Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Brooklyn-based Jazz Saxophonist & Composer Ingrid Laubrock .. She opened up about her new 2023 CD The Last Quiet Place and her world of music .. She is interested in exploring the borders between musical realms and creating multi-layered, dense and often evocative sound worlds. A prolific composer, Laubrock was named a “true visionary...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Bandleader & Composer Michael Wetherwax .. He opened up about the new 2023 CD with The Kupkasonic Jazz Orchestra called Big Band Trax by Wax .. He grew up in Burbank, California and in his younger years he performed with his family band “The Reflectors” under the direction of his father, who was an accomplished musician,...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with KC David Cunningham Jazz Singer in the The Dan Riggs Big Band on Make Music Day 2023 in Kansas City .. In honor of the longest mouth of daylight there is all year long, Kansas City will again celebrate the occasion with music .. As a part of this celebration, David will be performing  with The Dan Riggs Big Band and playing from 6:30...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series Malaysian-based Jazz Singer Lyia Meta .. Following in the success of her debut collaboration with Los Angeles songwriter Denise Dimin, she returns with her new album Always You. She recorded the album working through different time zones between Nashville, TN and Malaysia.  She is an international multi award-winning musician of Creole Por...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series Toronto-based Jazz Award Winning Drummer & Composer Dhaivat Jani .. We got into his new 2023 CD Sum // Parts .. Originally from India, he started his musical journey at the age of 5 by beginning his training in Indian Classical music with the percussion instrument Tabla. His musical influences come from the genres such as Indian classical,...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based Jazz Guitarist, Songwriter & Producer Marc Ciprut .. We had a good talk about his new 2023 CD called Blue House .. His music is influenced by the many different  musicians he grew up listening to. Everyone from Jimi Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, Gorge Benson and Grant Green to Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Donny Ha...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Acclaimed Canadian Jazz Singer & Songwriter Fuat Tuac .. He talked about his new 2023 Album Immigrant .. He shares a collection of stories and experiences about life in Canada as a 30-something foreigner. He used to work as a qualified lawyer, practicing law in Istanbul, France, and the UK  before the calling to pursue jazz full time...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Trumpeter, Composer, Bandleader, Educator & Designer Jamie Breiwick .. He opened up about his new 2023 CD – Awake: Volume 2 .. He dwells in Racine, Wisconsin and over the years he has performed with numerous notable jazz artists, including Matt Wilson, Dan Nimmer, Joe Sanders, Pete Zimmer, Adam Larson, Ralph Bowen, David Hazeltin...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based Jazz Trumpeter, Composer & Educator Anthony Hervey .. We had a good talk about his debut album .. the 2023 CD Words from My Horn .. He was recently chosen as one of Grammy.com’s 10 Emerging Jazz Artists to Watch in 2023 and has impressed audiences across the globe as a first-call sideman for luminaries such as Christian McBr...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Montreal-based Jazz Drummer Sébastien Parent .. We talked  about the new 2023 CD debut album from this 24-year-old musician that was written with the rich tradition of big band music in mind. The album contains an eclectic range of stylistic influences from the genres that he grew up listening to, including rock, classical, neo-soul,...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Portland-based Jazz Guitarist & Composer Ryan Meagher on the 2023 Album AftEarth .. He started planting the seeds for a collaboration with visual artist Tina Granzo in the months before the pandemic. This impressive multimedia project is slyly probing meditation on apocalyptic times. A multifaceted release on Atroefy Records that incl...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist Ben Miller .. He got into his new and debut 2023 CD Feathers of Ma’. This Rochester-based Jazz pianist was born in the Philippines, raised in Peru and upstate New York, and educated in Montreal and New York City. Historically, Miller has been a member of several distinct music scenes, frequently performing with groups .....

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with azz Singer Chloe Jean .. She opened up about her new 2023 Fairy Tale Failure .. She is a Mill Valley based award-winning recording artist and songwriter that has shared the stage with many  musicians .. This album is produced by famed Jazz musician Ray Oviedo and she’s ready to make her jazz mare .. Enjoy the story…  The Home of Neon...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Armenia-based Oud Player & Composer Tigrane Kazazian .. He opened up about his new 2023 CD Still Love that is a mix of the Jazz-world, electro-avant-garde, world music, folk & contemporary. Half French, half Armenian, born and raised in Egypt, he then lived in France and Canada and currently lives in Armenia. Enjoy the story…  The Hom...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Vocalist & Composer Ellie Martin .. She opened up about her new 2023 Album Verdant. On this debut recording, it showcases her wide ranging vocal and compositional talents. The album comprises 12 original songs that mostly follow the arc of her life in the last few years, reflecting her experiences as a woman, a mother, and a canc...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series Jazz Saxophonist & Composer Anthony E. Nelson Jr. .. He opened up about his new 2023 CD Swinging Sunset that serves as an homage to the great jazz organ trios that were particularly popular in clubs in the 1950s and 60s. This is his 5th CD as a leader. He first picked up the alto saxophone at age 11 and has kept on going. He gets into new...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Trumpeter Paul Litteral &  Bandleader/Vocalist Angela O'Neill .. They discuss their new collaboration on the 2023 Album Legacy out on the Outrageous8 label. Paul has quite a history touring the world with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Keb Mo, & Debby Harry .. And this new material puts him in the deserved spotlight on...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Studio Director Sean Hodge of Prevail Media on behalf of UNESCO  .. For this year’s International Day of Jazz on April 30th, member cities of the UNESCO Creative Cities of Music came together for a joint video project. Jazz music plays a big role in many of the Creative Cities of Music in the network. The video features many talented...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Bassist Nick Blacka of the UK Band GoGo Penguin on the 2023 Album Everything is Going to be OK .. This multi-award nominated, Manchester-hailing trio presents a new project that was born during a time of turbulence and loss. Recorded in a personally difficult period for the band, who were suffering deep personal loss and mourning...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Saxophonist Steven Carrington .. We caught up with him on tour in Poland to get into his new 2023 CD Friends R Family. It is his third release as a leader and first wholly original outing for this Baltimore native .. He pulls from a full range of his experience like international tours with Kool & The Gang .. After studyi...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Emmy-Winning Jazz Composer & Multi-Instrumentalist Joel Goodman .. He talked bout his new 2023 CD "An Exquisite Moment.” This project is a deeply personal and improvisation-rich debut album of "full-experience" music. He is well known for a deeply nuanced sound filled with intricate subtleties. His diverse body of work includes scores...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Vancouver Up & Coming Jazz Artist Imogen Moon .. She had an incredible turn of events while putting together her first record. The Dap-Kings have jumped on as her backing band, Ian Hendrickson-Smith (The Roots) is producing, and she even got to record with Amy Winehouse's equipment. The music on the new album consists of new recording...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Composer, Bandleader & Bassist Artie Roth on the 2023 CD Resonants .. On this third release by the Artie Roth Quartet, it features 10 new compositions with his group formed in 2013. It is a trailblazing 21st Century jazz concept album full of grit and drive. We cover the COVID survival, the new album, the future beyond and much m...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Chicago-based Singer/Songwriter Joanie Pallatto on the New 2023 Album Accidental Melody .. This is her fourth album with all original music on Southport Records. There are 13 original tunes composed by Pallatto with lyrics to five tracks co-written by her husband Bradley Parker-Sparrow .. We talk at length about this album, live shows...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with LA-based Actor, Jazz Pianist & Vocalist John Allee .. We delved into his new 2023 album "Past Imperfect" that showcases a lyrical menagerie of dreamers, schemers, and lovable rogues. On his fourth studio album, he highlights a set of acoustic music anchored by a piano trio that fuses jazz, blues, and folk. He is a multi-faceted perfor...