Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Jazz Pianist & Composer  Donald Vega  on the 2024 CD Merry and Bright & Grammy Nominated Album As I Travel  .. We originally interviewed Donald in December of 2020 during the music shutdown and uncertainty of the times. In this interview, we get into a new holiday album inspired by those hear heard done by Oscar Peterson and Nat King...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Composer, Guitarist, Author & Educator Neff Irizarry  .. We caught up with him from Helsinki about his new 2024 CD Cambio (Change) and a great life in the music. He specializing in Latin and Contemporary Jazz and on this new project is is produced by three-time Grammy Award-winning bassist Jimmy Haslip, featuring the guitar in a...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Jazz Trumpeter  Paul Dietrich  on the 2024 Album Small Patch of Earth  .. This is his fifth album on Shifting Paradigm Records as a leader featuring his smallest ensemble to date. Following two quintet albums in 2014 and 2017, a full-size 18-piece jazz ensemble and a nine-piece quintet-plus-string-quartet,  sought to return to basics...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Kansas City Jazz Musician & Educator Bryan Hicks .. We originally caught up with him back in 2023 and check in here in late 2024 to see what has been going on. There have been some significant developments and we get into all of it. Enjoy. All Things Bryan -  https://www.facebook.com/bryanhicksmusic/   For More Neon Jazz Inter...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Jazz Saxophonist  Shawn Maxwell  on the 2024 Album C8H10N402 with Keri Johnsrud  .. We get into the artistic chemistry between these two musicians that teamed up for this impressive release. We talk about their creative approach to the project, live shows and so much more. Great to catch up with Shawn. Enjoy this interview. Get the a...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Violinist  Jason Anick & Pianist Jason Yeager  on the 2024 Album Sanctuary ..  They met for the first time at a local jam session as teens in the Boston area. Since then, both have continued to collaborate while establishing flourishing careers as composers, performers and educators, with both serving on the faculty at Berklee Colleg...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  London-based Author & Journalist  Mike Gerber  on the 2024 Book Kosher Jammers  .. We caught up with this veteran and esteemed jazz journalist to talk about his new book, how it came about, his life in journalist and much more. Besides drawing on a plethora of second-hand sources, Kosher Jammers is packed with first-hand material, fr...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Acclaimed Fiddler/Multi-Instrumentalist & Composer  John Mailander .. We caught up with him from Nashville to talk about his new 2024 CD Let the World In, along with his life in music. His band, Forecast, is a Nashville-based collective of visionary musicians and the album showcases the wide sound-design palette of their musical expl...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with LA-based  Jazz Vocalist  Maria Puga Lareo .. We get into her new 2024 CD My Universe, a life in jazz, the move to America and so much more. She was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina and began her professional career in her early twenties by singing in the culturally rich city’s clubs, theaters, and at jazz festivals. In 2000,...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Paris-based  Jazz Saxophonist and Educator  Yannick Benoit .. We caught up with him about his 2024 CD Le Repère and a great life in jazz. He’s quite talented as a saxophonist, didgeridoo player, singer, composer and teacher. Since he first fell into music early on, he has been building and honing his craft on a wide array of stages wi...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  LA-based Jazz/Pop Singer, Songwriter & Pianist  Steve Sieck .. We caught up with him about his new 2024 CD Crazy That Way, moving to LA from NYC, coming to jazz late and so much more. He moved to Los Angeles in 2021 and continues to master his music that is a mix pop, jazz, and R&B genres with meaningful, often story-driven lyrics an...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  South Korean-born, Brooklyn-based Jazz Pianist  Hayoung Lyou .. We caught up with her to talk about the new album  The Myth of Katabasis  with her band featuring Thomas Morgan on double bass and Steven Crammer on drums, along with her life in music. “Katabasis" means "journey to the underworld" in Greek, and the structure of the reco...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Colombian-born, NYC Jazz Pianist, Composer & Educator  Holman Alvarez .. We talked to him about this new new 2024 CD Hidden Objects done with amazing musicians like trumpeter Adam O’Farrill, bassist Drew Gress & drummer Satoshi Takeishi. The record is influenced by his studies in philosophy and reading about Climate change. His piano...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  NYC-based Jazz Singer & Pianist Cestari  .. We caught up with this young and very eager musician about his new 2024 CD as he goes under the moniker Cestari.  WHEN THEY COME OUT AT NIGHT  is a two part epic that explores the world of nightlife, isolation, and the addictive cycles that inhabit it through intense jazz-pop fusion and poe...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Prolific & Legendary Jazz Percussionist and Vibes Player Terry Gibbs  –  Originally from Brooklyn, New York .. He would go on to become a legend in the world of jazz .. After seeing his hero Benny Goodman rise from the stage at the Parmaount Theater, he would go on to play with him extensively in his career .. He has a biography out t...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Argentinian-born, Brooklyn-based  Jazz Pianist and Composer  Santiago Leibson .. We caught up with him bout new music, his life in jazz and well beyond. His music is situated in the frontier of jazz, improvised music, classical and contemporary music. As a bandleader, he has released four records and continues to be a grand active mem...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Jazz Flutist & Composer  Yulia Musayelyan  on the 2024 CD Strange Times  .. The last time we caught up with her was during June of 2020 as COVID roared on. Today, we reconvene to talk about her new contemplative release that showcases both her prowess as a performer and her depths of creativity as an arranger with her masterful blend...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Toronto-based Jazz Trombonist  William Carn & Saxophonist Tara Davidson  on the 2024 Album Reverence  .. On behalf of the Carn Davidson 9 (CD9), we caught up with this do to talk about their new project and went through the history of this band that was formed in 2010. This co-led ensemble is an opportunity for both artists to craft...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Legendary Jazz Pianist & Composer  George Cables .. We caught up with him to talk bout his new 2024 CD I Hear Echoes and a wondrous life lived in jazz. Born in New York City on November 14, 1944, he was classically trained as a youth and was highly influences by Thelonius Monk and Herbie Hancock. He went on to have quite a career pla...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Award-Winning Jazz Pianist, Composer & Educator  Zachary Bartholomew .. From his base in Miami, we got into his new 2024 CD Balancing Act and a life living the jazz. These days, he maintains a highly active performance career as one of the most heavily sought-after pianists, accompanists, and sidemen in all of Florida. In both 2016 a...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  NYC-based Jazz Trumpeter   David Scott  on the Winter 2024 Kansas City Visit of Gigs   .. On one of his bi-yearly visits, one of Kansas City’s most accomplished jazz exports will play a trio of gigs around town. On Thursday Dec 26th at 6pm he will be joining the Multiple Worlds Quintet with Michael Eaton at the Westport Coffeehouse....

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Montreal-based Jazz Pianist & Composer  Thélonius Garcia .. We talked to him about his new 2024 CD Marche Nocturne that happens to be his debut as a leader, along with covering his life in jazz so far. He has always been immersed in artistic creation in all its forms. Trained on classical piano during his conservatoire studies in Fra...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Montreal-based Duo Guitarist Simon Angell and Drummer Tommy Crane .. We commenced on a fascinating discussion about their new 2024 CD Self-Titled Album, how their paths intersected, their pasts and so much more. They have been making music with a parade of celebrated band-mates across the jazz, indie rock, and experimental music scene...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  St. Louis-based Jazz Saxophonist, Composer & Educator  Bennett Wood .. We delved into his new 2024 CD Space in Time that serves as his debut as a leader, along with getting into his life as a a freelance musician, composer and clinician. The title track on this new album draws inspiration from the books Only the Ball Was White by Rob...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Colombian-born Jazz Flautist  Daniel Pardo .. We get into his new 2024 CD Ese Momento and a tremendous life in jazz from his base in Houston, Texas. On this solo leader debut, he infuses boleros with jazz, classical and latin influences in collaboration with Pianist/Arranger Sergio Pamies. This veteran musician has graced recordings...