arranger in more than 100 recording...