Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Venezuelan-born jazz saxophonist, composer, singer, producer, and arranger Rafael Greco. In this episode, we take a deep dive into his compelling new 2026 album, Verses Under My Shadow, his love of jazz, his Venezuelan roots, and an extraordinary career in music.

Released by Blue Canoe Records in April 2026, Verses Under My Shadow is Rafael's sophomore release for the label and features a remarkable cast of musicians, including Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jimmy Haslip, Anton Fig, Scott Kinsey, Charles Altura, Luisito Quintero, Mark Ferber, and others.

The album moves through a fascinating blend of contemporary jazz, Afro-Latin rhythms, groove, experimental textures, vocals, electronics, percussion, and deeply personal storytelling. Across its 12 tracks, Rafael draws inspiration from literature, family, memory, friendship, loss, humor, history, and the world around him.

Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Rafael graduated from the prestigious José Luis Paz Conservatory and was an integral member of the National Youth Orchestra of his home state of Zulia. After moving to Caracas in 1988, he continued his advanced musical studies with masters including Gerry Weil, Álvaro Cordero, and Olegario Díaz.

Rafael went on to enjoy a distinguished career with Guaco, Venezuela's influential, multi-Latin Grammy-winning group. For decades, he toured internationally with the band, bringing the unique rhythmic spirit and musical perspective of Venezuela to audiences around the world.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore Venezuelan jazz, Latin jazz, Afro-Latin rhythms, composition, saxophone, vocals, production, arranging, Guaco, world music, touring, creativity, storytelling, and the inspiration behind Verses Under My Shadow.

It's a fascinating journey through Venezuelan music, jazz, literature, memory, and a lifetime spent creating across borders.

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Nigerian-born, New York-based artist Lawrence Udeigwe, a fascinating musician, composer, vocalist, pianist, mathematician, educator, and interdisciplinary thinker.

In this episode, we dive into his remarkable new 2026 album, Four Lemmas, and the extraordinary intersection of jazz, mathematics, neuroscience, music, teaching, perception, identity, and human expression.

Four Lemmas is an eight-track concept project built around mathematical ideas including orthogonality, sparse matrices, local maxima, and stable equilibrium. Rather than simply translating mathematics into music, Udeigwe uses these structures as lenses through which to explore emotion, identity, perception, clarity, independence, growth, and meaning.

Udeigwe's artistic and academic worlds are deeply connected. He works as a Professor of Mathematics at Manhattan University, while his creative life encompasses music, composition, vocals, piano, keyboards, writing, performance, and interdisciplinary exploration. His work is guided by the idea that structure shapes perception—and perception becomes expression.

On Four Lemmas, Lawrence performs alongside Steph Clement and Wayne Tucker on trumpet, Josh Green on drums, and Rade Bema on bass, with mixing and mastering by Dave Darlington. The album brings together modern jazz, soul, African influences, groove, poetry, and mathematical concepts into a singular musical vision.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore jazz and mathematics, music and neuroscience, Nigerian musical influences, composition, creativity, teaching, cognition, philosophy, identity, improvisation, perception, and the creative thinking behind Four Lemmas.

It's a fascinating journey through the mind of an artist who refuses to put music and intellectual inquiry into separate boxes.

Get the Album & Learn More
Lawrence Udeigwe — Official Music & Website 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed Bay Area jazz guitarist and composer George Cotsirilos. In this episode, we take a deep dive into his remarkable career and his beautiful new 2026 album, In The Wee Hours.

On his seventh recording, George returns to the intimate sound of solo nylon-string jazz guitar, bringing beloved jazz standards and two original compositions to life with patience, warmth, subtlety, and extraordinary depth.

Recorded largely in unedited first takes over several years, In The Wee Hours captures the spontaneous character and emotional honesty of George's playing. Rather than relying on elaborate production, the album allows the guitar, the compositions, and the spaces between the notes to tell the story.

Originally from Chicago, George has been an important part of the San Francisco Bay Area jazz community for many years. His extensive career has placed him alongside an extraordinary range of musicians, from Bay Area jazz fixtures such as Mark Levine to internationally celebrated artists including blues legend Etta James and jazz icon Pharoah Sanders.

In this fascinating conversation, George and Joe Dimino explore solo jazz guitar, nylon-string guitar, jazz standards, original compositions, improvisation, recording techniques, first-take performances, the San Francisco jazz scene, Chicago roots, Etta James, Pharoah Sanders, Mark Levine, and the evolution of a lifelong musical voice.

In The Wee Hours is an intimate portrait of an artist who understands that sometimes the most powerful musical statement comes from simplicity, space, and letting the music breathe.

It's a story you need to hear. Dig this interview with George Cotsirilos!

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed jazz pianist, accordionist, composer, and bandleader Ben Rosenblum. In this episode, we take a deep dive into his exciting new 2026 album, The Longest Way Round, his Nebula Project, touring, composition, and the many global musical influences that shape his sound.

The Longest Way Round marks an important milestone for Ben Rosenblum: it is his first album consisting entirely of original compositions. The album features a three-part suite and showcases the chemistry of his regular band, including Wayne Tucker on trumpet, Jasper Dutz on saxophone, clarinet and flute, Rafael Rosa on guitar, Marty Jaffe on bass, Ben Zweig on drums, and Ben Rosenblum on piano and accordion.

The music reflects Ben's fascination with sounds and traditions from around the world. Drawing on influences including Dominican merengue, Japanese J-Pop, Irish reels and jigs, salsa, West African rhythmic traditions, Jamaican reggae, and jazz, the album creates a distinctive musical world that moves freely between genres and cultures.

The recording followed a nine-concert U.S. tour in 2024, giving the musicians an opportunity to develop the music on the road and deepen the chemistry that ultimately became The Longest Way Round.

In this conversation, Ben and Joe Dimino explore jazz piano, accordion, composition, world music, jazz fusion, touring, improvisation, cultural influences, the Nebula Project, original music, and the creative process behind one of Ben's most ambitious recordings yet.

Ben has also become a good friend of the Neon Jazz family, making this a particularly enjoyable return to the show.

Get the album:
Ben Rosenblum – The Longest Way Round

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with jazz singer and voice-over artist Marsha Bartenetti. In this episode, we explore her remarkable career in music, voice-over, recording, and broadcasting, along with her new 2026 single, "New York Minute," and her upcoming album arriving later this year.

Marsha is a smooth, rich, and expressive vocalist whose heartfelt delivery brings authenticity to every lyric. Her ability to connect emotionally with a song allows her vocals to transport the listener directly into the story.

Her musical journey began in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s, during a vibrant era filled with extraordinary musicians and opportunities. Performing with her band alongside her then-husband, Marsha opened for notable acts including The Youngbloods and performed at legendary venues such as the Troubadour in Los Angeles.

Although she eventually stepped away from the stage for a period of time, Marsha never left music behind. She continued working extensively in the recording studio, lending her voice to national advertising jingles for major companies including Bank of America and Chevron.

One of the most fascinating chapters of her career came through Octel Communications, a pioneering voice-messaging company serving businesses around the world. Marsha became the American English voice of Octel, meaning her voice was heard by millions of people across the globe.

Now, Marsha is returning to her passion for recording and performing with new music that showcases the depth, warmth, and authenticity developed throughout her extraordinary career.

In this conversation, we explore jazz singing, vocal performance, voice-over work, recording studios, advertising jingles, San Francisco's music scene, the Troubadour, Octel Communications, songwriting, her new single "New York Minute," her upcoming 2026 album, and the stories behind a lifetime in music.

It's a fascinating story of an artist who has experienced multiple eras of the music and voice-over industries—and continues to create.

Marsha Bartenetti:
https://www.marshabartenetti.com/

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with award-winning Bulgaria-based jazz vocalist, poet, composer, and educator Gergana Velinova. In this episode, we dive into her remarkable musical journey and her powerful new 2026 album, Free.

Now her seventh album, Free is a deeply personal project shaped by motherhood, resilience, transformation, and the search for freedom through music. Gergana blends contemporary jazz with bossa nova, blues, Brazilian music, and lyrical ballads, creating an intimate and soulful listening experience that invites the listener into her world.

Gergana believes that a song truly begins its life when it quietly finds its way into someone's world and becomes part of their own story. That philosophy is at the heart of her music and helps explain the emotional depth and warmth found throughout Free.

A Bulgarian-Canadian creative force, Gergana is recognized for her luminous voice and soulful fusion of contemporary jazz, pop, and Brazilian influences. Beyond her work as a performer and composer, she is also an accomplished music educator and founder of an award-winning Bulgarian children's school, extending her passion for music to the next generation.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore jazz, motherhood, creativity, resilience, transformation, songwriting, poetry, Brazilian music, bossa nova, music education, and the journey behind Free.

This is a beautiful story about an artist embracing change, finding strength through life's experiences, and allowing music to become a vehicle for connection and freedom.

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Bay Area bassist, guitarist, arranger, composer, producer, and recording engineer Frank Swart, the creative force behind the acclaimed jazz fusion band Funkwrench Blues.

In this episode, Frank joins us to discuss his exciting 2026 album, This Is the One! (raison d'être), a vibrant recording co-produced with Brian Brinkerhoff that blends jazz, funk, blues, rock, and improvisational music into a bold and expressive listening experience. The album showcases the band's adventurous spirit, dynamic musicianship, and commitment to pushing creative boundaries.

Frank also reflects on his remarkable musical journey—from forming Funkwrench Blues in Boston to helping shape alternative rock history by recording the first-ever demos for the Pixies. Along the way, he has built a diverse career as a performer, composer, arranger, producer, and engineer while championing music as a force for creativity, inclusion, and cultural connection.

During our conversation, we explore the making of This Is the One! (raison d'être), the evolution of jazz fusion, improvisation as a social art form, the current state of music in America, and Frank's vision of creating multicultural, inclusive musical experiences that inspire interaction, reflection, and community.

If you're a fan of jazz fusion, funk, blues, progressive jazz, improvisation, instrumental music, independent artists, and behind-the-scenes music stories, this interview is packed with insight and inspiration.

Get the album:
https://funkwrenchblues.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-the-one-raison-d-tre 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed Brazilian jazz guitarist, composer, and bandleader Sergio Pereira. In this episode, we explore his outstanding 2026 album, Colors of Time, along with his remarkable musical journey from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to New York City, where he has continued to shape his distinctive voice in contemporary jazz.

Born and raised in Rio, Sergio began playing acoustic guitar at just eight years old, inspired by his older brother and immersed in the rich musical traditions of bossa nova, samba, and Brazilian jazz. Growing up during the vibrant musical landscape of the 1960s and 1970s profoundly influenced the rhythmic energy, melodic sophistication, and soulful grooves that define his music today.

After relocating to New York in the 1980s, Sergio expanded his musical horizons, deepened his knowledge of jazz harmony and guitar, and developed a signature sound that beautifully blends Brazilian rhythms, modern jazz improvisation, Latin influences, and expressive storytelling.

In this engaging conversation, Sergio discusses the inspiration behind Colors of Time, his creative process, the influence of Brazil's legendary musicians, his evolution as a guitarist and composer, and what continues to inspire him as an artist. It's a fascinating look inside the life and music of one of today's most compelling Brazilian jazz musicians.

If you love Brazilian jazz, bossa nova, Latin jazz, jazz guitar, contemporary jazz, world music, and artist interviews, this episode is for you.

Get the album:
http://www.sergiopereira.world/colors-of-time.html 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring legendary New York City-based jazz bassist, composer, and bandleader Tom Kennedy. One of the most respected bassists in modern jazz, Tom returns to the show to discuss his outstanding 2026 album, The Summit, released on Autumn Hill Records.

On his seventh solo recording, Tom presents an exciting collection of original compositions and arrangements that showcase an expansive range of grooves, styles, and contemporary jazz influences. The Summit features an all-star lineup of musicians, including Dave Weckl, Terell Stafford, Stu Mindeman, Bob Franceschini, Ryan Devlin, and many more, creating a dynamic and deeply musical listening experience.

During this engaging conversation, Tom takes us inside the making of the album, his writing and arranging process, collaborating with world-class musicians, the evolution of jazz bass, and what inspires him as an artist in today's musical landscape. We also discuss life in 2026, the modern jazz scene, and his remarkable career performing with some of the greatest musicians in the world.

Whether you're a bassist, jazz musician, educator, or simply a fan of exceptional contemporary jazz, this interview offers fascinating insights from one of the genre's true masters.

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

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader Rich Willey. In this episode, Rich returns to the show to discuss his vibrant new 2026 album, Laid Back, Vol. 1, along with his recent move from North Carolina to West Virginia, the creative process behind the record, life as a working jazz musician in America today, and what's next on his musical journey.

Laid Back, Vol. 1 is an uplifting and genre-crossing release that seamlessly blends modern jazz, reggae, Latin grooves, world music, and sophisticated big band arrangements into a fresh, melodic sound. The album features an outstanding ensemble, including renowned trumpeter John Swana performing on the Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI), adding a unique sonic dimension to the project.

During this engaging conversation, Rich takes us inside the recording sessions, discusses the musicians who helped shape the album, reflects on his evolution as an artist, and shares why creating music that is both accessible and artistically rich remains at the heart of his work.

If you're a fan of modern jazz, big band music, jazz trumpet, jazz composition, contemporary instrumental music, reggae influences, Latin jazz, world music, and insightful artist interviews, this episode is for you.

Enjoy another great conversation from Neon Jazz.

Get the album:
https://store.spinneymedia.com/products/rich-willey-laid-back-vol-1-cd?srsltid=AfmBOoqbIS0rwcKM0uUWrzNQRSY0kooFqVV4pSS5-zgNbGpEjHq5zaHX 

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