Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist, Composer & Educator Donald Vega  .. We spoke with him on July 24, 2020 during the heat of the COVID-19 lockdown about quite a bit .. like his latest 2020 CD You Can See .. The Best of…  He was trained classically in piano in his native Nicaragua. He emigrated to the United States at age 14 and found a musical home wi...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Los Angeles-based Jazz Pianist & Composer Jordan Seigel  .. We talked with him on July 20, 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown about his latest 2020 CD Beyond Images .. This musician possesses an expressive, original voice in a stunning variety of media. Whether scoring projects for film and television or performing and improvising...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer, Arranger, Composer & Educator Jeff Hamilton .. We caught up with him on July 8, 2020 during the COVID-19 swirl to talk about his latest 2020 CD with your trio – Catch Me If You Can… He has spent quite a while in the jazz world recording or performing with his trio, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, the Clayton Brothers or c...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Saxophonist & Composer Greg Ward .. We talked to him on June 13, 2020 during the COVID-19 world of no live jazz about a great many things .. He was born in Peoria, Illinois and is now based in Chicago. He has had the opportunity to perform and record with a varied group of artists like Prefuse 73, Lupe Fiasco, Tortoise, Willi...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer Greg Fox .. We talked with him on June 7, 2020 about his latest 2020 CD Contact amidst the COVID-19 world lockdown. He remains a student himself, open-minded, honest, and willing. He has worked with with the best in jazz and has a great story .. So please get to know him and dig this interview. Hosted by Simplecast, an Ad...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer, Composer and Educator Steve Fidyk ... We caught up with him in early 2020 to talk his latest 2020 CD Battle Lines during this new COVID-19 world of no live jazz .. He is well-known for his versatility and musical approach earning national and international acclaim as an artist, author, composer and columnist. Enjoy… Host...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer & Composer Jake Reed .. We caught up with him on June 2, 2020 to talk about his latest 2020 CD Reed Between the Lines – an album that features a wishlist of collaborators from the L.A. studio scene, jazz greats and his bandmates in the acclaimed trioKAIT (Kait Dunton, Cooper Appelt) among others. Like many of his fell...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Jazz Flautist, Band Director, Vocalist & Educator Amber Underwood .. We talked to her on November 20, 2020 about quite a bit during this COVID-19 world we live in. We focused on the October 28th release of her new CD This is Me .. The album is a touch of her feelings, life journeys and an inside look into the person be...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City-based Jazz Singer Joanna Berkebile  .. We spoke with her about her newest 2020 Love Me or Leave Me – it was Self-Released and out on November 2, 2020 .. She is always sought out for her compelling vocals and personable stage presence in the jazz clubs - Since arriving on the jazz scene, she has always sought out the fresh...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Vibraphonist & Composer Joel Ross .. We caught up with him at the end of October to talk about his latest 2020 CD Who Are you Along with his twin brother, he started to play drums at the age of 3 .. At the age of ten he switched to playing the xylophone in the school band; in high school he learned percussion, vibraphone and...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist, Organist, Vocalist, Composer, Master Improvisationalist, Actress and Educator Amina Claudine Myers  .. We caught up with her in May 2020 as the COVID-19 world was ramping up to talk about quite a bit .. Over her storied career, she has performed nationally and internationally throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia an...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Singer Linda Purl  .. We talked to her in May 2020 about quite a bit .. She was born in Connecticut, grew up in Japan and became the only foreigner to have trained at the Toho Geino Academy. She’s got quite a road in jazz etched so far and there is much more to do .. Enjoy… Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pc...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Singer Miguel de León  .. We interviewed back on May 6, 2020 and talked about his newest  2020 CD Malandro ..He was raised in a musical Mexican American family and connected deeply to the sounds of music he heard around him while growing up. As a child he responded strongly to the radio hits of Mexican artists in his parent's rec...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Russian Jazz Guitarist & Composer Evgeny Probozhiy  .. We caught up with him in the early stages of the COVID-19 lockdown from his based in Moscow .. His fame is on the rise as a jazz and fusion virtuoso guitarist and composer .. These days he is on a fast path in his solo career by creating international projects with young jazz...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Drummer Akira Tana .. We caught up with him on May 6, 2020 during the early phases of the COVID-19 lockdown to talk about what has been going on and his life in music .. He was born and raised in California and earned degrees from Harvard University and the New England Conservatory of Music. He’s gigged with legends like...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Saxophonist, Composer, Bandleader & Educator Greg Tardy .. His newest 2020 CD out on September 18th is called If Time Could Stand Still and was done with the great Alex Norris, Keith Brown, Alex Claff and Willie Jones III .. It is an impassioned recording that reflects on the changing seasons of life, and surges with his love...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with The Creator and Host of Neon Jazz – Yours Truly – Joe Dimino .. This was an interview conducted by a great friend and guest columnist for Link 2 Lee’s Summit .. News coming out the new home of Neon Jazz .. Lee’s Summit .. Mr. Beaudion is the owner of KC Media Matters and has spent his life dedicated to quality journalism and all the p...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Canadian Jazz Pianist, Composer & Arranger Rene Rosnes of the Super Jazz Group Artemis .. We caught up in late September 2020 on the heels of releasing their self-titled debut .. This Blue Note release captures the supergroup comprising seven of the most acclaimed musicians in modern jazz. Featuring pianist and musical director Re...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer, Composer, Producer & Bandleader Anthony Fung  ..We caught up with him on May 18, 2020 to talk his debut CD 2018’s Flashpoint… and we mulled over this new COVID-19 world of no live jazz .. He was born in Richmond Hill, Canada and has been playing the drums since the age of ten. He is currently based in Los Angeles and...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Trumpeter, Composer & Bandleader Bill Warfield .. We caught up with him on May 29, 2020 during the pandemic to talk about his latest 2020 CD Smile…Bill has always proven to be a dynamic and innovative composer, bandleader and trumpeter delighting audiences, performers and writers for more than four decades. He’s got s...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Trumpeter Marcus Printup  .. We talked to him on May 4, 2020 during the early stages of the COVID-19 lockdown about his latest 2020 CD Gentle Rain… He was born and raised in Conyers, Georgia and his first musical experiences were hearing the fiery gospel music his parents sang in church. He has gone on to record with the best in...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with California-based Jazz Trumpeter Carl Saunders .. We caught up with him on April 30, 2020 to talk about his latest 2020 CD Jazz Trumpet during this new COVID-19  world .. Jazz listeners living in the Los Angeles area and musicians worldwide have long known that Carl is one of the great trumpet players around today. Originally from Indi...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Drummer Joe Farnsworth .. He opened up during this odd time on earth with a pandemic and social unrest rampant to talk about his latest 2020 CD Time to Swing with Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Barron and Peter Washington .. This musician from South Hadley, Massachusetts has been revered for years for his blazing speed, precisi...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Keyboardist Robert Walter with The Greyboy Allstars  .. We talked in Early August 2020 about their new CD Como De Allstars…and this odd new COVID-19 world .. Robert is well versed in soul jazz on the Hammond B3 organ and Fender Rhodes and is a founding member of The Greyboy Allstars. He talks about his career, the group, what is...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Guitarist Beau Bledsoe .. We caught up with him during early May 2020 to talk about this strange new COVID-19 world of no live music .. He performs and records classical music, jazz and folkloric music from around the world as he seeks to integrate different musical cultures with diverse audiences and has toured extensivel...