Mike Clark, Lisanne Lyons, Seth Kibel, Jeff Rupert & Chris Hazelton

From one of the brightest stars illuminating the Kansas City jazz scene, we kick off the 964th Episode of Neon Jazz with bandleader and Hammond B-3 powerhouse Chris Hazelton, featuring music from his vibrant new 2026 album, In Rotation. From there, we journey through a rich landscape of fresh jazz sounds, spotlighting new music and artist insights from Liane Lyons, Henrique Mota, and Mike Bruzzese. Along the way, we showcase an impressive lineup of modern jazz heavyweights making waves in 2026, including Mike Clark, Rich Willey, Charles Chen, Steve Husted, and Seth Kibel, each bringing their own distinctive voice and vision to the genre. To close out the hour, we set sail with acclaimed bandleader, saxophonist, and educator Jeff Rupert, whose beautifully crafted Sea Spell delivers a warm, ocean-inspired voyage filled with melody, color, and imagination. It's a summer-soaked hour packed with groove, soul, creativity, and some of the finest new jazz being made today. Turn it up, settle in, and enjoy the ride, my friends.

Playlist

• Chris Hazelton "Voodoo Village" In Rotation (Cellar Live) 0:00
• Host talks 6:31
• Mike Clark "East Broadway Rundown" Kuon Ganjo: Time Without Beginning (Mike Clark) 8:42
• Lisanne Lyons "May I Come In" May I Come In (OA2 Records) 11:37
• Host talks 16:45
• Rich Willey "Long Lost Brothers" Laid Back, Vol. 1 (Boptism) 17:55
• Henrique Mota "Echoes of China" Waning Moon (Henrique Mota) 23:57
• Host talks 28:00
• Steven Husted And Friends "When We Were Young" Two Nights Live (Steven Husted) 29:08
• Charles Chen "Laverne Walk" The Long Way Home (Cellar Live) 34:49
• Host talks 40:28
• Seth Kibel "Cautious Romanticism" Clarinet, Without a Net (Azalea City Recordings) 41:11
• Mike Bruzzese "Lightbulb" Another Space (Bent River Records) 46:07
• Host talks 53:29
• Jeff Rupert "A Breeze Through the Keys" Sea Spell (Rupe Media) 53:45