Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. On this episode, we talk with Toronto-based jazz singer, songwriter, and actor Whitney Ross-Barris about her new 2025 album Curtains of Light and a life devoted to the arts. Curtains of Light is a deeply expressive recording that blends jazz, choral music, neo-soul, spoken word, and folk, weaving intimate human stories of disconnection, longing, and resilience shaped by the challenges of recent years. The album features award-winning multi-instrumentalists Michael Shand and Drew Jurecka, whose contributions further expand its emotional and sonic depth. Beyond her work as a recording artist, Whitney has appeared at major music festivals as a solo jazz performer and has enjoyed a successful career as an actor, bringing the same emotional intelligence and storytelling to both disciplines. This conversation explores creativity, vulnerability, genre-crossing jazz, and the power of music to heal and connect. Enjoy this interview. Get the album:https://whitneyrb.bandcamp.com/album/curtains-of-light For More Neon Jazz: Shows via MixCloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/neonjazzkc/Subscribe via Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/neonjazzkcSubscribe via iTunes/Apple - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/famous-interviews-joe-dimino/id546432639?mt=2 The Home of Neon Jazz:http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/ Contribute to Neon Jazz via PayPal:                    https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=ER  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. In this episode, we sit down with Chicago-based, award-winning Palestinian-American composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist Wanees Zarour to discuss his powerful new 2026 album Silwan and a life devoted to music. Deeply rooted in the traditions of maqam and jazz, Wanees has developed a compositional voice that transcends borders, blending Arabic, jazz, classical, and global music traditions into a bold and cohesive musical language. Born into a family of musicians, Wanees began his classical violin training at the age of seven, quickly advancing through the repertoire. Today, he serves as Director of the Middle East Music Ensemble at the University of Chicago, where under his leadership the group has grown into an 85-piece orchestra performing Turkish, Arab, and Persian music to sold-out audiences. This conversation explores the making of Silwan, the role of maqam in contemporary jazz, cross-cultural composition, and the power of music to bridge worlds. 🎧 Get the album Silwan and learn more:https://waneeszarour.com/ For More Neon Jazz: Shows via MixCloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/neonjazzkc/Subscribe via Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/neonjazzkcSubscribe via iTunes/Apple - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/famous-interviews-joe-dimino/id546432639?mt=2 The Home of Neon Jazz:http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/ Contribute to Neon Jazz via PayPal:                   https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=ER Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. In this episode, we take a deep dive with Edmonton-based jazz bassist Aretha Tillotson into her new 2025 CD Kinda Out West and a life dedicated to music. This release marks her second album as a leader and follows her Western Canadian Music Award–winning 2024 album Introducing Aretha Tillotson. Kinda Out West is an ode to the musicians of Alberta and the neighboring province of British Columbia, capturing the spirit, independence, and creativity of the Western Canadian jazz scene. Leading a chordless quartet, Aretha draws inspiration from the great ensembles of Sonny Rollins and Ornette Coleman from the 1950s and 1960s, bringing that tradition forward with a modern voice. This conversation explores the new album, her compositional approach, and the journey of building a jazz life in Western Canada. 🎧 Get the album Kinda Out West:https://arethatillotson.bandcamp.com/  For More Neon Jazz: Shows via MixCloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/neonjazzkc/Subscribe via Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/neonjazzkcSubscribe via iTunes/Apple - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/famous-interviews-joe-dimino/id546432639?mt=2 The Home of Neon Jazz:http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/ Contribute to Neon Jazz via PayPal:                   https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=ER Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. In this episode, we catch up with acclaimed jazz vocalist Alma Micic to discuss her 2025 album Lilac Wine – A Tribute to Helen Merrill, which she describes as her finest work to date. Our last conversation took place in 2018, so this interview also dives into COVID-era survival, the deeply meaningful experience of meeting Helen Merrill, and her hopes and vision for this tribute recording. On Lilac Wine, Alma is joined by an exceptional ensemble featuring Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone), Rale Micic (guitar), Brandon McCune (piano), Alexander Claffy (bass), and Jason Tiemann (drums). Together, they bring emotional depth, elegance, and modern jazz sensibility to the timeless repertoire associated with Helen Merrill. This conversation explores artistry, resilience, legacy, and the enduring power of jazz vocal expression. 🎧 Listen to Lilac Wine – A Tribute to Helen Merrill:https://music.apple.com/gb/album/lilac-wine-tribute-to-helen-merrill/1846068930 For More Neon Jazz: Shows via MixCloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/neonjazzkc/Subscribe via Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/neonjazzkcSubscribe via iTunes/Apple - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/famous-interviews-joe-dimino/id546432639?mt=2 The Home of Neon Jazz:http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/ Contribute to Neon Jazz via PayPal:                   https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=ER Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. In this episode, we talk with Peru-based jazz flutist, composer, sound artist, researcher, and music curator Camilo Ángeles about the newly released album Algol by his electroacoustic trio of the same name. The group features Camilo Ángeles, German drummer and producer Christian Lillinger, and Austrian composer and performer Elias Stemeseder—three internationally acclaimed artists working at the forefront of electroacoustic experimentation, improvised music, contemporary composition, and avant-garde jazz. The Algol project was born during a collaborative tour and recording sessions in early 2024, spanning Mexico City and Guadalajara, and has since expanded through performances across Europe and Latin America. The album captures a fearless approach to sound, texture, and improvisation, pushing the boundaries of modern jazz and experimental music. This conversation explores the album, the trio’s history, creative process, and the evolving language of electroacoustic and avant-garde jazz. 🎧 Get the album Algol:https://buhrecords.bandcamp.com/album/algol For More Neon Jazz: Shows via MixCloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/neonjazzkc/Subscribe via Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/neonjazzkcSubscribe via iTunes/Apple - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/famous-interviews-joe-dimino/id546432639?mt=2 The Home of Neon Jazz:http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/ Contribute to Neon Jazz via PayPal:                   https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=ER Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices