Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino

Friday, June 19, 2026

Ben Markley Interview | Tuesday Morning Feeling, Big Band Jazz, Thelonious Monk & Modern Composition

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed jazz pianist, composer, arranger, educator, and bandleader Ben Markley.

On this episode, we discuss his outstanding 2026 big band release Tuesday Morning Feeling, a recording that showcases his evolving artistic vision, masterful compositions, and distinctive approach to modern jazz orchestration.

Ben's musical journey began in rural Kansas and traveled through the rich jazz traditions of Kansas City and Denver before leading him to his current home in Wyoming. Along the way, he has established himself as one of the most respected voices in contemporary jazz composition, arranging, and performance.

With Tuesday Morning Feeling, Ben takes another significant step forward as a composer and bandleader. The album features seven original compositions alongside imaginative new arrangements of music by jazz giants Thelonious Monk and Cedar Walton. The recording balances strong melodic concepts with open-ended frameworks that encourage interaction, spontaneity, risk-taking, and collective creativity.

Throughout our conversation, we explore the making of the album, the art of big band writing, arranging jazz standards, composition, improvisation, education, leadership, and the lifelong pursuit of artistic growth.

We also discuss his influences, career path, and the creative lessons learned from a life dedicated to jazz.

Enjoy this interview.

Get the album:
Tuesday Morning Feeling on Origin Records

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Matt Otto Interview | Kansas City Jazz, New 2026 Album Ephemeral & More

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Kansas City jazz saxophonist, composer, educator, and bandleader Matt Otto.

On this episode, we discuss his highly anticipated 2026 album Ephemeral, scheduled for release on June 26, 2026. Even before its release, the project has already received recognition for its stunning album artwork created by acclaimed visual artist Philip Burke.

Ephemeral is a deeply personal and artistically ambitious recording that showcases Matt's distinctive compositional voice while celebrating family, friendship, creativity, and the rich musical community of Kansas City. The album includes a special piece written as a 50th birthday gift for his sister-in-law, along with musical acknowledgments to legendary creative music pioneer Wadada Leo Smith and other important influences.

The recording also features an impressive lineup of Kansas City jazz talent, including Peter Schlamb, Roger Wilder, Ben Leifer, and many other outstanding musicians contributing to the project.

In this conversation, we explore the making of Ephemeral, the Kansas City jazz scene, composition, improvisation, collaboration, artistic inspiration, album artwork, and Matt's ongoing journey as one of the Midwest's most respected modern jazz voices.

We also discuss life in Kansas City, creative growth, and the future of jazz.

Enjoy this interview.

Learn more about Matt Otto and Ephemeral:
Matt Otto Official Website
Ephemeral Album Artwork Feature

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Miist Interview | The Love Project, Love Will Show Us Our Way, Billboard Success & Inspiring Journey

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Billboard-charting artist, author, musician, and podcaster Miist.

On this episode, we discuss the launch of her inspiring 2026 initiative, The Love Project, including the new single and video Love Will Show Us Our Way, along with her remarkable journey through music, writing, and personal transformation.

Miist's story is one of resilience, hope, and reinvention. Abandoned at the age of five, later facing a life-threatening health crisis in her late twenties, she discovered songwriting in her thirties despite having no formal musical training. That discovery became a turning point that transformed her life and inspired a creative mission centered on connection, compassion, and healing.

Within just a few years, Miist wrote more than 100 songs and became the first native Chinese artist to chart on Billboard's Pop/AC chart. Her work continues to inspire audiences worldwide through music, storytelling, and messages of hope.

We also discuss her new book, Make Me Smile with Miist, a unique short-form, music-integrated experience that explores how simple daily actions can positively impact mindset, deepen human connection, and create meaningful change.

From her home base in San Francisco, we dive into her music career, songwriting process, creative inspiration, personal challenges, new projects, and her mission to spread love and positivity through art.

This is an uplifting conversation about perseverance, creativity, healing, and the power of human connection.

Enjoy.

Learn more about Miist:
Miist Official Website

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Sean Pentland Interview | Windward, Jerry Bergonzi Quartet, Jazz Bass & International Jazz Journey

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring South Korea-based jazz bassist, composer, educator, and bandleader Sean Pentland.

On this episode, we discuss the powerful 2026 release Windward, recorded by The Pentland/Bergonzi Quartet, featuring legendary saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, Sean Pentland, pianist Julian Shore, and drummer Jongkuk Kim.

More than just a recording project, Windward was born from profound loss. The album was inspired by the tragic and unexpected passing of friend and colleague Sebastian Nay, with whom Jerry and Sean had planned to reunite on a German tour. Dedicated to his memory, the music serves as both tribute and reflection, seeking to give voice to his spirit and the emotions that continue to resonate through those he touched.

Sean's musical journey spans multiple continents. Having lived and performed throughout Great Britain, Germany, and South Korea, he has developed a unique international perspective that informs both his bass playing and compositions. His career has led him to perform alongside some of the most respected names in modern jazz, including Don Braden, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Jim Snidero, and Jerry Bergonzi.

In this conversation, we discuss Windward, jazz composition, international touring, collaboration, mentorship, loss, creativity, and the universal language of music that connects artists and audiences across cultures and generations.

We cover the whole story.

Enjoy.

Get the album and learn more:
Sean Pentland Official Website

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Carlo Muscat Interview | That's About It, Ukrainian Jazz, Kyiv Recording & Modern European Jazz

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Ukraine-based jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Carlo Muscat.

This marks Carlo's third appearance on Neon Jazz, and it is always a privilege to document another chapter in the evolution of one of contemporary European jazz's most compelling voices. On this episode, we discuss his powerful 2026 release, That's About It, his eighth album as a leader and one of his most significant artistic statements to date.

A veteran of the Paris and Mediterranean jazz scenes, Carlo has consistently demonstrated a distinctive compositional voice. However, That's About It represents a profound shift in artistic direction. Recorded in Kyiv during the ongoing war in Ukraine, the album features a collaboration with an exceptional ensemble of Ukrainian musicians and stands as a testament to resilience, creativity, and artistic persistence.

The music embraces melodic economy, harmonic depth, subtle interaction, and what Carlo describes as a form of compositional stillness—a thoughtful and restrained approach created amidst extraordinary circumstances. The result is a deeply moving and reflective work that captures both tension and beauty.

In this conversation, we discuss the making of the album, recording in Kyiv, the realities facing artists during wartime, the contemporary European jazz scene, live performance, composition, collaboration, and the role of music in an increasingly complex world.

This is an insightful discussion about jazz, creativity, perseverance, and the enduring power of artistic expression.

Enjoy this installment.

Get the album:
Carlo Muscat Bandcamp Page

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Alex Kilroy Interview | Break My Chains, Blues Rock, Guitar, Transylvania to America Journey

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Orlando-based rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter Alex Kilroy.

On this episode, we dive deep into Alex's powerful debut 2026 album, Break My Chains, a project rooted in freedom, persistence, self-discovery, and finding his own authentic voice.

Alex's story is as compelling as his music. Growing up in the Transylvanian town of Bistrița, he hung an American flag above his bed and told his mother that he was only visiting Romania. Decades later, after years of pursuing the music that inspired him, he fulfilled that dream and built a life in America centered around his passion for rock, blues, and guitar-driven music.

Born into a musical family, Alex was surrounded by music from an early age. His father was a guitarist before moving into management, and his aunt became a nationally recognized singer who competed in Romania's Eurovision selection process. These influences helped shape the artist he is today.

We discuss the making of Break My Chains, his immigration journey, artistic development, songwriting process, blues and rock influences, and the experiences that fueled this remarkable debut release.

The album was produced by Tres Sasser, recorded in Florida with a handpicked band, mixed in Nashville by Joe Costa, and mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound.

This is a story of perseverance, dreams, music, and the pursuit of freedom through art.

Enjoy the interview.

Listen to Break My Chains:
Break My Chains on Apple Music

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Susan Billings Mitchell Interview | Forever Stalwart in Missouri, Pioneer History & LDS Heritage

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with author, illustrator, storyteller, and historian Susan Billings Mitchell, whose lifelong passion for writing, teaching, history, and storytelling has inspired readers of all ages.

Susan's journey began in elementary school when she won writing and poetry contests that sparked a love for storytelling. Over the years, she served as Editor-in-Chief of her high school newspaper, became a teacher, volunteered as a storyteller in schools and libraries, and expanded her creative talents into puppetry, costumed storytelling, and ventriloquism.

We discuss her acclaimed historical series, Forever Stalwart in Missouri: A Time of Testing, a compelling true account following three pioneer families whose lives intersect with the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Kirtland to Manti. Originally written as a single large volume, the work was later transformed into a six-volume series to make it more accessible to readers.

In this fascinating conversation, Susan shares insights on historical research, family history, pioneer life, faith, resilience, storytelling, writing, illustration, and preserving important stories for future generations.

It's a remarkable discussion about history, heritage, perseverance, and the enduring power of storytelling.

Tune in and enjoy.

Learn more about Susan Billings Mitchell and her books:
True Tales Turn Hearts Official Website

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