Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with ulti-Talented Vocalist, Songwriter, Producer & Influencer Laranah Phipps .. She talked about her new 2023 album done with La Funkalicious called Game Changer .. and that’s exactly what she is .. Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, her drive, focus, and tenacity are relentless and unstoppable forces on the music circuit .. She is a...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Emporia, KS-based Jazz Drummer Jack Mouse .. He began playing at the early age of four, and by his late teens was already performing with such musical greats as Tex Beneke, Ralph Flanagan, Ray McKinley, Les Elgart and Red Norvo. Over his storied career, he intersected with so many legends, has great stories, albums, revelation...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Brooklyn-based Jazz Saxophonist & Composer Alex Weiss .. He opened up about the new post-COVID world and his new 2023 album Most Don’t Have Enough .. He has been playing saxophones for 35 years. He has played and recorded with such artists as Wadado Leo Smith, , Ches Smith and many many others. In 2013, Alex had a son and put the horn...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Violinist & Composer Sam Bardfeld on the 2023 Album Refuge .. It’s his new trio album and the follow up to the critically-acclaimed The Great Enthusiasms, his second for Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records, and his fourth as a bandleader. It is to be released on March 24, 2023 and it’s so good to see new work coming out .....

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Guitarist Dave Stryker on the 2023 Album Prime .. Fresh off their summer tour opening for Steely Dan, this is the first recording featuring his working trio. Along with Jared Gold on organ and McClenty Hunter on drums, the album features offers eight new compositions .. We get into this record, the new post-COVID world an...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Toronto Jazz Vocalist, Composer & Arranger Jackson Welchner .. We talked about his new 2023 album Blink Twice – described as a bold, lush and bountiful contribution to Toronto's jazz landscape exuding an eclectic collection of deep grooves and angular melodies. Ranging from chamber jazz, to string quartet, to hard-hitting punk, Jackso...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Barcelona Jazz Trumpeter and Singer Alba Careta .. She talked about her new 2023 CD Teia, which means a splintery wood that burns easily. This is the her third album inspired by her own experiences by her, which consolidate the artist in both the Catalan and European jazz scenes after the success of her previous two albums .. We get i...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Australian-born, NYC-based Jazz Vocalist Jane Irving .. She opened up about her new 2023 album “Don't Quit Now” that serves as a reminder. A place she came to after so much uncertainty. During Covid lockdown in NYC, she didn’t perform for 15 months and that had her questioning what live music would look like going forward. Bor...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series The Creator & Owner Seth Allen of 1909 Club at Libations & Company in Lee’s Summit, Missouri .. On February 18, 2023, Seth will christen his new venue with their first artist will be The Joanna Berkebile Quartet kicking off an emerging vision and tradition of the best in Blues, Jazz, R&B, Soul, Funk and so much more. This will be the first...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Jazz Composer & Vibraphonist Isaiah Petrie .. Originally from Arizona, he found his way through the Midwest to Kansas City .. He started his jazz journey late in life, but he is well on his way with a group of talented cats in the scene and he’s got a great story that is just beginning .. and destined for greatness .. Dig...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Nashville-based Veteran Jazz Saxophonist Don Aliquo .. Originally from Pittsburg, Don opened up about his new 2023 CD Growth .. These days he remains an active performing and recording artist that has played or recorded with many notable artists over the years like Rufus Reid, Gary Burton, Greg Osby, Roger Humphries, Jim McNeely and m...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC Jazz Singer Naama on the new 2023 Album Where Flamingos Fly .. This Israeli born continues to rise up the charts .. On her new LP, she delivers an honest & intimate album featuring vibraphonist Steve Nelson .. This is the vocalist's 3rd release consisting of 12 tracks, 6 of which feature a collaboration with Nelson .. She and the...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based Jazz Trombonist Eric Goletz on the 2023 CD Standard-Ized! .. Eric has been quite busy since the pandemic began .. This is his 3rd album in 3 years and there is plenty to like on Standard-ized! Group size and makeup are seldom the same, his charts always go into new realms, there are special guests and on this release he has...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Brooklyn-based Jazz Drummer and Composer & Bandleader Tomas Fujiwara .. He opened up about his new 2023 album March on with his sextet Triple Double featuring players like drummerGerald Cleaver, guitaristsMary Halvorson and trumpet/cornet player Ralph Alessi .. He was born and raised in Boston, MA and went on to study with legendary d...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Brazilian-born, Poland-based Hammond B-3 Organist Daniel Latorre .. He reached out to Neon Jazz and talked at length about his new 2022 CD Organization Live .. He is a skilled player out of São Paulo, Brazil who studied piano and specialized in the play of jazz, blues and rock on B3. Over the years he had some great teachers .. Betwee...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with BC-based Composer Holly Burke .. She talked about the new 2022 CD Dreamride done with fellow composer Bill Runge .. In 2020, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and after a five year struggle with post-concussion syndrome, Holly finally found herself back at the piano, improvising again. Her muse had returned. Re-invigorated, B...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Italian Jazz Artist Vanessa Bissiri .. She talked about her new 2023 project called Empatica .. It’s the debut of this artist residing in Sardinia, Italy, but trained in different European cities like Rome & Berlin, along with 15 years in Barcelona .. This album tells of a memory that is recorded in our mind through sensations with 8...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Canadian Jazz Saxophonist Keith O'Rourke .. He talked about the new 2023 CD Imperfect Perfectionist - As with many artists, the pandemic shutdowns of 2020 became a time of soul searching for Keith. His sophomore album is a direct result of this unexpected and prolonged period of self-reflection, practice and composition. He was a born...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Vocalist Tatiana Eva-Marie on the new 2021 CD I Double Dare You with Singer, Playwright, Actor & Historian Vienna Carroll on the New 2023 Single Swing Low Sweet Chariot .. Vienna & The Folk debut the Afro-Roots Single on February 10, 2023 .. It’s the new single from their upcoming CD Harlem: Afro Future Roots, a special collectio...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Guitarist, Composer & Leader of the Experimental Rock Group CarbonWorks Neal Barnard on the 2023 Album Vanishing Act .. Neal rings in the new year with their energetic new single, titled “Marie Osmole.” The song is the third release from CarbonWorks’ upcoming album out April 21, 2023. As with past CarbonWorks singles, the song is a un...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based Jazz Bassist, Composer & Bandleader Ben Wolfe .. He talked openly about his new 2023 CD Unjust  .. A stellar follow-up to his critically-acclaimed 2019 release Fatherhood. Unjust celebrates the striking interplay between multiple ensembles driven by the same steadfast rhythm section. It features an incredible line up with th...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Korean-born, New York-based Composer & Bassist SeaJun Kwon .. He talked about his new 2022 CD Micro-Nap with his Walking Cliché Sextet. It is on saxophonist Kevin Sun's Endectomorph Music label. The bassist’s presence in the States – and on the jazz scene – was a seismic shift that happened fairly rapidly. He first played an upright b...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Toronto Jazz Guitarist & Composer Matt Greenwood .. We caught up with him in Zimbabwe to talk about his world of music and his new 2023 CD Atlas .. Originally from Harare, Zimbabwe, he is continuing to etch a new sound in Toronto’s Jazz scene with his debut album .. A cinematic musical world that  combines jazz improvisation with mode...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Indianapolis-based Jazz Bassooninst Mark Ortwein .. He spent some time talking about his life in music and his latest 2023 album called It Was Time ... He grew up in Las Vegas, attended Loyola University in New Orleans for two years then transferred to Boston University, and then played for one season with the Las Vegas Sympho...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Leader & Saxophonist Jon C. Gardner and Drummer Sean J. Kennedy of the Philadelphia-based Jazz Group Gardyn Jazz Orchestra .. They open up about their new self titled 2023 album, their history and much more .. This outfit is comprised of world-class musicians from across the Philadelphia region with a original style and ability to ins...