Episodes

  • Award-Winning Musician Scott Routenberg Talks Live at Merriman’s Playhouse & Jazz Legacy

    Award-Winning Musician Scott Routenberg Talks Live at Merriman’s Playhouse & Jazz Legacy
    Feb 19 2026
    Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Indiana-based, award-winning jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator Scott Routenberg. We dive into his 2025 release Scott Routenberg Trio Live at Merriman’s Playhouse: Oscar Peterson Tribute, a powerful live recording honoring the legendary Oscar Peterson and celebrating the timeless swing and virtuosity that defined his sound. Over a prolific career spanning more than two decades, Dr. Routenberg has earned widespread critical acclaim. In 2004, he became the first jazz songwriter to win the coveted John Lennon Songwriting Contest Maxell Song of the Year. He is also an established symphonic jazz arranger with commissions from Grammy-winning ensembles and artists, while continuing to educate and inspire the next generation of musicians. In this conversation, we explore the making of this live tribute album, his dedication to music, arranging for large ensembles, the influence of Oscar Peterson, and his work shaping future jazz artists. 🎹 Listen to the album here:https://music.apple.com/us/album/scott-routenberg-trio-live-at-merrimans-playhouse-oscar/1855347878 If you love jazz piano, live trio recordings, Oscar Peterson tributes, and in-depth jazz artist interviews, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more exclusive conversations with today’s leading jazz artists. 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
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    31 mins
  • British Jazz Guitarist Joe Steels Talks A Blue Patch, His Career & UK Jazz Scene

    British Jazz Guitarist Joe Steels Talks A Blue Patch, His Career & UK Jazz Scene
    Feb 18 2026
    Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring British jazz guitarist Joe Steels. We dive into his 2026 CD A Blue Patch and his evolving career in music. Rooted in the northern landscapes of Cumbria and Northumberland, this project draws deep inspiration from countryside heritage, tradition, and a strong sense of place. Joe continues to establish himself as one of the most exciting voices in British jazz guitar, blending a deep love of jazz tradition with elements of folk, rock, and contemporary music. His sound is driven by strong melody, innovation, joy, and optimism — qualities that shine throughout A Blue Patch. In this conversation, we explore the making of the album, the influence of northern England, the state of British jazz, touring, collaboration, and the path forward. 🌍 More on Joe Steels & his music:https://joesteelsmusic.com/home If you love modern British jazz, melodic guitar-driven ensembles, and artist-driven conversations, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more in-depth jazz interviews from Neon Jazz. 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
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    24 mins
  • Saxophonist Aaron Irwin Talks 2026 Album Spark, Touring & Modern Improvisation

    Saxophonist Aaron Irwin Talks 2026 Album Spark, Touring & Modern Improvisation
    Feb 17 2026
    Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring saxophonist, clarinetist and composer Aaron Irwin discussing the 2026 album Spark. The Aaron Irwin Trio brings together guitarist Mike Baggetta and drummer Bill Campbell in a unique bass-less trio format that prioritizes melody, space and texture. The group blends chamber-like intimacy with Americana-rooted language and modern improvisation, creating clear song forms that invite deep interaction between musicians and listeners. This marks the trio’s third album together. In this conversation, we dive into the making of Spark, touring, creative chemistry, improvisation, and reflections on America today. 🎵 Get the album Spark here:https://aaronirwin.bandcamp.com/album/spark If you love modern jazz, saxophone-led trios, creative improvisation, and intimate ensemble interplay, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more in-depth jazz interviews and artist conversations from Neon Jazz. 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
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    14 mins
  • Vocalist, Guitarist & Leader Danny Garrison of Kansas City-based Bluebird Ramblers

    Vocalist, Guitarist & Leader Danny Garrison of Kansas City-based Bluebird Ramblers
    Feb 16 2026
    Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with vocalist, guitarist, porch philosopher and bandleader Danny Garrison of Kansas City-based Bluebird Ramblers. We caught up with Danny during his day job as an assistant principal to talk all things music, Kansas City culture, and the band’s mission to keep the golden age of American music alive. The Bluebird Ramblers broadcast straight from the roots of honky tonk swing, early rock and roll, rockabilly drive, and classic country charm. Their sound feels at home under neon lights, inside a dance hall, or beneath a wide-open Midwestern sky. Every show is a jukebox time machine packed with shuffle beats, vintage vibes, and pure Americana energy. In this episode, we dive into: The Kansas City music scene Honky tonk and rockabilly revival Balancing education and music Preserving classic American roots music The mission behind the Bluebird Ramblers If you love classic country, early rock & roll, roots music, or Kansas City live music, this conversation is for you. 🎶 More on the Bluebird Ramblers:https://www.thebluebirdramblers.com/ Subscribe for more in-depth jazz, roots, blues, and Americana interviews from Kansas City and beyond. 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
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    29 mins
  • Seattle-based Jazz Saxophonist & Educator Kate Olson

    Seattle-based Jazz Saxophonist & Educator Kate Olson
    Feb 15 2026
    Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series 🎷 On this episode, we talk with Seattle-based jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator Kate Olson about her new 2026 CD So It Goes. Since moving to Seattle in 2010, Kate has immersed herself in the local, regional, and international improvised music scenes. With a BA in Music (Jazz Emphasis) from the University of Wyoming and an MM in Improvisation from the University of Michigan, she now serves on the jazz faculty at Pacific Lutheran University and University of Puget Sound. Kate’s growing international résumé includes performances in Russia, Latvia, Turkey, Switzerland, South Korea, Cuba, and Slovakia — reflecting her commitment to creative improvisation and global collaboration. In this conversation, we explore: The inspiration behind So It Goes The Seattle jazz scene Life as a working jazz musician Teaching and mentoring the next generation The power of improvisation in modern jazz 🎷 Get the album:https://originarts.com/oa2/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=22246 Subscribe for more in-depth interviews with today’s leading jazz musicians from around the world. 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
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    35 mins
  • China-born, New York-based Arranger & Composer Zhengtao Pan

    China-born, New York-based Arranger & Composer Zhengtao Pan
    Feb 14 2026
    Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series 🎼 On this episode, we talk with Shanghai, China-born, New York-based arranger and composer Zhengtao Pan about his third studio album Air With Layers, released on Pinch Records. At just 22 years old, Zhengtao dives into his first fully orchestrated Symphony and Piano Concerto — marking his bold entry into contemporary classical music. The album showcases his versatility, cinematic sensibilities, and global musical perspective. We discuss: The creative process behind Air With Layers Writing his first Symphony and Piano Concerto His musical beginnings in Shanghai, China Growth and evolution in New York Influences from video game soundtracks and film scoring His studies at Berklee College of Music, the Gabriela Ortiz Composing Studio, and the Film Scoring Academy of Europe This is a powerful story of international artistry, youth, and creative ambition bridging contemporary classical, orchestral music, and cinematic sound. 🎧 Get the album:https://www.zhengtaopan.com/music Subscribe for more in-depth artist interviews exploring jazz, contemporary classical, film scoring, and global music innovation. 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
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    32 mins
  • Harlem Jazz Vocalist BLCK Madonna on 2026's Between the Lines

    Harlem Jazz Vocalist BLCK Madonna on 2026's Between the Lines
    Feb 14 2026
    Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Harlem-based Ghanaian/American vocalist BLCK Madonna. We take a deep dive into her debut album, Between the Lines, releasing March 27, 2026 on all major streaming platforms via The Noir Collective / Downtown Music. This powerful and deeply personal project reimagines seven jazz standards through the lens of identity, memory, and emotional truth. BLCK Madonna is the artistic moniker of vocalist Ana Hoffman, whose shimmering soprano and rich, dusky lower register explore the intersection of jazz tradition, cultural identity, and contemporary expression. Born biracial and raised bicultural, Ana’s path to jazz was unexpected—she was a pharmacy major in college when music chose her during a profound personal reckoning. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss her journey into jazz, the meaning behind Between the Lines, the Harlem music scene, reinterpreting standards for a new generation, and carving out a voice that honors both heritage and innovation. If you love modern jazz vocals, jazz standards, contemporary reinterpretations, or discovering new jazz artists, this interview is for you. 🎶 Listen here:https://open.spotify.com/track/614RUqyvSXNjBT8XlkYRrh?si=fhMjL1-7QPed0njly9sR2Q&nd=1&dlsi=fd7eb29e98ac4cf0 🔔 Subscribe to Neon Jazz for more in-depth conversations with today’s most compelling jazz artists. 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
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    34 mins
  • LA-based Jazz Singer & Songwriter Becca Hannah on Tonight in My Dreams (2026) | Neon Jazz Interview

    LA-based Jazz Singer & Songwriter Becca Hannah on Tonight in My Dreams (2026) | Neon Jazz Interview
    Feb 12 2026
    Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring LA-based jazz singer and songwriter Becca Hannah. We sit down with Becca to talk about her debut 2026 album, Tonight in My Dreams, and her lifelong journey in the arts. With a voice that feels pulled from another era and a deeply personal writing style, Becca blends jazz, R&B, soul, and blues into a sound that is both timeless and emotionally raw. Originally from Boston, Becca shares her deep love for her hometown and the leap of faith that led her to Los Angeles nearly two years ago to fully pursue her singing and songwriting career. She opens up about how writing and singing come more naturally than speaking, how her stream-of-consciousness approach fuels her work, and why the stage has called to her since toddlerhood. This conversation dives into music, identity, creative vulnerability, and the courage it takes to follow your calling. Settle in and enjoy the full story. 🎶 Listen to the album Tonight in My Dreams:https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/beccahannah/tonight-in-my-dreams 🔔 Subscribe to Neon Jazz for more in-depth interviews with today’s jazz and soul artists. 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
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    30 mins