Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring saxophonist, clarinetist and composer Aaron Irwin discussing the 2026 album Spark.

The Aaron Irwin Trio brings together guitarist Mike Baggetta and drummer Bill Campbell in a unique bass-less trio format that prioritizes melody, space and texture. The group blends chamber-like intimacy with Americana-rooted language and modern improvisation, creating clear song forms that invite deep interaction between musicians and listeners.

This marks the trio’s third album together. In this conversation, we dive into the making of Spark, touring, creative chemistry, improvisation, and reflections on America today.

🎵 Get the album Spark here:https://aaronirwin.bandcamp.com/album/spark

If you love modern jazz, saxophone-led trios, creative improvisation, and intimate ensemble interplay, this episode is for you.

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with vocalist, guitarist, porch philosopher and bandleader Danny Garrison of Kansas City-based Bluebird Ramblers.

We caught up with Danny during his day job as an assistant principal to talk all things music, Kansas City culture, and the band’s mission to keep the golden age of American music alive.

The Bluebird Ramblers broadcast straight from the roots of honky tonk swing, early rock and roll, rockabilly drive, and classic country charm. Their sound feels at home under neon lights, inside a dance hall, or beneath a wide-open Midwestern sky. Every show is a jukebox time machine packed with shuffle beats, vintage vibes, and pure Americana energy.

In this episode, we dive into:


The Kansas City music scene


Honky tonk and rockabilly revival


Balancing education and music


Preserving classic American roots music


The mission behind the Bluebird Ramblers

If you love classic country, early rock & roll, roots music, or Kansas City live music, this conversation is for you.

🎶 More on the Bluebird Ramblers:https://www.thebluebirdramblers.com/

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series 🎷 On this episode, we talk with Seattle-based jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator Kate Olson about her new 2026 CD So It Goes.

Since moving to Seattle in 2010, Kate has immersed herself in the local, regional, and international improvised music scenes. With a BA in Music (Jazz Emphasis) from the University of Wyoming and an MM in Improvisation from the University of Michigan, she now serves on the jazz faculty at Pacific Lutheran University and University of Puget Sound.

Kate’s growing international résumé includes performances in Russia, Latvia, Turkey, Switzerland, South Korea, Cuba, and Slovakia — reflecting her commitment to creative improvisation and global collaboration.

In this conversation, we explore:


The inspiration behind So It Goes


The Seattle jazz scene


Life as a working jazz musician


Teaching and mentoring the next generation


The power of improvisation in modern jazz

🎷 Get the album:https://originarts.com/oa2/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=22246

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series 🎼 On this episode, we talk with Shanghai, China-born, New York-based arranger and composer Zhengtao Pan about his third studio album Air With Layers, released on Pinch Records.

At just 22 years old, Zhengtao dives into his first fully orchestrated Symphony and Piano Concerto — marking his bold entry into contemporary classical music. The album showcases his versatility, cinematic sensibilities, and global musical perspective.

We discuss:


The creative process behind Air With Layers


Writing his first Symphony and Piano Concerto


His musical beginnings in Shanghai, China


Growth and evolution in New York


Influences from video game soundtracks and film scoring


His studies at Berklee College of Music, the Gabriela Ortiz Composing Studio, and the Film Scoring Academy of Europe

This is a powerful story of international artistry, youth, and creative ambition bridging contemporary classical, orchestral music, and cinematic sound.

🎧 Get the album:https://www.zhengtaopan.com/music

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Harlem-based Ghanaian/American vocalist BLCK Madonna.

We take a deep dive into her debut album, Between the Lines, releasing March 27, 2026 on all major streaming platforms via The Noir Collective / Downtown Music. This powerful and deeply personal project reimagines seven jazz standards through the lens of identity, memory, and emotional truth.

BLCK Madonna is the artistic moniker of vocalist Ana Hoffman, whose shimmering soprano and rich, dusky lower register explore the intersection of jazz tradition, cultural identity, and contemporary expression. Born biracial and raised bicultural, Ana’s path to jazz was unexpected—she was a pharmacy major in college when music chose her during a profound personal reckoning.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss her journey into jazz, the meaning behind Between the Lines, the Harlem music scene, reinterpreting standards for a new generation, and carving out a voice that honors both heritage and innovation.

If you love modern jazz vocals, jazz standards, contemporary reinterpretations, or discovering new jazz artists, this interview is for you.

🎶 Listen here:https://open.spotify.com/track/614RUqyvSXNjBT8XlkYRrh?si=fhMjL1-7QPed0njly9sR2Q&nd=1&dlsi=fd7eb29e98ac4cf0

🔔 Subscribe to Neon Jazz for more in-depth conversations with today’s most compelling jazz artists.

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