Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC Jazz Composer, Pianist, Actor, Dancer & Public Speaker Harold O’Neal .. He talked about his majestic, huge sound on his new 2020 CD Once Upon A Time .. So, he was born in Tanzania and raised in Kansas City – He’s got some deep local roots ..  His great-grandfather was a jazz pianist and composer and his grandmother walked to school with Charlie Parker. He started playing piano at 4 on a miniature keyboard his father bought him .. He went to the grand Paseo Academy Of Fine And Performing of Arts and would go on to learn from and tour the world with Bobby Watson -  then on to Berklee College Of Music and all of his dreams via NYC way .. In fact he got there right before 9/11 in 2001 .. He’s full of insights and stories .. So, get to know him and dig this interview my friends ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series Kansas City Veteran Jazz Saxophonist & Educator Todd Wilkinson .. He talked about his newest venture .. The 2019 CD On the Lam…. He is a lifelong native of Kansas City and has been performing professionally since 1983. He graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in 1978, and got his start playing in rock bands .. He’s been around and has great stories and recollections about KC jazz and the idiom at later .. In 2010 he began his current position as the Director of Jazz Studies at Ottawa University in Ottawa, KS. He’s got a unique perspective as a performer and an educator .. Don’t miss this interview with a KC institution .. So, get to know him, the band and dig this interview my friends ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with World Renowned Jazz Percussionist, Composer, Arranger, Producer, Author and four time Grammy Winner Munyungo Jackson .. He opened up about his latest  2019 CD Morning Sun .. This West Coast artist can be found in virtually any musical setting—whether it’s Funk, Pop, Jazz, Latin, Reggae, or traditional dance music .. He’s been in music for over thirty years and has performed with Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Kenny Loggins, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves and the list goes on .. He’s got great tales to tell .. And Munyungo is deeply committed to understanding — and keeping alive — the tradition surrounding the instruments he plays. So, get to know him and dig this interview my friends.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist, Organist, Drummer, Composer & Arranger Matthew Whitaker .. He opened up about his latest 2019 CD Now Hear This .. He has come a long way from his home of Hackensack, New Jersey surrounded by music .. So he started playing music at 3 and at 9 he taught himself how to play the Hammond B3 organ and would become the youngest artist to be endorsed by Hammond in its 80+ year history – At 10 he was invited to perform at Stevie Wonder’s induction into the Apollo Theater’s Hall of Fame and over the years he’s played with the likes of Christian McBride, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Regina Carter, Jason Moran, Jon Batiste .. And already has an incredible story .. So, get to know him and dig this interview my friends.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Award-Winning Jazz Vocalist & Actress Luba Mason ..  We had a spirited conversation about her new 2020 CD Triangles .. Her husband is 17 time Grammy Winner Ruben Blades and she was was a guest vocalist for his 2002 Grammy Award-winning CD Mundo and over the years she has toured the US and abroad .. She is a native New Yorker born in Astoria, Queens and first generation American of Slovak descent who started on the keys at the age of 5 .. Over the years, she has acted seamlessly from the New York stage to the Hollywood scenes .. Enjoy her story  ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Grammy®-Winning Producer, Composer & Arranger Brent Fischer .. He talked about a long, grand road in music and his latest project with his Orchestra that is his vvision of Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" .. These days he continues carries on the legacy of his legendary father Dr. Clare Fischer and has continued to move seanlessly between the genres of jazz, Pop and Symphonic. His arranging credits appear on over 30 million albums with the likes of Usher, Michael Jackson, Elvis Costello & The Roots, D'Angelo .. He’s a fascinating story .. Dig ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with GRAMMY® nominated Jazz Vocalist Denise Donatelli .. She gave us the full story on her new 2021 CD Whistling in the Dark – The Music of Burt Bacharach .. Her musical journey started in rural Allentown, Pennsylvania when she was only four years old with classical piano training that continued throughout her high school years .. It was her subscriptions to both Columbia and Capital music clubs and gave her access to a large collection of jazz albums. After a move to Atlanta, Georgia, she turned to singing jazz professionally and has never looked back .. She’s been quite busy and explains .. Enjoy her story …

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Venezuelan-born Veteran Jazz Pianist Edward Simon .. He just released a new 2021 CD called Solo Live that is his 15th album as a leader .. It was recorded at Oakland’s Piedmont Piano Company on his 50th birthday in 2019 .. This musician has been at the center of the jazz scene for the past quarter century shaping the music’s evolution through a series of seminal ensembles and recordings. He was a young sideman in bands led by Bobby Watson, Greg Osby and Terence Blanchard. He’s got quite a story in jazz .. Enjoy ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Celebrated New York City Jazz Pianist Bill Charlap .. He has a new CD out called Street of Dreams done with his trio of bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington. This is a trio 25 years in the making celebrating their home of New York as it emerges from an unprecedented COVID period of no live music .. His father was Broadway composer Moose Charlap and his mother is singer Sandy Stewart who toured with Benny Goodman & a regular on the Perry Como show .. Music was always his reality .. He started playing at 3 and has shared the stage with the likes of Phil Woods, Tony Bennett, Gerry Mulligan, Wynton Marsalis, Freddy Cole and Houston Person. His story is a testament to the strength and grace of jazz .. Enjoy ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with New Orleans-based Record Producer, Performing Artist, Author & Runner Don Paul .. He is a creative force that opened up about his life in art and humanity .. He opened up about his CDs The Time We Have (Meld #1) & Women nd Music (Meld #2) .. Proceeds benefit Sticking Up For Children's partners in Haiti and he is a big proponent of helping folks .. His life is an inspiration journey through his life as a record producer, performing artist, author, and marathon runner/trainer .. Dig the tale ..