Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Vancouver-based Jazz Pianist, Drummer & Composer Neil Gray . We dig into his brand-new 2025 album  In the Streets  — released on Halloween 2025 — featuring  Cory Weeds, Bruno Hubert, and Julian Borkowski . The record is described as a  love letter to Vancouver , capturing the city’s vibrant and soulful energy. A 15-year veteran of...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Australia-based Jazz Guitarist, Composer & Educator Nick Freer . We caught up with him to discuss his new 2025 jazz trio album  "Apperceptions" , featuring  Justin Humphries  on drums and  Anton Davidyants  on bass. Nick’s music bridges the boundaries between contemporary and traditional jazz while exploring experimental soundscape...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with Montréal-based Jazz Vocalist, Composer & Guitarist  Saku Mantere  on his evocative 2025 album  Divine Apology  .. This poetic and immersive project journeys through purgatory, memory, and longing with lyrical and philosophical depth. Drawing inspiration from poet Norman Cristofoli’s metaphysical play  The Pub , the album explores th...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Netherlands-based Jazz Bassist & Composer Zack Lober . We caught up with him from his base in  Utrecht  to talk about his  new 2025 album  So We Could Live  and his lifelong journey in jazz. A  native of Montreal, Canada , with creative chapters in  New York City and Boston , Zack has built an impressive career performing with lead...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Toronto-born, Ohio-based Jazz Saxophonist Pete Mills . We dive into his  brand-new 2025 album  For the Record  and his rich journey through the world of jazz. On this soulful and high-energy project, Pete delivers a  love letter to the classic tenor saxophone and Hammond B3 organ quartet sound . With deep roots now planted in the ...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Cleveland-based Jazz Guitarist & Composer Dan Bruce  of  Ohm!  We talk about his new trio, the debut album  The Architects , and his creative life in jazz. Following two critically acclaimed releases with his ensemble  :beta collective , this new album — out  October 31, 2025  via  Shifting Paradigm Records  — explores  funky groov...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Toronto-based Jazz Guitarist & Composer David Occhipinti . We talk about his brand-new  2025 album  Camera Lucida  and his remarkable journey through music. This new recording features  eight original compositions  blending chamber music textures and jazz guitar improvisations with some of  Canada’s finest musicians . David’s 2012 ...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Guitarist Zacc Harris, Bassist Chris Bates and Drummer Pete Hennig  of the  Twin Cities Jazz Quartet Atlantis Quartet . We dive into their electrifying new album,  Live at Berlin , and explore the group’s deep collective history and creative chemistry. Recorded during the opening week of  Minneapolis’s newest jazz venue, Berlin , t...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Fifth-Generation Mariachi Musician Alvaro Paulino Jr.  and  Dynamic Singer & Pianist Linda EPO . We talk about the upcoming  MexFest  on  November 1, 2025 , at  Flushing Town Hall , celebrating  Día de los Muertos  with music, art, and culture. This  inaugural festival  honors Mexican art, community, and remembrance — featuring exh...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  5x GRAMMY Nominated Saxophonist, Arranger, Composer & Educator Lakecia Benjamin . We catch up with this powerhouse of modern jazz to talk about her  November 1, 2025 show at the historic Folly Theater in Kansas City  and so much more. From her early days performing with legends like  Clark Terry  and  Terri Lyne Carrington , to her...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Vocalist Ben Jones  and  Pianist Laurence Hobgood . We dive into their stunning new 2025 album  Ben Jones & Laurence Hobgood  — a raw, honest, and emotionally charged work recorded live at  Skywalker Sound  with no overdubs or safety nets. This intimate voice-and-piano collaboration captures 75 minutes of pure musical storytelling,...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Drummer Hannah Johnson  and  Guitarist Ben Dameron  of the Milwaukee-based jazz quartet  Heirloom . We dive into their brand-new debut 2025 album  Familiar Beginnings , exploring the band’s story, creative chemistry, and the making of this emotionally rich and melodically captivating project. Featuring  DownBeat Award-winning saxop...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  Canadian-born, Chicago-based Jazz Guitarist Kevin Brown . We caught up with him to talk about his new 2025 album  Adventus  and his life in jazz. This thoughtful new collection reimagines music traditionally used during the Advent season — offering space for reflection, preparation, and peace through a jazz lens. Kevin began studyi...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series  with  UK-based Jazz Saxophonist Dom Franks . We catch up with Dom to talk about his brand-new 2025 album  Duality Pt. 2 , recorded with  Dom Franks’ StrayHorn  and featuring  The Carducci String Quartet  and  Aiden Pope . A former student of Jazz Messenger  Jean Toussaint  and winner of the  Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Musician  competiti...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Bassist  Wojciech  and Drummer  Nikoderm  of the Polish Jazz Outfit  Omasta . Based in Poland, these bold newcomers have shaken up the Polish and European jazz scenes with their debut album  Jazz Report from the Hood  — a powerful, groove-driven record reflecting the rhythms of city life. We talk about their creative process, the band...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Canadian Jazz Vocalist & Songwriter Angela Verbrugge  on her 2025 album  In the Wonder of the Night . Fresh off a tour in Italy, Angela dives into this new release, her musical journey, and what’s next. Teaming up with acclaimed NYC pianist  Ray Gallon , the album delivers a collection of intimate voice–piano duets that blend her o...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with Slovenia-born, NYC-based Jazz Saxophonist  Jan Kus . We dig into his new 2025 EP  Night Rides  and his creative journey in the modern jazz world. Alongside Puerto Rican multi-instrumentalist  Dan Martínez , Jan co-founded  Play_Ground , an eclectic musical project that blends global sounds and cinematic moods.  Night Rides  takes li...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with Avant-Garde Guitarist  Ethan Margolis  — also known as  Emaginario . He opens up about his new 2025 album  The Blues Around Us , his creative partnership with acclaimed pianist  Chano Domínguez , and his life in music. Released on  Unifying Sounds , this debut album captures the spirit of global connection — bridging Cleveland and C...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Distinguished Jazz Educator, Composer, Musician & Interviewer David Schroeder . A celebrated force in jazz education and oral history, David has launched his new podcast series  “From the Minds of Jazz Musicians.”  The show offers an intimate journey through jazz, filled with personal stories from his career and heartfelt conversat...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Kansas City-based Jazz Guitarist Jeff Shirley  on his 2025 album  “Trio Live at Green Lady Lounge.”  A familiar face around the Neon Jazz world, Jeff continues to shine as a cornerstone of the vibrant KC jazz scene. This live recording showcases tunes from his deep catalog of compositions, spanning six albums over 13 years. Joined...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Acclaimed Jazz Multi-Instrumentalist & Composer Roger Glenn  on his remarkable career .. In part two of our conversation, we explore his charmed life in the jazz world following the release of his 2025 album  My Latin Heart . Roger is the “ingredient X” — the secret sauce behind so many legendary sounds. Across four decades, he’s e...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Brooklyn-based Bassist & Composer Gui Duvignau  .. We talk about his 2025 album  Listen In  — a dynamic and intimate trio project featuring Jacob Sacks and Nathan Ellman-Bell. As a follow-up and extension to their 2024 release  Live in Red Hook , this new record offers a fresh and immersive listening experience that captures the sp...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Houston-based Jazz Pianist, Organist & Composer Ben Clifton  .. We talk about his debut 2025 album  Overlook  and his inspiring life in jazz. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Ben’s musical roots in classical, gospel, and jazz give him a rich and soulful sound that shines across every performance. His emotional depth, versatility, an...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Brooklyn-based Jazz Alto Saxophonist, Composer & Bandleader Connor Sobieri . We caught up with this rising jazz talent to talk about his debut single  “Love Song”  and his growing life in the jazz world. Recorded just days before graduating from NYU,  Love Song  features a singable melody inspired by the  rock power ballads and psy...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  American-Canadian Jazz Vocalist & Producer Peter Campbell  discussing his deeply personal  2025 album  Haunted Melody . We first caught up with Peter during the height of the 2020 pandemic, and now he returns with a project that reflects both artistic growth and emotional depth. Following his acclaimed 2020 release  Old Flames Neve...