Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Trumpeter Marcus Printup  .. We talked to him on May 4, 2020 during the early stages of the COVID-19 lockdown about his latest 2020 CD Gentle Rain… He was born and raised in Conyers, Georgia and his first musical experiences were hearing the fiery gospel music his parents sang in church. He has gone on to record with the best in jazz .. with Betty Carter, Dianne Reeves, Eric Reed, Wycliffe Gordon, and so many others .. He made his screen debut in the 1999 movie Playing by Heart and recorded on the film’s soundtrack. August 22 has been declared “Marcus Printup Day” in his hometown of Conyers, Georgia. He talks about all of this and more .. Enjoy…

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with California-based Jazz Trumpeter Carl Saunders .. We caught up with him on April 30, 2020 to talk about his latest 2020 CD Jazz Trumpet during this new COVID-19  world .. Jazz listeners living in the Los Angeles area and musicians worldwide have long known that Carl is one of the great trumpet players around today. Originally from Indianapolis – his uncle is trumpeter-bandleader Bobby Sherwood and he started playing trumpet in the seventh grade and found that he had a natural ability, mostly learning to play by ear and never having any lessons. He is full of wisdom and grand insights .. Enjoy ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Drummer Joe Farnsworth .. He opened up during this odd time on earth with a pandemic and social unrest rampant to talk about his latest 2020 CD Time to Swing with Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Barron and Peter Washington .. This musician from South Hadley, Massachusetts has been revered for years for his blazing speed, precision, musical, and melodic playing. He grew up in a musical family and studied with Alan Dawson and Arthur Taylor. From there, it was on to New York City and eventually recording over 100 CD’s as leader and side-man with the likes of Pharaoh Sanders, Horace Silver, Harold Mabern, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, Diana Krall, Benny Golson, George Coleman, Johnny Griffin, Lou Donaldson, Benny Green, Barry Harris and Curtis Fuller .. his story is amazing. Enjoy…

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Keyboardist Robert Walter with The Greyboy Allstars  .. We talked in Early August 2020 about their new CD Como De Allstars…and this odd new COVID-19 world .. Robert is well versed in soul jazz on the Hammond B3 organ and Fender Rhodes and is a founding member of The Greyboy Allstars. He talks about his career, the group, what is going on these days .. what is next and so much more .. it’s a great story .. Enjoy…

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Guitarist Beau Bledsoe .. We caught up with him during early May 2020 to talk about this strange new COVID-19 world of no live music .. He performs and records classical music, jazz and folkloric music from around the world as he seeks to integrate different musical cultures with diverse audiences and has toured extensively throughout Europe, Russia, South America and North America .. Get to know him…

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Japanese-born, NYC Jazz Organist Akiko Tsurgura  .. We caught up with her in late April 2020 during the Coronavirus lockdown to talk about a great many things in this new world of our .. like her 2019 CD Equal Time .. She started on the organ at the age of three and learned quite a bit at the famed Yamaha Music School .. That led her to New York City and a career that is taking off ..  She’s got a great story .. Enjoy…

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Trumpeter Eddie Henderson  .. We caught up with him on August 21, 2020 to talk about his latest 2020 CD Shuffle & Deal with his All-Star Quintet featuring
Kenny Barron, Donald Harrison, Gerald Cannon and Mike Clark
Released on the Eve of his 80th Birthday on July 31, 2020 via Smoke Sessions Records .. He opened up about this new COVID-19 world, pandemic jazz and so much more .. Enjoy…

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Sudanese Jazz Musician Sharhabil Ahmed during Mid July 2020 to talk about a host of things .. Like his latest 2020 CD The King of Sudanese Jazz .. it is a wonderful listen… He was born in 1935 and he is the founding father of the Sudanese Jazz scene. His aim was to modernize Sudanese music by bringing it together with western influences and instrumentation – This cat is one that can usher in a  revolution in music with his sound .. We had a good talk .. Enjoy…

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Guitarist & Educator Ron Jackson .. We caught up with him in New Jersey in late April 2020 during the Coronvirus lockdown to talk about this strange new world and his latest 2019 CD Standards and Other Songs .. He was born in the Philippines, moved around all over America and began playing the guitar at the age of 11 .. He has quite a story in jazz .. Get to know him ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Grammy Award Winning Jazz Composer & Orchestra Leader Maria Schneider on August 13, 2020 during the surreal COVID-19 world to talk about this new world of no live jazz, what she has bee doing lately, her latest 2020 CD Data Lords  - A new double-album inspired by conflicting relationships between the digital and natural worlds featuring her acclaimed orchestra of 18 world-class musicians .. This native of Windom, Minnesota has gone on to be a favorite of both and peers alike .. Enjoy…