Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with New York City Jazz Vocalist Samara Joy .. We caught up with her on January 2022 from her home in New York to talk about a recent trip to Russia to perform, her debut 2021 Self Titled CD, COVID life and her career in music .. Growing up in New York, music was a pervasive presence, due to the inspiration of her paternal grandparents .. In 2019 she was the winner of the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition .. She is well on her way to quite a career and we cover much ground .. Enjoy the story ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC & Seattle Musician, Emcee, Singer, Drummer & Producer Kassa Overall .. We talked on January 5, 2022 about quite a bit .. Like his latest 2021 CD I’m a King, COVID live in America and his world of melding avant-garde experimentation with hip-hop production techniques to tilt the nexus of jazz and hip-hop in unmapped directions .. Raised in Seattle, he attended Garfield High School, the alma mater of Quincy Jones and Jimi Hendrix. He has been working at the forefront of jazz for two decades, touring and recording as a sideman drummer with artists as varied as Geri Allen, Vijay Iyer, Carmen Lundy and Gary Bartz. In 2021, the Jazz Journalists Association named him Electronics Specialist of the Year .. Dig this story ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Spanish-born Jazz Pianist & Composer Marta Sanchez on the new 2022 Year .. She opened up about her new 2021 Single – The Moment of Your Life and material that is on it’s way in 2022 .. She talked about the return to the live stage and hopes for the future as a brand new year begins to unfold .. Enjoy ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Co-Author Wayne Enstice of the 2021 Memoir The Lady Swings about the life of Drummer Dottie Dodgion .. Dottie was a force and lived an entire lifetime before she was seventeen. Undeterred by hardships, she defied the odds and earned a seat as a woman in the exclusive men’s club of jazz. Her dues-paying path as a musician took her from early work with Charles Mingus to being hired by Benny Goodman at Basin Street East on her first day in New York. From there she broke new ground as a woman who played a “man’s instrument” in first-string, all-male New York City jazz bands. Wayne recounts the process from start to finish, and many spots scattered throughout .. Enjoy ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Panamanian-born Jazz Pianist, Composer, Humanitarian & Activist Danilo Pérez .. He happened to be on the road as gigs are starting to happen again and he is in the midst of promoting his new, upcoming album .. The cornerstone of his mission is that he believes that a united global perspective for the arts and social justice are the keys to moving humanity forward in harmony. With Crisálida, he is moving forward with global jazz .. He was born in Panama and began his musical studies when he was three years old with his father who was a bandleader and singer ... He went on to get a bachelor’s degree in electronics in Panama & would move on to study jazz composition at the prestigious Berklee College of Music .. Over the years he has gigged and collaborated with the jazz giants from Dizzy Gillespie to Wayne Shorter for over three decades .. He’s got a fascinating story .. Enjoy ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Award Winning Veteran Jazz Trumpeter Carl Fischer .. He talked about his new 2022 Single .. the cover of What a Wonderful World done as a tribute to the greats that postured as more than just trumpet players, but also as innovators in the music, styles and social movements that surrounded them. Louis, Dizzy, Miles and Maynard .. Over the years, Carl has been seen on some of the biggest stages in the world as a featured soloist/multi-instrumentalist as a part of record-breaking sold-out stadium & arena tours with pop music icon Billy Joel and so many other adventures .. It’s a great, wide ranging conversation .. Enjoy ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Omaha, NE-born, Kansas City-based Jazz Drummer David Hawkins .. He’s a relatively new addition on the KC scene and he’s been very active .. Most recently, he was the featured drummer on the new 2022 CD High Plains by Kansas City Saxophonist Stephen Martin .. He loves KC and has a great story .. Have a listen ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Jazz Drummer Natalie Bates .. I caught her live last week at the RecordBar with Grand Marquis and it was a powerful set of much needed live music .. We caught up with her to talk about current projects, COVID life, her history and so much more .. She is originally from Idaho and moved to Kansas City at a young age where she began studying under the direction of the much sought after Jazz/Latin artist, percussionist and drummer Doug Auwarter. She has a great history .. like being in the "5 Star Jazz Band" under the direction their former band director Bob Drummond. Enjoy her story ..

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Internationally Recognized Pianist, Arranger, Composer & Producer Delvon Lamarr of the Organ Trio .. We had a good talk abut their latest 2022 CD Cold as Weiss, COVID life and much more .. Over the course of the last five years, the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio have established themselves as the world's premier funky organ trio. Along with founder and manager Amy Novo, they have charting albums, sold out shows, tens of thousands of albums sold, and millions of streams. Essentially, they specialize in the lost art of “feel good music.” Dig the story…

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Grammy Award Winning Legendary Jazz Bassist Buster Williams .. We caught up with him on the last day of January 2022 to talk about navigating COVID, upcoming gigs and projects and reflecting on his long jazz existence .. Originally from Camden, New Jersey, his father was a jazz musician and the first show he ever saw live .. He would go on to become a legend and work with jazz giants like Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Hank Jones, Lee Morgan, Jimmy Rowles, Hampton Hawes, Sonny Rollins, Count Basie .. and he has stories to back all of it up .. Enjoy ..