Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with modern day Jazz Pianist & Composer Frank Carlberg .. In late 2015, he’s releasing two new albums - Cosmopolitan Greetings and World Circus – Originally from Helsinki, Finland, and calling New York for the past 25 years, he’s quite busy and content with a life dedicated to jazz .. When he’s leading his big band, working with his trio o...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with modern day New York City jazz singer Katie Bull .. She was born and bred in New York City and was raised in a family that was drenched in the arts .. Her father was a jazz pianist and a dance improviser, her mother a notable painter, and her stepmother a dance anthropologist and improviser – Over the course of our conversation, she di...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with jazz journeyman pianist Orrin Evans .. He’s a very journeyed jazz soul and a wise man .. Over the course of our conversation, he talked about what he learned from Kenny Barron, the story behind his latest album that hit #1 on the jazz charts, who his heroes in the jazz world are and exactly who he thinks he may be .. along with much m...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with modern day jazz trombonist Michael Dease .. He’s right out of Augusta, Georgia and he’s a real jazz of all jazz trades .. along with the trombone, he plays the sax, trumpet, flugelhorn, bass, piano, and he’s a skilled producer and composer .. Over the course of our conversation, he talked about gigging with the best cats in jazz via b...

Welcome to a special edition of the Neon Jazz interview series  with Veteran Kansas City Jazz Singer Eboni Fondren – She has been quite busy lately, as usual, bringing folks her unique voice and spin on jazz .. She got her real vault into the jazz world through Everette DeVann – Over the years, she has woven a very cool story through clubs all across KC like Jardine’s and Jilly's... This love of s...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval The passion and love for the music has always been woven into the lore of Arturo .. During a candid conversation with Neon Jazz, he discuss how monumental Dizzy Gillespie was in his growth and development over the years .. He was his ultimate teacher .. He also discussed his role as trumpeter,...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Mr. Bongo – Composer, conductor and drummer – The Legendary Jazz Percussionist Jack Costanzo. Over the course of our conversation, this man well into his 90’s is as fluid as ever .. He talked about 7 trips to Cuba, dreaming of being a dancer, gigs with the best in jazz like Stan Kenton and Frank Sinatra, along with teaching the bongos...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with the leader of the NYC Jazz Outfit Called Mostly Other People Do the Killing – Matthew Mappa Elliot  - Over the course of our interview, he talked about the beginnings of the band from Oberlin Conservatory days in 1998 to the beginnings in 2003 .. He talked about touring, their albums, the Ringo Starr of the band, what the future may b...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with the leader Kansas City Jazz Outfit The Matt Cook Collective – Joel Gordon  - Over the course of our interview, we discovered how this cool group comes together several times during the year from colleges across the country to play their blend of jazz and educated students .. They are an evolved incarnation of what happens with talent,...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with veteran Kansas City jazz guitarist Ron Carlson – He grew up in the country and through a long journey with music, he landed with jazz and has been giving Kansas City the goods for some time .. Over the course of our conversation, he spoke about his latest album called Kind Folk done in tribute to Kenny Wheeler and Charlie Haden .. We...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with legendary jazz bassist David Friesen .. He’s a very spiritual man that travels all over the globe in his early 70’s and chalk fulla wisdom .. some of those spots have included the Ukraine .. and he has d istinct memories of fan gratitude in the USSR .. over a life dedicated to jazz, he’s gigged with the finest in the business and has...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with modern day New York City jazz tenor saxophonist John Ellis .. From a small town in North Carolina, he had made his way to New York City to become one of the busiest and talented cats in the jazz world today .. On the heels of releasing his latest album called Charm teamed up with New Orleans centered band Double Wide, he talked about...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with legendary jazz singer Sheila Jordan.. Over the course of our conversation, this titan of jazz with a strong sense of humanity was very candid and confident about a hugely interesting life she has led .. Still going strong these days, this woman raised in poverty in Pensylvania’s Coal Mining Country has come a long way  .. She talked a...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with talented Kansas City Jazz Guitarist Matt Hopper .. In the early go, he learned how to play the guitar from Danny Embry and would go on to graduate from UMKC under the brilliant teaching of Bobby Watson .. From there, he has become an integral piece of a fertile KC Jazz scene .. Over the course of a recent interview with Neon Jazz, he...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with modern day New York City jazz pianist and composer Ben Winkelman .. He was raised in Melbourne, Australia and now resides in the jazz capital of the world – NYC .. He talked about a wide array of topics with Neon Jazz .. From learning jazz from Kevin Hays, to what is going on these days, how he teaches, his sound that is a blend of bl...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz musician, arranger and leader of the New York-based Nighthawks Orchestra – Vince Giordano ..  Along with the music, he is a big-band historian and collector with more than 60,000 scores in his collection .. He’s a champion of the 20’s and 30’s bringing a whole new trove of audiences into his music that celebrates those decades of...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with jazz journeyman pianist Bob Ringwald .. . There have been rumors of his virgin birth, being abandoned by wolves and being raised by parents, living in a log cabin, chopping down a cherry tree, throwing a half dollar across the Potomac River and walking 10 miles to and from school (uphill both ways) in the snow – but after our intervie...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-Based Jazz Saxophonist and Composer Roxy Coss  .. Born in Seattle, she now calls New York City her home .. She is gearing up to release her second full album in 2016 called Restless Idealism and she had plenty of insight into a career that has treated her well .. She went to William Paterson University and studied saxophone with R...

Welcome to a Neon Jazz interview Kansas City Hammond B3 Man, Ken Lovern ..  He spoke with Neon Jazz about a life well lived in the Kansas City jazz scene  .. From Kansas City, MO, he talked about seeing how he settled on the Hammond B-3, his years gigging around KC and what some of his future plans are, along with much more .. Dig it, kids .. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswi...

In a new interview with Neon Jazz, San Francisco-based jazz singer Lisa Engelken covered a wide array of topics. From growing up in Kansas to living in Italy and all the adventures in between, she talks about her latest album 'Little Warrior' and what jazz musician she would love to meet. Dig .. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and...

Welcome to a the Neon Jazz interview Kansas City’s Ambassador of Sound – Author and host of KCUR’s Fish Fry every weekend  .. Chuck Haddix – In his role as the Director of Sound Archives at the Marr Sound Archives, we discussed an audio and cultural gem in Kansas City. Housed in the Miller Nichols Library at UMKC, this shrine of vinyl is hugely impressive and is at over 350,000 pieces and growing...

Welcome to a Neon Jazz interview with very talented New York City drummer Shirazette Tinnin ..  On the heels of her new album called ‘Humility: Purity of my Soul’ .. she talks about her roots in her home state of North Carolina, her jazz adventures in Chicago and how she ended up in New York City. She is a very active, smart and driven musician that is making waves in the jazz world .. we discuss...

Welcome to a Neon Jazz interview with a Renaissance man and saxophonist from New York City, Russ Nolan  ..  He recently spoke with Neon Jazz  about his latest album called Relentless .. and that’s how he lives life ..along with music, he’s active in sports, martial arts, business, after school program volunteering, educating and has some serious Salsa moves .. From the suburbs of Chicago to the ja...

Welcome to a Neon Jazz interview KC Jazz guitarist and the brain trust behind the Organization known as Jazz For Good .. He is in charge of this inventive Kansas City not for profit organization that brings quality jazz music to a host of events around the city – From first Friday art events to cocktail parties and celebrations of all kinds .. with a mission to keep the spirit of quality Kansas Ci...

Welcome to a Neon Jazz interview with the very wise and talented David White .. He’s the New York City based trombonist and leader of the David White Jazz Orchestra ..  He recently spoke with Neon Jazz about growing up in Buffalo, NY, running his own record label, his jazz education, recent Kickstarter campaign to finance in April 8, 2014 release of ‘the chase’, along with much more. Hosted by Sim...