Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz GRAMMY-Nominated Percussionist Sammy Figueroa .. He glowingly opened up about his new 2023 CD Searching For A Memory serving as a remarkable journey featuring GRAMMY-winning Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and the dynamic Latin GRAMMY-winning Cuban vocalist Aymée Nuviola. This is his first album in nearly a decade is dedicated to the memory and music of his father, the late romantic singer Charlie Figueroa. Sammy has long been regarded as one of the world's great musicians. As one of the music's leading percussionists he has played on countless records and is well-known for his versatility in a multitude of musical styles. Besides playing with some of the world's greatest pop stars, such as David Bowie, Chaka Khan and Mariah Carey, Sammy has also played with a multitude of distinguished jazz artists including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, George Benson, and many, many more... Dig this interview .. 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jerusalem-based Singer & Spiritual Leader Alon Michael .. He opened up at length about his duo project with acclaimed jazz pianist Kenny Werner creating a unique fusion of Hasidic music, jazz harmonies and lieder type performance for voice and piano, based on a combination of the Psalms, and the melodies of Rabbi Taub. Fire and Praise offers a unique musical concept in its exclusive reliance .. Rabbi Taub's compositions have been adapted by Alon Michael to accompany the Hallel liturgy, a liturgy of praise, recited on major Jewish festivals .. We cover a lot of ground .. Enjoy .. 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Veteran Kansas City Jazz Musician & Educator Bryan Hicks .. He  was introduced to music in high school, where he played cello, bass, and sang. After only one year of college as a cello major, he became a full time professional at the age of 20. He started his career with the Inner-City Orchestra ..Over the years, he went on to play with the likes of "Fats" Dennis, Rich Hill, Ben Kynard and the great Ida McBeth. He helped co-found Malachy Papers, an avante-garde jazz-rock ensemble, and he toured France twice with this band. In New York City, Bryan played with Joe Farnsworth, "Doc" Cheatum and others ..We get into his decades of KC history, life in music, the future and much more .. Enjoy their tale .. 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Jazz Organist & Bandleader Chris Hazelton on the 2023 CD After Dark .. On this new album,  he takes organ music back to it's traditional 'After Dark' setting, alongside a quintet of Kansas City's finest. Inspired by his late mentors Everette DeVan, Seleno Clarke, and the incomparable Dr. Lonnie Smith, the new CD invokes the feeling of what jazz organ has always traditionally been: late night music. Towards the end of 2021, he found myself in a state of darkness that was truly unfamiliar. As it was with many pandemic musicians looking for work and purpose. So with no real game plan in place, he booked a weekend in the studio and hired friends that he knew could deliver the feeling he was looking for .. We cover this album, COVID, the future and much more .. Dig…

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Bassist Quinn Sternberg  on the 2023 CD Walking on Eggshells.. As Quinn noted, it seems like we’re all walking on eggshells these days. There’s a lot of uncertainty in the world, but there’s also a lot of optimism. On the heels of his successful 2022 release Cicada Songs, he presents another set of meticulously composed and performed songs, exploring the psyche behind modern life through the phenomenon of the group interplay that results from collectively creating. We dig into this project, surviving COVID, the future and much more .. Dig in… 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Chicago Jazz Bassist & Composer Clark Sommers on the 2023 CD Feast Ephemera .. This new music reflects on his life over the past two decades, and the love, camaraderie and solidarity that he shares with his family in music. The pandemic made virtual hermits of almost everyone, and especially those whose lives and work revolved around real-time interplay and synergistic creativity. Cut off from audiences and colleagues, going a bit stir-crazy at home, he channeled his energy and frustration into this new project .. We cover this and the state of life now .. Enjoy .. 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Montreal-based Jazz Vocalist Olivia Maisel .. We talked about her debut album A Moment In Time that serves as a reflection of decades of personal experience. Very early on in her process, she created a storyboard for the album with the guidance of acclaimed, Grammy-nominated singer Kate McGarry. Those first steps set her on a path to create something truly personal. It stands as a tribute to relationships, love, loss, and life ..We cover quite a bit .. Enjoy .. 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC Jazz Vocalist JD Walter on new 2023 Projects .. One of his projects is the 2023 CD What the World Needs Now. It serves as an album of overlooked gems revealing his skills as a composer, his mastery of the intimate ballad, his talent for reinventing pop and jazz Standards to bring a new depth to these songs, and his ability to swing, scat, and harmonize like no one else. The implicit hope for this album is a plea for peace and love, as highlighted by the title song What the World Needs Now. We cover this album, a new one in the can, live shows and surviving COVID .. Dig…

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with UK-based Jazz Vocalist Paul Hughes .. We had a good talk about his new host of singles, COVID life and his world of music .. These days he is in the midst of recording a new album of songs written by Nashville’s Byron Hill. Hill has worked for such greats as Ray Charles and Kenny Rogers .. His three singles are ‘My Lucky Stars,’ ‘I Bet You Weren't Expecting This,’ and ‘Then Came You’ From Manchester England, he is an exceptional talent who exudes style and poise .. and we dig into all of that .. Enjoy ..  

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Ottawa-based Jazz Pianist & Composer James McGowan on the 2023 CD Reaching In .. This new project is the first half of an extended story told through music, spoken-word program notes and visual art. It depicts a protagonist's journey from struggles of isolation, low self- worth, social anxiety, addiction and loss, to finding peace, acceptance, belonging, and a sense of community. Using powerful musical expression, tonal interconnections, recurring themes and several pervasive musical motifs, the 16- movement concept album conveys deep feelings and extra- musical meaning . We cover this album, COVID and much more .. Enjoy.

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