Kansas City-based Jazz Singer, Drummer & Radio Host David Basse on the 2025 Album War Within

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Kansas City-based Jazz Singer, Drummer and Radio Host David Basse discussing his powerful 2025 live album War Within. Recorded at the iconic Kulak's Woodshed, this intimate and emotionally charged performance captures David on drums and vocals alongside pianist Stuart Elster and acoustic bassist Lester Hughes.

The idea to bring this project to Kulak’s came from acclaimed LA vocalist Mark Winkler, with guidance on the venue’s unique performance approach from Cathy Segal-Garcia. The result is a raw, honest and musically rich live jazz recording that showcases David Basse’s artistry, vulnerability and rhythmic command.

For decades, David Basse has been a cornerstone of the Kansas City jazz scene. He is the longtime host of the nationally syndicated radio program Jazz with David Basse, publisher of JAM Magazine in Kansas City and a passionate jazz educator dedicated to preserving and advancing the music. His new album War Within reflects both personal introspection and seasoned musicianship, blending vocal jazz, live improvisation and heartfelt storytelling.

In this in-depth interview, we explore the making of War Within, the Los Angeles recording session, the intersection of radio and performance, Kansas City jazz history and David’s ongoing impact as a musician, broadcaster and cultural advocate.

Listen to War Within here: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-war-within/1827572475

Neon Jazz continues to spotlight top jazz artists from Kansas City and beyond, celebrating live performance, jazz heritage and the evolving sound of modern creative music. 

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Veteran LA-based Jazz Singer and Pianist Mark Christian Miller

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring veteran Los Angeles-based jazz singer and pianist Mark Christian Miller. In this in-depth conversation, we explore his fourth album as a leader, Strange Meadowlark, a richly textured and emotionally resonant release that builds on the momentum of his critically acclaimed 2022 album Music in the Air.

On Strange Meadowlark, Mark Christian Miller is joined by a legendary rhythm section featuring Joe La Barbera on drums and Chuck Berghofer on bass, creating a masterful blend of swing, subtlety and West Coast sophistication. Known for singing with warmth, sweetness and intimate storytelling, Miller delivers performances that feel personal, inviting and deeply rooted in jazz tradition.

Originally from Iowa and a respected presence on the Los Angeles jazz scene since the 1990s, Mark Christian Miller has built a storied career across music and the arts. His work reflects classic American songbook influences, modern jazz sensibilities and the timeless craft of vocal interpretation. In this interview, we dive into his artistic evolution, recording process, collaboration with jazz greats, and the enduring vitality of the West Coast jazz sound.

If you are a fan of jazz vocalists, contemporary straight-ahead jazz, piano-driven jazz albums, American songbook standards, LA jazz artists or legendary rhythm sections, this episode offers rich insight and musical depth.

Get Strange Meadowlark and learn more about Mark Christian Miller at https://www.markchristianmiller.com/general-clean

Neon Jazz brings you interviews with top jazz musicians from Kansas City, Los Angeles and around the world, celebrating the history, evolution and future of jazz through compelling artist conversations. 

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Author, Podcaster and Workforce Retention & Confidence Strategist for Women in the Trades Samantha Kaye Harris

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino featuring Author, Podcaster and Workforce Retention & Confidence Strategist for Women in the Trades Samantha Kaye Harris. In this empowering episode, we connect with Samantha from New Jersey to explore her 25+ years of experience working and leading in male-dominated industries, including aviation and maintenance, and how she now helps women stay, lead and thrive in the careers they fought hard to enter.

Samantha Kaye Harris specializes in workforce retention, leadership confidence and communication strategies for women navigating skilled trades and technical fields. Having often been the only woman in the room, she understands what it feels like to be overlooked, interrupted or doubted — and she equips women with practical tools to maintain their voice, authority and self-trust in high-pressure environments.

She is the host of the empowering podcast Rooted in Your Confidence, where she shares conversations and strategies designed to strengthen professional identity and resilience. Samantha is also the creator of the Brag Bag™ Strategy, a powerful framework that helps women document their wins, own their accomplishments and confidently articulate their value in the workplace.

In this conversation, we dive into women in the trades, leadership development, workplace equity, career confidence, communication skills, navigating male-dominated industries, retention strategies, and building sustainable careers in aviation, maintenance and technical professions. If you are interested in women empowerment, blue-collar leadership, skilled trades advocacy, professional growth or building confidence at work, this episode delivers actionable insight and inspiration.

Learn more about Samantha Kaye Harris and her work at https://www.theskhsolutions.com/

Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino features conversations with authors, entrepreneurs, leaders and innovators focused on growth, resilience, leadership and impactful storytelling. Subscribe for more in-depth interviews spotlighting professionals creating meaningful change in their industries.

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Senior Executive, CEO and Business Transformation & AI for Operations Alain Cohen

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino featuring Senior Executive, CEO and Business Transformation & AI for Operations leader Alain Cohen. In this in-depth conversation, we connect with Alain from Paris to explore his two decades of global leadership experience across logistics, supply chain management, consulting and AI-powered operational excellence.

Alain Cohen has led multinational organizations throughout Europe and beyond, managing large profit centers, complex cross-functional teams and high-stakes business transformations. As a strategic executive and hands-on operator, he specializes in helping companies scale profitably through digital transformation, artificial intelligence integration, operational efficiency and innovation-driven leadership.

In this episode, we dive into AI for operations, supply chain optimization, enterprise transformation, leadership in the age of automation, digitalization strategies, operational excellence frameworks and the future of global logistics. Alain shares insights on building resilient organizations, navigating disruption, driving profitability and aligning technology with human capital to achieve sustainable growth.

If you are interested in CEO leadership strategies, business transformation, artificial intelligence in business, operations management, consulting, global executive leadership or scaling companies in competitive markets, this conversation delivers high-level insight and real-world experience from a seasoned international executive.

Learn more about Alain Cohen and his work at https://famla.com/

Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, innovators and global thought leaders focused on leadership, growth, technology and impactful storytelling. Subscribe for more interviews highlighting professionals shaping the future of business and innovation.

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Jazz Vocalist, Composer & Bandleader Katie Bull on the 2026 Album The Hope Etudes

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Jazz Vocalist, Composer and Bandleader Katie Bull discussing her powerful 2026 album The Hope Etudes. We reconnect with Katie more than a decade after her first 2015 appearance on Neon Jazz to explore a project shaped by survival, reflection and profound artistic evolution in a post-pandemic world.

Set for release on April 10, 2026 via Orchard of Pomegranates Records, The Hope Etudes is Katie Bull’s most intimate and conceptually expansive recording to date. The album unfolds as a deeply personal yet universally resonant meditation on mortality, resilience, nonlinear time and what she calls “hope in action.” Drawing from experiences of isolation, hospice care and loss, the project was profoundly shaped by Katie’s time caring for her beloved mentor Jay Clayton during home hospice.

Joined by her longtime New York-based collaborators — bassist Joe Fonda, drummer George Schuller, guitarist Jeff Lederer and pianist Mara Rosenbloom — Katie delivers a moving, exploratory jazz recording that blends improvisation, poetic lyricism and emotional depth. The Hope Etudes captures the spirit of modern creative jazz while honoring lineage, mentorship and the enduring power of artistic community.

In this in-depth conversation, we dive into the making of The Hope Etudes, contemporary jazz composition, vocal improvisation, the impact of caregiving, navigating grief through music and the evolution of an artist over time. This episode is essential listening for fans of modern jazz, avant-garde vocalists, women in jazz, New York jazz musicians and anyone interested in music born from resilience and transformation.

Discover more about Katie Bull, upcoming performances and The Hope Etudes at https://www.katiebull.com/

Neon Jazz brings you interviews with top jazz artists, composers and innovators from around the world, celebrating the history and future of jazz through thoughtful conversations and deep musical exploration.

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Keynote Speaker, Leadership Consultant & Executive Coach Julia Rock

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino featuring Keynote Speaker, Leadership Consultant and Executive Coach Julia Rock. In this powerful episode, we connect with Julia from Las Vegas to explore her mission of transforming workplace dynamics and helping leaders build cultures where employees don’t just work — they truly thrive.

Julia Rock is a sought-after leadership expert who has successfully managed and scaled global teams, overcoming challenges like burnout, disengagement and workplace inequality. Through her consulting and executive coaching work at Rock Career Development, she empowers organizations to create inclusive, high-performance environments rooted in clarity, accountability and purpose-driven leadership.

Her personal and professional journey led her to the TEDx stage, where she shared insights on career growth, equity and building workplaces that foster belonging and opportunity. Over the course of her career, Julia has coached and mentored more than 1,000 professionals and leaders, guiding them toward meaningful, fulfilling and sustainable career paths.

In this conversation, we dive into leadership development, executive coaching, employee engagement, workplace culture transformation, burnout prevention, inclusive leadership strategies and building scalable global teams. If you are interested in management training, women in leadership, organizational development, career advancement, professional growth or creating thriving company culture, this episode delivers practical insight and inspiration.

Learn more about Julia Rock and her work at https://www.rockcareer.com

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Tech Leader, Award-Winning Author & Podcast Host Sheekha Singh

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino featuring Tech Leader, Award-Winning Author and Podcast Host Sheekha Singh. In this compelling episode, we connect with Sheekha from Toronto to explore her global journey from India to Omaha and now Canada, and how her immigrant experience shaped her leadership style, ambition and resilience in the tech industry.

Sheekha Singh is the author of Unburnable Ambition, a powerful guide for high achievers who want to succeed without sacrificing their well-being. She is also the author of The IT Girl, which earned the prestigious Dan Poynter's Global Ebook Awards Gold Award in the Tech category. Her work dives into ambition, identity, burnout prevention, leadership development and building a version of success that feels sustainable rather than exhausting.

Beyond her books, Sheekha is the host of Rise & Tell with Sheekha, where she features honest conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives and leaders about growth, reinvention, storytelling and navigating career pivots with confidence. With more than a decade of leadership experience in tech, she offers insight into women in technology, immigrant entrepreneurship, personal branding, career growth and balancing drive with self-care.

This episode is essential for anyone interested in tech leadership, women in STEM, immigrant success stories, sustainable ambition, personal development, career reinvention and authentic storytelling in business. Sheekha Singh brings a perspective rooted in grit, cultural expectations and intentional growth that resonates with ambitious professionals worldwide.

Learn more about Sheekha Singh and her work at https://sheekhasingh.com

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