Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Celebrated Jazz Saxophonists Jessica Jones & Tony Jones .. They opened up about their new 2024 CD Hearing into the Future where they display their creative intimate musical bond .. With over 40 years of playing together, as spouses and creators they have created an intimate musical bond. We cover this and so much more .. Enjoy ..  For...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Vocalist, Pianist & Composer Astghik Martirosyan .. We caught up with her to discuss her debut album .. the 2023 CD Distance .. It stands as an artistic statement born of intense reflection on the relationship between present and past, self and nation, one’s inner emotional life and the call of homeland. She wrote the music in 20...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Award-Winning Chicago-based Jazz Bassist, Composer & Bandleader Ethan Philion .. We caught up with him about his new 2023 CD Gnosis. He is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and DePaul University who has been praised by the Washington Post for his "well honed chops and astounding musicality” and his debut album, Meditations on Mingus,...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran & Legendary Los Angeles Jazz Singer & Pianist Betty Bryant .. We caught up with this living legend about her new 2024 CD Lotta Livin' ..She is originally a native of Kansas City who has always brought a solid piano technique, a light, swinging touch and a skilled vocal approach to her music.. Dubbed “Cool Miss B” by her fellow...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Italy-born, Long Island-based Saxophonist & Arranger Ada Rovatti .. We caught up with her to discuss her new 2024 CD The Hidden World of Piloo that is her seventh album full of original songs with wide-ranging thematic surprises around every corner. She started playing saxophone in high school after years of classical piano training....

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Trumpeter, Composer & Educator Jun Iida .. We caught up with him to talk about his debut release .. the 2024 CD Evergreen .. He has established himself as a highly sought after musician performing extensively throughout the U.S. at notable jazz clubs, theaters, and festivals with his sextet and as a sideman. Originally from St. L...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Drummer Nasheet Waits .. We caught up with him to discuss his inclusion in a set of shows for the Max Roach Centennial Celebrations via New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on January 26, 2024 for Max’s Freedom Now Suite .. He will be joined by a stellar line up of talent .. like vocalist Cassandra Wilson, poets Soni...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series Celebrated Jazz Recording Artist, Vocalist & Best Selling Author Judy Whitmore .. We caught up with her about her new 2024 CD Come Fly With Me … She is a true modern-day Renaissance woman, heeds the call of the stage, the sky, and beyond. Her life as a vocal artist and writer has taken off. This best-selling author, vocalist, theater produ...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer Reggie Quinerly on the 2024 Album The Thousandth Scholar .. His straight-ahead jazz blend gets an Afro-Caribbean spin on this new album out on January 19, 2024 on his own Redefinition Music. On this fifth album as a leader, he has an ace quartet including pianist Manuel Valera, bassist Matt Brewer, and percussionist Samue...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Brazilian-born, Chicago-based Jazz Bassist, Composer & Arranger Marcel Bonfim .. We got into his debut .. and new 2023 CD Farewell/Despedida .. As a native of Brazil, he began playing professionally in his hometown of São Paulo a decade and a half ago, before immigrating to the United States in 2015 when he decided to make Chicago his...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Pianist Larry Vuckovich .. This passionate and evolved artist was born in Montenegro on December 8, 1936 –in the former Yugoslavia. He lived through, witnessed and experienced firsthand hardships and dangers of World War II. In 1951, when he was 14, his family was granted political asylum in the United States, arriving...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based Jazz Vocalist, Educator & Recording Artist Tyreek McDole .. Fresh off winning the 2023 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, we caught up with Tyreek to discuss this competition, his history in signing and what the future might hold. He was one of the five finalists who emerged from a record number of more than...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Chicago-based Improviser, Composer & Producer Paul Giallorenzo … Originally from Long Island, NY, Paul is now a staple of the Chicago music world with a diverse range of contexts in improvised, avant-jazz, experimental, and electro/acoustic music, performing regularly locally and throughout North America and Europe. We talked to him a...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with International Jazz Vocalist, Bassist & Bandleader Janet Evra .. She opened up about her new 2023 CD Meet Me in Paris .. Originally from England, she is now happily based in St. Louis .. She performs on premier stages across the USA and Europe, with recent international appearances at the Brecon Jazz Festival in Wales, the Deva Jazz Fe...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist, Composer & Educator Angelica Sanchez .. We caught up with her about her new 2023 CD Nighttime Creatures with her Nonet ..  It was the culmination of six years of writing, re-writing, rehearsals, concerts, van trips with the band and the love and support of friends and family. She moved to New York from Arizona in 1994. S...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  Jazz Singer  Dianne Fraser .. We caught up with her about her new 2023 CD You and I and her life as a singer .. She regularly presents and performs in live Broadway-themed musical events, including many benefit concerts for non-profit organizations. Along with the music, she is a partner in management/production company Industry Ente...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Composer & Pedal Steel Guitarist  Susan Alcorn .. We caught up with her about new 2023 CD Canto, along with upcoming projects as one of the world’s premiere players of pedal steel guitar. Having first paid her dues in Texas country & western bands, she began to expand the vocabulary of her instrument through her study of 20th...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with New York City-based, Kansas City-born Jazz Trumpeter Dave Scott .. He is making his annual winter/holiday pilgrimage to Kansas City  .. It will take place during the last week of December and will include a host of veterans and up and coming cats .. We get into the joy of these annual visits, his specific itinerary this year and so mu...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with New York City-based Singer, Songwriter & Crossover Artist Pete Ayres .. We got into his new debut 2023 Trio CD, surviving COVID, his life in music and much more .. Influenced by jazz artists like Jamie Cullum and Brad Mehldau, he relishes the art of sticking pop songs through the proverbial “jazz blender.” “Hand in My Pocket,” is the...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Pianist & Composer Sharon Minemoto .. We talked about her new 2023 CD Dark Night Bright Stars .. Since the age of sixteen, this Vancouver based artist has been performing to audiences around the world. She has quite a road and story .. Dig this story. For More Neon Jazz Interviews: Subscribe via Youtube - https://www.yout...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran NYC Jazz Keyboardist,  Composer & Producer Bennett Paster .. We caught up with him about his newest 2023 CD Radiance as he stands as one of New York City's most creative and versatile musicians. In a music career spanning more than three decades, Paster has toured internationally and is long-standing faculty member at the  Sta...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Drummer and Composer Phil Haynes on the 2023 Book Chasing the Masters .. This wonderful new book stories of his encounters with legends like Lee Konitz, Anthony Braxton, Dave Liebman and Paul Smoker, along with poetry, musical analysis and lessons from a life in music. It will also be accompanied by the career-spanning, e...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Trombonist Jennifer Wharton on the 2023 CD Grit and Grace .. On this third album with Bonegasm, she assembled a wonderful group of musicians to make another evolved, memorable release .. We cover this album, getting through COVID, the future beyond and much more .. Enjoy . For More Neon Jazz Interviews: Subscribe via Youtube - ht...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Clarinetist Dan Levinson of The Palomar Trio on the 2023 CD Song in Our Soul .. We caught up with him about the new 2023 CD Song In Our Soul .. In 1935, clarinetist/bandleader Benny Goodman began performing and recording with a trio consisting of Teddy Wilson on piano and Gene Krupa on drums, creating a spectacular new sound that...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Germany-based Jazz Drummer Xaver Hellmeier .. We got into his new 2023 CD Book’s Bossa and his life in music from his base in Munich. He  grew up in a musical household, learning piano at first and switching to the drums at age 11. After taking private lessons for a couple of years, he started to perform with the Bavarian Youth Jazz O...