Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series 🎷 On this episode, we welcome back Chicago jazz vocalist Alyssa Allgood to talk in depth about her 2026 EP, Leap. This modern jazz project was inspired by Allgood’s desire to take greater artistic and entrepreneurial risks as an independent artist. Leap invites listeners to move forward—whether through a bold leap, a small step, or a joyful dance into who they truly are.

Alyssa Allgood has been praised by DownBeat Magazine for her “boldness, swagger and surefooted musicianship” and by New York City Jazz Record for her “force, clarity and jazz integrity.” Those qualities shine throughout Leap, which features three original compositions alongside three fresh arrangements of jazz standards.

The EP highlights Allgood’s refined voice as a modern songwriter and arranger, emphasizing vulnerable expression, dynamic musical interaction, and fearless improvisation. She is joined by close collaborators from Chicago’s vibrant jazz scene:


Victor Garcia – trumpet & flugelhorn


Julius Tucker – piano


Ethan Philion – bass


Jon Deitemyer – drums

This is a rich conversation about modern jazz vocals, creativity, independence, and artistic courage.

🎶 Get the album Leaphttps://www.wildmercuryrhythm.com/p/alyssa-allgood-leap

🎧 Subscribe for more Neon Jazz interviews with today’s leading jazz musicians, vocalists, and composers. 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. On this episode, we catch up with acclaimed Vegas-based jazz singer Andy James to talk about her 2025 album Architect of My Blues, released in November 2025, along with live gigs, an upcoming April 2026 performance, and much more.

On this ninth studio album, Andy drew deep inspiration from Ray Charles, whose groundbreaking 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music reshaped American music by blending soul, R&B, jazz, and country. That spirit guided Andy’s songwriting sessions with her all-star jazz band, ultimately blossoming into an intimate, high-spirited, mood-swinging journey recorded in Nashville, in collaboration with top Music City songwriters.

The album features a stunning lineup of legendary musicians including Jon Cowherd (piano), John Patitucci (bass), Nicolas Payton (trumpet), Michael Dease (trombone), Joel Frahm (saxophone), Bob Sheppard (saxophone), and many more.

We dive into the making of Architect of My Blues, the Ray Charles connection, the Nashville experience, and how Andy continues to evolve as a jazz vocalist with deep roots and modern fire.

🎶 Get the album Architect of My Blues:https://andyjamesjazz.bandcamp.com/album/the-architect-of-my-blues

🎧 Subscribe to Neon Jazz for in-depth conversations with today’s leading jazz artists. 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. On this episode, we sit down with New Zealand-born, Sydney-based jazz singer, songwriter, and pianist Bonnie J. Jensen to talk about her new 2025 album Rise and a wide-ranging international music career.

Rise is a one-hour journey of accessible, contemporary jazz, bridging the worlds of soul, Latin, pop, and straight-ahead jazz, while drawing inspiration from the songbooks of Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, James Taylor, Sting, Michael Franks, and more. The album is steeped in tradition yet unafraid to take creative detours, showcasing Bonnie’s refined musical voice and global perspective.

Bonnie’s artistry reflects a life lived internationally. Over her career, she has performed extensively throughout Europe, the United States (including New York), and Asia, with repeated tours of Japan, earning praise from critics, jazz devotees, and even non-jazz audiences along the way.

We dig into the making of Rise, her evolution as an artist, and what it means to create modern jazz that connects across borders and genres.

🎶 Get the album Rise:https://bonniejjensen.com/music/discography/

🎧 Subscribe to Neon Jazz for in-depth conversations with today’s leading jazz artists from around the world.

For More Neon Jazz:
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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. 

For More Neon Jazz:
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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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