Neon Jazz Interviews

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