Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz alto saxophonist, educator, leader, and composer Christopher Burnett  ..  He was  born in Olathe and raised in Paola, Kansas and his latest album was 2014’s Firebird – one in a lineup of memorable albums from this cat that started his professional career with military jazz bands “going pro” directly upon graduating high school at 18 years old – he would go on to complete a a full 22-year career performing and touring with notable military bands – Over the course his 40-plus year career, he has been around the world, recorded albums as a leader, taught at the college-level and co-founded the Artists Recording Collective .. He’s a strong pillar in the KC jazz community and has so much to offer .. many skills and equally as many stories ..

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Pianist & Composer Billy Childs  .. He just released and impressive new CD .. 2017s Rebirth – Billy was groomed in LA and attended the USC Community School of the Performing Arts earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition under the tutelage of Robert Linn and Morton Lauridsen and was then discovered by trumpet legend Freddie Hubbard

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer Jeff Tain Watts  .. His last CD was 2016s Blue Vol. 2 – and there is more coming .. He was born in Pittsburgh and went on to learn music as  the Berklee School of Music – He has appeared as both a musician on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and as an actor, Rhythm Jones in Spike Lee’s "Mo Better Blues" – from there, he’s collaborated with Branford Marsalis,  Danilo Perez, Michael Brecker, Betty Carter, Kenny Kirkland .. He was the 2017 Guggenheim Fellow in the field of music Composition and is a very interesting story ..

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Saxophonist & Composer Daniel Bennet  .. Born in Rochester, New York, his on the heels of releasing 2016’s Sinking Houseboat Confusion .. He began his jazz studies journey at Roberts Wesleyan College .. He has been swayed by the music of Phillip Glass and has been dubbed as making folk jazz  .. mix of jazz, folk, and twentieth century minimalism – and it’s worked .. In 2015, The Daniel Bennett Group was voted "Best New Jazz Group" in the New York City Hot House Jazz Awards and the sky is the limit ..

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Bassist, Singer and Composer Katie Thiroux  .. Fresh off releasing 2017’s Off Beat .. She is ready to promote and travel .. She was born in a a musical family in Los Angeles -  beginning with violin lessons at age 4 then switching to the acoustic bass at age 8 – she loved the recordings of Lionel Hampton as a kid and began studying privately with jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton at the age of 12. She’s had many adventures over the years with the Larry Fuller pianists Justin Kauflin, Bill Cunliffe, Geri Allen, Helen Sung, trumpeters Brian Lynch and Terrell Stafford and many others ..

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Bassist, Composer and Arranger Robert Castillo of the KC Jazz band The Sextet ..  He grew up in Kansas City, graduating from North Kansas City HS in 2010 - At 18- he moved to Portland for six years, and returned September 2016 – before coming home, he formed the Sextet .. a band whose musical influences run from the Contemporary Noise Sextet- Snarky Puppy to Christian Scott to Beethoven ..They just released their sophomore album, Blob Castle – He talked about his life in music, the band and much more –

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Bassist & Composer Kyle Eastwood .. As usual, Kyle is releasing quality albums charting his evolution as a musician .. his latest offering is 2017’s In Transit .. So, he is the son of jazz lover Clint Eastwood and grew up listening to records by jazz legends such as Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Thelonious Monk – He went on to study film at the University of Southern California for two years before embarking on a music career – That has led to many albums on his own and being a part of scores for films like The Rookie (1990), Mystic River (2002), Million Dollar Baby (2004), Flags of Our Fathers (2006), and J. Edgar (2011).

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with journeyed jazz cat, Multi-Instrumentalist, Composer & Educator Vinny Golia .. Over the course of our conversation,  he discussed his life as a visual artist in New York, how he got into music almost by accident, his gigs all over the world, a celebrated recording career and his current teaching post at Cal Arts. He also ventured the history of his 50 piece Vinny Golia Large Ensemble and how he has contributed original compositions and scores to Ballet and Modern Dance works, video, theatrical productions, and film .. Vinny is a creative for

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Big Band Leader Ed Palermo .. This New Yorker took some time to open up about his world of humor and music he’s etched in the world of Jazz .. He can range from playing Frank Zappa to Jimi Hendrix and many licks in between on the bandstand .. His latest 2016 album with his Big Band is One Child Left Behind – and like his other work, it’s phenomenal .. Along with the music, he’s a teacher and professor at Rode Island College – He’s got a lot of stories and insights ..

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Trombonist, Composer and Record Producer Delfeayo Marsalis .. He is one of the top trombonists  in jazz today and he remains very busy .. He will be visiting Kansas City on May 6, 2016 at the Blue Room off 18 and Vine .. He will be showing off a newly modified horn and giving the fans his unique jazz sound .. He was a collective recipient of the 2011 NEA Jazz Master’s Award and comes from pure jazz royalty with the Marsalis family .. He spoke openly about why he loves jazz and much more ..

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