Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Guitarist Kevin Eubanks .. He was born in Philadelphia, raised with music in his family and was turned onto the guitar by James Brown .. He spent some early years learning and gigging with legends like Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Slide Hampton and Sam Rivers – He also played gigs in Jordan, Pakistan, and India on a tour spons...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Saxophonist Chris Greene  .. He was born and raised in Evanston, Illinois – just outside of Chicago .. and still calls it home .. He would mov on to  Bloomington, IN to attend the prestigious Indiana University Jazz Studies program and study with renowned professor and cellist David Baker and since 1994 he’s been back in the Chic...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz alto saxophonist, educator, leader, and composer Christopher Burnett  ..  He was  born in Olathe and raised in Paola, Kansas and his latest album was 2014’s Firebird – one in a lineup of memorable albums from this cat that started his professional career with military jazz bands “going pro” directly upon graduating high school at...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist & Composer Billy Childs  .. He just released and impressive new CD .. 2017s Rebirth – Billy was groomed in LA and attended the USC Community School of the Performing Arts earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition under the tutelage of Robert Linn and Morton Lauridsen and was then discovered by trumpet legend Fredd...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer Jeff Tain Watts  .. His last CD was 2016s Blue Vol. 2 – and there is more coming .. He was born in Pittsburgh and went on to learn music as  the Berklee School of Music – He has appeared as both a musician on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and as an actor, Rhythm Jones in Spike Lee’s "Mo Better Blues" – from there, he’s c...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Saxophonist & Composer Daniel Bennet  .. Born in Rochester, New York, his on the heels of releasing 2016’s Sinking Houseboat Confusion .. He began his jazz studies journey at Roberts Wesleyan College .. He has been swayed by the music of Phillip Glass and has been dubbed as making folk jazz  .. mix of jazz, folk, and twentieth ce...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Bassist, Singer and Composer Katie Thiroux  .. Fresh off releasing 2017’s Off Beat .. She is ready to promote and travel .. She was born in a a musical family in Los Angeles -  beginning with violin lessons at age 4 then switching to the acoustic bass at age 8 – she loved the recordings of Lionel Hampton as a kid and began studyi...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Bassist, Composer and Arranger Robert Castillo of the KC Jazz band The Sextet ..  He grew up in Kansas City, graduating from North Kansas City HS in 2010 - At 18- he moved to Portland for six years, and returned September 2016 – before coming home, he formed the Sextet .. a band whose musical influences run from the Contem...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Bassist & Composer Kyle Eastwood .. As usual, Kyle is releasing quality albums charting his evolution as a musician .. his latest offering is 2017’s In Transit .. So, he is the son of jazz lover Clint Eastwood and grew up listening to records by jazz legends such as Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Thelonious Monk – He went on to study...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with journeyed jazz cat, Multi-Instrumentalist, Composer & Educator Vinny Golia .. Over the course of our conversation,  he discussed his life as a visual artist in New York, how he got into music almost by accident, his gigs all over the world, a celebrated recording career and his current teaching post at Cal Arts. He also ventured the h...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Big Band Leader Ed Palermo .. This New Yorker took some time to open up about his world of humor and music he’s etched in the world of Jazz .. He can range from playing Frank Zappa to Jimi Hendrix and many licks in between on the bandstand .. His latest 2016 album with his Big Band is One Child Left Behind – and like his other wo...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Trombonist, Composer and Record Producer Delfeayo Marsalis .. He is one of the top trombonists  in jazz today and he remains very busy .. He will be visiting Kansas City on May 6, 2016 at the Blue Room off 18 and Vine .. He will be showing off a newly modified horn and giving the fans his unique jazz sound .. He was a collective...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Tom Christensen and Scott Neumann of the NYC Jazz Collective – The Spin Cycle  - They have a new 2016 CD that came out simply called Spin Cycle .. They will have a CD Release at NYC’s very own Smalls on May 6, 2016 – This collective of Tom, Scott, Pete McCann and Phil Palombi came together in 2014 but are the culmination of decades of...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Guitar Legend Ed Cherry  .. He grew up in New Haven, Connecticut .. He started out on the Clarinet and had dreams of playing professional baseball .. when that wasn’t going to be a reality, he picked up the guitar and his path led to New York City and in 1978 he hooked up with legendary jazz cat Dizzy Gillespie forging a long pla...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with J Jazz Drummer, Pianist,  Vibraphonist & Composer Joe Chambers  .. He was born and bred in Philadelphia and he talked at length about a great many things .. His newest album – full of sound and beautiful vibes is called Landscapes and prior to that he released Moving Pictures Orchestra – Live at Dizzy’s Coca Cola – He spent a year at...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Tenor Saxophonist JD Allen ..  He grew up in music rich Detroit and is on the heels of releasing 2016’s Americana album and is a big fan of both Brandford Marsalis and Sonny Rollins .. and he’s rubbed shoulders with both .. He learned quite a bit with a lengthy tenure with Betty Carter and has worked with legends like Lester Bowi...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Guitarists and Singer Todd Clouser  .. Talking to Neon Jazz from his home of Mexico City, this Minneapolis native is living the music dream .. He just released 2016’s Psychmonde with his band A Love Electric on the cool Royal Potato Family label .. He grew up digging Jimi Hendrix, theGrateful Dead and that 1970’s rock era .. His...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Cat, Photographer, Music Producer, Engineer and Composer Terry Manning  ..  This very talented renaissance man is releasing his new 2016 album Planets with his trio 3@Sea featuring his DJ/producer son, Lucas Manning, and flutist and orchestral player, Christine Gangelhoff. It’s a sonic landscape flush with jazz, classical element...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Guitarist Peter Bernstein .. Over the course of our conversation, he talked about his latest 2016 album Let Loose and a career that has given him an opportunity to be around great teachers and musicians .. at the New School he met and learned the legendary guitarist Jim Hall – Then, he was discovered by alto sax legend Lou Donald...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC Trumpet Player, Singer, Songwriter, Instigator Bria Skonberg  .. She just got signed onto Sony and is moving on to bigger and better things .. and in the June 20016 issue of DownBeat, she was called one of the top 25 rising stars in the world of jazz .. her last album was 2014’s In Your Own and she discussed that and how a girl fr...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Trumpeter, Composer, Arranger and Educator Etienne Charles  ..  These days he is heaving into promoting his new 2016 album called the San Jose Suite… He grew up in Trinidad, raised in Florida and these days he resides in the jazz mecca of New York City .. He learned some great lessons at Florida State and the Julliard program, al...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist Aaron Diehl .. He grew up in Columbus, Ohio and now lives in New York City .. His latest album is 2015’s Space, Time, Continuum and more music is in the works .. He started to play classical piano at the age of 7 and was swooned by the work of Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum – He would go on to tour with the Wynton Marsalis...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Composer, Bandleader, Organist and Pianist Carla Bley  ..  She went from being a girl in Oakland, California to becoming a jazz legend .. Her latest offering is 2016’s Andando El Tiempo CD .. She started out on the keys at 3 and had a concert at 4 – so, it’s safe to say that jazz was in her veins .. She would move on to NYC and b...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-Based Jazz Journeyman Pianist Kevin Hays .. He talks about his brand new 2016 album North ..  In New York City, Harlem is considered North - So, this album focuses on elements of history, beauty and hope travellng beyond the jazz standards and incorporating his love of classical, blues, soul, folk and rock music into his originals...

Welcome to a new e dition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Cincinnati Based Jazz Journeyman Pianist Phil DeGreg .. He has been at this jazz gigging for quite some time and he’s a colossal talent .. On August 18, 2016, he swung through a town he lived in for a time to hook up with Old Friends .. right here in Kasnas City .. he was at the Blue Room off 18th and Vine with the KC Quintet featuri...