Producer Suzanne Waldowski & Singer/Pianist Champian Fulton On the 2025 Swinging in the Holidays Album

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. In this episode, we sit down with producer Suzanne Waldowski and singer/pianist Champian Fulton to discuss the 2025 holiday jazz release Swinging in the Holidays—a vibrant album that brings fresh energy to seasonal music through original arrangements and today’s finest jazz voices.

Suzanne Waldowski’s journey into jazz is a unique one. A lifelong fan of the American Songbook, she began by hosting intimate house concerts in her home. That passion grew into presenting more than 20 concerts a year across the country, and ultimately launching her own jazz label, Songbook Ink. Swinging in the Holidays is the label’s first release and sets the tone for its mission: honoring tradition while spotlighting the next generation of jazz artists.

Joining her is Champian Fulton, widely regarded as one of the finest musicians in jazz today. The album features an impressive lineup including Anaïs Reno, Lucy Wijnands, Olivia Chindamo, Wyatt Michael, Angela Gray, Vanessa Perea, Rob Edwards, and Benny Benack III. Legendary clarinetist and tenor saxophonist Ken Peplowski also appears on the record and contributes insightful, often fascinating liner notes.

We cover the origins of the album, the vision behind Songbook Ink, the creative process, and the state of jazz today. Enjoy this wide-ranging conversation.

🎶 Get the album:
https://songbook-ink.com/

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Advanced Mediator, Author of Dream On & Acclaimed Copywriter Chanoa Inez

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. In this episode, we talk with Chanoa Inez, an advanced mediator, acclaimed copywriter, and author of Dream On. Through her signature MAGNETIZE YOUR PERSONAL BRAND™ program, Chanoa helps clients attract better opportunities by combining deep personal transformation techniques with years of copywriting expertise — guiding people to reconnect with who they truly are and communicate that truth in powerful, memorable ways.

Her book, Dream On: How to Create the New Life of Your Dreams After Upheaval or Loss, tells a gripping personal story that spans Montenegro to Los Angeles, while offering meaningful paths and practical techniques to help others reconnect with joy and purpose at a much faster pace.

Joining us from her base in Los Angeles, Chanoa shares an inspiring story of evolution, grit, resilience, and creative strength.

🔗 More on Chanoa Inez:
https://www.chanoainez.com/

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Resilience & Acute Trauma Transformational Speaker and Coach Karen Peters

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. In this episode, we talk with Karen Peters, a Resilience and Acute Trauma Transformational Speaker and Coach, who helps people understand what happens when the “perfect life” collapses — and how to rebuild a life that is more authentic, joyful, and purpose-driven than before.

Karen unpacks the illusion of perfection, busy happiness, and the patterns that keep people stuck, while offering practical steps to reclaim identity, confidence, and emotional freedom when life takes a turn you never saw coming. She shares her own powerful story of building a life that looked perfect on the outside — a successful career, family, and social image — until everything changed overnight when her husband became the center of a public news story and her world shattered.

We also discuss her early ties to Kansas City and the new life she has intentionally shaped from her base in Dallas, turning trauma into purpose and resilience into a calling.

🔗 More on Karen Peters:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-peters-b692b127/

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Brooklyn-based Composer, Multi-Instrumentalist & Visionary Abraham Gomez-Delgado

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Brooklyn-based composer, multi-instrumentalist, and visionary Abraham Gomez-Delgado.

In this episode, we dive into his new 2025 album ¡Ya Tú Sabes! U All Reddy Noe, recorded with NYC’s powerhouse Latin X-Perimental band Zemog El Gallo Bueno. The group returns with their long-awaited seventh album, capturing a tight-knit band at the height of its powers.

Sung in Spanish, English, and Spanglish, the music explores themes of immigration, indigenous ancestry, personal transformation, and the radical act of rest — all filtered through Zemog’s signature blend of experimental jazz, Latin roots, and fearless improvisation.

We also trace Abraham’s journey from his beginnings to the present, covering a wide-ranging life in music and creative exploration.

🎵 Get the album and more:
https://abrahamgomez-delgado.com/ 

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Paris-based Jazz Bassist, Composer & Leader of Theorem of Joy Thomas Julienne

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Paris-based jazz bassist, composer, and bandleader Thomas Julienne, leader of Theorem of Joy.

In this episode, we catch up with Thomas about the band’s third album and 2025 release, Feux, along with his life in music, the evolution of the group, and reflections on modern living. A musician driven by collaboration and curiosity, Thomas continually draws from encounters across genres and cultures to shape his sound.

Known for his eclectic style and forward-looking approach, Thomas is trained in film scoring and computer-assisted music production, and he regularly composes commissioned works for image-based media. As a double bassist, he shares his experiences performing with diverse ensembles and musicians around the world, always pushing toward new artistic territory.

🎵 Get the music:
https://theoremofjoy.com/

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Bassist Wolf Robert Stratmann & Pianist/Composer Sujae Jung on the 2025 Album Confluence

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with bassist Wolf Robert Stratmann and pianist/composer Sujae Jung, discussing their 2025 quartet album Confluence.

In this episode, we take a close look at this new recording featuring Steve Cardenas on guitar and Marko on drums. Confluence was released on December 3, 2025, alongside a same-day release concert at Ki Smith Gallery in Manhattan.

These long-time creative partners talk about the making of the album, their shared musical history, live performances in South Korea, the Steve Cardenas Kansas City connection, and how this quartet sound continues to evolve on stage and in the studio.

🎵 Get the music:
https://www.wolfrobertstratmann.com/

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Pennsylvania-based Jazz Singer Corinne on the 2025 Album Stories in Pink

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Pennsylvania-based jazz singer Corinne, discussing her 2025 concept album Stories in Pink.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into an album that slips listeners into a time machine set for 1962 Manhattan, Paris, and Rio, blending deconstructed bossa nova, re-imagined jazz-pop, and lyrical storytelling into a sound that feels both nostalgic and urgently present.

Corinne also discusses her direct-to-fan release model, offering a special download package through her website that includes VIP invitations to future performances and exclusive content. Her goal is to reshape the artist–listener relationship — moving beyond passive streaming toward active patronage and deeper engagement.

Supported by Grammy-winning A&R at Bonfire, a nonprofit focused on artist development, Corinne also talks about preparing for an upcoming tour and what’s next for her evolving sound.

🎵 Get the album:
https://www.lightthebonfire.org/corinne 

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