Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Saxophonist, Flautist, Composer, and Arranger Greg Abate .. Over the course of our conversation,  we talked about a great number of things .. This Woonsocket, Rhode Island native was a part of the 2016 class inducted into the Rhode Island Hall of Fame .. This cat has had a very long and storied jazz existence .. He got educated at the Berklee College of Music and went on to become the lead alto in the Ray Charles Orchestra  .. He spends 225 days a year touring the globe and has played with many jazz cats over the years ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Talented NYC  Jazz Singer Barbara Rosene .. Over the course of our interview,  she talked about spending some quality time in Kansas City playing at joints like the Green Lady Lounge and Jardines .. She grew up in a small town outside of Cleveland, Ohio and has gone on to become a star in the real of the 20s, 30s and 40s jazz world in New York City .. She talked about performing wi

th The Harry James Orchestra, Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks and taking her music to fans all over the world .. In addition to the jazz, she is a visual artist and gives lectures on The Tin Pan Alley composers and early women jazz singers – She’s full of wisdom, stories and surprises ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Jazz Saxophonist and Educator Brett Jackson  ..  He grew up in North Newton, Kansas and made his way to Kansas City to make it his home in a very busy jazz scene .. These days is a part of Project H, the Boogaloo 7, the KC Jazz Orchestra, Vine Street Rumble and Clint Ashlock’s New Jazz Order .. He is also teaching the future jazz cats of the world at Kansas City Kansas

Community College .. He opened up about his jazz journey, his heroes, recordings on the horizon and much more ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City jazz pianist Roger Wilder  - Over the course of our interview, we discussed his music roots with his family in Rochester, New York .. Getting a degree at the University of Miami and spending some time down there before coming back to New York .. From there, he made his way to Kansas City in 2000 and has been very active in a busy Kansas City scene .. We discussed new recordings of the horizon for 2016, why he loves jazz and much more ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz guitar Virtuoso Stanley Jordan .. His life in music began as a child with the piano and would eventually migrate to the guitar .. His unique approach to playing the instrunment was inspired by the work he put in on the keys .. Stanley is a very intelligent and gifted musician that has brought the world an incredible amount of good work .. He’s been to over 65 countries, on the Tonight Shows with both Johnny Carson and Jimmy Fallon and made a cameo on the big screen in the 1980’s Bruce Willis film Blind Date .. He just released a 2015 album with friend Kevin Eubank’s called Duets and has an excited album on the horizon for 2016 – Over the course of our conversation he spoke eloquently and freely about a very cool life lived .. and a dream realized ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-Jazz Sax Journeyman Donny McCaslin .. Over the course of our interview he touched on the whirlwind he has been going through in the wake of being on David Bowie’s final album – Blackstar .. but our focus was a long road that has been dedicated to the jazz craft .. It started in Santa Cruz, California and being inspired by his dad .. who played the jazz vibes .. and one particular cat in his band that played the sax .. He went on to the Berklee College of Music and would make New York City his home .. playing with the best like Maria Schneider and Dave Douglas .. he spoke candidly with Neon Jazz about his career, future and much more ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with prolific legendary jazz Double Bassist Ron Carter  –  His long career has been full of originality and been quite prolific he hold a jazz record with more than 2,000 albums to his credit and he’s played with the finest to ever grace music .. cats like Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King and was very influenced by time on the bandstand with Miles Davis and Eric Dolphy .. Over the course of our conversation, he discusses what has been going on lately, his teaching philosophy, his legacy and much more ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with pianist, jazz cat and music visionary Brian Haas  .. He is the leader of the jazz force known as the Jacob Fred Jazz Oddysey .. right outta Tulsa, Oklahoma .. These days, he is in a super group known as Nolatet and they are gearing up for a Febraury 2016 album release and a subsequent tour around the United States .. Brian has spent his career pushing jazz into very cool, inventive quadrants and has marshalled a very devoted legion of fans .. He’s a deeply impassioned cat that loves living, playing music, John Coltrane and constantly evolving ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with legendary jazz saxophonist and flutist Lew Tabackin – Over the course of our conversation, he talked about his start in Philadelphia and his move into playing with some of the best in the business .. like  Tal Farlow, Don Friedman the bands of Cab Calloway, Maynard Ferguson, Joe Henderson, Chuck Israels, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, Clark Terry,  - Then a move to LA to play with Doc Severinsen with the Tonight Show Band, on Dick Cavett's television show – and the beginnings of his band with his wife – the  Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra – He has a many stories, insights and tales to tell .. and they were told ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with talented modern day saxophonist Miguel Zenon – He just received a Grammy Nomination for his latest 2014 album called Identities are Changeable .. He began his journey in San Juan, Puerto Rico .. and then moved on to America to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston .. Since then, he’s gigged with the best like The SFJAZZ Collective, Charlie Haden, Fred Hersh, Kenny Werner, David Sánchez, Danilo Perez, The Village Vanguard Orchestra, The Mingus Big Band, Bobby Hutcherson and Steve Coleman ..  Miguel talked about a lot of things and he made it very clear that he is a work in progress .. and he’s heading in the right directions ..