Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Brooklyn-based Jazz Drummer and Composer & Bandleader Tomas Fujiwara .. He opened up about his new 2023 album March on with his sextet Triple Double featuring players like drummerGerald Cleaver, guitaristsMary Halvorson and trumpet/cornet player Ralph Alessi .. He was born and raised in Boston, MA and went on to study with legendary d...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Brazilian-born, Poland-based Hammond B-3 Organist Daniel Latorre .. He reached out to Neon Jazz and talked at length about his new 2022 CD Organization Live .. He is a skilled player out of São Paulo, Brazil who studied piano and specialized in the play of jazz, blues and rock on B3. Over the years he had some great teachers .. Betwee...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with BC-based Composer Holly Burke .. She talked about the new 2022 CD Dreamride done with fellow composer Bill Runge .. In 2020, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and after a five year struggle with post-concussion syndrome, Holly finally found herself back at the piano, improvising again. Her muse had returned. Re-invigorated, B...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Italian Jazz Artist Vanessa Bissiri .. She talked about her new 2023 project called Empatica .. It’s the debut of this artist residing in Sardinia, Italy, but trained in different European cities like Rome & Berlin, along with 15 years in Barcelona .. This album tells of a memory that is recorded in our mind through sensations with 8...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Canadian Jazz Saxophonist Keith O'Rourke .. He talked about the new 2023 CD Imperfect Perfectionist - As with many artists, the pandemic shutdowns of 2020 became a time of soul searching for Keith. His sophomore album is a direct result of this unexpected and prolonged period of self-reflection, practice and composition. He was a born...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Vocalist Tatiana Eva-Marie on the new 2021 CD I Double Dare You with Singer, Playwright, Actor & Historian Vienna Carroll on the New 2023 Single Swing Low Sweet Chariot .. Vienna & The Folk debut the Afro-Roots Single on February 10, 2023 .. It’s the new single from their upcoming CD Harlem: Afro Future Roots, a special collectio...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Guitarist, Composer & Leader of the Experimental Rock Group CarbonWorks Neal Barnard on the 2023 Album Vanishing Act .. Neal rings in the new year with their energetic new single, titled “Marie Osmole.” The song is the third release from CarbonWorks’ upcoming album out April 21, 2023. As with past CarbonWorks singles, the song is a un...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based Jazz Bassist, Composer & Bandleader Ben Wolfe .. He talked openly about his new 2023 CD Unjust  .. A stellar follow-up to his critically-acclaimed 2019 release Fatherhood. Unjust celebrates the striking interplay between multiple ensembles driven by the same steadfast rhythm section. It features an incredible line up with th...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Korean-born, New York-based Composer & Bassist SeaJun Kwon .. He talked about his new 2022 CD Micro-Nap with his Walking Cliché Sextet. It is on saxophonist Kevin Sun's Endectomorph Music label. The bassist’s presence in the States – and on the jazz scene – was a seismic shift that happened fairly rapidly. He first played an upright b...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Toronto Jazz Guitarist & Composer Matt Greenwood .. We caught up with him in Zimbabwe to talk about his world of music and his new 2023 CD Atlas .. Originally from Harare, Zimbabwe, he is continuing to etch a new sound in Toronto’s Jazz scene with his debut album .. A cinematic musical world that  combines jazz improvisation with mode...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Indianapolis-based Jazz Bassooninst Mark Ortwein .. He spent some time talking about his life in music and his latest 2023 album called It Was Time ... He grew up in Las Vegas, attended Loyola University in New Orleans for two years then transferred to Boston University, and then played for one season with the Las Vegas Sympho...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Leader & Saxophonist Jon C. Gardner and Drummer Sean J. Kennedy of the Philadelphia-based Jazz Group Gardyn Jazz Orchestra .. They open up about their new self titled 2023 album, their history and much more .. This outfit is comprised of world-class musicians from across the Philadelphia region with a original style and ability to ins...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Bay Area Veteran Jazz Guitarist Jim Witzel .. He opened up about his new 2023 CD Feelin’ It .. He grew up in the north-Bay Area town of San Rafael and began learning guitar at age twelve. He explored various styles (folk, pop, rock and blues) and began studying jazz guitar in high-school with well-known Bay Area teacher and performer...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Multi-Instrumentalist and Leader of the Jambalaya Brass Band Ric Frank on 2023 & Beyond .. We initially caught up with Ric in 2018 and so much has happened since then .. Along with the pandemic, he was diagnosed with cancer and has gone through quite a bit to get his strength back up and be ready to go in this new 2023 year. Neon...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC Jazz Trumpeter, Composer, Arranger & Educator Tony Kadleck .. He opened up about his new  2023 CD .. A Tony Kadleck Big Band recording called “Sides” will be released on February 10, 2023 .. Throughout his career, Tony has been praised as a highly effective sideman, who has lent his hand to numerous musical activities. He is curre...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Multi-Awarded Vocalist Angie Wells .. She got into her new 2023 CD "Truth Be Told" Produced by legendary jazz bassist John Clayton .. Inspired by the Summer of 2020 and the events that moved us into action .. She has a smokey well rounded voice with an ability to entertain her audience in a way that is captivating by gi...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Multi Grammy Nominated Saxophonist Miguel Zenon on the upcoming 2023 tour, COVID life and so much more .. He will be at The Folly Theater in Kansas City on January 20, 2023 .. The last time he was here was back in 2018 at The Folly with the SF JAZZ Collection .. This celebrated native of San Juan, Puerto Rico gets into the modern era...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Composer, Bass Clarinetist & Bandleader Griffin Woodard .. He opened up about the new album with the Griffin Woodard Group released in 2022 called Completion .. Griffin believes in the transformative power of music. He has dedicated years of study to acquiring an in-depth understanding of the rich historical lineage of jazz clari...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Boston-based Jazz Saxophonist Nicholas Brust .. He talked about his new 2023 CD Daybreak and life in music .. Heralded as a premiere saxophonist of his generation, he has established his voice in the world of modern instrumental music. He has found his niche as a bandleader and composer, taking advantage of the numerous textures and c...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Jazz Pianist Jackie Myers on 2023 & Beyond .. It has been since the pandemic we had talked to Jackie and in this new interview we cover how she made it through COVID, realizations, the current 2023 itinterary, dreams of a new recording and a host of other things .. We get into in during a spirited conversation I have been...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Harlem-based Jazz Saxophonist Sam Taylor .. He talked at length about his new 2022 CD Let Go .. His true jazz education began during his three years at Philadelphia’s High School for Creative and Performing Arts. He was immersed in the deep tradition of Philadelphia’s jazz community. Sam left at the age of seventeen for New York City...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series Toronto-based Jazz & Blues Vocalist Linda Carone .. She talked to the show about her new 2023 CD Lemon Twist ..This new project is supported by a stellar group of musicians and is raring to go. Established as a jazz and blues vocalist and niche song stylist, her fresh recording is loaded with cool chill vibes & spicy sounds. She is a niche...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Celebrated NYC Jazz Vocalist & Radio Host Mary Foster Conklin .. We spent some time talking about her new 2022 CD These Precious Days .. She is an old school song hound with a special talent for uncovering lesser known treasures of the Great American Songbook and performing them in nontraditional venues. She hosts a weekly live radio...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Argentine-born, NYC-based Jazz Pianist & Composer Emilio Teubal .. He celebrates the release of his 6th solo album called "Futuro" in February 2023 .. He has recorded over twenty album as a band leader and sideman and is also a prolific composer and arranger .. Emilio identifies his artistry and creative search to the music of Latin A...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Acclaimed Jazz Singer Libby York .. She talked to us about her  new 2022 CD Dreamland. It’s her fifth as a leader and producer. She is not the kind of jazz singer that needs vocal pyrotechnics to engage an audience. Whether she is singing a ballad or swinging a standard, her deep connection to the lyrics and subtle improvisations on t...