Articles by Joe Dimino
Cannonball Adderley, Baltimore Jazz Collective, Joel Ross & Paul Litteral
by Joe Dimino
Blowing in from Hollywood with a horn, a vision, and plenty of soul, the 944th Episode of Neon Jazz kicks off with the Paul Litteral Band, drawing from his 2025 album The Litteral Truth. From there, we take a timeless turn into jazz history with Cannonball Adderley, spinning a classic gem from his 1961 LP African Waltz. As the hour unfolds, we spotlight a deep bench of modern masters and creative voices, including James Fernando, Scott Routenberg, Ricky Alexander, and ...
Continue ReadingFats Waller, Joe Magnarelli, Alexa Tarantino & Rebecca Kilgore
by Joe Dimino
The 943rd episode of Neon Jazz opens with a heartfelt tribute to the mighty Rebecca Kilgore, the beloved Portland-based vocalist we lost in January 2026. We honor her artistry and enduring spirit with selections from her 2026 album Sings the Music of Fats Waller--a fitting celebration of joy, swing, and soul. From there, we turn to the master himself, Fats Waller, before pausing to remember another profound loss in the jazz world: the legendary Chicago vocalist Josie Falbo, who left ...
Continue ReadingJulian Lage, Rick Roe, Kate Wyatt & Maria Kaushansky
by Joe Dimino
We launch Episode 942 of Neon Jazz by spotlighting a rising force out of New York City--pianist Maria Kaushansky--with the title track from her 2025 album Northbound to Finch. It's a bold, expressive opening that sets the tone for the hour. From there, we pause to honor a true Kansas City jazz ambassador, Anita Dixon Brown, whose sudden passing in early January 2026 left a deep mark on the community. In tribute to her life and spirit, we turn up ...
Continue ReadingMichael Dease, Betty Bryant, Miles Donahue & Chuck Redd
by Joe Dimino
We begin the first episode of 2026 with a salute to percussionist & vibraphonist Chuck Redd for standing up to political corruption. He kicks off the 941st Episode of Neon Jazz with music off his 2024 collaboration with Nate Najar off the album Meet The Graingers. From there, we step into the Kansas City-born legendary figure Betty Bryant with music off her 2026 album Nothin Better to Do. From there, we get a whole host of new tunes from Cordite, ...
Continue ReadingDuke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Les Elgart & Jonah Jones
by Joe Dimino
For our final broadcast of 2025, we crack open the vinyl vault and let the turntable speak. Episode 940 of Neon Jazz kicks off in style with The Jonah Jones Quartet, spinning a gem from the 1958 classic Swinging at the Cinema. From there, we take a deep, joyful stroll through jazz history--drawing from the timeless sounds of Larry Clinton, Stan Kenton, Jimmy Dorsey, Helen O'Connell, Gerry Mulligan, Hal Kemp, Les Elgar, Buddy Morrow, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, ...
Continue ReadingGeorge Wallington, Oscar Peterson, Yazz Ahmed, Harry Connick, Jr.& Gordon Goodwin
by Joe Dimino
We open one of the final episodes of 2025 by tipping our hat to a true jazz giant we recently lost--Los Angeles-based big band titan Gordon Goodwin. Taken from us by complications from cancer, he leaves behind a deep and dazzling legacy of swing, fire, and fearless creativity. As a tribute, we drop the needle on “Hunting Rabbits 2" from his 2006 album The Phat Pack, a fitting salute to a master who reshaped the modern big band sound. From ...
Continue ReadingWycliffe Gordon, Benny Benack III, Anais Reno & Tim Whitmer
by Joe Dimino
Welcome to the annual Christmas hour of Neon Jazz--a tradition carefully culled and curated each year to celebrate the season through the language of jazz. We kick off this year's holiday journey with Kansas City veterans Tim Whitmer and Rod Fleeman, bringing a hometown glow with Plaza Tidings from their 2025 album Happy Holidays. These seasonal gems have been performed live for years, and now they're finally etched into master tapes--a gift that keeps on swinging. From there, the hour ...
Continue ReadingRoland Kirk, Drew Williams, Laura Anglade, Sullivan Fortner & Ben Rosenblum
by Joe Dimino
We kick off the 937th Hour of Neon Jazz with a special moment in time--spotlighting a handful of New York City musicians who rolled through Kansas City for a live gig on December 2, 2025 at Epicycle Piano Craft. At the top of the hour, we feature the endlessly inventive pianist and accordionist Ben Rosenblum, drawing from his 2017 album Instead. From there, we shift into the warm, expressive voice of rising jazz vocal star Laura Anglade, spinning music from ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans, Clark Terry, Gerry Mulligan, Teddy Charles & Bob Brookmeyer
by Joe Dimino
Welcome to a full hour dedicated to the genius of Bob Brookmeyer--one of jazz's most inventive, soulful, and influential voices. Born in Kansas City, he carried the city's musical spirit across the globe, leaving a bold, unmistakable imprint on the world of jazz and beyond. This episode is inspired by Michael Stephans' powerful new book, On the Way to the Sky. Stephans--a seasoned author, musician, and longtime friend of Brookmeyer--shares insights that illuminate both the man and the master musician ...
Continue ReadingRed Garland, Samara Joy, Billy Hart, Mark Sherman & Marilyn Maye
by Joe Dimino
We step into the 935th episode of Neon Jazz with unmistakable class and pure showbiz magic courtesy of Kansas City's own vocal icon Marilyn Maye, shining brightly with “Time and Time Again" from the newly remastered 2024 album Interludes. She's gearing up for a heartfelt homecoming at the historic Folly Theater on December 21, 2025--a venue that's rising strong after a recent wave of vandalism and ready once again for greatness. From there, we follow the torch as it's carried ...
Continue Reading
