Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Ottawa-based bandleader, vocalist, and trombonist Steve Berndt.

We caught up with Steve to talk about his new 2026 album Heart of Hearts, a project that explores themes of love, honesty, and emotional connection through jazz. The eleven-track release features eight original compositions along with inventive jazz interpretations of three well-known pop and rock songs from the 1970s.

Steve is also the leader of the jump blues group The Jivewires. Over the years, the band has released six albums filled mostly with original material and has toured extensively across Europe, the United States, and Eastern Canada.

In this interview, we dive into the inspiration behind Heart of Hearts, Steve’s journey through jazz and jump blues, and the stories behind a long career making music and leading bands.

🎶 Get the album & learn more:
https://www.steveberndt.com/

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring South Florida–based jazz guitarist Tom Lippincott.

We caught up with Tom to talk about his new 2026 album Ode to the Possible and his journey through the world of jazz guitar, education, and musical discovery.

Tom’s path in music began at the age of 17 when his first guitar teacher, Randy Wimer, introduced him to both classical and jazz guitar fundamentals. That early mentorship sparked a passion that eventually led him to attend the renowned University of North Texas, one of the most respected jazz education programs in the world.

Throughout his career, Tom has been influenced by inspiring teachers and mentors, shaping not only his artistry but also his role as a dedicated music educator. In this conversation, we explore his creative process, the making of Ode to the Possible, and the journey that led him into a lifelong commitment to jazz performance and teaching.

🎸 Get the album and learn more:
https://tomlippincott.com/ 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Philadelphia-based jazz pianist and composer James Fernando.

We caught up with this prodigiously talented artist — known for equal parts mischief and mastery — to talk about his 2026 album Philly 3 and his adventurous life in music.

This is James’ sixth album overall and his powerful debut recording with his working trio. The record features:

James Fernando – Piano

Dan McCain – Bass

Kyon Williams – Drums

The trio first came together in 2023 after James received a last-minute call to assemble a group for a performance at the legendary Kennedy Center — with only three days’ notice.

From that moment, the chemistry of the trio sparked a new creative chapter that ultimately led to Philly 3. In this conversation, we dive into James’ nomadic journey through music, geography, collaboration, and the evolving modern jazz scene.

🎹 Get the album:
https://dlmediamusic.com/press-releases/james-fernando-the-prodigiously-talented-pianist-composer-releases-philly-3/

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Chicago-based jazz trumpeter and bandleader Sam Robinson.

We caught up with Sam on February 27, 2026 — release day for his brand-new album Chasin’ the Dream. The record is out now on Miles High Records, the label founded by jazz musician, author and educator Mark Sherman.

Chasin’ the Dream features:

Sam Robinson – Trumpet

Scott Angst – Tenor Sax

Aaron Krings – Bass

Jack Macklin – Guitar

Chase Wilkins – Drums

In this conversation, we dive into his journey from Denver roots to becoming a key voice in the Chicago jazz scene. We also explore balancing life as a professional musician while teaching French by day, building community through jazz, and chasing the dream that fuels his artistry.

This is a real and inspiring conversation about dedication, craft, and the modern jazz landscape.

🎺 Get the album here:
https://samrobinson2.bandcamp.com/ 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Jazz Vocalist, Composer and Bandleader Katie Bull discussing her powerful 2026 album The Hope Etudes. We reconnect with Katie more than a decade after her first 2015 appearance on Neon Jazz to explore a project shaped by survival, reflection and profound artistic evolution in a post-pandemic world.

Set for release on April 10, 2026 via Orchard of Pomegranates Records, The Hope Etudes is Katie Bull’s most intimate and conceptually expansive recording to date. The album unfolds as a deeply personal yet universally resonant meditation on mortality, resilience, nonlinear time and what she calls “hope in action.” Drawing from experiences of isolation, hospice care and loss, the project was profoundly shaped by Katie’s time caring for her beloved mentor during home hospice.

Joined by her longtime New York-based collaborators — bassist Joe Fonda, drummer George Schuller, guitarist Jeff Lederer and pianist Mara Rosenbloom — Katie delivers a moving, exploratory jazz recording that blends improvisation, poetic lyricism and emotional depth. The Hope Etudes captures the spirit of modern creative jazz while honoring lineage, mentorship and the enduring power of artistic community.

In this in-depth conversation, we dive into the making of The Hope Etudes, contemporary jazz composition, vocal improvisation, the impact of caregiving, navigating grief through music and the evolution of an artist over time. This episode is essential listening for fans of modern jazz, avant-garde vocalists, women in jazz, New York jazz musicians and anyone interested in music born from resilience and transformation.

Discover more about Katie Bull, upcoming performances and The Hope Etudes at https://www.katiebull.com/

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Katie Bull’s Hope Etudes at Loove Annex, Presented by Continuum Arts and Culture
(with support from the NYC City Council)May 30, 2026, 8 pm, at the Loove Annex in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed pianist, composer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Lionel Cole.

We caught up with Lionel in Australia to talk about his latest independent release Small Town, Vol. 2 — a deeply personal, genre-blending journey of jazz, soul and storytelling.

Lionel comes from one of America’s most iconic musical families. He is the son of jazz legend Freddy Cole, nephew of the legendary Nat King Cole, and cousin to Natalie Cole. Carrying that rich legacy forward, Lionel has built a remarkable career of his own across genres.

Beyond his solo artistry, Lionel is widely known for co-writing Through the Rain for Mariah Carey, and for arranging her Super Bowl performance of The Star-Spangled Banner with the Boston Pops. His collaborations include work with Joss Stone, John Legend, Van Hunt, Randy Jackson, and Rickie Lee Jones.

Currently performing in Sydney as the “Kilted Crooner” with his band Cole Soul and Emotion, Lionel continues to evolve while honoring one of music’s most legendary family traditions.

🎵 Listen to Small Town, Vol. 2 here:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lDKKRhdtKfJH3hBL7fsrTM7c1R6tc3l1E

If you love jazz, soul, music history, and behind-the-scenes stories from iconic musical families — this is one you don’t want to miss.

Subscribe for more interviews with the world’s finest jazz artists.

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Atlanta-based jazz multi-instrumentalist Larry Douglas. He returns in 2026 with a bold and unique EP, Music Speaks for Me, blending electric jazz, R&B, and both new and old school hip-hop into a dynamic sonic vision. Rooted in his philosophy of “sound painting,” Larry creates layered, expressive compositions that reflect both personal evolution and the times we live in.

We first caught up with Larry in 2022, and now he joins us again from his Atlanta base to talk about getting back into music following COVID, the creative process behind this new project, the current state of America, and how jazz continues to evolve through fusion and experimentation.

If you love electric jazz, jazz fusion, hip-hop influenced jazz, and innovative independent artists pushing genre boundaries, this conversation is for you.

🎧 Listen to the album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/music-speaks-for-me-ep/1735666598

Enjoy this in-depth Neon Jazz interview.

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Michigan-based jazz pianist, composer, performer and educator Rick Roe. In this engaging episode, we dive into a dynamic 2025 that saw the release of two standout albums, Wake Up Call and Tribute, the latter celebrating the music of Gregg Hill. A respected force in the southeastern Michigan jazz community, Rick Roe continues to balance performance, composition and education at the highest level.

Over the years, Rick Roe has produced and co-produced more than a dozen recordings featuring original compositions and inventive interpretations of jazz standards. His playing reflects deep roots in straight-ahead jazz while embracing modern harmonic exploration and lyrical improvisation. Roe has shared the stage with legendary figures including Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Belgrave, Frank Morgan, Louis Hayes, Clark Terry, Louis Smith and Rodney Whitaker, underscoring his deep connection to jazz tradition and innovation.

In this conversation, we explore jazz composition, collaborative recording, the Detroit and southeastern Michigan jazz scene, mentorship, music education and sustaining a creative career across decades. If you are a fan of modern jazz piano, hard bop influences, jazz education, Detroit jazz history or contemporary jazz recordings, this episode offers insight into one of the Midwest’s most consistent and accomplished artists.

Discover more about Rick Roe, his albums Wake Up Call and Tribute, tour dates and recordings at https://www.roejazz.com/

Neon Jazz continues to spotlight influential jazz musicians from across the country, celebrating the history, evolution and future of creative jazz through thoughtful interviews and deep musical exploration. 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Jazz Vocalist, Composer and Bandleader Katie Bull discussing her powerful 2026 album The Hope Etudes. We reconnect with Katie more than a decade after her first 2015 appearance on Neon Jazz to explore a project shaped by survival, reflection and profound artistic evolution in a post-pandemic world.

Set for release on April 10, 2026 via Orchard of Pomegranates Records, The Hope Etudes is Katie Bull’s most intimate and conceptually expansive recording to date. The album unfolds as a deeply personal yet universally resonant meditation on mortality, resilience, nonlinear time and what she calls “hope in action.” Drawing from experiences of isolation, hospice care and loss, the project was profoundly shaped by Katie’s time caring for her beloved mentor Joy Clayton during home hospice.

Joined by her longtime New York-based collaborators — bassist Joe Fonda, drummer George Schuller, guitarist Jeff Lederer and pianist Mara Rosenbloom — Katie delivers a moving, exploratory jazz recording that blends improvisation, poetic lyricism and emotional depth. The Hope Etudes captures the spirit of modern creative jazz while honoring lineage, mentorship and the enduring power of artistic community.

In this in-depth conversation, we dive into the making of The Hope Etudes, contemporary jazz composition, vocal improvisation, the impact of caregiving, navigating grief through music and the evolution of an artist over time. This episode is essential listening for fans of modern jazz, avant-garde vocalists, women in jazz, New York jazz musicians and anyone interested in music born from resilience and transformation.

Discover more about Katie Bull, upcoming performances and The Hope Etudes at https://www.katiebull.com/

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Katie Bull’s Hope Etudes at Loove Annex, Presented by Continuum Arts and Culture (with support from the NYC City Council)

May 30, 2026, 8 pm, at the Loove Annex in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Kansas City-based Jazz Singer, Drummer and Radio Host David Basse discussing his powerful 2025 live album War Within. Recorded at the iconic Kulak's Woodshed, this intimate and emotionally charged performance captures David on drums and vocals alongside pianist Stuart Elster and acoustic bassist Lester Hughes.

The idea to bring this project to Kulak’s came from acclaimed LA vocalist Mark Winkler, with guidance on the venue’s unique performance approach from Cathy Segal-Garcia. The result is a raw, honest and musically rich live jazz recording that showcases David Basse’s artistry, vulnerability and rhythmic command.

For decades, David Basse has been a cornerstone of the Kansas City jazz scene. He is the longtime host of the nationally syndicated radio program Jazz with David Basse, publisher of JAM Magazine in Kansas City and a passionate jazz educator dedicated to preserving and advancing the music. His new album War Within reflects both personal introspection and seasoned musicianship, blending vocal jazz, live improvisation and heartfelt storytelling.

In this in-depth interview, we explore the making of War Within, the Los Angeles recording session, the intersection of radio and performance, Kansas City jazz history and David’s ongoing impact as a musician, broadcaster and cultural advocate.

Listen to War Within here: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-war-within/1827572475

Neon Jazz continues to spotlight top jazz artists from Kansas City and beyond, celebrating live performance, jazz heritage and the evolving sound of modern creative music. 

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