Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series 🎷 On this episode, we talk with Scotland-based jazz composer, songwriter, and pianist Andy Alston. We caught up with this veteran musician to discuss his new 2025 album, Dreamtime, the creative process behind his jazz compositions, and a career that has produced a large and growing body of jazz-influenced music.

Andy Alston’s work has received international radio airplay across the UK, Europe, the United States, Australia, and online jazz stations worldwide. His music features collaborations with leading Scottish jazz musicians, vocalists, and well-known artists, blending modern jazz sensibilities with strong compositional storytelling.

This is a deep dive into jazz creation, collaboration, and longevity from an artist with a compelling global presence.

🎶 Listen to Dreamtimehttps://music.apple.com/us/album/dreamtime/1817416022

🎧 Subscribe for more Neon Jazz interviews featuring jazz musicians, composers, vocalists, and creative artists from around the world. 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series, featuring Vienna-based jazz vocalist Maja Jaku and producer/drummer Adrian Varady. We caught up with this creative duo in Vienna to talk about their new 2025 album Blessed & Bewitched, how they first connected, their collaborative process, creative dreams, and much more.

This new release is a deeply personal reflection of Maja Jaku’s artistic spirit. Raised in a jazz-rich environment by her trumpet-playing father, and later shaped through her studies at the Graz Conservatory, Maja worked closely with legendary mentors including Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan, Andy Bey, and Jay Clayton. Her voice and vision have evolved through a lifelong devotion to the jazz legacy continuum.

Joined by a stellar group of musicians, Blessed & Bewitched shines with nuance, swing, and emotional depth. In this conversation, both Maja and Adrian dive into the many facets of creating the album, their musical histories, and the shared vision that brought this project to life.

🎧 Get the album – Blessed & Bewitched👉 https://originarts.com/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=82934

For More Neon Jazz:
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The Home of Neon Jazz:http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. On this episode, we talk with Bay Area jazz keyboardist, composer, and producer Greg Rahn about his vibrant new 2026 CD Side Hustle and a lifelong ride through the world of music.

This dynamic project features a seasoned core of veteran musicians, including former Steely Dan touring guitarist Drew Zingg, and explores a wide musical spectrum—from New Orleans funk and Louisiana zydeco to fiery jazz fusion, Cuban rhythms, infectious shuffle blues, and beyond. Throughout the album, Greg seamlessly moves between electric piano, organ, synthesizer, and keytar, showcasing his versatility and deep musical roots.

Alongside his work as a performing artist, Greg spent 25 years producing audio for the video game industry, all while maintaining a steady schedule of live gigs as his own “side hustle.” In this wide-ranging conversation, we dive into the creative process behind Side Hustle, his dual career path, collaborations, influences, and what it takes to sustain a life in modern jazz.

Enjoy this interview.

Get the album:https://gregrahn.bandcamp.com/album/side-hustle

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/

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Chicago-based jazz vocalist & theater artist Tatum Langley. 🎶

In this episode, we dive into her new 2025 album Tatum’s Swinging Session and her dream-fueled journey as an emerging big band singer. Tatum is an amalgamation of musical influences, specializing in jazz and musical theatre, and has captivated audiences everywhere—from cozy jazz clubs and intimate cabaret rooms to legendary venues like The London Palladium, Sydney Opera House, and Royal Albert Hall.

She regularly records and tours internationally with the viral musical sensation Postmodern Jukebox, while also building an impressive résumé in professional regional theatre, spanning Shakespeare, Golden Age musicals, contemporary works, and large-scale original theme park productions.

It’s quite a story—full of swing, stage lights, and global momentum. Let’s get into it.

🎧 Get the album – Tatum’s Swinging Session👉 https://shoutsection.com/tatum-s-swingin-session-digital-version-pre-sale

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

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. On this episode, we talk with Grammy-nominated harpist, composer, innovator, educator, and coach Deborah Henson-Conant—a visionary artist who has redefined the harp for modern audiences.

With decades of international acclaim, Deborah has built an extraordinary career as a live performer, composer, and musical pioneer, including the invention of her own body harp, expanding the expressive and physical possibilities of the instrument. She has educated and coached hundreds of musicians across the United States and abroad, influencing generations of artists.

We dive into her powerful collaboration with Ukrainian bandura virtuoso Iryna Lytvynenko, which led to the world premiere of Deborah’s Bandura Concerto in Kyiv, Ukraine, broadcast on Ukrainian national television on November 19, 2025. This historic performance symbolized resilience, unity, and the life-affirming force of music amid war, made possible through Deborah’s Legacy Bridge Project, which connects composers with sponsors to remove financial barriers to new works.

For over three decades, Deborah has mesmerized audiences throughout the US and Europe. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore her career, creative philosophy, this landmark project, and what it means to make meaningful art in the modern world. Enjoy this interview.

More Deborah:https://www.hipharp.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:                   
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