Legendary Jazz Percussionist Jack "Mr. Bongo" Costanzo

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Mr. Bongo – Composer, conductor and drummer – The Legendary Jazz Percussionist Jack Costanzo. Over the course of our conversation, this man well into his 90’s is as fluid as ever .. He talked about 7 trips to Cuba, dreaming of being a dancer, gigs with the best in jazz like Stan Kenton and Frank Sinatra, along with teaching the bongos to big shots in Holly wood like Tony Curtis and Marlon Brando .. He in the middle of a lot of action these days, and he spoke about his life in a big dose of honesty .. it was refreshing ..

Click here to listen to the interview.

Neon Jazz is a radio program airing since 2011. Hosted by Joe Dimino and Engineered by John Christoper in Kansas City, Missouri giving listeners a journey into one of America's finest inventions. Take a listen on KCXL (102.9 FM / 1140 AM) out of Liberty, MO on Saturday Mornings from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and Sunday Mornings from 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. Listen to KCXL on Tunein Radio at http://tunein.com/radio/Neon-Jazz-With-Joe-Dimino-p381685/. For all things Neon Jazz, visit http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

Legendary Jazz Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval The passion and love for the music has always been woven into the lore of Arturo .. During a candid conversation with Neon Jazz, he discuss how monumental Dizzy Gillespie was in his growth and development over the years .. He was his ultimate teacher .. He also discussed his role as trumpeter, arranger and composer .. he revealed what award surprised him the most, who he would have loved to perform, his foundation, what has been going on lately – including a new disc live at Yoshi’s, along with a host of other interesting observations and tales from a richly talented man who has such a good story it was made into a movie staring Andy Garcia back in 2000 ..

Click here to listen to the interview.

Neon Jazz is a radio program airing since 2011. Hosted by Joe Dimino and Engineered by John Christoper in Kansas City, Missouri giving listeners a journey into one of America's finest inventions. Take a listen on KCXL (102.9 FM / 1140 AM) out of Liberty, MO on Saturday Mornings from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and Sunday Mornings from 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. Listen to KCXL on Tunein Radio at http://tunein.com/radio/Neon-Jazz-With-Joe-Dimino-p381685/. For all things Neon Jazz, visit http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

KC Jazz Vocalist & Actress Eboni Fondren

Welcome to a special edition of the Neon Jazz interview series  with Veteran Kansas City Jazz Singer Eboni Fondren – She has been quite busy lately, as usual, bringing folks her unique voice and spin on jazz .. She got her real vault into the jazz world through Everette DeVann – Over the years, she has woven a very cool story through clubs all across KC like Jardine’s and Jillys... This love of singing has branched out into Symphonies and
Theaters .. She has many plans in her future and continues to etch together a very intriguing music story ..

Click here to listen to the interview.

Neon Jazz is a radio program airing since 2011. Hosted by Joe Dimino and Engineered by John Christoper in Kansas City, Missouri giving listeners a journey into one of America's finest inventions. Take a listen on KCXL (102.9 FM / 1140 AM) out of Liberty, MO on Saturday Mornings from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and Sunday Mornings from 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. Listen to KCXL on Tunein Radio at http://tunein.com/radio/Neon-Jazz-With-Joe-Dimino-p381685/. For all things Neon Jazz, visit http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

Jazz Trombonist Michael Dease

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with modern day jazz trombonist Michael Dease .. He’s right out of Augusta, Georgia and he’s a real jazz of all jazz trades .. along with the trombone, he plays the sax, trumpet, flugelhorn
, bass, piano, and he’s a skilled producer and composer .. Over the course of our conversation, he talked about gigging with the best cats in jazz via big bands .. Like Illinois Jaquet, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton and many more .. He discussed his heroes, plans and much more ..

Click here to listen to the interview.

Neon Jazz is a radio program airing since 2011. Hosted by Joe Dimino and Engineered by John Christoper in Kansas City, Missouri giving listeners a journey into one of America's finest inventions. Take a listen on KCXL (102.9 FM / 1140 AM) out of Liberty, MO on Saturday Mornings from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and Sunday Mornings from 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. Listen to KCXL on Tunein Radio at http://tunein.com/radio/Neon-Jazz-With-Joe-Dimino-p381685/. For all things Neon Jazz, visit http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

Journeyman Jazz Pianist Orrin Evans

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with jazz journeyman pianist Orrin Evans .. He’s a very journeyed jazz soul and a wise man .. Over the course of our conversation, he talked about what he learned from Kenny Barron, the story behind his latest album that hit #1 on the jazz charts, who his heroes in the jazz world are and exactly who he thinks he may be .. along with much more ..

Click here to listen to the interview.

Neon Jazz is a radio program airing since 2011. Hosted by Joe Dimino and Engineered by John Christoper in Kansas City, Missouri giving listeners a journey into one of America's finest inventions. Take a listen on KCXL (102.9 FM / 1140 AM) out of Liberty, MO on Saturday Mornings from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and Sunday Mornings from 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. Listen to KCXL on Tunein Radio at http://tunein.com/radio/Neon-Jazz-With-Joe-Dimino-p381685/. For all things Neon Jazz, visit http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

NYC Jazz Vocalist Katie Bull

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with modern day New York City jazz singer Katie Bull .. She was born and bred in New York City and was raised in a family that was drenched in the arts .. Her father was a jazz pianist and a dance improviser, her
mother a notable painter, and her stepmother a dance anthropologist and improviser – Over the course of our conversation, she discussed the release of her brand new 2015 album All Hot Bodies Radiate, her college years, travel to Israel & Africa, he plans for the future and how she is a cultivator of everything art and love ..

Click here to listen to the interview.

Neon Jazz is a radio program airing since 2011. Hosted by Joe Dimino and Engineered by John Christoper in Kansas City, Missouri giving listeners a journey into one of America's finest inventions. Take a listen on KCXL (102.9 FM / 1140 AM) out of Liberty, MO on Saturday Mornings from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and Sunday Mornings from 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. Listen to KCXL on Tunein Radio at http://tunein.com/radio/Neon-Jazz-With-Joe-Dimino-p381685/. For all things Neon Jazz, visit http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

Jazz Pianist and Composer Frank Carlberg

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with modern day Jazz Pianist & Composer Frank Carlberg .. In late 2015, he’s releasing two new albums - Cosmopolitan Greetings and World Circus – Originally from Helsinki, Finland, and calling New York for the past 25 years, he’s quite busy and content with a life dedicated to jazz .. When he’s leading his big band, working with his trio or reciting poetry and text wit
h his his quintet, he is always busy creating jazz .. He’s created with legends like Steve Lacy, Bob Brookmeyer and Kenny Wheeler – He discusses this, along with many more questions over the course of our discussion ..

Click here to listen to the interview.

Neon Jazz is a radio program airing since 2011. Hosted by Joe Dimino and Engineered by John Christoper in Kansas City, Missouri giving listeners a journey into one of America's finest inventions. Take a listen on KCXL (102.9 FM / 1140 AM) out of Liberty, MO on Saturday Mornings from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and Sunday Mornings from 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. Listen to KCXL on Tunein Radio at http://tunein.com/radio/Neon-Jazz-With-Joe-Dimino-p381685/. For all things Neon Jazz, visit http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

Legendary Jazz Drummer Michael Carvin

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Drumer & Educator Michael Carvin .. Over the course of our conversation, he spoke about how his father taught him the greatest lessons in life .. like waiting to learn how to play the drums properly before you do it .. and it paid off .. By 12, he was playing professionally winning five consecutive Texas rudimental championships – then moving on to be the staff drummer with Motown Records, playing with Freddie Hubbard's and gigging with the finest jaz
z cats on the planet .. like Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Jackie McLean, Hank Jones, McCoy Tyner, Illinois Jacquet, Pharoah Sanders, Bobby Hutcherson, James Moody, Hampton Hawes,  and so many others .. He has plenty of stories, wisdom and laughter to impart .. this is a man that loves jazz ..

Click here to listen to the interview.

Neon Jazz is a radio program airing since 2011. Hosted by Joe Dimino and Engineered by John Christoper in Kansas City, Missouri giving listeners a journey into one of America's finest inventions. Take a listen on KCXL (102.9 FM / 1140 AM) out of Liberty, MO on Saturday Mornings from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and Sunday Mornings from 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. Listen to KCXL on Tunein Radio at http://tunein.com/radio/Neon-Jazz-With-Joe-Dimino-p381685/. For all things Neon Jazz, visit http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

Brooklyn Jazz Saxophonist Ochion Jewell

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with the talented Brooklyn Based Jazz Saxophonist Ochion Jewell .. He is one deep cat that comes from the beauty of A
ppalachian Kentucky and went on to grow in innumerable ways at Cal Arts under the teaching of Charlie Haden and Wadada Leo Smith .. Not only is he swayed and involved in jazz, but swims through a plethora of music styles .. these days, he’s listening to a lot of Jimi Hendrix .. Over the course of our conversation, we discuss his childhood, when jazz became his thing, what is going on these days, his latest album, along with much more ..

Click here to listen to the interview.

Neon Jazz is a radio program airing since 2011. Hosted by Joe Dimino and Engineered by John Christoper in Kansas City, Missouri giving listeners a journey into one of America's finest inventions. Take a listen on KCXL (102.9 FM / 1140 AM) out of Liberty, MO on Saturday Mornings from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and Sunday Mornings from 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. Listen to KCXL on Tunein Radio at http://tunein.com/radio/Neon-Jazz-With-Joe-Dimino-p381685/. For all things Neon Jazz, visit http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

Ryan McNulty of the NYC Jazz Group Black Tie Brass

Welcome to a Neon Jazz interview with Ryan McNulty of the NYC based Jazz Outfit called the Black Tie Brass ..  The group was formed by Ryan McNulty in 2013 fulla musicians that feed off each other’s energy to create rare musical performances night after night .. Their sound is a unique blend of jazz, funk, R&B, soul, and rock .. and this close nit bunch feeds off a huge well of music energy and experience .. Over the course of our conversation, Ryan discusses the band, what is in store for the future, some tasty stories along with much, much more ..

Click here to listen to the interview.

Neon Jazz is a radio program airing since 2011. Hosted by Joe Dimino and Engineered by John Christoper in Kansas City, Missouri giving listeners a journey into one of America's finest inventions. Take a listen on KCXL (102.9 FM / 1140 AM) out of Liberty, MO on Saturday Mornings from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and Sunday Mornings from 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. Listen to KCXL on Tunein Radio at http://tunein.com/radio/Neon-Jazz-With-Joe-Dimino-p381685/. For all things Neon Jazz, visit http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

Jazz Reviewer, Historian and Author Scott Yanow

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Historian, Reviewer and Author Scott Yanow .. Originally from NYC .. he grew up in LA, he got hooked I first heard Dixieland in the Danny Kaye movie The Five Pennies .. His first record was The Very Best Of Al Hirt & Pete Fountain .. and from there he moved on into the real stuff with Charlie Parker and John Coltrane .. He has written for Downbeat, Jazziz, the Los Angeles Jazz Scene, the Jazz Rag and Jazz Inside and been on over 750 liner notes, hundreds of press biographies and press releases – His name in words screams jazz and he has plenty of tales to tell .. and they were told ..

Click here to listen to the interview.

Neon Jazz is a radio program airing since 2011. Hosted by Joe Dimino and Engineered by John Christoper in Kansas City, Missouri giving listeners a journey into one of America's finest inventions. Take a listen on KCXL (102.9 FM / 1140 AM) out of Liberty, MO on Saturday Mornings from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and Sunday Mornings from 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. Listen to KCXL on Tunein Radio at http://tunein.com/radio/Neon-Jazz-With-Joe-Dimino-p381685/. For all things Neon Jazz, visit http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

NYC Saxophonist Caroline Davis on "Doors: Chicago Storylines"

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Saxophonist and Composer Caroline Davis .. Following the release of her much-praised 2012 debut, Live Work & Play, alto saxophonist and composer Caroline Davis relocated from Chicago to New York City and got to work on an ambitious project that had been germinating for seven years. To honor her eight-year residency in Chicago, she combines spoken stories and original compositions on her new CD Doors: Chicago Storylines, which will be released by ears&eyes Records on November 6. The inspiration for Doors first came in 2007 while Davis was teaching a course on the history of Chicago jazz at Northwestern University. She found that 1980 to 2000 was “virtually uncharted territory,” She conducted interviews with 15 musicians she’d found helpful and influential when she was coming up on the Chicago scene (including Art Davis, George Fludas, Bobby Broom, and Von Freeman, one of her mentors) to talk about their experiences during that time. She spoke with us about the creation of this album ..

Click here to listen to the interview.

Neon Jazz is a radio program airing since 2011. Hosted by Joe Dimino and Engineered by John Christoper in Kansas City, Missouri giving listeners a journey into one of America's finest inventions. Take a listen on KCXL (102.9 FM / 1140 AM) out of Liberty, MO on Saturday Mornings from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and Sunday Mornings from 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. Listen to KCXL on Tunein Radio at http://tunein.com/radio/Neon-Jazz-With-Joe-Dimino-p381685/. For all things Neon Jazz, visit http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

Canadian Jazz Saxophonist & Teacher Christine Jensen

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Canadian jazz saxophonist and educator Christine Jensen .. Over the course of our conversation, she talked about growing up in the same town that Diana Krall did, gigging with her sister – trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, what has been going on lately in a busy schedule, why she loves jazz, what her teaching philosophy is .. along with much more ..

Click here to listen to the interview.

Neon Jazz is a radio program airing since 2011. Hosted by Joe Dimino and Engineered by John Christoper in Kansas City, Missouri giving listeners a journey into one of America's finest inventions. Take a listen on KCXL (102.9 FM / 1140 AM) out of Liberty, MO on Saturday Mornings from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and Sunday Mornings from 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. Listen to KCXL on Tunein Radio at http://tunein.com/radio/Neon-Jazz-With-Joe-Dimino-p381685/. For all things Neon Jazz, visit http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/