Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Trumpeter & San Diego’s Jazz Godfather Gilbert Castellanos .. He opened up about his new 2022 CD Espérame en el Cielo that stands as his long-awaited album following a 13-year hiatus from recording as a band leader while experiencing near career-ending health trauma .. Always known for his distinct style as a leader, he h...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Vibraphonist Chris Dingman on the 2022 CD Journeys Vol. 2 .. On this new project, he has released a deeply personal and unique musical vocabulary through his solo playing in recent years – years that have offered up profound challenges both globally and personally. The album is a vivid portrait of his connection with both his ins...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Kansas City Jazz Vibraphonist Mike Dillon on the 2022 CD Inflorescence … Mike Dillon & Punkadelick makes its recorded debut with Inflorescence, an album of heady, instrumental rock highlighting a band deep in the throes of creative freedom, road tested and wild. The trio features Mike, Brian Haas and Nikki Glaspie .. Punkadeli...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Rotterdam-based Singer & Bandleader Maaike den Dunnen  on the 2022 CD Practicing Solitude .. This is her third release and is a solo-project, inspired by the pandemic. It is a visual EP recorded in one take .. She sings her original songs, accompanying herself at the piano. We get into this album, COVID and so much more .. Enjoy .. Ho...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran LA-based Jazz Tuba Player Jim Self on the 2022 CD My America 2 … Twenty years ago, Jim teamed up with the eclectic and prolific arranger Kim Scharnberg to pay post 9/11 homage to our country via My America – a spirited romp through classic tunes associated with various times in U.S. history and specific locations. America is t...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Toronto Jazz Guitarist, Composer & Educator Harry Bartlett .. He reached out to the show and sent his latest 2022 CD Wildwood ..And it’s a wonderful, edgy listen .. As a bandleader, Harry has appeared in festivals and venues across Canada and has released 2 records with the Harry Bartlett Trio (Harry Bartlett Trio-2018; Wildwood-2022)...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with LA-Based Award-Winning Jazz Vocalist Tawanda .. She opened up about her debut .. the new 2022 CD Smile .. This the first album by one of the most promising young jazz singers to emerge in years .. She was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico to a German-born mother and a father from Mozambique, Tawanda spent her school years honing her voca...

As I ponder over this year of jazz that has gone by .. I’m perpetually satisfied at how evolved and wise the jazz community is .. and this here 2022 year, I think again about a mighty quote from one of the best drummers in the business .. the funny and effortlessly talented Matt Wilson .. During my first interview with him back in 2016, he opened up during a raw conversation about losing his wife...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Kansas City Guitarist Rod Fleeman on the 2022 Saturday Afternoon (Live at Green Lady Lounge) CD .. This album serves as his first solo album and he is at the young age of 70 years old. He’s been a staple and legendary player and accompanist to the likes of Deborah Brown and Marilyn Maye. We get into the beautiful struggle of o...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Kansas City Jazz Saxophonist Christopher Burnett on the 2022 CD The Standards, Vol. 2 Live at the Drum Room in Kansas City .. The Christopher Burnett “Drum Room” Quartet was a featured performer on the First Saturdays of the month beginning shortly after the newly renovated hotel and jazz venue opened at 14th and Baltimore in...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Kansas City Saxophonist Adam Larson on the 2022 CD  With Love, From Kansas City .. It is a high energy Outside in Music follow-up to With Love, From Chicago .. Again with a chordless trio and with the help of fellow Kansas City cohorts, bassist Ben Leifer and drummer John Kizilarmut .. this is another sonic sizzler full of bri...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Saxophonist Bobby Watson  on the 2022 CD Back Home In Kansas City & Upcoming Live Shows .. His retirement in 2020 coincided with the pandemic where he found himself with plenty of time to reflect on Kansas City’s importance to his distinctive sound .. This new project comes from the rich jazz heritage of his Kansas City...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series Toronto-based Jazz Vibraphonist Dan McCarthy  on the 2022 CD Songs of the Doomed:  Some Jaded, Atavistic Freakout .. This new album of music is ultimately inspired by the writing of political journalist and general dingbat Hunter S. Thompson. A lot of the jangled madness that makes up this band’s repertoire comes from a new compositional s...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Philadelphia-based Jazz Guitarist & Composer Joshua Stamper .. We had a good talk about this latest project .. The 2022 album Soma Schema. This album features him straddling the jazz, classical, and experimental worlds .. He gets into the construction of his 12th release as a leader, along with exploring how he survived COVID, the fut...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Former KC, Current NYC Jazz Saxophonist, Bandleader, Composer & Arranger Morgan Faw .. In late August 2022, he completed a week long marathon of gigs in honor of the Charlie Parker week in KC .. Over our conversation, we specifically hone in on his brand new album joined by his band The Flame called It Takes a Village .. He has spent...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran LA-based Guitarist and Composer Grant Geissman .. He opened up about his latest 2022 CD Blooz .. It’s a collection of 12 original blues and jazz songs, performed by a stellar supporting cast of musicians. He was born in Berkeley, California and grew up in San Jose and at 11-years-old he began his first guitar lesson .. After h...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Singer Beverly Church Hogan .. She opened up about a fairy tale life .. in music and otherwise .. She opened up about her new 2022 CD Sweet Invitation .. This 86-year-old singer was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. Whenever she sang on stage live or on radio, she became exhilarated with the audiences’ response by sing...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Trumpeter, Singer & Songwriter Jennifer Hartswick .. She opened up about her sophomore release in the new 2022 CD Something in the Water. An album made that has songs about life, love and music that inspiring the listener to feel deeply. She spent her formative years on 300 acres of family farmland in her hometown of Sheffield, V...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Acclaimed Jazz Vocalist Kate Baker .. She spoke at length about the new 2022 CD Return To Shore done with her late husband and celebrated Guitarist Vic Juris  .. First single, “God Only Knows” is out September 23, in connection with Vic’s September 26th Birthday .. This album chronicles a moving love story produced by guitar great Dav...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Kansas City-based Jazz Trombonist Stan Bock .. He came to Kansas City from Portland, Oregon about 5 months ago and things are taking off .. On September 21, 2022 he will be a part of the Boulevard Big Band at The Warwick playing with a jazz heavyweight in Eric Marienthal .. Stan was born into a musical family and hs father was...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Cuban Pianist, Composer & Educator Rafael Zaldivar … He talked about his new 2022 CD Rumba that combines the holistic vibe and rhythmic circularity of Afro-Cuban music with a jazz sound .. His spirituality shines on this album opening new doors to an endlessly expressive musical universe. Rumba refers to the social gatherings of the b...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based Jazz Tenor Saxophonist Tim Lin .. He has an impressive debut out now that is getting some good ink .. It’s the new 2022 CD Romance In Formosa .. It’s his first public offering fulla hallmarks of an emerging artist stepping onto the scene for the long haul. Born and raised in a small suburban town called Fremont, California,...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran LA-based Jazz Singer Marilyn Scott .. We caught up with her to talk about her career in jazz, COVID life and her new 2022 CD The Landscape .. This is her thirteenth album as a leader born out of the determination to create during a global pandemic ..She is best known for her GRAMMY-nominated work as a contemporary jazz vocalis...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with St. Louis-based Jazz Trombonist & Bandleader John Covelli of The Hard Bop Messengers .. He opened up about their 2022 “Live At The Last Hotel” on a jazz album that literally tells a story. It was born from a residency at the REAL Last Hotel in downtown St. Louis. Each song paints a picture with bounce and bustle that takes the listene...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City-based Veteran Jazz Drummer Arnold Young .. He specializes in avante jazz and his new album with his Roughtet is the 2022 CD Fear is the Mind Killer .. He’s been around for the last 50 years in KC and plays drum set and miscellaneous instruments.  He studied music at UMKC Conservatory of Music and West African Percussion at...