Neon Jazz Interviews

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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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring veteran Los Angeles-based jazz singer and pianist Mark Christian Miller. In this in-depth conversation, we explore his fourth album as a leader, Strange Meadowlark, a richly textured and emotionally resonant release that builds on the momentum of his critically acclaimed 2022 album Music in the Air.

On Strange Meadowlark, Mark Christian Miller is joined by a legendary rhythm section featuring Joe La Barbera on drums and Chuck Berghofer on bass, creating a masterful blend of swing, subtlety and West Coast sophistication. Known for singing with warmth, sweetness and intimate storytelling, Miller delivers performances that feel personal, inviting and deeply rooted in jazz tradition.

Originally from Iowa and a respected presence on the Los Angeles jazz scene since the 1990s, Mark Christian Miller has built a storied career across music and the arts. His work reflects classic American songbook influences, modern jazz sensibilities and the timeless craft of vocal interpretation. In this interview, we dive into his artistic evolution, recording process, collaboration with jazz greats, and the enduring vitality of the West Coast jazz sound.

If you are a fan of jazz vocalists, contemporary straight-ahead jazz, piano-driven jazz albums, American songbook standards, LA jazz artists or legendary rhythm sections, this episode offers rich insight and musical depth.

Get Strange Meadowlark and learn more about Mark Christian Miller at https://www.markchristianmiller.com/general-clean

Neon Jazz brings you interviews with top jazz musicians from Kansas City, Los Angeles and around the world, celebrating the history, evolution and future of jazz through compelling artist conversations. 

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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 Jay 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/

Neon Jazz brings you interviews with top jazz artists, composers and innovators from around the world, celebrating the history and future of jazz through thoughtful conversations and deep musical exploration.

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview series. We caught up with Austin-based award-nominated multi-instrumentalist, vibraphonist, percussionist, and composer Carolyn Trowbridge to talk about her debut 2026 album Found Memories and her dynamic life in music and education.

A vital force in the Austin, Texas music scene, Carolyn’s new release features her regular quartet, expanded with additional musicians — most notably flutist Alex Coke — creating richly layered, ensemble-driven performances filled with color, drama, and unpredictable grooves.

Known for her innovative fluency and deep passion for sound, Carolyn crafts immersive sonic experiences that bridge modern jazz, chamber textures, and global influences. From the United States to Australia, her résumé includes collaborations with a wide range of forward-thinking artists.

In this conversation, we explore:

The making of Found Memories

Vibraphone and percussion in modern jazz

The Austin jazz scene in 2026

Ensemble-oriented composition

Jazz education and artistic development

Building a global career as a multi-instrumentalist

This is contemporary jazz fueled by energy, imagination, and fearless creativity.

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

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. We talk with Toronto jazz vocalist, composer, and arranger Alex Samaras about his 2025 Juno-nominated album Alex Samaras Meets Judy Garland and his remarkable journey in the music world.

As a child, Alex spent hours in the basement of his family home singing along to Judy Garland recordings. The intensity and emotional power of Judy Garland left a permanent imprint — and this album fulfills a lifelong artistic dream.

Known for his extraordinary vocal range and fearless genre-blending approach, Alex pushes vocal jazz beyond traditional boundaries. His work seamlessly incorporates classical, world music, and contemporary influences, creating a sound that is both deeply personal and boldly innovative.

In this conversation, we explore:

The making of Alex Samaras Meets Judy Garland

Reinterpreting iconic repertoire through jazz

Vocal range, technique, and artistic risk

Genre fusion in modern vocal jazz

The emotional legacy of Judy Garland

The Canadian jazz scene and global influence

This is a heartfelt and visionary tribute that feels like a dream realized.

🎶 Get the album:
https://tryal1.bandcamp.com/album/alex-samaras-meets-judy-garland-3

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. We talk with jazz trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas during a historic blizzard in New York about his powerful 2026 album Transcend, out April 24, 2026 via Greenleaf Music.

This new release continues Douglas’ deep exploration of legacy, spirituality, and ensemble innovation. The album features his all-star GIFTS Quintet, including DownBeat Artist of the Year tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, members of the Oscar-nominated post-rock trio Son Lux — guitarist Rafiq Bhatia and drummer Ian Chang — along with cellist and MacArthur “Genius” Fellow Tomeka Reid.

Blending electronics, lyricism, chamber textures, and high-energy interplay, Transcend stands as a spiritual and contemporary response to the landmark Sacred Concerts of Duke Ellington, performed between 1965–1973 and widely regarded as the spiritual culmination of Ellington’s career.

In this conversation, we explore:

The making of Transcend

Spiritual jazz in modern America

Ensemble innovation & cross-genre collaboration

The influence of Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts

The GIFTS Quintet’s sonic architecture

Jazz legacy in 2026

This is modern jazz at its most urgent and transcendent — needed now more than ever.

🎺 Get the album: https://davedouglas.bandcamp.com/album/transcend

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring UK pianist Paul Edis and San Francisco-based vocalist Noa Levy.

We dive into their 2026 album Portrait in Evans, out March 20, 2026 via Dot Time Records—a lyrical reimagining of the music of Bill Evans. Rather than simply interpreting Evans’ compositions as standards repertoire, the duo transforms some of his most harmonically rich material into storytelling vehicles—placing the human voice at the emotional center of Evans’ sound world.

Developed through live performance and touring, Portrait in Evans highlights their deep musical connection, expressive nuance, and sophisticated interplay. In this conversation, we explore their history as collaborators, their approach to lyric writing, Evans’ lasting influence on modern jazz, and how they reshape his legacy for contemporary audiences.

🎹 If you love Bill Evans, vocal jazz, piano trios, modern jazz reinterpretations, and artist interviews — this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen to the album:
https://hypeddit.com/noalevypauledistrio/portraitinevans

More Paul Edis:
https://www.pauledis.co.uk/bio

More Noa Levy:
https://noalevylive.com/

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with NYC-based jazz trumpeter and composer Glenn Makos. We caught up with this seasoned New York player to talk about his new 2025 CD Arrowsic, released on Stop Time Records, and his lifelong journey through the world of jazz.

Inspired by Glenn’s passion for coffee roasting, Arrowsic reflects the distinctive flavors of beans sourced from around the globe. As he explored the unique regional characteristics of different coffees, those nuances found their way into his compositions—resulting in a richly textured album where aroma, rhythm, and melody intersect.

Over the years, Glenn has performed at many of New York City’s premier jazz venues, building a reputation as a thoughtful composer and dynamic trumpeter deeply rooted in the tradition while pushing forward creatively. In this in-depth conversation, we dive into the inspiration behind the record, the intersection of art and everyday ritual, and a life dedicated to jazz.

🎺 If you love modern jazz, trumpet masters, behind-the-scenes album stories, and artist interviews — this one is for you.

More on Glenn Makos:
https://www.glennmakos.com/ 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring cultural historian, educator, and author John Gennari.

We dive into his 2025 book The Jazz Barn: Music Inn, the Berkshires, and the Place of Jazz in American Life.

Dr. Gennari is a Professor of English and Critical Race and Ethnic Studies at the University of Vermont and an American Studies–trained U.S. cultural historian specializing in jazz and popular music, race and ethnicity, Italian American culture, food, sports, and cultural criticism. He is also the author of the 2017 book Flavor and Soul: Italian America at Its African American Edge.

In this conversation, we explore how a small New England town — Lenox, Massachusetts — became an unlikely home for jazz in the 1950s. The Jazz Barn chronicles the story of the Music Inn in the Berkshire Hills, where a barn, icehouse, and greenhouse were transformed into a groundbreaking cultural hub for performances, seminars, and cross-cultural exchange.

Set against the backdrop of McCarthyism, the civil rights movement, the Afro-Caribbean diaspora, and postwar tourism, this story challenges assumptions about race and place, art and geography, and the relationship between rural landscapes and urban jazz culture.

This is an essential conversation for anyone interested in jazz history, American cultural studies, race and music, and the evolution of jazz in America.

📚 Get John Gennari’s books here:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/John-Gennari/author/B001HD13RS?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=ccd9f68d-c8af-4cc6-8fd6-2eb7952af8ca

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Indiana-based, award-winning jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator Scott Routenberg.

We dive into his 2025 release Scott Routenberg Trio Live at Merriman’s Playhouse: Oscar Peterson Tribute, a powerful live recording honoring the legendary Oscar Peterson and celebrating the timeless swing and virtuosity that defined his sound.

Over a prolific career spanning more than two decades, Dr. Routenberg has earned widespread critical acclaim. In 2004, he became the first jazz songwriter to win the coveted John Lennon Songwriting Contest Maxell Song of the Year. He is also an established symphonic jazz arranger with commissions from Grammy-winning ensembles and artists, while continuing to educate and inspire the next generation of musicians.

In this conversation, we explore the making of this live tribute album, his dedication to music, arranging for large ensembles, the influence of Oscar Peterson, and his work shaping future jazz artists.

🎹 Listen to the album here:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/scott-routenberg-trio-live-at-merrimans-playhouse-oscar/1855347878

If you love jazz piano, live trio recordings, Oscar Peterson tributes, and in-depth jazz artist interviews, this episode is for you.

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