Acclaimed LA-based Jazz Vocalist Mark Winkler on the 2025 Album Hold On
Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed LA-based jazz vocalist and lyricist Mark Winkler on his 2025 album HOLD ON. This prolific artist celebrates his 22nd album with a collection of mostly original tunes, complemented by a few tasteful standards. Each new project expands on the last, as Mark continues to explore fresh musical territory and new creative expressions through meaningful collaborations.
For HOLD ON, he teamed up with six exceptional pianists, creating a varied and dynamic sound palette. The album pulls you into Mark’s world, where swing, humor, sensitivity, and elegance combine into a thoroughly enjoyable and deeply musical experience. Full of wit, charm, and emotional richness, this album is a testament to Mark’s continued evolution as one of jazz’s most engaging storytellers.
Always a joy to talk with Mark—dig this interview.
More & get the album: allaboutjazz.com/hold-on-mark-winkler-cafe-pacific-records
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Kansas City Jazz Pianist Tim Whitmer on the 2025 CD Happy Holidays with Rod Fleeman
Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City Jazz Pianist Tim Whitmer on the 2025 CD Happy Holidays featuring guitarist Rod Fleeman. Tim and his band have been performing holiday music for decades, including a featured performance on the Kansas Public Radio holiday broadcast in December 2024. Now, they’ve recorded one of Kansas City’s most beloved holiday shows for release on CD and all streaming platforms.
Guitarist extraordinaire Rod Fleeman joins the group on this project, bringing his extensive Christmas music expertise to the festivities. In this interview, we dive into Tim’s weekly gigs at The Black Dolphin, what Christmas means to him, the Kansas City holiday jazz tradition, and the joy of celebrating the season through music.
There will be a CD release event at The Black Dolphin on Wednesday, December 17, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Enjoy this story.
Get the album and more at Green Lady Lounge: greenladylounge.comStream the album on Amazon Music: music.amazon.com/artists/B0DJWK723J/tim-whitmer-good-time-quartet
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Jazz Singer, Artist & Educator Kat Ellis
Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Singer, Artist & Educator Kat Ellis. We take a deep dive into her new 2025 CD Talking to Myself, her late-in-life singing career, her artistry, her decades in education, and the creative journey that led her to today.
Originally from Syracuse, NY and now based in Boulder, Colorado, Kat is a deeply curious, creative science educator whose love for swing dancing helped ignite her musical path. A Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts (CCJA) trained musician, she is the featured vocalist with the Denver Jazz Orchestra and also leads both a jazz quintet and sextet. For 35 years, her work as a chemistry and earth systems science teacher has allowed her to share art, music, and scientific curiosity with thousands of students—while giving her space to pursue painting and music. It’s a story you should hear. Enjoy.
Listen to the album:https://music.apple.com/gb/album/talking-to-myself/1821966938
For More Neon Jazz:
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NYC Jazz Pianist, Accordionist & Composer Ben Rosenblum on the Kansas City Gig at Upcycle Piano Craft on 12.2.25
Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Award-Winning NYC Jazz Pianist, Accordionist & Composer Ben Rosenblum on his upcoming Kansas City performance at Upcycle Piano Craft on December 2, 2025. We caught up with this standout NYC musician to talk about his trip to Kansas City for the Happy Hour concert series on Tuesday, December 2nd at Upcycle Piano Craft, 3945 Main Street in Midtown, from 4:30–7:30 p.m.
He’ll be joined by JUNO-nominated Brooklyn-based vocalist Laura Anglade, a rising star whose emotional depth, storytelling clarity, and refined touch bring new life to the Great American Songbook, Broadway classics, and French repertoire.
Ben Rosenblum is a versatile multi-instrumentalist and composer who has performed skillfully in more than twenty genres across twenty-five countries. He has toured worldwide with Grammy winners including Rickie Lee Jones and Catherine Russell. Together, Ben and Laura promise a stellar evening of world-class musicianship. We get into the full story. Enjoy.
Free registration & reminders (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/events/4452195418438787/Upcycle Piano Craft: https://www.upcyclepianocraft.com/More Ben: https://www.benrosenblummusic.com/More Laura: https://lauraanglade.com/home
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Writer & Musician Michael Stephans on the 2025 Bob Brookmeyer Book On the Way to The Sky
Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Writer & Musician Michael Stephans on the 2025 Bob Brookmeyer book On the Way to The Sky. He’s created a deeply eloquent and comprehensive remembrance of jazz icon Bob Brookmeyer, the Kansas City–born musical genius who passed away in 2011 just shy of his 82nd birthday. The book is part memoir, part biography, featuring essays from luminaries like Maria Schneider and Jim McNeely, along with tributes from prominent musicians, writers, and family.
Despite Brookmeyer’s six decades as an influential composer, arranger, and educator, he never received the widespread recognition he deserved — and Michael seeks to explore why. With a PhD, two master’s degrees, and years of university teaching, he brings depth and insight to the story. Dig this interview.
Life & Musichttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juJF5WWmEGE&pp=ygUlIFRoZSBMaWZlIGFuZCBNdXNpYyBvZiBCb2IgQnJvb2ttZXllcg%3D%3D
Get the book:https://untpress.unt.edu/catalog/stephans-on-the-way-to-the-sky/
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Neon Jazz is a radio show and interview series created and distributed since 2011. Hatched & Hosted by Joe Dimino out of Kansas City, Missouri. The series has been Engineered and generously supported by John Christopher over thirteen years, hundreds of episodes and thousands of interviews. We celebrate the glory days right on into the innovations of modern players. The aim is to tell the rich story of jazz through the voice of the musician and provide an enticing kaleidoscope of sound and stories. We are always celebrating one of America's finest inventions .. Jazz. Dig in ..
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