Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Japanese jazz pianist and composer Takashi Matsunaga. We get into his new 2026 album, Ride Five, and the remarkable journey that has made him an internationally respected voice in jazz. This is a spirited conversation, with the help of an interpreter, about music, collaboration, inspiration, and a life devoted to jazz.
Takashi made his recording debut at just 17 with his album Takashi, which became a bestseller. A major milestone came in 2003 when he performed with Herbie Hancock at Tokyo Jazz, earning recognition from musicians around the world.
His career has since included collaborations with an extraordinary range of artists, including Ron Carter, Christian McBride, Bobby McFerrin, Jack DeJohnette, Eric Harland, and Chaka Khan.
Beyond his work as a performer, Takashi also composes and performs theme music for television news programs and commercials, showcasing another dimension of his musical versatility.
We explore Ride Five, his evolution as a pianist and composer, the experiences that have shaped his career, and the many musical connections he's made along the way.
Music and more:
https://www.takashimatsunaga.com/
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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with jazz saxophonist Matt Parker of The Candy Shop Boys. We caught up with Matt on release day, Friday, October 30, 2026, to talk about the long-awaited release of Sugarfoot Stomp, a remarkable 21-track archival recording out on BYNK Records.
Recorded over two nights at Tedesco Studios in January 2013, these sessions sat unreleased for thirteen years. Now newly remixed and remastered, the complete collection is finally available on streaming platforms for the first time.
The Candy Shop Boys are also the band heard and seen in the film John Wick. Featuring vocalist Sophia Urista of NBC's The Voice, the quintet includes violinist Scott Tixier, tenor saxophonist Matt Parker, pianist Jesse Elder, bassist Kenball Zwerin and drummer Arthur Vint.
The music takes listeners on a wild ride through 1920s hot jazz, Cotton Club classics, viper songs and imaginative reinventions of music by The Doors, The Beatles and Prince. It's a fascinating musical journey that brings together vintage sounds, adventurous arrangements and a whole lot of personality.
Always a joy to have Matt on the show! Dig this conversation, discover the story behind Sugarfoot Stomp, and enjoy the music.
LISTEN TO SUGARFOOT STOMP:
https://orcd.co/0xdn3xr
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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Australia-born, New York-based pianist and singer-songwriter Tracey Yarad. We catch up with Tracey to explore her remarkable musical journey and her award-winning project, All These Pretty Things — a one-woman musical memoir that blends original songs, storytelling, and live piano into an unforgettable theatrical experience.
For the past four years, Tracey has been touring and developing this deeply personal music show, inviting audiences into a journey through love, loss, resilience, and reinvention. Drawing on true events and delivered with a distinctive jazz sensibility and fearless storytelling, it's a project that brings the personal and musical together in powerful ways.
Tracey's career has taken her across continents and through several fascinating chapters. From touring Australia with her original music and landing a Top 40 single in the 1990s, to a seven-year residency in five-star hotels across Japan, she has continually reinvented her life in music. She also founded and ran a music school in the Blue Mountains for 18 years before ultimately relocating to New York City.
We cover the whole story — the music, the adventures, the challenges, the creative evolution, and the experiences behind All These Pretty Things.
Get All These Pretty Things:
https://traceyyarad.com/all-these-pretty-things
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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Juno Award-winning jazz pianist and composer Florian Hoefner, celebrating his ambitious 2026 album, Into the Aquasphere.
This remarkable project brings together a jazz quartet and a 22-piece chamber orchestra as one integrated musical ensemble. Recorded in Montréal under conductor JC Sanford, the album features John Hébert on bass, Eric McPherson on drums, and concertmaster Nathalie Bonin.
The three original compositions explore the power, beauty, and fragility of water and our changing climate. "Aerial Rivers" draws inspiration from the atmospheric currents that sustain the Amazon. "AMOC" explores the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and the threat it faces from climate change. "Force of Nature" captures the elemental power of water and its remarkable ability to both destroy and soothe.
We get into the creative vision behind this extraordinary recording, the challenge of bringing jazz and chamber orchestral music together, and the environmental themes that run through the project.
These ideas are deeply personal for Florian, shaped by years spent among the mountains and waters of his native Germany and his adopted home of Canada.
It's always great to have Florian on the show. Join us for a conversation about music, nature, collaboration, and one of his most ambitious artistic statements yet.
Get the album – Into the Aquasphere:
https://mvdshop.com/products/florian-hoefner-into-the-aquasphere-cd?srsltid=AU7gw4XdHF-Qzsm9y-
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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Montreal-born, Orlando-based Saxophonist, Composer & Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI) Performer Alain Bradette. We catch up with Alain to explore his new 2026 album To My Loved Ones and the fascinating musical journey behind it. His work centers on melodic writing, improvisation, and contemporary jazz language, reflecting a deep commitment to musical expression, collaboration, and compositional identity.
Over the course of his career, Alain has performed and collaborated with acclaimed musicians including John Patitucci, Greg Osby, and Dick Oatts. Those experiences have helped shape his approach to ensemble interaction, improvisational flexibility, and developing his own distinctive musical voice.
His new album features eight compositions, each with its own personal and musical origins. Beyond his work as an independent jazz recording artist, Alain is also a touring musician and a full-time woodwind performer with Cirque du Soleil.
We get into the new music, his influences, career experiences, creative evolution, and the many chapters of a life devoted to music.
GET THE ALBUM & MORE:
https://alainbradettemusic.com/
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