As I ponder over this year of jazz that has gone by .. I’m perpetually satisfied at how evolved and wise the jazz community is .. and this here 2022 year, I think again about a mighty quote from one of the best drummers in the business .. the funny and effortlessly talented Matt Wilson .. During my first interview with him back in 2016, he opened up during a raw conversation about losing his wife Felicia to Leukemia in 2014 .. I was hesitant to open any wounds in this interview, but he was very willing to share and be very open .. and there was one story he told me that has reverberated like an endless ripple on a pond surface into an infinity .. almost .. here 6 years later .. and it was something I personally wanted to aspire to in my life .. 

And as I began the process of moving 10 years of my interviews over to a more stable RSS feed platform and robust world of Podcasting via Anchor.fm .. by Spotify, I sifted through thousands of interviews with everyone possible cat in the community .. but, in this particular year .. in this nostalgic moment of just turning 50 in 2022 .. I realize what matters the very, very most coming out of our live music restrictive pandemic world into the concert & gig gathering music world again .. it’s about being with each other and celebrating .. the music .. our lives .. and jazz is meant to be live .. and I have been fortunate to have my wife by my side for all of it ..

And it’s been divine.. we have felt alive .. we have felt healed .. as the community awakens .. jazz is stronger than ever in mighty Kansas City ..

We have a look …

& never forget .. Jazz is for dreamers .. it’s for lovers .. it makes us all a bit better off .. because no matter what year it is .. it will always remain that timeless feeling of magic ..

Here’s to my music companion .. and to all of you fans out there ..

Thanks for tuning in .. into Neon Jazz .. the radio show and our worldwide Interviews …

Oh yea .. and we now have swag .. keep you eyes open this year ..

& a big, fat, hearty damned Cheers to 2023 ..

See you then….

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Kansas City Guitarist Rod Fleeman on the 2022 Saturday Afternoon (Live at Green Lady Lounge) CD .. This album serves as his first solo album and he is at the young age of 70 years old. He’s been a staple and legendary player and accompanist to the likes of Deborah Brown and Marilyn Maye. We get into the beautiful struggle of original music, the iconic Green Lady, gigs and so much more .. Always a pleasure catching up with the legendary Rod .. Dig this interview ..

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Kansas City Jazz Saxophonist Christopher Burnett on the 2022 CD The Standards, Vol. 2 Live at the Drum Room in Kansas City .. The Christopher Burnett “Drum Room” Quartet was a featured performer on the First Saturdays of the month beginning shortly after the newly renovated hotel and jazz venue opened at 14th and Baltimore in downtown Kansas City. Chris played these dates with a core group of various artists like Will Matthews, James Ward, Roger Wilder, William Crain, Dr. Mike Pagan, Michael Shanks, Jeff Harshbarger, Craig Aiken, and Brandon Draper during a two-year residency during the years 2006 and 2007. He gets into the history, lore and reality of it all .. Dig this interview ..

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Kansas City Saxophonist Adam Larson on the 2022 CD  With Love, From Kansas City .. It is a high energy Outside in Music follow-up to With Love, From Chicago .. Again with a chordless trio and with the help of fellow Kansas City cohorts, bassist Ben Leifer and drummer John Kizilarmut .. this is another sonic sizzler full of brilliance from Adam .. We get into this release, live gigs, methodology and so much more .. Dig this interview ..

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Saxophonist Bobby Watson  on the 2022 CD Back Home In Kansas City & Upcoming Live Shows .. His retirement in 2020 coincided with the pandemic where he found himself with plenty of time to reflect on Kansas City’s importance to his distinctive sound .. This new project comes from the rich jazz heritage of his Kansas City hometown featuring an all-star quintet .. He gets into all of this and his upcoming January 15th, 2023, 7:00 pm Winterlude concert on the campus at Johnson County Community College at the Midwest Trust Center .. Dig this interview ..

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series Toronto-based Jazz Vibraphonist Dan McCarthy  on the 2022 CD Songs of the Doomed:  Some Jaded, Atavistic Freakout .. This new album of music is ultimately inspired by the writing of political journalist and general dingbat Hunter S. Thompson. A lot of the jangled madness that makes up this band’s repertoire comes from a new compositional style created specifically for this band called the ‘Gonzo Cypher’. The sound of the band is inspired by the Gary Burton Quintet from the 1970s on ECM Records, which was weird in its own right .. We get into this, COVID life and the brighter future ahead .. Enjoy ..

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Philadelphia-based Jazz Guitarist & Composer Joshua Stamper .. We had a good talk about this latest project .. The 2022 album Soma Schema. This album features him straddling the jazz, classical, and experimental worlds .. He gets into the construction of his 12th release as a leader, along with exploring how he survived COVID, the future ahead and so much more ..Enjoy this interview ..

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Former KC, Current NYC Jazz Saxophonist, Bandleader, Composer & Arranger Morgan Faw .. In late August 2022, he completed a week long marathon of gigs in honor of the Charlie Parker week in KC .. Over our conversation, we specifically hone in on his brand new album joined by his band The Flame called It Takes a Village .. He has spent years establishing himself as an upcoming artist bandleader since his early teens. By the age of 15, Morgan had moved in pursuance of playing professionally and playing in multiple community bands across the Kansas City jazz scene.  That led him to Boston and the Berklee College of Music and now he is moving on to the mecca of jazz in New York City .. He’s full of energy and he’s got some good chops .. Dig this interview ..

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran LA-based Guitarist and Composer Grant Geissman .. He opened up about his latest 2022 CD Blooz .. It’s a collection of 12 original blues and jazz songs, performed by a stellar supporting cast of musicians. He was born in Berkeley, California and grew up in San Jose and at 11-years-old he began his first guitar lesson .. After his move to LA in 1973, he began playing in both Gerald Wilson's Big Band and with Louie Bellson's Big Band.. Since then he’s had quite a career in music for personal projects, along with TV and Film projects .. He co-wrote music for all six seasons of Mike and Molly and all 12 seasons of Two and a Half Men .. Dig this story ..

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Jazz Singer Beverly Church Hogan .. She opened up about a fairy tale life .. in music and otherwise .. She opened up about her new 2022 CD Sweet Invitation .. This 86-year-old singer was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. Whenever she sang on stage live or on radio, she became exhilarated with the audiences’ response by singing her way through the American Standard Song Book. She lived next door to Oscar Peterson in Montreal, and was swept away as she listened to his practicing many hours on his magical piano. He gave her a gift without even knowing it. You should hear this whole story .. It’s wonderful...

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