Neon Jazz Interviews

With one of the most charming and popular 'underground' shows on the Kansas City radio dial, John Christopher is the brains behind the Neon Beat. His radio program is a mix of 40's, 50's and 60's hits, along with modern artists moving the music forward. His wit, intelligence and many years behind the mic make him one of the finest in his craft. You will find out the beginnings and the direction of...

Jazz star and one of the best flutists on the planet, Mr. Hubert Laws, speaks with Neon Jazz about a wide range of topics. From his hometown of Houston, Texas growing up with 7 brothers and sisters to his current spot in Los Angeles as a journey jazz man, Hubert opens up with candor and eloquence about a life well lived in the jazz craft. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.c...

Baritone Saxophonist Gary Smulyan comes from the jazz rich region of Long Island, New York and fell into the jazz craft by accident. Inspied by cats like Fats Waller and Charlie "Yardbird" Parker, Gary talks about a wide range of topics about a celebrated career that has been decades in the making. From a gig with Dave Brubeck, to gigs in Kansas City, Gary opens up about his jazz life. Hosted by S...

Born in Detroit, raised in Kansas City and now living in Nashville, jazz star Megan Birdsall has a solid jazz bio and is running with it. Here's an interview with Neon Jazz during July 2012. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the heels of releasing a quality album with his trio entitled 'Peregrination', talented KC jazz musician Chris Hazelton speaks to host Joe Dimino with John Christopher working the engineering magic. Chris talks candidly about his life, Kansas City, gigs and much more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for...

In this 2012 interview, up and coming Kansas City-based Trumpeter Hermon Mehari discusses they KC heyday, his increased activity and where he came from. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Owner & Musician Alan Stribling at Kansas City’s New Uptown Lounge .. Originally from Kansas City and cut his teeth in the San Diego jazz scene, he took on the task of rehabbing the old Davey’s Uptown location and turned it into a new jazz club in Midtown called the Uptown Lounge .. He delves into his history, the club, plans and so m...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based Jazz Drummer, Percussionist, Educator & Composer Fernando Garcia .. We talked about his new 2022 CD "Behique" coming out on January 27th, 2023 .. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico & studied guitar at the extension program of the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico and drumset at Micheo Music Academy .. Over his career, h...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Brussels-based Owner of Jazz Master Tracks Hans Helewaut .. His company is a record label, masterclass and practice tool combined in an app. This label and educational platform celebrates musical excellence. The commission full-length albums featuring top-tier jazz musicians who share a joy in the common language of the standard reper...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Multi Award-Winning Canadian Singer/Songwriter & Pianist Laila Biali .. Just in time for the holiday season, she follows up with her second single – a bold take on the festive show tune, My Favorite Things .. With nods to Julie Andrews and John Coltrane, she incorporates her imaginative arrangement moves on this iconic song into fresh...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Guitarist & Composer Yotam Silberstein on the 2022 CD Universos .. It was conceived, recorded and produced during the pandemic .. and the time is right to get this out now .. It’s a powerful representation of his ongoing love affair with global music folklore backed up by a quality ensemble of cats .. We get into this more, COVID...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with  NYC-based, Juno-Nominated Jazz Drummer Curtis Nowosad  on the 2022 CD CNRMXD .. This new project is a companion project to his self-titled, third album, released in 2019 on Sessionheads United and co-produced by pianist Marc Cary. The album focuses heavily on social justice issues & has been reimagined through the lenses of nine diff...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based Jazz Singer Corinne Mammana on the 2022 CD In The Christmas City .. We had a good talk about her new 2022 CD In the Christmas City EP that is her 3rd studio album commemorating the Christmas season in her hometown of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania – which is nicknamed “the Christmas City” full of reimagined Chri...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with versatile Composer Richard Williams on the 2022 Hollywood Christmas CD .. Even though this is his debut album, he has been around quite a bit .. He is a versatile composer skilled in a wide spectrum of genres and moods from epic orchestral to touching piano .. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Brigham Young University,  won two Stude...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Award Winning Mexican-born Jazz Drummer Antonio Sánchez .. He opened up about his new 2022 CD Shift - Bad Hombre Vol II. This album is the sequel to his 2017 Grammy-nominated Bad Hombre. On his premiere release for Warner Music, he approached a who’s-who of collaborators — some of his favorite singers and songwriters — for material he...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Cleveland-based Jazz Saxophonist, Producer & Bandleader Matthew Alec .. Along with his music roles, he is the founder and Executive Producer at Cleveland Time Records, along with being the bandleader for the high-energy jazz fusion group Matthew Alec and The Soul Electric. Nominated as “Cleveland’s Best Horn Player” by Cleveland Scene...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Composer & Violinist Jason Kao Hwang on the 2022 CD Unchartered Faith .. Jason always explores the vibrations and language of his history, while compositions are often narrative landscapes through which sonic beings embark upon extemporaneous, transformational journeys .. On this latest release with J.A. Deane he keeps exploring...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Athens, Georgia-based Musician & Engineer Killick Hinds .. He opened up about his collaboration with Italian Drummer Francesca Remigi on their new 2022 CD Empowered Kind .. His music is Appalachian Trance Metal made on unusual stringed instruments with his primary sonic influences as animals, wind, water, fire, electrical hum, and sil...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview with Toronto Jazz Bassist, Composer & Bandleader Lauren Falls .. She has a new project .. The 2022 CD A Little Louder Now on an album takes the listener on a musical journey through a grand collection of seven original compositions on her second album as a bandleader .. Her 2013 debut album, The Quiet Fight was an ode to her time in New York City...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Dutch Trumpet Sensation Eric Vloeimans .. He talked at length about his new 2022 Project with American Accordion Master Will Holshouser .. a Live Album called Two for the Road .. He also talked about a recent 12 City US/Canada Tour from September 11 – October 2, 2022 .. Over the years, he has led a wide variety of ensembles and is a f...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Portugal-based Jazz Bassist Cícero Lee .. We had a great talk about his new 2022 CD Resilience. He began his professional career in 1999. Since then he has been part of Lisbon's vibrant music scene, recording and performing alongside artists of various musical genres. As a leader, he has recorded 4 albums and continues to grow on each...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Chicago Jazz Guitarist & Gifted Educator David Bloom .. He talked about the new 2022 CD Shadow of a Soul done with Cliff Colnot. He is one of Chicago's most innovative educators that stimulates creativity in people across all disciplines. He has been an accomplished guitarist and flutist performing in Chicago for many years an...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Jazz Pianist on the 2022 CD Intuition Eddie Moore .. On this debut  album as a solo artist, he was the producer, engineer, and multi-instrumentalist. Laying down the piano, bass, synth, and grooves .. We discuss how “Intuition” is a cornucopia of flavors in his time in a other bands and evolution as an artist .. We get int...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Bassist on the 2022 CD Finding Light Jeff Denson .. On this stellar trio of Bassist Jeff Denson, Drummer Brian Blade and Guitarist Romain Pilon, they shine .. This is the first time for Jeff and Romain to get together to record with drummer Brian Blade. Captured in the studio on the 2019 Ridgeway Records album Between Two...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based Jazz Guitarist Tomas Janzon on the 2022 CD Nomadic .. He’s an old friend of the show and after sending the music via CD to Neon Jazz, we have delighted in to sonic power of .. The album features Steve Nelson on vibes, Hiliard Greene & Jeff Littleton on bass, along with Tony Austin  & Chuck McPherson on drums .. We cover the...