Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with NYC-based jazz trumpeter and composer Glenn Makos. We caught up with this seasoned New York player to talk about his new 2025 CD Arrowsic, released on Stop Time Records, and his lifelong journey through the world of jazz.

Inspired by Glenn’s passion for coffee roasting, Arrowsic reflects the distinctive flavors of beans sourced from around the globe. As he explored the unique regional characteristics of different coffees, those nuances found their way into his compositions—resulting in a richly textured album where aroma, rhythm, and melody intersect.

Over the years, Glenn has performed at many of New York City’s premier jazz venues, building a reputation as a thoughtful composer and dynamic trumpeter deeply rooted in the tradition while pushing forward creatively. In this in-depth conversation, we dive into the inspiration behind the record, the intersection of art and everyday ritual, and a life dedicated to jazz.

🎺 If you love modern jazz, trumpet masters, behind-the-scenes album stories, and artist interviews — this one is for you.

More on Glenn Makos:https://www.glennmakos.com/ 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring cultural historian, educator, and author John Gennari.

We dive into his 2025 book The Jazz Barn: Music Inn, the Berkshires, and the Place of Jazz in American Life.

Dr. Gennari is a Professor of English and Critical Race and Ethnic Studies at the University of Vermont and an American Studies–trained U.S. cultural historian specializing in jazz and popular music, race and ethnicity, Italian American culture, food, sports, and cultural criticism. He is also the author of the 2017 book Flavor and Soul: Italian America at Its African American Edge.

In this conversation, we explore how a small New England town — Lenox, Massachusetts — became an unlikely home for jazz in the 1950s. The Jazz Barn chronicles the story of the Music Inn in the Berkshire Hills, where a barn, icehouse, and greenhouse were transformed into a groundbreaking cultural hub for performances, seminars, and cross-cultural exchange.

Set against the backdrop of McCarthyism, the civil rights movement, the Afro-Caribbean diaspora, and postwar tourism, this story challenges assumptions about race and place, art and geography, and the relationship between rural landscapes and urban jazz culture.

This is an essential conversation for anyone interested in jazz history, American cultural studies, race and music, and the evolution of jazz in America.

📚 Get John Gennari’s books here:https://www.amazon.com/stores/John-Gennari/author/B001HD13RS?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=ccd9f68d-c8af-4cc6-8fd6-2eb7952af8ca

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Indiana-based, award-winning jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator Scott Routenberg.

We dive into his 2025 release Scott Routenberg Trio Live at Merriman’s Playhouse: Oscar Peterson Tribute, a powerful live recording honoring the legendary Oscar Peterson and celebrating the timeless swing and virtuosity that defined his sound.

Over a prolific career spanning more than two decades, Dr. Routenberg has earned widespread critical acclaim. In 2004, he became the first jazz songwriter to win the coveted John Lennon Songwriting Contest Maxell Song of the Year. He is also an established symphonic jazz arranger with commissions from Grammy-winning ensembles and artists, while continuing to educate and inspire the next generation of musicians.

In this conversation, we explore the making of this live tribute album, his dedication to music, arranging for large ensembles, the influence of Oscar Peterson, and his work shaping future jazz artists.

🎹 Listen to the album here:https://music.apple.com/us/album/scott-routenberg-trio-live-at-merrimans-playhouse-oscar/1855347878

If you love jazz piano, live trio recordings, Oscar Peterson tributes, and in-depth jazz artist interviews, this episode is for you.

Subscribe for more exclusive conversations with today’s leading jazz artists. 

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring British jazz guitarist Joe Steels. We dive into his 2026 CD A Blue Patch and his evolving career in music. Rooted in the northern landscapes of Cumbria and Northumberland, this project draws deep inspiration from countryside heritage, tradition, and a strong sense of place.

Joe continues to establish himself as one of the most exciting voices in British jazz guitar, blending a deep love of jazz tradition with elements of folk, rock, and contemporary music. His sound is driven by strong melody, innovation, joy, and optimism — qualities that shine throughout A Blue Patch.

In this conversation, we explore the making of the album, the influence of northern England, the state of British jazz, touring, collaboration, and the path forward.

🌍 More on Joe Steels & his music:https://joesteelsmusic.com/home

If you love modern British jazz, melodic guitar-driven ensembles, and artist-driven conversations, this episode is for you.

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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.

Subscribe for more in-depth jazz interviews and artist conversations from Neon Jazz.

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