Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Brooklyn-based, Award-Winning Latvian Jazz Vocalist, Composer & Arranger Arta Jēkabsone . Originally from Latvia and now thriving in New York City, Arta is living her jazz dream. We talk about her  upcoming 2025 album,  Dziesmu Kamoliņš  — a stunning collection of 11 original arrangements of traditional Latvian folk songs, blended...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Acclaimed Jazz Singer, Producer & Composer Sacha Boutros . We talk with this dynamic artist about her  new 2025 CD  Paris After Dark  — a lush, global journey through the worlds of jazz and romance. Known for performing in  14 languages , Sacha is a  global peace ambassador  who uses music to build bridges between cultures. Beyond...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Jazz Saxophonist Timo Vollbrecht  discussing his 2025 live album  Bremen New York.  We first caught up with Timo back in 2022, and now he returns with his  first-ever live recording  — an album that’s entirely live yet showcases a rare kind of perfection. Composed specifically for the concert hall he knew so well,  Bremen New York...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with acclaimed  NYC-based Jazz Singer & Actress Juliet Ewing.  We talk about her brand-new 2025 album  Simply S’Wonderful – Magic of Gershwin  and her inspiring journey through the performing arts. A  former Broadway performer  turned passionate  jazz vocalist , Juliet’s career spans  NYC jazz clubs, Broadway stages, and international to...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with Spokane, WA-based  Trumpeter & Composer Tim Larkin . We caught up with this acclaimed musician to discuss his brand-new 2025 album  Setting Standards  and his rich life in music. This project features  jazz arrangements of pop classics  and includes collaborations with members of  Earth, Wind & Fire  and top studio musicians. Tim’s...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with Salt Lake City-based Jazz Vocalist, Performance Coach & Educator  Jennifer Madsen . We talk about her brand-new 2025 CD  Reimagine  and a life dedicated to music. This fifth studio album features innovative arrangements and collaborations with  Brent Edstrom ,  Clipper Anderson , and  Mark Ivester , showcasing Jennifer’s modern inte...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Artistic Director of the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra (CJRO), Drew T. Zaremba . We catch up with this dynamic composer, arranger, and bandleader to talk about his work with CJRO and their new 2025 album  Golden Lady  — a soulful, funk- and R&B-infused big band project featuring powerhouse vocalist  Tatiana “LadyMay” Mayfield ....

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Swiss-born, UK-based Jazz Guitarist Nicolas Meier . We caught up with this prodigious talent to talk about his new music, creative journey, and what the future holds. Known for blending  Turkish, Eastern, Middle Eastern, Flamenco, and Tango influences  with modern jazz, Nicolas has established himself as one of the world’s most ori...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Vancouver-born, NYC-based Jazz Bassist Marshal Herridge . We caught up with him to discuss his brand-new 2025 CD  Midsummer Lullaby  and his evolving journey through the world of jazz. Over the years, Marshal has shared the stage with many of North America’s finest jazz artists, including  Anthony Wonsey, Kirk MacDonald, Joe Sulliv...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. On this episode, we talk with  NOLA-based Jazz Saxophonist, Composer & Arranger David Bode . We take a deep dive into his debut album  Good Hang  and his life in jazz. Supported by a grant from the  Threadhead Cultural Foundation , this project was released  20 years to the day after Hurricane Katrina  struck New Orleans—a city whose ti...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. On this episode, we talk with  Acclaimed Chicago-based Jazz Artist Brian Culbertson . We dive into his brand-new 2025 album  Day Trip , his upcoming  national tour kicking off October 17th in Rockford, Illinois , and his celebrated life in music. This project showcases Brian’s  genre-bending artistry , blending contemporary jazz, funk,...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series. On this episode, we talk with  Jazz Violinist, Educator, Composer & Improviser Richard Carr . We dive into his new 2025 album  The Escarpment  and his celebrated life in music. This new project blends jazz improvisation, classical elegance, and global traditions. Richard holds a Doctorate in Music Education from Columbia University and...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series! On this episode, we talk with  COO & Guitarist Zach Larmer, Bass Player & Student Director Noah Orlowsky, and Singer Valentina Koehler  of the  Young Musicians Unite (YMU) Jazz Collective  in Miami. This inspiring youth-driven group has been performing, recording, and sharing their love of jazz throughout Florida—while learning the craft...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  legendary jazz multi-instrumentalist Eddie Daniels  on his  2025 Resonance Records release  To Milton with Love . This  master clarinetist & saxophonist  pays homage to Brazilian great  Milton Nascimento  with a bold re-creation of his 1969 CTI Records classic  Courage .  To Milton with Love  marks Eddie’s  third tribute album  to...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Toronto-based Drummer Joe Bowden  on his powerful new  2025 album  Music is Life . Joe began composing, producing, and recording in 2010, releasing his first critically acclaimed album  Voices In My Head  in 2012. Over a decade later, his artistic voice has fully blossomed with his  sixth album,  Music is Life . The project feature...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Acclaimed New Jersey-based Jazz Singer Carrie Jackson . We talk in depth about her brand-new  2025 CD  Jersey Bounce  and her remarkable life in the jazz world. For over 30 years, Carrie has built her reputation performing with greats like  Houston Person, Stanley Jordan, Barry Harris , and many more. Known for her  multifaceted si...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Chicago-based Jazz Trumpeter, Author & Artist Joe Clark . We explore his bold new  2025 project  Deep Cuts  — a collaboration with  Radiant Black  writers Kyle Higgins and Joe Clark, joined by an all-star lineup of bestselling artists. The  Deep Cuts  miniseries will feature  six double-length issues from Image Comics , paired with...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  NYC-based Composer Rich Shemaria . We catch up with this prolific creative to discuss his  new blog series  and several  upcoming albums  on the horizon. Long encouraged to start a blog, Rich is now sharing layered, personal, and revealing insights into his creative journey and inner workings. This summer, he recorded fresh arrange...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed jazz vocalist  Jonathan Karrant . We talk about his brand new 2025 CD  Live in Concert  and his career in music. For this project, Jonathan teams up with longtime collaborator and pianist  Joe Alterman  to capture the energy and spontaneity of their live performances. Together, they deliver an intimate, high-spirited set tha...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Regina Bain , Executive Director of the  Louis Armstrong House Museum  in Queens, New York. An artist, educator, and leader, Regina has built a remarkable career dedicated to preserving and expanding the legacy of America’s first Black popular music icon,  Louis Armstrong . As Executive Director of the largest jazz musician archive i...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Guitarist, Composer, Arranger & Educator  Shawn Purcell . We caught up with him about his new 2025 CD  Oblivity  and his life in music. Based in Washington, D.C., Shawn blends a wide range of influences with refined ensemble cohesion to craft the unique journey  Oblivity  offers. Featuring acclaimed saxophonist  Walt Weiskopf  on...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Vocalist  Kelly Green  on her 2025 CD  Corner of My Dreams . We first caught up with her in 2024, and now revisit her powerful new project—a heartfelt collection of original music and orchestrations dedicated to her late mother,  Kathie Green . The album chronicles her journey from deep grief to uplifting remembrance, a process t...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Grammy Award Winning Vocalist, Pianist & Songwriter Nicole Zuraitis  .. From her base in Connecticut, we talk about her new 2025 CD  Live at Vic’s  and her celebrated journey in the world of music. This album is a thrilling, unedited snapshot of her artistry at its peak, featuring an  exceptional ensemble  that brings improvisatory...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  Acclaimed Jazz Vocalist Michelle Lordi  on her 2025 CD  Live at Dirty Dog  .. She teams up with veteran bassist/producer  Matthew Parrish  for their debut as co-leaders and first release as a couple. Recorded live at the storied  Dirty Dog Jazz Café  in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, the album captures a swinging, intimate partners...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series with  married music power couple Premik Russell Tubbs & Margee Minier-Tubbs . We connected with them from their home in Connecticut to talk about their brand-new 2025 release  Oneness-World , how they met, and their remarkable journeys in music. Described as  “a sonic journey into the heart of our oneness through its complex musical expl...