Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed St. Louis-based guitarist, composer, and recording artist Todd Mosby and Grammy Award-winning producer Jeff Weber.

On this episode, we take a deep dive into the ambitious and inspiring 2026 album American Heartland, a musical journey designed to capture the soul, spirit, beauty, and character of Missouri through a remarkable blend of contemporary jazz, folk, New Age, acoustic guitar, blues, and jazz-rock influences.

Created with a vision of assembling world-class musicians to tell a uniquely American story, American Heartland features an extraordinary cast of legendary performers, including Vinnie Colaiuta, Tom Scott, Leland Sklar, Luis Conte, and many others. The project was recorded primarily at the iconic Village Studios and mastered at the legendary Bernie Grundman Studios, ensuring world-class sound from start to finish.

The album also features the contributions of associate producer and score supervisor Michael Clark, helping shape a deeply cinematic and emotionally resonant listening experience that celebrates the landscapes, culture, and spirit of the American Midwest.

In this conversation, Todd and Jeff discuss the inspiration behind American Heartland, the creative process, working with elite musicians, recording sessions in Los Angeles, Missouri's musical legacy, contemporary instrumental music, jazz fusion, production techniques, and the power of music to tell regional stories.

This is a fascinating discussion about artistry, collaboration, and creating music that honors place, heritage, and human connection.

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed New Jersey-based jazz trumpeter, composer, educator, and bandleader Ted Chubb.

On this episode, we dive into his outstanding 2026 live album, Live at the Statuary – Jersey City, and explore a remarkable career devoted to performance, education, and building a thriving jazz community.

For more than two decades, Ted Chubb has been a driving force in the Jersey City jazz scene. As a bandleader, composer, artistic director, educator at Princeton University, and co-owner of The Statuary, he has helped create a vibrant home for live jazz while mentoring the next generation of musicians.

Born in Ashtabula, Ohio, Ted grew up in a deeply musical family where piano-centered gatherings sparked his love for music. His artistic path was forever changed after discovering Miles Davis' 'Round About Midnight and Lee Morgan with Art Blakey on A Night in Tunisia. Those legendary recordings helped shape the melodic, bebop, and blues-rooted style that defines his playing today.

During our conversation, we discuss the making of Live at the Statuary – Jersey City, the importance of live performance, jazz education, building community through music, balancing teaching and performing, the influence of jazz legends, improvisation, and the enduring power of straight-ahead jazz.

If you love modern jazz, hard bop, live recordings, or discovering today's leading trumpet voices, this is an interview you won't want to miss.

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http://www.tedchubb.com/

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed Finland-based composer, arranger, and bandleader Jussi Lampela.

On this episode, we dive into his outstanding 2026 album, Common Ground, an immersive musical journey that blends contemporary jazz, ambient music, and electronica into a rich and cinematic listening experience. The album showcases Lampela's unique compositional voice, seamlessly combining atmospheric textures, sophisticated jazz harmony, orchestral sensibilities, and modern production.

Known for his work across film, television, and the concert stage, Jussi has built an impressive career composing, orchestrating, and arranging music for ensembles of every size—from intimate duos to full symphony orchestras. His ability to move effortlessly between genres has made him one of Finland's most versatile and innovative musical creators.

During our conversation, we discuss the inspiration behind Common Ground, composing for jazz ensembles, writing for film and television, orchestration, arranging, the European jazz scene, ambient music, electronica, creativity, and how today's musical landscape encourages artists to blur traditional genre boundaries.

Get the album:
https://jussilampelaensemble.bandcamp.com/album/common-ground

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with India-born, New York City-based jazz vocalist Jaana Narsipur. On this episode, we explore her captivating new 2026 album, The Re-Collection, a fresh and imaginative jazz interpretation of beloved 1980s pop classics. Featuring inspired arrangements of songs by Kate Bush, Eurythmics, Joe Jackson, and other iconic artists, Jaana transforms familiar favorites into sophisticated modern jazz performances filled with swing, improvisation, and emotional depth.

Following her acclaimed 2022 debut album, Better Than Anything, which showcased original arrangements honoring jazz legends Horace Silver and Bob Dorough, Jaana continues to establish herself as one of today's most inventive jazz vocalists.

Born in India and raised in the United States, Jaana's musical journey began at an early age, singing along to Simon & Garfunkel before embracing traditional Indian music with her family. During college in Chicago, she discovered jazz through jam sessions, immersing herself in the city's rich jazz tradition while developing her unique voice as an interpreter, arranger, and storyteller.

 

In this conversation, we discuss The Re-Collection, arranging pop music for jazz ensembles, vocal improvisation, the influence of Indian and American musical traditions, growing as an artist, the New York jazz scene, and her creative process.

If you enjoy vocal jazz, creative arrangements, contemporary jazz, or hearing classic pop songs transformed through the language of jazz, this episode is for you.

Enjoy this interview.

Get the album:
https://jaananarsipur.bandcamp.com/

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist, composer, educator, and bandleader Christian Dillingham.

On this episode, we discuss his outstanding 2026 release, As It Relates to Now, an album featuring eight original compositions performed by a stellar trio with acclaimed alto saxophonist Greg Ward and drummer Jeremy Cunningham. Together, they create a compelling musical landscape that moves effortlessly between groove-driven modern jazz, blues-infused expression, and adventurous improvisation.

A cornerstone of Chicago's vibrant creative music scene, Christian Dillingham has built an impressive career spanning both jazz and classical music. His artistry has led him to perform and record alongside some of today's most respected musicians, including Sean Jones, Jeff "Tain" Watts, John Legend, Peter Bernstein, Kevin Mahogany, Dee Alexander, Bobby Broom, and Mike Reed.

In this conversation, we explore the inspiration behind As It Relates to Now, composing original music, improvisation, the evolution of Chicago jazz, collaboration, balancing jazz and classical traditions, life as a working musician, and where modern jazz is headed.

Whether you're a longtime jazz fan, bassist, student, or simply love discovering outstanding new music, this episode offers an inside look at one of today's most respected creative voices.

Enjoy this interview.

Get the album:
https://shiftingparadigmrecords.bandcamp.com/album/as-it-relates-to-now

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