Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City-based Jazz Champion, Educator, Musician & ISJA Supporter Mike Parkinson .. We caught up with Mike to talk about a long life lived in the jazz world as a musician, educator and advocate. Specifically, we honed in on a June 9, 2024 benefit concert that will take place at the Westport Coffeehouse Theater.  With the support of the International Relations Council and Saint Louis Polonia, this is a benefit concert for the 2024 International Summer Jazz Academy (ISJA) which takes place July 21-28 in Krakow, Poland. He has been associated with the ISJA since its founding in 1994 and served as Artistic Director for a number of years.  JAZZ Spoken Here, a post-bop sextet that I lead, will perform movie music by four Polish & Polish American composers long favored by jazz artists.  We cover the whole story for a very important jazz mission of spreading the music and keeping the future bright. Dig this interview. 

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Trombonist Matthew Fillingham & Trumpeter Justin Crossman of the Kansas City’s Back Alley Brass Band on a New EP & Summer Festivals .. We caught up with these esteemed band leaders of the infectious New Orleans-flavored brass band to talk about a whole lot going on in their worlds. Along with Kansas City’s Boulevardia Festival, they will be headlining the 1st Annual Lee’s Summit Jazz Festival taking place on June 22, 2024. Also, they have a brand new EP out called Last Chance to Dance. We cover this bevy of activity from a band on the rise. Dig this interview. 

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with South African-based Jazz Saxophonist & Composer Linda Tshabalala .. She won best newcomer in jazz for her debut album titled "Convergence: Bekezela Siyeza" at the Mzansi Jazz Awards in South Africa and was nominated for Jazz Artist of the Year at the Basad In Music Awards. We cover this debut album, her life in music and so much more. Dig …

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Saxophonists & Composers Adam Larson & Chris Madsen on the 2024 CD Trust Fund Tinder Goblins Howling at the Moon .. Adam hopped on from his home in Kansas City, while Chris joined us from Chicago to talk about this sophomore album from a collaboratively-led band “Narrative” that also includes Scott Hesse, Clark Sommers and John Kizilarmut. This album features compositions from each member and was recorded in about 5 hours this past March at ProMusica in Chicago, IL. We cover this album, upcoming live shows, the busy jazz musician world of collaborations and so much more. Dig in .. 

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Guitarist, Composer & Educator Greg Skaff on the 2024 Album Re Up .. This cat has been swinging presence and improviser on the New York scene since the late ‘80s. On his latest project, he teamed up with bassist Ugonna Okegwo and young drumming sensation Jonathan Barber to make some more magic. We get into how this project came about, surviving COVID, life in Harlem and the future ahead. Dig in…

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Trombonist & Composer Matthew McDonald .. We get into his new 2024 CD The Long Wait, getting through COVID, his history in music and much more. Over the years, he has performed at numerous jazz festivals and venues around the world. Since moving to New York in 2003, he has performed with countless ensembles and with the likes of The Temptations, The Four Tops, and beyond. He received his Bachelor of Music at DePaul University in Chicago, his Masters of Music from the Manhattan School of Music, as well as receiving his Artist Diploma from the Juilliard School, studying with Wycliffe Gordon. Dig his story.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Saxophonist Klas Lindquist on Being Named the 2023 Album of the Year .. He has received quit a bit of positive press about his latest 2023 album "Alternative Source of Energy”, but he just received the highest honor by the Swedish jazz magazine Orkesterjournalen as "The jazz album of the year in Sweden 2023”. This is the world's oldest jazz magazine and compounds all the good news going on in a career that is one the rise. We caught up with him on a trip to New York City to discuss a bevy of new projects, live shows and much more. Dig it.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Mexico-based Jazz Pianist Emilio Reyna .. From his base in Mexico City, he opened up about his new 2024 CD Los Niños Perdidos, along with a great life in the jazz. He stands as a forward-thinking musician aiming to push the possibilities of modern improvised music while maintaining a sense of sincerity and tradition. His interest in jazz led him to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies in Jazz Composition and Performance at McGill University, Montreal. He has since established himself as one of the most sought-after musicians on the Mexico City scene. We cover all of this and more. Dig in…

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based Jazz Vocalist & Pianist Brenda Earle Stokes on the 2024 CD Motherhood  ..We get into this new project that has been about 12 yeas in the making with songs exploring identity, fear, expectations, body image, friendship and growth. A natural multitasker, she has fused a passion for the piano and a love of singing into a vibrant career that crosses genres organically. A native of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, her career has taken her across Canada and US, and internationally performing at venues like the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, the Toronto Jazz festival and beyond. We cover quite a bit. Enjoy this interview.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City-based Jazz Guitarist Jeff Shirley on New 2024 Albums .. We catch up with this talented musician about his new 2024 CDs Contigo and Modes of Nature coming out on Christopher Burnett’s ARC or Artists Recording Collective label. They again show the power and evolution of this veteran musician that can be seen regularly at the Green Lady Lounge. Also, his music is in a new indie film. We cover all the recent happenings and a bit more. Enjoy.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Toronto-based Jazz Pianist  Jeremy Ledbetter .. We caught up with him to talk about his new 2024 Trio CD called Gravity and his life in music. Originally trained as a classical pianist, he studied jazz performance in Toronto before embarking on over a decade abroad, during which time he worked closely with some of the most prominent recording artists in Trinidad, Cuba, Brazil and Venezuela. We get into the full story .. Dig in…

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-bases Jazz Bassist Dan Loomis on the 2024 CD Revolutions .. We welcome Dan back to the show to talk about this new project that is a programmatic suite of electrifying and thought-provoking songs and spoken-word pieces meant to serve as a call to the barricades. In a society that is ever more polarized and ossified, revolutionary thoughts and ideas move us forward to a more open future. We cover this album, live shows and much more. Dig this interview.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Chicago-based Jazz Trumpeter & Composer Zachary Finnegan .. We cover his debut and new 2024 CD Guidance and Gratitude, along with his life in music.  In October 2023, Finnegan completed his first 4-continent, 31-country, 140+ show World Tour with 5-time Grammy Winner, Michael Bublé. In Chicago, he performs alongside jazz luminaries and frequenting top clubs. We get into his full story. Dig in.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Vegas-based Jazz Bandleader & Guitarist Stephen Fansler.. He has roots in Manhattan, Kansas and at Kansas State University, along with spending quality time in Kansas City absorbing some good jazz. Based in Las Vegas, Well Tempered Madness is the brainchild of guitarist Steve and is inspired by many different genres and all of the music that he's had the chance to play and by the artists that he has worked with. Two years ago, the band played their first live gigs and the album was recorded last year. We get into this project, his history and much more. Dig it.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Artistic Director Aaron Jensen of the Toronto-based Group Countermeasure .. We caught up with him about their new 2024 CD Orchestral Sessions. On this fourth studio album, it features fan-favourites, and new works composed by Aaron .. Defined by their genre-defying sound, the jazz, pop, soul and choral-inspired repertoire is presented for the first time with a full orchestra and rhythm section. Countermeasure is a 12-member vocal group that have sold-out theatres across Canada, the U.S., Italy, Scotland, Japan, and the U.K. They’ve contributed to the soundtracks of internationally-featured short films, and their music has been featured on the EMMY award-winning TV series, Schitt’s Creek. Dig this story.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Vocalist, Composer & Arranger Gabriela Martina on the 2024 CD States .. This new album includes compositions that she had been working on during the time of the pandemic 2020/21. The word 'States' has more than one meaning. State comes from the Latin status meaning ‘condition of a country’. The word 'States' mostly gets associated with the United States of America. In what 'state of mind' are the 'States' currently finding themselves in? On this record she ex­plored word play, political tension, different states of mind in order to express her findings through sound. We cover some solid ground. Enjoy.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Latin Grammy Award Winning Percussionist & Composer Samuel Torres .. We talked to him about his new 2024 CD A Dance for Birds and a long life in music. This Latin Grammy-Award winning musician from Bogota, Colombia, he brought a long-time musical vision to life to this new album. This project is expertly interpreted by his Latin Chamber Ensemble, featuring the Bergamot String Quartet. We cover quite a bit in this interview. Dig in.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist George Cooper of the Jazz Defenders .. We caught up with him about the new 2024 Album Memory in Motion out on Haggis Records. On this new project, they continue to distinctly ‘defend’ the legacy of some of the classic hard bop greats such as Horace Silver, Lee Morgan and Art Blakey, they begin to evolve their modern soul jazz slant to combine solid grooves and catchy horn lines with a collaborative and all-encompassing sound, fusing soul, jazz, hip hop, soundtrack and groove into a masterful union that leaves audiences mesmerised.  George has been at this for quite some time and we delve into the band, his history and much more. Dig this story. 

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Award-Winning Jazz Saxophonist Brent Birckhead .. We get into his new 2024 CD Cacao and a decorated life in music that has taken him all over the world. Unbound by genre, his approach to woodwind artistry is driven by his compulsion for creative risk and deep respect for legacy. We cover his world of teaching, recording and creating from his home in Baltimore. Dig this interview.  

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Toronto-based Jazz Pianist Anthony D'Alessandro .. We caught up with this young pianist about his new 2024 CD Searchin’, a life in jazz and the future ahead. Hailed by The WholeNote Magazine as a pianist with a “natural feeling for swing and groove” and “scintillating technique.” Since graduating from college in 2019, he has been steadily carving out a name for himself across the country. Having already toured Canada from coast to coast with two-time JUNO award winning vocalist Caity Gyorgy, and after spending a year performing and studying in New York City, he’s busy promoting his new album and climbing up the ranks. Dig this story. 

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Seasoned Jazz Songwriter & Vocalist Nancy Erickson Lamont .. We caught up with her to discuss her new 2024 CD Through the Passages, getting through COVID, education and her life in music. In the beginning, she studied with the renowned jazz instructor Frank DeMiero and has been leaving her mark on Seattle's music scene for over three decades. Her impressive vocal range, lush alto, and distinctive approach to the jazz tradition have captivated audiences and earned her a reputation as one of the city's most engaging and natural vocalists. We cover this journey and much more. Dig in. 

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Virtuoso Jazz Saxophonist & Vocalist Isaiah Collier .. We caught up with this brilliant musician and artist to discuss his new 2024 CD The Almighty, a celebrated life in music and beyond. This album is his first quartet offering since 2021's Cosmic Transition. It showcases these principles through sounds that evolve within the titles: Love, Compassion, & Perspective. He began playing saxophone at age 11, and his intuitive proficiency earned him attention early on. Ever since, his band Isaiah Collier and The Chosen Few has been turning ears. There’s a regal, elegant manner to Isaiah’s stage presence. His sound is a dynamic flurry of metaphors and he plays his influences. WE cover all of this and much more. Enjoy.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Pianist Andy Ezrin .. On a stroll through Harlem, we get into his new 2024 CD I Was Here, his busy life on the road, surviving COVID and an illustrious career in jazz. He is one of the many-sided and multi-faceted Jazz piano men, for whom finger-work and artwork, the roles of intricate jazz poet and nightly piano player, coincide. The hardest working man in Jazz, his enthusiasms and capacities are as truly boundless as his skills are ridiculous. Dig this whole story.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with azz Singer Yaala Ballin on the 2024 CD Symphony, Song, Swing! This 4-song EP is a taste to the sounds of her concert “Symphony, Song, Swing!” It highlights a selection of jazz standards and each one has a unique style and sound. We cover the construction of this new work, live shows coming up and much more. This is a return to the show and we are delighted to have her back. Dig this interview.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Canadian Jazz Trombonist Craig Brenan .. We caught up with him to talk about his 2024 CD Valley of Silence with his brother known as The Brenan Brothers. So, the ten-year-old twin brothers Jim and Craig, were standing nervously in the doorway of the Palms Cafe in Edmonton on a warm summer night in 1979. Their dad has taken them to their first concert featuring the instruments that they’re hoping to play when they enter junior high in the fall. The band was trumpet legend Woody Shaw’s quintet and they have gone on to perform with the likes of Maynard Ferguson, Randy Brecker, Slide Hampton and many more. They have established an iron-clad reputation as a pair of dynamic and accomplished musicians, always seeking new musical challenges that push them to their creative limits. We get into it all. Dig in..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with J Veteran Jazz Pianist & Composer Andy Milne on the 2024 CD with Unison Called Time Will Tell .. This new album was recorded with his trio Unison out on Sunnyside Records. He gets into the construction of his latest collaboration with bassist John Hébert and drummer Clarence Penn is a sparkling exploration of identity and destiny, showcasing his ever-evolving craft. We get into surviving COVID, this career and the future ahead. Dig in.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with New York Jazz Vocalist John Dokes .. We caught up with him to discuss his new 2024 CD New Day. With inspiration from his stylistic ancestors Nat King Cole and Joe Williams, he brings new life to the deep-souled world of baritone jazz vocals. He is backed by New York-based George Gee Swing Orchestra where here launched his career as a vocalist. Key to the album’s success is the arranging of Gee’s musical director trombonist David Gibson. In delivering a distinctive post-pandemic outing of classic songs embodied with hopeful passion, he again puts out material that will make you move. We also get into his career and the future ahead. Dig this interview. 

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Kansas City-based Jazz Saxophonist, Teacher & Visionary Christopher Burnett on the 2024 Album Originals .. Mr. Burnett is a great friend of Neon Jazz, the Kansas City jazz world and the global community of musicians. We caught up with him to discuss his latest and impressive 2024 release called Originals. It’s a homage to family and he’s joined by stellar Kansas City talents like vibraphonist Greg Carroll, bassist Gerald Spaits, guitarist Will Matthews and pianist Roger Wilder. We also discuss his involvement in the 1st Annual Lee’s Summit Jazz Festival on June 22. Always a joy to catch up in real time. Dig this interview.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Duo of Pianist & Composer Guilhem Forey & Producer & Lyricist Edy Szewy Known as Edy Forey .. We caught up with this tandem to talk about their new & debut 2024 CD Culture Today, their meeting, the music and the future. Based in Edinburgh, UK, their eclectic sound lives on the groovier side of jazz - a fusion with soul, retro rhythm & blues, house music & hiphop - simply known as urban jazz. We cover quite a bit. Enjoy. 

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Venezuelan-born, NYC-based Latin Grammy Award-Winning Jazz Drummer & Percussionist  Daniel Prim .. We get into his new 2024 CD Home, his roots, surviving COVID and the future. This is first album under his own name. Growing up in Caracas, Venezuela, his friends and family gathered at each other’s homes to eat and play music into the night. Music became the rhythm and language of his childhood. Home invites listeners to join Daniel in the parties, or parampampans, where he first learned the folklore songs that weave through the album, breathing new love and life into the heart, soul, and sounds of his homeland. Dig this story. 

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Mandolin Player Joe Brent and Bassist Andrew Ryan of the Jazz Group 9 Horses .. We caught up about their history as a band, their new 2024 CD Strum and so much more. They stand as one of the most influential and admired ensembles in progressive jazz and improvised music. This new project is 67-minute instrumental epic serves as the antithesis to today’s augmentation of A.I.-generated music. The band also features 2018 GRAMMY nominee Sara Caswell and was originally formed in 2012 as a duo between Brent and Caswell, yet they expanded to a trio the following year and in 2015 released its debut album. Dig this whole story. 

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz series .. On this episode, we talk with Bandmates of the Chicago Jazz Collective IRIS .. We get into the history of this band, their new album and much more with members of this band that includes: Arman Sangalang on tenor saxophone, Kirby Fellis on trombone, Austyn Menk on piano, Morgan Turner on bass and Paul Barrilles on drums & cymbals. The group was born out of five peers’ mutual desire to fuse jazz’s historic subgenres, such as hard bop and post bop, with a modern aesthetic. Described in the album’s liner notes by guitar virtuoso Bobby Broom as “a beautiful representation of jazz music in its current attire,” the album allows each member of the collective to shine individually through carefully crafted compositions and solos. We get into all of this and much more. Dig in.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Entrepreneur, Community Leader, Jazz Fest Organizer & President of Bridge Space in Lee’s Summit, MO .. He is a lifelong entrepreneur who loves helping others succeed and move their businesses forward. He has many years of experience working in marketing technology, senior living industry, real estate investment and membership or community-based businesses. He is a lover of design, beautification and rehabbing properties. We caught up with him about the 1st Annual Lee’s Summit Jazz Fest on June 22, 2024 at his Bridge Space, the Lee’s Summit Jazz Orchestra, the jazz scene and well beyond. Dig this interview.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Canadian Jazz Vocalist & Composer Sarah Jerrom on the 2024 Album The Magpie Suite .. We caught up with her about this new album, surviving COVID and the future ahead. This project is an evocative and transformative musical journey for expanded jazz orchestra and 4 voices - was born from a moment of awe. During a residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts in January 2018, she observed a gathering of magpies and crows performing a dance in the middle of a winter storm. At the time, Jerrom was working on a deeply personal composition defying the stigma and taboo surrounding pregnancy loss. We cover some solid ground. Enjoy. 

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Saxophonist, Composer, Bandleader & Educator Stephen Philip Harvey .. We caught up with him to talk about his new 2024 CD Elemental Live, along with his life in music and what is in store. He leads various ensembles with a drive to explore a vast array of avenues in improvisation and composition. We cover all the angels. Dig in.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Critically Acclaimed Pianist, Composer & Producer Natalie Tenenbaum .. We cover her new 2024 CD The Piano – Re-Imagined and her life in music. She is a graduate of the Juilliard School and has appeared as a soloist and with orchestras in Israel, Europe, Asia, and the US, performing in venues such as the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Shanghai's Majestic Theater, Jerusalem Music Center and beyond. It’s a fascinating story. Enjoy. 

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Composer & Violinist Meg Okura .. We talk to this Queen of Chamber Jazz about her new collaboration with the great pianist Kevin Hays on the 2024 CD Lingering. Based out of New York, she is known for her music praised by the New York Times as "grandiloquent beauty that transitions easily from grooves to big cascades to buoyant swing.” She is the founder of the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble. As a Tokyo native, her journey in the U.S. began with a solo concerto debut at the Kennedy Center in 1992. From there, she has never looked back. Dig this story.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Vocalist, Composer & Arranger Andrea Wolper .. She opened up about her new 2024 CD Wanderlust. It is her fourth album as a leader and first one in over a decade. - Wanderlust (Moonflower Music) is Wolper’s fourth album as a leader. She started her professional career singing jazz standards, her eclectic tastes and multidisciplinary talents have led her to forge her own path. From her base in Brooklyn, we get into now, the past and the future ahead. Dig this story.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Composer, Saxophonist & Clarinetist Aaron Irwin .. We got into his new 2024 CD After, his life in music and the future ahead. This ninth album as a leader is a collection of works inspired by poetry as interactions between sound and verse weave together melancholy, effervescence, and at times, anxiety sparked by chaos. Creating a collective musical voice that is direct, honest, and unique, composer, saxophonist, and clarinetist Aaron Irwin is joined by Mike Baggetta on guitar & Jeff Hirshfield on drums. Dig this story.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Organist, Composer & Educator on the 2024 Album PurView  Kendall Carter .. On this new sophomore recording, listeners get six original compositions and four covers from the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Larry Young, & Hank Marr. The album features features Dan Wilson, James Gaiters, Marlin McKay, and Chad O'Brien. Hailing from Louisville, KY, he began playing the piano at age 4 and was drawn to the organ by age 13. This new album keeps the trajectory of his career on the rise. Dig this interview.  

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist & Composer Florian Hoefner on Iris Trio Project .. His work as a composer has always played a big role in his releases. Now, he is excited to introduce a new project for which for the first time I have served as a "pure" composer with a classical ensemble.  On April 5th, 2024, the US-Canadian chamber ensemble Iris Trio (clarinet / viola / piano) is going to release its 2nd album entitled "Project Earth: Blue Chapter.”  It features his original compositions with original poetry written and recited by Griffin Prize-winning Canadian poet Don McKay. The works celebrate our natural world and illuminate the triple planetary crisis. It’s a great story. Enjoy.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Guitarist Randy Napoleon & Composer Gregg Hill on the 2024 Album The Door is Open .. The veteran Guitarist in Randy and Michigan's former truck driver, tech entrepreneur Gregg Hill is quite a pairing of minds. Randy is the ringleader of this new set of tunes from Gregg, and has pushed himself and his band to new horizons with a variety of musical styles and moods on this new album. Together, they talk about their history, the new material and what is on the horizon. Dig this story.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based Jazz Guitarist Nicholas Mycio .. We talked about his new 2024 CD Nonstandard. It is his 2nd album, which answers the unlikely question: “What if Jazz was also Breakbeat?” Blaring synths, amen breaks, hard bass, piercing guitars merged with classic jazz standards. A perfect blend of the virtuosity found in jazz improvisation, and the hard hitting grime of electronic production. His unique sonic palette combines the foundational language of Jazz with modern harmonic innovations brought about in the 21st century. We get into his full story. Dig in…

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series .. On this episode, we talk with Canada-based Musician and Songwriter Michael Falk .. We get into his new 2024 album I Can Be Two People At Once from what he is known as Touching. He has turned a new musical corner by taking inspiration from a broad range of new sources and completely transforming his artistic direction with his bold new album. We cover his new arrival into jazz, his roots and the future ahead. Dig…

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Trumpeter Riley Mulherkar .. We talked at length about his debut album .. the new 2024 CD Riley .. He was born and raised in Seattle and has been recognized as a “smart young trumpet player” by The New York Times, praised by The Wall Street Journal as a “youngster to keep an eye on,” and is a 2020 recipient of Lincoln Center’s Emerging Artist Award for his work as “an original bandleader, composer, arranger, educator, community activist and advocate for jazz and the arts.” His path is heading upwards and we step inside this trajectory to figure it all out. Enjoy.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist & Educator Charles Chen .. We cover his new 2024 CD Charles, Play!, living through the pandemic and his life in music so far .. He is from Cupertino, California and over the years he has performed or recorded with Billy Drummond, Bob Sheppard, Roy McCurdy, Ralph Moore, Peter Washington, and Kenny Washington. We get into his journey now and now it’s going on into the future. Dig this interview.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran New York City Jazz Drummer  Matt Kane on the 2023 CD Song Poems & The Future .. We get into this 5th album as a bandleader featuring bass legend Steve LaSpina and brilliant pianist Yayoi Ikawa.  The album has six Matt Kane originals, as well as two originals the band. It was recorded at Trading 8's in Paramus, NJ and mixed by Dave Darlington at Bass Hit Studios in NYC. He's an old friend of the show and we get into this release, future material, live shows, touring and much more. He's always a pro and welcome here at the show. Dig it .. 

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Drummer Mike Clark on the 2024 CD Letter to Bill Evans .. On their seventh outing together as a close-knit, collaborative rhythm tandem, bassist Leon Lee Dorsey and drummer Mike Clark tapped pianist Michael Wolff as third man in their ongoing trio adventures. Michael spent some quality time with Bill Evans and as a trio they do their best to go through a set of perennial Bill tunes. We get into this album, touring and much more. Enjoy.. 

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based Jazz Pianist, Composer & Vocalist Kelly Green .. We get into her new 2024 CD Seems .. She has a defined presence on the NYC Jazz scene headlining iconic venues like The Kennedy Center, Dizzy’s Jazz Club, and the DC Jazz Festival and having shared stages with jazz giants such as Steve Wilson, George Coleman, and Scott Robinson. She grew up around music and has nurtured her talents over the years. We get into live shows, her history and so much more. Dig in…

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Toronto-based Jazz Saxophonist, Composer, Producer & Band Leader Scott Marshall .. We caught up with him about his new 2024 CD The Solitude Suite and his life in music. This is his sixth album of original music that was written for a unique chord-less configuration of Canadian jazz icons .. Along with the recording, Scott has had the opportunity to perform in Dubai UAE, Germany, Sweden, England, the United States, as well as coast to coast across Canada. Scott has band led several of his own ensembles and has performed with a lengthy and diverse list of accomplished musicians like Norah Jones, Johnny Mathus, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Rascals, Marie Osmond and so many others .. The light clicked on at 17 after he saw Miles Davis live and he’s been after it every since. Dig this story…