Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Chicago-based Band Leader Shawn Maxwell on the 2023 Album Story At Eleven .. This record is his eleventh album as bandleader and composer done a long-form composition in four movements. Each movement stands independently, but they are connected musically and emotionally .. We cover this project, live shows, post-COVID living and much...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Chicago-based Jazz Guitarist Kenny Reichert .. We talked about his new 2023 Album Deep Breath .. Coming out on Shifting Paradigm Records, this sophomore effort is a masterful showcase of his musicianship and versatility as a performer, composer, and bandleader. Born in Brookfield, Wisconsin, he began his study of classical piano at th...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with UK-based Jazz Pianist, Composer & Bandleader Gabriel Latchin .. He opened up about his new 2023 CD with the Trio called Viewpoint .. Over the years, he has made a name for himself as one of the UK’s finest musicians, praised by critics and world renowned musicians alike. Known for his effortlessly swinging feel, deep repertoire and co...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC Jazz Pianist Isaiah J. Thompson .. We had a good talk about this 2023 CD The Power of the Spirit .. He is a rising star in the modern jazz world making waves in the jazz scene with his unique sound and virtuosic playing. With a deep respect for the jazz tradition and a forward-thinking approach to improvisation, he has established...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Pianist & Composer Bruce Barth .. He opened up about the 2023 Project & Show Fly with the Wind featuring Terell Stafford, Tim Warfield & Dick Oatts .. The Same Lineup Will Join the Temple University Symphony Orchestra, Studio Orchestra and Jazz Band to Explore an Eclectic Mix of Classical, Jazz and Crossover Music at Jazz...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Bassist Kevin Ray  of the Group East Axis .. We dug into the  new 2023 Album No Subject with this adventurous improvising quartet also featuring pianist Matthew Shipp, bassist Kevin Ray and drummer Gerald Cleaver with new addition Scott Robinson on sax and reeds .. It’s their second album via Mack Avenue Music Group and Brother M...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Ukraine-based Jazz Saxophonist & Composer Carlo Muscat .. From his home base of Kyiv, Ukraine, Carlo opened up about his latest 2023 Release called Hymns done with Pianist Tony Tixier featuring interpretations of some of the most renowned French songs. The the intricate interplay between the two musicians and the unique fusion of jazz...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Georgia-based Jazz Vocalist Senobia Smith West .. She talked about her  2023 Debut Album Time to Breath and her life in music .. She has been performing all over the world since grade school. She has performed all sorts of music: Opera, classical and gospel music .. She loves the magical feeling of performing onstage for an audience ....

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Bay Area Jazz Bassist Dewayne Pate .. We talked about his new 2023 Album On The Upside and a good life in music .. Born in Richmond California, in the cradle of East Bay Funk, he started playing bass at the age of 15. In 1980, he moved to Los Angeles where he attended the Musicians Institute, then returned to the Bay Area .. H...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC Jazz Bassist & Composer Marty Isenberg .. We spent some quality time talking about his debut 2023 CD The Way I Feel Inside .. Playing bass was love at first pluck as his career as a jazz musician began at the age of 12 after losing his father to cancer the year prior. For almost 20 years, he has been part of the rich New York City...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Philadelphia-bred Trombonist & Founder/Creator of City Jazz Festival Founder Ernest Stuart .. Now entering its ninth year, this year's Center City Jazz Festival takes place in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 22 from 1:00 to 7:30 PM.  It returns triumphantly after a 3-year COVID hiatus and it has sold out over the past five years it wa...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with GRAMMY®-Recognized Producer, Music industry Veteran, Educator & Jazz Musician Nick Phillips .. Over his career, he has worked on several hundred commercially-released projects. Newly-recorded projects produced by Nick include albums by jazz luminaries like Kenny Barron, Randy Brecker, Fred Hersch and so many others.. We cover new proj...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City-born, NYC-based Jazz Singer Lucy Wijnands on New 2023 Music .. She is releasing her first single as a solo artist called "Always and Forever" on April 7, 2023. It was written by her father, the KC Piano Icon Bram Wijnands, and recorded by her gang here in Brooklyn. This will be leading up to two more single releases with a...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Legend Wadada Leo Smith  on the 2023 Album Fire Illuminations .. Throughout 2022, he celebrated his 80th birthday with one of the most prolific and creative year’s worth of releases. Now at 81 in 2023, he returns with his first of several planned releases in this new year. The brilliant Fire Illuminations is due out March 31, 202...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Berlin-based Jazz Multi-Instrumentalist, Composer, Arranger & Conductor Ed Partyka on the 2023 album Hold Your Fire .. During our interview, we get into depth about this elegant new album, modern living in the post-COVID world, live shows, students in jazz these days and so much more .. Dig this interview ..  For More Interviews: The...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Canadian Songstress Emilie-Claire Barlow  on 2023 Album Spark Bird .. This brand new album is her 13th as a Leader and it's due out on March 31, 2023. This is a stark contrast to the first interview we did with her back in June 2020 as the world of jazz and beyond was grinding to a halt. Over her career, she has established herself as...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Canadian Jazz Singer & Arranger Emilie-Claire Barlow .. This award winning and critically acclaimed two time Juno Award winner and six-time nominee has released 11 self-produced albums on her own label called Empress Music Group. On June 1 2020, we caught up with her to talk about the strange new COVID-19 world, new projects, her life...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Saxophonist Martin Stender & Percussionist Victor Dybbroe of the Copenhagen-based Jazz Band Girls in Airports .. They open up about their new 2023 Album How It Is Now and a life well lived as a band in music .. Based in Copenhagen, they are one of the few young, Danish indie jazz bands that have established themselves internationally....

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with New York-based Jazz Singer Lizzie Thomas .. We get into her career-defining fifth album called Duo Encounters on a project that digs deep into the lyrics, and uplifts each song with her individualistic approach. Turning away from the conventional, these interpretations of carefully curated tunes are fun and adventurous. She was born i...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Iceland-based Bassist & Composer  Freysteinn Gislason .. His new album is essentially called In all directions but still the same .. It was a bold step for for him to explore more experimental music that he had written and face his fears in doing so. Each song is a short story about his struggles and the beauty of life. Essentially, i...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City-based Guitarist, Composer & Educator Alan Voss .. Originally from Independence, Missouri, he moved to the East Coast for some time before coming back to Kansas City to raise a family .. These days, he lead bands of his own and freelances with various other groups. He’s promoting his debut and new 2023 album called Baobab ....

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Ozarks-born, NYC Jazz Pianist & Host Dalton Ridenhour .. The New York City jazz label Turtle Bay Records is kicking off of their new video series, On the Back Porch .. The series showcases the impressive talent of eight exceptional jazz musicians hailing from across the United States with in-depth featuring Dalton .. We get into his l...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Harlem-honed Jazz Vocalist, Songwriter & Lyricist Emily Braden .. We had a good talk about her sophomore 2023 Album Cannon & Sparrow .. This Boise, Idaho-born, Harlem-honed performer has a sound that is an effortless blend of jazz and soul. Winner of New York City’s ‘Best of the Best’ Jazzmobile Vocal Competition, she has been a celeb...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Pianist Chris Keefe .. We discussed his new 2023 CD called Opening ..On this project, he invited two superb musicians to join him in bassist Harvie S. and drummer Adam Nussbaum .. We cover this album, his career, post-COVID life and much more .. Over a long and good career, he has performed across North America in clubs,...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with New Orleans-based Jazz Bassist Ben Fox .. We talked about his new 2023 Album Ben’s Bop. On this project, he wanted to create an album rooted in the bebop tradition, made by young players thriving in present New Orleans .. As a kid, he grew up listening to classic 50s bop albums from Blue Note. Originally from Palo Alto, California, he...