Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring British jazz guitarist Joe Steels. We dive into his 2026 CD A Blue Patch and his evolving career in music. Rooted in the northern landscapes of Cumbria and Northumberland, this project draws deep inspiration from countryside heritage, tradition, and a strong sense of place.

Joe continues to establish himself as one of the most exciting voices in British jazz guitar, blending a deep love of jazz tradition with elements of folk, rock, and contemporary music. His sound is driven by strong melody, innovation, joy, and optimism — qualities that shine throughout A Blue Patch.

In this conversation, we explore the making of the album, the influence of northern England, the state of British jazz, touring, collaboration, and the path forward.

🌍 More on Joe Steels & his music:
https://joesteelsmusic.com/home

If you love modern British jazz, melodic guitar-driven ensembles, and artist-driven conversations, this episode is for you.

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring saxophonist, clarinetist and composer Aaron Irwin discussing the 2026 album Spark.

The Aaron Irwin Trio brings together guitarist Mike Baggetta and drummer Bill Campbell in a unique bass-less trio format that prioritizes melody, space and texture. The group blends chamber-like intimacy with Americana-rooted language and modern improvisation, creating clear song forms that invite deep interaction between musicians and listeners.

This marks the trio’s third album together. In this conversation, we dive into the making of Spark, touring, creative chemistry, improvisation, and reflections on America today.

🎵 Get the album Spark here:
https://aaronirwin.bandcamp.com/album/spark

If you love modern jazz, saxophone-led trios, creative improvisation, and intimate ensemble interplay, this episode is for you.

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with vocalist, guitarist, porch philosopher and bandleader Danny Garrison of Kansas City-based Bluebird Ramblers.

We caught up with Danny during his day job as an assistant principal to talk all things music, Kansas City culture, and the band’s mission to keep the golden age of American music alive.

The Bluebird Ramblers broadcast straight from the roots of honky tonk swing, early rock and roll, rockabilly drive, and classic country charm. Their sound feels at home under neon lights, inside a dance hall, or beneath a wide-open Midwestern sky. Every show is a jukebox time machine packed with shuffle beats, vintage vibes, and pure Americana energy.

In this episode, we dive into:

The Kansas City music scene

Honky tonk and rockabilly revival

Balancing education and music

Preserving classic American roots music

The mission behind the Bluebird Ramblers

If you love classic country, early rock & roll, roots music, or Kansas City live music, this conversation is for you.

🎶 More on the Bluebird Ramblers:
https://www.thebluebirdramblers.com/

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series 🎷 On this episode, we talk with Seattle-based jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator Kate Olson about her new 2026 CD So It Goes.

Since moving to Seattle in 2010, Kate has immersed herself in the local, regional, and international improvised music scenes. With a BA in Music (Jazz Emphasis) from the University of Wyoming and an MM in Improvisation from the University of Michigan, she now serves on the jazz faculty at Pacific Lutheran University and University of Puget Sound.

Kate’s growing international résumé includes performances in Russia, Latvia, Turkey, Switzerland, South Korea, Cuba, and Slovakia — reflecting her commitment to creative improvisation and global collaboration.

In this conversation, we explore:

The inspiration behind So It Goes

The Seattle jazz scene

Life as a working jazz musician

Teaching and mentoring the next generation

The power of improvisation in modern jazz

🎷 Get the album:
https://originarts.com/oa2/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=22246

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series 🎼 On this episode, we talk with Shanghai, China-born, New York-based arranger and composer Zhengtao Pan about his third studio album Air With Layers, released on Pinch Records.

At just 22 years old, Zhengtao dives into his first fully orchestrated Symphony and Piano Concerto — marking his bold entry into contemporary classical music. The album showcases his versatility, cinematic sensibilities, and global musical perspective.

We discuss:

The creative process behind Air With Layers

Writing his first Symphony and Piano Concerto

His musical beginnings in Shanghai, China

Growth and evolution in New York

Influences from video game soundtracks and film scoring

His studies at Berklee College of Music, the Gabriela Ortiz Composing Studio, and the Film Scoring Academy of Europe

This is a powerful story of international artistry, youth, and creative ambition bridging contemporary classical, orchestral music, and cinematic sound.

🎧 Get the album:
https://www.zhengtaopan.com/music

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Harlem-based Ghanaian/American vocalist BLCK Madonna.

We take a deep dive into her debut album, Between the Lines, releasing March 27, 2026 on all major streaming platforms via The Noir Collective / Downtown Music. This powerful and deeply personal project reimagines seven jazz standards through the lens of identity, memory, and emotional truth.

BLCK Madonna is the artistic moniker of vocalist Ana Hoffman, whose shimmering soprano and rich, dusky lower register explore the intersection of jazz tradition, cultural identity, and contemporary expression. Born biracial and raised bicultural, Ana’s path to jazz was unexpected—she was a pharmacy major in college when music chose her during a profound personal reckoning.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss her journey into jazz, the meaning behind Between the Lines, the Harlem music scene, reinterpreting standards for a new generation, and carving out a voice that honors both heritage and innovation.

If you love modern jazz vocals, jazz standards, contemporary reinterpretations, or discovering new jazz artists, this interview is for you.

🎶 Listen here:
https://open.spotify.com/track/614RUqyvSXNjBT8XlkYRrh?si=fhMjL1-7QPed0njly9sR2Q&nd=1&dlsi=fd7eb29e98ac4cf0

🔔 Subscribe to Neon Jazz for more in-depth conversations with today’s most compelling jazz artists.

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring LA-based jazz singer and songwriter Becca Hannah.

We sit down with Becca to talk about her debut 2026 album, Tonight in My Dreams, and her lifelong journey in the arts. With a voice that feels pulled from another era and a deeply personal writing style, Becca blends jazz, R&B, soul, and blues into a sound that is both timeless and emotionally raw.

Originally from Boston, Becca shares her deep love for her hometown and the leap of faith that led her to Los Angeles nearly two years ago to fully pursue her singing and songwriting career. She opens up about how writing and singing come more naturally than speaking, how her stream-of-consciousness approach fuels her work, and why the stage has called to her since toddlerhood.

This conversation dives into music, identity, creative vulnerability, and the courage it takes to follow your calling. Settle in and enjoy the full story.

🎶 Listen to the album Tonight in My Dreams:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/beccahannah/tonight-in-my-dreams

🔔 Subscribe to Neon Jazz for more in-depth interviews with today’s jazz and soul artists.

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Paris-based keyboardist, organist, composer, and producer Clément Simon, the creative force behind Baby Vortex.

We catch up with Clément to talk about Baby Vortex’s striking 2025 release Not What You Think, his evolving career in music, and his deep commitment to improvised and forward-thinking jazz. As an esteemed producer making waves across Europe, Clément plunges headfirst into exploratory sound, blending composition, spontaneity, and raw energy.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we dig into the Baby Vortex project, new recordings, live performances, the state of the world and music culture in 2026, and what it means to create art in uncertain times. If you’re into modern jazz, European jazz, improvised music, keyboards, organ, and experimental fusion, this one hits deep.

🎶 Settle in and dig this interview.

Get the album & more:
https://www.instagram.com/babyvortexperience/

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Jazz Guitarist & Composer Homero Alvarez, joining us to talk about his 2025 album Flowing.

With his Sep7ett, Homero delivers a vibrant and modern blend of Latin American rhythms and Scandinavian jazz, featuring seven original compositions that travel across musical landscapes—from Colombian cumbia and Uruguayan candombe to Brazilian samba, baião, maracatu, and bossa nova—all woven into a rich contemporary jazz framework.

Following the success of their acclaimed 2022 debut Growing, Homero continues his exploration of cross-cultural sound, pairing sophisticated harmonic language with earthy grooves and dynamic improvisation. In this conversation, we dig into the making of Flowing, the creative process behind genre-blending jazz, and what it means to make music in today’s evolving global jazz scene.

🎶 If you love modern jazz, Latin jazz, jazz guitar, or global jazz fusion, this interview is for you.

Order the album Flowing:
https://naxosdirect.se/items/flowing-lp-1288958

Homero Alvarez – Official Website:
https://homeroalvarez.com/homero-alvarez-sep7ett/

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with celebrated jazz husband-and-wife duo Bill Sample and Darlene Cooper, known together as Wild Blue Herons. We get into their soulful return with the 2026 album It’s All About Love and explore their powerful union, shared history, and lifelong artistic partnership.

This groove-driven third release blends jazz, funk, gospel, and contemporary pop, capturing the expansive sound they’ve developed on festival stages and club dates across Canada. Appropriately released on Valentine’s Day 2026, the album reflects a lifetime of shared creativity, chemistry, and heart.

Formed in 2017, Wild Blue Herons have appeared at leading festivals and venues across Canada, earning a reputation for rich musicianship and emotionally resonant songwriting. We dive deep into their journey, the making of the album, and what keeps their musical and personal bond strong. Enjoy this conversation.

🎶 Get the album:
https://www.wildblueherons.com/

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