Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Grammy-affiliated Percussionist, Composer, Educator & Bandleader Kahlil Kwame Bell . For more than 30 years , Kahlil has built an extraordinary career as one of today's most dynamic percussionists, performing at legendary venues including Blue Note, Birdland, and Smalls Jazz Club , along with stages throughout the United States. H...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based, Dutch-born Artist, Vocalist, Composer & Producer Vivienne Aerts . We get into her latest 2026 album Current and the remarkable creative journey behind this innovative project. In the summer of 2025, Vivienne set sail across the Dutch waterways aboard a 1951 mahogany sailboat , transforming the tiny vessel into a floatin...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Netherlands-based pop duo Pomelo , featuring Luke Elliott and Wynnm Murphy . We caught up with this exciting duo to explore their debut album Loreless , new music, their collective creative energy, and the unique sonic world they are building together. Pomelo creates seductive, engaging art-pop that draws from its musical influences w...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed Jazz Vocalist, Guitarist & Songwriter Allan Harris on his remarkable 2026 release Swingin’ Love Songs . More than two decades after it was originally recorded, Allan Harris brings this extraordinary collection of previously unreleased music into the world. What began with sessions in Miami eventually returned to New York...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with Detroit-based jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, and educator Zen Zadravec . We caught up with Zen to explore his new 2026 album, New Paradigm , and a remarkable musical career that has taken him across continents and through decades of contemporary jazz. With a rich international career as a bandleader, collaborator, and educator ,...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with veteran Austin, Texas-based saxophonist Elias Haslanger . We caught up with this longtime fixture of the Central Texas jazz scene to talk about his ninth album, Legacy , and the remarkable 30-year journey that has made him one of the enduring voices in Texas jazz. Legacy is deeply personal. The album is dedicated to the great mentors...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with Brooklyn-based jazz flutist/composer Michel Gentile and drummer/composer Rob Garcia as we explore two exciting new 2026 albums from Connection Works Records . Released worldwide on May 29, 2026 , these two recordings offer different perspectives on contemporary jazz while sharing a deep commitment to composition, improvisation, collab...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with Washington, DC–based baritone saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Leigh Pilzer . On this episode, we dive into Leigh's compelling new 2026 album, Keep Holding On , released on Strange Woman Records . The project finds Pilzer exploring intimate trio and quartet settings , creating an environment where composition, improvisation, inte...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with Jazz Trumpeter & FONT Music Organizer Allison Philips . On this episode, we get deep into the roots, history, mission, and activities surrounding the Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT Music) —one of the most adventurous and important organizations dedicated to expanding the possibilities of the trumpet in contemporary music. Now...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with rising UK jazz vocalist, composer, and arranger Freddie Benedict . On this episode, we dive into Freddie's 2026 debut single, Colours , and the remarkable musical journey that has taken him from the lockdown-era writing of an original song about first love to performances on some of the UK's most prestigious stages. Freddie began his...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with Boston-based pianist Yoko Miwa and vocalist Mikayla Shirley . On this episode, we dive into their beautiful new 2026 debut album, The Midnight Hour —a recording born from late-night performances, intimate musical chemistry, and a shared love for great songs. Last year, Yoko and Mikayla began performing together during The Mad Monkfish...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with acclaimed Los Angeles-based jazz singer Amber Weekes . On this episode, we reconnect with Amber to explore her powerful new 2026 album, To Oscar with Love —a deeply personal tribute to the late, great Oscar Brown Jr. , the legendary singer-songwriter, poet, storyteller, and Civil Rights activist. For Amber, this project is much more t...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with NYC-based jazz bassist, composer, and educator Hannah Marks . We originally caught up with Hannah back in 2019 , before she made the trip to Kansas City to promote her debut album. Now, years later, she returns to Neon Jazz with a major new chapter in her musical journey—her 2026 album Feed the Fire . On her second release, Hannah mak...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with acclaimed jazz vocalist and composer NicoleYvette . On this episode, we dive into her powerful 2026 debut recording, Say Yes , and the remarkable life in music that led her to this moment. Say Yes is a deeply personal and fully realized jazz statement—one that explores identity, faith, resilience, transformation, self-discovery, and t...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with award-winning Brooklyn-based singer and songwriter Luiza Girardello . In this deeply personal conversation, we catch up with a young and rising artist whose music is shaped by a life lived between worlds . Born in Brazil, educated at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and now based in New York City, Luiza has spent much of her life n...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with acclaimed jazz vocalist Jonathan Karrant . In this special conversation, we dive into Jonathan's powerful 2026 album, Full Circle , a deeply personal collaboration with Grammy-winning jazz vocalist and pianist Diane Schuur . The album represents far more than a collection of songs. It is a celebration of friendship, mentorship, musica...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Venezuelan-born jazz saxophonist, composer, singer, producer, and arranger Rafael Greco . In this episode, we take a deep dive into his compelling new 2026 album, Verses Under My Shadow , his love of jazz, his Venezuelan roots, and an extraordinary career in music. Released by Blue Canoe Records in April 2026 , Verses Under My Shadow...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Nigerian-born, New York-based artist Lawrence Udeigwe , a fascinating musician, composer, vocalist, pianist, mathematician, educator, and interdisciplinary thinker. In this episode, we dive into his remarkable new 2026 album, Four Lemmas , and the extraordinary intersection of jazz, mathematics, neuroscience, music, teaching, percepti...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed Bay Area jazz guitarist and composer George Cotsirilos . In this episode, we take a deep dive into his remarkable career and his beautiful new 2026 album, In The Wee Hours . On his seventh recording, George returns to the intimate sound of solo nylon-string jazz guitar , bringing beloved jazz standards and two original compo...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed jazz pianist, accordionist, composer, and bandleader Ben Rosenblum . In this episode, we take a deep dive into his exciting new 2026 album, The Longest Way Round , his Nebula Project, touring, composition, and the many global musical influences that shape his sound. The Longest Way Round marks an important milestone for Ben...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with jazz singer and voice-over artist Marsha Bartenetti . In this episode, we explore her remarkable career in music, voice-over, recording, and broadcasting, along with her new 2026 single, "New York Minute," and her upcoming album arriving later this year. Marsha is a smooth, rich, and expressive vocalist whose heartfelt delivery brings...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with award-winning Bulgaria-based jazz vocalist, poet, composer, and educator Gergana Velinova . In this episode, we dive into her remarkable musical journey and her powerful new 2026 album, Free . Now her seventh album , Free is a deeply personal project shaped by motherhood, resilience, transformation, and the search for freedom through...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Bay Area bassist, guitarist, arranger, composer, producer, and recording engineer Frank Swart , the creative force behind the acclaimed jazz fusion band Funkwrench Blues . In this episode, Frank joins us to discuss his exciting 2026 album, This Is the One! (raison d'être) , a vibrant recording co-produced with Brian Brinkerhoff t...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed Brazilian jazz guitarist, composer, and bandleader Sergio Pereira . In this episode, we explore his outstanding 2026 album, Colors of Time , along with his remarkable musical journey from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil , to New York City , where he has continued to shape his distinctive voice in contemporary jazz. Born and rais...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring legendary New York City-based jazz bassist, composer, and bandleader Tom Kennedy . One of the most respected bassists in modern jazz, Tom returns to the show to discuss his outstanding 2026 album, The Summit , released on Autumn Hill Records . On his seventh solo recording, Tom presents an exciting collection of original composit...