Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with jazz bassist Dan Loomis of the Joel Frahm Trio talking 2026 music, albums, touring, and the story behind this stellar trio.
Dan Loomis joins us to talk about the history and evolution of the Joel Frahm Trio, featuring Joel Frahm on tenor saxophone, Dan Loomis on bass, and Ernesto Cervini on drums.
The trio has released two acclaimed albums: 2021’s The Bright Side and 2024’s Lumination. Now they are preparing to hit the road for a Fall 2026 tour with stops across Missouri and California.
Joel Frahm Trio – Fall 2026 Tour
October 15 — University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO
October 16 — Tom's Town, Kansas City, MO
October 18 — We Always Swing, Columbia, MO
October 20 — San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
October 21 — San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
October 23 — Sam First, Los Angeles, CA
We get into the trio's history, their albums, their unique musical chemistry, touring, life as a working jazz musician, and what is ahead for the Joel Frahm Trio in 2026.
Great to have Dan Loomis back on the show.
Enjoy this interview.
More Dan Loomis
Dan Loomis Music
More Joel Frahm
Joel Frahm
More Ernesto Cervini
Ernesto Cervini
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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with NYC-based jazz tenor saxophonist Andrew Rathbun on his 2026 album Episodes. For Episodes, Rathbun teams up with pianist Gary Versace, his longtime collaborator on several acclaimed SteepleChase sessions, for the first time as a duo. The result reveals a striking new dimension in their musical partnership.
The interplay between Rathbun and Versace is vivid, spontaneous, and deeply attuned. Versace favors linear, wriggling motion over conventional harmonic cushions, while Rathbun’s tenor saxophone improvisations unfold with narrative clarity, balancing modern jazz language with melodic focus. Together, they push into unfamiliar territory, creating music that feels exploratory, intimate, quietly daring, and completely alive.
In this Neon Jazz conversation, we dig into Episodes, the creative relationship between Andrew Rathbun and Gary Versace, improvisation, contemporary jazz, the New York jazz scene, and the ideas behind this inspired new duo recording.
Andrew Rathbun has been a regular around these parts, and it’s always a pleasure to dig into his music and creative journey.
🎧 Listen to Andrew Rathbun & Gary Versace – Episodes:
Listen to Episodes on Spotify
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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Drummer Robert Jospé. On this episode, we get into his new 2026 album, The Night Sky, and a decorated career in the world of jazz.
Born in Manhattan to Belgian parents with a deep love of music, Robert began playing drums at fourteen and had his first professional performance in France at just sixteen. He went on to study with legendary drummers Tony Williams and Bob Moses, developing a career that has taken him across the worlds of jazz performance, recording and education.
Over the years, Robert Jospé has performed and recorded with an extraordinary group of artists, including Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Bobby McFerrin, Pat Metheny, Cyrus Chestnut, Emily Remler, Stanley Jordan and Joe Henderson.
In this conversation, we explore The Night Sky, Robert's early musical journey, studying with Tony Williams and Bob Moses, decades of gigs and recordings, teaching, improvisation, collaboration and the life of a working jazz drummer.
It's a deep dive into the music, experiences and stories behind a remarkable jazz career.
Dig this interview.
Get The Night Sky and more from Robert Jospé:
Robert Jospé – The Night Sky
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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City-based jazz trumpeter and composer Nick Hmeljak. Nick is preparing to release his upcoming 2026 album, Alive, with his band Open Channel — a Kansas City collective he formed in 2024 to explore original music and standards through the wide-open lens of jazz, R&B and rock.
With a rotating lineup featuring vibraphone, guitar, synths, trumpet, bass and drums, Open Channel is constantly shifting textures, instrumentation and group dynamics to create something fresh every time they hit the stage.
A Charlotte Street Resident, Nick has become an active part of the Kansas City music scene, performing not only as a jazz trumpeter and composer, but also as a sideman in R&B, Cumbia, musical theater and party bands. He also shares his knowledge through masterclasses, clinics and private lessons with local high school music programs.
In this conversation, we get into the story behind Alive, the formation and evolution of Open Channel, Nick's life in Kansas City jazz, his work across different musical worlds, education, performance and the creative journey that continues to shape his sound.
It's a conversation about Kansas City jazz, jazz trumpet, original music, improvisation, Open Channel, R&B, composition, music education and the next generation of jazz artists.
More Nick Hmeljak & get the music:
Nick Hmeljak Official Website
Nick Hmeljak Music – HearNow
Nick Hmeljak on Instagram
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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with jazz musician, composer, educator and founder of Creative Sound Play, Hayes Greenfield. We dig into his third release for Sunnyside Records, Painting in Sound, and the fascinating journey that has taken Hayes through the worlds of jazz, composition, education, improvisation and electroacoustic music.
With Painting in Sound, Hayes Greenfield expands the possibilities of what jazz — and binaural, spatially immersive music — can be. Drawing on decades of experience in traditional jazz and improvisation, he creates a deeply exploratory recording where sound becomes something you don't simply hear, but experience.
The project blurs the boundary between performance and environment, creating an intimate sonic space where every gesture, texture and movement feels alive. Architecturally precise yet emotionally resonant, Painting in Sound offers a fresh perspective on the recorded jazz experience and pushes the music into bold new perceptual dimensions.
In this wide-ranging Neon Jazz conversation, we explore the making of Painting in Sound, Hayes' evolution as a musician and composer, his work as an educator, the philosophy behind Creative Sound Play, electroacoustic music, immersive listening, improvisation and the many chapters of his remarkable musical journey.
It's a conversation about sound, creativity, education and what happens when an artist starts asking us to experience jazz in an entirely different way.
🎧 Get Painting in Sound:
https://sunnysiderecords.bandcamp.com/album/painting-in-sound
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