Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series! We catch up with  Italian jazz double bassist Jacopo Ferrazza  to discuss his highly anticipated  2025 album,  Prometheus . We first spoke with Jacopo in 2022 about his album  Fantasia , and now he returns to explore his latest work.  Prometheus  is a reimagining of the classic myth, delving into  human consciousness and the rediscovery...

Welcome to another edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series ! This time, we catch up with  veteran NYC jazz pianist & composer Ted Rosenthal  to discuss his highly anticipated  2025 album series,  Trios in 4 Acts —his first studio recordings in over a decade. A prolific artist with  15 critically acclaimed albums  as a leader, Rosenthal recorded this new  4-album collection  in a whirlwind  summ...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series, featuring NYC-based, award-winning jazz pianist and composer  Kobi Arad . We caught up with him to discuss his highly anticipated 2025 album,  Warping , and his incredible journey in music. This groundbreaking album explores  higher realms of reality , inspired by the  Kabbalistic four levels of Torah interpretation , using innovative t...

Welcome to another edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series ! This time, we catch up with  Seattle-based Jazz Trumpeter, Composer & Producer Thomas Marriott  to discuss his  2025 album,  Screen Time  and his incredible journey in jazz. On his  15th album as a leader , Marriott reimagines music from  screens large and small —from  Hollywood blockbusters to smartphone screens —through the lens of...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series! This time, we catch up with acclaimed Brooklyn-based jazz singer  Marianne Solivan  to discuss her highly anticipated 2025 album,  Break’s Over , and her journey in jazz. Known for her  hard-swinging style, passionate vocals, and commanding stage presence , Solivan has established herself as one of the most dynamic jazz singers of her g...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series featuring musician and poet  Don Paul . In this episode, we dive into his 2025 album,  Louisiana Stories —a project deeply rooted in history, culture, and musical fusion. It’s been said that this journey traces back to Don’s 1977 poem,  "Colors Changing Color."  Fast-forward to today, and  Louisiana Stories  has earned high praise since ...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz Interview Series , featuring  Canada-based jazz guitarist and composer Strat Andriotis . In this exclusive interview, we dive into his  2025 album  Exits  and explore his long journey in the world of jazz. A  veteran musician , Andriotis is known for his versatility across multiple genres. Originally from  Greece , he immigrated to  Hamilton, Ontario , wh...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series , featuring  jazz pianist, emcee, composer, and educator Bennett Roth-Newell . We catch up with him to discuss his highly anticipated  2025 album,  It’ll Always Work Out , his passion for  teaching the next generation of musicians , and his journey in the jazz world. With over  15 years in the industry , Bennett has been a prominent figur...

Welcome to a brand-new edition of the  Neon Jazz  interview series, featuring  Howard Mandel —President of the  Jazz Journalists Association  and Editorial Consultant for  The Jazz Omnibus . We caught up with this veteran jazz journalist, who brings five decades of experience, to discuss his latest book,  The Jazz Omnibus: 21st-Century Photos and Writings . This 600-page collection is  unrivaled  ...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series!  In this episode, we catch up with  Bay Area jazz trumpeter, arranger, composer, and educator Erik Jekabson  to discuss his  new 2025 album  Breakthrough  on  Wide Hive Records  and his dynamic career in the jazz world. A highly respected figure in the  Bay Area jazz scene , Erik has performed with  Galactic, John Mayer, and Kamasi Washi...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series!  In this episode, we catch up with  violinist Kip Jones  of the acclaimed string quartet  ETHEL  to discuss their  highly anticipated collaboration  with legendary bassist  Ron Carter . On  Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. ,  ETHEL and Ron Carter  will take the stage at  Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall  for an  unforgettable classical...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Veteran Kansas City-based Jazz Singer & Bandleader  David Watson .. He grew up Philadelphia PA and his musical career started in elementary school singing in talent shows and school concerts. When  he was eight year old, he heard Ella Fitzgerald and that changed his life forever. Around ten years old, he started developing the art of...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series , featuring renowned  French jazz pianist Jacky Terrasson . We caught up with this jazz force while on tour in  Cuba  to discuss his latest  2024 album "Moving,"  upcoming  2025 shows at SMOKE Jazz Club in NYC (February 5-9, 2025) , and his incredible journey over the past few years. With a career spanning over  30 years , Jacky Terrasson...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  London-based Jazz Guitarist & Bandleader  Greg Sanders  .. We caught up with this busy musician about his new 2025 CD Perfect Stranger/ The album features drummer Ben Brown, bass player Tom Herbert and saxophonist Sam Rapley. We get into his history of playing music, what is going on these days, the philosophy and much more. Dig this...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series , featuring  legendary jazz guitarist Jimmy Vivino . Known for his long tenure with the  Conan O’Brien Band , Vivino has spent decades shaping the worlds of  jazz, blues, and rock . In this interview, we catch up with Jimmy to discuss his latest project,  Delta Blue —a powerful musical that blends  blues, faith, and redemption . Set in  1...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series , featuring  David Caffey , a  renowned jazz composer, arranger, conductor, and educator . We caught up with him to discuss his  highly anticipated 2025 CD,  At the Edge of Spring , and his lifelong contributions to jazz. David Caffey’s compositions and arrangements have been  performed worldwide , including in  Australia, Belgium, Canada...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series  featuring Indiana-based jazz musicians  Sam Butler and Garrett Fasig  of the  Visions Jazz Ensemble . We explore their innovative 2025 album,  Across the Field , a groundbreaking project that transforms classic  college fight songs into jazz masterpieces . In the summer of 2023,  Garrett and Sam  were approached by the  Timeless Music Pro...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz Interview Series , featuring  Detroit-based veteran jazz drummer and bandleader Joe Syrian . In this exclusive conversation, we discuss his highly anticipated  2025 album,  Secret Message , recorded with the renowned  Motor City Jazz Octet . The  Motor City Jazz Octet  is a celebrated jazz ensemble performing in Detroit’s top clubs, theaters, and concert...

Welcome to a new edition of the  Neon Jazz interview series , featuring  veteran Kansas City jazz drummer Brian Steever  as he discusses  Wire Town  and their upcoming 2025 album,  Riffin’ on Grand . Wire Town is a powerhouse jazz group comprised of  Kansas City jazz legends , including  guitarists Danny Embrey and Rod Fleeman , bassist  Gerald Spaits , and drummer  Brian Steever . Their latest al...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Award Winning Jazz Pianist & Composer  Marius Van Den Brink  on Live at Dizzy’s ..  This new 2024 CD “Live at Dizzy’s Club” is full of music from his latest 2024 album New York Knock. It features a supergroup of jazz musicians consisting of Sean Jones, Stacy Dillard, Matt Penman, Willie Jones III, and Keita Ogawa. The CD release show...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Guitarist David Yamasaki and Woodwinds/Pianist Aaron Aranita  Of the Jazz Group Groovology  .. We caught up with members of this Honolulu-based band to talk about their new 2024 album Almost Home and all things about their approach. Groovology was formed during the pandemic. It also includes Ernie Provencher on bass and Scott Shafer o...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  NYC-based Jazz Singer & Songwriter  Allegra Levy .. We caught up with this up and coming singer about her 2024 CD Out of the Question, surviving COVID and a life lived in the music. This new project was the brainchild of Levy’s longtime collaborator, pianist Carmen Staaf and includes stellar musicians like Allison Miller and Mimi Jon...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Veteran Kansas City-based Jazz Drummer & Educator  Carl Allen .. We caught up with the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City to talk about his stellar new 2025 CD Tippin’. He brought together his dream team of Christian McBride playing bass, and the phenomenal Chris Potter on horns. This is his first albu...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  London-based Cellist & Composer  Naomi Gee Wright .. We spent some time talking about her new 2024 CD Meteor Trail and a great life in the music. This very unique artist was trained at the Royal Academy of Music and the Eastman School in Rochester, NY. Since then, she has been enjoying a career as soloist, collaborator, improviser an...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Jazz Guitarist  Jackson Potter  on the 2024 Album Small Things  .. Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, he has proven to be a versatile guitarist and composer based these days in New York City.  His new album is coming out on January 24th, 2025 via Shifting Paradigm Records and is a follow up to his 2021 debut album Restless. We get...