Neon Jazz Interviews

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...

Welcome to a Neon Jazz interview with hard bop jazz multi-instrumentalist Dr. Nathan Davis – Born in Kansas City, Kansas, this towering talent plays the tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, bass clarinet and flute, and very notably  has been has been a professor of music and the director of jazz studies at the University of Pittsburgh since 1969 – Over a storied career, he has playing with cats lik...

Welcome to a Neon Jazz interview with the very talented trumpeter and member of the Zen jazz rich River Cow Orchestra .. E.E. Pointer .. On a recent Interview with Neon Jazz, E.E. was candid about a life well lived in teaching, playing jazz, and as a family man .. He discussed an early encounter with Chuck Berry, the many gigs that led to his present status with The River Cow Orchestra today, who...

Welcome to a Neon Jazz interview with the ambassador of the KC trumpet and the current scene, Hermon Mehari .. During a May 2014 Interview with Neon Jazz with Joe Dimino, we catch up with a musician that has been very busy since our first interview back in 2012 .. He talks about his recent album recorded in Paris following a Kickstarter online campign, winning the Charlotte Street Performance Awar...

Welcome to a the Neon Jazz interview Tampa based Jazz singer Lisa Casalino – Originally from Long Island, she has established a glowing reputation from her new base in Tampa, Florida as a the Songbird of Tampa .. She discusses her teaching career, decision to go with music full time, her latest album ‘I’m Old Fashioned’, what is next and how she will be described 20 years from now .. along with mu...

Welcome to a the Neon Jazz interview the great jazz pianist Lenny Marcus – he’s also solid with the flute and vocals with his trio .. and he’s talking about the release of his latest album Second Set and it’s just flat out good listening .. During our interview, Lenny opened up about growing up in a very music and art oriented household . .this included regular visits by the great Ray Bryant that...

Welcome to a the Neon Jazz interview Alto Saxophonist Doc Stewart .. Along with the music, Doc is a prominent ER doc with the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix .. Raised on a farm outside of Chicago, he won a talent competition at Disneyland in high school and went on to fall in love with jazz .. But, it has been both medicine and jazz that has kept him going for all these years .. He recently released his n...

Welcome to a the Neon Jazz interview with talented Jazz Drummer Stockton Helbing .. During a candid interview, he spoke about being born in St. Louis – Living in a music rich Dallas, Texas these days .. how his dream of learning and gigging with the musician that turned him onto jazz  -  Maynard Ferguson – ended up coming true .. He’s also active with the great Doc Severinson, he also talks his ne...

Welcome to a very special edition of the Neon Jazz interview series  - On this edition, we had the honor of interviewing the legendary alto saxophonist  Lou Donaldson – During an open, raw and refreshing conversation, Lou spoke to Neon Jazz about anything and everything that he felt worthy  .. Initially, we spoke about the influence Charlie Parker’s playing had on him, time playing in Kansas City,...

Welcome to a very special edition of the Neon Jazz interview series  - On this edition, we had the honor of interviewing legendary Kansas City post box saxophonist  Bobby Watson – During a candid conversation, Bobby spoke to Neon Jazz about a life well lived in the jazz world and all the tributaries that have led to his legendary status .. especially in Kansas City  .. He spoke about his time with...

Welcome to a the Neon Jazz interview with Florida jazz singer Erica DiCeglie  ..  During a recent interview, she talked about her life and jazz career .. Raised in Maine, she moved to New York City and got involved with the urban shuffle, then made her way down to her current home of Florida .. She has been dubbed the singer with an angelic voice .. She’s working on new material and there’s plenty...

Welcome to another very special edition of the Neon Jazz interview series  - During this episode, we had the honor of interviewing legendary jazz drummer Jimmy Cobb – Over the course of an open conversation about his life, the last surviving member of the famed ‘Kind of Blue’ session – One of the best jazz records ever recorded with Miles Davis, Jimmy talked about that particular recording day and...

Welcome to a very special edition of the Neon Jazz interview series  - During this segment, we travelled down to 18 & Vine to interview the Executive Director of the Mutual Musicians Foundation - Anita Dixon – This staple and legendary institution in the heart of America’s jazz hug is the reason why Kansas City Jazz was put on the map and Anita has big plans for the upcoming 100th Year Celebration...

Welcome to a Neon Jazz interview with an innovator leading the music march in modern jazz these days and one of the finest pianists today .. Matthew Shipp .. From Deleware, but based these days in New York City ..  He recently spoke with Neon Jazz about all those early experiences in life that made him fall in love with jazz, his early gigs, the profound influence of David S. Ware, what’s going on...

Welcome to a very special edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with the legendary alto saxophonist, arranger and composer Jimmy Heath .. During the course of our interview, Jimmy was very open about his friendships with John Coltrane & Dizzy Gillespie, along with travels in Paris, some of his favorite photographs, how the world is better off with Jazz and the key to his gifted longevity in th...

Welcome to a very special edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with the legendary Hammond B-3 Jazz Organist Dr. Lonnie Smith .. Over the course of a lengthy, open conversation, Dr. Smith went through the full lineage of his career dispensing the wisdom and love he has garnered from the world of music .. Full of stories, anectdotes, wisdom and an original Dr. Smith story through and through, I...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with the very talented alto saxophonist and modern day jazz great Ted Nash .. Over the course of a candid and revealing talk, Ted talked about how his career began at 16 with a week in Hawaii and playing with the great Lionel Hampton. From there, he has gone on to play with the best in the business and release a trove of critically acclaim...

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with the very talented saxophonist & composer Jaleel Shaw .. Over the course of a lengthy, open conversation, Jaleel spoke about getting his first sax, growing up in the City of Brotherly Love, how his career has gone so far, owning his own record label, what is next and much more .. Enjoy .. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See p...

Welcome to a very special edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with the legendary saxophonist Phil Woods .. At the age of 83 and with 65 years on the jazz stage delighting fans all over the world, he has plenty of insight and stories to dispense .. From major influences, how he approaches gigs these days, what is coming up next .. Full of energy and love for jazz, this is Phil at his best .....

Welcome to a very special edition of the Neon Jazz interview series  - On this edition, we had the honor of interviewing legendary Canadian Trumpeter  Al Muirihead – He has spent his life entertaining fans with his blend of jazz .. Travelling all over Canada and spots around the world .. He talks about his love of the trumpet, tales over his career, what is next and much more .. Hosted by Simpleca...

Welcome to a special edition of the Neon Jazz interview series  - We had the honor of interviewing Legendary Guitarist Jack Wilkins ..  Very active in the world of jazz for many years, he spoke with us about playing with cats like Dizzy Gillespie, what he tries to teach his students, his key to longevity and much more .. Dig it, my friends .. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswi...

Welcome to this edition of the Neon Jazz interview series  - We spent some quality time with jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader Bob Mintzer discussing a wide array of topics pertaining to a long career that has been going strong since the 1970’s ..  He is a force in jazz and discussed his cool years with the Yellowjackets, how jazz matters, great stories from the road, the e...

Welcome to another episode in our Neon Jazz interview series  .. Meet Jazz Trombonist Reggie Watkins .. From West Virginia, he has gone on to travel all over the map giving people his unique blend of jazz. He got plenty of experience touring with Maynard Ferguson .. and gave me one of the best jazz stories we have ever heard here on Neon Jazz .. He also talks about his latest album - “One For Mile...

Welcome to a special edition of the Neon Jazz interview series  - During this interview, we had the honor of speaking with journeyman jazz bassist & Kansas City’s very own Bob Bowman. Born and raised in Kansas, he made his way from New York City to Los Angeles playing with the best in jazz. He came back to Kansas City in 1988 and has been here every since and remains a vital part of a very healthy...

Welcome to a very special edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with the legendary drummer Jack DeJohnnette .. At 72 and still going strong in the world of music and jazz, he was very open about his life in music .. He talked about starting out on the piano as a boy in Chicago, then moving on to the stage with bebop legends like Miles Davis and Thelonius Monk .. Along the way, he had a wise ar...