Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring jazz singer, visual artist, and cultural architect Tamara Rivelle.
In this episode, we connect with Tamara from her home base in Nashville, Tennessee to discuss her upcoming 2026 album, Love Letters, her heartfelt single “My Superman,” and a remarkable creative journey spanning music, art, education, and community building.
“My Superman” is a deeply personal reflection on Tamara’s father following his recent diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease, transforming love, memory, family, and resilience into a powerful musical expression.
Originally from Pittsburgh and now based in Nashville, Tamara Rivelle creates a unique sound that blends jazz, R&B, and pop influences into a soulful and timeless musical experience. Beyond being a performer, she is a creator and connector whose work is built around a rare ability to inspire belonging and bring people together.
For more than three decades, Tamara has designed spaces that cultivate resilience, creativity, and character—first through classrooms and communities, and now through stages, visual art, and creative platforms.
Tamara Rivelle’s story is one of artistry, compassion, and connection—a reminder that music can preserve memories, honor relationships, and create spaces where people feel seen.
Learn more about Tamara Rivelle:
https://www.tamaracreates.com/
If you enjoy interviews with jazz musicians, vocalists, composers, visual artists, and creative storytellers, please subscribe, like, and share for more exclusive conversations from Neon Jazz.
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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Phoenix-based jazz drummer, composer, and dentist Dr. Scott Sadlon.
In this episode, we dive into Scott's captivating 2026 album, Songs from Thin Air, an adventurous recording built entirely around the spirit of spontaneous improvisation. By day, Dr. Scott Sadlon practices dentistry after earning his bachelor's degree in biology and his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from The Ohio State University. By night, he is one of Phoenix's most creative jazz musicians, performing with top local artists and producing imaginative recordings.
For Songs from Thin Air, Scott assembled an outstanding trio featuring acclaimed keyboardist Rachel Eckroth and renowned bassist Tim Lefebvre. Every performance on the album was recorded in one take, beginning with either a drum groove, bass line, or keyboard motif before allowing the music to unfold naturally through collective improvisation.
The result is a deeply organic recording that captures the excitement, risk, and beauty of creating music entirely in the moment.
Whether you're a jazz fan, musician, or simply fascinated by creative people balancing multiple careers, this conversation offers an inspiring look into a unique musical life.
Get the album:
https://scottsadlon1.bandcamp.com/album/songs-from-thin-air
If you enjoy interviews with today's leading jazz musicians, composers, and innovators, please subscribe, like, and share for more exclusive conversations from Neon Jazz.
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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring pianist/composer Ruthie Dineen and bassist/composer Andrew Lion, the creative forces behind Negative Press Project.
In this episode, we reconnect with Ruthie and Andrew—whom we first interviewed back in 2018—to discuss their ambitious new 2026 album, Cycles I, created in collaboration with the acclaimed Friction Quartet. The project marks the fifth album from Negative Press Project and expands their musical vision into a stunning chamber-jazz experience that blends post-bop jazz, postmodern classical music, and fearless contemporary composition.
Andrew joins us from Bend, Oregon, while Ruthie checks in from California's East Bay. Together, they discuss the creative process behind Cycles I, surviving the COVID era, composing in America today, and continuing to evolve as artists in an ever-changing musical landscape.
The result is a bold, cinematic recording that balances sophisticated composition with improvisational freedom, making it both the group's most adventurous and most accessible release to date.
Enjoy this fascinating conversation with two outstanding composers and innovators.
Get the album:
https://negativepressproject.bandcamp.com/album/cycles-i
If you enjoy interviews with today's leading jazz musicians, composers, and creative artists, please subscribe, like, and share for more exclusive conversations from Neon Jazz.
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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed New York City jazz pianist, composer, educator, and arranger Ted Rosenthal.
A longtime friend of Neon Jazz, Ted returns to discuss one of the most ambitious projects of his career—his remarkable four-album collection, Trios in 4 Acts. In this conversation, we take a deeper dive into the inspiration behind the complete series and the artistry that connects each recording.
The collection concludes with The Good Old Days, following the acclaimed releases:
High Standards
The Ted Rosenthal Songbook
Classics Reimagined: Impromptu
The Good Old Days
Together, these recordings celebrate Ted's lifelong passion for jazz piano, the piano trio tradition, American standards, original compositions, and the endless possibilities of improvisation. Each album offers a unique perspective while honoring the rich legacy of jazz.
Ted Rosenthal continues to be one of today's most respected jazz pianists, blending virtuosity, creativity, and deep musical tradition into every performance.
Learn more about Ted Rosenthal:
https://www.tedrosenthal.com/
If you enjoy interviews with today's leading jazz musicians, composers, and innovators, please subscribe, like, and share for more exclusive conversations from Neon Jazz.
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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Mexican-born jazz bassist, composer, arranger, vocalist, and educator Gabriel Espinosa.
From his home base in Iowa, Gabriel joins us to discuss his outstanding 2026 release, The Brazilian Project—a vibrant recording that celebrates the rich traditions of Brazilian music, Latin jazz, and contemporary jazz while showcasing his signature warmth, lyrical compositions, and world-class musicianship.
Born in Mérida, Mexico, Gabriel's musical journey began at the age of six on the guitar before switching to bass. As a teenager, he performed with his brothers Víctor and Patricio in the family group Los Deltons, laying the foundation for an extraordinary international career.
In 1976, Gabriel moved to Iowa to attend Central College in Pella before continuing his studies at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Since then, he has become one of the leading voices in Latin jazz, recording acclaimed albums, performing around the world, and inspiring generations of musicians as an educator.
Gabriel Espinosa's career reflects the beautiful intersection of Mexican heritage, Brazilian rhythms, Latin jazz, and contemporary improvisation, making him one of today's most distinctive and respected jazz artists.
Get The Brazilian Project:
https://originarts.com/recordings/recording.php?TitleID=82952
Subscribe to Neon Jazz for exclusive interviews with the world's leading jazz musicians, composers, educators, and innovators.
For More Neon Jazz:
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