Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring NYC-based Russian-Canadian jazz pianist Maria Kaushansky. In this episode, we dive into her debut 2025 album, Northbound to Finch, an instrumental jazz release made up entirely of original compositions and inspired by her life in Toronto, Canada. The album takes its name from “Finch,” her former home subway station, and features her deeply expressive trio with Paul Gill on bass and the late Anthony Pinciotti on drums, adding emotional depth and resonance to the project.

Classically trained and rich in nuance, Maria blends elegance, emotion, and intention into a sound that feels both grounded and exploratory. Beyond the jazz stage, she brings her unique musical voice into the ballet studio, having spent nearly two decades accompanying ballet classes across Canada and the United States. This rare sensitivity to movement, mood, and dynamics informs every note she plays. It’s a thoughtful, inspiring conversation with a rising voice in contemporary jazz. Dig this interview.

Get the album: https://mariakaushansky.bandcamp.com/

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring internationally known master saxophonist and composer John O’Gallagher. On this episode, we take a deep dive into his powerful new 2025 CD Ancestral and an action-packed life in jazz defined by constant evolution and fearless exploration. The album features an extraordinary lineup with master drummers Andrew Cyrille and Billy Hart, alongside guitarist Ben Monder, creating a dynamic and deeply expressive recording.

With Ancestral, John O’Gallagher casts off his old skin—fundamentally altering his studies, sense of homeland, and creative life to chart a bold new future. The recording is influenced in part by his PhD research into the music of John Coltrane, blending rigorous scholarship with raw artistic expression. Originally from Anaheim, California, John’s career spans more than 30 years in New York City (1988–2018) and nearly a decade living and working in Europe, now based in Lisbon, Portugal. Over his career, he has performed with jazz luminaries including Joe Henderson, Al Foster, and Mary Halvorson, and has appeared on more than 80 recordings, including 13 albums as a leader. We dive fully into the music, the journey, and the reinvention behind Ancestral. Enjoy this interview.

Get the album: https://johnogallagher-whirlwind.bandcamp.com/album/ancestral 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring jazz vocalist, writer, and lyricist Stevie Holland. On this episode, we take a close look at her new 2025 CD Talk to Your Tomatoes and an extraordinary journey through the worlds of jazz, pop, theater, and the American Songbook. The album is a beautifully curated collection of gems and classics, showcasing Stevie’s signature storytelling, phrasing, and emotional depth as a vocalist.

Over her career, Stevie Holland has headlined at major concert halls, jazz clubs, and cabaret rooms, while also building a rich presence in the theater world. A dynamic performer and internationally acclaimed song stylist, she continues to chart her own path as a completely original artist. During the pandemic, she created the one-woman musical ** Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter ** with award-winning composer Gary William Friedman. The production premiered Off-Broadway at The York Theatre (2013–2014), returned for a special engagement at the Triad Theater in 2018, and was filmed for a worldwide on-demand release in 2021. Directed by Tony Award winner Richard Maltby, Jr., the film has earned multiple awards and is now streaming on Amazon Prime. We dive into it all. It’s quite a story. Enjoy.

Get the album & more: https://www.stevieholland.com/ 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring internationally acclaimed guitarist, vocalist, composer, and producer Tony Davis. On this episode, we dive into his new 2025 CD Jessamine and a life richly lived in the world of jazz. The album takes its name from the street where Tony grew up and stands as a symbolic musical homecoming—not simply a return to the past, but a full-circle synthesis of experience, influence, and identity.

Originally from Hartford, Connecticut, Tony Davis has performed at some of the most prestigious jazz venues in the world, including The Blue Note, The Village Vanguard, Smalls, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Birdland, as well as major jazz festivals. In this conversation, we explore the inspiration behind Jessamine, his artistic evolution, and the journey that has shaped his voice as a musician, songwriter, and producer. We cover quite a ride through the jazz world. Dig in.

Get the album: https://tonydavismusic.com/

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring jazz bassist and composer Mighty Joe Belson. From his base in Berkeley, California, we dive into his new 2025 CD Reinventing the Wheel, his musical beginnings in New York City, and his late start in jazz. Along with his band The Doodle Cats, Mighty Joe Belson taps into our collective sense of nostalgia, creating music that honors the past without trying to reinvent it.

Recorded live in a small room with no overdubs, Reinventing the Wheel embraces the spirit of classic recording sessions from jazz’s golden era. The album presents original compositions inspired by familiar jazz standards, written to evoke the sound and feel of the iconic recordings of the 1950s and 1960s. Belson’s musical journey spans rock, metal, jazz, and orchestral music, and his deep commitment to storytelling shines through instrumental compositions that capture the full spectrum of human emotion—serious or whimsical, profound or playful—entirely without vocals and beyond words. The Doodle Cats channel the timeless energy of classic jazz with warmth, swing, and authenticity. Dig this story.

Get the album: https://mightyjoebelson.bandcamp.com/

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring acclaimed jazz pianist and vocalist Eric Byrd. On this episode, we dive into his new 2025 CD Echoes of Arrival, his life in jazz, and the enduring legacy of The Eric Byrd Trio (EBT). For more than 25 years, the trio has brought the spirit of swing, bebop, gospel, and the blues to audiences around the world, earning widespread respect for their soulful and dynamic sound.

Winners of the Maryland State Arts Council Independent Artist Award, The Eric Byrd Trio has also received a Governor’s Citation from Larry Hogan honoring two decades of global performances. Eric has been playing professionally for over 30 years, blending swinging bebop lines, gospel-infused harmonies, and blues-driven expression into a distinctive performance style. A Grammy Award voter, Eric has performed with jazz legends including Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Tim Green, Warren Wolf, Charlie Byrd, and many others. We dig into the music, the journey, and the story behind the new album. Dig this conversation.

Get the album: https://ericbyrdtrio.com/echos-of-arrival/ 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with host Joe Dimino. On this episode, we speak with Italy-based multi-disciplinary storyteller and creative force Lisa Marie Simmons about her brand-new 2025 album NoteSpeak (In a Word) with longtime collaborator Marco Cremaschini, released on Ropeadope.

This dynamic project marks the final installment in their widely acclaimed NoteSpeak spoken-word jazz series. The album continues their exploration of language as both a mirror and a catalyst for cultural transformation—blending jazz, Afrofuturism, electronica, and spoken word poetry into a vibrant, boundary-pushing soundscape.

From her home on the shores of Lake Garda, Italy, Lisa leads two ensembles—Hippie Tendencies and NoteSpeak—alongside Cremaschini, collaborating across genres and artistic disciplines. Born in Colorado Springs, she survived turbulent adoptions and foster homes, eventually finding healing and direction through music, beginning with her church choir.

It’s an remarkable story of resilience, artistry, and innovation. We get into all of it. Enjoy.

Get the album:
lisamariesimmons.bandcamp.com/album/notespeak-in-a-word

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with host Joe Dimino.
On this episode, we talk with NYC Big Band Leader Glenn Crytzer about his 2025 Christmas album, Underneath the Mistletoe.

The esteemed leader of the Glenn Crytzer Orchestra stops by Neon Jazz to discuss the November 20 release of this swinging new holiday project. The album features 20 tracks—including 9 new arrangements of classic holiday favorites and 11 brand-new, toe-tapping originals performed by his full 15-piece big band.

Special guest vocalists Dandy Wellington and Hannah Gill join in to bring the festive spirit to life with standout performances. Glenn talks about the making of the album, the craft of big band arranging, holiday jazz influences, and what continues to fuel his creative spark.

We cover quite a bit. Enjoy this interview.

Get the album:
glenncrytzer.bandcamp.com/album/underneath-the-mistletoe 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Guitarist, Vocalist, Singer & Songwriter Valeria Stewart. We caught up with this incredibly talented artist to talk about her new 2025 album Raices and her rich life in the world of music.

Valeria consistently delivers captivating multilingual performances that blend Latin, folk, jazz, and Americana into a warm, personal, and expressive musical experience. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, she grew up in the Washington, DC area and brings both cultures into her art.

Beyond music, Valeria works as a part-time preschool teacher in Falls Church, supporting families in transitional housing — a role she loves deeply. As a musician, she performs solo or with her trio Crooked Sparrow, and she is at her happiest when sharing her music and creating genuine connection through it.

Enjoy this interview.

🎶 Get the album:
https://www.valeriastewart.com/new-music 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Drummer Steven Crammer, Bassist Walter Stinson, and Pianist Evan Main of the dynamic NYC-based trio Prawntail. We dive into the release of their debut 2025 album Prawntail, explore how the trio came together, unpack their creative vision, and talk about what's ahead for this exciting collective project.

All three members are highly active sidemen in the New York jazz scene, and this trio offers them the rare opportunity to present their own unified voice, perspective, and artistic identity. Their debut album highlights their chemistry, versatility, and willingness to push the boundaries of the modern piano trio format.

We get into the full story — the music, the journey, and the future. Enjoy.

🎧 Get the album:
https://prawntail.bandcamp.com/?label=498273&tab=artists

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