Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist & Composer Helen Sung .. She is coming to Kansas City and performing off historic 18th and Vine at the Blue Room on Saturday November 12, 2016 .. Helen spent her childhood in Houston and went to the prestigious Houston High School of Performing and Visual Arts – She discovered jazz later in life and it’s been her passion...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Guitarist Joshua Breakstone  .. Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, he was raised in New York and saw Miles Davis at the Village Vanguard when he was a kid .. He pays homage to the piano players in legendary lights on 2016’s the Chello Quartet … 88 – He got his jazz gears going studying in Manhattan with Sal Salvador, going to New Col...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist & Composer Dan Costa  .. He was born in London to Portuguese and Italian parents and has always been into music .. His latest album - Suite Três Rios – was recorded in Rio De Janeiro and inspired by a few rivers in the Amazon Rainforest – He’s got some good education over his life .. a diploma with merit at Sir Paul McCar...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Alto Saxophonist Richie Cole  .. He grew up in Trenton, New Jersey and would always dream of being a jazz cat .. These days he lives in Pittsburg, PA and is digging the release of 2016’s Richie Cole Plays Ballads & Love Songs .. His early influences were Sonny Rollins and Charlie Parker and he got his start in the jazz journey by...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Guitarist, Educator and Music Industry Consultant Cameron Mizell  .. This very busy cat started his live in St. Louis, Missouri and these days he’s a mainstay in New York City .. His latest album is 2016’s Negative Spaces and he’s logged a lot of time on albums, at venues, as a teacher and all over the world doing his guitar magi...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Recording Artist & Radio Business Man James D. Conquerer  .. He grew up in the Bay Area and now is in Kansas City .. a home for him for quite some time now .. These days he is a busy man being credited with the execution and launch of Kansas City's newest Jazz radio station, KOJHFM.org right out of the Mutual Musicians Foundation buil...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Bassist, Composer and Educator Jeff Denson  .. He spent his childhood in Arlington, Virginia and dug his mother’s love of the Beatles and  discovered R&B, especially Stevie Wonder, James Brown & the J.B.’s and Marvin Gaye– He went on to the Berklee College of Music - Florida State University and beyond to get his jazz education ....

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Sax & Composer Seamus Blake  .. Originally born in England and raised in Vancouver, Canada, this New York City cat has had a very long and savory 24 year career .. He is still on the heels of promoting his 2015 CD Superconductor and he’s always a busy cat .. During the same year, he was on a project nominated for a Grammy with th...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Vibraphonist Jay Hoggard  .. He was born in Washington DC and grew up in Mt. Vernon, NY  -  age 15, he began playing the vibraphone after having a dream about it .. His latest album in a long string of quality jazz LPs is 2016’s Harlem Heiroglyphics .. His journey into music really took off when he majored in the renown W...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Bassist, Composer, Arranger, Conductor, Producer & Educator John Clayton  .. He grew up in LA and In 1969, at the age of 16, he enrolled in bassist Ray Brown’s jazz class at UCLA – that would prove huge in his leap into jazz .. He spoke to Neon Jazz about his latest 2016 CD Soul Brothers with the Clayton Brothers .. Aft...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Orchestra Leader Alan Chan .. He grew up in Hong Kong, made his way to New York and now resides in Los Angeles .. Since 2011 he has been the leader of his own Orchestra and his latest album in 2014’s Shrimp tale .. He has spent his life as a resident in various parts of the world to raise awareness of current issues like environm...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist, Composer and Educator Frank Kimbrough .... He spent his childhood in Roxboro, North Carolina .. then would move on to Chapel Hill and then to Washington DC .. That culminated to his current home of New York City in 1981 when you could afford to live there.. He played and learned from the best like Herbie Nichols – He spo...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Jazz Drummer Todd Strait  .. He was born and raised in Topeka, Kansas and got into jazz out of sheer curiosity .. Spinning 45’s his dad had lying around .. big band era and the like .. He would go on to New York to learn from the best and play with Marian McPartland .. From there, he came to Kansas City and jumped into a v...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Musician and Educator Oran Etkin  .. He was born in Israel and moved to Boston at 4 and now lives in New York City – He began piano at the age of 5, violin at 8, saxophone at 9 and clarinet at 13 .. He then started studying with renowned saxophonist George Garzone at age 14 and later with Yusef Lateef – Most recently he released...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer Jerome Jennings  ... He spent his childhood in Cleveland .. From there, he moved on to Columbus then Indianapolis and finally his current home of NYC  - He’s in the midst of promoting his new 2016 release called The Beast ..  and he’s had quite a journey since he graduated from Rutgers in 2004 .. He’s played in every majo...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with KC Jazz Saxophonist & Educator Nick Rowland – His is a native of Olathe, Kansas and has been in the Kansas City area since 2005 .. These days he’s a fixture in a swinging KC jazz scene and has recorded with Chris Hazelton's Boogaloo 7, Kerry Strayer, Tim Whitmer, Gerald Spaits, Bob Bowman, Clint Ashlock, Hermon Mehari and at many of t...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with KC Jazz Percussionist, Woodwind Player and Composer Patrick Alonzo Conway Smith – He has been a fixture on the Kansas City jazz and music scene for quite some time .. These days, one of his main gigs is playing with Chris Hazelton’s Boogaloo 7 at the Green Lady Lounge, along with many other gigs around the Kansas City metro. This cat...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with KC Jazz Duo A La Mode or bettern known as  Clayton DeLong and Jesica “Baby J” Poell .. They are busy promoting their newest and very tasty new album 2016’s Cest Si Bon .. The duo met at the once hoppin’ KC jazz house Jardine’s and discovered their shared chemistry .. Clayton is on the guitar and over the years studied under Kansas Cit...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with talented New York City jazz vocalist Deborah Latz .. She was originally trained to be an actress and pursued her dreams on Broadway in New York City .. but, life wove it’s path to the jazz and she has had a great run .. On the heels of her new 2015 album Sur L'Instant, she is doing a good amount of publicity and live gigs to get the s...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with trumpeter, cornetist and composer Ron Miles .. Right outta Denver, Colorado, he talked about his musical journey that includes a huge host of collaborations with the finest in jazz .. With cats like Bill Frisell and Brian Blade ..  We discussed yet another new venture of his as a part of the band Whirlpool, what the Denver scene is li...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with the leader of New York City’s Traditional Jazz Vocal Group The Ladybugs – Martina DaSilva ..  On the heels of their first and new self-titled album, this outfit has a unique repertoire of sound .. blending  favorites from the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, infused with old-school swing, country, and blues – Martina discusses the beginnings of...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with talented jazz pianist and educator Jeremy Siskind ..  These days he splits his time between being a musician and a professor and he’s a very busy cat .. He spoke with Neon Jazz about his upcoming gig at the Take 5 Coffee/Bar on July 25, 2015, along with doing some guest teaching at the University of Kansas  .. He has also just release...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with the avante-garde jazz pianist Satako Fuji .. She grew up in Japan, then moved to the USA to study at the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory .. she is now back in Japan and has plenty to say with her music and about her life. During an interview with Neon Jazz, she talked about a great deal of topics .. Hosted by...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Canadian Jazz Guitarist Mike Rud .. Over the course of our interview, he discussed his love of Montreal, jazz and being a musician .. He just won a Juno Award for his latest album Notes on Montreal .. and the back story on this album is quite cool .. He went on to discuss a solo project in the works, teachers over the years, who some...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with the very talented jazz vocalist Dessy Di Lauro and journeyman pianist/husband/collaborator Rickey Pageot .. These days, the husband/wife duo are collaborating on some quality mus ic incorporating elements from the ''Speak Easy Era'' with an added contemporary urban edge. The pair stay very busy, she is set to release her new EP in the...